Comments - Outgoing
Posted on June 22, 2008 - Filed Under Site Info, Writing/Blogging
I’ve documented how I like to respond to comments here at the Tea Room so now it is only fair to talk about how I comment at other people’s sites.
In the beginning of my blogging life, when I had no idea what I was doing and didn’t even know how to respond to comments at my own blog, I learned that one way to increase readership at your blog is to visit and join in on discussions at other blogs. WordPress gave me an easy way to start with the Tag Surfer. I could search on keywords of things that were interesting to me and it would give me a list of recent WordPress blog posts that I could visit and read/comment on. So that was how I started. Eventually, I ended up getting some return visits. Thanks to some memes and helpful buddies who gave me shout outs and linky love, I started getting more than a couple of regular visitors!
Fortunately for me, my early group of regulars were only a handful. This was good because I knew nothing about feed readers and I’d check each of their blogs almost every day for new posts. And whenever I saw a new post, I’d comment on it. Until recently, I’ve mostly kept up that pace, even with the growth of my regular readers. In my head, I thought I should be commenting on all my buddies’ posts, lest they think I hadn’t been by to read their latest. I’ve since learned how to use a feed reader and I now read so many blogs that it would be physically impossible for me to comment on every one of my buddies’ new posts. I think I worried about this way more than my readers ever did. I’m learning that I don’t need to comment on everything!
Some of you may be used to me commenting on almost everything and I don’t want those of you to think that I’m mad at you or that I’ve stopped reading your blog if you happen to notice that I’m commenting less. So, let me just state that if you are in my blog roll, then I’m reading you regularly because if you are in my blog roll, that means you are also in my feed reader (along with many other sites that have not made it to my blog roll). I may not comment on every one of your posts, but I do still read most posts.
I still will be a frequent commenter at blogs where I normally comment a lot, but it may be done a little differently. What I’ve found myself doing lately is this: when I physically click through to a blog from my reader to comment on a post, I type my comment, then I hit the “Home” page for that blog. Once back at the home page, I scroll back to see if there were any responses to previous comments I’ve made or to check to see if I want to comment on any posts that I may have missed. I figure, I’m there anyway, so why not? Now, accidents do happen and every so often I sometimes mistakenly press the “mark all as read” button. So if an inordinate amount of time has gone by where you haven’t heard from me or you really were expecting me to comment on something and I didn’t show up, then by all means contact me through email or my contact form. I promise, I won’t mind and you could be alerting me to a glitch in my reader or something.
So there you have it. This is how I’ve been doing my commenting at others’ sites. It is what is working best for me right now and may not be what works for anyone else. In addition, it may not work for me in the future so as with anything else on this blog, it could change. If that happens, I’ll keep you posted!
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21 Responses to “Comments - Outgoing”
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And? I see you have some new subscribers!
I think you know that I generally answer my comments via email. I’m coming into my crazy busy time and will be lucky to post, let alone comment much.
Yup - I know you respond via email and that is fine by me! You may not read this but it doesn’t matter because I’ll still be wishing you health and happiness during your busy worktime no matter what.
Sounds great!! You’re a fabulous blogger, Teeni, so I’ll continue reading no matter HOW you decide to comment :0)
Speaking of comments, your words on my latest blog post truly touched me - thank you so much for your support.
Thanks so much, VeggieGirl. I do hope my words could give you a small level of comfort. I know how much our beloved pets mean to us.
Since I post daily and sometimes twice daily. I understand that people can’t comment to everything. I try to be a frequent commenter but even at that I sometimes miss a post or two here and there.
Oh, yes - you do post frequently - I like that.
But I know it isn’t always possible to be a frequent commenter. We each just do what we can. I would like to let new people to my blog know how I like to do things, though. I’m going to link to this post from my About page and then if they comment, they will know not be expect an email response or something.
I have the exact same method, with you reader frequently reading 118 unread it takes time to go through all the posts, to click through and comment and yeah sometimes that “mark all a read” button can get ya into trouble!
