May 15, 2012

Finding the Best Way to Respond to Comments

Comments are wonderful. Obviously I love getting them; I mean, let's be honest, who doesn't love conversation sprouting from the seed of your post?  But I've struggled with finding a good system for responding to them.  I feel that if someone is commenting on what I wrote, I want to share in the conversation with them. In the beginning of my blog, I replied to comments as a comment (this was before the "reply" option) .

Then I found out I could reply through email! That was wonderful because then the comment section wasn't cluttered with my replies. I loved being able to respond to people in a more personal way. However, the glitch was that anyone who didn't have an email listed in their profile, didn't get my reply. It took me awhile to figure that one out. I'm slow. So I chose to try something different because I wanted to be able to respond to everyone.

So I started hopping to each commenter's blog to leave them a comment and to respond to their comment. I loved doing this because I could see what everyone was up to, but sometimes it took more time than I had that day and I didn't get to everyone.

I most recently chose to set up the reply option in my comment section. It seems like a good solution because I can converse with people on my blog and they can see everyone's responses on that one post. I'm able to reply to the comment whether or not I have time to browse blogs. It frees me up to read at leisure and not feel as though I'm ignoring someone's comment.

Can you tell I tend to over-think things? ;)

I would love to know how you handle comments on your blog. How do you prefer other people to respond to your comments? Each of us will choose something different; there's no right way. I'm just sorting through my thoughts on the subject and would love to know yours!

And before I forget, the winner of the Beginner's Henna Kit (chosen by Random Generator) is---Jen! Congratulations! Email me your information so we can send out your kit.

19 comments :

  1. Responding to comments can be tough just because of the time constraints. I haven't found a good way to do it besides going to their blog and leaving a comment there. I don't think people get notified when I reply to their comments in my blog, so I only do it when I think it will be useful for other commenters (like responding to a question they ask). I also try to respond to some comments via email if possible, like people whose blogs I don't regularly visit.

    Let us know if you find a better way. :)

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    1. You sound like you individualize it somewhat to the person or the need (i.e. question). That's an interesting thought. And yes, I'll let you know if I find a better way if you promise to do the same! :)

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  2. I only reply to comments via email. Their comments come to me on my gmail account and I reply there.

    I have never replied on the post itself because I learned early on that when you do this, the person commenting will never see it unless they revisit that post to get your response. But honestly...after I have visited 20 blogs in a day or even just 5, I can't remember who I asked or even what I asked unless it's a blogger I am very familiar with, so I don't think to go back and see if they responded. Plus that just takes too much time.

    I almost emailed you this exact question yesterday...but I forgot what I wanted to ask...ha ha ha. Now I remember. Do you have telepathy? :)

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    1. Yes, I have telepathy. Haha.

      I KNOW! I like to RECEIVE replies through email for this same reason. I see it and don't have go back to hunt it down. I've noticed some blogs replies go to your email, but unfortunately not Blogger.

      Your reasons are some of the same reasons I started with email replies in the first place and I loved that it could be more personal because everyone wasn't seeing it. I really liked that system. Hmm...

      P.S. I'm emailing you with this reply so you'll see it. :D

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  3. If I don't have much time to spare (like now), I'll wait until I have several comments and then respond to everyone with one reply or a few.

    When I have time, I try to respond to all the comments individually. I've never responded by email.

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    1. Yeah, that's a great way to respond to many without taking too much time.

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  4. Such a great question! I have also wondered this. I really like the email approach the best, and then if they do not have an email linked with their account, I can visit their site. It doesn't have to be black and white as I. Ikeda mentioned and I am all for that approach! So, on to my new way of responding...hope I can remember.
    Like A Monarch

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    1. No it doesn't have to be black and white. I think I put that pressure on myself sometimes though. I like your new way. :D

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  5. My preference is to reply on my own blog because sometimes the conversations following a post are as interesting as the post itself, and I also think the convo helps all my readers know me a little better. I would love to answer every comment (and feel guilty when I'm not able to) but I do try to cut myself a little slack when life interferes. I'm a lot more "forgiving" of others, and have no strong preferences where or how they do it. I don't even need a response every time--but don't like if my comments are never acknowledged in any way.

