Comments on: Building Blog Community by Setting Homework For Readers

By: Elaina

Elaina — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:34:58 +0000

I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Elaina

http://www.craigslistpostingtools.info

By: 13 Ways to Add New Dimensions to Your Next Post

13 Ways to Add New Dimensions to Your Next Post — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:46:29 +0000

[...] I discovered the power of homework on my photography site a couple of years back. Our readers there loved the idea so much that we now have a weekly assignment in the forum. Heaven forbid if we miss a week – our readers love it so much that if we do miss one they certainly let us know! Read more on setting readers homework [...]

By: How to Build Community on Your Blog

How to Build Community on Your Blog — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 17:37:10 +0000

[...] Give readers homework – try it, it works [...]

By: Building A More Communal Blog at Web Business with North x East

Building A More Communal Blog at Web Business with North x East — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 04:26:19 +0000

[...] Problogger suggests setting tasks or homework for your users as a way to increase participation in this post and this one. If you already have a blog with a large amount of loyalty and participation this can [...]

By: Theresa

Theresa — Sat, 12 Aug 2006 11:40:46 +0000

There is a few wahm that have a question of the week, similar to a carnival but we all answer one question. It gives us links, new readership.

By: brem

brem — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 17:48:51 +0000

stu: exactly.

By: Stu

Stu — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 17:45:19 +0000

I think you also need to have a decent readership, and a high standing in whatever niche you are involved in for this to work.

If any Joe Blow decides to set his readers homework, I think the response rate would be somewhere close to 0%.

By: brem

brem — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 15:16:35 +0000

To be able to give your readership assignments, your blog has to have some intrinsic educational value. I mean by that that your readership has to come to your blog to learn about something. This way, they are already one step closer to participating. Otherwise, people won’t be participating if they don’t feel involved or feel it can be beneficial to them.

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 10:19:29 +0000

Darren,

An excellent idea, I was wandering what you meant about “homework” after reading the original post. I always thought that the Group Writing projects were an inspired piece of marketing.

By: Darren Rowse

Darren Rowse — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 08:19:42 +0000

By all means Adrian – some ‘newsy’ type blogs wouldn’t be able to set homework but a lot of ‘how to’ or ‘tips’ blogs could definately use variations of this.

I guess I’ve been experimenting with it here at ProBlogger also in it’s ‘group writing projects’ – different but the same concept and similar benefits.

Perhaps I should have finished with a paragraph on the need to experiment with different methods and approaches on different blogs.

By: Adrian

Adrian — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 07:00:44 +0000

But is this method worth applying for everyone? Doesn’t it depend on the type of blog one has?

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 02:17:25 +0000

This is actually what drew me to your Digital Photography School blog. It’s one thing to preach about the right principles, the right techniques, etc, but it’s another to let readers actually experience the advice first-hand. This could be a very helpful resource for readers – even more so than the actual advice – especially when the situation lends itself to group work or commentary (such as in photography or in writing). Thanks!

By: Sophi

Sophi — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 02:04:22 +0000

now i’ll also participate