Why I’d Like You to De-Lurk

by Ari Herzog on January 3, 2009 · 54 comments

De-Lurking Day

If you are reading this and have never commented on AriWriter, this blog post is for you.

Over the past week, Chris Brogan, Daniel Scocco, and Marko Saric shared tips on increasing blog comments.

Chris wrote about persistence and experimentation
Daniel suggested building a blog community
Marko added how one comment translates into 230 visitors

There is another way: Pay homage to your lurkers.

That’s you.

Veerle Pieters borrowed the idea from others, describing De-Lurking Day as a special day “celebrating lurkers and exhorting you to muster the strength and bravery to click on that comment button and end the deafening silence.”

I read hundreds of blogs every week. Some are by title alone, others are by the first paragraph, but many include the entire content which sparks me to add a comment.

In recent days, I added comments to a diverse selection of blog posts, including:

Don’t Pick the G.I. Joe Action Figure
by Julie Roads
Turning Towns into Cities
by Danny Brown
The Most Hard Working Tech Bloggers in the World
by Amit Agarwal
Thank You 2008, You Finally Gave New Media a Name
by Elias Bezannes
Thoughts on Social Media Careers
by Rick Mahn

If you choose to add a comment below, don’t think of it as a favor to me but as a favor to everyone else. See, as much as I enjoy reading a comment, I can assure you many comments are added just because other comments preceded them.

In this vein, if you choose to de-lurk, here’s what to do:

Whether you are reading this in a feed reader, an email message, or a syndicated blog post somewhere, click here to visit the actual post.
Scroll to the bottom of the page and follow the directions to add a comment.
Type in your real name so I and others know who you are.
Type in your email address so I can email you privately, thanking you for de-lurking.
Type in your blog address, or your corporate website, or maybe your Facebook page. Somewhere where I and others can click your name (your web link will be linked to your name) and read more about you.
Type in your Twitter id, if you have one.
Type in whatever text you want, e.g. how long you’ve been reading, where you live in the world, what you do for a living, etc. Pretend we met at a bookstore and you’re introducing yourself to the world.
If you want to read subsequent comments of other people, you need to check the applicable box under the text box to receive emailed updates. I click this box on every blog I comment on.

Please don’t be shy. Care to de-lurk now?

Thank you for returning to my blog! If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader, email delivery, or Kindle subscription. You may also reach me on Twitter @ariherzog.

Related posts:

Tagged as: blogging, comments

Comments:

{ 3 trackbacks }

National De-Lurking Day! « DarcKnyt: January 12, 2009 at 4:15 PM
Blog Post Ideas That Always Generate Buzz: February 16, 2009 at 7:52 AM
Imploring you to de-lurk | Wright Creativity: April 13, 2009 at 4:03 PM

{ 51 comments }

1 Kimberlee Ferrell January 3, 2009 at 2:57 PM: Hi Ari! I’m Kimberlee Ferrell, a freelance writer, blogger, and explorer of social media. I try to make everyone feel welcome no matter how they found me, whether via my blog Freedom Writing, on Twitter, or Squidoo, etc.

I have two girls under age 4, and live in small-town Iowa. They sure make life exciting! I love writing about health, wellness, spirituality, parenting, writing, social media, and more!

Feel free to say hello or follow me at your favorite social media sites. Everyone is welcome!

Kimberlee

Kimberlee Ferrell´s last blog post..Blog Showcase Week #1 – Iowadawg’s Blawg
2 Mike Nichols January 3, 2009 at 3:01 PM: This post is a great idea! I’m not really sure why people do not comment, but I think that some don’t just because they’re put off by the mechanics of it, or don’t understand comments.

Is it ok if I steal the idea?

Mike Nichols´s last blog post..Shameless Self-Promotion
3 Warren Sukernek January 3, 2009 at 3:05 PM Twitter: @warrenss: Ari, great idea. Thanks for sharing the references as I hadn’t seen Daniel’s or Marko’s post. You could also give the de-lurkers another incentive to comment, to be included in your great year end wrapup/ thank you post.

Warren Sukernek´s last blog post..Twitter’s stream of consciousness
4 Ari Herzog January 3, 2009 at 3:15 PM Twitter: @ariherzog: Of course you can steal the idea, Mike, but be sure to credit Veerle (who in turn stole it from Sheryl of Paper Napkin). Like an April Fools’ joke that could be had any day of the year, De-Lurking Day could also be anytime!
5 Chris Charabaruk January 3, 2009 at 3:39 PM Twitter: @coldacid: Great post! I wish my blog were popular enough for this to work there, but I think I’m the majority of it’s daily hits. (Which is a shame, since I got such great content, etc.)

