Why I Respond to Every Comment
Engagement isn’t all about boosting numbers
Before I started writing on Medium in March of 2020, I understood that meaningful engagement is crucial to ensuring long-term success as a creator.
There have been a few instances where one of my role models responded to me, and since then, I’ve felt a more intimate connection. One engagement I remember vividly is with Gary Vaynerchuk. Gary is the one who got me to start creating content on YouTube and Medium.
This man silenced any insecurities I had running through my head. All that I focus on thanks to Gary is creating. Fear and insecurities slow us down. He’s a huge asset in my life, and if you’re facing any self-doubt or are making too many excuses, he could help change your mind.
I commented on one of his Instagram posts, telling him how I felt stuck. I was too afraid of creating content because of the fear of being embarrassed if my content wasn’t up to par. He responded to me saying, “ I feel you, brother. Trust your process and block out the noise the only one who can dictate your happiness is you”.
Since then, I’ve liked, commented, and shared his best advice with my buddies. When a creator acknowledges you as a human being who resonates with their content, compels you to appreciate them even more.
There’s no reason not to respond! You won’t agree with the comment, or some won’t say much, but they’re your audience. They took time out of their day to consume your content. Replying creates connections and blossoms relationships.
You Have the Chance to Elaborate
Frequently, I’ll get comments that highlight a key point I made that made an impact on them. I won’t only reply with “thank you for reading!”. Nope. I will elaborate as much as I can on the idea and use a specific example or even story to make the connection authentic.
If a reader approaches you with an opposing thought or suggestion, you have the chance to clarify and make things crystal clear.
I find it shocking when I see quality articles that have 50+ comments and not a single one has a reply. It’s a ton of real estate left on the table that leaves people in the dark. They probably won’t care to comment on further topics because they’ll think they’re speaking to a wall.
Replying Builds Connections and Rapport with Your Readers
The comment section sparks excellent conversations and meaningful interactions. I have mainly been engaging a lot with a wide variety of individuals. I have countless people to thank for my success on the platform.
Through each and every one of these individuals, I’ve learned something new and become more confident.
Tracy Luk taught me more about life in Tokyo through her writing and how writing out of love allows us to connect with our readers more profoundly.
Sara Taki taught me more about political movements happening in Morocco are dear to her heart, and she feels compelled to speak issues that mean a lot to her.
Ryan Fan and I bond over running cross country and helping other people. Through engagement, he has become one of the most influential writers for me as he’s shown me publications he’s written, and I just love his voice throughout his articles.
Oren Cohen has taught me tons about SEO and even motivated me to purchase Grammarly Pro, which has significantly improved my writing!
Stephen Dalton and I have had insightful conversations about the military. He’s a retired 1st Sergeant who has a stable career in writing, which is inspiring for me as a young to-be-Sergeant in the Army!
Prince Praveen has provided thorough support and motivation throughout the Facebook groups we are in together and continually puts out useful content. Prince is an inspirational student of writing and is always identifying new ways to grow as a creator.
Cristina Rojas Colloridi has shown me how having writing competition has been beneficial in her Medium journey because it helps you hold one another accountable. Who doesn’t love a little competition?
Muhammad Siddiq explained to me how his father’s manufacturers and exporters business works with international buyers and how the virus has affected them.
Sarah Thomas has been fantastic in sharing useful resources with me on starting my course online.
There are many more interactions I’ve had through replying to my audience.
Medium is one of those platforms where we’re all an expert at something. Everybody here can provide value to others. We just have to be more open.
Creating content can be an incredibly lonely journey. My YouTube career hasn’t had nearly as many genuine connections as my blogging career has.
The membership I purchased for this platform has been the best $50 bucks I’ve ever spent. I’ve gained so much knowledge and confidence in myself thanks to the amazing content shared here.
We’re all in this together.
If you are feeling lonely throughout your writing journey, I highly encourage you to reach out to the fantastic writers on this platform — more of us than less welcome conversation.
We are our support system. Some of the most intellectual people I’ve met write on Medium.
By replying to comments, we open up the floor to conversation and collaboration. Many times, I’ve gained useful insight I later put into my articles to provide extra value to readers.
Don’t be afraid to share your ideas and reply to the community. It doesn’t make you look tough if you don’t. Responding shows, you genuinely care about your audience — ultimately, the ones who will lift you into the limelight.