Comments on: Reader of the Month – Time to Give Back

By: Stacey / Create a Balance

Stacey / Create a Balance — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:56:28 +0000

Hi Alex. It was great seeing you over on my blog today and Thank You for the RT on twitter.

Since I am choosing to cut down on the number of blogs I comment on (to honor my practice of life balance) I can appreciate rewarding people for quality over quantity.

By: Ten Ways To Create a Balance While Commenting on Blogs | Create a Balance

Ten Ways To Create a Balance While Commenting on Blogs | Create a Balance — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:03:58 +0000

[...] other ways to thank your readers besides reading and commenting on all of their [...]

By: Alex, Blogsessive

Alex, Blogsessive — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:50:21 +0000

Raju, thanks for the input!

Jen, you are 95% right. Why 95%? Because I encourage people to express their opinions. Sure, not every idea we have every day gets to become a success story, but some do, and in the past, I’ve seen a lot of diamonds in the rough through Blogsessive’s comments.

Regarding the PS, if you look just below the comment form, I’ve laid a couple of “commenting rules”. This rules will definitely contribute to the results.

Thanks for the input Jen, much appreciated!

By: Jen

Jen — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:37:17 +0000

Can I bitch? Thank you.

I know people like giving feedback, but since it’s your contest on your blog, why try to change the way it works?!

It’s your choice and everyone is welcome to participate or not participate, but the idea seems pretty wel thought-out to me so I don’t see the point of further discussion.

P.S. I so hope people who comment with “best gadget website” as their name are also disqualified. It’s not a suggestion, it’s just a pet peeve of mine, although I see most big websites don’t mind it.

By: Raju

Raju — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:36:44 +0000

This is really a cool way to reward the readers. Having a link back to the blog is just one part of the package. But, the most important part will be increase in readers interaction. It is not only advantageous to the blogger and the blog, but for the commentators as well as most of the things we learn are when we are interacting!

This is why I was think a blog search should include the comment section as well and not just the title and the body.

By: Alex, Blogsessive

Alex, Blogsessive — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:25:41 +0000

Paul, those who previously commented, will have the chance to do so, time and time again. More than that, I believe that until now I’ve done my best to reward their activity (take Simple Balance for example, and not only). I will continue to reward them, whenever possible.

While your suggestion is cool, it has been done and over done. By Darren Rowse of ProBlogger, by Kevin Muldoon of BloggingTips.com and many others. This is their show, and I’m not going to step into it.

Anyway, time will also bring other methods to reward you folks. Be sure of that.

Thanks for the comment!

By: Paul Marculescu

Paul Marculescu — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:19:25 +0000

Your idea is good, but I see one first issue: what about the people who regularly commented on your blog so far (not me )?

Regarding your offer, I have an extra suggestion. I think something like this would be extremely useful for your nominee, your readers and why not, also for you.

Dedicate some posts for case studies, asking your readers how the website/product of a fellow commenter you appreciate might be improved and offer some sort of prize, maybe even the Reader of the month one.

By: Alex, Blogsessive

Alex, Blogsessive — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 11:57:46 +0000

Farrhad, although increasing the comment count is a good thing for every blog, as stated above, I’m really not looking for quantity, and unfortunately that’s what Top Commentator awards.

At the same time, I don’t want to go around deleting comments only because people founds a simple “Thank you” to be enough as a comment.

I know there are more than one people leaving good, meaningful comments, and it will be a hard task choosing, but I’m sure that in time, everyone who deserves it, will get in the spotlight, alone, proud.

Life is a competition, with yourself, with others, with many things, and a bit of fair competition never hurt anyone. Again… FAIR being the keyword here.

By: Farrhad A

Farrhad A — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 11:50:18 +0000

Nice way of thanking your readers and increasing your comment average

But you are only thanking one person. There may be others too who comment well. I think Top Commentator is needed.