Answering Comments: Obligation, Optional or Off?
I hate to “beat a dead horse”, but I see movement and would like to know your thoughts. All bloggers love receiving comments on their blog, but as a blog grows, for some, life gets in the way and responding to all comments can take a lot of time.
So what do you do, respond to some and ignore the others? Post less and spend more time interacting with your readers? It might take me a few days, but for now I like responding to each comment.
Comments are like multiple births. I have 6 of a kind, but each one is treated as an individual.
What about turning comments off for certain posts? This is not a favorite of mine, so I won’t do it here,1 because I don’t like the feeling of being shut out. However, some blog posts, like this one, don’t require interaction in the comment section from the blogger. Should you let your readers know you won’t be responding?
I admit, if I leave repeated comments on a blog and the blogger never responds, I lose interest. I like feeling that I’m talking to a person and not a wall.
How do you feel when a blogger doesn’t respond to your comment? What if the comments are turned off, are you? Should a blogger respond to every comment? What’s the protocol on your blog?
I’ve shared my feelings, so I will leave the comment section open for your thoughts.
Additional Reading and Plug-ins
Is There A Such Thing As Commenters Burnout?
A.S.K. Darren Rowse: How Does a Problogger Deal With Comments
How to get more comments on your blog
Close Old Posts - Closes comments on old posts on the fly, by default it’s 14 days
Comment Time Out - Comment Timeout closes comments on old posts on your blog
- although I did once, but that post is so buried no one will be able to find it [↩]
I’ve only had the pleasure of smelling this problem, but I can see where responding to every comment would ultimately cause a trade off. Add to that the social sites that you’re active on and you really have some decisions to make.
I’m not sure which way I would fall on this issue. I think at some point your readers don’t necessarily expect a response…especially if you’re posting every day and getting a large number of comments. Only so much a person can do in a day and still stay fresh right?
Wayne John´s last blog post..Avoid BoredQuiz.com Like The Plague
I try to respond to every comment, myself. Sometimes they’re so generic that I can lump a bunch of posters into a single “thank you,” which is a great time saver. Thing is, I know that a lot of commenters don’t come back to see if I’ve even answered them (& similarly, I can’t always go back to check my comments on others’ blogs, either.) So I guess what I’m saying is “danged if I know.” <:\
Lana´s last blog post..Ibises
Just as I don’t comment on every blog I read, I don’t respond to comment on every blog I post. Sometimes I’ve said all I have to say in a post and I leave it at that. My “commentors” are more than welcome to leave their $0.02 though.
Since I post fairly frequently (it’s gone from hobby to addiction sometimes) and I’ve built up a fairly decent audience of people who comment, I do try not go w/o commenting too often. And if I do, I at least drop by their blog and comment as a way of saying, “hey, thanks for dropping by.”
Now if my blog were huge and garnered a ton of comments daily, I’d probably stop that approach — aiming just to comment on the few blogs that I find to be interesting reads.
TOPolk´s last blog post..Mid-Monday Music
Hi Natural - I answer every comment on my blog, except for the days when I showcase a new blogger and I let them take over the comment section. On those days I’ll drop in and say “thanks”. When I get a lot of comments it does get time consuming, and means I have less time to spend visiting other blogs. I’m working on finding a balance and may reduce my posting schedule to accommodate all I’m trying to accomplish.
P.S. Thank you for the link love.
Barbara Swafford´s last blog post..A.S.K. Darren Rowse of Problogger - When Do We Know Our Blog Is A “Winner”
Hi Natural. I answer every comment but the number is manageable. And, I appreciate when my comments are answered. It does help if the blogger lets the readers know that they won’t be responding to every comment. I just think that if comments are left open there should be some interaction between the commenters and the blogger. Otherwise why bother?
Davina´s last blog post..Awakening To A Balanced Life
Hi Valerie,
Like you, I tend to lose interest when I leave a comment (or several comments for that matter) on a blog only to have the author ignore me completely. See, often times when I comment, I leave things with a question. It’s my way of building on the conversation taking place.
Then again, you have to understand the issue of “scale.” It’s difficult for a large blog (Problogger, ChrisBrogan.com and the like) to respond to every comment. And I do.
