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Nov
05
In which I get transparent about my blog commenting practices
2009 at 9pm Posted by Rebecca Joines Schinsky
It seems like every couple months, someone decides it’s time for a new round of blog-related navel gazing, and all of a sudden we’re all talking about commenting. More often than not, this conversation is sparked by a comment left on someone’s blog in which the commentor complains—often anonymously—about the failure of a blogger (or, in some cases, an undefined group of “snobby” bloggers) to respond to all comments, or visit all of their commentors’ blogs, or something like that.
I’ve been fortunate not to have had any of these comments so far (perhaps said commentors determined long ago that I don’t respond to all of my comments and just decided to abandon ship?), and I’ve stayed out of the conversation until now, but the fact that I haven’t received the nasty comments means I don’t have an immediate emotional reaction to them, and I think that puts me in a good position to say what I’m going to say here, even though some of you will unavoidably be offended or take it as evidence that I am just as awful as you always thought I was.
But that’s a risk I’m willing to take because seriously people, I’m getting tired of talking about this, and, quite frankly, I never cease to be surprised that this whole blog commenting thing can be such an emotionally charged issue for some. So I’m going to put it all out there and let you know what you can expect, and I’m only going to say it once. Because really, I do not want to have this conversation again.
The first thing you need to remember: bloggers are not one-size-fits-all, and you as a blog reader cannot reasonably expect all bloggers to handle comments the same way. I know that many of you reading this are also bloggers, and you’ll understand that from experience, but it bears being said. Each of us has our own priorities and limitations, and our blogs reflect that.
Now let’s manage some expectations, okay?
First, the numbers:
Blogs I subscribe to: 250+
Average time spent blogging on a normal day: 30-45 minutes
Average amount of time I get to spend reading blogs on a normal day: 1 hour (if I’m lucky)
Number of blogs I comment on per day: 5-10 (if I’m lucky)
Time spent tweeting/emailing/doing blog-related networking per day: anywhere from 0 minutes to 2 hours, depending on what else is going on in life.
You do the math…this is a realistic depiction of the time I have to blog, read blogs, write comments, respond to comments, and manage other blog-related tasks. I have to prioritize. It is already one of the great ironies of book blogging that the more you blog, the less you read. I don’t want to end up in the situation where I spend all of my time reading blogs and writing comments and none of it reading books or writing about them. A girl’s gotta make these choices.
Not to mention that I have a husband to spend time with, other hobbies to enjoy, friends to hang out with, and nieces and nephews to corrupt 
So it’s not that I don’t appreciate your comments. I really, really do. But if I want you to continue enjoying The Book Lady’s Blog, then I need to use my time wisely, and that means reading books and writing about them, right?
What I do:
I respond to comments when I have 1) something to add to the conversation and 2) the time to say it. That second one is really important. My responding to comments should not be taken as a measure of which or whose comments I value most. If it can be used as a measure of anything, it is of how busy (or not) the rest of my life was that day/week/month.
I give all new commentors’ blogs a chance. Just because I didn’t take 30 seconds to type a “me too” or “I agree” to your comment (those add up to quite a lot of time if you think about it), doesn’t mean I ignored it. I put all new commentors who have blogs into a special folder in my Google Reader, and I check those blogs for 2 weeks following the original comment. If the blog hooks me, I keep the subscription. If not, I delete it. There are hundreds and hundreds of book blogs, and I can’t possibly follow all of them. None of us can.
And back to that idea that there’s no one-size-fits-all for bloggers, I don’t expect every blogger whose site I enjoy to enjoy mine, so I don’t expect to enjoy every commentor’s blog, either. That’s just how it is. Not all of our relationships here can be mutually and equally affectionate, and I’m okay with that.
I read a lot of blogs, but I comment on very few. I mean, hello. If I go an entire day without checking my GoogleReader, I will be welcomed by somewhere around 650 new posts (many of the industry blogs I follow post multiple times per day). It’s a good day if I manage to comment on 5 or 10 of those posts. And it’s all because of time and prioritizing. It’s not unusual for me to follow a blog for several weeks or months before I ever leave a comment. And then my commenting will be spotty. It’s spotty even on my very favorite blogs.
