Blog Commenting and Your Community
Danielle LaPorte, like Seth Godin and a few other “power bloggers”, has now closed comments on her blog. And, of course, she is free to do so. A blog is your land, your house, your territory. The readers are your (invited) visitors, though some become family.
But I don’t like the idea in general and here’s why:
Comments on blogs are important to the reader.
When I comment on a blog, I consider it a discussion with other readers about the post. It’s the water cooler, gathering spot and a perfect place to have that conversation. I don’t expect/depend on the writer to show up for any/all comments. Readers get to meet new people who gather around a similar topic if not the same writer. It’s also an act of generosity to foster new voices and talent.
Danielle mentions the old-school days of being an author and receiving reader mail if/when the author wanted to. But blogs AREN’T books and, by their very nature, beg to be interactive. If not, it becomes a stagnant website or an online e-book. Colder and impersonal.
Granted, the most comments I’ve ever received was about 50, so I’m far from overwhelmed by commenting and enjoy interacting. But if 1000 people showed up, I would not feel obligated to read, let alone respond to any or all comments. I would, however, enjoy knowing they had a forum to discuss my work.
And I do think that blogging in a vacuum when you are a consultant/coach type figure can be dangerous and insular. I think you need feedback to ensure your message is relevant. I don’t think you are required to incorporate anyone’s opinion in your business practices or writing, but I think it is good to hear what your audience is saying.
Danielle doesn’t really address where her readers will go to discuss her posts. Facebook I assume. And there’s no doubt I’ll continue to check in on Danielle’s blog. She’s a great writer and small business consultant. I’m confident she thought long and hard about making the decision. I just wish she’d consider bailing on other forms of social media instead of closing comments.
My 2 cents, but of course, I’d LOVE to hear your thoughts! 
23 Responses to “Blog Commenting and Your Community”
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I love this push back, thanks for it. I get the “beg to be interactive” nature of the blogosphere. But I think that that pull is the biggest danger. The medium isn’t fully the message. And I want my content to ride on the medium, not be driven by it.
I consider myself a writer, not a blogger. Sounds semantical, I know. But it’s different vibe altogether. Would you say that “writing” in a “vacuum” can be dangerous and insular? Or just blogging in a comment-free space? Because, I don’t write or live that way. I’m deeply engaged with and observant of my tribe and teachers and immediate world — and thus…relevant. At least, so far, so good.
Love,
Danielle
NO doubt you are all of those things…and that you built your tribe authentically and organically as well. I think, for me, the only thing missing from your post was your suggestion on how those of us who love and follow you, buy your products, etc. should best continue our conversations around posts, etc. Facebook and Twitter seem to be the only options, unless, of course, you are going to start a Ning or other forum?
Us wee blog folks get wiggly-kneed when questioning the “bloggers” so thanks for popping in and offering encouragement to challenge and a more thorough point-of-view.
Much love,
A Cool Canadian wannabe
Love the post and the comments
I’m a writer, and I’m using a blog to share some of it. I’ve noticed a difference between, for example, what I offer and the posts that seem to be more typically offered by ‘blogging’ – there frequently seems to be a particular style of writing that is short, sharp and pithy, almost bullet-pointed without the actual points, and in all honesty I’d rather not use that style all or most of the time. I’ve found a writing voice that feels authentic to me and I use it.
My personal choice is to keep comments open because I want anyone who reads to have the freedom to respond, or not, in the same online space where it’s offered.
I agree there are different ways of engaging, receiving feedback, responding, and I know everyone will have their ways of doing that. My feeling is that comments are too valuable a forum to do without – and still, each to their own
Since I’ve been blogging (only a yr +) I’ve seen this topic in a few discussions, more so as of late. I can understand not being able to reply to comments when they start to amass in huge numbers. Very understandable.
However I usually won’t pay a return visit to a site that if set up in a blogging theme so to speak if it doesn’t allow comments. I personally would allow others to discuss whatever in amass if they so wanted to on my blog. I can’t see turning off comments, I personally just don’t get it. And for traveling elsewhere to discuss the writers topic, hee my microwave mentality won’t allow it. I’d already be on to something else. Just saying it ain’t happening.
In Danielles comment here she mentions ‘my tribe’ and ‘engaged in the immediate world’ well that to me explains it all. Maybe the likes of her have forgotten how they got tribed up, no? Obviously it wasn’t from commenting.
Lee´s last blog ..50 Things About Me You Didnt Know
I’ve long thought that Seth was all kinds of brilliant for NOT allowing comments – it forces people to think through their reactions, and then write through them on their own blogs, twitter, facebook and other platforms…which then yields lots of links and discussion in other places. It is a form of evangelizing, if you will, and it spreads his thoughts and the discussion to people who’ve never been to his site before. Smart. Smart. Smart.
I’m not a huge fan of comments, personally, but it might be the secret shrinking violet in me. I’m often afraid to check my comments. If I’ve posted something provocative, I have to mentally prepare for the push-back. And I just plain don’t know how to handle the adoration…so I *get* why Danielle turned ‘em off.
