I read up the guest post by Blog Tyrant in Problogger today. The post talk about three problems he found on a blog that will led him to leave in three seconds. One of the problems that make him leave a blog in three seconds is the blog has no comments. If you haven’t read that, click the link above to read up his post.
While scrolling down to the comments area after the post, i saw a comment by Kristi from Kikolani. Here’s what she commented
“Lack of comments may also just be the sign of a new blog. Someone who is an expert in one field may be trying their hand out on another topic on a new site. Instead of running when you see no comments, how about reading the article and becoming the first comment – being a first commenter isn’t really that scary at all, and the blogger will probably greatly appreciate it!
Also, another way to increase comments is to simply go out and comment. Get your name and website on related blogs. Leaving great comments elsewhere might garner some reciprocal comments!”
What i actually resonate with her is the first paragraph, Instead of running away when you see no comments, how about being the first to read the article and commenting. Even though this is a small paragraph that mention about being the first to comment on a “no commenter’s blog”, how many times do we find ourself practicing this in blogging?
Yes why do we have to run away like most majority people do and not being the minority to start doing something different? Do we dare to come out of the cage and start walking our way in a big forest? Are we fast becoming majority people without having our own mind of thinking?
Few Reasons Why We Are The Majority Who Always Follow
There are a few reasons why most people are the majorities who like to follow:
Lacking of Courage - We lack of courage to try out something new. We like to wait for people to tell us whether it is good or bad before we throw our hands in to do it ourselves.
Too dependent – We are too dependent on people to lead us along. We don’t have our own opinion to walk the way of our own. This lead to the next reason that follows.
Fear – Fear of failure, fear of doing it alone. Just fear alone can prevent us from being adventurous in blogging.
Lack of initiative – We don’t like to take initiative. This will obstruct our progress not only blogging but in whichever jobs you are into. By taking initiative, we can stay one step ahead of our competitor and be the first to reach the finishing line.
Selfish - Sometimes we found ourselves to focus too much on material things and forgot about sharing. We like to be share instead of sharing with others.
Lacking of knowledge – Lacking of knowledge is one of the reasons that stop us to become a minority who leads. We don’t acquire enough information for us to start the ball rolling.
Conclusion
It’s not easy to be a minority who dares to do something different. However a lot of times we are being blinded in thinking we are wrong since majority people think that’s right. It is obstructing us in looking things at different angles. We have to close our eyes and ears time to time in order for us not being influence by others. There are too many majorities out there and it’s perfectly alright to be a minority for once. Who knows you will find a lot of people who agree with you.
Have Your Say
What do you have to say about this? Do you dare to be someone different from the mainstream? Or are you the type who just like to follow? Please kindly share your thoughts in the comments box.
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Hi Lye
You make mention of some valid points here. I agree that we shouldn’t run when we see no comments. Plenty of reasons why this is the case in addition to the above, including:
*The post has just been published
*The post could be deeply philosophical and intellectual and the reader has bookmarked to reply after giving the post some thought
A lot of posts have been published about social proof and while I agree SP is important running away from 0 comments is just plain stupid…and mean spirited. By all means if the post is utter rubbish don’t comment. But if you liked the post or got some value out it people should be ‘adventurous’ and comment.
I have continually challenged the norm since I started blogging and even though I have my persecutors I have plenty of fans as well.
Congratulations on writing a post like this Lye. We should always lead and never follow.
Michael
P.s I hope you don’t mind me suggesting this but I’ve noticed you write ‘read up’ a lot. ‘Read’ is all you need
Michael recently posted..7 Types of Headlines That Attract Readers
Twitter: Findmyblogway
Hi Michael,
Absolutely, somehow and sometimes we will fall into the majorities as it is common human nature. Just like a lot of people queuing up for something such as food, we tend to think it must be delicious.
That’s what i like about your way of blogging bro. You like to be adventurous and work your way through.
Thanks for the awesome comments and support.
P.S Thanks for point it out bro, it has become a habit and i never thought this is mistake.
Lye
Well said Lye! Hitting the close tab bar immediately you load a blog is not good. Its not bad if you take your time to read the post and if you have something to say, then you can add a comment. See a main fact is that a blog must learn how to follow his gut, if he or she wants to win! You agree? Have fun.
Twitter: Findmyblogway
Hi Samuel,
Precisely, I agree with you. We need to spend time to read up the post first before we leave the blog. We need to be different sometimes.
Thanks for sharing your input bro.
Lye
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by samuel ayodele, lickshunmewah. lickshunmewah said: RT @findmyblogway 6 Reasons Why You Can't Become the Minority Who Dares to Be Different | FindMybl.. http://bit.ly/a2QY4R [...]
Hi Lye,
You make a vitally important point which escapes most bloggers. To be different, to be the minority can be a great thing. As you note tt means you’re embracing fear. You’re also subjecting yourself to criticism from the majority and most like going after your dreams.
The comment example is perfect. Why not be the first to comment? Somebody was the first commentator on my blog, your blog and Blog Tyrant’s blog. Somebody made a brave choice to break the ice and in my case it helped to motivate me to continue with blogging.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful insight and have a fun day
Ryan
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Hi Ryan,
I think you have pointed it out. People are afraid of taking criticism and fear of being the first to be different. To be the first to break the ice takes a lot of courage and this something we should learn to take it in our heart.
Thanks for the great comment Ryan.
Lye
Hey Lye.
Well that first paragraphs has caused me some grief!
I really love that you have written this post, got my attention in a big way. At 4am this morning I got up to go to the bathroom and checked the comments on my iPhone and saw that you had written this and couldn’t go back to sleep! I was so upset that I’d upset a reader of mine.
