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Blog comments can be THE key to your success.
Do you ever read blogs? Do you write one or two? Your success with blogs follows doing just a few things very well. The better you do them, the greater your success.
OK, so far there’s nothing new here. Don’t be surprised. I’m no expert, but I do pay attention to many people — Ann Evanston, Bill Belew, Stacie Tamaki, Judy Dunn, Patrick Schwerdtfeger, Mari Smith, Andy Ebon, to name just a few of my favorites — who ARE experts at using a blog (well, using all social media, actually) to communicate with people.
So, what are those few best practices they recommend? Let me tell you about just one of the things they’re teaching me.
But first, let me say that purely technical aspects of writing a blog are important, too, and technical experts are indispensable. My techie friends advised me to use the WordPress platform, and I’m loving it. But for me, the important thing is not how you use the tool, but how you use the blog. The technical advice is only the means to an end.
The end is to establish trusted relationships with people. Whatever your ultimate purpose, you aim to communicate, have a conversation and share ideas. Send comments back and forth. Maybe do a little business, too. Maybe broaden your understanding. Maybe preach, teach, or learn something new and worthwhile. Up to you.
By itself, a blog is a solitary billboard, a radio broadcast, a newspaper ad, someone talking to himself, an invitation to a banquet. One-way. Once you reply, the magic begins — your comments put you into a conversation that can take you wherever you want to go.
So start the conversation. Whenever you’re reading blogs, leave comments. Whenever you write a blog, ask your readers for comments.
If you don’t already know how, it’s easy to leave comments. Just below the text of any blog is a box you can write in. Click there and write a message agreeing, disagreeing, or offering insights and suggestions. Fill in the fields for your name, email, and possibly your own website. Then click the “SEND” button and you’ve left a blog comment! It should appear there soon.
Visit the Magnolia Jazz Band’s blog to see some of the nice comments I’ve received. Notice that I’ve begun replying to these comments. I’m making this a habit, and so should you. Really, they’re the start of conversations that often continue offline.
My blog collects my thoughts about leading a working jazz band throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. I make a living providing music for weddings and other celebrations, and I regularly keep in touch with colleagues in the hospitality industry. Here I’m (halfway back, on the left) attending a recent dinner with the San Francisco chapter of NACE (National Association of Catering Executives). Thanks to Josh Rodriguez for the wonderful photo.
The Magnolia Jazz Band entertains somewhere nearly every day, and if we can ever help you, please call us at 408-245-9120. Please visit MagnoliaJazz.com for testimonials, music samples, videos, photos, and our public schedule, and catch us at an event soon. In the meantime, please join our Facebook “fans”, and you’ll get a reminder for each of our public events.
Thanks for reading my blog. Are you getting one or two good ideas here?
Won’t you please help me? Please take a moment to
– “LIKE” this blog,
– leave me a nice COMMENT with an interesting idea,
– SHARE this post with a friend, and
– SUBSCRIBE to my blog for more of my thoughts.
Thanks for reading this article. I appreciate your interest and hope you get a few good ideas here. Got one or two? I'd love to hear what you liked. Please write me a little COMMENT below. Start a conversation -- I'll reply. Promise.
By the way, does a friend need help selecting wedding or party music? Do them a favor: EMAIL this article, or SHARE it on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Google+.
And if you find my blog useful, please LIKE it, TWEET it, and SUBSCRIBE for more ideas. Use those cute little icons below.
Meanwhile, the Magnolia Jazz Band entertains at weddings and parties throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. If you are ever nearby, you’ll love catching us in action, seeing and hearing us create a great mood.
How can I help you? Call 408-245-9120 or use Robbie@MagnoliaJazz.com. Planning a celebration? Ask about our availability.
Hi Robbie! This is a helpful primer for those who are just starting to write a blog. OR for those who enjoy a blog, love a blogger, etc.
Thanks!
Debbie
Hi Debbie,
Thanks for your note. So prompt! I’m glad you’re finding my article useful, even though you’re no beginner. If you’re like me, you get better at whatever you practice, and the better you get, the more you enjoy it. So I wrote this little article to sum up what I like (so far, at least) about learning to blog. What have you been enjoying about writing YOUR blog?
Hi Robbie – I like it all. I’m really having fun with my personal blog. I just need more time to keep working, practicing and having fun!
Debbie
http://www.FreshBrothers.Wordpress.com
Lovely to have you as part of the blogger community AND the commenting community! It strikes me that the relationship core of blogging is mirrored in the relationship aspect of the work you do. Making music that engages the audience is about relationship, too. And you are so important in the events you do, creating an atmosphere that supports everyone’s enjoyment of one another.