But one of the things I respect about Danielle is her unerring attention to her inner compass. When she didn’t want to write long sales pages, even though that’s what sells (apparently), she didn’t. She followed her gut and her essential wisdom. And that’s what we want from her. That example is *necessary* to those of us who often have the thought that we’d like to do it differently…
I know Danielle’s been mulling this for a long while…and I’m certain that to her it feels like the right thing to do. And so I trust her judgement.
Bright side: if you can’t comment on her site, and you’ve got something you’re burning to tell her, you’ll have to connect with her directly…
I get the difference between being a writer and a blogger. At least to me, there is a distinct differemce.
You can see that by demonstration on my site. I’m busy programming and writing, the blogging (and writing on my main blog) has to give. The coding ultimately has more reach than the writing, and more potential to pay bills.
I’d like to be in a place where I could close comments and still be serving my readers, my audience. A place where closing comments would allow me to serve them better. Not there yet.
Dave Doolin´s last blog ..How to be a six-brained blogger
Lee, I think the smaller bloggers like us are in agreement, mostly. I’ve seen lots of cheer of Danielle’s position and obviously Kelly and Dave (comments above) are developing rather large followings themselves. I’m going to address this more in length in a new post. I think the topic is worth of deeper evaluation. Hugs! Kelly
Kelly and Dave, I think this deserves a deeper look and some additional input from “power bloggers” who like being engaged in the comments area of their blogs. I think of the important Marissa Bracke post on Charlie Gilkey’s blog and how dynamic it become because of the comments. Don’t get me wrong. It would have been a brilliant, provocative post without comments, but wow! Did it take on real legs because of them!
So, I’d love to hear from Marissa and Charlie about this and will ask for their input on a new post. Of course, you know I’m glad you’re hear with your opinion even though I am somewhat sad and disagree.
Dave, thanks for this.
Here’s one point I really want to address directly. Agreed: not all bloggers are writers. And certainly not all writers are bloggers. But neither would be going anywhere without readers. How we interact and treat those readers is the bigger point, I think, and IF (BIG IF) we owe them anything, including a place to gather.
Hugs, Kelly
I rarely comment on blogs, even if I really like what was written. It’s like laughing in the inside at a comedy show. I’m more likely to comment when I disagree or feel I have something to add.
I used to read reader’s comments on other blogs, until I realized that most people just comment to get a link to their blog/site. It’s just fluffy and fake. (although this one seems to be an authentic conversation, which says a lot about your readers).
kerri twigg´s last blog ..This moment
As to the comments vs. no comments issue, I use the same principle as I do for most aspects of someone’s business: you do what’s needed to support your great work, to support your ability to do or put out to the world that Thing that lights you up.
For some blog owners, the comments are a vital part of their writing and process or business. For others, the comments reach a point where they stand in the way of or draw energy away from their writing and process or business. If I had to choose between having comments open and draining down the author’s energy & creative mojo, or having comments closed and the author having more energy & creative juice to bring to his/her writing, I’ll choose the latter without hesitation. Sometimes you can’t have both.
I see comments as being just one piece of a much larger puzzle. There are plenty of blogs to which I subscribe but never comment. There are plenty of folks with whom I engage on Twitter whose blogs I don’t read on a regular basis. I think websites are increasingly jumping-off points for more discussion and engagement, and are often less necessary as the container for that discussion and engagement.
I agree with you that hearing your audience, keeping in touch with the community, is vital. But I think that happens through many channels, with blog comments being just one possibility. The bottom line for me is that it’s individual, subjective and ever-evolving: What’s working for you? How’s your audience responding? Does everything feel in alignment? etc.
And really, it’s always an experiment, for all of us. I applaud the willingness to adapt, to try new, to explore. What exactly that means for audience and community engagement will be a little different for each of us.
Marissa Bracke´s last blog ..Friday Menagerie- Collection 6
You are absolutely right Kerri. A lot of commenting is shameless self-promotion and you can usually tell pretty quickly. But even amidst those folks are usually some serious input. Unless I am truly moved or inspired by a post, which I am many times, I don’t say anything. But the people I believe in generally have really great followers with a lot of important stuff to say (I’ve found some great “friends” via commenting on other blogs who I still stay in touch with).
So, in your case in particular, thanks for commenting
!!!
Thanks for responding to my shout out. I agree each and every one of us has to make that individual decision and I won’t stop following because comments are closed.
I want to ask about this: “I think websites are increasingly jumping-off points for more discussion and engagement, and are often less necessary as the container for that discussion and engagement.” What do you think, then, is the best landing point if a blog discussion is closed?
I just keep thinking about your Launch post on Charlie’s blog and thinking it would not have been NEARLY as dynamic if not centered in one place.
You’re dead-on about the Launch Fatigue post. That one was intended as a conversation-starter–and boy howdy, was it ever! I wouldn’t run a post like that on a blog with closed comments, because my intention and hope behind it is that a conversation might occur and discussion would evolve. When I write, I’m doing so with some intent that what I put out there might be the beginning of some discussion, and I welcome that discussion at the place I publish it. That’s not any commentary on my expectations of other writers, though; that’s just my own choice for my goals and preferences at this juncture.