    Sorry for the long answer. I've struggled with this, myself.

    Beautiful photo, BTW :)

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    1. This is great, Cat. I think it's important to cut ourselves and others slack.

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  6. what a nice surprise!! thanks :)

    I LOVE the plate

    I use the reply option and it works for me :)

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  7. Hi, Catherine! It's been a while since I've been able to visit! :)

    I generally reply via email if their address shows up, if not and I have something I'd like to respond with, I'll reply in my own comments, or just go visit their blog if I have time and comment on their post. Regardless, I've been a bad bad bad blogger lately and have slacked on all of it!

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    1. That doesn't make you a bad blogger, everyone has busier times in their lives. :) So you have a system for doing something different if they don't have the email option; that's a good idea too.

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  8. I reply to comments on my blog too--thank goodness for the reply button! I also like that other people can see what I've said to the comments. (I usually tell more mini-stories in response to people's comments haha.) But I agree with you that I wish we were emailed when someone responds to a comment. I don't click the "send follow-up comments to your email" box because sometimes there are way too many comments, and of course I only really truly care what the blogger says in response to my own comment. It's a drawback but oh well.

    I know that some people don't go back to blogs to see if the blogger responded to their comment, but I frequent every single blog I comment on so I just check when I go back to read the next post.

    Oh and I totally love that you visit people's blogs as well as respond to their comments! Not enough bloggers take the time to do that, and it makes me feel appreciated : ] So, thank you for that!

    P.S.--Wow I think I said "comment" like 20 times in this comment. (teehee, make that 21...) ; ]

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    1. I agree, I don't usually click the send follow-up comments box for that same reason. And as for visiting, I love reading blogs; probably too much. Ha.
      P.S. I love that you counted. ;)

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  9. Oh my goodness, Catherine, your post is so very apropos! This is something I've been struggling with for quite a while--for years, actually, with the various blogs I've had since 2004.

    Like you, I tried replying by email for a while, only to finally realize later that many of those emails basically went nowhere because I was sending to "no reply" LOL I felt like such a dolt!

    I like to reply to each comment posted on my blog but find that it's taking a great deal of time to do it. I'll continue doing that as long as I'm able because I think people appreciate seeing their comments acknowledged.

    And I feel it's very important to visit the blogs of people who were kind enough to take the time to visit and comment on my blog so I can comment on their blogs. Unfortunately, this is where I'm having the most trouble right now. I just can't manage to do it all and that makes me feel terrible and guilty!

    If you were looking for some good sound advice on the matter I'm afraid I've failed miserably. LOL But I do appreciate knowing I'm not alone in wondering how best to handle the comment situation.

    Wonderful (and obviously thought provoking) post! :)

    --Susan

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    1. Good to know I'm not alone on struggling to figure this out! I too, took a good while before realizing I was sending to "No Reply". Haha. I know that feeling of wanting to visit every commenter's blog every time they comment, but don't put that pressure on yourself. I don't visit every time, but try to make rounds of regular commenters during the week. That's in large part because they become like friends and I want to know what's going on.

      One exception is that I DO try to visit that day if it's someone new. I don't want them to feel ignored and my hope is that everyone else already knows I care about them and will be back around soon. :)

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  10. I love comments...who doesn't right? When it comes to responding to comments, well I just don't have the time to respond by email to each comment. I find that some people respond to my comments on email, but don't leave a comment on my blog. When someone comments on any of my blogs, I reciprocate with a comment on their blogs. If they follow me, I follow them. Hopefully everyone knows that I am thankful for the comments and appreciate every one. :-)

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Thank you so much for your visit. I love hearing from you and dearly appreciate your comment!