BlogHer - Tip: Comment, Comment and Comment Again - Comments

And it works! I know

Tacomamama — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:34:22 -0500

Because I posted about Just Cause on one of my work blogs after you left a comment there. (No, she's not paying me to say that.)

It's hard to stay motivated, though. I leave a lot of comment love and it does take a while to get it to roll back the other way. But these days the blogosphere is getting more crowded and if you want your writing out there you have to work hard, and that includes comments.

I find the time by neglecting other things I out to be doing. (Did I just say that out loud?)

Tacoma Mama

Kitchen Table Issues

In the past couple weeks

kperfetto — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:18:06 -0500

In the past couple weeks I've gotten really lazy about commenting on blogs and guess what? My traffic is about where it always is. In fact, a few times it actually went up. Not that commenting doesn't work of course, it just makes me wonder how often other blog readers follow their fellow commenters. Generally, I don't unless the comment was unusually insightful or funny.

Available Light & Five Dollar Radio

You must always try to reply

Misssy M — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 09:01:46 -0500

Hi I've just posted a similar forum discussion on Commenting and asking for links as a way of getting more readers, so Iwon't go into it here. But...

I do think it's important to acknowledge comments. It builds a relationship with your readers and lets them know you are listening to them. In fact sometimes the comments box ends up being just as much fun as the actual post (sometimes funnier).

If you get so many comments that it's hard to acknowledge every one (lucky you!) then you can try this little gem that I've done on my own blog: "The Comment of the Week" . Every week I highlight the comment that made me laugh, spit or howl most that week and put it on my sidebar. Folk LOVE it. It's like winning a competition!

And it also shares a bit of link love, if you stick their URL on the quote, which is a karmically nice thing to do and will mean you get reincarnated as a lion instead of a bluebottle. You can't say fairer than that!

More commenting

RaisingBoys — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 15:00:52 -0500

I'm with you -- my biggest commentors are my sister-in-law and other family members. I'm slowly starting to get more, but like I said ... slowly. I'm trying to build a readership, but it's the self-promotional thing that's still getting me. Surprisingly I've never been one to talk about myself too much -- although I guess that's counterintuitive for someone with a blog!

Raising Boys

http://raisingboys.gainesville.com/

Commenting on Relevent blogs

themommy — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 00:09:31 -0500

I comment daily on about 25 blogs that are relevant to my own blog. I have found that this is particularly effective, as some of the blogs that I comment on give me anywhere from 10-35 visitors per day! I always comment, on EVERY POST. I don't feel that it's spammy or that it's crossing any lines because my comments are relevant and I genuinely like those blogs and what they post. These are people who's blogs I read before I started my own blog. When I find a blog that I like, I make a commitment to comment on every post that they make. To me, it is a way for the blog owner to know that I appreciate what they write, even if all I say is "great post, thank you for this information". Although, truth be told...I rarely post somthing so generic/corny.

For my own blog...I've only just started getting comments. I think I have had four total unique commentors (and one of them is my mother - how sad is THAT!) I cherish each and every comment, I respond to each one too. They make me feel so good, and I want to reciprocate with the blogs that I read daily.

My Blog: Impacting the Earth little, my children much.
http://www.yourimpactmatters.com

Commenting on commenting

mineaux — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:44:11 -0500

I personally try to comment on several posts I see that are unique, inspiring or just needing to be cared for. I can honestly say I have had a few bloggers I speak to more than a couple times and I enjoy the friendships being made from it. I try to stay away from aggressive blogs or opinionated ones, because my life has enough drama going on. I blog for the appreciation of it. I love writing or seeing responses from others who enjoy my work.

Debbie

www.debbieraymondpinet.com

author of Tales of a Housewife and Before I Became a Housewife

Commenting on Other Blogs

rrinyai — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 14:23:08 -0500

Hi,

Interestingly enough, you've received quite a lot of comments on this blog, as you asked this question. There must be tons of people that find time to comment on other blogs, as per the above comments.

The way I do it is that I have Google Alerts set up with specific keywords that I am interested in and read blogs from that. If I find 5 minutes here and there, I read a post or two. Then I write a comment if I feel I have something to say.

Thanks,

Richard Rinyai
www.theprofessionalassistant.net

Email too

AnissaMayhew — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 11:35:16 -0500

Almost every blog I've seen has an email or direct line of communication to the blog owner. If you feel that the comment isn't appropriate in the comment section, just shoot them an email...trust me, NO ONE dislikes hearing that you like their blog, you know?

Anissa Mayhew

www.hope4peyton.org

www.onevoiceproject.ning.com

Comment on Commenting

mecca2425 — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 11:32:53 -0500

Commenting is most valuable when there's something to be added to the conversation, but sometimes when I see a great looking blog I want to just tell the blog creator "Hey, great blog!" Is that OK? I wouldn't mind a comment such as that, but it supossedly breaks comment etiquette, crossing the self-promotion line. So I often try to do both in a comment, adding something of value while I'm prasing a great-looking blog at the same time.

Cecelia

http://www.coolbabykid.com

Commenting is definitely the best way to grow your readership.

Maria0305 — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 11:17:37 -0500

I limit my blog time now until after my kids are in bed for the night, which is 7pm, and sometimes while they nap or are eating. If I didn't do that - I'd never live my life! :)

- Maria

http://immoralmatriarch.com

I don't always comment back

Maria0305 — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 11:15:24 -0500

but it's more because I'd rather my replies be real, not just standard. Like - I hate those auto reply things that you get when you comment on someone's blog. It's impersonal, you know?

Also, I try to respond via email if it's possible, because not everyone comes back to your blog or subscribes to comments to see your response. On wordpress I have a plugin that emails people the response I leave to their comment on the post so that's very convenient.

Basically, I don't think you have to always answer, but I try to recognize first timers and those that rarely comment to let them know I appreciate them stopping by. Best way for me though, is a return visit to their own blog.

- Maria

http://immoralmatriarch.com

If it's on topic

Maria0305 — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 11:10:53 -0500

and not preachy, I don't mind long comments. I apologize for mine though when they are longer than I'd anticipated, just because it's not *my* blog, you know?

- Maria

http://immoralmatriarch.com

Replying to comments

AnissaMayhew — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 10:54:19 -0500

Because I don't have outrageous numbers of readers, I do always take the time to respond. I also see the same people comment often and you get a sense a community with your readers. I always send, at the very least, a thank you for taking the time to comment.

Anissa Mayhew

www.hope4peyton.org

www.onevoiceproject.ning.com

Comment Protocol

csdenault — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 05:11:45 -0500

One more question for you gurus. Do you prefer short comments as a rule, or are longer comments OK as long as they are relevant? I often see people apologize for the length of their comments.

http://trippin-lifewithtriplets.blogspot.com

Just joining the party

csdenault — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 05:07:59 -0500

I'm coming late to this thread, but glad to get the advice. I have just started to get comments on my blog, but don't always answer. Should I?

Christy

http://trippin-lifewithtriplets.blogspot.com

Tip: Comment, Comment and Comment Again

Denise — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 08:50:14 -0500

Every time I make a blog post about ways to increase traffic, some smart blogger comes in and says something like "The best way to get traffic is to comment on other blogs." Ain't that the truth?

Unfortunately, I don't comment nearly often enough.

How do you find the time?

Denise
BlogHer Community Manager

http://flamingohouse.net
http://fasttimes.clubmom.com