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How to Shut People Out By Shutting Down
I’m noticing a disturbing situation in the blogosphere, and I think it’s time to have a rant.
I know some of you might think, “Aw, look! How cute! Harry’s being angry.” Even James gave me a virtual pat on the head when I asked him, “Do you think this post is too much?”
Make no mistake. I’m bothered.
I don’t comment very much on people’s blogs, but I do read and I do observe what happens around me in the blogosphere. Some people I once looked up to are making foolhardy decisions. I still like these people, but I don’t agree with their actions or words – or the effects they might have on other people and their lives.
No Comment
A popular marketing blogger has shut down her comment section. The reasons she gave were harshly worded, an insult to dedicated readers and a slap in the face to bloggers who welcome comments.
Apparently, her comment section wasn’t contributing enough to discussions and wasn’t making people feel welcome. She also didn’t feel that what others had to say was important. She outright called her audience lame.
Gee, thanks. I appreciate that.
I agree that comment sections are work to maintain. It also takes work to create a comment section that is welcoming and friendly. We know. That takes time away from the core business, sure.
But without people, your business is nothing. And when you blog and sell services using your blog to market yourself, your business is all about people.
Comment sections are also about mutual respect. Your readers respected you enough to take the time to read your post; the least you can do is acknowledge that and respond in some way. A simple, “Thanks everyone!” can be enough in some cases.
Let’s say you’re a blogger and a commentator leaves what you feel is a harmful comment. Well, get your ass in gear and do something. Don’t just let the comment sit there while you bitch about it. Tell the person why you disagree – and hold up your arguments with solid points.
You’re supposed to be the authority on the subject, so act like one.
Wallflowers Make Pretty Scenery
Another point of contention brought up was that comment sections can intimidate people from speaking up or adding their views.
This is no blog owner’s problem. There will always be people who haven’t overcome their fears and learned to say what they feel. There will always be those who do nothing but sit on the sidelines wishing they could jump in to have fun too.
The truth is that they can.
No one stops people from commenting but the people themselves. All bloggers can do is be a gracious host and make everyone feel welcome. The rest is up to the individual – so why exclude others who aren’t afraid to speak up?
See No Evil, Hear No Evil
Not long ago, someone told us to be careful about the advice we give. We’re in the big leagues now, and many people believe our advice is gospel.
We believe our readers are intelligent, and we know people can think for themselves. We present our experiences and thoughts. We allow readers the respect of deciding whether they agree or not, and we’re open to discussion.
We’re even mature enough to know that there are many ways to accomplish similar goals; our way isn’t the only one.
Shutting down comments on a blog to avoid facing criticism, justifying opinions or debating advice just conveys, “My advice is the only advice that matters. And I don’t want to hear your opinion.”
Let’s face it: A blog without a comment section is nothing more than a personal soapbox.
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James, my comment is caught…I added a link to a Harry Potter Puppet Show in the spirit of fun. I support Naomi’s decision to fulfill her ideal client’s expectations. And As Jamie said their business plan. I think blogs have life cycles. And scaling issues. Changes, transitions are a matter of growth and intent. Sometimes the changes come gradually. Sometimes that change cannot be contained. Didn’t Sparkpluggin’ go through a whole rebranding because of scale and intent?
Janice Cartiers last blog post..Have You Lined Up Your Goals This Week?
@Kelly: Yes, exactly. Don’t try this at home.
Oh, you were setting it free as I was typing.
Janice Cartiers last blog post..Have You Lined Up Your Goals This Week?
I’m a fast little bunny
I thought that it was common decency to not name her.
I think it’s better to take her out of the picture completely and discuss how the words made us feel. In our field, we need to draw the line between the personal and the business. We write the words, but we’re not equal to the words.
It seems as though the Pen Men knew that we struggle with this (but I’m not putting words in their mouths….). That’s probably why they didn’t include the name at all–to keep us from trying to personalize Naomi’s work.
First of all, the reason her commentators were not welcoming or friendly is because she didn’t take the time to answer her readers questions and get connected to her daily visitors of her blog. The biggest bloggers connect with their readers by answering questions and responding to post. Besides, commentators are vital to a bloggers success. They add value, substance, and higher page rank! Come on people, lets work together! Good post, man.
Yes, and I totally understand Harry’s reasoning for leaving the name out. BUT humans are inherently curious critters and the comments led to Voldemort Syndrome. Now, because the identity was shrouded in mystery, the point of the post was almost detracted from. But, not one to criticize without offering up an alternative here’s my two cents:
In order to keep a post about a theory, rather than an individual, perhaps the post should be kept theoretical rather than specifically alluding to an individual. The person/specific event in question is simply an inspiration to the writer, and the readers are oblivious to the existence of the actual event, thereby avoiding Voldemort Syndrome.
Urban Panthers last blog post..Airport shenanigans
@Urban Panther– That’s a really good point. I like that you offer suggestions for change as well
I completely and 100% support her and any other blogger’s decision to stop comments at the point that comments no longer benifit the reason for the website’s exsistence. She isn’t there to entertain us, she is running a business and trying to help a specific target marget that she feels will benifit better by not having the comment section.
