Jan 17th, 2009 by Cynthia
I have been contemplating the whole world of blogging again and once again decided to turn to a poll to get a better idea on what everyone’s thoughts are on what I have been thinking. I have been swamped with things needing my immediate attention anymore. So much so that is has become quite challenging keeping up with reading favorite blogs as well as maintaining my own. One thing I have found challenging is answering each and every comment left here on my blog. Lately I have been finding it very hard to blog and then when I do it is even harder to come back and respond to each and every comment like I normally do.
I started to wonder about how often do readers actually go back and read all the little comments I leave after their comments. I began to think that perhaps they might much more appreciate it if I left a comment on their blog rather answer each and every comment they have left here. Of course if a direct question is asked that is another story.
I am curious to see how everyone else feels about this and thank everyone who participates. Oh, and you can pick two choices!
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Tags: Blogging
Posted in Blogging
I didn’t vote because I think every blogger should do it their own way. Two of my very favorite bloggers, never comment back on their own blogs, but visit mine and comment often. Not on every post, of course. I try to comment back, but sometimes it is overwhelming and I do a thanks everybody kind of response.
Debbi
I like blogs that give the option to be emailed if there is a comment made to a post I’ve commented on. That way I know if there was a response, and I don’t have to keep checking back to see if my comment has been answered.
Wow…that’s a lot of “comments” in that paragraph!
What I don’t like about my blog is that my own replies cannot be incorporated into the original comment. Each one has to be sent individually, and they are never in the order in which they were received.
You have voiced the thoughts I was thinking. I will be checking back to see the result of your poll.
I do admire people who respond to each comment on their blog – especially when they get loads of comments.
I dont always respond to comments on my blog – when this happens I feel rather guilty ….
K
I agree with Debbi that everyone should do their own thing but I voted just to voice my opinion. I know how overwhelming it can get sometimes trying to get everything done.
I too have been pondering this issue! I truly admire people who respond to every comment, but I have not been able to find the time to do so myself, except erratically and occasionally. I think you must do what fits into your life and time, and for me I appreciate visits and comments to my own site more than a personal reply to a comment I’ve left. I think if there’s a really pressing question, you can leave the reply on their blog. Or is that not blogging etiquette? Maybe a topic for discussion at a bloggers’ meeting!
Thanks for putting this issue out there.
I have also wondered this. It can be very overwhelming to comment to everyone and I often wonder too if anyone ever comes back to my blog to see what I said to their comment. I guess it really has to be individual, but I DO check back with a few blogs I leave comments on because I know that they almost always reply. I haven’t gotten to know many bloggers all that well and it seems sort of hit and miss on many blogs when I happen to remember to check back.
Well, this was a very thoughtful and interesting poll- thanks, for posting it. I do like it when people leave comments, and I always respond to them. If they respond back, that’s nice too. When I leave a comment, I always check to subscribe to that posts comments and follow for a bit to be sure that the author hasn’t asked a question that needs a response. Then I unsubscribe. For letting other bloggers know that I have responded to their comment? I have a special hack for that- and if they have their email enabled on their blog profile, then I can use it, if not- a page comes up and tells me so. It’s nice for people that don’t like to follow comments- And (important) I only use it when someone has asked a question. This is how I do it for now, although, I’ve only been blogging since May of last year and if I were to get a lot of traffic some day- I don’t how I’d do it
Happy Gardening!
I had another thought on this- I guess it would be a good idea to have a visible email icon somewhere on your blog- and put a note on your blog (making sure this is very visible, as well) that if a reader wants to ask a question or wants to comment on something that needs a reply to use the contact me or email me button. Something to that effect. I know that I appreciate it when a blogger has an easy way to contact them in case I did have a question, other than the comments, I mean
.
Certain comments really don’t require a response. When I say “beautiful flower”, “wow good harvest” or something in that nature, I really don’t feel I need a response to that. It is just my way of saying I enjoyed visiting and thanks for the blog. I don’t always leave those kind of comments since it is can be a little superfluous if there is really a conversation going or I could just be in a non-chatty mood. I never check back when I say those kind of things. If I ask a question, I always come back (ok I confess to having forgotten where I asked questions before on days I’m just bouncing around the internet, but this is very rare). For posts like this one that might have interesting comments, I would subscribe to the comments if the option exists. If there is no subscription available, I would try to remember to come back. When I come back it is just as much for other people’s comments as yours. The bottom line is that I come back to the post I comment on about maybe 50-75% of the time to see what was said and I don’t expect a response all the time but I’m always appreciative when I get it. Frankly a response is positive attention. People feel good when the receive it.
On my own blog I’ve been trying to respond to everyone recently. Sometimes it is just a “Thanks” (for those “nice flower” comments). I’m having an issue with one post. I just got back from a short vacation. Lots of things piled up. I had a couple of posts automatically scheduled to post. I replied to everyone except my last post. I got 14 comments. Gulp. That is a lot for me. I’m hoping to get to it tomorrow. In that situation I often tend to not reply individually, but en masse (except for questions of course). I’ve had times in the past however where I’ve been way too busy to reply to everyone and only replied to questions. If I have to make a time choice, I visit their blog instead (I don’t always leave comments, I tend to do that only if chatty or conversation that strikes me). Frankly I don’t know how Frances keeps up with all her posts. She gets about 50 every post and replies to every single one of them and visits people’s blogs.
Great poll. I am lucky to get to all my faves. I can’t imagine actually going back a 2nd time just to see if the blogger has responded. If I have a question that I really need answered I will directly email the person if possible!
I needed an all of the above option!
Somehow this issue is just begging to be addressed. I have been dealing with so much stress trying to get back to everyone who visits my blog, leave comments on my own blog then be sure to visit them; then I worry about those from blotanical that faved me, i feel i need to visit them so they feel i am appreciative of them…etc. Then, I need to think up a post, upload photos (of course, take photos first), upload the post and photos to blogger (sometimes a challenging endeavor:( AND then, be a decent mother, wife, homemaker and have a life away from the computer. I started blotanical in Nov. and it’s eating up my life! I so enjoy the blogs of almost everyone, but it is stressful, and I do feel guilt for taking too long to reply to people. It’s a viscious cycle…and you have addressed an important issue. I think all new bloggers need to become aware of how it can get to be overwhelming.
Just yesterday I put a new message on my blog, and in the comments section, saying that I’ll visit people’s blogs if they leave a comment, but I’ll answer a direct question on my blog.
Thanks for addressing this issue;) AND, for reading this lengthy comment! As you can tell, I’m feeling quite strongly about this issue lately!!
I don’t think that every comment needs a response necessarily. I try to get to the questions first and it can be a bit much responding to each comment. Like the others I feel guilty when I don’t. It should really be up to the individual on how they choose to do it.