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Always Choose for Your Readers, Right?

June 21, 2006 by Liz 41 Comments

It Just Happened Again

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I got a link to a fresh, vibrant article on how to make my business more fun. I wanted to leave a word, start a conversation, be a part of the discussion. Then I saw those words.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Why put a barrier to making a connection?

What I heard was I could talk, but only on the writer’s terms. I guess that’s okay. It’s his blog. but it didn’t feel very inviting. It didn’t seem like he cared much that I had anything to say.

I wondered what was going on. There was an About page, but there was no way to contact him. Maybe he’s new and left the login thing on by mistake. . . .

I left without him ever knowing.

I’ll tell the guy who had the link, maybe he knows.

I’m Still Hoping

I’m still hoping it’s accidental. I don’t want to think this fresh, vibrant writer has a secret club. That would blow my whole image of what he has going — friendly blog, fresh ideas, energy. He’s gotta know that you always choose for your readers . . . . always. Right?

Brand You and Me. Isn’t that how it goes?

–ME “Liz” Strauss

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Filed Under: Customer Think, Marketing /Sales / Social Media, Personal Branding, Successful Blog, Writing Tagged With: bc, blog-promotion, brand-niche-marketing, brand-You-and-Me, Customer Think, customer-relationships, personal-branding

Comments

  1. Mike says

    June 21, 2006 at 8:38 PM

    I linked to the post, too, BUT I will not play with kids who want me to leave blood just to use their toys.

    I’m never sure if the writer can’t build his blog to allow comments, doesn’t want comments or doesn’t know that an overwhelming majority of people won’t play with those rules.

    I’ll go ask them…brb !

    Reply
  2. ME Strauss says

    June 21, 2006 at 8:47 PM

    Yeah, I’m with you, but then again I just wrote a post saying that. 🙂

    Reply
  3. Sue Crocker says

    June 21, 2006 at 8:54 PM

    I have a different opinion. If someone wants to leave a comment, I’d rather they be registered.

    It’s not that I want to put a barrier to communication, but that i want to avoid spam comments, spam trackbacks, etc.

    It also depends on your target audience. What happens if I want to send an email to someone who posted, and they typed it in wrong? If they were registered, I’d have a working email address. I can always hide addresses in my program of choice.

    My site, my rules. 🙂

    Reply
  4. ME Strauss says

    June 21, 2006 at 8:59 PM

    HI Sue,
    I agree it is your site and your rules. I just came across this quote today.

    Research shows shows that if you require registration on your website to download content such as articles, white papers, studies or other “free” resources, you could be losing 75%-85% of your potential leads!
    http://blog.startwithalead.com/weblog/2006/06/most_btob_sites.html

    I like to have a community and conversation that gets ideas growing. That requires input. So I want conversation. Some blogs want privacy and internal communication.

    Reply
  5. candice says

    June 21, 2006 at 9:12 PM

    I get completely turned off to any blogger who requires registration for comments. I’m sorry, unless you are a real news source I want to read (most people don’t mind the NYT registration, things like that) you are NOT cool enough to get a registration. It’s too much work for the user.

    I don’t care who you think the ‘target audience’ is, everyone’s target audience is a bigger one. Making things hard for the user is an easy way to lose them.

    Hi Liz. Sorry if I stir up the pot over here. 😉

    Reply
  6. ME Strauss says

    June 21, 2006 at 9:16 PM

    Hi Candice,
    Stir away! I used to ask constantly when I was VP of Publishing “Are we choosng for ourselves or are we choosing for our readers?” It’s a quick way to go out of business choosing to publish for yourself only. I think. Unless you’re doing an internal team blog where you’re working on a research project.

    Reply
  7. Mike says

    June 21, 2006 at 9:18 PM

    As for those that say – My blog, my rules – I never visit again.

    My browser, my money, MY RULES !

    If you want 85% less traffic, less links and less customers, you’re welcome to take your ball and go home. We’ll invite the next kid with a ball and start a new game.

    If SPAM comments get you down, set your blog up properly with anti-spam measures like the Spam Karma 2 plugin.

    Take a look at the bottom of one of our blogs at :

    http://www.officefreaks.com/

    and enjoy the number of Spam comments it’s killed and enjoy the freedom from spammy dogs like we do.

