Participation: Difference between revisions

When starting a blog, it is important to know how to encourage participation with not only other bloggers, but the readers. Short sentences, active voice, and presenting information in a [http://litmuse.maconstate.edu/litwiki/index.php/Inverted_Pyramid pyramid format] help to convey content clearly to readers<ref group=>Carroll, 24</ref>. But participation is more than just writing in a clean, [http://litmuse.maconstate.edu/litwiki/index.php/Brevity concise] manner. Blog authors must understand that a blog does not operate in a vacuum, but instead is a piece of a vast branching network.  

Blog readers, indeed most web users, do not just randomly access content on the internet. Users are searching for specific information when they get on the web, and likely will only find blogs via a search engine by typing in key words[http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=7323316]<ref group=>Lawrence, Sides, Farrell. "Self-Segregation or Deliberation? Blog Readership, Participation, and Polarization in American Politics."</ref>. Most likely, users happen upon blogs via another blog they go to for specific information that has your blog hyperlinked[http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=7323316]<ref group=>Lawrence, Sides, Farrell. "Self-Segregation or Deliberation? Blog Readership, Participation, and Polarization in American Politics."</ref>. In this respect, it is important that bloggers consider interacting with blogs that share a similar niche topic. One way to participate with other bloggers is to search for blogs with a similar topic, then add it to a blogroll[http://techcrunch.com/2012/01/04/blogs-need-comments/]<ref group=>Constine. "Do Blogs Need Comment Reels? Yes, and Here's How."</ref>. Provide links to these blogs in posts. This may encourage the blogger to respond in kind. Consider following and commenting on other blogs. These comments should be thoughtful and follow proper etiquette[http://financialbloggerconference.com/a-primer-on-blogging-etiquette]<ref group=>Post. "A Primer on Blogging Etiquette."</ref>.