About ten days ago I wrote a couple of posts about commenting on blogs. More specifically, I was curious about what it was that turned a reader into a commenter. Both posts generated a lot of discussion – here on the blog, on my Facebook page and on Twitter.
Here is what I learnt from that discussion:
- If you want to get comments and traffic for your blog – write about blogging and commenting!
- As Allison Tait, from Life in the Pink Fibro, pointed out in her post about the difference between writing and blogging, blogging is as much about engaging with our readers as it is about the actual writing itself. Us bloggers like to hear back from our readers about what we write. We want to engage our readers in conversation. We want to connect with the rest of the human race.
- There is more than one way to engage with your readers, so take advantage of as many of them as you can. A lot of blog post conversations take place on Twitter, while others generate discussion on Facebook. Some of your readers may want to email you instead of commenting on your post, so make it easy for them to find your email address.
- Commenting on other blogs does not necessarily mean that you are going to get comments back on yours. I think it depends on which blogs you choose to comment on and what you say. For me it’s a question of finding (and continue looking for) blogs that I love, blogs that really speak to me on some level and going back to them to read and comment on most posts. Just like Allison writes, I try to be “neighbourly”, as in, “I’m here, I’m reading, I understand, thank you for making me laugh”. I used to be pretty random with my commenting, but in the last week or so, I have been reading less and commenting more.
- For me, comments on my blog help me see that I am connected to others and that’s why I treasure them. Sometimes, they represent the only adult conversation I might have all day. (I know – I need to get a life….)
- It helps if your friends and/or family are bloggers too. They understand your need to connect with others through comments and will generously comment on your blog, just as you will on theirs. You could think about finding a Blogging Buddy or three.
- Finally, you need to give readers something to comment on. You need to create an emotional connection with your audience. I don’t have a magic formula for that. Sometimes this works and sometimes it doesn’t. Asking a question at the end of your post can sometimes help to generate comments, but again, that emotional connection needs to be there. Whether your post is sad, or funny, or angry, if your words are able to convey that emotion to the reader, you will most likely get some very thoughtful comments.
So, those are my conclusions.
For me, comments are important. For others, not so much.
I write because I want to, because I need to get the stuff out of my head, because I need to “talk” to someone. Sometimes I write really well, sometimes I don’t.
I keep pushing myself. I keep trying different things. Writing about different topics. You, my readers, respond really well to some posts and are probably bored by others. That’s OK. You don’t have to tell me you love me all the time. I’ll be happy with the occasional “hello”…
What about you? What have you learnt about commenting in your blogging career?
Interesting post Dorothy. I too have started reading less as it was getting a bit unmanageable to comment on everything! I like participating in memes and have tried to focus on a smaller list in Google Reader. I love to get comments, but if I don't there is usually some good chat to be had on Facebook and Twitter too. It's a great community.
LOL I just love #1!
Oh gosh and #5
I'm one who bashfully puts my hand up for caring about the numbers….
Thanks so much for this post and the previous related ones. Much for me to think about!
I am with you all the way on #5!
I know that in the past 3-4 weeks, I have made it a 'mission' of sorts, an experiment to go out of my way to comment on as many blogs and posts as I can. It's time consuming (I follow a LOT of blogs).
But it has made a huge difference to the ay I feel about my blog, about the way I'm getting to know other bloggers and the way I'm interacting, here, on twitter, on FB. I've also noticed (an interesting side point, that wasn't part of the 'goal' as such) is that in that time I have gained about 70 new followers. At the rate of a few a day. Slow, steady growth, with more engagement and comments.
It's rewarding and it's given me and my blogging a new lease on life. (I so understand what you're saing when you say that sometimes that is the only adult conversation that you get in a day. I am completely housebound and so this blogging community is basically my only real link to the outside world and any relationship other than that I have with Joel and the boys. It's THAT important to me right now.
I fully agree and I like very much your posts and your style. I do feel the same with my own blog too ^_***Thank you.
I love getting comments (or feedback, as I prefer to think of it) on posts, but mostly because I lack confidence with writing and it makes me feel a little more validated if someone appreciates it or understands it. I too try to comment on every post I read but time constraints can get in the way. And sometimes I'd rather not say anything at all if its not meaningful in some way.