How about my own blog? Do I respond to every comment? Unfortunately, not always. But I make an effort to respond to every one. If I don’t respond via a comment back, I do send that person a personalized email (I’m pretty good about at least that much). And at one point I even sent out some video emails. How cool is that?! So I hope I’m forgiven
I think that you HAVE to respond to every comment/email that a person sends you! (Which means that I have some work to do)…
Ricardo Bueno´s last blog post..[A Video] It’s Not Just Text Anymore!
I don’t think it’s a necessity to respond to every comment, but it’s definitely nice. Each of these people that commented did so because your post or statement or what not affected them, in one way or another. While sometimes it takes awhile, as you said so yourself, it’s a nice touch.
While I don’t necessarily respond to each comment myself, I try to make a point to follow links to the posters site and reciprocate there. I suppose it should never be expected though.
But that’s just me.
Stefan´s last blog post..Avoid those hidden hotel charges!
My comment used to be closed because of so much spams in my comment box. I only opened it when I installed something to handle the spam. Commenting is a good way of interacting with the readers. I have always enjoyed seeing people commenting and I have always done my best to reply to every comment. Right now, everything is manageable because I do not get much comments. And I do agree with you that if I left comments on blogger who never made it a point to reply. I will tend to not leave comment in the future. Think about it? The person took the time to comment and should not it be only right that we reply? That is my two cents worth.
BK´s last blog post..Love Actually … is all in the Mind
I try to answer all comments. Generally, rather than a separate entry for each I’ll make one reply but address each person by name in replying to the comments. The way I see it, if someone takes the time to read and comment on what I wrote, they at least deserve some form of acknowledgement - even if it’s only a “thank you for commenting.”
Cheers!
Robin´s last blog post..Kids’ Views on Marriage
This is a hot topic lately on everyone’s minds. I think you have to do what works for you. I personally try to always respond to every commenter but if there are a lot of comments I’ll do one long answer. This cuts down on the number of emails people received if they have subscribed to comments. Even a group thank you at least shows you are listening and value the conversation. I have also had posts where the commenters have conversations and my input would have interrupted the flow. I love seeing commenters interact with one another as it feels like more of a community. I read many blogs with no comment section and that’s fine by me too. In my mind, there is no right or wrong only what works for you.
Karen Swim´s last blog post..Write a Novel in Six Months … or Thirty Days
I try to answer each and every comment I get, though I can take a day or two to respond. Usually less.
As for not receiving answers, well if it is something constant and I feel my comments deserved some reply I would lose interest in the blog. Specially if in the case of a professional blogger.
Crazily, the thing I took from this post was what I see as the challenge in the footnote: “although I did once, but that post is so buried no one will be able to find it.” Now the thing I am focusing on is finding that post.
Get distracted much, Cardiogirl?
On to the actual answer. There are a few bloggers (not professional high-traffic bloggers) who I read regularly and who do not answer comments. However, they tend to leave comments at my place and that gives me the interaction that I enjoy — it makes me feel that we have a bit of a friendship.
I have read blogs, like you have suggested, that give no response and do not comment at my place. I also lose interest in those bloggers.
So far I haven’t found any blogger so compelling who makes me want to read regardless of whether I comment or they reply to a comment I have left. Not trying to sound snooty, it’s just what I’ve found.
I personally enjoy the interaction blogging provides. I enjoy answering the comments and occasionally have an on-going conversation, via comments, with the same person.
What I enjoy the most, however, is when my commenters talk to *each other* in my comment section. I love that they feel comfortable enough to talk directly to each other. Those are the posts that I like the most — the posts that encourage other people to have a conversation around me.
Does that make sense?
I really do not see a time when I am getting so many comments that I cannot answer each one. If that did happen I would love the validation, but I’m not holding my breath.
Lastly, I find I do not want to comment on blogs that have 237 comments already. It feels like I have nothing to add, you know? And it also feels like that blogger will not read my comment since I am one of so many, so why bother.
cardiogirl´s last blog post..The Girls Next Door are now the Girls in the Next Town Over
I do not answer every comment that gets posted but then again I am just starting out. But still I believe that if I visit their blog (if they have one) and post back that is the best I can to do, if I even get a chance to do that. I have found since I read the book by Seth Godin The Dip: A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit (and When to Stick) that I can’t be on my blog constantly like I would love to, I had to know when to say enough is enough, instead of sitting here for hours on end trying to update answer people, etc. I am a firm believer in, I can and will do what I possibly can, and I don’t mean to hurt anyone’s feelings or make them feel like I am blowing them off because I am not, it’s just that I have other responsibilities outside of my cyber world that need to get done. So I guess nobody will be coming by blog anytime soon to drop me a comment, lol! Nice blog by the way.
