I clearly got it wrong seeing the shift from what I call Leve 1 to Level 2 as the only way to make progress. The situation is far more complex. What do you think of the approach I am using which poses a question I am wrestling with about every fourth post? The next one will be out on Thursday. I would value your opinion. It is a possible compromise between what you are suggesting and a full move to Level 2.

Ford Harding

You ask if you’re looking at the problem the wrong way. I think you are. In my opinion, your blog is high grade material and I have recommended, and will continue to do so, it and your “Rain Making” book. I don’t really buy the Level 1/2 dichotomy, so I think you’re seeing a problem that doesn’t exist.

Look at Joel Spolsky’s occasional essays, or Paul Graham’s. It’s hard to beat either, but while they do generate a lot of discussion, neither Spolsky nor Graham appear to participate much. That, to me, is *fine*.

In fact, I believe the notion of the blog as the core of an interactive community is not generally valid in practice. The machinery is not, for whatever reason, geared up for that. You’re not the first to make this mistake. Alf of us are watching Faecebook, Myspace, Twitter, Yammer, Blogging, etc, etc to see how they’ll work. One thing that’s clear is, the success and use model of each is far from clear.

Just keep doing what you’re doing. It’s not broke.

Many thanks for a thorough and thoughtful response. Far from feeling like an authority, I am constantly struck by how much I don’t know. Your helpful list is another reminder. My practice has been built by asking people to describe what they do and then trying it myself for a while to really understand it. It is through the generosity of others like yourself that I have succeeded.

Ford Harding

I think the level of blog commenting depends on a number of factors:

1) The size of your readership (amongst the sort of people likely to be online commenters). While you’re very well known in the PS niche, obviously the Seth Godins and Guy Kawasakis and of the world are going to have a higher readership on the web.

2) The “hotness” of the topic you post about. The latest buzz on internet marketing is more likely to generate comments than timeless wisdom on sales strategy.

3) How visibly commenting is signposted on your post – and how easy it is to comment. Some blogs, for example, have a big widget at the top saying how many comments there have been so far as a gentle reminder than commenting is encouraged. Michel Fortin’s blog is a good example of this (www.michelfortin.com) and other strategies.

4) How synchronised visitors are to the site. If your visitors all arrive in a short period of time then commenting becomes more real-time. If it feels like you’ll get a quick response from others then you’re more likely to comment (vs if the last comment was months ago). You can help this by more aggressively building your email list and alerting them whenever you post – so they all come at around the same time. Again, Michel Fortin’s blog (www.michelfortin.com) is a good example of aggressively building an optin list. You might not want to go as far as he has done with popups etc. But it’s worth a look – especially as his latest post actually discusses optins. Using social bookmarking (or having friends who do it for you) more aggressively may help too. For example, I have “Dugg” & “Stumbled” your most recent post – you might be able to see if that generates any traffic and/or comments. You could add bigger, colourful buttons rather than just the text links to Digg & Stumble et al.

5) Finally, of course, commenting on other blogs, which you already do, helps too.

Ian

PS – I think a comment someone made earlier is definitely true: since you’re the guy who “wrote the book” on Rainmaking, you may find a number of your readers feel a little self conscious about commenting and might need more encouragement than if you weren’t held in such high regard!

Thanks for overcoming your normal reluctance to commenting. I appreciate this one. There are a lot of comments on blogs that are little more than ‘ata boys. But there are also useful additions and debates if you look around a little. Being a cantankerous soul, I have had debates with Suzanne Lowe, Charlie Green, Sims Wyeth and others. Charlie Green’s blog, Trust Matters, tends to attract a lot of agreement on the value of building trust, so I sent him a post, ”An Ode to Distrust,” which he graciously published on April 1.

I have found the comments to this post reassuring and instructive, even as they pointed out some of my wrong-headedness. Dialog is extremely helpful to a writer.

I hope you comment again.

Ford Harding

And then if you factor about the social media types who comment ad naseum about social media and how it is going to change the world, then there is not much commenting about.

I really think – as some others observed – that it depends on the type of blog you have. Most B2B friendly topics don’t have that much chatter.

As one of the “non-consultant” bloggers out there I define success differently than most, for me it is defined through relationships (I can identify Mark Buckson, Mel Lester, and yourself as just a few of the relationships I would never have if I did not blog). What defines success for you? If you are looking for new business I would agree with Shawn Callahan, if you are looking to be the center of thought innovation I likewise would work towards a level 2 blog.

I have already come to the conclusion (as have several others here) that you already have a successful blog. I also add to this that it seems you have been able to “turn on” the comments easily with a thought provoking post and an open-ended invitation. Sounds like perhaps you are already achieving a greater level of success than you know.
Tim

Mike
I am no longer sure that stopping at Level 1 stunts the consultant. As you can see in the notes, a lot of people argue the contrary. I’ll let you know if engaging people with questionns increase my perception of the return I get on it.

I looked at your block which looks fresh and newsy. If I were involved in traffic issues in Minneapolis, I would want to see it ever day. It must enhance your name in the region.

Thanks for the comments.

Ford Harding

I get very little comments on my blog, but I have been approached by a lot of people in my network about my blog and specific posts. Like you, this always shocks me because it feels like no one is reading. This feedback encourages me to keep blogging though. Frankly, it is more feedback than I get on articles I write.

Part of the Step 1 vs. Step 2 analysis should be to analyze a person’s purpose for blogging. I am very curious to read your future posts on this topic. Especially if you feel consultants are stunting themselves by stopping at Step 1.

Mike Spack