Mario reads all of my blog posts. He tries to read them a few days later because he likes to read the comments, more specifically my response to the comments. What can I say, he likes all things me :)!
He asked if I responded to every comment because some times he’ll see that I’ve responded to the first few but maybe two or three at the end didn’t get a response. I then explained that I respond to comments directly on the blog AND I respond through email. If a person comments on a post that I’ve already responded to then I might respond to them through email only!
“Ohhh”, he said, “I didn’t know that, I just wanted to make sure you’re responding and aren’t just skipping people.”
***weird pause***
“Uh thanks, babe”
Anyways, I tried a program like Disqus to make this easier for me but it just wasn’t working out so I uninstalled it. Now I just do double work when responding to comments because I feel like it is worth it to my readers. It’s a personal choice and not something I expect others to do, but I think it’s important for me to respond to comments directly on my blog in order to show readers that I do indeed respond. But, at the same time I know that if I only respond on my blog then that forces them to come back to my post to see if I responded and most people just don’t have time for that. I, for one, certainly don’t! So for that reason I also email the person directly (if their email address is available)! It really only takes a second to copy and past my response from the blog into an email (while having them both up side by side)!
Whether you come back to view the response via the blog or you read it through email you should always get a response within a week. I try very hard to respond within 2 to 3 days but life sometimes gets in the way so I give myself a week at most. I’m sure there have been times when I just never got around to responding and for that I am sincerely sorry! Know that it wasn’t intentional and know that all comments are read and cherished. Each and every single one!
Now, I’m curios as to what everyone else’s thoughts are surrounding commenting. Do you prefer that bloggers use a program like Disqus, do you prefer that they email you a response? Do you prefer if they have the pop-out window (if they’re on the Blogger platform)? Do you come back to posts to look for the response if you don’t receive one by email? Also, as a blogger how do you go about responding to comments and what’s your reasoning behind it?!?
Let me know!
“I am stumbling through my military life and in the process, discovering my place in the world.”
I generally do not come back to look at a response from a comment that I left. I guess I really don't expect a response unless I left a question for the blogger. I would say I do like when I have gotten a response via e-mail.
I have visited some blogs that have the option to subscribe to replies to a particular post. I really like this and will most likely adopt it at my site.
Oh wow, Tasha! I'm surprised that you don't expect a response. I totally expect one no matter the size of the blogger although I know that they may not. I actually go back to posts depending on who the blogger is (you for instance) but most of the time I don't have time so I appreciate it when they email me back or have the option for me to subscribe to a post's comments. I look forward to you making this option available, lol!
You raise a very interesting point. I actually think you going the extra mile to send in an email is so nice of you. I've thought about using something like comment luv or another service that automatically sends the person's comment with your reply in the email for you. There are 2 bloggers I know that use that and I've been meaning to ask them about it but I've been so busy! Also, I've changed up on whether or not I will respond to my comments because I read a great post from a blogger who talked about Google updating its spamming rules. She said that based on the rules, you could potentially be spamming your own blog by responding something vague like "you're welcome" or anything else that could be easily a response to anything and not your specific post. So when I host hops and people just comment to say "great post and now I'm following you" or something simliar, I don't respond to that. I just follow them and make sure I visit their blog to comment. So to avoid this, I try to link up an actual post to the hop and that has been working great. People are responding to my post and not just saying "great post" which could make my ratings go down in google you know? Sorry this was so long! <3 I hope you have an awesome weekend! That's great to hear hubby is reading your posts!
If you happen to know the link to the post about Google's spamming rules please forward it to me, I'd definitely be interested in reading it! Either way, I'm sure I'll continue to do what I'm doing since I tend to have such lengthy responses when I respond to comments so I can't see Google viewing them as spam. I also don't participate in very many link-ups so I'm not too worried about the spammy "follow me, I'll follow you" comments but I definitely see your point! I hope you enjoy the rest of your week!
i get your replies via e-mail. but i am no longer a no e-mail reply blogger so that helps!
That's so awesome, Obi!
I always reply to both (comment on blog & email) for the exact reason you stated. I personally don't go back and check a blog after I comment on it. I do always appreciate it though when the blogger emails me regarding the comment. Even simple thank yous let's me know I'm appreciated there and not just another number. Bloggers that responds to comments always wins me back over to their blogs again.
I will say one thing I hate about commenting on some blogs is the
word verification. It's even worse when comments are on approval only AND word verification. Never understand that one LOL!
That's my thoughts exactly, Malanda, that I appreciate it when someone emails me so I'm always certain to at least do that! And you're so right, when I get an email from a blogger I'm more likely to return because I feel valued. I also agree that word verification/approval is a pain. I get that some people do it because they are worried about spam but there are ways around that (at least with the Blogger platform) so it tends to keep me from ever commenting on that particular blog again, which is a bit sad for them.
I reply to bloggers through email. I personally don't go back to look at blogs I've already commented on so if the blogger replys that way I don't see it.
That seems to be the consensus among everyone so I'm glad that I reply through email in addition to the post :)!
That's an interesting question! I use Disqus on my blog and, personally, like it when bloggers use that because I get an automated e-mail if they respond. I rarely go back to posts that I've commented on, unless I asked a specific question to that particular blogger. You are such a sweet blogger and really go the extra mile! It usually takes me 2-3 days to respond to comments, too. I live all comments in my inbox so I can go back and reply. I haven't had any issues with Disqus on my blog. However, I did have an issue with people commenting via mobile devices. Disqus doesn't work with mobile devices, but at that point people could still see the Blogger comment form if they were viewing it on their phone. The only problem with that is that I would get an e-mail telling me I had a comment, but when I would view it on my computer I couldn't see the comment because the Disqus was "over" the Blogger comments (if that makes sense). So, I disabled the Blogger comment form so that wouldn't happen. I'm thinking about reversing it so people on phones can comment and I could just e-mail them a response. This sounds so complicated, haha!
I totally get what you're saying about the Disqus/Blogger mobile issue! I used Disqus for a little while but I was getting some complaints from my readers about it not showing up so I went back to Blogger's built in system. You'd think Blogger would have done something similar to Disqus with their system by now but apparently it's not worth it to them just yet!
Interestingly enough, I do like bloggers who have Disqus since I do still have an account and I'm able to get replies when I comment on blogs rather easily…when the system is working properly, lol!