Blogger roundtables can be conducted either in print on a blog or through voice via podcast. Both techniques have their advantages. More importantly, both delivery vehicles offer traffic boosts for all participating blogs. The hosting of the roundtable can be rotated among the regular participants. New bloggers can be added, and current participants changed over time.
The key to visitor traffic growth is the pooling of readers, who in many cases, visit a discussion participant's blog for the very first time. An intelligent discussion, on any of a virtually unlimited number of topics, is certain to raise the profile and reputations of the bloggers involved. It will also keep those new visitors returning to the newly discovered blogs.
Any area of blogging from acting and art to zippers and zoos is a candidate for a blogging roundtable discussion. There is no limit on the possible topics, and sub-topics within each area of blogging interest. Sports bloggers are already utilizing roundtables as a mainstay of their blogging activities.
Baseball blogger Jon Weisman of Los Angeles Dodgers focussed Dodger Thoughts hosts what is referred to as a baseball squaretable discussion on his blog. Along with noted baseball bloggers Jay Jaffe of Futility Infielder, Rich Lederer of Baseball Analysts, and Rob McMillin of 6-4-2.
For the discussion, the bloggers have chosen one specific topic, and discussed it indepth, providing greater analysis and more widespread opinion than one blogger writing alone. In this case, the bloggers have chosen the hiring of new team General Manager Ned Coletti by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Maintaing a focus on a single issue allows for more wide ranging analysis and opinion, and also sets the stage for future very targeted roundtable discussions.
Note that all participating bloggers promote the squaretable discussion on their blogs. The posting sends readers from other blogs to the roundtable hosting blog, resulting in a sharing of visitor traffic. While baseball might not be your area of interest, the concept and the format are readily usable for discussing any topic area.
Be sure as well to check the high number of reader comments resulting from the roundtable discussion. From the overwhelming readership response, it would appear these opinion sharing posts are very popular indeed. After all, potential commenters are drawn from all of the participating blogs.
Blogging roundtable discussions also help to form deeper bonds between the participating bloggers. Working together on discussions, either in print or via podcast, helps forge friendships and working relationships for the future. Roundtable bloggers can easily become business partners.
It's time to consider forming a blogging roundtable discussion in your area of interest. Don't wait for another blogger to ask you to start an on the blog conversation. Take the initiative and begin a regular discussion series today.
Your blog traffic numbers and regular blog readership will thank you for it.
