@Rory – I would never suggest the blogger sits back, the goal in my mind that a conversation forms, between the readers yes, but including the blogger always.

On the point about reaching community nirvana: Is the goal to have a blog where visitors end up talking to each other, while the blogger sits back and allows the conversation to take place? Does the blog owner, by the very nature of blogs, need to be involved? Personally, I feel slightly hard-done-by when I visit blogs with several comments, and no input from the blog owner. My feeling is that I have visited the blog because I appreciate the bloggers style and view, but without his own comments I feel sold short.

You provide a compelling example of a hands-on blogger.

I now realize that #3 is why I’ve quickly become addicted to blogging. I can achieve #1 and #2 (up to a point) with my other websites. But only with my blog can I enjoy the conversational element and wonderful sense of community. You’re setting the example for all we should all “achieve the nirvana of community.”

Thank you!

@John – you are welcome

@Collis – math has never been my strong suit, I have computers to do my sums for me

@Chad – feel free to submit any of my articles, I don’t submit my own

@Brendan – please do read it and tell me what you think?

@Ahmed – You will get it soon, I am looking forward to some real honest feedback

very good stuff chris.

Wait doesn’t 1 x 1 x 1 = 1 ?

But seriously, great article!

People will think “oh that’s just common sense” but as I say a lot, common sense does not necessarily mean common practice. Tons of people do not work their feed, or ignore their comments, or create one killer article then phone it in for the rest of the month.

It is more than just doing those things though, it’s important to understand how those pieces work together.

New to blogging I never really realized the conversation aspect of it. When I comment I usually go back a few times that day to what ever blog it is to see if anyone referenced what was said.

I guess when I comment I am usually commenting about the post and not the comments.

And yes I agree with Ashwin it is a “smashing post!”

“Use full feeds rather than snippets. Have faith in your content. With a healthy subscriber count you will get repeat visits, more traffic and most importantly have a platform to build your next dimension, community.” – This is exactly what many bloggers are afraid of. They think the reader wont come back to the site thereby loosing traffic. Good content will make guests comment or atleast view what others are commenting and checking the conversation in general.

By the way, I read this post in my RSS reader and came to comment here! The same applies for Lifehacker. I read the posts and if interested will goto the site to read the conversations and readers comment.