Imagine you’d just decide to send out a lot of Christmas cards early in the month of December — to complete strangers.
What would happen?
Nothing? Maybe a few confused phone calls or letters?
Most likely you’d receive a great deal of Christmas cards in return, from people who don’t even know you.
A university professor actually performed this exact experiment back in 1976, and although he expected to get some responses, he was actually amazed by the number of return cards he received.
This experiment demonstrates that reciprocity is one of the building blocks of society: we subscribe to the principle that we are obligated to repay favors, gifts, and invitations.
It makes sense. We care for each other. We help each other.
When it comes to blogging, you’re giving quite a bit, sharing free information with your readers. And you almost always get something in return for this. Whether it’s making a sale, or receiving comments, or getting posts reblogged on other people’s blogs, it’s always a smart move to give even more by creating tutorials, e-books, or special promotions.
If you strive to give, give, give, there will come a time when the principle of reciprocity will come into effect and you’ll also receive.
This is true. 🙂
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Really enlightening
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🤞🏻 🤞🏻 🤞🏻 Here’s hoping. I’ve been down in the dumps lately because it feels like quite a few people have no problem taking and never looking back.
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I agree.
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That does make sense. I’ve followed some blogs and have gotten some follows back because of it.
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Yup, so true! Thanks for writing!
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Very true – amazing experiment!
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This is a fantastic post and I love the anecdote that you use to really drive this story home!
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Excellent idea. The priod is right there. Now I just have to find what it is that I can offer…
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⭐️⭐️💯⭐️⭐️
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Reblogged this on Connect: the write way and commented:
It is far better to give than to receive. Basic principal of life.
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I’m not sure I agree with this idea entirely; it’s almost as if you’re saying that people only respond positively to a blog because they hope to get something in return and that we will ‘get’ more if we ‘give’ more. I can’t help but feel that this somehow denigrates both reader and author.
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That’s what is going on though.
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I can only speak for myself but if I like it’s because I like, I comment if I really like and if I like more than once I follow. It’s nice to get all those things in return but not why I do it 😊
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Wow, this was a great post! It was very true as well.
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Reblogged this on The Revivers and commented:
This makes a lot of sense. Read on…
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Never ever heard it articulated this way….such a powerful insight….!!!
Thankk you so much 👍🏻👍🏻
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