Here’s the thing. I comment on posts that have no comments all the time. I did it about 10 times yesterday. The whole point of me saying what I said was that I think MOST people find it a turn off.
I think your opening point about courage is a very good one. But it goes both ways. I think bloggers need to have courage to also admit that 0 comments is a big indicator for some people. I approach blogging in a lot of ways as an online marketer and I think social proof is so important. I wouldn’t want my content going unread because of a lot of 0 comments. That’s all I was really trying to do, help people get around it.
Great having you comment on my posts Lye! Your a great blogging friend.
Tyrant
Blog Tyrant recently posted..How to Blog Part 1- The 7-809 Word Series You’ll Need to Bookmark
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Hi Tyrant,
I am so glad you are taking your time to reply to this posts. First of all sorry to made you lose your sleep this morning.
I think i understand your kind intention behind your post. To stress the importance of social proof and what can we do to actually improve if our comments remain stagnant.
Most people are misinterpreting your post wrongly if they don’t understand. I saw your last comment in problogger and i can fully understand your analogy behind now.
You have actually pointed out what most people will do just like you mentioned they will not subscribe if they see few subscribers on a blog. This post is mainly to encourage these people not to think pre-naturally but to act differently when they encounter such scenario.
Thanks a lot for dropping by and giving such an awesome comment. I really appreciate it.
Lye
Hey Lye,
A few posts back, i remember reading your blog post about readers commenting on your blog, and hence give you more motivation to continue writing good content for more people.
And as you said above, why not be different and start commenting on blogs, where there are no comments:) I believe every new blogger would love to see the first comment on their blog, from people they did not know, and that comment will really motivate the new blogger to continue blogging, to success
Thanks for mentioning this, and I believe being the first to comment on blogs, especially new ones, is going to help many new bloggers go a long way in blogging 
Have a nice day!
Ding Neng
Ding Neng recently posted..Tim Sales – My Love-Hate Relationship with the First Class MLM Expert
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Hi Ding Neng,
Thanks for remember that post. You are right about the motivation and the encouragement the new blogger will have when they receive their first comment. I think we should be different and do that often.
Thanks for dropping by and the awesome comments. Talk soon.
Lye
You have made some great points here Lye and I like what Kristi says too. If I know there is a new blogger starting out and I visit their blog I like to comment to encourage them to continue. We all started with our first comment and I remember how good it felt.
In fact, if I go to a blog with hundreds of comments, that’s when I usually don’t comment as will probably get lost in the crowd.
I’m glad I’m part of the blogging community that cares, comments and encourages me. I want to do the same for others.
Patricia Perth Australia
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Hi Patricia,
That’s why i find you unique and different from the majority. I believe you have went through the newbie stage and you love to encourage and motivate new blogger.
I am especially grateful for the support you have given me. Thanks for dropping by and comments.
Lye
Thanks Lye. Still feel like a newbie as heaps more to learn. The techie stuff still a mystery lol
But I could write all day. Keep giving us great posts and you will so soar like an eagle with this blog
Patricia Perth Australia
Patricia recently posted..Growing Lavenders-Your Favourite Gardening Tool
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Hi Patricia,
I will keep working. Thanks for the kind words.
Lye
I’ve made 1st comments of PLENTY of sites and never thought anything about it. It was obvious they were either new or just haven’t had success yet in getting them.
I guess it’s b/c when I visit these sites (many have been people who have either commented on my blog or created a trackback), I see past the site and think, OK, a PERSON is running this site. Someone like you and me, starting off trying to get their business up and running.
Going back to your previous post on getting that first comment and how it felt…well I like to think of myself as paying it forward and doing it for someone else.
Thanks for sharing Lye! Great conversation.
Michele Welch recently posted..Creating DoFollow And NoFollow Links On A Website
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Hi Michele,
Kudos to you for doing that. There are lots of kind people like you who reciprocate when you have new bloggers commenting on your blog or created a trackback. But we need to admit there are people who are turn off just because they don’t see any comments in a totally new blog which they just came across from somewhere.
We just need to give them a chance by looking up what they got to offer in their content before we walk away.
Thanks a lot for visiting and the awesome feedback. Talk to you soon.
Lye
Twitter: AdamPaudyal
Awesome post Lye.
It is important to be different to stand out of the crowd especially when blogging. However, it is also vital to know where we started from, our past and our roots.
This is what blogging is all about..helping each other. Being the first one to comment on a new blog has a lot of benefits for both the blogger and the commentator.
Thanks again for the insights Lye
You take care brother…
Adam Paudyal recently posted..Headline Or The Content- Which Should You Write First
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Hi Adam,
I like that. Blogging is all about helping each other. We are definitely not alone in the blogosphere. We need to help others and we like people to help us when we are just starting out.
Thanks for visiting and comments.
Lye
I have lever let the fact that there are no comments keep me from making a comment on a blog. I have gone the other direction, seen a hundred comments or so and decided not to say anything. Sometimes all it takes is one comment to open the floodgates for others.
Mitch recently posted..The Basics Of Writing A Newsletter
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Hi Mitch,
I totally agree with you. To stand out from a hundred of comments is much more difficult to get noticed.
Thanks for dropping by and commenting.
Lye
Never judge a book by it’s cover and never fail to comment on a blog just because you are the first to do so.
Making things something different is good and unique then actually especially when it comes in blogging. Blogging is all about sharing not criticizing one’s posts. The 6 reasons are quite true and thanks for this one!
Mike recently posted..Floating Hardwood Floors
If I find the topic interesting and informative I always try to leave behind a comment and being the first commenter never bothered me. Whenever I came across one without comments the points which strikes me is either the post is new, if not too complicated or the blog owner doesn’t welcome comments.
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