Judy Stone-Goldman
The Reflective Writer
Hi Judy,
Thanks for your note. I completely agree with you about relationships. Unless we live alone in a cave all day, practically EVERYTHING we do rests on the relationships we form. A salesman friend just told me he really sells himself, not his product. In a way, isn’t that true for all of us?
Nicely asked Robbie. I too love listening to Ann, which is how I found you. I love your thoughtful approach to your blog. I’ve found that for me I’ve begun to really love blogging. Since I write about Little Bits of Beauty™ that inspire my design process, “from people to places and thoughts to things”, I have a lot of areas I can research and discuss. Through that I am learning a lot, keeping in tune globally, meeting new people and always find interesting new thoughts, ideas, information and inspiration. Bottom line…I’m having a lot of fun!
PS…I also have picked up a couple of clients because they already felt they knew me through my posts and we got to skip the interview process. REALLY NICE!
This was lovely to read. I like how you are sharing what you have learned in the blogging community and are passing it on to others. Isn’t it great fun to comment on each other’s blogs and breathe life into everything. It’s so true that until the comments appear, the post is in solitary confinement. When the communication takes place, it all comes alive. Thanks for the invite to engage.
Fiona Stolze
http://fionastolze.wordpress.com
Good thoughts; until I got involved with Blogger Monday I had no idea how amazing it could be to have a blog and receive comments and be able to read others’s blogs, share your reactions and just how this whole process can be one of growth and so uplifting! I have been trying to encourage my mom to begin blogging, and I am going to share your blog with her as it is a great introduction that will help her get a feeling for how this would be enjoyable for her. Especially coming from you, because her father had a band in SF back in the 20s and 30s — he played accordion and piano, so she will relate to your blog I think!
Great job on the website and integrating social proof (yelp, wedding book etc…) and social media into this site. You’ve really made the three column format work well. Very nicely done. Just a small nit. on your social media buttons on the upper right, I can see faintly the word “button”.
Robbie – you have such a warm way of expressing yourself. I really enjoyed your explanation of using a blog to open up conversation. I am going to pass this around to others — it is so wonderful and such an accurate description.
Rachel
What a wonderful way to share what you know about blogging with your readers. I’d love to read or watch a blog post of you playing.
;Darcie Newton
Wine, not whine. Nature not Nurture. Disciplined for profit, none for cheese.
http://www.mywealthspa.com
Robbie its great to see you share what you have learnt. I am with Darci though. I would love to read more about your band. Hear you playing and read about your adventures, as you travel the bay area.
I tell my clients that appreciating their lives, is essential to making the most of everyday.
Jennifer Duchene
Home Makeover Mixtress blending lifestyle and laughter
http://www.lyshome.com
Welcome to the blogging world Robbie. You’re right it’s about starting and building relationships. Love to hear your music some day.
I love your tip about replying to comments and I started off trying to reply to each and every one. I just can’t keep up with that all the time now so I try to reply to select ones. You are preaching to the converted on Blogger Monday – lol. I did enjoy this post.
Louise Edington
Facing Fears For Freedom
http://louiseedington.com
Hi Robbie. We have at least 2 things in common. We both use Wordpress and I also think that Ann is a great teacher! I too am learning to get better at blogging. I have to post more frequently and as you suggested, ask my readers questions so that they may be able to join in on the conversation. Thanks for sharing!
Tracey
Hi Robbie,
I’m also a fan of Patrick’s and we’re interviewing him for our Telesummit on Social Media and Sales…you may want to check it out!
Gail Nott got me into Blogging and introduced me to Blogger Monday with Ann Evanston. It has been a lot of fun and I have connected with other great Bloggers 😉
Brandy Mychals
Communications Coach
Creator of Split Second Perceptions
Although I am new to blogging, I really enjoy it. It has become a platform for me to get things off my chest instead of just shouting at the TV set what i saw something that bothered me. I am now commenting more and more on others blogs and love getting feedback from them or other commenters also .
You make a great point about replying to comments, it moves a monologue into a true dialogue and enhances the experience for the blogger and reader. Thanks for sharing your tip!
Another great post Robbie! You’ve hit the nail on the head: “…the important thing is not how you use the tool, but how you use the blog. The technical advice is only the means to an end.” And thanks for the mention 🙂
This post should help me and I guess I have to work on so many things when writing posts regarding events and parties.
I am sure that the informative you shared through your post is useful for people. I am impressed with the way of writing. It kept connected me all the time.Keep up the good work.
Thanks for sharing these beautiful tips for wedding.
Will definitely follow these tips whenever I will get a chance.
Keep on sharing more!!