Define "Comment" as it pertains to ActiveRain:
Is it a minimum of 50 characters that provide 25 points?
Or is it an opportunity to engage, build relationships and plant seeds for future referrals?
How you approach comments goes a long ways towards how much (or little) you can gain from ActiveRain participation.
Comments are an easy way of becoming visible to other members of the community, but comments are potentially double edged.
Experienced members can readily determine the purpose behind a comment. Was it for points, or engagement?
To be blunt, if I see that someone's approach is to leave 25 generic comments in 5 minutes, I have no respect for that. The intent of this community has been totally missed IMO. That type of behavior devalues the point system.
On the other hand, a thoughtful comment? That's opening the door to a lot more. Many of the relationships I enjoy in the Rain started a decade ago with a comment. One led to another and another, and over time we get to know each other.
Some believe firmly in reciprocation (you leave a comment on mine, I leave a comment on yours).
Me personally, I don't feel obligated to practice reciprocation and I don't want others to feel obligated to leave a comment for me just because I left one on their post.
When you're first starting off, leaving a lot of comments is one of the best ways to get your face out there and start to be recognized. Reciprocation is probably a good policy for someone establishing their Rain identity.
Again, me personally, my time to participate here has shrunk significantly since I first joined (busier with real estate, more dogs, more cats, more honeybees!), and some activity that used to be Rain based has shifted to Facebook. The net result, a comment from me outside of responding to comments on my own posts is a bit rare. It's a catch-22, I'd like to leave more comments, but I also need to sleep each night :)
Bottom line, commenting is a major contributor to how much of a network you build in the Rain. Just leaving a comment by itself won't get it done. Quantity without quality won't get the job done.
Until next Tuesday, just Ask An Ambassador if you need help,
Bill & Liz aka BLiz
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