Simon Wakeman

Wednesday, August 8, 2007 at 7:50pm

Stephen,

I’ll be first and save your blushes! I’m sure you’ll get plenty of comments really.

I tried something similar a few months back on my blog - I wasn’t inundated but did get to know some new readers.

all the best,
sw

ps I’m hoping I’m already on your RSS reader, but if not I’ll be checking my stats go up by one today!

Stephen

Wednesday, August 8, 2007 at 7:54pm

Hello mate,

I kinda had a sneaky suspicion you read it. Likewise I read you too.

I hope some people who normally don’t comment actually do. Like you say, it allows you to get to know some new people and may hopefully help me find a few new blogs to read too.

Marc

Wednesday, August 8, 2007 at 8:10pm

Hi Stephen,

I’ve been reading your blog for probably over a year already. Never commented though. So hi!

I don’t live in the North East; I live in the Midwest and in your country’s former colony. And I once lived a bit closer, in the South West… of London. Clapham South/Balham to be exact.

Anyway, I enjoy your blog. And this introduction thing is a fun idea.

Cheers!

Marc

Walker Hamilton

Wednesday, August 8, 2007 at 8:20pm

My name is Walker Hamilton. I run a web development shop in Chicago, IL (US). Uhhh…I’m also an information architecture graduate student by night at the Illinois Institute of Technology (aka IIT).

I don’t remember how I got introduced to this blog…but it’s generally really good so it managed to survive every culling of the my feed reader’s list.

Nathan Gilliatt

Wednesday, August 8, 2007 at 8:22pm

Anything for a subscriber, I suppose.

I hope there’s not going to be a quiz…

Matt Ambrose

Wednesday, August 8, 2007 at 8:26pm

Hi Stephen,

Most of the blogs I read seem to be American so its good to get your UK perspective on PR, internet marketing etc.

I have commented before (on the post about whether Brown would be continuing the use of spin I think) but I know I should do so more often. I know how it feels like your just talking to yourself sometimes.

I’m hoping my blog, The Copywriter’s Crucible, might be of some interest to you as it’s about internet copywriting and I do cover online PR from time to time.

http://thewritewords.me.uk/blog

Thanks,

Matt.

Ian Delaney

Wednesday, August 8, 2007 at 8:36pm

Me too, you arse.

I have found, generally though, that 90% of comments are left by bloggers. What does that mean? That all of us are attention whores, or that we “get” the need for interaction? Bit of both, I guess.

Stephen

Wednesday, August 8, 2007 at 8:42pm

Marc: Thanks for the comment. I’ve never came across your blog before but I’m now a subscriber. Coincidence, I used to live in Clapham too. Small world and all that.

Cheers!

Walker: I know you dude. You’ve offered me some sound advice on this blog on more than one occasion. Thanks for keeping my blog in your feed reader. You are now in mine. No pressure.

Nathan: Hah! No quizzes I assure you. Subscribed!

Matt: Thanks. Always looking to improve my writing style. (Would say ‘writing skills’ but don’t think I have any yet!)

Ian: Been reading you for ages. And, yes, I think there’s a bit of an attention whore in all bloggers. Ahem, except for me of course.

Ged

Wednesday, August 8, 2007 at 9:03pm

Nice posting will keep an eye on this to see who comments. Will have to show up in the North soon

Stephen

Wednesday, August 8, 2007 at 9:15pm

Yeah let me know when you’re around, mate.

Chris Thilk

Wednesday, August 8, 2007 at 9:15pm

Hey Stephen,
I’ve been reading your blog for a while now since I’ve worked for a while in PR and you put out good stuff.

It’s an interesting experiment you’ve got here and I can’t wait to see how it pans out.

Movie Marketing Madness (http://www.moviemarketingmadness.com/blog/) is my personal blog and Open the Dialogue (http://www.openthedialogue.com/) is my agency blog.

Best,
–Chris Thilk

Rax Lakhani

Wednesday, August 8, 2007 at 10:44pm

Hi Stephen

Taaaa-daaaa!!

Great blog. I’ve been subscribed a while now via http://thefriendlyghost.wordpress.com/ ’s feed list.

I’ve been hearing some great things about webitpr recently. I was gutted that I couldn’t make it to your foosball event the other day - especially after a hearty invite from Giles.

Anyway, I’m sure our paths will cross one day in the real world… until then - I’ll remain a faithful subscriber!

(By the way - my blog is new and has lots of design “issues” which I’m in the process of ironing out. So it’s a bit low on content at the mo…)

Rax

Joanna Tidball

Thursday, August 9, 2007 at 5:35am

Hey Stephen - I’m pretty sure you know I’m a reader - I subscribe through Bloglines and mainly read posts there, only clicking through if I do want to comment. My own blog is far less frequently updated than yours

Pez

Thursday, August 9, 2007 at 11:24am

Hi Stephen

I think I’m part of the 9% – I contribute if I can, but otherwise I’m happy to just watch the debates and discussions take place!