Yes, it can! LOL.
I have taken myself on a similar journey to you. I am starting to learn that I don’t have to comment on every post. Like you, I read too many blogs to be able to comment on every post. But there are 2 other reasons: 1) sometimes I just don’t have anything to say! and 2) I realised that since I have a good sized readership now, I don’t need to comment on everything to keep people coming back to visit me, they come anyway.
I love your comments on my blog!! And no, I would never think you were mad at me if you didn’t comment, I’d know you were still reading
Thanks for your input, Hannah - you know your thoughts really matter to me and I’m glad you would know that I wasn’ t mad. I don’t think you will see a big slowdown in my visits but I’m just trying to plan ahead and have my “policy” documented. You know, in case I get famous. LOL.
I used to be the type that comment a lot more but as I started reading more blogs it became impossible, currently I have over 300+ in my RSS feed (combination of personal blogs and technology blogs) it would be impossible to comment on every single one. Also at times I honestly don’t have anything to say.
No, I definitely don’t think a person is upset with me if they don’t have time to comment on my blogs.
It’s good to get all this feedback. I think I definitely worry about these types of things more than is necessary but I do like to get them ironed out for myself and for new readers. I know what you mean about sometimes not really having anything to say. Although that is rare for me, it does happen. LOL.
I try to keep my blogs to a minimum, but now with Flickr too, I do find the commenting thing hard…so I hear ya!
And I will stay tuned to all the wonderful happenings in the Tea Room 
I’ll look forward to you popping by from time to time
Yeah, you’re not getting rid of me so easily! LOL. Thanks for the kind words, friend.
Sounds like a plan and you do what works for you…I enjoy having you on my ‘roll
Hey thanks, Romi! I like being there too!
You’re so good teeni, I don’t know how you do it all! I appreciate you visiting me and commenting so much and whenever I read your comment I give you a little hug in my mind.
Lately when someone comments I try to go visit them. That seems to work for me and I’m happy with whatever way other people like to visit, comment and respond to comments.
I hope you’ve had a lovely weekend teeni!
LOL. When I go to comment at your site, it is to give YOU a hug so I’m glad you hug me back when you read my comments! That works out nicely!
I don’t use a feed reader and really only read about 30 blogs. I think that tech and money oriented bloggers are snobbish and have like 1000 blogs in their reader, When they see something important (whatever that means), they may comment. What kind of person skims through a 1000 blogs? Haha!
I try to reply to all my comments. I also moderate them because about 10% of my posts are keyword landing pages…most have a title starting with “How to”. This gets me a flock of commentators just trying to get a keyword related link from me (my blog is do follow). I currently have over 3000 unapproved comments…hahaha! They are just junk anyway. I only approve comments from blog owners, not sales sites:)
Wow. I can’t imagine not using a feed reader now, even with only 30 blogs. I guess I just am spoiled by the reader. LOL. I agree that there are lots of snobbish bloggers out there. Wow - 3000 unapproved comments. Can you just delete them? I always forget what “do follow” means.
Hope you are doing well
I am now that I’ve recovered from my scare.
Oh sorry about that should have put a little disclaimer on that post or something
You caught me totally unaware. I guess that is not really all that unusual though.
Hi Teeni
I think all bloggers need to chill about this sort of thing personally.
I’m sure we all do our best to keep up with each other, but sometimes it’s just impossible, or life gets in the way or we simply have nothing to say about certain topics.
For myself, my Google Reader has never worked properly and I’ve never mastered any of the other feeds, so I am still checking my fellow bloggers’ sites manually most of the time, hence I am bound to miss stuff. That doesn’t mean I don’t care, just that my IT knowledge is severely limited (but of course if I take tooo much time labouring over that, I shall miss even more of my blogging brethrens’ doings!)
It is lovely that you care so much, but please don’t tie yourself in knots over it.
