by Jim Smoot

Created on: March 27, 2008

Blogging is easy. That is why so many people have gotten into blogging in recent years. Blogging successfully, well, that's not as easy. That is why so many people that start blogging abandon their blogs over time.

Part of the reason so many bloggers loose interest in their blogs is that they feel isolated from their readers. They post articles on their blogs, but they have never figured out how to really connect with the people who visit their blogs. Many times they aren't really sure if they even have any visitors.

The problem is a lack of understanding the power of blogging, and how it works as part of the Web 2.0 environment.

When the internet first became a part of our lives, it was very much a one-way street. Companies and individuals posted static web sites that fed information to their visitors. There was very little community involved, and the only means of interaction was through forums and email.

Over the years the internet has evolved into a much more dynamic environment. It is highly interactive, and there is a much more free exchange of information and ideas. Bloggers who struggle feeling connected with their blog readers fail to take advantage of the community potential their blogs can provide.

The first 2.0 area of blogging is the comment section. By giving your readers a way to leave comments, they feel like they are involved in your blog, and are more willing to return day after day to be a part of your community. They get to leave comments about what you wrote, and also get to comment about what other readers have said. You not only get to read what others think about your blog, many times their comments and questions become the basis for future posts.

When a reader leaves a comment on your blog, there is a link to their blog. By visiting their blog and leaving comments, you reinforce that feeling of community. As that relationship grows, you have the opportunity to share information, link back and forth to each others articles, and work together to grow your community.

When coupled together with other Web 2.0 sites like MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, you can create an interactive environment that keeps you in contact with your readers in a way that previous internet users could never have imagined.

Blogging is a great way to not only say what you want to say about any number of subjects, it is also a great way to build relationships with others who share a common interest. Take advantage of what blogging has to offer, and get connect with others.

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