NOTE! If you enjoy this post, please feel free to share and twitter it with the tinylink http://tinyurl.com/38jbpl . Thanks, I appreciate it!

Blogging ideas can come from the most unique sources online!

There I was, waiting for the beginning of a performance of excited 6 year olds.   Now, if you’re not familiar with this particular breed of exotic human beans, 6 year olds have the uncanny ability to make their whispers register an 8.9 on the Richter Scale.   And one of the comments from the adults, I believe, was "if you even DARE to make a peep before the show starts, you shall regret it!"

Instant silence ensued…..for at least 17 seconds.   That was a record, I think. 

But it reminded me (of course!) of blogging (of course).  Tell me…how many times have you visited a blog in which the blogger was aggressive, challenging and really trashed any commentor with whom she or he did not agree?

That by itself isn’t as important as….

How welcoming and inviting is YOUR blog? 

Do you draw in people and engage their attention?

Or do you instead flaunt your massively huge ego-muscles and demonstrate, time after time with your blog comment reactions, that there’s only one way, your way or the highway, and anyone who even DARES to cross you shall be roasted in ways that alt.flame could only yearn to accomplish?

Hmmmm?

Here are 5 ways that you can help ensure visitors feel the Welcome Mat is spread for one and all.

1.)  Show appreciation.   If you would like people to comment/submit your post, make certain you thank them ahead of time.  All of my posts close with

If you find this blog posting useful, please feel free to Digg it below! I very much appreciate your time.

I accomplished this by finding the following line on single.php:

<?php the_content(’<p>Read the rest of this entry &raquo;</p>’);
?>

and adding:

<p>If you find this blog posting useful, please feel free
to Digg it below!  I very much appreciate your time.
<center>
<script src="http://digg.com/tools/diggthis.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
</center>

below it.

2.)  Thank commentors.   If they’ve taken the time to visit your blog and comment, you should respond with a "thank you!" either below that post or on their blog. 

One good plugin you can use for this purpose is CommentLuv - it will automatically pull in the last commentor’s posting.

3.)  Sit on your hands when tempers fly.   I remember that lesson, "sit on your hands!" from long long ago in Usenet.  Basically, it means before indulging in a knee-jerk reaction to someone’s posting/comments, give yourself an hour or so to cool down.  What I used to do is write up immediately my reactions….but NOT post/send them….I’d just let them sit until my anger cooled down.  And of course by that time, I could objectively realize that spreading such words about the Internet would only shame me in the future.  Remember - once posted to the Internet…it never, ever, EVER goes away.

Sitting on your hands when in a white fury is just plain good ‘ole Netiquette.  It can really help how you appear online.

4.)  Ask for help/opinions.  When you ask for help or opinions, you’re showing that you’re open to learn more.  Being a non-know-it-all reassures visitors that their insights will be respected by you….and they’ll want to comment more.

5.)  Take ownership of your opinions.  While it’s really tempting to tell other posters/bloggers/etc. that they MADE you feel so-and-so, remember….nobody can MAKE you feel a certain way unless you give them power over you.  Take ownership of your reactions.   Doing this can help free you of the "I must get a one-upsmanship on this irritating other blogger else my pride shall be at stake!"

There are many more ways of ensuring your blog is friendly and appealing.  What are some of your favorite ways?  I’d love to hear.

ThankYouVeryMuch!

Owlbert

#BEGIN highlights of this blog writing post:

Beginners blogging tips: Show appreciation within your posts.

Intermediate and/or Advanced blogging tips:  Add plugins like CommentLuv, proactively visit blogs of commenters and thank them.

#END highlights of this blog writing post

ps - and if you’d like to, ahem, win more friends and influence people…..

Stand and Deliver by Dale Carnegie FREESHIP

How to Win Friends and Influence People NEW Carnegie, D

Dale Carnegie-EFFECTIVE SPEAKING-Revised Edition-HC DJ

How to Win Friends & Influence People Dale Carnegie

NEW 2 CD The leader in You Dale Carnegie Influence

Related posts:

1. 12 ways to utterly crush spambots on your blog
2. Prevent the Mega Tunnel of Doom from devouring your blog visitors
3. Life is a four letter word……..I think you spell it L-O-V-E

(By the way, if you have any questions about the topics in this posting "“If you even DARE to comment I will make certain you regret it!” - How friendly is YOUR blog?", do comment below - I'll try to clarify any issues).

If you find this blog posting useful, please feel free to share it below. And do feel free to let your friends know about it as well....I very much appreciate your time!

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