We bloggers believe that there is the art of making money online, right? Would you believe that there is also the art of making friends online? And do you think you'd become a better blogger when you combine those two? Well you may have to answer the questions together with me.Readers and Visitors are Readers and Visitors
True. Our blog visitors and readers contribute much to our traffic. But they just remain visitors and readers when we don't try to interact with them. We all want our visitors to come often but we want it more when they comment and engage in meaningful discussions with us and with their fellow readers.
How To Make Friends With Your Blog Visitors
- Answer to their comments
- Visit their blogs and drop some sensible comments
- Find them on social communities
- Regularly engage in conversations with them whether in your blog or even in Yahoo! Messenger or somewhere else
- Treat them more as your friends than your blog visitors
- Be reasonably friendly all the time
- Meet those in your locale
Why Turn Your Readers Into Your Friends?
There are many reasons why each one of us would want to turn our readers into our friends. It all depends on what we want to do or achieve. Possibly the best effect that this could bring is that you will strengthen your online presence more. You would also get more unforced and sensible comments. From analysis, it is obvious that your friends would visit and comment more on your blog than just regular visitors who may be considered as mere passers-by. Take this real world example: who would be likely to comment on your new shirt, strangers or friends? The answer is obvious. In the blogosphere, friends will not just comment for the sake of commenting but will comment for the sake of suggesting, clarifying or affirming ideas.
Choose Your Friends & Know Your Boundaries
But like the real world, making friends don't come in a snap. It is also best to consider who to make friends with. You may end up on people shooing you away. Find those whose interests are compatible with yours - at least you won't find a hard time striking up conversations interesting to both parties. You could find those with the same niche, same age, same gender, same hobbies or whatever is the same in both of you.
When making friends with somebody online, always make sure you know your boundaries. Be careful not to be too fast in opening up personal issues. And by the way, making friends online don't only mean the professional way. You could be friends - the real meaning of friends.
Final Say
You don't have to befriend everyone. Trying to befriend everyone is not a good move. You end up befriending no one at all if that's the case. Again, it is your own preference whether to convert your visitors to your friends or let them stay as they are. We can say that in real life having many friends brings very many good things. It is time to test the theory in the online world. Just don't forget to be real all the time.
Thanks to Jesse for suggesting the post topic
Photo courtesy of ingirogiro and rabataller
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13 comments:
Saturday, January 17, 2009 9:21:00 PM GMT+08:00
I agree with you here, as it is really good to make friends with your readers. The main problem of overdoing this is you will have a lot of followers and commentators.
Yes, you will be popular enough but I doubt if you can make money from them. Not unless you are into building a list. Let's face the fact that they will not click your ads regularly, as once is only by chance or a reward.
Furthermore, you can only expect them to buy through your affiliate links only once.
Therefore, we must not forget that it is the first time visitors that we can really make money from.
Incidentally, here is my latest post that supports my point of view. I hope you don't mind me putting the link here.
Best regards.
Rich
http://www.notmakingmoneyonline.com/archives/top-5-blog-widgets-that-bloggers-cannot-not-make-money-from.html
Sunday, January 18, 2009 9:19:00 AM GMT+08:00
@ Rich,
I personally don't make friends with some other readers so I could make money out of them. The art of making money online is different from making friends. Having both won't actually be problem. It would even be a good thing.
I don't mind you putting the link. It's related with my other post anyways. Thanks for the comment! :)
Sunday, January 18, 2009 2:23:00 PM GMT+08:00
@rich Yes, but having friends coming to a blog gives it life, and the feedback they give energizes the blogger. This means the first timer viewer is more likely to stay and look around, click an ad or buy an affiliate product. So friends do contribute to income, but indirectly.
Sunday, January 18, 2009 2:40:00 PM GMT+08:00
@Mike,
I agree with you. Point well said. Online friends only differ from real life friends by their being 'online'. Other than that, no huge difference. They're friends. They support you.
Monday, January 19, 2009 1:07:00 AM GMT+08:00
Yea,developing a closer bond with the readers is really important and is the first step to build a successful loyal reader database...although the points given by you may look simple and easy,the successful implementation of those small points will create wonders :)
Monday, January 19, 2009 9:42:00 PM GMT+08:00
That's the reason why you joined social media - Make Friends.
Having a blog is like having a shop. If you have established a relationship between you and your customers, they will most likely return to your shop. It's the same concept.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009 5:11:00 PM GMT+08:00
@I Comment Back,
Yes, they're simple but effective in many varying ways.
@Jesse,
Nice comparison! :)
Tuesday, January 27, 2009 6:09:00 PM GMT+08:00
I don't believe one should look upon the visitor's as your friend. Try n out with contacting and updating them about your site or blog via emails. This is I believe n follow.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009 10:51:00 PM GMT+08:00
That is a good things to learn. Make a friends with readers is not easy. We have to spend more times. But I believe it as a good way to have more customers.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009 9:24:00 AM GMT+08:00
@Online Course Software,
Okay, I understand your opinion. Seemingly serious blogs or sites need not really venture on this one.
@internet business,
Good that you got the point. Befriending your readers won't really hurt your blog. There's no harm doing it. Thanks.
Saturday, February 14, 2009 1:24:00 PM GMT+08:00
When I first started my networking ventures, I thought it was all about the money. I quickly learned that it is about relationships. I am happy to know this is what it's all about because I love forming lasting relationships. If I can make a honest living building relationships, then color me happy. I hope to make many friendship on the web. Thanks for allowing me to make this comment.
Eddie Garcia
eddiegarcia08@gmail.com
http://eddiegarcia-myblogs.blogspot.com/
Sunday, February 15, 2009 11:27:00 AM GMT+08:00
@ EddieGarcia,
Yes, it is all about relationships and connections. If you don't build such, you will not get far.
Thanks for the comment!
Thursday, November 19, 2009 12:46:00 PM GMT+08:00
Nice post bro. I almost forget about friendship now :(
Thanks for this post
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