Posted on March 27, 2008 by Katy

Last year when I attended Blog World Expo I signed up for a few sessions that I believed would help me become a better blogger. Not a top blogger, not an authority blogger, but just a better blogger.

The session that I was most excited about was “Creating a Community.” One of the speakers was a very well known “eMom” that I respected a great deal. As a Work at Home Mom, I wanted to hear how she created a community with her blog.

Approaching the session with my laptop open and a notepad ready to go the session began with “So, what do you want to know?”

My gut reaction was that this wasn’t good. I believe the title of the session “creating a community” said what we all wanted to know, why are you asking? Sarcastic comments flooded my head but I digress.

By the end of the session I was bored to tears and made that session my final one for the event even though I had more scheduled. I was (and still am) convinced that by the time that session ended I would become a better blogger by just doing it.

But I still wanted to know how to create a community with my blog!

The following week after Blog World Expo, I randomly decided to start a new practice here on I’m Blogging That. My plan was so simple that I did not realize the impact that it would have.

I decided to reply to my commentators.

That’s it. I didn’t change anything but started replying to comments left on my blog. Shortly there after I installed the subscribe to comments plugin and I have kept my practice.

Since starting this very basic practice here, I have read many posts that indicate that bloggers only reply to their commentators to boost their comment count. While I can see that point of view, those bloggers making that claim are missing a community around their blog.

While I have mentioned before that responding to your commentators is a good thing, I’d like to give you specific reasons why I believe it’s the best practice for all bloggers who are really looking for a blogging community.

You’re Personable

Visitors become fans by feeling as though they have a connection to the blogger themselves. Be it in the way that they write or the way they design their site, visitors need some sort of a connection to come back.

By responding to your commentators, particularly first time commentators, you’ll get them to come back. You’ll give them a reason to connect with you and will make yourself more approachable as a blogger.

It’s in our very human nature to look for connections. So after doing all of our “is this blog worthy of my time” checks, we look to connect with the one who has written the post. This is even more true when we already know the name behind the blogger because of their own blogging power house!

After someone comments on your blog for the first time they’re very likely to surf away. Bring them back with a little more love than just your response. Automate a response to thank everyone for their comments and send thank you e-mails to your first time commentators.

Conversation

We love to talk and even more than that, we love to talk about ourselves. By engaging visitors with your posts and asking questions, you’re giving them a reason to comment and talk about themselves. Once you have responded to their endearing comment about them, you’ve reached their ego to bring them back.

Nothing gets me faster on a post than giving me a reason to comment with my opinion and then compliment me with your response. Oh, I’ll be back and I’ll share more!

Allowing commentators to add more than just “great post” creates a conversation on in your blog posts.

Off Topic

Enabling your commentators to be free in their opinion (within reason, of course) means that generally the comments will go off topic. Your post will spark further ideas and questions from your commentators that will inspire you. Use these conversations as ideas for future posts on your blog. And when you do write those posts, send some link love back to the original commentator!

Generate Traffic

If you’re comment on a blog sends some traffic your way, will you back to comment on that blog? Of course you will!

When you have responded to your commentators you’ve given them a reason to come back. With out a doubt, I will check out the blog of anyone that has an open opinion on the blog posts I read. If they have so much to say within the comments of another’s post, what do they talk about on their own blog?

By replying to your commentators, you’re giving them further reason to promote themselves on your blog. Allow it! It’s not only good for you but your commentators as well.

Start Today

Look at your recent posts, what can you say to the commentators who have left you a note? And in your response, how will you include me, as a first time commentator in your conversation?