I wish I could do more, but believe me when I say I’m doing the best I can.
What I won’t do:
I won’t respond to every comment on my blog. I never have, and I probably never will (barring some unforeseen circumstance in which I end up with tons of extra free time).
I won’t expect every blog I comment on to respond to me (that’s only fair), and
I won’t assume that bloggers who don’t respond to my comments are therefore snobby or haughty or holier than thou. We’re all doing the best we can, and I genuinely believe that most of us have the best of intentions. No one wants to alienate readers or hurt people’s feelings. I hope you’ll extend me the same courtesy.
I won’t follow every blogger who ever comments on my blog. I can’t do it. But I will give every new commentor’s blog the 2-week trial period mentioned above, and I’ll check back in when I can. I’ve discovered some of my favorite blogs through comments left here, and I certainly hope you’ll keep ‘em coming.
I won’t apologize for my commenting practice, and I won’t (usually) respond to accusatory comments about them…..but if I do, you can bet it won’t be to beg for forgiveness. We’re all grown-ups here (well, except for those teenagers who end up here looking for answers to their homework), so let’s act like it and stop leaving nasty comments. I’m tired of seeing them.
Expectations:
You can expect me to READ all of your comments and respond to them whenever I can. When you provide feedback, I take it into consideration even if I don’t respond to your comment. Your comments are a valuable part of what happens on this blog, especially for the conversations they generate between other commentors.
You can expect me to visit your blog after you comment here and to connect with you on Twitter. I often tweet while watching TV, cooking, and taking care of other stuff around the house, and my tweeting time is much more flexible than my blogging time. So let’s talk there instead of obsessing about what happens in the comments.
I expect each blogger to do what works best for him or her, in the context of the constraints on their time, and in balance with their other blog-related tasks. When it comes to things like this, I am truly a live-and-let-live kind of girl.
I expect my readers to understand that blogging is my HOBBY. I don’t get paid for it. I don’t get to cut into my working time to do it. Blogging is cake; comments are icing. It’s great when I have time to attend to them, but how and when that happens is unpredictable and affected by numerous variables.
The big take-home message:
My blog commenting practices are all about me and what works for my life. They are not, in any way, about your value as a person or blogger, and they should not be taken as such.
Despite what a small minority of you seem to believe, there is not some secret book blogger mafia that controls who’s in and who’s out, so comments and responding are not related to that, either. I’ve seen this concept mentioned in several snarky/whiny/woe-is-me comments on other blogs, and really people, it is just utterly preposterous.
Yes, some book blogs are bigger than others (and it seems that everyone has a different opinion on which ones are the big ones), but we all start small. Responding to every comment (or as many as you can reasonably manage) is a great way to grow a blog, but it’s not realistic once the blog really starts growing, at least in my experience as a person who works full-time and squeezes blogging in between a whole lot of other life stuff.
Some bloggers respond to tons of comments, some don’t. You love some blogs, you don’t love others. Some bloggers love your blog, some don’t. That’s just the way of it. You don’t have to like it, but it’s the truth.
So let’s agree on this: I won’t judge you and your commenting practices if you won’t judge me and mine. Let’s agree that we’re all doing the best we can, and let’s remember that. Let’s decide not to take it personally.
And please, for the love of god, let’s remember that in the big scheme of things, what we’re talking about are motherf!@king comments on a motherf!@king blog, and let’s not get so riled up about them.
Related posts:
I agree.
Amen sister!
Agreed! I had no idea when I started blogging how time consuming it could be. I’m much more likely to visit blogs and leave comments than to respond to my own. Now I’ve gotta get back to my book!
I’m the same way. Isn’t the whole idea to let other bloggers know you’ve been there? I’d rather do that than respond here as well…and I just plain don’t understand the tit-for-tat commenting thing.