I’ve been thinking about this quite a bit lately because the topic has come up on a number of sites.
I think all comments should be answered until the site becomes too big for that to be possible anymore. And then even at the point the blogger should still review the comments and respond to some of them or at least say thank you or something. By writing posts and having open comments we are inviting others to visit and share with us - to be our guest. We wouldn’t ignore our guests in real life or we shouldn’t in our virtual ones either. If you can’t keep up with the number of guests, it is best to post less frequently then to not answer the comments.
I understand the time issue but do it in batches or as time allows. A response is still valid even it it comes a couple of days later.
I’ve asked a number of questions over the years and nothing is more frustrating than being ignored. And for whether commenters come back for the reponse I’m not really sure. I know that I do.
Kim Woodbridge´s last blog post..(Anti) Social-Lists 10/26/08
I agree with Kim Woodbridge. I commented every day for over two months on one busy blog and never got a reply, even though many others did. I didn’t so much lose interest as I felt I was being encouraged to leave, since most people who commented got a reply.
I answer all comments, sometimes in batches, and intend to do so until (or should I say “if”) I get so many that I can’t do it. I think people leave a comment because they want to connect with the blogger. Otherwise they would just read every day and be a lurker, which many are. Also, I really enjoy getting to know my readers, which is why I always have Gravatars turned on, so I can see what they look like, too (or at least what icon they choose like your awesome one).
If there were too many comments to answer, then they would be too many comments to answer, whether I posted less or not. I would explain that to the readers. Since some blogs develop a community of readers, I would leave comments on and let them enjoy discussing it with each other. I think I would only turn off comments if I wrote about something that made me feel so vulnerable I wouldn’t want to risk an unsupportive comment.
Dot´s last blog post..Non-Haiku Monday
I answer all my comments because I want the interaction. Some come back and check because the conversation continues. I don’t have too many comments that I can’t respond. I think on a large blog where there are many comments the blogger may want to at least respond to questions if possible. On these large blogs, 75% of the comments (or more) do not require a response. just my two cents!
BloggerNewbie´s last blog post..Blogging Failure Plan
I don’t answer all comments, not because I don’t have time, but because not all comments naturally lend themselves to answers. I always comment when I feel one is called for. But I do follow all the bloggers that comment to their blog and try to make comments on posts there.
Jennifer´s last blog post..Lost season 5 Promo
I tried not to answer all comments but I just can’t. It feels so RUDE.
My solution is to keep posting 3 X week but close comments once a week when the post is light and doesn’t invite a real discussion.
Vered - MomGrind´s last blog post..The Funniest Hairstyles Of The 20th Century
And thank you for the link.
Part, if not most, of the fun of blogging for me is creating a community where people can not only comment but engage in conversation. It’s the ultimate compliment when someone comes back to answer a question or add another comment related to something that was said previously. I don’t know what the comment total would have to be for me to say, I can’t respond to every single person. That’s just so much a part of what my blog is about — I can’t imagine responding only to some or turning off comments.
And, yeah. There are so many great blogs out there, if the blogger isn’t really participating by responding to comments, I’m more likely to lose interest, too. It’s no fun talking when no one’s there.
JD at I Do Things´s last blog post..Gus Does Things so I don’t have to
I make an effort to respond although at times I get behind..I don’t mind if a blogger doesn’t respond thinking they are in the same boat as me..and time becomes a barrier…
robert bourne´s last blog post..Light of My Soul
I worry about this issue quite a bit! I very much like comments and appreciate all commenters and for awhile I answered them in the comments. But since I seldom go back to read old comments on other blogs to see if the author responded to my comments…I now try to answer as many as I can through e mail or by commenting on the commenter’s blog, when I can.
If it is a really short comment I just let it be and hope they understand.
If it is someone new I really try to respond in some way for sure. I have 2 blogs and it can be a lot of comments to go through.
In other words, am muddling along and trying to do what feels right…
Thanks for writing about this, and I did like reading what everyone had to say.
PS You don’t have to respond to this!
