6/17/2009
5000 Comments for Straight North
Earlier this week my blog racked up its 5000th comment.
Thank you, one and all, for making Straight North a place for lively conversation. Many times, your conversation is far more helpful and interesting than my post, which is A-OK as far as I’m concerned. Over the last year or so, the Straight North community has begun to feel like a real family. I miss you when you’re away, and I can’t wait to read your comment when it pops up in my email box. Getting to know you has made me a better writer, a better marketer, and a more well rounded person. You share brilliant ideas, your challenges, your achievements, your pithy observations. I can’t wait to see what the next 5000 comments will hold.
And the 5000th Commenter Is …
Kay Plantes
Kay Plantes – client, business model strategist, and business model innovation author – came up with comment number 5000. Kay’s blog is all about business model strategy, and is well worth reading whether you work for yourself or a Fortune 500 firm. I was amazed to see Kay on CNBC’s The Calla few weeks ago – she really knows her stuff!
Kay Wins …
Kay selected a copy of Groundswell for her 5000 Comment Word Sell Commemorative Prize. Good choice. If you want a better understanding of the social media marketing revolution, give it a read. The book contains fascinating ideas and research to back them up.
How Do You Encourage Comments on Your Blog?
What are your techniques and secrets? Here are a few of mine …
It was either Joanna Young or Liz Strauss that counseled me to leave blog posts unfinished. Leave something for people to add. Smart. Here are a few comment cultivating ideas I’ve gleaned from Word Sell commenters/bloggers.
From Robert Hruzek, take time to formulate questions that make you sit back and reflect on your experiences.
From Andrew, write about controversial issues.
From Karen Swim, ask questions that force you to look deep inside yourself.
From Cath Lawson, pick a fight. (Using good manners, of course.)
From Robyn McMaster, blend together an unusual set of disciplines – in her case, brain science and healthy living.
From Jan Geronimo, write as if you’re talking to your best friend.
When all else fails, here’s a little trick of my own I shared one day with Luke Gedeon. If you’re looking for conversation, end every blog post or comment with the phrase, “don’t you think?” It’s almost irresistible and I see Luke put his own twist on the technique just the other day, in a very thoughtful post.
I’m just kidding about the technique, but Luke’s post really is excellent. Don’t you think?
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10 Responses to 5000 Comments for Straight North
Congratulations to Kay for zinging you past a really big milestone, Brad. (I wondered what that whooshing noise was…)
The fact is, coming here is good for the brain, y’know? Almost always come away with some new little tidbit (or even outright big, honkin’ chunk) of savvy thinking, be it biz, blog, or just writing knowledge. It is much appreciated.
A big ol’ tip o’ the hat to ya Brad!
Brad – Not surprised you passed this marker, your posts and conversations are always interesting and welcoming. Congrats!
Perhaps I should try Cath Lawson’s picking a fight suggestion. Fortified with insufferable good manners, of course “,)
But knowing my temperament. I’d like to master the other suggestions first. Starting with Karen Swim’s technique will be great – although that would require some good thinking, don’t you think?
Congrats on reaching # 5,000, Brad! Can we safely assume you, unlike Sammy Sosa, achieved your milestone without the help of banned substances? Caffeine is generally acceptable, especially for bloggers working against a deadline!
Brad, you listen to your community and not only that, you show value to us, too, by visiting our sites and leaving your ideas for us to ponder. You truly make it a two-way street and that energizes all the comments you receive. Thanks for commenting on Brain Based Biz, so shines as well!
Hi Robyn, Bill, Jan, Fred, and Robert – Thanks for stopping by and saying hello. I really don’t know what this blog would be like without you – not as good, that’s for sure.
Congratulations on hitting your 5,000 comment Brad. That’s a lot of interaction, a lot of community. Isn’t it great? Continued success and community, Olivia
I can’t believe that I won! I didn’t even know there was a contest—kind of like life, yes? What you don’t aim or plan for often turns out to be the perk. That said Brad you’ve taught me that social media is something requiring the same strategy and execution savvy that a business model strategy requires. Congratulations on 5000 and may there be 5000 more in 1/2 the time if took to get to this point….then 1/2 the time again and then…….
K
Brad,
Congratulations on your milestone, and well done to Kaye on her prize.
Those are certainly worthwhile lessons, and I think that I have seen you weave just about every one of those lessons into your discussions at various points in time (except perhaps, the one which you learned from Cath, although she does it very cleverly herself).
I think you yourself set a wonderful example for other bloggers in this regard, particularly in terms of the areas of being approachable and providing a thoughtful contribution toward discussions on other blogs.
Olivia, Thank you so much – and it’s always great to hear from you, as we go back a long, long way in the blogosphere, don’t we?
Kay, Don’t feel bad – there was no contest, just a spontaneous desire on my part to talk up the 5000th comment and reward the commenter. (So much for strategy and execution savvy, LOL!) But you have picked up the spirit and technique of social media amazingly fast, and you should look forward to many fabulous discussions on your blog.
Andrew, Needless to say you have been an enormous contributor to the conversation here, and I hope you know how much I appreciate it. We’ve had some amazing discussions on your blog as well, and it’s been fun watching those conversations grow over the last several months or so. Thanks for your kind words!