What’s the right way to comment on other people’s blogs? Ari reckons that comments should be unique. Don’t write the same comment on every blog; don’t drone on if your point can be made quicker. Be unique, quick & current. I agree with the first two but not the third. How you comment on other blogs is noticed by others. If all you say is ‘great post’, you’re losing an opportunity to contribute and offer an opinion. You have opinions, right?

How To Be Current & Avoid Capturing the Zeitgeist

First, do you need to be current? Don’t think so. Being ‘current’ doesn’t apply to all sites. Yes, to news, media, chat, gossip, sports and other stories of the day. But others, not so sure. Look at Jakob Nielsen as an example.

• Take the Long View – Most of my articles are written with a long view. For example, I write about business planning. The material is more educational that capturing the zeitgeist. You could have read it 10 years ago (or in 10 years time) and it would still be relevant.
• Avoid the Zeitgeist – if you write about the news of the day, well, next week it’s old hat.
• What to say – If you don’t have something that adds to the conversation – or challenges the writer’s argument – then it’s not worth posting. That’s my take, anyway. I don’t agree with Ari all the time but I still read his site… and I let him know where/how our views differ.

I honestly believe this is what he wants. Not another fawning high five. 

How To Enhance Your Blog Comments

Here’s another example. I read Chris Brogan almost every day. A very smart puppy & hard not to like. 
But what interesting to see (at least for me) is that:

• Almost no-one ever challenges what he says.
• Most genuflect to his opinions, i.e. take for granted what he says as gospel
• Give the obligatory high five, another great post’ and
• Nothing else.

What Chris Brogan really Wants

Here is the problem.

Chris Brogan, Brian Clark, and Valeria Maltoni are all leaders in their fields.

• They’d like to have an alternative opinion. Not for the sake of people being contrary, obnoxious or difficult but to stimulate more discussion.
• This makes their blog more interesting. 
• They want you to interact.
• They want your (honest) opinion.
• They want you to step forward and share what you know.
• They’re learning too!

Do you agree with me?

If you don’t, let me know below.

Zachary M. Seward http://www.niemanlab.org writes that The Huffington Post applies A/B testing to some of its headlines. Readers are randomly shown one of two headlines for the same story. After five minutes, which is enough time for such a high-traffic site, the version with the most clicks becomes the wood that everyone sees.

Put the Author’s name above a headline to get more clicks

Paul Berry, Chief Technology Officer at The Huffington Post, said Huffington Post editors have found that “placing the author’s name above a headline almost always leads to more clicks than omitting it.”

Also, The Huffington Post’s new social media editor, Josh Young, has also been soliciting better headlines from readers on Twitter. Interesting use of Crowd-sourcing?

Takeaway

The Huffington Post is considering separate East Coast and West Coast editions.

Why?

Take the Oscars, It’s old news to East Coast readers by noon, but fresh for the West Coasters logging on.

Read more here: http://www.niemanlab.org/2009/10/how-the-huffington-post-uses-real-time-testing-to-write-better-headlines/

Will real-time rating lead to “better” headlines or more popular ones?