Monday, May 7, 2012

Blogger Confessions: Comments


This week I'm participating in Blogger Confessions, a meme that posts the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month, where book bloggers "confess" and vent about topics that are unique to us. It is hosted by Tiger's All Consuming Media and For What It's Worth.  If you want to participate, head on over there and link up.

Q: Comments. The holy grail of blogging success! What type of posts do you leave comments on? How do you try to encourage more comments on your blog? Do you respond to people who leave comments on your posts? How do you handle negative/spam comments? Do you use captcha?

A.  First of all, I know that I'm weird and different when it comes to comments.  I leave comments on all posts that I read.  Types of posts?  Usually reviews, but I'll leave them on discussion posts as well if it is something that catches my attention.  Essentially once I read the first sentence of a post (accidentally or not) I'm going to comment on it.  I'm not sure if it is an OCD thing or what.  For me it isn't necessarily the post that catches my attention but the blogger.  If I notice that the post is by a blogger that writes funny or entertaining or interesting or thorough or whatever kind of special reviews, I'm more likely to read the review even if the book cover doesn't catch my attention much.  I also return comment on bloggers who comment on my blog, which is currently how I figure out a blogger's style and I stalk them from there on out.  I'm not much of a lurker though.  I'm pretty big on commenting.

I might ask a question at the end of a post and I tend to get more comments then.  But I really only do it if I'm looking for answer to a burning question.  This also happens if I'm really excited at the time I write a review.  Mostly I hope to get more comments by people returning the favor.  I comment on blogs and hope they'll take the time look around here and return the favor.  This actually doesn't work too well though.

I respond to people who leave comments but I admit that I'm pretty slow at it.  One of my 2012 goals is to respond within 48 hours but I'm not doing very good with that.

I just delete spam comments.  I've only gotten two all year so it isn't bothersome.  I don't delete negative comments because that doesn't seem very nice.  If someone disagrees with me, I think it adds to the discussion for them to share. I do not use captcha because I hate it with a passion.  If spam was a problem, I would switch to approving my comments before I'd turn on captcha.

If anyone sees captcha on my blog PLEASE PLEASE let me know.  I don't like that at all.

So what about you?  What are your commenting habits?
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47 comments:

  1. I usually comment on all the blogs that I visit regularly as they have become my favorites. I also try to return comments on anybody's blog who left me a comment because it's just a courtesy thing with me.

    Usually when I'm not returning comments is when I'm not feeling well or out of town.

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    1. Same here. I comment on my favorites first and I try to return comments. I know that in the coming months commenting on my favorites is probably the best I can hope to do.

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  2. I shudder at the thought of captcha so yes I would let you know and please to tell me too if it show up.

    I am not that OCD about commenting, sometimes I read a post and just have nothing to say. This is usually about something else than reviews.

    I always respond too, if I can find a link to their blog. I do get a bit sad when I can't

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    1. Deal. I'll let you know and you let me know. Every once in a while I'll read a post and think it is in everyone's best interest if I don't comment. Lol

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  3. Good for you! I used to comment more and I really need to get back to that.

    Captcha is evil but I know a lot of bloggers aren't even aware that it's on. Comment moderation would be a better idea if the blogger does get a lot of spam. It happens so few times for me that it's easier to just delete them.

    Thanks for joining in this week :-)

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    1. Commenting is time consuming! I don't think they are aware either. I don't get much spam either. So I'm fine with how things are.

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  4. I comment back when someone comments on my blog and leaves a link. I also comment when something in a post catches my attention. I also try to comment on at least some of the posts in the memes in which I participate. But even with all of that I doubt I leave ten comments a day. My BBC post is here. Have a good day!

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    1. I definitely make a lot of comments but it is hard. If I'm busy, commenting is the first thing to go. I don't leave links on many blogs for the most part. I know that if they click on my name they can find my blog and I leave it at that.

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  5. I'm a little bit similar to you, I like to comment on most blog posts that I come across. I figure that if I have taken the time to read their post then I should also take the time to leave a comment. But I have to admit that the captcha does irritate me. I wish all bloggers would switch it off! It makes leaving comments so much more difficult and time-consuming which in turn makes me less likely to leave a comment.

    This is a great post with some interesting things to think about. It's very well-written too (which is another reason to comment - I like when bloggers take the time to proof read their work).

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

    Megan @ Storybook Love Affair

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    1. I admit that proofreading is something I need to work on. I have no excuse other than just plain laziness. I don't know why. Then when I read over a post later. I'm like... grrr! And I fix any mistakes I find.

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  6. Firstly, I am adoring you blog design. :) Secondly, I love that you comment on everything you read. I admire you for that! I am getting better at commenting back when someone visits my blog. It's a great way to keep the community vibe going.