Hear, hear! I wonder if someone should create a button that states the idea that one size does NOT fit all when it comes to blogging. Maybe then people would get the idea that each blogger has their own approach to things like comments, reviews, and so forth.
Hi Rebecca. You are awesome. That is all.
Great post! When I first started blogging, I tried to comment back every time, but then it started to encroach upon the time I spent working on schoolwork. (I go to a cyber school.) Since then, I still read all my comments and try to comment back as often as possible, but sometimes it’s just not feasible.
I usually leave an average of around five comments a day, if I’m lucky. It’s not much, but it’s better than nothing! I agree, every blogger should do what works best for them.
Love, Love, LOVE this post! You summed up my feelings on the subject exactly. We are all doing the best we can, we’re here because we love books and talking about books and we all have jobs and families and social lives too.
Thanks so much for this! It is awesome and reminded me again of why you, Rebecca, are also awesome.
Love it, especially the last sentence.
I love this! So true, and right to the point! I agree completely with this post : we have only so many hours in a day, and the truth is commenting takes a lot more time than it looks like. In a perfect world we would have the time to comment on everyone’s post, sadly, this is not the case.
I just don’t get why you never comment on my blog. Don’t you love me? Am I not cool enough for you? I’m here, leaving comments on like, every single post and you are nowhere to be found over at my digs. I don’t care about the other 249 blogs you are subscribed to, it’s about me and my blog and your rejection of it which, by extension is a rejection of me.
Just kidding!!!! Couldn’t agree more and
I feel the same. And I don’t care either if someone didn’t like or didn’t comment on my blog. I’d still read theirs if I love it.
I really do want to respond to every commenter on mine, because I do appreciate every comment, but with 3 children I figured it’s just impossible. I mean, I was fine with responding when I had two to five comments, but now I can’t keep up no matter how much I want to. Just a time issue, nothing personal at all.
I SO have the guilt complex. Commenting is the one area of book blogging that I would change if I could. By change I mean adding 24 more hours to every day. Because I SO want to comment on every single blog in my reader every day to let them know that I’m there. Because I am!
hear hear!! And I agree with the pp that we need a button that states that
I’ve only started following you since BBAW, but this is what I love about you and why I will always follow…you tell it like it is! In every group there is someone making snarky-ass comments about others. I don’t know who is doing the whining here, but chances are, they don’t even know you’re talking to THEM! Ha!
We all do what we can, and have to prioritize. I do have a compulsion for commenting, but then again, I don’t Twitter. You are awesome, and anyone who gets their knickers in a knot can go away.
So well said, Rebecca! It’s so frustrating to read those comments about “snobby” bloggers. It’s impossible to comment everywhere when there is so much else going on in our lives! Thanks for this post – I hope some of the complainers see it. =)
I had a feeling you might like that….
Excellent clarification!
I think commenting is a great way to build community. I encourage people to comment as much and as often as they can. Key words = as they *can*. What that means is different for each person (as you outline above)
For me personally, I feel like my time is better spent visiting and chatting as much as I possibly can at someone else’s blog over replying to every comment on mine. As you said there is only so much time in a day and we can only distribute that time so much amongst all of the obligations each of us have. Something has to be on the bottom of the totem pole and for many that is commenting. Will I comment on the blogs of everyone who comments on mine? No. Does that mean I think those blogs aren’t worthwhile? Also a big no.
Amen, sister!
Very well said — we only have so many hours in the day. I’m bad about commenting, but usually it’s because of lack of time only.
Unfortunately, sometimes that lack of time extends to reading blogs as well, as I didn’t even know this conversation was going on! (Sometimes I like being in the dar k about controversies, though…)
I TOTALLY agree with what you are saying. I do try my best to respond to comments left on my blog, but as you said, I will only do it if I have something to add to the conversation.
And at one time I added everyone who commented on my blog to my google reader. But then I realized there was no way I would have time to visit all those blogs. I spend roughly an hour a day reading other blogs and that doesn’t even make a dent in my Google Reader.