I always try to reply to ever comment I get and often wonder why others dont? To me I guess it feels the right thing to do but I suppose I'm not getting the same volume as others 🙂
Great and thought provoking post Dorothy x
I have to say that one down side of getting lots of comments on a post is the replying. I generally reply to every comment as I get them in my inbox, but, if there is a heap, I tend to leave them for later. I do get back to all of them eventually.
I think a lot of us feel self-conscious about our writing and it is good to get some feedback, isn't it? It's good to know that we are connecting with people out there.I'm glad you found this post useful and I do appreciate every comment you've left on my blog so far….
I know! It seems so silly, to me, anyway. I mean I could go and talk to my neighbour, but somehow when you blog it's so much more intimate. I certainly would not go and tell my neighbour everything I blog about, but if she chose to come and read it, then I would be more than happy for her to. I guess I like to have meaningful rather than shallow connections with people. I've never been very good at small talk…
You mean I'm not the only one that obsessively checks her stats several time a day??
I'm glad you got something of these posts and thank you for reading…!
I'm too scared to look at my reader, Laney! I mostly read blogs that are on my blogroll or those that I come across on Twitter and Facebook. Or I deliberately seek out those I want to build a relationship with, those that really strike a chord with me…. Thanks for stopping by!
Fab post Dorothy love your number 5 point and that is me. Although I meet many gorgeous families daily that is a work relationship and because my girlfirends live inthe Uk and due to work and family commitments I don't get out much. Leaving comments is a good way to connect and feel like you are not alone x
Thanks for the shout-out Dorothy. I try really hard to comment on every blog post I read, because I know that comments are gold to bloggers, showing that someone is reading. Sometimes, though, I just don't have anything to say – and I think that's okay too. 🙂
“Hello Dorothy”.
I'm here 🙂
Very cute, Lina 😀 Thanks!
Thankyou for this article Dorothy. As a newborn blogger I sometimes feel like I'm talking to myself, and feel faintly ridiculous writing post after post that no-one comments on. 🙂 It's easy to believe no-one is reading, but that's not necessarily true. When I think back to the amount of posts I read, get a chuckle from and yet never leave my mark on, it's entirely possible I have readers galore!
I'm now so much more generous with my comments, I totally do believe in comment karma because it has made all the difference. Of course, as you say, you still have to have compelling content on your blog – pity commenting isn't most people's modus operadi (excuse if that Latin was completely wrong…)
Hi Dorothy. Like your summary post in this series. I've been thinking about my blogging/commenting strategy, if I could call it that, quite a lot. It's really more a strategy about managing the blogs I read than a personal blog strategy for growth, monetization or such. It's all because I'm worrying about the time I find I am spending, and need to spend on reading, and especially commenting on blogs. So for starters, I'm trying to pare down the list in Google Reader. Mine is w-a-y too long. I can't do anything much justice that way.
The next biggie is I'm pondering how I comment. I've realised I put a lot into my comments most of the time. There's the occasional quickie, otherwise I blabber on, hopefully not just with hot air. If I'm wanting to comment, it's usually because a post as got me thinking and reflecting. Sometimes I learn as much about myself through commenting as I might through reading. I try to answer the question being posed. I can see some do, and others just give a quick and courteous, “hi”, “great post”, etc. I'm not saying there's anything wring with the latter. Just that it's different.
If I think about it, though, I know I don't always get comments back from the same people. I don't always get replies either. It is how I've chosen to do things but I do wonder if I am wasting my time if there is no subsequent and/or ongoing engagement.
Maybe, as hubby says, I just have to learn to edit myself!
Great post hun. I have found that a lot of people comment on Facebook as many of the non blogger readers find it difficult to figure commenting systems out. I often feel guilty for not commenting on blogs as often as I should, especially since I have enjoyed their post but am in a hurry or on my phone or insert a milion other lame excuses. Then I go spend a few weeks where I make a HUGE effort to comment as often as possible to let the blogger know I am there and I am enjoying what they are sharing with us. That’s what Ive learned anyway … which I suppose is in no way really helpful to anyone else though is it? haha Hope you are having a fabulous weekend. x
People definitely don’t comment as much as they used to.
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