Lidian´s last blog post..The Ghost Of Melrose Hall; or, the Prisoner and the Playwright
My blog isn’t so busy that it’s a problem, but I have stopped reading and commenting on blogs that don’t respond to my comments, when they answer others. I feel slightly offended. It’s as if they are not interested in what I have to say.
I think my answer might be to group a few commenters together for an answer if possible. The thing I love about blogging is the interaction and the friendships it brings about. Without that, you might as well be on any web site reading about stuff. It would soon become boring.
With my cat blog and photo blog I respond by visiting their blogs and commenting, but my Beetle blog I answer all comments, on my post.
Babs - beetle´s last blog post..To Meme or not to Meme?
You’re absolutely right. Bloggers should respond to comments and I am guilty of not doing this. I love it when a blogger responds to my comments so I should show the same respect to people who comment on my blog. It’s an easy thing and should have been automatic, but I promise to comment on all comments from now on.
If people took the time to read my post and even more of their time to leave me a comment, you can BANK on the fact that I will reply to each and every one.
I know how time consuming it is, but for me, its worth my time. I have benefited from some unbelievable relationships as a result of my direct interaction.
meleah rebeccah´s last blog post..When Motivation Isn’t Enough
For almost a year, I responded to every comment with a reply in the comment section. I have switched to also sending an email follow up with the same reply. I use GoDaddy’s Quikblog, so no simple plug in is not an option. It could get to be a pain if I had more than, say, a dozen comments a day. But that is unlikely to be a major issue for a little hobby blogger like myself
Tina Kubala´s last blog post..Pumpkin Carving
You’ve gathered a large number of sensible comments here. Not one is of the type, “good post” or “passing through, please visit me”, which I wouldn’t stress myself about answering. I do try to answer any who make constructive comments with points that can be answered. The rest are likely to have to make do with nothing more than a collective “thanks”, but when you have so many as this, it’s well nigh impossible to do individual answers.
I have seen a post, by Ben Barden I think, where he discussed the way comments often dry up as soon as the author of the post replies. He suggested rather than answering each commenter individually, it would be better to enter into the discussion as another commenter. The comments don’t always lend themselves to that technique of course, and I certainly haven’t mastered that particular art.
A.´s last blog post..Time marches on
I respond to comments left on my blog, but will usually bulk up and respond to several comments in one shot instead of for every comment writing one comment in response.
Ann´s last blog post..Bellinzona Switzerland, again
When someone responds to a post that I have written by leaving a comment, I appreciate that . But I do not have time to then respond to every comment. I’ve already said what I wanted to say in the actual post. Now if a commentor has a question they would like me to answer, I would try to do that. either in an direct email or in the comment section followed by an email to let them know I have responded. But there just isn’t time to keep responding to all the comments and it’s not necessary. I had my say, they had theirs. It’s time to move on. There are some exceptions when I have a strong reaction to a comment I may even respond to it by writing a new post instead of in the comment section.
PS: One thing I learned long ago is that if you write a post about comments, you will get a lot of comments ! Ha Ha, looks like that still holds true.
If the Blogger responds to one of my posts great if not I don’t take it personally. If for some reason I really need a response back then I will try to contact them by other means like e-mail.
John Edwards´s last blog post..Rockville Real Estate
This is a tough one for me. I try to cultivate more readers so I attempt to comment everywhere I go. The problem is, in doing that I’m getting just too many places “to go”. I love getting comments too and am almost too obsessed with seeing results when I’ve posted something.
I try to respond to everyone generally, but with the way my life is right now, that’s almost impossible. So, I would hope that by visiting anyone who has commented, they know that I’ve read their words and am appreciative in return.
Sometimes I’m tempted to pull the plug on the whole thing, honestly. I remember those simple days when I wasn’t rushing to plug in my laptop first thing in the morning, or struggling to find something witty to say, or create a poem to live up to my “reputation” as a poet. I remember what it was like to just live a normal life and not be dependent on the faceless entities who say nice things about me. Those were the days!
I know I’ll never do it. I’m too hooked on that rush of satisfaction when I’ve touched someone or made them laugh, or given them something to think about.
Having said all that, Valerie I’m sorry I haven’t been around here lately - but I always make my way back eventually.
Kat
poetikat´s last blog post..Hallowe’en Horrors on Film
I do read all my comments and respond to some. Sometimes I respond on the blog and other times directly to the sender.