You’ve said it all. What else can I add? I comment when I can, when I feel I have something to say. That’s about it. It’s nothing about picking favorites, or being snobby (who said that? I missed the original conversation)
Very well said! Can I just cut/paste that onto my blog!!
I enjoy so many blogs, but don’t always have anything to say, so I totally agree with that part!
This was my favorite part: “…some of you will unavoidably be offended or take it as evidence that I am just as awful as you always thought I was.”
I don’t know why I get so upset when I see a comment about people who don’t respond to comments, but I do. I guess it’s because I feel like asking them where the time is supposed to come from to do all they expect. Should I spend even LESS time with my husband? I work two jobs, but surely he won’t miss me if I’m MIA for another 10 hours a week? Should I get up earlier? Should I respond at work? Should I cook less and eat more cereal?
If I ever write a post about this, I’ll be quoting that sentence above!
What a motherf!@king great post
Dude, if everyone you commented on HAD to come visit your blog in return, you could generate yourself a ridiculous amount of traffic just by leaving ‘Great post!’ in a brazillion comment boxes. *sighs* Some people will always be cranky..
Ha, this is great. Why does blogging always inevitably end up like high school? Jealously, lies, betrayal…someone should write a book about this. Or at least do some kind of sociological study on the human emotions expressed through online communities!
I’m a relative newbie in the blogging world, but I agree with everything you said. I can’t imagine responding to every single comment received–it would take too much time and I already spend too much time on my computer as it is.
Well said! I love the interactive aspect of blogging, and I wish I could be more active in responding to comments on my blog and to commenting on other people’s blogs, but time simply doesn’t allow for it. I can definitely get behind your call for a bit of perspective and a live and let live attitude as far as commenting and other blogging practices are concerned!
You brought up so many great points. I have a small blog, and I even have trouble responding to comments and commenting on blogs I follow. Sometimes I just don’t have anything to add and sometimes I’d rather read a book. Isn’t that what I set out to blog about in the first place?
Two thumbs up!! Those of us who blog do this for fun, not to validate someone else’s existence.
I can’t believe you think it’s necessary to live your life outside your blog. How dare you prioritize a full-time job above responding to every single comment left on your blog. I just don’t know if I can continue reading your blog now that you’ve put all that negativity out there…
Okay, I can only be sarcastic for so long. I had no idea there were such issues going on about responding to comments–the sole reason I respond to mine is the reason you mentioned above: I’m a new blogger and trying to build up my community. I thought it was common sense that once a person has a bigger following and gets a substantial amount of comments, it would be impossible (and in some cases just insane) to try to comment back to each and every one of them. Oh, the places assuming will get you to.
My feelings are not tied up in blog comments, and I often don’t get a chance to check back for comments that are posted after I do–unless I find a topic particularly fascinating and want to see what other commenters think. Otherwise, I view comments as a way of letting the author know I’m actively reading the blog.
As a side note, you know me as joiedelire on Twitter (this automatically signed me in as my WordPress account since you’re on WordPress, too). My joiedelire blog (about books) is a Blogger blog. That’s just to say, we’re already chatting elsewhere.
I wrote a Confessions of a Reader post on this topic and I was one of the bloggers that confessed that it bugs the crap out of me if I visit a blog for like a year, and that blog never comes to visit…not even once.
To me, it’s a courtesy thing. To me, it’s a tad rude. I know that some may not see if that way and I am okay with it. All we can do is state our own opinion on the subject as you did here, and I did a few months back.
However, I did it as a form of discussion. I never did it to ‘stir the pot’ so to speak. I think there are those that thrive on stirring the pot and that is not me.
I am not so articulate this week, but I want to say- I don’t expect everyone whose blog I comment on to comment on everything I say. I don’t expect it on MOST everything I say. Hell, never visit me AT ALL. But at some point I’d like you (generic) to acknowledge my existence. A comment or a reply or a @lharsma on twitter. SOMETHING. Everyone is busy. I also subscribe to a million blogs, but I try to visit everyone at least once every couple months, or email a reply to something they say to me, or reply on the blog itself. SOMETHING. It’s like being the third wheel on a date, why bother if they don’t talk to you?
