How do you respond to comments on your blog?
I’ve always tried to respond to every comment I get within the comment section itself. Does anyone ever come back to read these? I’ve never (or at least very rarely) ever seen a reply comment to my reply comment. Maybe I’m wasting my time.
It looks like I have the following options when responding to comments:
- Continue to respond to all comments within the comments – although I don’t think many people come back to read them.
- Respond to SOME of the comments within the comments – I don’t know how useful it is to respond to a comment like “Great post” with a “Thanks!” I respond to everybody because I don’t want to slight anyone, but maybe people don’t care.
- Respond via e-mail - I get the occasional e-mail response from people when I leave a comment on their blog, usually when I’ve asked a question or been particularly clever (rare!). I’m kind of leaning toward this method of responding.
- Respond by leaving a comment on one of their posts – I do this from time to time now. I don’t start out my comment with “Thanks for leaving a comment on my blog….”
Which option do you prefer, and what do you do yourself?
Thanks!
Tags: Blogging, Comments, Rules, Tips
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#1 by romi on September 22nd, 2008
I always comment back within my comment-section, and if I leave a comment, I often comment back later to the blogger’s response…HOWEVER…I almost never comment back on “Glogger” blogs, or wordpress blogs with their own domain name, because these blogs don’t show up in the “My Comments” section in Wordpress, so I find those ones too hard to keep track of…to be honest…maybe that’s why you don’t get a lot of responses to your replies…??? Just a theory..
#2 by Surfer Jay on September 22nd, 2008
I don’t neccesarily respond to every comment, but all the significant remarks I try to. The ones that are repliable to. Some just don’t contain enough content to comment on.
I usually go back and see what other people have said, and to see what the writer said. And I do often comment again after the writer has, but only if there is something more to ad to what he said.
I go to the commentors blog and comment, usually. Can’t say I have many commentors to go comment on a lot anyway….
#3 by Sarah on September 22nd, 2008
If there is a question I try to answer it in some way (email, in the comment section etc)I wish I could respond to all of them but stupid blogger doesn’t make you enter your email when you comment so for some people it is harder to respond via email.
Oh and the new pics on the header are so cute!
#4 by VegasDad on September 22nd, 2008
I try — sometimes successfully and sometimes not — to respond in someway or another to all comments…when I have time away from my real job. Sometimes it’s with a reply comment and other times with an e-mail. I have to admit that I haven’t been good about it lately. I’m trying to get back on track.
#5 by Katie on September 22nd, 2008
I used to respond to every comment, but then I got a new job where I don’t have access to my personal e-mail and that pretty much fell by the wayside. Now I try to reply if someone asks me a question or says something particulary sweet, kind or clever. I do try to reciprocate comments though.
Katies last blog post..Here’s Looking at You, 27
#6 by Maria on September 22nd, 2008
You already know what I think.
#7 by terri on September 22nd, 2008
I have struggled with this myself. Sometimes I comment back in the comments. Most of the time I don’t have time to. Only one person will regularly come back to see if I’ve responded to his comments. On occassion I will respond via email. Mostly, I just try to read the blogs of all commenters and leave a comment on their latest post. I don’t necessarily think all comments always require a response.
terris last blog post..I can blog and chew gum at the same time!
#8 by Mike on September 22nd, 2008
Since comments come to me through email as well, I reply with email back to the commentor. I try to add something to the comments section of my blog as well. Not alot, just something to acknowledge them.
Mikes last blog post..She’s Not Going to Like This Post
#9 by Danielle-lee on September 22nd, 2008
I think you should do what works best for YOU. How’s that for a NON-ANSWER!?!
Danielle-lees last blog post..I have a confession to make
#10 by katelin on September 22nd, 2008
it usually varies for me what the comments are. but i don’t tend to answer them unless they really need an answer or correcting
katelins last blog post..Weekends are not meant for allergies.
#11 by Jenna on September 22nd, 2008
I try to respond w/in the comments, but I find that people usually don’t come back to check. Otherwise, I guess I’m bad but I don’t respond, and it is not that I don’t want to…
Jennas last blog post..Will She Always Be a Terrible Two?
#12 by Mike from the Newborn Identity on September 22nd, 2008
The emailing back thing seems big now…funny story about it…I kept getting short emails from this one woman’s blog I read and I was totally confused. Why does she just sent me short emails? And why so many? I totally was thinking she might be into me or something until my wife explained people email back after comments!
I personally try to read everyone’s blogs and comment, but it is hard as you get more and more comments/readers. Not sure what the answer is!
Mike from the Newborn Identitys last blog post..CRY BABY!
#13 by jennster on September 22nd, 2008
sometimes i comment in the comment section…. but when i comment on another blog, i will NEVER remember to go back and see if there is a comment to me. never. i sometimes email.. but most times, the email isnt’ there…
i try to always visit their blog. at least once.
jennsters last blog post..weddings
#14 by Daddy Dan on September 22nd, 2008
Wow, thanks for sharing everybody! I think I’m going to stop responding in the comments section unless I have something to add to the overall conversation. (except for this comment!)
#15 by Surfer Jay on September 22nd, 2008
Dude, you can comment on mine, even if you want to say I suck,or that I write like a third grader, or if you want to tell your life story and not even comment on what I wrote. As long as you keep coming back on every new post to tell me I suck, thats all that really matters isnt it?
Surfer Jays last blog post..
#16 by Andrea on September 23rd, 2008
I ask myself this question all the time. I use blogger and it doesn’t track the email addresses of commenters, or else I’d respond to comments via email. Being as it is, I have no idea what to do.
Andreas last blog post..He’s a What Now?