Anyway, I thought I’ve commented here before, but it turns out that was a misconception. So, here I am rectifying it.

Chris Charabaruk´s last blog post..Give me your podcast suggestions!
6 Adam Singer January 3, 2009 at 3:49 PM Twitter: @adamsinger: Alright – you asked…

I’ll delurk – hi Ari, been reading =)

Cheers,
Adam
7 Tracy January 3, 2009 at 5:24 PM: I was linked to your wonderful post on Twitter. I’m inspired to steal the idea for my forums. Thanks!

Tracy´s last blog post..I am Learning the Social Web Media Networking 2.0
8 TracyOConnor January 3, 2009 at 5:28 PM: Reading: “Why I’d Like You to De-Lurk — AriWriter” ( [link to post] )

– http://twitter.com/TracyOConnor/statuses/1094103060

– Posted using Chat Catcher
9 mikenichols0 January 3, 2009 at 5:30 PM: RT @TracyOConnor: Reading: “Why I’d Like You to De-Lurk — AriWriter” ( [link to post] )

– http://twitter.com/mikenichols0/statuses/1094105741

– Posted using Chat Catcher
10 jeff d. January 3, 2009 at 5:44 PM: Stumbled upon this blog, this is the first time I’ve actually commented on a blog. You made me feel guilty, I hope you’re happy.
11 Sid Burgess January 3, 2009 at 5:46 PM: ok ok, you brought me out of my no comment cave to comment on a piece about commenting – well done.

Sid Burgess´s last blog post..Twitter Book
12 Alisa Bowman January 3, 2009 at 6:14 PM Twitter: @alisabow: Well, it’s nice to finally come out of Ari’s closet. I have to say, he keeps a lot of stuff in there. What with the dirty socks and the tennis rackets–not to mention the 100s of other closet lurkers–there’s no proper place for a woman to sit comfortably. So thank you, Ari, for inviting me out of your blog closet! I’m happy to announce myself to the entire room. I am here! There are still quite a few people stuffed inside your closet, though. They told me to tell you that the promise of free beer would entice them to officially delurk and get out of the blog closet.

I have nothing intelligent to say (obviously?), which is why I sometimes lurk. Back to the closet…

Alisa Bowman´s last blog post..Save your marriage—and your happiness
13 Wallace January 3, 2009 at 6:14 PM: It’s good that I’m on vacation ( I would have missed this post )…

Wallace´s last blog post..Breaking News; A New Year Has Arrived ( 2009 )
14 Alisabow January 3, 2009 at 6:17 PM: Reading: “Why I’d Like You to De-Lurk — AriWriter” ( [link to post] )

– http://twitter.com/Alisabow/statuses/1094175343

– Posted using Chat Catcher
15 martin January 3, 2009 at 6:40 PM: Hiyah, I have you on my Google reader feeder, can’t remember why, perhaps you wrote a useful post that is helpful for my Social Media research or maybe a recipe, or both even.

Anyway, I’ll be back again!

martin´s last blog post..Hey Hey Rock ‘n’ Roll
16 styletime January 3, 2009 at 7:14 PM: Why I’d Like You to De-Lurk [link to post]

– http://twitter.com/styletime/statuses/1094256471

– Posted using Chat Catcher
17 Geoff Girardin January 3, 2009 at 7:19 PM Twitter: @geoffgirardin: Very nice Ari. This is actually one of my New Years resolutions, to comment more.

Geoff Girardin´s last blog post..So, this is the New Year.
18 Lizz Harmon January 3, 2009 at 7:36 PM: Hi Ari, I’m Lizz Harmon, and I’m a PR flack from beautiful, warm Tampa, Florida, where I have a firm that does publicity for Ringling Bros. and Disney on Ice in this market, The Florida Orchestra, Blue Bell Ice Cream, the Transitions Champion on the PGA TOUR, and some other really cool clients. I have two exceptional children, and a sweet husband who’s a voiceover announcer that has worked at our FOX affiliate for 26 years.

