Monday, April 13, 2009

Musing Mondays: Blog Comments





Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about blog comments:




How do you respond to the comments on your blog? Do you try to email individually or comment on post yourself answering the comments above? What do you think is the best way to respond to comments and do you respond to all of them? Do you feel slighted if you don't receive a response back from the blog owner?



This is my second Musing Mondays post and it's an interesting topic. I try to answer comments to my posts either in the comments directly or by private email. I need to be more consistent with this and could certainly do a better job as I haven't answered all of my comments. I think that some are ones that don't need a reply but there are many that I do like to comment back and it generates some nice discussion. I know that it's a time issue for most of us bloggers, myself included, to consistently reply to comments. With that said, I am trying to make more of an effort to respond to my comments and comment on other blogs. So, if you've commented and I haven't acknowledged it, please give me a gentle nudge and let me know. I really do appreciate those that leave comments, whether you agree with me or not, I appreciate your opinions. I have to be honest here, I do feel slighted sometimes when I don't receive a response back but that is usually only when I've commented fairly consistently on someones blog and I don't get any acknowledgement at all via comments or commenting on my blog. For me, If I don't get a response and I like the blog, I will still continue reading the blog but may choose not to comment often. For many of us, it can often be a time issue, and I understand that as well. I am trying to balance my own time as if I spend it all on reading blogs, I won't have enough time to read my books. On the other hand, if I ignore my visitors to my blog and their comments I may not have anybody reading my blog! I would love to hear how other bloggers have found a balance between reading , blogging and comments.
I'm really interested in how others will answer this question as I would love to hear how other bloggers handle blog comments.




For other Musing Monday posts go here.

14 comments:

  1. Nice thoughts on this. I know I have a hard time responding to everyone, too, but I agree, some posts don't really require a response.

    Here's mine: http://www.melissas-bookshelf.com/2009/04/musing-mondays-041309.html

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  2. I try to reply to all of the comments left on my reviews because I know how time consuming it is to read reviews, and I appreciate that people take the time to read them and comment.

    There are some posts (like Tuesday Teasers) where the comments are short and most are similar (like "great teaser") and I don't reply to those comments even though I do appreciate that people have taken the time to stop by and comment about my post.

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  3. realistically, you can only respond to all comments when there aren't that many...lol
    I think that I try to respond in a general way, to come back and say something that shows I read the comments and appreciate them.
    and I am really trying to make more of an effort to visit the blogs of comments. I know I appreciate when other do it to me.

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  4. Great post. It's hard to find the time to respond to everyone- and lots of times it's not necessary. But it's fun to have a little discussion going sometimes too.

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  5. I agree, not all comments require a response, but I try my best to visit the blogs of people who visit mine and leave a response to let them know I was there and not just lurking. Lately my reviews have fallen behind because all the time I spend visiting blogs. If only there was more time . . .

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  6. Great response! I respond personally if I really have something to say or to answer a question. If I want other commenters to see my response (e.g., responding to an author comment), I'll respond through the comments.

    I always get annoyed when someone asks a question in their comment, but then their email is hidden and you can't respond that way. I wish every blogger would have their email listed in their profile. It's so much easier to respond to someone personally.

    I do appreciate responses when I've commented on someone else's blog, but I've never expected them.

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  7. great response. Blogging, commenting and reading...it is a tough balance. I agree with you on the point of not getting any acknowledgment. You have to show a little love every now and then!

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  8. NIce response. Sometimes it's tough to make sure I've commented on every blog whose owner comments on mine. Some weeks I have tons of time, some weeks I'm lucky to get my posts written.

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  9. I have appreciated all the comments today. I have found this such a great discussion after reading the comments and other Musing posts. I think that most of us are feeling that it's hard to find the time to respond to all comments and keep up with our own posts.

    I am going to work on finding a balance in responding to comments and/or commenting on other blogs that comment here and answering posts by email so make sure that your email is in your blog account.

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  10. I'm kind of one the same wavelength as you Bonnie. I've been bad about responding to comments lately and need to get better. I mean I think we all like comments, it shows that someone is reading what we've taken the time to read. I guess I feel as though I show my appreciation that way but sometimes it can be so hard when you're trying to comment on blogs and answer the ones you get. Life does get busy so there is only so much time. That being said I still need to get better. lol.

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  11. I pondered at this question a lot when I was an inchoate blogger. I wish to be able to reply to all the comments, given that the comments are open-ended. I also want to acknowledge all my readers and not to make them feel they are ignored. The etiquette of dealing with comments also lead to a bigger question of when and how to link a blog. Anyway, I appreciate your taking time to share your thoughts on my blog. :)

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  12. I don't usually comment on weekly memes (time issue), but this week's topic is so interesting and dear to me. I guess this question could be taken two ways--commenting back within the comment section and commenting on the visiter's own blog. I spend a lot of time on my comments (they are rather lengthy--must work on editing!!). I feel that we get to know one another through commenting, and I've been really blessed to get to know a several other bloggers fairly well this way.

    I try to comment back to all comments left on my blog. Sometimes I'm slow, but I love when people comment back to the comments they receive. I don't mind if people email me, but I'd rather just subscribe to the comment feed and delete others comments as necessary. When people comment back, it makes me feel like what I've said has been heard--not just shuffled off into Internet outerspace.

    Commenting on others blogs gets a little tricky. If someone has commented several times on my blog I'll make the effort to visit them a few times. Sometimes I'll add them to my reader. Sometimes there just isn't time, though. And if I find that I'm commenting heavily on someone's blog and they aren't visiting me at all, I take them off my reader (there are a few exceptions with people who I've become "friends" with). Hmmm--rambly rambly Trish! I've thought about writing a post on comments, but what people have said here is great.

    Sorry for the novel of a comment...

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  13. As a novice blogger (less that a year), I've struggled to find the right balance. I'm responding more and commenting more on other blogs, and I like the technology that allows you to get followup comments by email (technology that my own blog lacks). I sure wish there was a 25th hour to the day!

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  14. I actually like to comment at YOUR blog, if you've left a comment on MY blog. That way, I know you'll see it.

    Part of the time issue for me is remembering to check back for an answer to something I said. And, too, I figure that you'd appreciate the extra entry on your stat counter -- so I come to you, rather than making you come to me (and inflate my own anemic stat counter).

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