Somebody Raised Their Hand

Somebody left a comment on your post.

Maybe it was one word. Or a question you already answered in the caption.

It's easy to skip past it on your way to making the next post.

Don't.

Think about what that comment actually is.

Out of everyone who scrolled by, one person stopped, thought about what you said, and typed something back.

They raised their hand in a room full of people who didn't.

That's the beginning of a community.

It just doesn't look like one yet.

A lot of people starting out treat posting as the job and replying as the chore.

An hour goes into making something new.

Thirty seconds go into the people who answered the last one.

At the start, it should probably be the other way around.

Content brings people to the door.

The reply is what lets them in.

When you answer somebody, really answer them, not a quick “Thanks,” the person on the other end learns there's a human here.

They're more likely to speak up the next time.

And everyone else reading learns something too.

That part matters more than it seems.

People watch how you treat the ones who speak up before they decide to speak up themselves.

None of this needs to be clever.

Use their name.

Answer the question they actually asked.

If you don't know, say you don't know, and come back when you do.

I wrote once about what happens when “I'll call you back” turns into the next day.

Same rule here.

If you say you'll come back to someone, come back.

Some comments will turn into real conversations.

It can feel like those are pulling you away from building your business.

They aren't.

That is the business.

One comment isn't going to change your numbers this week.

But the person who left it could be the first member of something, if you treat them like one.

Don't make them lower their hand.