I’m a lurker though. I read a lot of blogs, but I’m not much for commenting on them. I fear typos, and don’t like to leave comments that might be around for a long time. I appreciate the sentiment in this post, and I thank you for prompting me to act.

Thank you for being my friend. I’m looking forward to more interaction and to a fabulous 2009!
19 David (Marketing Integrity) January 3, 2009 at 7:42 PM: Thanks for the invitation Ari! I have been reading your blog for a few months…since you wrote a post that referenced something I had written! You practice what you preach!

I provide marketing navigation for businesses and churches. Yes, churches. Churches need more help with marketing than almost any organization out there!

Thanks for the wisdom you share…it helps every type of organization!

David (Marketing Integrity)´s last blog post..Simply Say It!
20 Laurel Papworth January 3, 2009 at 9:42 PM Twitter: @silkcharm: Oh I read your blog. I read hundreds of blogs. I don’t comment on all of them -that would be a waste of my time and theirs (if I have nothing substantially to add).

Sometimes theres an art in listening. In knowing when to talk and when to just read, thoughtfully, then move on.

No-one is a ‘lurker’ they just choose when/where to add to the discussion. Like now

Laurel Papworth´s last blog post..Social Networks: Monetizing Social Media
21 Julie Roads January 3, 2009 at 10:07 PM Twitter: @writingroads: You are wicked smaht. I love the sentiment of this post. As you know, I love to comment. I could spend all day reading blogs and chiming in…but then I’d go broke and my family would starve.

Thank you SO much for including my post up above…and for all the link love that you regularly bestow. You are a true gem, walking the walk.

Julie Roads´s last blog post..Don’t pick the G.I. Joe action figure
22 writingroads January 3, 2009 at 10:13 PM: So GOOD! Why I’d Like You to De-Lurk @AriHerzog [link to post]

– http://twitter.com/writingroads/statuses/1094521847

– Posted using Chat Catcher
23 faryl January 3, 2009 at 10:16 PM: Love this! I just started an initiative of a similar vein on my blog (Commentary on Commenting – linkluv grabbed the link! )

Thank you!
Faryl (The Fearless Blogger)

faryl´s last blog post..Commentary on Commenting
24 Laurel Papworth January 3, 2009 at 11:07 PM Twitter: @silkcharm: weird, I left a comment about how I rarely leave comments. That the world is full of people with an opinion on everything. That it’s not the case that some people are lurkers and some people are contributors – it’s actually that sometimes one lurks, and sometimes one contributes (try reading hundreds of blog posts per day, then see what % you respond to). But the comment vanished o.O

Laurel Papworth´s last blog post..Internet takes over papers as news source
25 --Deb January 3, 2009 at 11:09 PM: Because sometimes it’s important to delurk!

–Deb´s last blog post..A Sextet of Information
26 Debra Snider January 4, 2009 at 12:16 AM: Hi, Ari! I got here via Julie Roads’ link on Twitter and, as always, she has sent me somewhere wonderful. I will certainly be back.

I’m an author, speaker, swimmer, blackjack player, wife of 31 years, and mother of two grown kids. I retired from my first career (securities and M&A lawyer, senior corporate executive) after 25 years to pursue my original college goal: to be a writer. My works include the novel A MERGER OF EQUALS and two business books. There’s more about them (and me) on my website, which also features lots of free productivity, leadership, career and other resources. I hope you and your readers will feel free to help yourselves.

I’m from Chicago, but have lived in Las Vegas for the last 4 years. Living in Las Vegas is like living on permanent vacation – I highly recommend it.

Thanks for the opportunity to introduce myself – and Happy New Year!

Debra

Debra Snider´s last blog post..Holiday Travels
27 cohnsey January 4, 2009 at 1:26 AM: What a sweet idea. Well now I am no longer a lurker. I feel so naked. lol
28 Sarah January 4, 2009 at 6:20 AM: Hi there… My name is Sarah and this is me De-lurking. I must say this is a really cool idea. This is my first visit to your blog, ive just been flaoting around and came across it through comment love.

Sarah´s last blog post..Hey there guys
29 Marko Saric January 4, 2009 at 12:15 PM Twitter: @howtomakemyblog: Very nice idea and it seems to be working for you! This is 29th comment…

Thanks for linking to my post!