Alicia´s last blog post..Fashiona gives you the Read on Red
I read several hundred blogs a day, and usually only leave comments on a few. I don’t get a lot of comments on my blog, so I’m more likely to reply to them. However, a lot of them just don’t make a lot of sense to reply to.
For example, today is Wednesday, so I have a Wordless Wednesday picture up. People leave comments like “That’s a nice picture”. I’m not going to fill up the comments with a comment like “Thanks”.
That said, there are times when people offer really valuable comments. Typically, what I like to do with them is save them up and wrap them into new blog posts. There are a few blog posts in the offing that I need to do that with.
I suspect some of this also relates to the type of blogging you are doing. If you are doing a very social type of blogging, SAHM, WAHM, Pet blogs, etc., it is probably much more important to respond to comments.
If you are doing a political blog, it is important to respond, if you are furthering the thinking about politics along, but simply saying “thanks” doesn’t really help.
My blog is very eclectic, so it depends much more on the individual post.
Enough of my thoughts for right now.
aldon @ orient lodge´s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday
Hi Natural: I always try to answer all of my comments and have been successful at this about 98% of the time. On Monday I was really busy and got a lot of comment I wasn’t able to respond to, but on Tuesday I made sure to answer every single one. Like I said in one of Barbara’s posts, when someone leaves a comment at my blog I feel like they’re talking to me, and I feel that the polite thing to do is to respond. If I gave a speech and someone raised their hand and asked a question or made a comment about my speech, I wouldn’t ignore them, so why would I ignore my commentors. I guess for the big blogs a lot of people aren’t really talking to the author of the post, they’re talking to the community at large, so it’s different.
Marelisa´s last blog post..How to Enter the “Flow State”
It’s all about the interation, baby. There is only 2 sites I continue to comment on, even though I know they won’t respond. That’s because they are very faithful about interacting on my site. On another one of my favourite sites, I know they don’t respond to each and every comment, but they do respond to direct questions, and thought provoking comments. They also encourage a lot of interaction amongst their commenters. That counts!
Urban Panther´s last blog post..Jumping to the Island of Conclusions
I try my best to answer every comments, especially if the comment involves a question the person want an answer to. As of now, I’m still able to reply to every comments but I’m not too sure if the number of comments increase. Maybe by then, I’ll only answer to comments that are of significance. For example, if someone leaves me a comment like, “Nice post!” or “Nice blog!” I think I will not reply to that, though I do appreciate them. I doubt these people will return to see my reply anyway.
I dislike posting comments on blogs that do not reply to my comments. Well, I can understand if it’s done once in a while or if I can see they have hundreds of comments to reply to, or if my comments don’t really need any reply. But if I wrote a lengthy comment and they don’t even bother to respond, then I normally stop commenting after a few rounds.
foongpc´s last blog post..My Very First Laptop
I’m a bad blogger. I try to respond, particularly when a question is asked. But with two teenagers in the house, and my being the only parent here, I don’t have much time to post, much less comment. I also have a full time job. I do try to comment on the blogs of those who comment on my blog.
Lisa´s last blog post..Work from Home as Writer/Editor for MomsOutLoud.com
It’s funny, but recently a blogger you, Natural, and I both know and love turned off the comments on a short post that REALLY did NOT need comments, and I felt a jolt of disappointment at not being able to interact with it!
Robin´s last blog post..How A Lot Of Wind Changed My Plans
I try to answer them all. As others commenters have said, if someone comments, I feel I need to pay them the courtesy of responding.
And as others have said, if I visit a blog regularly and post comments only to be ignored, it’s unlikely I’ll stay. It’s one of the top reasons for me to unsubscribe from a blog. Another is if I comment on a blog and they never comment on mine - it’s true, there are very few blogs that I’d continue reading under those circumstances although there are one or two.
I get somewhere between 20 and 30 comments on average. Sometimes more, sometimes less. It’s a comfortable number to manage. I don’t know what the upper limit would be for me, but before I stopped answering comments, I’d try other things like posting less often, or closing the comments after I’d had enough.
i am guilty on this…it is the manner to reciprocate the comment however i have my own reason if and when i forgot to leave a comment it might be my internet connection is so slow ( oh what is the connection of the connection to leave a comment?) it took a lot of time to me to open the sites and i can’t afford to spend more time waiting to open. when i am there, i am out of word to utter. I enjoyed so much reading the conversation yet if i do the rounds, i read from the very first commenter to the last.
fit4all´s last blog post..A Taste of Blogging
When I first started to blog I wouldn’t respond to comments. Instead I would just visit that persons blog and leave a comment there. Now I try to respond to the comments I receive on my blog since I’m not always commenting on blogs I visit. For the most part if you have the time to respond (and want to) then do it. I see it more as a personal choice and not a obligation.