Could she have said it in a different tone? Sure. She could have even said please. BUT we are talking about someone who was consistent with the tone of all of her writing and to do something less would have seemed silly. She was true to herself and she was authentic. I respect her and won’t be going anywhere.
I think a business owner has to weigh their decisions against a lot of factors and make choices- difficult ones- that the public won’t always be privy to. Sometimes they work, sometimes not. They learn, they shift, they try again. If they have built a loyal following and put their KEY clients first- and to do that, you have to know WHO THEY ARE- they will most likely have the chance to learn from their experiences.
Those that judge, be careful, your day will come when not everyone will understand what you are doing either. It will be nice to have your friends standing at your side.
Wendi Kelly-Life’s Little Inspirationss last blog post..Cleaning Closets
@ Wendi – Hey now. Good comment and I understand your point. I hope you don’t feel that we’re judging the blogger based on her actions – that would be against all of my and Harry’s beliefs of open acceptance of people, and completely and entirely against the point of this post.
I ask this, though: what is the limits of consistency of voice? I am direct. Can I be too direct? I think so, Wendi. What about Harry – he’s quiet. Can he be too quiet? Yes, indeed. And so it goes for snark, I feel. There are limits between sarcastic snark and condescending rudeness. I suppose where those limits are depend on each person’s perspective.
Sadly, Harry is indeed too quiet. Need mo’ Harry genius in my days.
Kellys last blog post..Tip of the Week: Can You Do It, When It’s Been Done?
I actually get far more email than comments on my blog. That’s fine with me too. It isn’t that I don’t want people to comment. I like it that they do and I enjoy hanging out and having a discussion.
No, the reason I like getting the email is that those visitors who do not feel comfortable commenting are often working on their own fear of writing (which is basically what my blog is about).
So there’s no way I’d shut the comments down. After all, the blog is for everyone to enjoy as they like and hopefully to learn from my mistakes. If that turns out to be a private thing for some readers, I’m all for it.
Great post Harry!
Well, here I am at the bottom of a long stream of comments, and since I rarely read this far down, I’m also assuming others won’t read. But, what the heck, I’ll add my two shekels.
Before content, before pricing, before features, there is tribe. I wrote about this recently in a blog post, Why Clients Don’t Buy- The Hierarchy of Choice.
I will be very curious about what happens with Naomi’s blog as she continues forward, and whether she is able to maintain a strong sense of belonging and tribe without the comments section. Part of the value of the comments in a blog is not just whether a conversation is valuable in terms of content, but whether people can see if they are alone, or if there IS a tribe they belong to.
Because Naomi’s own authentic way of speaking connected so strongly to so many people, there is clearly a tribal thing going on.
However, the same sense of tribe has been created through email and other one-way communications- I experience tribe much more strongly with the several thousand people on my email list than with the rather anemic following on my blog at this point. Not that I don’t welcome it on my blog- it’s just my blog isn’t as visible (yet!?!).
I read a blog post by Joe Vitale once that struck me, even though I don’t often agree with the guy’s approach to life. He said that he spends over an hour every single day responding personally to emails, because that’s his business, those are the people who support what he’s doing.
I’ve taken that same attitude with my email and now with my blog. It’s not the only way to do things, and I support Naomi 100% in following what’s true for her. I’m just curious to see how it pans out.
Mark Silvers last blog post..Why Clients Don’t Buy- The Hierarchy of Choice
Somehow I missed this. And now, reading it, I feel like the ostracized child of a bitter divorce.
I haven’t read all the comments because I’m having a bad day, and I don’t think I could take it. Maybe tomorrow.
Great discussion here. The comments section highlighting and contributing significantly to the discussion. Hmmm What does that mean?
Harmonys last blog post..Who Is A Global Citizen?
Before I went out on my own, I was an account guy for a couple of the biggest ad agencies in the world. We actually believed that clients did business with us because we were always right – and we were pretty arrogant and dismissive when clients disagreed with us.
Imagine our surprise when an industry research study told us that clients felt they could do without us pretty darn easily, since their own marketing departments could do what we did, only better. Oops – big dose of reality there.
Same with blogs. Arrogance is not an effective communications strategy. If I want people to write checks to me, I have to create and maintain a relationship with them.
While I might not have to expend the same energy on everyone, and I choose the people I invest time and energy in, I have to remember what what I post is seen by everyone. That means I have to deal with the obstreperous posters in a way that my more valuable contributors respect.
And if I don’t invest the time and thought in doing this, well, they are going to brand me with the same epithet I apply to those guys I don’t like. And they will likely be accurate.
@ Liz – Okay, wait, so you’re saying that if I say I’m your friend, you’ll write me a cheque…?
It’s taken me all day to get through the various posts and comments to be sure of this, but here it is: Harry – I’m calling you on this post.
James | Dancing Geeks last blog post..I’m calling out Men with Pens
@ James – Oh coolness! I’m going to read now. (Um, what does this say about us that I get excited when someone disagrees?)
Holy comment volume, batman!
I consider myself relatively thin-skinned, and I didn’t feel insulted by Naomi’s explanation for removing comments, as the tone was consistent with the rest of her posts.
Whether or not the decision turns out to be bad for business remains to be seen, but the bulk of comments here fail to make the distinction between the strategy and the execution.