Have you thought about setting up a community news plugin on your blog? it’s a way to interact more with those who submit links to their own articles to your blog!
Isn’t it wonderful to see your readers getting involved with your blog? This is often achieved through feedbacks.
By commenting on an article, your readers start some form of interaction, it’s a discussion that goes the distance through replies and more comments. I am saying this based on what I see here on Famous Bloggers.
I’m not an authority on these matters, for my blog seldom receives comments. But it doesn’t mean I cannot discuss it, or write a post about it. Instead of being frustrated or envious of other frequently commented blogs, I try to find ways to let my readers interact with me. This is where I thought of setting up a Community News Page on my blog.
The Joys of Having a Community Page in your Blog
I recently installed the community news plugin for WordPress to allow more options for my readers to interact with me. I wouldn’t say it’s a complete hit, but it’s fairly new, it has a couple of submissions, and it’s there for the very reason I put it there – another way for my readers to interact with me aside from the traditional comment system.
It’s also a good marketing tool, for you as well for others who ventures into submitting their articles on the page. Though I cannot guarantee you an instant influx of traffic, it still can be a good source of information, if you’re like me who likes to visit other blogs to read without even having to go through the search engines. But for me, the best benefit you could get from it is the chance to meet other fellow bloggers without having to leave the comfort of your blog through the articles they submit.
Making the Blogging World A Better Place
In a world where competition is always at its height, a dose of camaraderie is always welcome. Getting the chance to interact with others through your blog is a nice way to start a friendship. Whether it occurs through comments, through your community page, or any other form, the important thing is that you’re being heard and getting your message across.
No man is an island, and it’s true whichever way you see it. Everybody feels the desire to be included. I do. The articles that I write on my blogs are simple ways to express what I feel and voice my opinions. I would be guilty of lying if I’d say that I don’t desire for my posts to be commented upon. I’m sure no blogger would want their blogs to remain hidden and uncommented. I wouldn’t and I have a strong feeling that you also wouldn’t want that to happen.
Article by Julius
A blogger and a freelance graphics artist undergoing dialysis treatment who likes blogging, cooking, food, tinkering around with things, and doing research. He writes about his life in dialysis and his views on life and blogging.
19
{ 47 comments… read them below or add one }
Very interesting plugin, Julius. I added it to my blog about SEO and SEM.
It almost works like an RSS feed aggregator. I like it. I have never seen anything like that before.
Thanks for the recommendation…:)
Mark
Mark recently posted..How To Warm Your List And Monetize It At The Same Time
Julius,
Nice post. I especially liked the fact that you were not ashamed to be open about the fact that your blog doesn’t (yet!) receive the same results with repect to commenting and interacting that Famous Bloggers does. Well, you’re not alone! We’ll both just have to keep working at it and doing our best. Just be true to what you do and enjoy it in the meantime. Take care,
Bryan
Bryan P. Hollis recently posted..On-Page SEO Tips You Should Strongly Consider
Twitter: another_blogger
October 20, 2010 at 12:01 pm
Another great recommendation here, I always want to make my blog as a community blog and hope this one can help
Thank bro.
Latief recently posted..Google Send Me A Gift!
Twitter: mani0993
August 8, 2010 at 4:52 pm
I like this idea..but will implement only after achieving certain milestones as fellow bloggers look for a blog with quality rankings maybe (PR3 or more)
Mani Viswanathan recently posted..DailyBlogging Traffic Stats for July 2010
OK I’m missing something as usual, lol.
I see clearly how it benefits those that get their links displayed, how how does it benefit the blogger hosting them? You in this case…
Dennis Edell recently posted..The ABSOLUTE Final Posting
I’m having other topics to read without having to search the web. That’s enough for me..
Julius recently posted..Growing Through Guest Blogging
Good enough, just curious.
hi Julius. Try search the web. i alway do search when i need something
Hieu Martin recently posted..5 Tips to Use Digg to Drive Blog Traffic
I think the golden rule (do unto others what you want others to do unto you) works in the blogosphere as well. I realized that ever since I started commenting on other blogs and interacting with other bloggers through their blogs, my blog posts became more “active” – more people are interacting with me and commenting in my blog posts.
Gee recently posted..Friday Linky Freebies
Julius, 2 thumbs up for sharing this great plugin!
I had no idea it existed, and I’m pretty sure we’ll implement it on our blog in the near future: it’s just too good an idea to pass it up
thank you!
francesca recently posted..Online sale alert: save 30% at Ken Paves!
