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Oct 1 / Zander Freund

A Proven Method for Improving Your Bleacher Report Readership

One of the most common questions I get from members of our Community is how to increase their exposure on the site.

I tend to direct people to an extensive blog post I’ve written on the subject, as well as our series of Writer’s Tips.  Yesterday however, some of us in the office had a sudden realization of a proven method of increasing readership that we’d never before identified…but has been right under our noses for quite some time.

It came about as I was writing a post on the exceptional Lisa Horne’s bulletin board, and I reflected once again upon just how many comments her articles generate.  “It’s simply unbelievable—she averages like 80 comments per article, and regularly breaks 200″ I said to Ryan Alberti, who works next to me in our office.

“Yeah she’s amazing.  Though half of those comments are probably hers…”

Light bulb.

Dave Finocchio overheard our conversation and came running in from the other room.  “Hey guys…there’s clearly a correlation between those who dominant the top writers list and the frequency with which they respond to the comments in their articles!”

It didn’t take me long to realize just how true this statement was.  I ran down a mental checklist of the Creatures who have mastered the art of replying to every comment they recieve: Salaar Shamsi…Alan Bass…Baby Tate…Andy McNair…

It then struck me that I’ve never communicated the effectiveness of this strategy to the user base as a whole—so I’m doing it now.

The best way to build up a reputation on Bleacher Report is to establish a name for yourself in a particular Community.  When you take the time to not only write a provocative article—but then to follow up and thank people for their compliments, engage them in compelling discussion, and further prove that your knowledge of the sport you love makes you an expert in the truest sense—you’re going to get hordes of fans.

You heard it here first, aspiring Creature: engaging directly with those who have taken the time to read your article and comment on it will help you get you the recognition you so desire.

So after publishing your article, make sure to get busy in the threads.

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Filed under Community
  • Bob Warja

    It’s true that commenting yourself helps, as I’ve always done it. But you have to get readership to even get comments, and that’s where I struggle. I write articles that don’t generate even one comment and then I notice there have only been 100 reads or less. No wonder. To me, the bigger correlation to number of comments is reader views. And unless you have a blog, can get your articles access to someone else’s blog or website, it is a frustrating challenge. Having a catchy headline helps but sometimes it doesn’t seem to matter. Any ideas?

  • Lisa Horne

    Hey Zander!

    Thanks for the props! One of the best reasons to acknowledge a comment is because the reader took the time to comment, they should be acknowledged. It’s common courtesy.

    If someone said, “I love your dress”, you wouldn’t ignore them, and hence, when a reader compliments or disagrees with your article, it’s nice to answer them.

    One more thing….you can really develop some great friendships through conversing with the readers! I feel like I have a new set of friends here!

  • http://bleacherreport.com/users/2122-Chris-Radez Chris Radez

    Bingo!

  • Gray Ghost

    Z, you may remember that I asked you after I first came on B/R if answering every comment was acceptable. You encouraged me to do so, and I always have. In the South, if you don’t answer someone it is considered bad manners.

    Y’all are becoming Southern Gentlemen! Congrats!

  • Paul Boye

    So I’m guessing this means I don’t get a whole lot of comments because there isn’t much to debate in my pieces? I respond to just about everybody, but never broke 35 in any of my 15 or so pieces.

  • LJS

    this is pretty logical Z

  • http://bleacherreport.com/users/4105-Joe-Willett Joe W.

    People see a lot of comments, they want to read what is causing the debate, seems plausible. However, one of my most read recent articles received no comments.

  • Justin Goar

    Funny you should say that. i noticed that Lisa did that in all of her articles a couple of months ago and made it a point to start responding more.

    so props to Lisa!!

    also Baby tate is just about the most encouraging person on this site maybe with the exception of mrs dorothy, who i consider to be the matriarch of B/R.

    anyhoo, great tip, zander!!

  • Ken Armer

    Best advice that can be given to those who are wanting more readers is to keep at it and be give valuable comments to other writers. Get to know people, make friends. In time those friends will come to value your work and give you great feedback.

  • http://www.heavywritesthepen.com/ Angel

    I’ve tried to do that, but sometimes I’m at a loss. Not because I’m stumped and someone successfully refuted one of my points—but because they clearly didn’t read the article, and commented on something that would’ve been explained had it been read properly.

  • Michael Cline

    When I first joined b/r, I asked Lisa for advice and she said that very thing. Respond to the comments! It works!

  • Salaar Shamsi

    It does work to certain extent. I do it if it’s needed, for e.g if a comment on my article says, “What do you mean by…..” then I’d reply or if someone says “good article here” then I’d say thanks, just as a show of gratitude.

  • http://cfbplace.com miamimitchdotcom

    Not only is it true here but if you have your own blog as well. It’s a sign that your not arrogant and are in touch with your redersand care about what they have to say.
    I’ll also add from my experience that having an actual picture while not required usually helps, let people know you are a real person and not hiding behind something or hiding from something. I know not everyone is in the same boat but think again about the writers you named and se what they have. I see some great writers ignored for not having a picture.

