tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24784219.post4281296477756738828..comments2024-03-06T03:58:39.540-06:00Comments on The Viral Garden: Does the size of a blog's community affect its conversation?Mack Collierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02723628321171539590noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24784219.post-1915556003018877812008-02-06T04:58:00.000-06:002008-02-06T04:58:00.000-06:00Sorry for the delay in responding on your question...Sorry for the delay in responding on your question ;)<BR/><BR/>Scoble seems to use a combination of tactics that provoke a response. These include:<BR/>* Goading his audience - I particularly like "What you all are missing about google". <BR/>* Argues in his comments - He takes a strong, rough line in his comments "if you havent already read it, then you are one of three people living under a rock"<BR/>* Democratizes the A-list - He calls on other high profile bloggers to weigh in on issues - but in his forum rather than on theirs<BR/><BR/>Finally, Scoble also provides open play for all comers. There are on-topic comments and there are others that are left of field. <BR/><BR/>The dynamics of this would certainly make for an interesting series of posts ;)Gavin Heatonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08505818390611807191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24784219.post-21092946304017134122008-02-03T09:06:00.000-06:002008-02-03T09:06:00.000-06:00I never really looked at blogs that way. However, ...I never really looked at blogs that way. However, I agree that there are some blogs you read for the actual posts and other blogs you read for the comments that follow the article. It doesn't necessarily mean that the actual post is not worth reading at all. It's just that such blogs provoke you to think and gather more ideas from the conversation of comments involved.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24784219.post-10234863349503893872008-02-02T09:04:00.000-06:002008-02-02T09:04:00.000-06:00I wouldn't call DF a love fest. I see nothing wro...I wouldn't call DF a love fest. I see nothing wrong if someone agrees with a post and simply says, "Good post." But I've seen plenty of discussion and disagreement. The disagreements are usually not strongly worded -- most of try to be respectful and gentle in our criticism. Part of it may be we've come to know and like each other through DF and other blogs, so we try to avoid being too strong in our dissent. But there is dissent, for sure.<BR/><BR/>I am still at a total loss as to what topic brings comments and what doesn't. We all like to get lots of comments, but as someone said above, if you write something that gives both sides and then wraps it up neatly, there may not be much room for comment other than "I agree" or "Nice post."<BR/><BR/>So does that mean we write to stimulate comments, or write to discuss a topic and present all sides of it? That's our individual choice.<BR/><BR/>By the way, good post Mack.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24784219.post-28800976665395864722008-02-01T17:00:00.000-06:002008-02-01T17:00:00.000-06:00Great post. I'm tired of feeling like I've got to...Great post. I'm tired of feeling like I've got to agree with everything I'm reading. Just going with the flow. Your post has convinced me that my view of the marketing blogs I read should be shared...when necessary. I am really going to start letting it fly now.Scott Milam Townsendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17317443815718009807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24784219.post-37154648557311313512008-01-31T15:45:00.000-06:002008-01-31T15:45:00.000-06:00Mack,I agree. Most of my readers visit me to read ...Mack,<BR/><BR/>I agree. Most of my readers visit me to read me. It is the new readers (and Cam, sometimes David R. and John M.) who are most likely to challenge me. And you are also right that I receive about 100 readers (I call them listeners) a day. Not a large number compared to Scoble or the Fix.<BR/><BR/>I can create controverial posts if I want more comments, but while I wish to get more comments, my first responsibility is to write for those readers who make up my ideal audience. Many of them come to bizsolutionsplus to get new ideas, because they aren't in the marketing/communications fields. Since they are trusting me to know of what I speak, and because they are not in my field, it is unlikely they will choose to disagree. Those in my areas of expertise (such as you and CK), visit less frequently and you do visit primarily to see what I am writing.<BR/><BR/>LewisAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24784219.post-50410050795417919522008-01-31T14:52:00.000-06:002008-01-31T14:52:00.000-06:00I try extra-hard to be controversial in my DF post...I try extra-hard to be controversial in my DF posts. I've not always been successful (but that may be because no one but my friends read and considered it). <BR/><BR/>Stephen has a knack for the art like few I've seen!<BR/><BR/>Now, if he (or I) were to get political...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24784219.post-5167057448375852852008-01-31T12:30:00.000-06:002008-01-31T12:30:00.000-06:00"The Fix is a love fest? I could link to a few of ..."The Fix is a love fest? I could link to a few of my old posts that would cure you of that preconception... but in general, I'd say you're correct."<BR/><BR/>Stephen I got slammed pretty good in my first ever DF post, plenty of disagreement. I believe I even linked to a post by Tara Hunt in building my argument in the post, then Tara came and left a comment basically disagreeing with my point! LOL<BR/><BR/>But then again, that post had like 30-40 comments I believe, so the differing opinions led to more discussion.