Community page plugin is a great tool that I have missed for my blog. Thanks for introduce with me this plugin
Hieu Martin recently posted..SEO Basics – Link Building
I agreed fantastic Post. Community News is perfect way of building relationship with my blog readers.
Hi Julius, thanks for sharing the community news plugin, will definitely check it out. Also, I think your articles are interesting to read, will be reading your post “How I Manage Stress” next! Have a nice day!
Felicia recently posted..Phil Ivey hired a bodyguard at the 2010 WSOP
Twitter: MurrayLunn
August 4, 2010 at 7:54 pm
I love your approach Julius.
It’s true that many people think that it’s competition between your blog and others but in the bigger picture, you’re really not at all.
Think about it, no matter how small a niche is, there’s always room for others. If you work together you can command a larger market overall – there’s always enough to go around.
Murlu recently posted..1000 Articles In 100 Days – A Challenge From Me To You
One of the best to make your blog and post to look fresh on Google face is by comment, as long as reader continue to comment on your blog, the more it look fresh on Google face. It is very important to allow comment on your blog.
Very interesting idea! Does that community place allow for any spamming, because that could be one reason NOT to do it. But otherwise I definitely agree. It’s best to get your online community involved and adding their own thoughts and discussion.
Laura Davis recently posted..Sweet and Sour Power- What Lemonade Stands Teach Kids About Life and Money
Spam is controlled by Aksimet and you could tweak other settings like adding Captcha to suite your preference in security.
Julius recently posted..How I Manage Stress
I agreed Community news playing a leading role in making visitor more interactive with blog post.
Community News is great way of building relationship with readers and give them a reason to come back to your blog.
Ravi Ahuja recently posted..Direct Sell Ads on your Website with OIOpublisher $10 Off
Twitter: azblogtips
August 4, 2010 at 3:24 am
Community page plugin is a great tool that I have missed, thanks for reminding me about it. Tinh
Tinh recently posted..PayPal Electronic Withdrawal Service for Indian Bloggers Now Resolved
Thanks Tinh! It’s still not too late to try it out, if you think it would suite eBlogtip.
Julius recently posted..How I Manage Stress
Twitter: azblogtips
August 4, 2010 at 4:59 am
Thanks for your prompt reply @Julius. Actually, eblogtip has just been acquired and had new owner in July. I am now with azblogtips.com. I will give it a try now. Thanks
Tinh recently posted..Top 5 Premium Blogger Templates of 2010 for FREE
Welcome Julius to Famusbloggers as a new writer, interesting new WP plugin, the comments is important.
Controversy is an easy way of getting readers interact more with your blog. But don’t overdo it and respond intelligently and politely to comments as negative reputation could backfire.
Twitter: azblogtips
August 4, 2010 at 10:19 pm
Do agree with you that sometimes you need to create debate for further in-depth discussion
Tran Tinh recently posted..PayPal Electronic Withdrawal Service for Indian Bloggers Now Resolved
Twitter: z3olyte
August 3, 2010 at 8:49 pm
community news looks like a great plugin and I love how it is layed out on the main page, where you can see all the post titles at once compared to the usual wordpress blog page.
Cindy recently posted..Thematic- How To Replace Blog Title With A Thematic Header Image
Thanks Cindy! You could try out the plugin if you want. Maybe it would suite your site as well.
I’m just learning the how to’s in blog design and trying to implement what I learn from researching the web.
You’re an artist yourself and I’m sure you know how enthusiastic we are when it comes to aesthetics.
Plus, I believe the readability of your blog must always be top priority for the benefit of your readers.
Julius recently posted..How I Manage Stress
First of all I would like to thank Hesham and Famous Bloggers for this opportunity to write for them. This is my first ever guest post and you couldn’t imagine how happy I am seeing it published here on FB!
I would also like to thank these wonderful people commenting and sharing their insights on the matter. This is what I love about blogging, the interaction and the chance to meet other bloggers and read their work.
Thanks everybody!
Julius recently posted..How I Manage Stress
I’ve been using this plugin on a few of my blogs for a long time. It’s a great little plugin that allows people to promote their articles on your blog and I for one love it.
Marty recently posted..RIM BlackPad BlackBerry Tablet set for November?
Thanks Marty! It’s nice to hear another blogger finding it useful on their site. Your readers wouldn’t just be able to promote their articles, but could find useful information in it as well.
Julius recently posted..How I Manage Stress
Wow, neat looking plugin. I checked your site out and the plugin seems to work well. Definitely adding your blog to my “dofollow comment blogs”
Josiah recently posted..Windows Phone 7 Release Date
Thanks Josiah! Check it out if it would suite you site. Thanks also for the DoFollow addition.