If a blog doesn’t have comments, and it’s a topic about which I really feel excited / passionate / fascinated, I’d probably end up writing about it on my own blog (or guest posting on someone else’s). And if I wanted to have some on-post discussion around that topic, I’d definitely publish somewhere that had open comments (my blog or elsewhere). If it’s a topic that I dig but have less than a post’s worth of thoughts on, then I’d probably hop over to Twitter or Facebook with it.
But that’s me. Others have great discussions on forums they subscribe to, or on LinkedIn Groups, or in their mastermind groups, etc. There are enough options available for us now that I don’t think it’s necessarily the writer’s responsibility to provide a place for discussion to occur.
It’s just so dependent on what the writer’s goals are, what her hopes are for what her readers do with the ideas (some writers want people to act more than discuss, others want more conversation), what her own creative energy needs, and what suits the post or the topic.
I’m neither for nor against closing comments in general. I know what works for me, but I know it doesn’t work for everyone at all times, and I’m okay with (and remain open and curious about) whatever decisions are made with regard to one’s engagement strategies & methods. Perpetually fascinated by that!
Marissa Bracke´s last blog ..Friday Menagerie- Collection 6
I’m happy to say I don’t have the kind of readers Kerri refers to. So the comments on my blog are most often much more valuable and entertaining than the post itself!
But what I really popped in to add was that I completely agree with Danielle that there is a distinction between writing and blogging, and that you couldn’t have said it better Kelly, with this:
“Agreed: not all bloggers are writers. And certainly not all writers are bloggers. But neither would be going anywhere without readers. How we interact and treat those readers is the bigger point, I think, and IF (BIG IF) we owe them anything, including a place to gather.”
I’m already looking forward to your follow up post on this topic!
When I run across a blog that doesn’t allow comments, I’m almost always disappointed. The conversation with the readers is valuable to me. I want to hear what others think; they inevitably inspire me to new perspectives that I wouldn’t have found on my own.
Can I also add, Kelly, how much I love it that you don’t screen comments on your blog before they post?!
I think that says a bunch of brilliant and delicious things about you and what you’re creating!
Jeannette´s last blog ..Lead With What You Love
Well, I hate to not qualify as brilliant and delicious but it only automatically posts comments IF I’ve approved the author’s comment at some point before. And I will delete a comment if it is offensive or a ploy for sales. But for anyone who’s comments have been approved before, yes, it automatically adds them.
Damn. I especially want to be delish.
I think, frankly, most blog readers feel like you do. BUT they won’t challenge their idols/heroes or anyone with a certain status. Same issue that was discussed on Launch fatigue discussion on Charlie Gilkey’s blog (written by Marissa Bracke). And, in writing my follow up post, I’ll be afraid because these are my idols too and they have CLOUT and are connected/friends to other people I adore. But if we can’t keep talking, the whole blog thing is pointless.
Kelly, this is an excellent discussion, I’m glad to see it continuing.
I’ve had to face some serious questions of priority with respect to writing, blogging and commenting lately (among other things).
This partly a result of context switching between blogging and programming. It turns out to be really difficult to do both, when the programming is early phase and research oriented. The difficulty is that it’s non-linear: something that might take 8 hours to figure out… might require 8 unbroken hours of work. Not 7 hours one day and an hour the next. Breaking the work into chunks can often double the time required. This is why you read about hackers doing marathon coding sessions into the wee hours. In terms of “normal” work, this is like getting 2 weeks work done in 2 days.
There’s something about the immersion.
(Writing can be like this as well, when I’m pushing my game to higher level.)
Blogging is different. Writing (most) blog posts, commenting, replying to comments, hanging out on Twitter is seamless. It’s all “one thing.”
This may be sidestepping a more fundamental question: does getting serious about the blog preclude taking anything else seriously? I hope not. But I suspect so.
Dave Doolin´s last blog ..Thickbox Ajax Form Handling in WordPress
Very interesting post and discussion threads. I remember when I first wanted to start my blog, I was going to do everything Steve Pavlina did – young and impressionable days
) – and of course he has no comment policy so I closed mine (not that I would have many but who knows!) Then on a couple of blogs, I started to open them to see what would happen and I loved getting comments BECAUSE it showed that my blog is being read – influence is being made – and that there are other like-minded readers I like to connect with and this medium is much easier than another medium away from the content itself. I have to admit that it may get harder as the comments grow as they have been but I’ll take it as it comes and for now I take the time to respond to each comment and enjoy doing so. Thanks Kelly for keeping comments open here!
Farnoosh´s last blog ..The Importance of Being Punctual
Farnoosh,
I’m glad you are here! You have plenty of room to voice opinions considering the number of comments you get. Chris Brogan (a writer AND a blogger who leaves comments open), as we all know, gets hugely followed and still makes his blog a discussion forum as well. Again, I say, no commenter/blog reader should expect the blog author to acknowledge every comment. And, if the blog comments get unwieldy, that is what a good VA is for. Glad to see you on Twitter as well.
Hugs, K.