I am on the run as I am getting ready to bake a cake for a dinner tonight, but I just wanted to poke my head in and pen a few thoughts while I was in the neighborhood.
I know that it can be frustrating when you take the time and energy to write a post and then you don't get many responses. We have all been there, especially when we were new and weren't well known. It still happens to me and I have been here a while now.
I just wanted to give a few suggestions that may improve your response numbers:
* First, let's start with your title. Make it interesting. Did the title I used here raise your interest? Titles that are blah and evasive are overlooked often. Titles like, "Guess what happened to me" or "My dog did this" don't exactly make me want to check it out. Be creative! You all do have the ability in you!
* In your title attach your USM name. This way it is "out there" more often and then people get to know you as a person and not a blank name, number or Taggie when they see it on the board or on your profile. I think that those who use their names will tell you that they receive more and more responses and are addressed by their name in those responses. It is frustrating to me to have to go to a person's profile to find out who wrote it, so I can respond to them with their name, which I believe is more personal.
* PLEASE use proper English and punctuation. PLEASE DON'T use internet grammar or ALL CAPS! It is fine if you are using SOME CAPS to make a point, as I did here, but in internet manners it is considered YELLING to submit a full post in CAPS! PLEASE use caps where it is correct, like the word "I" not i.
* Please use and separate your paragraphs with spaces. In all sections except Poetry you need to double Enter to make a separation. Otherwise it will run on. Poetry is already set up to follow a poetry form. If I open a post and it is one HUGE paragraph, I will close it and go on. It is too hard on my eyes and brain to try and decipher it.
* Please check your spelling for errors. Perhaps typing your post into a word processing program and then running spell check is needed.
* Correct mistakes. I have sent responses to Author Only to suggest that an author might change the spelling of a word, only to have my suggestion ignored and the mistake left the same. Go to the "Update" button and go back and change your mistakes. But you have to do it soon after posting, as the button will disappear.
* If you are asking for a simple, answer don't start arguing with someone if they give you a simple answer or opinion. If you want a debate, then post it in debate. I have seen many a post where a person is raked over the coals for a simple reply such as who their presidential candidate favorite is or their stance on abortion, the war, etc. Be nice! MANY of the people on here can become your best of friends, if you treat them nicely. If someone jumps at them upon their reply, they are less appt to read and reply to your posts again.
* We have some awesome, intelligient writers here and I have read some wonderful posts. But, when posts are non-attractive right off the bat from the title on, I am less appt to read them and comment.
* Read your post over out loud. Does it sound good or interesting? That is one of THE most helpful tools I learned when I was taking all those English and writing classes.
Well, it's out to the kitchen now and whipping up a mayonnaise cake! Yummy!
Keep posting and keep learning! Let's all work together to make USM the most interesting and compassionate site on the internet!
Love, Hugs and Butterfly Kisses,
Paula You can join Unsolved Mysteries and post your own mysteries or
interesting stories for the world to read and respond to Click hereScroll all the way down to read replies.Show all stories by Author:  53961 ( Click here )
Halloween is Right around the corner.. .
|