ImitationAngel´s last blog post..Friday Is Not My Day
I have to admit it bugs me if my comments are left unacknowledged. It says to me the blog author isn’t interested in feedback or communicating with his or her readers.
I answer every one of my comments. They’re my bread and butter. Like others here, I love when commenters engage with each other. It means I have a community of people who are comfortable chatting up a topic and having fun doing it. Half the fun of blogging is seeing what develops in the comments section.
I’m a fan of JD’s blog (I Do Things) because her responses to comments are hilarious and when I go back to read them as they collect, it’s like getting a second post!
Kathy´s last blog post..How to Make a Grown Woman Cry
I welcome comments on all posts at all times and when it comes to responding, I try my best. Sometimes it becomes an issue when you get several good comments in a row, so instead of having to do the usual “@comment #1… @comment 2….” reply, I added a plug-on so I could reply directly to each comment (and so my readers could as well).
I usually reply to the comments that have a question or some feedback but when a post get a few short comments, I’ll usually add a reply thanking them all together.
Dot Com Dud´s last blog post..How I Promoted My First Blog Contest
Hey, I’ve started to answer all of my comments now, just like I said I would earlier and I am glad I did. I like doing it and it makes blogging more enjoyable. I feel I am communicating better with the people who read my blog. One of the reasons I like the Junk Drawer Blog is because Kathy responds to all comments. And now I do too! Yay!
Preston´s last blog post..Obama, Flatulence, and the Philadelphia Philles 2008 World Series Champions
Of course you want to receive a comment on your blog. It’s just polite to leave a comment after you’ve been on someone’s site—otherwise you’re just a spy. However, if someone (like you, Valerie) is receiving a lot of comments, it’s hard to respond to every, single one. We all have to understand that while we’re blogging our hearts out, there are still many other things that need our attention: work (the kind that pays money); family; in-person-friends; pets; errands; life! You have to do the best you can and let it go.
Which brings me to a question…How do you know when it’s okay to end the string of communication? For instance: You blog—someone comments—you respond to their comment—they respond to your response—you write back—they write back—you write back—they write back–and so on. Life is tough, I tell ya’. It’s all a delicate balance.
To Colleen: I think after the first couple of replies, it’s best to email them instead.
Dot Com Dud´s last blog post..How I Promoted My First Blog Contest
Another voice among the many — I generally answer comments. I think the only time I didn’t was when the comment was brief and totally irrelevant. The exchange is part of the whole point of blogging for me. I sometimes batch my replies when I get a lot of comments, though things have been slowing down lately, which makes it easier.
Jennifer´s last blog post..People stop and stare
Not responding to all my comments was a huge mistake I made in the beginning but came to realize it is one the most important things you should do. The whole concepts of a blog is to interact with your audience and keep a conversation going and that’s what makes blogs so great.
Everything Blogs´s last blog post..Benefits of Do Follow Blogs
Yes, bloggers do love to receive comments, don’t we? I love giving my opinion on subjects, so I equally love leaving comments. It is time-consuming, but fun. I wouldn’t do it if it felt more like a chore.
I prefer when a blogger responds to my comments, but don’t demand it.
If I really enjoy the content I can certainly overlook the comments not being responded.
Bamboo Forest´s last blog post..Make This Halloween a Ghost Dad Halloween
Protocol Schmotocol. I try to respond to comments left at my blog but I don’t wack myself with a wet salami if I don’t get a round tuit.
Rules are for school & work - blogging, well, I think of it like free love, you know, that groovy thing I missed out on in the 60’s. I say, “it is what it is”.
Comment back “if the spirit moves you” is my mantra. No pressure. No expectation. Why stress out about it.
Happy Hollo-weenie day!
Well…I haven’t dealt with this problem honestly. I wish I had it. haha I know at this point I enjoy responding to each comment…as long as it isn’t some strange off the wall statment that I don’t know how to respond to. That has happened. I did notice how many comments you get and I can see how that could become completely impossible.