I really enjoyed that Confessions post, Ti, and this post was in no way directed at you. It’s clear that you’re not trying to stir the pot, and I know we all have our own approaches to commenting. I was just tired of reading other people being mean about the commenting thing and wanted to make it very clear what people can expect here.
Oh I know it isn’t geared towards me, I just wanted to share another side of it. I know from the comments that I received on my post, that a lot of bloggers have different thoughts about the whole comment issue.
I totally agree with this – everyone blogs differently! I read a lot of blogs that I don’t comment on (though I do try to comment every once in awhile so they know I’m there). It always seems that when I’m pressed for time, blog commenting is the thing that I sacrifice. In a perfect world where I had more time, I’d comment on every post of every blog I like, but I just can’t!
well said!
did you get the email i sent you a few weeks ago? (p.s. thanks for the blog comment today. i feel extra special after reading this entry. i never realized people took commenting/not commenting so personally.)
Everyone has a different attitude to blogging, but I thought I’d come along and disagree with just about everyone on this post.
I know that people have different amounts of time available for blogging, but I think that bloggers should appreciate the comments they get on their own blog. I ensure I reply to every single comment I get on my blog (eventually!) and I think that people like the fact I respond to them. If I know I am going to be busy then I don’t post or post a book review that I know wont interest many people. Even the biggest book bloggers aren’t getting that many comments on each post – surely it is better to have less posts, but a great interaction with those that make the effort to comment on your blog?
Commenting on other peoples blogs is a harder task. I don’t expect people to recipricate comments, but I don’t like it when I see a blog where the blogger ignores everyone who has taken the time to add to the conversation. If you aren’t going to respond to comments, why not just turn them off?
I do agree that blogging is a hobby and should be fun though – I’d hate anyone to feel upset by my comments – I’m just stating my opinion and realise that not everyone agrees with me. I don’t have aproblem with that – everyone should do what works for them – I just wanted to ensure that there was a balance of opinion on this post!
I did get it, but it was right in the middle of brand-new-job-mania (which still has a hold on me), and I never responded. (See, I really am awful
) It’s sitting in my in-box, and I’ll get there.
Jackie, I’m so glad you came along to disagree because the whole point of this was to have a conversation that highlights the fact that we can’t all be expected to take the same approach. I appreciate the comments I get here, and I do my best to respond to them, but for me, it doesn’t feel feasible to respond to all of them AND comment on the blogs I read AND do everything else I want to do with my blog in the amount of time that I have.
For the record, I think it’s great that there are bloggers who can and do respond to every comment and who comment on almost every blog they read. This community takes all kinds. I just happen to not be one of them.
And I think it’s really interesting that you consider comments and your ability to respond to them so carefully that you’ll plan posts around it. I’ve never even thought of that, and it shows great concern for your readers. Not a practice I can foresee myself adopting (when I’m too busy to do any commenting, I’m generally too busy to write posts, either), but it’s a neat idea regardless, and further evidence that you put thought and care into your blog (which I happen to thoroughly enjoy, by the way).
It’s impossible to know however, if a blogger is interacting with commenters just by looking at their blog. Some email a lot of their commenters directly (as I do when possibe)
Good point, Amy.
Hi, I just found your blog and I agree! I’ve had this problem before – it’s just such a time commitment!
Like Amy, I reply to many of my commenters via e-mail, because frankly, I seldom go back to comments I’ve made to see if the blogger replied to my comment and I assume very few people do.
Really liking this threaded comments thing, though. How’d you do that, Rebecca?
So the commenting thing is an issue again, eh? I’m so far behind on reading blogs…
I agree that it is impossible to tell how much interaction there is by looking at the post, but there have been times when I have commented and asked a question I actually wanted to know the answer to, then gone back a week later and discovered I have been ignored. I know that I am at one end of the scale in replying to everyone, but I do think it rude if questions are ignored.