    Reply
  8. Chris Cree says

    June 21, 2006 at 9:20 PM

    The other thing that frustrates me is moderated comments. I know it is a spam prevention device. But most blogging platforms allow the keeper of the blog the privilege of deleting unwanted comments.

    How about encouraging me to comment by giving me the instant gratification of seeing my comment post and deleting the spam afterwards rather than punishing me because of some bad operators out there?

    I’ve got too short an attention span to come back later and see if you ever bothered to approve my comment when it doesn’t show up right away! And you are unlikely to ever see me to comment a second time if you have moderated comments.

    Reply
  9. Mike says

    June 21, 2006 at 9:23 PM

    Hey chris,

    I only moderate the FIRST time you post, on our 13 blogs.

    If anyone continues moderation after that, they need some advice – Quit !

    But the first time is essential to not having ugly words and phrases there for you to be offended by. Sorry.

    Like to the tune of 600 ugly words per day or more.

    Reply
  10. ME Strauss says

    June 21, 2006 at 9:24 PM

    Hi Mike,
    I’m with you. We live in the world where the customer has plenty of choices, One clickand I can be anywhere else to read. It’s hard enough to differentiate myself in a positive way. Why would I want to offer up negatives? I just don’t get it.

    Reply
  11. ME Strauss says

    June 21, 2006 at 9:26 PM

    Chris,
    You know I moderate the first comment from any new reader. I have to because of the Net Netrality stuff. I get hit with as many as 138 spams at once. BUT. I hover over my comments like fiend. I feel guilty if someone sits longer than a few minutes there. It’s like I think that i’ve kept them in jail.

    I know exactly what you’re talkng about. It’s the same as having to walkaround in some waiting room in the brick and mortar world. by the time your comment hits the words and their meaning are lost.

    Reply
  12. Kean says

    June 21, 2006 at 9:38 PM

    Hi all,

    Well Im a new blogger and before I read this post I made people register (not that I had any). I changed that setting straight away. Could people visit my blog and tell me what else I should do? Anything im missing.
    http://thecall.wordpress.com

    Cheers

    Reply
  13. ME Strauss says

    June 21, 2006 at 9:41 PM

    Hi Kean,
    Welcome,
    Gosh, I hope we didn’t scare you. We’ll be happy to stop over and give you a look or two. We like bossing new bloggers around. Don’t we Chris? 🙂

    No worries Kean. You’re not a stranger here anymore. You’re a friend now.
    Liz

    Reply
  14. ME Strauss says

    June 21, 2006 at 9:45 PM

    Hey, Kean,
    I think you have a great start there. You need to add a way to contact you so that when you get famous and I want to interview you . . . or when your sidebar falls down and I want to tell you . . . I know how to contact you.

    There’s a whole page up there at the top of the sidebar called NEW BLOGGER PAGE that should help. You can also email me lizsun2@gmail.com if you’re lost and looking for help. 😛

    Reply
  15. Mike says

    June 21, 2006 at 9:57 PM

    Hey Kean,

    There’s a wealth of info here in Liz’s Library…make yourself at home in it and make use of it.

    Information without implementation is called knowledge.

    It’s ruined more people than it’s helped.

    Implementation without enough information is called a start, and leads to getting better.

    Your blog is as bad as it will ever be at this moment.

    Every time you learn AND tweak, like us, you’ll only get better and better.

    Good luck and congrats !

    Reply
  16. Aaron B. Hockley says

    June 21, 2006 at 10:29 PM

    Heh… interesting that I posted this same thing a few days ago… http://www.anotherblogger.com/2006/06/19/i-wont-register-to-post-comments/

    Reply
  17. ann michael says

    June 21, 2006 at 10:29 PM

    Hi Liz!

    I just got home and saw your post. I totally agree about registering and about moderating comments. I am have already given up on a couple of blogs were my “moderated” comment didn’t show up within 24 hours – that’s right 24 HOURS – seems inexcusable in this day and age. If you’re going to moderate all comments then you should do so within a couple of hours (8 tops). Otherwise I feel as though you really don’t want to hear from me anyway!

    Reply
  18. ME Strauss says

    June 21, 2006 at 10:33 PM

    Hi Aaron,
    Welcome,
    You might tell us a bit about what you had to say. 🙂

    Reply
  19. ME Strauss says

    June 21, 2006 at 10:37 PM

    Hi Ann,
    Yeah, It’s sort of rude. Isn’t it. To put out a comment box and invite me to comment and then ignore what I say in that way isn’t very nice. It’s like saying that my time isn’t as valuable as the writer’s time is, that my words aren’t as worthy.

