Sidepodcast

Must Comment Monday is Back

Every now and then, you might hear us mention Must Comment Monday and wonder what it's all about. It is something we want to keep up all year round, but find difficult to do during the busy F1 season. However, now the off-season is well and truly here, it is time for MCM to make its triumphant return.

What is it all about?

If we learnt anything from the Interview with Bloggers series we did recently, it was that bloggers like comments. In many cases, they are the reason the blog exists in the first place. A comment can make a writer's day. Even if it doesn't agree with the sentiment of the article, some well-placed discussion is why we are on the web in the first place.

Must Comment Monday has been around for years, pre-Sidepodcast even. It's an initiative to turn readers into active participants rather than passive observers. Commenting only needs to take a few seconds, and it can make all the difference.

What does it involve?

It's really quite simple, and there are only a couple of guidelines to make things easier.

1. Comment on any blog post you read on a Monday that was written on that day.
2. If a writer publishes several posts a day (this means you, Joe), you only need to comment on one of them.
3. Try and further the conversation, but if you're really stuck, even a 'keep up the good work' can have the desired effect.
4. You don't need to comment on a blog that requires logins and/or signups. Although if you already have a login for the blog, then you probably should.

What is there to gain from this?

It's been said a few times before but if you're not a blogger, it's hard to explain how much a few words can mean. It can provide the inspiration to keep on going, and it's a great way of connecting with the person behind the words. Plus, we made a pretty badge, and I know you can't resist the badge.

Where's the best place to start?

Well, it's funny you should ask, but there have been a plethora of blogs popping up from Sidepodcast commentors of late. For Sidepodcast, the Must Comment Monday initiative is aimed at F1 blogs only, but there is nothing stopping you from spreading the love and commenting on other blogs as well.

There's an ongoing list of new and existing blogs over on the wiki, but here are some of our favourites to get you started. If you find any more, or if we have missed you out, let us know, and we'll pop you on the list.

• BlogF1
• F1 Tailpipe
• F1 Wolf
• James Allen on F1
• Joe Saward
• Making Up The Numbers
• Natural Born Racers
• Only One Timo Glock
• Pitlane Fanatic
• Racing Eagles
• Sofa F1
• The Blog of an F1 Loonie
• Too Much Racing

We also ask bloggers themselves to take part in, and promote Must Comment Monday too. Feel free to either grab the badge above and post it on your own site, or have fun creating your own. You can link to this explanation, the dedicated page or blog about how comments make a difference to you as a writer and encourage more. By all means Tweet, Facebook or do whatever you can to promote more interaction in your blog.

Finally, come back and let us know your Must Comment Monday experiences - did you find new friends, new blogs, or new ideas? Or is the whole thing a bit of a chore. We want to know.

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