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    1. Thank you!! I used to be really bad at returning comments on my blog even when I was really good at commenting on blogs that I followed. So I'm always trying to work at it.

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  7. I am so bad at responding to comments; I see other bloggers who are so prompt at it but I just fail. I mostly comment on reviews of books I've already read so as to avoid spoilers but sometimes I'll be brave and read a review of a book I've never even heard of. I rarely comment on memes like IMM or WOW because I tend to find them boring. I've been trying to leave at least 10 comments a day and I think I usually succeed which is a big increase over a year ago when I rarely left comments at all.

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    1. I'm really bad at responding to comments on my blog. I mean I definitely do it. But I might do it once a week 7 posts at a time which is kind of pointless if I'm trying to cultivate a discussion. I do what I can though.

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  8. Goodness, I hate CAPTCHA. I wish someone had told me mine had turned back on. I had turned it off the day I started my blog, but suddenly I was getting barely any comments and I thought I was doing something wrong! I think Blogger turned it back on when they switched to the new interface. I do think some people don't even know it's there! It makes commenting a chore. :(

    I don't really respond to comments on my blog unless someone asked a question but I do head over their blog if they have one.

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    1. There was a point where hardly anyone had it and now it seems like everyone does. I've started telling people because I would want someone to tell me. I respond to every comment but I admit that it feels like it doesn't make any sense. I think it made sense to me when I had disqus because I knew that the reply went to the commenter's email and they would see it even if they didn't return to the blog. Now... hmmm... I don't know.

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  9. I try really hard to comment on every post I read. That being said, since I've used Google Reader to hold all of the blogs that I follow, I usually just skim the posts unless they really stick out. If I comment on someone's post, that means their post was really relevant or it was just really eye catching.

    I hate CAPTCHA. I actually refuses to comment on people's blogs who have them. I feel terrible, but I just don't have that kind of time. Also, my eye sight sucks and I fear I'm number dyslexic. It takes me at least three tries to get it right.

    If you want to read more in depth about my commenting habits, you can check out my post. I participate in this meme too! http://thebibliophilescorner.wordpress.com/2012/05/07/book-blogger-confessions-comments-comments-comments/

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    1. I use Google reader as well but I open each post and use Google Reader to organize the blogs. I open the posts because I like to see the pretty blogs. See...I'm so difficult.

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  10. I have the ocd of commenting on every post I read also, it's actually something that started recently. As for captcha I hate it, I'm always double checking to make sure mine are not turned on since blogger likes to be weird sometimes :) Usually I give two tries on a blog with captcha before I give up.

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    1. Yay! I'm not alone. I feel like more of a stalker than ever. Haha! I really hate captcha. It just slows me down and I spend way too much time commenting as it is. I refuse to deal with it.

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  11. Comments are definitely a tricky thing. I always comment back on whoever comments on my blog, but now that I'm working full time it can be a slow turn around. Besides that I have to admit I've been bad at commenting lately because of being busy. I need to work on improving that a little bit.

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    1. It is really hard to keep a consistent schedule when life changes and life schedule changes. I'm finding a lot more difficult to do everything blog-wise this year. But I'm not quite sure why.

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  12. I do try to comment on blogs but leaving a meaninggul one becomes tricky. Its a fine line but I support my friends blogs so I do comment.

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    1. You know, honestly I don't require meaningful comments. Sometimes comments just tell me that you were there. On some days that is enough to make my day. So I appreciate all comments. I think meaningful is subjective. Don't get me wrong, I love meaningful comments but I just appreciate all comments.

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  13. I read a lot more posts than I actually comment on. Sometimes there are just posts I read but don't have anything to add to the conversation. However, I do tend to comment on discussions and reviews. Those are the posts I am most interested in :)

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    1. I'm most interested in reviews and discussions as well. I comment on memes but some are easier than others.

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  14. You are the FIRST one to say you are good and consistent with comments! I think we all want you to read our posts now. YOU are the holy grail of commenting. lol I have good intentions but admit I may read a post and not comment. I subscribe via email to some and will read the post in my email but not go to the blog to comment. I made this a New Year;s resolution last year and it lasted a month. Maybe I need a little of your OCD. ;)

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    1. Lol! Even though I use Google Reader religiously, I don't read posts in it. I use it to organize and divide and conquer. Because of this, I'm already on blogs so it isn't a hassle to comment.

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  15. I usually comment if I have actually read a post too. Just to let them know I read it! I do the reciprocal commenting thing too :) I usually visit my fave bloggers no matter what the post is as well :)

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    1. I like that you do that. I also like comments just because it tells me I'm not talking to myself. So I don't care if it is a quick hi or what.

