The Great Blogging Conflict
(A New Post about Blogging!!!)
If you have a weblog, don’t you just love to get thoughtful comments that add new ideas and discussion to your posts?
I do. In fact, as many have pointed out before, it’s sort of the life blood of a blog. It certainly gives off an impression to a new visitor whether or not the blog is active or dead. So, I suppose, we all like comments.
On the other hand, Don’t you love to take a look at your Feedburner stats, and see that your subscriber count has grown? I know I do. Not that I’m necessarily trying to reach any certain number, but seeing that someone is actually reading what you’re writing adds an element of motivation similar to what a good discussion through comments can provide.
The Conflict
The idea of their being some conflict may seem silly to some people, but have you ever thought about the fact that you can only get comments from someone actually visiting your site? I realize you can place a link to comments in your feed, but I’m not sure it’s the same. While I love to read through my RSS Feedreader, I was thinking about how I’m much more unlikely to comment on a post if I’m not already on the site I’m reading from.
So the conflict would be this: Which is better between having more comments….or more RSS Subscribers? Have you ever thought about it?
For me, I love to check fairly often to see if the number in my feedcounter is getting any larger. However, I believe I much prefer the comments. I love the interaction, and every now and then, I learn something. Now if your reading this through a feedreader, don’t mis-understand! I’m definitely not asking you to unsubscribe! By all means……..stay with me and tell all your friends! – and if you would like, drop by and leave a comment! 
Good question Anthony, I would say I prefer getting many comments, but on the other hand having a lot of RSS Subscribers means potentially more comments, although I know some blog that have 2000+ rss subscribers and barely recieve any comments. As you know I believe in conversations, to me, that’s what’s important, getting people to join in the fun and share their views, opinions and thoughts. more rss subscribers is always nice though, if the 250 subscribers I have were commenting on everything I post I would love it
Hey Jonathan,
After writing this, I noticed you sort of touched on it in your latest post:
“If you’re reading through RSS, what makes you wanna click on the link and visit the blog to comment?”
Those are some good questions you ask, and I plan to comment after a little more thought on it. As far as comments, you never have a shortage of them. I guess that’s the power of networking and social media paying off……and excellent content as well, of course. I’m looking forward to your ebook on conversational blogging.
That’s an interesting question.
They’re both important but for different reasons. I think one fuels the other though and that’s the beauty … no need to choose, they’ll both grow naturally and at their own pace.
Although it seems that a subscriber would be less likely to comment, you’re probably right. The more I think about it, I haven’t seen many blogs which are extremely active in comments – that display a low subscriber count.