Marko Saric´s last blog post..Twitter-brand yourself to increase exposure and traffic
30 Mary McNally January 4, 2009 at 1:32 PM: Hi Ari,
Nice to finally meet you! I haven’t been lurking on your blog for too long, but your invitation got me to join the conversation today. Gillian Swart, an old friend from Flint, MI (and now a long-time Mass. resident) had your blog in her sidebar. It’s that six degrees of separation that’s going on here.

Who am I? I’m 56 years old. My return to Michigan in 1994 after living in San Francisco for 14 years was the best decision I ever made. Why would anyone want to live in the down-trodden city of Michael Moore’s “Roger and Me”? I was raised in Flint, and I guess I’m tough and scrappy like the beat-up city. I always root for the underdog. My real reason for moving back was to help out my ailing parents who died in 2001. I never regretted having those 7 years with them.

The biggest surprise and joy was that I met my soulmate/husband Michael in 1996. With some twists and turns of fate, we married in 2000. Unfortunately he wasn’t well for half of our marriage, and he died suddenly of a heart attack in 2007.

I knew I would comment eventually on your blog, and I’ve already linked one of my posts to your blog. As far as commenting goes, it really depends on the topic. Sometimes I’ll comment a lot (on Widows Quest, for example) if I feel that I have something relevant to add to the conversation. Other times I want to reflect on what’s been said by others. I hate being redundant in comments. If someone else has expressed similar ideas, then I don’t see the point of adding my 2 cents.

I’m definitely going to check out your links, too. You’ve got a lot of interesting insights on social media. Maybe someday I’ll be on Twitter, but I need more than 140 characters to express myself.

Mary McNally´s last blog post..Dream on….
31 matt January 5, 2009 at 12:44 AM: Ari, it seems you’ve been able to remove the phobia for people to feel comfortable posting comments. I wonder if these lurkers will permanently convert? Personally, I’m hopeful of a world in which the number of lurkers continually dwindles and I’ve dedicated myself to delivering a safe environment for participation through my website: http://www.comotivate.com
This is my first read of your blog but perhaps you would like to share what % of your lurkers you estimate to have de-lurked. What will it take to get the others?
32 CGabriel January 5, 2009 at 1:03 AM Twitter: @CGprogram: Ari, wonderful post. As a radio talk show host and syndicated writer, I have had a consistent stream of emails from listeners/readers who, when disagreeing with a point of view I’m offering up – also known as an opinion – they will send me their vitriol, their “warnings” and their vitriol. Did I mention they send me their vitriol? Meanwhile, the happy clams who agree with an opinion I offer up – also known as a point of view – are more than happy to give me their name, address, phone number and spouse’s waist size in the event I’m ever running a free pants giveaway…I would hasten to add I’ve not done this. Yet.

Might I use your term, De-Lurking, sometime on the air? I promise to give you – both your point of view and opinion – full credit.

Sincerely,
Christopher Gabriel
Minneapolis, MN

CGabriel´s last blog post..Blackhawks Win and Lose in Winter Classic
33 Ari Herzog January 5, 2009 at 1:06 AM Twitter: @ariherzog: Chris, you are more than welcome to talk about de-lurking, but while you can attribute me, I can’t claim origination. I’m not sure who can.
34 CGabriel January 5, 2009 at 1:07 AM Twitter: @CGprogram: I thought I’d add one more response in the spirit of entering a password twice. This way, you know it’s me.

It also allows me to correct my Twitter error in the previous comment. Obviously, I’m @CGprogram, not @@CGprogram.

The form explained it perfectly. I read it, digested it and screwed it up anyway.

Still Sincerely,
Christopher Gabriel
Minneapolis, MN

CGabriel´s last blog post..Blackhawks Win and Lose in Winter Classic
35 Adriel Hampton January 5, 2009 at 1:54 AM Twitter: @adrielhampton: I’m not a stranger, but I will drop in on this one to mention that yours is one of just a handful of blogs I read regularly at this time – because it’s worth it. Keep up the good work.
36 David Bradley January 5, 2009 at 10:52 AM Twitter: @sciencebase: It seems to be a fact of life that the most unexpected post/article/announcement will be the one that gets the most feedback, it’s always been that way it seems, certainly through my two decades of writing for a living…
37 Bill Bolmeier January 5, 2009 at 12:17 PM: Great idea. Now I’ve been de-lurked. I’ve added this blog to my Google Reader and will check others as well.

I’m from Omaha, NE and I’ve been in the IT world in various forms for over 20 years – Operator, PCs, Programmer, Servers and Security.