Julius recently posted..How I Manage Stress
I didn’t know about that plugin either. I looks interesting, and I’m going to check it out. You have some great articles on your blog. I am sure it is only a matter of time that people will discover you..like I did on here.
Melinda recently posted..What I could have done with 900
Thanks Melinda! I suggest you go for it and check it out yourself. You might find it useful on your site as well.
Thanks also for the kind words for PC. I simply like to write and it’s also one of the reasons why I tried guest posting for Famous Bloggers.
Julius recently posted..How I Manage Stress
Thanks for introducing the plugin, well… when I went to you site and saw the plugin at work… ideals start flooding my mind… I’m going to do some teating using the plugin and I bet this plugin is a great tool to let other blogger to be attracted although I’m still not sure if the plugin could have any sort of rating system in it… in any case, thanks for sharing this information.
The Bad Blogger recently posted..An Important Marketing Concept I Learn From Marrying A Women That’s Not Of My Country !
You’re very much welcome and I’m glad I could be of help. All I can say is that go for it in terms of tinkering around with the plugin to suite your site. I myself is still thinking of ways to improve it and if a newbie like me could perform a decent enough incorporation, how much more could you?
Julius recently posted..How I Manage Stress
That’s a really cool idea, esp. for sites which are much more discussion oriented and where the community wants to share links all the time. There’s actually a major blog or two running something similar to having “digg” or “reddit” on their blog itself.
I’m probably not going to go this route. I want my writing to be the primary focus of the site, and while I want community to share things with each other and be active, I think there are a number of sites they can better achieve it.
Thank you for the information!
ashok recently posted..Anna Akhmatova- “Reading Hamlet”
Thanks Ashok for shring your thoughts with us. It’s true that the community news plugin isn’t for every blogger out there, thought it’s worth a try. But I respect your views and admire your desire to focus your writing on the site. It’s all good!
Julius recently posted..How I Manage Stress
Excellent idea Julius.. Might as well implement this on my site. Thank you very much!
Paul, I have added your name to the comment, plz don’t use your keywords like the way you do!
Thanks Paul and I suggest that you do! Thanks Hesham for the nice moderation. It only goes to show why I really love it here in FB – The strict but kind moderators.
Julius recently posted..How I Manage Stress
Julius, what exactly does it do? I’ll go check it out because I’m interested in ways to expand upon the current commenting system, but one tip: Include a quick summary of what makes it worth checking out, to make sure the lazy readers actually get invested in the idea.
DazzlinDonna recently posted..Ways To Make Money Online
Ooooh, I’ll answer this one myself, now that I’ve looked at it. It won’t affect my search for ways to expand upon and deal with the current comment system, but it does create a new way to share links – it’s almost like a replacement for the old blogroll and somewhat similar to CommentLuv. Visitors get to share their related posts to your sidebar (with your ability to moderate). Am I understanding that correctly, Julius? If so, that’s pretty interesting indeed.
DazzlinDonna recently posted..A Quick Site Audit
lol! I was about to take over and answer that question, glad you did
Yes, it’s a great way to share links, and from the other side get backlinks plus traffic!
I am submitting some articles to these kind of blogs that has a community site or what they call it “community news”, you will find this more often on design related niche!
No one (as I know) really provide this for blogging tips niche, but Julius do! so I am also interested to hear more information about the plugin and how exactly it works!
Thanks to both of you for helping me answering the questions!
It doesn’t just provide me a way to interact with fellow bloggers, it also gives me information on other blogs to visit.
It was actually included in the eQuator theme I recently used on Private Corner. I admit I wouldn’t found out about it if it weren’t for that theme. It caught my attention and paid the plugin site a visit for more ideas on further customization.
And there it is. I found out that you could insert it on almost any wordpress theme by simply including some functions. It’s hard for me at first since I’m no web expert, but I still got around implementing it on PC. If I could do it, then imagine what web experts could do with it in terms of modification?
Julius recently posted..How I Manage Stress
Julius – I love this idea and the plugin is a great tool. In addition to business or personal blogs, I’m thinking that it could really work well on a local community site, like a neighborhood association or city blog. Very cool.
Tia recently posted..Tucson Friday Movie Night – Out in Theaters
Thanks Tia! I suggest you try it on your site. It would not only help in interaction but would also be a good source of information for you.
Julius recently posted..How I Manage Stress
{ 1 trackback }