  • Lisa Horne

    Maybe Z can answer this for me…it says I need to add a profile picture on my to do list….but I did. Does it show up? Am I the only one who can see it? Need input here. Thanks.

  • Jim Sheridan

    You are 100% right. Presonally, I read Lisa Horne and Gray Ghost every day simply because I know that they will comment on my comment good or bad. Its an awesome way for people to spread knowledge. Thanks Jim

  • Michael Cline

    My to do list says the same thing Lisa. I can see your picture.

  • lisa horne

    Kewl Jim…and I can see yours. We are good to go! :)

  • lisa horne

    I meant Michael!

  • Alan Bass

    Thanks for the props zander! It never hit me that it really helps to do that! lol

  • http://bleacherreport.com/users/8394-Jameson_Fleming Jameson

    Unfortunately no one on this site reads college basketball so I’m out of luck. Then again I’m the only one writing about college basketball practically…

  • David Jacobs

    I have tried to establish a name for myself on this site, particularly in the Tottenham Hotspur Community.
    I do my best to reply to all comments and compliment other writers’ articles.

    But still, no matter how well I write or how many people comment, half of the people commenting (and almost all of the people reading) don’t seem to want to be my fan as such.

    As for blogging, I hardly have time for that on top of writing standard articles and studying for A-levels.

    Thank you for trying to help, but I feel that there is still a domination of particular writers.

    Strange parallel to the English Premier League.

  • KP

    I would say that yes commenting and engaging in conversations within your own posts is definitely a plus. However, I also think you need to get out there and read other posts as well. If someone takes the time to comment on your stuff, then you should go out there and do the same with their work. Engage, be open to discussions, while being respectful too. I’m hoping to read more stuff in the future. Take care all… kp

  • KP aka Kevin Paul

    By the way, does anyone else feel weird being called a “Creature”? Just kidding.

  • Tyler hill

    Did it really take you this long to figure that out? Even I had figured it out and Ive only been writting for 2 months

  • Joe Lafleche

    I guess the second most useful thing to do is to write about what people want to read. Ive been writing many articles on Profesional Drifting and no one seems to nottice they are there. But its true that replying to other peoples comments is primal in letting yourself known.

  • Kristin

    To Bob Warja– I think the key to getting more reads is the title. I could pass up on an amazing read b/c the title doesn’t pop out at me–the picture is pretty important as well….but it’s all about the title :)

  • Bob Warja

    Thanks Kristin, good advice. And here is something I just learned: one way to increase readership if to piss off a NY baseball fan! I wrote an article called “Carlos Beltran would look good in Cubbie blue” and I got an UNBELIEVABLE response – over 20,000 reads and 100 comments, most of them not so pleasant unfortunately.

  • Bob Warja

    btw, what’s with the timestamp? I posted something at 3:19pm CT / 4:19pm ET and it showed up with a timestamp of 8:19pm. What time zone is this?

  • GeorgiaDawg

    Love the new features. The page break wasn’t working for me earlier today… but maybe it was just me.

    Great addition guys.

  • http://bleacherreport.com thomas moreland

    i answer every comment as honestly and as fast as i can, i thank people and i answer any qustions that have arisen from their comment and even apologize to one guy who was misled by a title. the more reads you get the more comments for sure. sometimes making one comment yourself about an edit or article seems to get things going as well/ all i know is when you hit an article or subject thats get reads in the thousands its pretty cool! a real boost for a WRITRS CONFIDENCE. i am averaging an article every day and a half since i joined. i m constantly writing mt sports thoughts down in articles now and expounding on them. is that a word?? lol we all need a little help sometimes. edit s are always good most of the time and i get a lot of compliments from people in my rookie writers 1st year! im having a ball on this site and im glad i saw the article somewhere on the entrepeneurs that started this site!!! thomas moreland aka nfl mikee and i ve got a cool record picking games this year so far. lol

  • http://bleacherreports Dan W. hunter

    I left a blog yesterday challenging Manny Pacquiao at my weight class at 121 pounds. i am 41 years old and the greatist musician ever to walk the face of the earth. I need nine months for training. I have never studied boxing or the martial arts. Some of the voices that I can do are Sarah Vaughan, Chris Cornell, Brian johnson, Bon Scott, steven Tyler. Exact, entire songs, you can not tell the difference. Do I got a Backer out there somewhere? I am in a poverty stricken country right now. It would only cost about 10K to record all 100 plus voices in the studio. It would take about three month. My bench press would be over 270. I have never lifted weights I grew up on a farm and used to stand between a set of magic trees. I can do Luis armstrong’s, tom waits, and many more, my own vocal signature is impossible, I am the most advanced vocalist ever to walk the face of the earth. I do not like the famous singers. I can even do Gwen Stefani’s voice and Avril Lavigne’s voice. the backer would probably have to be a billionare. I used to work for Ktron. I do not like the female vocalist. I like sports obviously. My work history is extensive and I’ve been to jail in America. I have no criminal record however. I have been in fights in the yard and I have been it street fight. I am running solo right now. Kimbo should stop over. I need a coach.