<BR/><BR/>I think in the end, we as bloggers need to do everything possible to encourage everyone to feel free to leave feedback. I actually WANT to see opinions different from mine left here. One time a guy emailed me and said he disagreed with the point of a post I had left, so he wrote about it on his blog. So I went back to MY post and added a link to HIS post. <BR/><BR/>I think there can get to be a fine line between disagreeing and arguing, and that's where the problem can lie.Mack Collierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02723628321171539590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24784219.post-51055802000116382232008-01-31T12:24:00.000-06:002008-01-31T12:24:00.000-06:00"For example, Scoble encourages discussion and dis..."For example, Scoble encourages discussion and disagreement -- it may not be there in each post, but if you read the comments you pick up on the community vibe (what is acceptable or not)."<BR/><BR/>Gavin in what ways does he 'encourage' discussion? Not challenging you, I'm honestly interested as I think that would make a great post on how a blog can encourage discussion.Mack Collierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02723628321171539590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24784219.post-72338317494881135202008-01-31T12:18:00.000-06:002008-01-31T12:18:00.000-06:00Mack/John:The Fix is a love fest? I could link to ...Mack/John:<BR/><BR/>The Fix is a love fest? I could link to a few of my old posts that would cure you of that preconception... but in general, I'd say you're correct. <BR/><BR/>A lot of blogging centers around "liking" - we collect readers because they agree with us. This is fine because we're naturally drawn to those "like us." <BR/><BR/>We are drawn to blogs with heavy traffic because we see that others "like us" "like it." So we follow along, for now. <BR/><BR/>We are also drawn to "A-listers" who are heavy traffic draws because they are "authorities," usually by virtue of a book or two. <BR/><BR/>When A-listers blog, they often turn into monologues - Seth Godin doesn't accept comments -- or micro-soapboxes with comments serving no other purpose than touting their start-up. Scoble's, Peters' and Guy Kawasaki's blogs often can be described this way today. <BR/><BR/>Blogging is a wonderful way to clarify your thinking and to get feedback from other smart people. More dissent would be a function of the nature of the post, though, wouldn't it?Stephen Dennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03458054834470641320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24784219.post-1105298530939184322008-01-31T12:11:00.000-06:002008-01-31T12:11:00.000-06:00The communities that arise around sites like the D...The communities that arise around sites like the DailyFix are attracted to "likeminded thinking". That is, in a world of hyper information it can be comforting to read something that you can agree with (and realise your thinking is not far off).<BR/><BR/>However, there are also the unspoken community rules. For example, Scoble encourages discussion and disagreement -- it may not be there in each post, but if you read the comments you pick up on the community vibe (what is acceptable or not).<BR/><BR/>So, while yes the size does affect the conversation, I think there are other factors at work as well.Gavin Heatonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08505818390611807191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24784219.post-83217765197656387252008-01-31T11:58:00.000-06:002008-01-31T11:58:00.000-06:00"Because a strong community has formed with these ..."Because a strong community has formed with these 20 contributing bloggers, supportive comments like, “Great post” and “I agree” appear frequently. Some might even call it a “love fest” of comments. I would like to read more dissenting opinions on the MP Daily Fix. But that maybe just me."<BR/><BR/>John I'm not arguing that point, in fact I mostly agree with you, but I do think there are more differing opinions on DF than most of the blogs I read regularly. My point is, I don't think that DF is very different from most of the blogs I read regularly. Most of the ones I read have a strong and supportive community. I see similar 'love fest' comments on many of the blogs I read. <BR/><BR/>But I think on larger blogs, like Scobles. you have the same community of readers that love Scoble, but I think you also have a larger group of readers that aren't really a part of his 'community', and are more likely to disagree with him, and voice those disagreements. <BR/><BR/>I think it's just human nature, we are more likely to agree with people that we like, and more likely to disagree and VOICE that disagreement with people that we either don't like, or don't know very well.Mack Collierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02723628321171539590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24784219.post-59930807822736076012008-01-31T11:31:00.000-06:002008-01-31T11:31:00.000-06:00The MP Daily Fix is different from most blogs I re...The MP Daily Fix is different from most blogs I read. They have around 80 contributing bloggers with 20 of them posting consistently. A strong and supportive community with these 20 contributors has formed. These 20 contributors aren’t just active in posting essays, they are also active in posting comments. <BR/><BR/>Because a strong community has formed with these 20 contributing bloggers, supportive comments like, “Great post” and “I agree” appear frequently. Some might even call it a “love fest” of comments. I would like to read more dissenting opinions on the MP Daily Fix. But that maybe just me.<BR/><BR/>Keep in mind, I enjoy the MP Daily Fix. I enjoy it so much that it won my 2007 Marketing Bloggers Bracketology tournament. In praise of the MP Daily Fix, I wrote this last April …<BR/><BR/>“Ann Handley has compiled a strong tail list of interesting marketers sounding off on relevant marketing matters. Andrea Learned, Jeanne Bliss, Stephen Denny, Ted Mininni, David Armano, CK, and Lewis Green all consistently post worthwhile reading for any marketer. Add in some of the infrequent contributors like Spike Jones, Jill Griffin, Mike Wagner, Debbie Weil, Roy Young … and you have a stable of marketing bloggers that are unrivaled.”john moore (from Brand Autopsy)https://www.blogger.com/profile/09893434342736959512noreply@blogger.com