I’ve been reading your blog since you moved to webitpr, as it’s a necessity to keep up with anything North East related in my job. Also it’s a good blog… there’s a few others I’ve subscribed to through reading this one as well.

I’m sure Kev Price would comment as well, but he’s not in the country right now, so I’ll link to his blog for him! http://www.kevprice.com

Cheers

Pez

Nicky Davis

Thursday, August 9, 2007 at 11:28am

Hi,

Yes, the “long time listener/reader, first time caller/poster” theory is interesting…

Good luck with the intros!

Cheers, Nicky

http://www.evokedset.com/news/momentum/index.php

Wayne Smallman

Thursday, August 9, 2007 at 12:40pm

It’s funny this article should come onto my lunchtime radar.

I was having a ‘debate’ with one of my regular readers and subscribers last night on MSN.

I have this writing style that sort of closes off my articles and all but stifles further discussion.

She thinks I’m being deliberate, I think she’s a lurker.

We laughed .. well, I did.

Anyway, I think those figures might be about right.

A good example of those who hardly ever do anything when passing through are people from Digg, with StumbleUpon a close second…

Stephen

Thursday, August 9, 2007 at 1:00pm

Wow! Thanks everyone. I’m gonna go update the post now.

Alastair McKenzie

Thursday, August 9, 2007 at 1:34pm

Hi

Sent an email earlier to introduce myself because your comments weren’t working or displaying.

It made me think about this post and your previous one (counting how many comments you make). I’d probably comment more if it weren’t so difficult sometimes. It is not unusual to find comment sections on blogs not working.

The other day I spent a frustrating and sizeable chunk of the morning trying to make a point on Neil McLean’s Travel Pr blog (www.thetravelprblog.com)….. I gave up when i suddenly realised how much time it was taking up.

So I tend to lurk first and only comment if i’m really desperate!
I

Fabian

Thursday, August 9, 2007 at 1:37pm

Hey Stephen,

I’ve been reading your blog for about a month, through the Power150 list. I don’t think I ever commented, so I guess that makes me a lurker. I lived in the southeast for a while, but now im back in Europe…

take care

Fabian

Wayne Smallman

Thursday, August 9, 2007 at 1:57pm

Hi Stephen, thanks for the link.

I don’t do ’blogrolls any more (there’s a good reason for this, which I’ve written about recently, a link to which can be found in the comment URL), but what I will do is spread some link luv’ your way in an article I’ve got lined up.

Specificity and strong anchor text beats a flat link any day of the week and thrice on Sundays.

Speak to you soon…

Melanie Seasons

Thursday, August 9, 2007 at 2:00pm

Oh, yes. She’s back… Melanie commenting up a storm. Technically, I was no longer a lurker as of yesterday! My blog is quite new, I would be incredibly grateful if you subscribed to it.

http://fakeplasticnoodles.com

Cheers,
Melanie

P.S. I have you on my blogroll and am subscribed through Bloglines.

Sarah Wurrey

Thursday, August 9, 2007 at 2:01pm

Interesting experiment!

adam berkowitz

Thursday, August 9, 2007 at 3:09pm

Ugh, I’d prefer to not use the term “lurker”, only because it conjures up visions of that guy who hangs outside the Port Authority trying to lick out-of-towners.
My point: I read your blog. But never comment. And, for that, I apologize.
Adam

Anna

Thursday, August 9, 2007 at 4:13pm

Hi Stephen;
Reached this post via Wayne Smallman’s Stumble. Okay, I admit that I can be somewhat of a ‘lurker’, on various sites. Mostly I think I fall into the 9% category, though. I don’t alway’s feel I have anything worth contributing to a post… but, I have agreed to make more of an effort to start coming out of the shadows on occasion.

So, hi! Nice to meet you. Great post!
Anna

Adam

Thursday, August 9, 2007 at 5:26pm

*waves*

I’ve been reading you via feed subscription for quite a while now.

I blog at: One Man & His Blog.

Jackie

Thursday, August 9, 2007 at 6:45pm

Stephen,
I don’t have a blog (yet..), but I am subscribed to yours. Just wanted to say ‘hello’ as I’m one of those lurkers Oh, and I’m pretty sure we’re friends on Pownce? Maybe.. Ok.

Stephen

Thursday, August 9, 2007 at 9:09pm

Thanks folks. You’re now in my feed folder titled “People who read my blog.”

Now if I could just get the other hundreds to comment also.

Alsastair: I didn’t receive your email. I’ll check the contact form.

Adam: I agree. Blame Jakob Neilson.

Cheers!

Joy

Thursday, August 9, 2007 at 9:32pm

Hi Stephen, I totally agree with you. I had one guy respond so quickly with a comment after each post he disagreed with I told him we should have coffee he’s so friendly (not really, but you know what I mean right?)

In any case, I’m a publicist based in Los Angeles, CA and would love to have you make some comments on my blog. Especially the last one I’ve written where a local newspaper is censoring what I post on my blog. Would find your opinion very interesting on this issue.

