Spend a Day Reading and Commenting

Monday, 4/28, also just happens to fall at the beginning of National Volunteer week. So I’d propose a mashup: To combine “Reading & Commenting” day with “National Volunteer Week,” stop by the blog of a nonprofit who’s mission you support, and leave a comment offering a few words of specific advice or volunteering a few hours of your consulting services to help improve their blog and/or social media strategy.

As the founder of a fledgling nonprofit that’s keeping a blog as a diary of our experiment in social entrepreneurship, I think I speak for many social benefit organizations when I say we would welcome the opportunity to get feedback and suggestions from volunteers who “live and breathe” the blogosphere.

So, while you’re celebrating “Reading & Commenting Day” on Monday (which, btw, is a fabulous idea!), stop by a nonprofit blog – like ours at http://www.EpicChange.org/blog – and donate a few minutes of your time to give us some candid feedback & advice. We could really use your help, as could the causes we support.

Celebrate “Reading & Commenting Day” & National Volunteer Week: Make a comment that makes a difference :)

Monday, 4/28, also just happens to fall at the beginning of National Volunteer week. So I’d propose a mashup: To combine “Reading & Commenting” day with “National Volunteer Week,” stop by the blog of a nonprofit who’s mission you support, and leave a comment offering a few words of specific advice or volunteering a few hours of your consulting services to help improve their blog and/or social media strategy.

As the founder of a fledgling nonprofit that’s keeping a blog as a diary of our experiment in social entrepreneurship, I think I speak for many social benefit organizations when I say we would welcome the opportunity to get feedback and suggestions from volunteers who “live and breathe” the blogosphere.

So, while you’re celebrating “Reading & Commenting Day” on Monday (which, btw, is a fabulous idea!), stop by a nonprofit blog – like ours at http://www.EpicChange.org/blog – and donate a few minutes of your time to give us some candid feedback & advice. We could really use your help, as could the causes we support.

Celebrate “Reading & Commenting Day” & National Volunteer Week: Make a comment that makes a difference :)

I actually spend my writing/posting day for doing that – sometimes Fridays, sometimes Saturdays, but usually weekly.

Good plan. I have been breaking out of the lurking habit lately, as a budding blogger myself, I realize that bloggers obviously want to be read, and what evidence of such would be left, if not for comments.

This is akin to the practice in daily life of commenting to people those random thoughts and observations that most of us keep to ourselves… ie: “I really enjoyed your presentation, thanks” or “I like what you have done with____” or just engaging in conversation, however brief about something that relates directly to the person.

Everyone has comments, too rarely they air them, online or otherwise.

It will be interesting to see the reports back on how this influences conversation.

Good plan. I have been breaking out of the lurking habit lately, as a budding blogger myself, I realize that bloggers obviously want to be read, and what evidence of such would be left, if not for comments.

This is akin to the practice in daily life of commenting to people those random thoughts and observations that most of us keep to ourselves… ie: “I really enjoyed your presentation, thanks” or “I like what you have done with____” or just engaging in conversation, however brief about something that relates directly to the person.

Everyone has comments, too rarely they air them, online or otherwise.

It will be interesting to see the reports back on how this influences conversation.

Deal :)

What an excellent idea! Good to go with Entrecard browsings, too.

What an excellent idea! Good to go with Entrecard browsings, too.

Ok, here’s my first comment of the day. It’s good you’re bringing attention to this, as I often get so consumed with reading that I don’t get around to commenting. Here goes!

This is a fantastic idea, Chris. I’m a little late to the game, seeing that Monday the 28th is rapidly retreating already, but I’ll do my best to contribute to the conversation on the blogs I read today (beginning with this one).

If it hasn’t already been addressed, I’m in favor of Carolyn’s suggestion: having “Read and Comment Day” fall on the fourth (or perhaps, to borrow from Arbor Day, the final) Monday of April each year.

Thanks for giving me a much-needed excuse to stop lurking and start contributing.

Just what I needed today. But does this count as one?

Well, I’m halfway through my “Read and Comment Day,” and things are going well. I usually comment on a couple of things here and there, but today I’m making a concerted effort to focus on commenting, both on items I encounter in my Google Reader feed and in items that I find via Disqus.

Another way that FriendFeed users in particular can make sure they’re interacting with others in FriendFeed is to attempt to keep their personal weekly FriendFeed “comments” and “likes” above a particular level. I’m trying to keep mine above 100/week, but obviously any goal that allows you to interact with the community more is beneficial. The one drawback, of course, is that a comment that goes to FriendFeed is NOT going to the original blog or artifact, so you may or may not want to participate in this way.

Well, I’m halfway through my “Read and Comment Day,” and things are going well. I usually comment on a couple of things here and there, but today I’m making a concerted effort to focus on commenting, both on items I encounter in my Google Reader feed and in items that I find via Disqus.

Another way that FriendFeed users in particular can make sure they’re interacting with others in FriendFeed is to attempt to keep their personal weekly FriendFeed “comments” and “likes” above a particular level. I’m trying to keep mine above 100/week, but obviously any goal that allows you to interact with the community more is beneficial. The one drawback, of course, is that a comment that goes to FriendFeed is NOT going to the original blog or artifact, so you may or may not want to participate in this way.

Do you think conversation in blogs – in the comments will become extinct due to the uptake of Twitter? What is lost or what is gained by this faster form of conversation?

http://beth.typepad.com/beths_blog/2008/04/world-comment-d.html

My results from your suggestion.
http://www.smallbizsurvival.com/2008/04/read-and-comment-day.html

I had fun, and enjoyed reporting in on Twitter during the day. Don’t miss @BarbaraKB’s suggestion that we make real world conversation on May Day.

My results from your suggestion.
http://www.smallbizsurvival.com/2008/04/read-and-comment-day.html

I had fun, and enjoyed reporting in on Twitter during the day. Don’t miss @BarbaraKB’s suggestion that we make real world conversation on May Day.

I visited about 100 blogs and left comments on a little over half of them. Usually I tried to add to the conversation; if I couldn’t, I didn’t.

It took a few hours but it was an interesting learning experience.

My God, it was full of blogs!

In all seriousness, nice to check out some different blogs and different ideas.

My God, it was full of blogs!

In all seriousness, nice to check out some different blogs and different ideas.

Chris,

This is a good idea — the date is now on my calendar — hope more people make a note of this.

Cheers,

-Nj