Comments on: Does Professional Blogging = Non Interactive Blogging?

By: Andy

Andy — Sun, 24 Apr 2005 15:28:39 +0000

The personal touch is vital, in my opinion. Of course, with the few interactions I receive to my own blog, it’s easy to stay personal. This becomes harder with increasing size. However, businesses of all kinds (should) know how important the personal touch is – customer service and recognition – even if some of that is automated. At least the automated responses you received acknowledged what you had submitted, and the fact that your tip was published later on the blog, proves that the auto-response was truthful. I would like to think that, should any of my current or future blogging/site projects increase in popularity and interactivity, that I would still be able to devote enough time to communicating and community-building, than simply being on the production line. I don’t believe good writing can exist in a vacuum and neither can the ‘firewalled’ blogger.

By: Darren

Darren — Sun, 24 Apr 2005 12:47:31 +0000

Guess it depends how you define ‘pro’ Duncan. If you mean money making blogs then all three are – with substantial traffic, numerous ads and evidence of good earnings.

If you mean behaving professionally – I’d have to say yes to 1 and 2 but not so with 3.

Just to clarify – I’m not expecting a reply from every tip I send – I’m not even expecting a link up – but I found the response of 3 pretty surprising. I’d rather have no reply at all – but if I was annoying him I guess I’d expect him to let me know also – but perhaps in a more gracious way.

By: Duncan

Duncan — Sun, 24 Apr 2005 12:12:32 +0000

Id be interested to know whether the 3 bloggers were pro or ameteurs…because if their pro’s this is no way to run a business. Sure, we all have time constraints, but there is no reason to be discourteous.

By: Nicholas

Nicholas — Sun, 24 Apr 2005 05:29:07 +0000

I agree with Ben. I don’t know if any blogger will be able to get away with that for good. Blogging is about communication, and if someone is unwilling to communicate on all levels with their audience, there will be a line of bloggers just waiting to take their place.

By: Carla

Carla — Sat, 23 Apr 2005 17:29:50 +0000

It occurs to me that the entire point of blogging is the personal interaction. If I just wanted straight news, I’d head to a news service like rueters or the local papers online. I understand that as a pro blogger, there are a lot of emails to sift through. However soliciting such emails and then reacting like blogger 3 just isn’t on, there’s just no excuse for it. I think he’ll find he alienates a lot of his readers if that’s his standard of interaction.

By: Smart Money

Smart Money — Sat, 23 Apr 2005 13:28:39 +0000

This is an example of the difference between a business and a hobby. Most blogs are run as hobbies, even ones that are done full time and generate 6-figure income. In a real business you would hire an assistant who understands your business so that as you grow you can maintain the level of communication with you customers [readers] that a communication based venture demands. In a business proper, the owner-CEO should only be doing the tasks at the very heart of the business; trained staff should do all other tasks. If this is not the case, then a business cannot grow, because the demands that are placed on the owner will grow exponentially and the burnout or breaking point will be reached.

By: Ben

Ben — Sat, 23 Apr 2005 10:16:50 +0000

Fascinating situation Darren. As a purely amateur blogger, it seems to me that if you eliminate the personal and interactive dimensions of blogging it becomes something more akin to broadcasting. The back and forth between blogger and audience is what makes it worthwhile. Sounds like Blog Number 3 needs some help – or a holiday.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Sat, 23 Apr 2005 02:59:04 +0000

I’m appalled by blogger # 3, even # 1 bugs me a little bit. I understand time constraints…I sure do, but you need to make time for your customers/readers/visitors especially the ones that take the time to contribute something to your effort. There are days in which I get over 100 emails…I do my best to answer every one of them, even if it’s just a short note, or a simple “thanks” for them taking the time to write me.

By: Patrick Grote

Patrick Grote — Sat, 23 Apr 2005 02:41:56 +0000

I have been through this recently. :)

By: Kevin Humphrey

Kevin Humphrey — Sat, 23 Apr 2005 00:27:39 +0000

I think this type of scenario could apply in any industry. No matter what you do, if you’re rude or non-interactive with your suppliers/customers/community you’re going to limit your success.

It will surely become more prevelant in the blogging world as more ‘entrepreneurs’ come on board, but you reap what you sow, just like anything in life.

By: Danger Stevens

Danger Stevens — Fri, 22 Apr 2005 23:31:01 +0000

I think Blogger 3 will find a real ceiling to his business. There’s a level of personability that not only helps to build friendships with other bloggers, but will inevitably come through in your own writing on in your relationships to the writers you hire.
A good example of a blog that made it BIG without anything but personability (and good photos) is Dooce