Thanks for writing what you write and look forward to hearing more!
JOY

Justin

Friday, August 10, 2007 at 8:16am

Hi Stephen,

Kind of figured you know I subscribe, not having a history in in the PR world it’s been a real insight reading your thoughts.

Your dedicated webitpr website developer

p.s. don’t have a blog and as with most web dev’s my personal site is under construction…

Stephen

Friday, August 10, 2007 at 8:18am

“don’t have a blog and as with most web dev’s my personal site is under construction…”

Hah! So true too.

Michael

Friday, August 10, 2007 at 8:22am

Hey Stephen,

I’ve been reading your posts ever since, mate! I remember when you first told me about your blogging plans in this lecture room in Sunderland.

Me, I still don’t have my own blog. Probably I’m too shy for telling everybody what I think. As soon as I start with my Master thesis, I’ll definitely set one up. Or probably (if I find the time) a blog about my new job in online research. Fingers crossed. I’ll give you a shout!

Cheers,
Michael

Stephen

Friday, August 10, 2007 at 8:49am

Hello, sir.

Good to hear from you. And glad I haven’t bored you to death yet.

Talk to you later…

Alex Sulimoff

Friday, August 10, 2007 at 9:04am

Аre you ready to read in Russian? ;]

Sarah Stimson

Friday, August 10, 2007 at 9:12am

I read you too… but I think you may already know that. I’m usually one of the dreaded lurkers. I don’t really want to comment on PR-esq type things - I don’t *do* PR - I just recruit them! But I do like to know what’s going on in the industry, so PR blogs are a nice way to keep a finger on the pulse.

Now and then though, I can’t keep my mouth shut.

Stephen Waddington

Friday, August 10, 2007 at 10:53am

I’ve never been a lurker

bOB ledREW

Friday, August 10, 2007 at 11:28am

Hi Stephen — I’m on your blog quite regularly, and enjoy it. Checking in from the colonies!

Heather Yaxley

Saturday, August 11, 2007 at 1:24pm

Oh go on then - have a little link love from me too.

Jo

Monday, August 13, 2007 at 6:06am

Howdy,

I never thought of my blog-reading habits as lurking in the shadows, but I suppose it’s true.

I started a blog, but then lost my zip. Now I just skulk around reading blogs like - seeing how other people do it and trying to find my inspiration to write again.

Jo

Sindhu

Monday, August 13, 2007 at 8:33pm

I do subscribe to your blog and read the updates. I heard about it at the PR Careers Day in November 2006. I am a reader of blogs due to a lack of time! I write my own blog. It is more of an onlilne diary recording any interesting PR/Advertising related things.

Ewan

Wednesday, August 15, 2007 at 10:12am

We read you here at SMS Text News towers, Stephen!

Stephen

Wednesday, August 15, 2007 at 10:24am

Thanks mate. Right back at ya!

Camilla

Thursday, August 16, 2007 at 3:17pm

Hey Stephen

I feel quite common knowing I am in the majority - 90%. I am only writing on this to make myself seem a bit more cool.

Thanks for help and advice over recent months.

Camilla x

Stephen

Thursday, August 16, 2007 at 3:32pm

Hey Camilla,

Thanks and yep, you are indeed cool!

Tim Hood

Friday, August 17, 2007 at 11:20am

Hi Stephen
I’ve become a loyal reader since you wrote about our site Yoosk.co.uk , which in turn triggered a very insightful article by Sarah Wurrey, which in turn helped us clarify our business objectives vis a vis the PR industry (so thanks to both of you). The site’s come a long way since then (redesigned, new features) and starting to attract traffic and secure promises from the great and good to answer members’ questions.

Cheers
Tim

Kelly

Monday, August 20, 2007 at 5:07pm

I’m a little late, but here goes.

I think I account for the 9 % in the middle.. though I wish I commented/participated a lot more. My usual problem is I can’t think of something great to say… So here’s the perfect opportunity!

I’ve been reading this blog for months, though I think this is the first time I’ve commented. My blog is Persuasive e-Marketing — Hope you like it!

Serge

Tuesday, August 21, 2007 at 6:12pm

A bit late, but still: here’s the proof I still read your blog. Albeit from time to time mostly: nothing for a week or two, and then catch up. Have been on holiday though, so there was a lot of catching up to do.

Anyway: as you know I do not exactly live in the North East (at least not the NE of England ), but I am always game for meeting up for a drink.

BTW : careful with subscribing to too many blog feeds. I seem to remember a post by yourself about having to clean up feeds because there simply were too many !

Stephen

Tuesday, August 21, 2007 at 7:22pm

Hey Serge,

Me mam will be pleased. She just mentioned the other day how you hadn’t commented for a while. You’re one of her favourites.

And, yes, would love to meet for a beer if we’re ever in the same country.

Hi, BTW: the Net as our virtual office

Sunday, October 7, 2007 at 7:09pm

[...] And finding those that comment, or at least coaxing people to de-cloak long enough to comment can be a rewarding challenge, as Stephen Davies, the tech’ and public relations writer over on PR Blogger recently found out. [...]