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  16. I think that it's interesting that you follow writers by their style of writing. Personally, I have a few friends whose blogs i check daily, and then I have my list via google and I go through that a few times during the day and see what topics people have brought up. I'm mostly a comment-as-I-go kinda gal.

    I enjoy memes and tend to comment on those quite a bit, provided the blogger has enough up to warrant something better then, "Great pick", etc. That gets really, really old to type.

    Anyway, your response was very interesting. Have a great day!

    Kathy Ann,
    I Write, I Read, I Review

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    1. Not necessarily their style in writing but their overall style. Whether it is the things they emphasize in their reviews or their sense of humor. I look to connect to the blogger and when that happens I probably want to read all their posts.

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  17. I read quite a few blogs, so I don't have time to comment on everything I read, but I usually comment if it's a post by one of my favourite bloggers, or if there's a discussion going on that I'm really opinionated about. I always try to reply quickly when people comment on my blog, though.

    I also hate Captcha! Thank you so much for letting me know that I had it turned on for awhile! I have no idea how that happened. :|

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    1. I tend to find myself commenting on my favorite bloggers as well. No problem on the Captcha. I'm just glad you didn't yell at me to mind my own business.

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  18. Wow - the post on comments sure engendered a few! I love it when people comment but I don't always know what to say (in real life I'm a little shy) so I don't always comment on what I read. I try to but my personality objects occasionally.

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    1. Lol! I noticed that talking about comments bring more comments. Interesting...

      I can understand being shy. I think it is so sweet that you comment here as much as you do.

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  19. I'm a huge commentator. I love to encourage the blogger and let them know I liked it, relate to it, or appreciate it.

    I comment back when the comment leaves something open to conversation.

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    1. Yes! I appreciate that so much. You have been such an inspiration to me.

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  20. I love that you comment on every post you read. I tend to read a lot of posts but if I don't feel I have anything meaningful to add, I tend not to comment. My goal this year with commenting has been to leave meaningful comments.

    One of the things I started doing with my reviews is to end them with a question. I am finding that this is leading to more comments.

    I do try to visit at least five blogs a day to leave those meaningful comments and like you, I'm finding it's not necessarily reaping any more comments for me. I'm hoping in time that it will pay off, but I'm trying not to get too discouraged. I do respond to almost all the comments left on my blog (and now that blogger has threaded comments it's much easier to do).

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    1. I see the meaningful comment thing around. I try to make sure my comments are meaningful as well. Though I don't expect the same on here. Sometimes I just want people to say hi. I want to know that I'm not talking to myself. I guess I assume that if people comment then they've read the post and that's good enough for me.

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  21. I'm glad to see that you comment on everything you read -- I wish I could make myself do that, but as you can see from my confession this week, I don't always manage it. :)

    I'm also, however, a little leery when someone says, "I comment on everything I read" because sometimes that means their "comments" are things like, "Great post" or "Good stuff." Which, although kind, isn't the kind of feedback and discussion I prefer. But I think I've seen your blog around before, and I don't recall seeing a comment like that.

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    1. It's hard but I organize my reader according to genres and my favorite blogs so when I'm limited on time I only look at my favorites folder. I can completely understand being leery about it but I certainly try not to be that person. Though I appreciate all comments so it doesn't bother me on my blog. I find that I'm very opinionated so I just comment what I'm thinking. Though I admit that I don't tend to look at Cover Reveals or WOW posts. I really focus on reading posts because I think I wouldn't be able to garner much from those.

      Honestly, I just try to show blogs the support that I want to be shown.

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  22. I TRY to comment on most blogs i read. but sometimes i come across blogs that i can't even THINK of a comment to leave. actually...truth is.. there are a lot of blogs i read daily and i feel like a stalker if i comment on them each time. :)

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    1. Actually I feel like a stalker sometimes too especially if they never reply to my comments or comment back. I kind of stop visiting because I get a bit paranoid.

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  23. I used to be so good about commenting and then when my dog got sick everything went downhill and I still haven't gotten back into the groove of things. I really do like to get to my favorite bloggers at least once a week though. As for responding I've gotten bad with that too. I try. It never seem to catch up. Oh and those captcha thingies drive me nuts especially since blogger made them even more difficult. Like you I just delete spa on my blog.

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    1. I've gotten behind because of finals and my Reader is driving me nuts! I just try not to look. I know it is a cop out but oh it gets so overwhelming.

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  24. I love that your post about comments has so many comments. I don't tend to comment on everything I read because I'd rather wait until I have something of value to say but I guess that makes me a bit of a lurker. I must try harder!

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I absolutely LOVE all comments! So please feel free to chime in with your thoughts, questions, opinions, or whatever else you have to say.

Don't forget to check back as I reply to comments. Dialogue is good right?

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