My blog is billbolmeier.com

Thanks for doing this Ari.
38 Neal Wiser January 5, 2009 at 12:30 PM Twitter: @nealwiser: You’re absolutely right. Although there really isn’t anything wrong with Lurking (isn’t reading an RSS feed a form of Lurking?), and while I’m guilty of this myself, commenting is part of the life blood of a blogger.

Neal

Find me online at:
- My new Blog: “HyperTense” at: http://www.nealwiser.com
- Subscribe to the HyperTense RSS Feed: http://nealwiser.wordpress.com/feed/
- Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/nealwiser

Neal Wiser´s last blog post..Coming Soon to HyperTense
39 cohnsey January 5, 2009 at 3:57 PM: “Why do you feel naked?” -Ari

I guess I meant exposed. Like, now my lurking has been found out. It was just a bad joke I guess.
40 Christina January 5, 2009 at 6:37 PM: I’ve never seen a post before that just asks people to say “hi” and who they are. This is the first time I’ve seen your posts and I think you’re a very good writer. I like how you get your point across.

I’m a SAHM of 2, wife and new twitter addict. Around 450-500 people have followed me over the past 4 days (holy cow, how did that happen?) There are so many interesting smart people there – looking forward to learning more.

Have a great day.
41 George Berry January 6, 2009 at 10:18 AM: Hi Ari,

Thanks for inviting me and others to stop lurking and enter the conversation. Funny how just asking folks gets results. I was laid off back in October and since then I have been trying to get into this whole social media thing but it seems a struggle for me. Guess it is shyness but I keep plugging away because doing nothing will get me nothing.
42 Dave_L January 6, 2009 at 11:08 PM: Awww,

I’ll come out into the light now that you found me reading your blog from behind the wall.
43 Stacy Lukas January 9, 2009 at 8:01 PM Twitter: @damnredhead: I’ve commented here before but I haven’t for a long time. I’m so behind on my RSS feeds it’s ridiculous. But I thought I’d pop out of my hidey hold and let you know I’m still here.

Stacy Lukas´s last blog post..The high school notebook: social media casualty?
44 Kikolani | Poetry, Photography, Blogging January 21, 2009 at 12:46 PM Twitter: @kikolani: What a cute way to invite people to start being active on a blog! I’ve been lurking for weeks, and just beginning to de-lurk myself again everywhere.

~ Kristi

Kikolani | Poetry, Photography, Blogging´s last blog post..What Do I Want
45 Desizntech February 16, 2009 at 11:17 PM Twitter: @desizntech: Wow really nice idea. Thanks
46 Marvin Wilson February 17, 2009 at 4:29 PM: LOL! That’s what I do 99.9% of the time..lurk. So here’s to your de-lurking me and getting me to participating in the conversation.

Thank you soooo much for the article!
47 Sarah Kelsey February 18, 2009 at 10:14 AM Twitter: @sarahkelsey: I love this Ari. I’m just starting to blog/lurk/de-lurk so this article was extremely helpful. Thanks!!

Sarah Kelsey´s last blog post..It’s Vacation Time…
48 Maureen March 12, 2009 at 11:43 AM: Hi Ari! I found you via this link:
http://thefuturebuzz.com/2009/02/16/blog-post-ideas-generate-buzz/

and I think this is a great idea! I think I will try it on my blog. I get a lot of readers but (sadly) hardly anyone leaves a comment. Perhaps this will do the trick!

I’m an American expat (from Minnesota) and my blog is about life in England and current events and a hodge podge of other topics.

Maureen´s last blog post..Former Woolworths manager opens ‘Wellworths’ in Dorchester, Dorset
49 BrianWillms (BrianWillms) March 31, 2009 at 8:29 PM: Twitter Comment

RT @ariherzog:Do you have a blog but sad nobody posts comments? How about asking your readers to de-lurk? My Jan exprmnt: [link to post]

– Posted using Chat Catcher
50 allen March 31, 2009 at 8:34 PM: Thank you for the comments on GovLoop and I like your idea of “Pay homage to your lurkers”

How could I lurk after a statement like that

Allen
51 justin hileman April 6, 2009 at 12:21 AM Twitter: @bobthecow: I read the first half of this post when you wrote it, and I’ve been meaning to finish it and leave a comment ever since. It only took me three months to de-lurk

justin hileman´s last blog post.."Society doesn’t need newspapers. What we need is journalism."