I have to agree with you, 100%. I think I just got into some bad habits early on, never dreaming that my blogging circle would grow so much. So I figured it would be good to write this stuff down somewhere rather than risk hurting anyone’s feelings if they see me commenting less. I think for the most part, we all are forgiving in that area because we all know it can be stressful to feel obligated and that is not our intent.
I’m sorry you had trouble with your reader. But I’m so flattered you still make the more manual effort of visiting.
By the way, I’m afraid I failed with the page 123 book posting (however hard I tried, just couldn’t make it into a good enough posting). I hope you’re not too offended and will restore me to your blogroll soon!
xx
Aw, sweetie but you ARE in my blog roll! I just had you down under the “New and Interesting Reads” section (you really aren’t so new to me anymore but I’m just really slow). But I’m moving you up to the regular blogroll as I was going to do that anyway. I’ll probably be doing a lot more work on the way that blog roll looks in the future as well. I think all that white space is a waste.
Oh, and don’t you worry about the book posting thing. No pressure, ever!
I have so many on my blogroll as well that it gets almost impossible to visit everyone.
I do eventually “hit” all my friends but it does take time to read and comment coherently.
I’ve reached a point where I don’t worry too much about someone not visiting because I do the same damn thing. I’ll be by eventually.
I just pray that folks understand that.
Great and informative post for newbies.
Rock on, Teeni
~m
I hear you! I also pray that folks understand that and that is why I wanted to document my process over here. This whole thing also just makes me value the comments and visits I do get even more. So thank you!
I used to comment more and reply to all my comments too when I just started out but with more blogs to read and more comments, I started to find less and less time to comment on other blogs so I need to have a system like yours… Im sooo not organized these days
but I start missing your comments on my blog teeni
so hope you’ll make it there when I start writing again …
Aww. You are so sweet. But you know I’ll be there as soon as I see a sign of any writing over there. I’m so there!
Hugs to you!
This all sounds really logical and I commend you for finding your way through the blogging jungle. It’s been almost a year since I’ve been blogging, and I’m way behind you on the feed reader stuff, I just click on my blogroll or the person’s comment. By the way, your comments are still linked to your old blog. Don’t know if you’re aware of that or not.
And I also feel like because of time constraints it’s physically impossible to leave a comment on everyone’s blog, and I’m seriously considering adopting a new policy of leaving a simple “Hi!” when I’ve read someone’s blog and don’t have a comment. Just to let them know I stopped by.
LOL! I was thinking along those same lines but instead of “Hi!” I was just going to leave a happy face. Too funny -great minds think alike. Oh, about being linked to my old blog - my original blog was a free wordpress blog and my username is linked to my old wordpress blog. I’m not sure how to change that. Any ideas, anyone?
The way I comment on other people’s blogs is pretty simple. If I have something relevant to say, or more often something sarcastic to say, I will comment. I generally read all posts in Google Reader and only go to the blog if I want to leave a comment…most times I do.
If the comment I left was one that required feedback, I try to remember to click the “email responses to this comment” box if the blog offers it. If not, or if I forget to click it, then I do what you do. I go back later in the day or the next day to see what the respnse was, if any.
That is all.
What? You? Sarcastic? LOL. I like that idea about the email responses and will have something to tell you about that tomorrow.
Hey Teens,
Like you, I’ve been finding visiting my blogroll and readers all - hard to accomplish. There just sometimes isnt’ enough time. I rediscovered my google reader and it has made it easier - but I still have folks I haven’t added in yet. LOL - but yeah, I try to hit everybody blog as much as I can too. Though, I think you do a much better job of it than I do.
Annie
Annie I think the only reason I’m any good at it is because blogging has pretty much become my unpaid day job. LOL. It’s almost as good as a real job but is more fun and pays nothing.
It seems like you always know just when it is appropriate to post a comment on, well, at least my blog!
I know you’re out there, lurking!
That’s right - I lurk you very much! LOL.
I used to feel obligated to comment. Now I only comment when I feel compelled or have something to say on the subject.
I hear ya. I’m working on getting better at that myself. My blog and I are both true works in progress.
I love when you feel compelled to say something though. 