    Now it could be that once in a while the spam filter has eaten me, but . . . that’s not always the case. Certainly not when I have to login to say something. The login thing makes me feel like I’m being treated as a spammer until I prove myself innocent.

    Reply
  20. Sue Crocker says

    June 22, 2006 at 1:24 AM

    [quote]The other thing that frustrates me is moderated comments. I know it is a spam prevention device. But most blogging platforms allow the keeper of the blog the privilege of deleting unwanted comments.[/quote]

    I don’t ever bother with moderating comments. I could try removing the need for registration to see if I get more comments.. but comments aren’t the goal on my sites.

    I write HowTo articles for ExpressionEngine. 🙂 I do have a WordPress blog for fiddling with, but my business sites all use EE.

    I post info using three different methods – entries on my site – forum entries – wiki entries. In all three cases users can read, but not write. If you’re a registered user, you can post on the forum and add/edit the wiki entries.

    Reply
  21. kean says

    June 22, 2006 at 1:34 AM

    WOW! Thanks for the warm welcome, i feel so at home! I never knew bloggers were so nice. Thanks for the advice, I’ve made the new bloggers page my new home, I hope you dont mind. This blog is overflowing with useful info. Im glad to have found it!

    Reply
  22. kean says

    June 22, 2006 at 1:45 AM

    Also Liz you mentioned putting contact info… where should I put it???

    Reply
  23. Chris Cree says

    June 22, 2006 at 5:06 AM

    Mike, Point taken on moderating the first comment. I guess I don’t get the traffic you do (yet!) so that hasn’t been an issue for me. I suppose I may change my tune somewhat when that happens. Thanks for your insight on that.

    Kean, Mike’s right. Liz probably won’t toot her own horn, but poke around here and you will learn a ton! I recommend starting out on her “New Blogger” page. There’s plenty to get you started there.

    As far as contact info goes, look around at different blogs and see how others do it. There are differing philosophies, show an email address or have a contact page, etc. It can be a challenging ballance to be accessable without allowing yourself to get overloaded with spam.

    Another great resource is fellow Aussie Darren Rowse at http://www.problogger.net. You may not be blogging to earn an income, but he’s got loads of good info you can apply to make any blog better.

    Reply
  24. ME Strauss says

    June 22, 2006 at 8:30 AM

    HI Sue Crocker,
    Thanks for staying with us and not taking anything that we’re going on about personally. We like to dialogue and get perspective. But the rule here is be nice to everyone.

    How-to article often don’t require discussion, but they sometimes do prompt questions. Don’t you worry that folks — the shy ones — won’t register, and therefore, won’t ask their questions?

    Reply
  25. ME Strauss says

    June 22, 2006 at 8:33 AM

    Hi Kean,
    Some bloggers have that “geeky attitude.” We avoid that here. We like to munch on snacks and beverages and shoot the breeze about what’s going on.

    You might just open up an email account for you blog — separate one — and put that info on your about page.

    I’m thrilled and flattered that you would make the NEW BLOGGER page your home page. That’s ever so very cool!
    Liz

    Reply
  26. ME Strauss says

    June 22, 2006 at 8:34 AM

    PS Kean, Do all of those things that Chris said.
    He’s a very wise blogger. 🙂

    Reply
  27. Chris Cree says

    June 22, 2006 at 9:12 AM

    Wise beyond my years? 😆

    Liz, you crack me up!

    Reply
  28. ME Strauss says

    June 22, 2006 at 10:15 AM

    Chris,
    I forgot how young you are. You are even wiser than that, aren’t you?

    Reply
  29. Chris Cree says

    June 22, 2006 at 10:40 AM

    Well, in blogging years I’m still very much a puppy. In people years, well…

    Reply
  30. ME Strauss says

    June 22, 2006 at 10:45 AM

    In blogging years, few old dogs exist.

    In people years I hear you about use to the words [I can hep.} against me again. 🙂

    You know a lot now that you’ve been through a blog move from one domain to another.

    Reply
  31. katiebird says

    June 22, 2006 at 11:11 AM

    Liz, I changed my blog last week to accept comments from everyone. But the very next time I peaked in, there were 6 spam messages. Some of them totally inappropriate for the intimacy of my blog. So, I deleted them and changed back.