I also like to see conversations in the comments section. This benefit is lost if people only email their response, as I have found that people start up conversations between each other in my comments – this discussion about books is one of my favourite things about blogging and I feel that many people are missing out by not cherishing their comments.
I don’t do much responding by email, but when I do, it is usually to answer a question that someone left, and I want to answer, but that doesn’t really seem relevant to the general conversation in the comments. I’ve been frustrated by other bloggers not answering questions I’ve left in comments before, so if it’s something I really want the answer to, I tend to just email the person directly. I know I pay more attention to my email, and I figure most others do, too.
The threaded comments thing is an option in WordPress. I have no idea if Blogger offers it.
You mean like this conversation, Jackie?
But we could be having it without Rebecca!
I used to reply in comments in which I would often ask a question in return. Then, I’d never get a response. So I polled my readers and found most didn’t subscribe to comments. That’s why I started emailing when possible to address questions, because I hate thinking there is this unanswered question floating around out there.
Also, and this is just me providing a different perspective, last night I clicked through on a post of yours and there were 65 comments! I generally don’t have time to read 65 comments in addition to a post….thats like reading another post or two. It can be a little overwhelming. And I hate to just repeat something someone else has said. And lately, I even told Ana (Nymeth) I almost feel guilty commenting on her posts b/c she usually replies to comments but she gets so many that I know it’s time intensive to respond…and so I stop to think…is my little comment really worth all of that.
So all of that just to say I”ve thought about this too much but generally, there are many different things to think about and one size doesn’t fit all. I tend to think there’s no one right answer for everyone or one way that is the only and best way.
I really liked that sentence too!
Wow, this book blogging is a serious and complex business eh?
I’ve only just set up my attempt at a book blog today, and with working all hours my current blog allowance time is miniscule! Maybe I should re-think my expectations of the world I’m about to plunge into 
I’ve seen it on at least one comment here, but I would love to see this kind of post go viral! I always feel guilty when I don’t comment on every last thing but there is absolutely no way to do that without quitting my job to become a freelance blog commenter and somehow I don’t imagine that will pay too many bills at all
Rock on Rebecca!
Nicely said. Your blog, first and foremost, is for YOUR enjoyment. So do things the way you want. PS, I love your blog.
I would way rather you spend your time reading and reviewing books than answering comments. I don’t comment very often here, but I read every single post you write, I don’t even skim and that’s saying a lot–I am a skimmer of many blogs.
I have a quilting blog so I’ll save you the trouble of even trying it for 2 weeks
Thanks for writing this post, I thought only the quilting bloggers had these issues. Seriously I just told a fellow Qb recently that the “book bloggers had it more together and we should learn a lesson from them”.
Hah! Maybe we just fake it better? Thanks for your feedback, Tammy. I appreciate your reading (I skim a lot, too.) my blog and hanging out here!
Great conversation with (as always) lots of varying opinions.
I think your 2-week trial is an interesting idea, Rebecca. I tend to add people to my GR as they comment, but try to only leave a comment if it’s saying more than “nice post” … sometimes I’m not a good fit (as a reader) for a blog, and I don’t want my comments to feel forced, like I ‘have to’ say something.
As for responding to questions, I double-dip – I email the commenter (in case they don’t subscribe to comments), and put the response in Comments on my blog, thinking that others may have the same question.
No one-size-fits-all, and we each have to do what’s right for us …
[...] In which I get transparent about my blog commenting practices « The Book Lady’s Blog [...]
I agree with you 100% … and I like your two week trial period idea. I can’ t believe people are complaining about blogger commenting practices … I mean, you do what you can, when you can. Life is too short to get riled up about stuff like this. Well said.
Amen. ‘Nuf said!
[...] Commenting Practices Posted on November 11, 2009 by Matthew I am echoing off Rebecca, The Book’s Lady Blog post on commenting practices. Obviously there’s been some navel gazing about how bloggers [...]
