
While this seems to be a great way to increase reader participation, I have to admit I haven’t used it much. I have used it a couple times – usually when more information was needed.
For example, once I wanted to approach the commenter about clarifying something they had called me out on – it was a misunderstanding and I wanted to clear things up. Another time I was making sure that a commenter saw my reply to them after they left me a rather scathing and harsh comment. (This turned into a guest post situation and a good relationship as a result.) Sometimes I’ll reach out via email or through direct mail services to snag a commenter as a guest post or to ask about contributing to another project or something.
One of the things Darren specifically mentions in Day 5 of 31 Days to Build a Better Blog (affiliate link) is about reaching out to readers via email is to be sure to include a link back to your blog. Don’t assume the commenter will remember your web address or has it bookmarked.
In this lesson he discusses the pros and cons of commenting on the blog, or emailing the commenter directly. I tend to favor replying on the blog and then emailing the person directly if needed. This way you have the public record of your response (to add the content on your blog as well).
Do you prefer email or public comment? Do you leave a comment and then email your readers? The challenge today is to reach out to one of your readers via email – either to follow up on a question, collaborate, etc.
On Family Rambling I have a note that says I reply to comments- and a “subscribe to comments” option. If a comment seems to warrant a direct reply I will email and let the commenter know that I have responded to their comment on the blog, and include a link back if they would like to see the reply.
Well, I don’t have enough readers to be getting comments! germanpowcanada.com is fairly new and jillbrowne.ca is too.
I looked at some of Darren’s suggestions for what to do in such cases. Then I went and found some blogs of interest to me and left comments.
I also commented spontaneously on a blog earlier today (before reading today’s extract) because I liked the blog! The entry was about the joy of writing for fun instead of for work, something I suspect we can all sympathize with.
Something I picked up early on from a marketing coach was to set up a follow up message to go out a couple days after someone subscribed. In the email, I asked the subscriber to share with me any burning question they had about their birth business to help me decide on new content to write on the blog.
As I built up my blog posts, I was eventually able to respond to some of these emails with links back to some previous posts that addressed their questions.
As part of this challenge, I emailed one of my most recent subscribers who answered this email, helped her out, and then posted her question and my response on my blog today. 🙂
I’ve not done this to extent that Darren talks about, but knowing the power of word of mouth, it may become something I do more regularly. Readers do like the interaction.
Early on when I started my blog, I learned about creating a follow up message using my auto-responder to email new subscribers after a couple of days and asking them what burning questions they had about their birth business.
In the beginning, I’d answer them directly. When my blog posts grew, I started replying to those messages with links to posts I’d already written. Now, I haven’t been answering all emails, but it might be something I will go back to with more frequency.
As part of the 31dbbb challenge I answered a question last week, and I just posted her question and my response as part of a blog post – http://www.inspiredbirthpro.com/accountingbookkeeping/ask-inspired-birth-pro-getting-paid-for-birth-doula-services/629/
It might become a regular feature!