Sandi´s last blog post..Well I found something….I think
I really try to reply to my comments but sometimes I just don’t have the time, or energy to do it. I’ll admit to skipping comment replies on a couple of posts, but for the most part, I try to keep up on it.
As for how I feel if a blogger doesn’t respond to my comment? It’s, honestly, ok with me. I’ll keep leaving them anyway.
I get way less comments than you do….so I have a lot to learn from you…and yes I have learnt a lot by reading your posts.
I usually respond to comments by visiting the blog of the person and commenting on articles that interest me there.
lvs´s last blog post..The Search Has Just Begun
I usually respond to every comment, and I like getting a response to comments I leave on others’ blogs. It really makes it feel like you are interacting with fellow bloggers, which I think is what blogging is all about.
However, I don’t see anything wrong with putting up the occasional post that requires no comments from your readers. Sometimes just putting a thought out there for your readers to ponder is a good thing.
Matt´s last blog post..Obama Worship: Like Letting Your GPS Steer You Into A Lake?
hi thanks for dropping by my blog and leaving comments - this posting is interesting.
I signed-up to a photography blog - were I leave a comment to the blog and link of the theme foto for that day. I enjoyed it the first time - I am driving people to appreciate my foto - it was an encouragement and naturally as they comment I go back and comment on them. 12 or 16 comments is no joke to reply back. Then comes a month long work that was hard to keep up blogging so I lie low a bit.
Definitely bloggers would want you to return the favor so since I can’t return the favor I stop awhile submitting fotos since I don’t want it that people comments on my blog and I don’t comments on their blogs.
I moderate comments now since some posts rude comments - it is my blog anyway so I have control and authority over it.
I am still up for the 2nd day of Nanowrimo - it is midnite here. I have started in 2005 if I am not mistaken but never done anything, then last year I did a bit but never managed to make half of the target, hope this time something comes out.
I have a blog of my nano writings but it is not open to the public - it also contains stuff that I have researched on the net as my resource to my writing. For the first day I managed to come up with 1,130 words not so bad but I hope I could carry on…
good luck to your writing as well…
good wishes,
pete
peterahon´s last blog post..BlogRush Is Shutting Down
I try to always respond because I have some readers who suscribe and get my comments in their email. I know a lot of people think it is just building your amount of comments…but to me it is only being polite!!:-)))
I am terrible about responding to comments. Part of it is having too much to do, and part of it is never knowing whether to respond with a comment on my post or whether to post a comment at the other person’s blog that responds to their comment but has nothing to do with their post. I did respond to your comment on my post, and have managed to let you know that here while sticking to your topic. This happens about, ummm, well, I think this is the only time.
LuckyGirl´s last blog post..Celebrate at 2 Witches and Save at Lucky Girl Trading
I like to be part of a discussion and enjoy reading my comments so I like to respond to every comment. But then I only post a couple of times a week so that’s not too big a commitment. the times when it has been due to life taking over, I post one EVERYONE comment letting people know I can’t do anything more right now. I think that’s considerate and your readers understand. I think there are some kinds of posts where turning comments off does not detract from the post or the blog. It’s an individual choice I guess, but it’s definitely a hard call for people who get 60+ comments regularly.
Kelly
If it’s a blog that I visit a lot, I like getting feedback from the author.
On other blogs, I leave a comment and don’t even remember it (I comment a lot), so whether they respond or not, I have no idea, LOL.
On some posts I don’t reply to any of the comments, so as not to make any one person feel like I’m ignoring them. But I usually reply to most of the comments left on my blog.
Angelika´s last blog post..The Host
I always try to reply to comments when needed on all my blogs. I subscribe to my own rss comment feed so I can always quickly reply when needed. On the other hand when I comment on blogs I don’t expect a reply but I’m always tickled with excitement when I do get one.
New York´s last blog post..Need Author guidelines written by optimizehosting
Wow! You got a lot of comments. This makes it less feasible to respond to any of them.
I share the same feelings on comments. I try to be a regular commenter on a blog that I’m interested with - I have this three-comment rule. I love participating in blogs that comment on my blog, and also those that interacts with their readers.
But seeing a huge number of commenters like this? I would understand that you will not be able to connect to a lot of readers. I’d probably respond to the comment that interests me.
I don’t expect return comments unless I have asked a question. Even then, I realize that it could take someone awhile to get back to me. I definitely don’t respond to every comment on my various blogs, but I do respond if I feel a response is necessary.