Nice way of putting across your stance…
I see blogs that get 20-30 comments minimum. There is just no way that the author can keep up and respond.
I don’t think it should be expected even.
My blog is a lot less well-known, so I do try to respond to comments, but really even I fail miserably at times. And I’m quite fine and dandy with that!
My blog is not my life
Amy, Yes – it is great to have a conversation in the comments section! I think you’ll find that people who are interested in having a conversation will subscribe to the comments and if they get used to a blogger responding to comments then they are more likely to do so in the future. I know that up to 50% of the commenters on my blog will subscribe to comments if I have a good post up.
I agree that there is no right or wrong way to do things – you just have to do whatever makes you happy, but I just wanted to know that I don’t like it when other bloggers ignore my questions – I do return to read the answers.
Nishita, I’d like to point out that I tend to get 20+ comments a day and respond to every one I get, so it can be done!
I am so happy to have read this post, no matter how late I am coming to the party. I have not had nearly the amount of time I’d like to have on any aspect of blogging for over a month now. My life is crazy and my husband and kids have to come first. Work second.
The number of comments I get is never huge unless for a giveaway, but I know that they go down when I’m not as active commenting myself. I’m okay with that. This is a hobby for so many of us. If this starts to feel more like a job than something we enjoy, nothing good comes of it.
I really appreciate how you have spelled this out and I might just have to quote you and make that my commenting manifesto (with your approval of course).
Glad you liked it, Jennifer, and of course you have my approval
I couldn’t agree more. Commenting on every blog I read would take too much time away from other things, as well as why should I comment if I really don’t have anything else to say except *great review*. Some blogs take a lot of time to load and since I can’t comment via Google reader I rarely leave comments when I have something to say.
Amen sister. You nailed it!
You expressed exactly how I feel. I do try to respond to all commenters on my blog – but there is no way I can go and leave comments on every blog whose blogger left a comment on mine…I’d never do anything else! And I follow more than 300 blogs…so to think I could comment on everyone’s blog is just unrealistic. It annoys me when people get all holier than thou about what we should or shouldn’t do on our blogs. We all do what is comfortable and realistic for ourselves…
Thanks for saying what so many of us are feeling.
I add someone to my Reader if they show up on my Blogger dashboard as a new Follower. I then also go visit their blog and leave them a comment.
For every comment that is left by someone new, their link goes on our blogroll for future reference. And then I go visit and leave them a comment.
I try to leave a comment for each blog in my Reader every few weeks if they are posting something of interest to me and I can add something to the point. Reading all those posts and keeping up with comments is time consuming, but at this point for me I feel it is vital to my goal of building our blog in the community in order to entertain and meet as many diverse and interesting bloggers as possible.
I am always interested in learning how other bloggers handle time management. Something always has to give. Comments come after posting for me – but a close second. Thanks for sharing your approach!
[...] ~ Rebecca at The Book Lady’s Blog is talking about her blog commenting practices. [...]
I have a friend with a blog who has 70 to 90 comments a day and would respond to everyone. She has been my mentor and something to which I try to aspire. However, I don’t post as often as she does on any of my blogs, and I don’t receive as many comments as a result, so I find it easier to respond. Recently, this blogger has opted not to comment to everyone individually because she is getting burnt out with things happening in her family that she needs to address, plus just life in general about which Rebecca has talked here. For me, I will try to respond to every comment. However, that doesn’t work for anyone with demands on their lives.
I am in agreement with you to some degree, though, that when you visit a blog and they don’t comment at all ever to you, that it is a bit discouraging and makes you wonder why you even take the time for them…although on the other hand…sorry, I could go on for a while on this, but bottom line: What works for me and you might not work for others, and that’s all right.
Edited to add: That was Ti from Book Chatter that made the comment about people visiting a blog and never commenting. Sorry for the confusion. That’s what happens when you have so many blogs in your reader (see, Rebecca, I can relate
.