    I would love to allow open comments. But how can I do that without constant moderation?

    Reply
  32. ME Strauss says

    June 22, 2006 at 11:22 AM

    Hi Katie,
    The quick fix is if you’re on WordPress go to Options Discussion and click the box that says

    Comment author must have a previously approved comment. Then you might get a plug in if you’re really getting hammered.

    If you’re a sole blogger, most folks kind of understand. I have word verification my blogspot writing blog. If I don’t spam shows up across some 430 different posts and it takes hours to hunt them down.

    I understand what you mean by the “intimacy of your blog.” That’s what Mike was talking about in his earlier comment on page one of these comments.

    Reply
  33. Mark Wade says

    June 22, 2006 at 11:23 AM

    Very interesting…

    I’d love to have consistent community communication. I believe its the lifeblood as Liz really proves right here at Successful Blog.

    So, my difficulty is that I have a version of WordPress for which Spam Karma works but in a very strange way, it categorizes ALL comments as spam! I’m not geeky enough, nor energetic enough, to fix it. I’m patiently waiting for the blog spam attack I’ve been under since I began posting about Net Neutrality, to ebb.

    I’ve actually found it comforting to know that I have to moderate each comment. Unfortunately, if you’ve tried to leave a comment at my Blog you get this error message… well, you do. But the spam keeps coming in enormous quantity, so it continues to be easier for me to delete it if I keep it the way it is.

    Then I see you folks getting into this discussion and I become envious that you appear to be able to function “normally.” I.E. you can choose. For weeks now, I’ve felt like I have no choice. Of course, I could probably ask for help, but then I’d have to let someone I don’t know into the inner sanctum of my Blog cave lol.

    Reply
  34. ME Strauss says

    June 22, 2006 at 11:28 AM

    Hi Mark,
    I’m using Askimet with WordPress and it learns as it goes along. For the first day or two it did that thing where any hotmail address got put there. Now it’s only a rare and random thing, but I keep looking in there anyway,

    I’ve been asking folks what their greatest problem is and fear of their blog and what they don’t know about it keeps coming up.

    I betcha that our b5 friends would help with that.

    Reply
  35. katiebird says

    June 22, 2006 at 11:33 AM

    Hi Liz!!

    Thanks so much for the tip — I’ve made those changes (I’ve required an email address and asked to be notified about comments waiting moderation)

    I haven’t added Askimet. Maybe that’s something I can get done while I’m on vacation next week (I’m going to play full-time blogger then)

    Thanks for everything. Your blog is a tremendously useful resource.

    Reply
  36. ME Strauss says

    June 22, 2006 at 11:35 AM

    Hey Katie,
    Thanks for asking. I bet YOU helped a lot of folks by doing so.

    Reply
  37. Chris Cree says

    June 22, 2006 at 12:23 PM

    I feel for Mark. When I was looking at spam control I Askimet looked like a better option for me based on what I could find. It seems to do a good job.

    Of course I just learned today that I have to keep an eye on its que because it can hold onto perfectly legitimate comments when it isn’t sure about them.

    I ended up vexing one of my readers because his comments got tied up in Askimet and I didn’t know to go in and let them out. Oops! But now I know to keep an eye on it.

    Reply
  38. ME Strauss says

    June 22, 2006 at 12:27 PM

    Yeah, Chris,
    I always look at my Askimet queue when I pick up comments, because it will take one from someone who comments often, not just from someone who is new.

    That’s the downside to Askiment. I think that could be a problem with all of them. I wish that Askimet had a white list though. I know that some of the spam plug ins do.

    Reply
  39. katiebird says

    June 23, 2006 at 6:39 AM

    I make the comment change yesterday, but this morning I posted a notice that I’ve changed the policy. I hope it encourages more comments!

    Reply
  40. ME Strauss says

    June 23, 2006 at 6:54 AM

    There you go, Katie. You’re turning into a blogger. Everything is a post in our world. But wait a minute. I just when over to your BEAUTIFUL BLOG and I found that it still says I have to be logged in to comment. So it’s turned itself back again.

    Just can’t these darn blogs to behave sometimes. 😛

    Thank you, Katie, By the way for the links over at the Daily Kos. Folks have visiting to see the Net Neutrality page. I had to go find out why they were coming. I was going to write you a personal email about it. You’re great friend to tell them. I truly and deeply appreciate your kind words.
    Liz

    Reply

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