For me I definitely separate readership and community. I have a readership, yes, but it is the community that I write for and that I engage with.

You say “face to face is till strongest element of community” (with which I agree), and this is why I meet up with many of the people who are regulars here and at the least have regular skype calls with them because they are across the other side of the world.

I’m totally committed to this community!

Scott

Yes, I agree that their is a big difference between a blog such as yours and how a brand may use a blog for greater, less personal reach. Let’s be honest, you don’t *really* have a relationship with a brand or product so it is quite different.

I think the definition of success again varies on why the blog exists and agree that retweets don’t always mean success. Arguably it could be suggested that comments don’t either (think Seth Godin albiet an extreme example). I do think that comments may be the most engaging element and are important but I don’t tend to think of a blog having a community, more so a readership.

I see you are trying to build a community around your blog which is cool but the whole term community is up for so much debate anyway one can determine their own definition and use whatever tools they see fit. I think flexibility is the key and giving people the choice as to how they contribute. Ultimately I feel face-to-face is still the strongest element of a community and the tools we use are primarily to connect, engage, build and develop the community.

Peter

Thanks for stopping by and sharing your experience

1. Sure, conversation off the site is important for brands – in fact, it’s what its’ all about. For a Value Based Blog, which is what I’m talking about, it’s far less important, because it is not as deep and less collaborative.

2. Again, retweets are great for the volume play, but I’m showing that a value based blog strategy doesn’t need lots of retweets.

Sure, all in the mix it helps. But what I’m labouring to show is that where as most people think it’s mostly about retweets and page views, I’m saying you can have a successful blog without them.

And for me, it’s not about the number of comments, it’s about the quality of engagement, which I find is normally better through comments like yours, or skype calls.

3. Your points of being in a community / network are interesting. I’m finding that this is a useful thing, because if I want to signpost someone to a better business development blog, then I have a network (albeit informal) that I sign post people to.

What I want to do is have those links here so people know where to go for better that what I can give.

Thanks for the build Peter – how would you respond to this?

Best,
Scott

Interesting post and points.

I think to say off site discussion is worthless is not necessarily true as it really depends on how you measure this and what you are trying to achieve from your blog. If you take Ford as an extreme, the more discussions about the Fiesta in the US the better as the project had a significant ROI i.e. orders of the Fiesta in the US market. Or, from an employer brand point of view, more people that recognise a brand positively, regardless of where this happens, helps build brand awareness.

As for retweets, I hear what you are saying but again if these spread a good message, which comes back to you in a good way e.g. an enquiry surely they have some value? Is it for the writer to determine how their readers “comment”? Isn’t a retweet a positive recognition of the post? Yes, comments may feel nice but are they not just one measure of engagement? Isn’t it the cumulative effect of time+comments+likes+retweets=engagement?

If someone is walking down the street who knows you well but just says Hi and continues on their way, and you recognise they are in a hurry, does it mean that because they did not stop to talk their greeting is of less value? Are they any less a friend?

I get up to 500 page views/day but find that probably 50% of people that connect with me do so via Linkedin but mention my blog as their source of “knowing” me. They rarely have commented on my blog but arguably made more effort to connect via a different method. Also, I don’t think of my readers as a community. I am part of a bigger community with maybe a louder voice than others but still only part of the bigger community; not my community though. I see the volume part of my stats as acceptance by the community rather than a measure of my own success so yes, they are important but not just to be the biggest or best.

Anyway, they are my thoughts. Hope they are helpful.

Peter