I also don’t turn comments off, but I have recently been toying with the idea in my mind for certain situations.
I would rather spend more time blogging, but I have never been a very social person. I can definitely see others having styles that vary from my own!
Jacqueline Parks´s last blog post..Day 2: Breaking Away from Perfectionism
I welcome feedback…it can tie bits and pieces of ones journey together!
I appreciate getting comments and I appreciate the opportunity to leave comments and take part in a dialogue.
I certainly never expect every comment I leave will generate a response. I’m happy to get comments but not disappointed if none are left in return.
Sometimes the comments sections tend to be more fun than the bog that generated them.
Barry´s last blog post..Exploring the Life of an Artist
I haven’t read the other comments so please don’t shoot me if I repeat something someone else has said.
Leave your comments for all your posts. After reading this, I won’t feel bad if you don’t respond. We all know that life happens. But when you leave the comments on it will give other commenters the chance to interact amongst themselves. Sometimes dialog can go on without the person who initiated it in the first place. At that point you can consider your blog post a bridge of interaction between folk who may not have known of each other prior to your post.
You know what I mean?
Urban Thought´s last blog post..Hand Service
Hello. I like answering all comments, as soon as I can. Sometimes, when I can, I answer in my blog and I comment in the other blogger´s blog.
I love the interaction and constructive comments but since I´ve changed my blog to “dofollow”, I get alot of spam, and that makes me spend my precious time (and makes me angry). I wonder why do they bother? All comments are moderated.
With Entrecard, I feel a little guilty in those days I don´t comment and just drop. The truth is I don´t have time to comment on every blog that drops on my blogs. I have a few blogs, and that makes it even more difficult.
I wish I had more time, I already found great blogs on Entrecard and didn´t visit half of the categories.
Well, that´s how I feel about commenting. Cheers!
Mizé´s last blog post..Simply Wp Contest
I’ve never had a post where I had too many comments to respond to … sometimes it takes me a few days to get back with everyone. Usually I get a handful of comments; if there’s a break-up with a douchebag, then the numbers increase lol.
I believe is important to answer all the comments even tough sometimes can be a time consuming task.
woooh hoo! Thanks so much for leaving me my first comment! I was ecstatic. I, for one, will be responding to comments. It’s not at all time consuming for me because I don’t have a lot of traffic, but I can see how it could become almost a full-time job for those with lots of traffic. Comment responses let your readers know you are interested in their feedback. Thanks again for the comments - you now have a special place in my heart….lol!
Tamika´s last blog post..Stop Writing Checks
I respond when I have something kind or worthy or funny to say . otherwise just read and appreciate.. sandy
sandy k´s last blog post..No cock a doodle doo today !!
I prefer to read visitor’s comments because they add value to the original post or at least reflect their reaction for what’s written. I however don’t comment unless I feel their’s something else to add that haven’t been said over the original post.
Hicham´s last blog post..To Blog or not to Blah?!
For people like Darren and John Chow, answering to comments are no more fun because they have to write several posts a day, manage several blogs and hence moderating/replying to comments is a pain. Since they have made a several thousand ‘followers’ (not necessarily readers), they can survive without replying to any comments. Comments on such blogs are like ‘after effects’ of their statements or thoughts not necessarily any clarifications, questions. Also, I feel that for make-money-online blogs comments mean more or less nothing.
For blogs like yours or Tammy’s (A day to share), user interaction means a lot because you teach and share a few lessons from life that people try to reflect and compare. I would say that such blogs and bloggers don’t consider it a pain to reply or engage.
For small blogs like mine, comments mean a lot. I reply to most my comments for the time being even to those ‘nice post’ comments.
Ajith Edassery´s last blog post..Contact Commenters WordPress Plugin Released!
Hiya Val
yeah I know long time no talk to Iv’e been a blogging fool still technicalley lame after a year and a half blogging. Damm you have hella comments! I wonder WTF my problem is? I get vistors but hardly any commentators.. the most I ever had (if I was lucky is 14 ) I must be doing something wrong? maybe my blogs just suck? I am a crappy writer but do my best, my one blog I hardly ever spend time on..I always respond to the few that DO comment..
I see you are doing well say hello hello some time
ta
hb~
harleyblues´s last blog post..Best Albums of ’08: The Fireman – Electric Arguments Examiner