Thursday, January 30, 2014

Blogger Interaction - Why it Matters

Happy Thursday, good people of the blogosphere! OMG they've cancelled school again! What kind of perverse version of the South am I living in? Hello? Is this thing on? For anyone who's listening out there, bring back Spring! I've had quite enough of this cold crap to last me a lifetime. I live in the South for a reason. If it doesn't get warm soon, I'm moving to Tahiti. That is all. Enough about that. Today, I want to talk about blogger interaction and why it matters. Grab your pens and notebooks and let's get going!

If you write a blog, chances are people are going to come by and read it. If your post moves them, helps them, or creates a reaction, they may deign to leave you a comment and tell you what they thought.

Oftentimes, I pop over to a new blog and leave a comment on something I read that I found interesting. I like to ask questions in my comments sometimes, too; or help the author out with a handy recommendation. If I stop back by the blog (if I asked a question I always come back in a couple of days) I'll check to see if my question was answered or my tip proved useful.

Imagine my horror when I discover my comment wasn't acknowledged at all. I was ignored like I didn't exist. I'd become invisible, and my tip/question/comment had fallen into the realm of "it doesn't matter because I'm a blogging god and you're a peon who will worship me."

Really?

When that happens, I look like the lady on the left here and stop visiting that person's blog. Why? Because, chances are, I didn't subscribe on my first visit (it takes building of trust and stuff) and I was made to feel unimportant.

For shame.

Now, I do have blogs I comment on where I don't expect replies. Those people are kept up with on other forms of social media and I comment to let them know I was there. I neither expect replies nor acknowledgement on their blogs. Most of the time, any replies come back when that person comments on my blog. Yes, it's strange to communicate that way for many of you; but, it works for us. We're happy with it. A number of blogs I used to comment on religiously have fallen off my good grace radar. Those folks neither returned the favor nor acknowledged I was there to begin with.

But new readers you don't have that unspoken pact with won't understand. They'll feel rejected by you.

Guess why?

Because, in a way, you are rejecting them. Your readers who bother to leave a comment expect to be noticed by you. Even a simple "Thank you for the comment!" goes a long long way.


Remember, it takes a new blog at least a year before it starts getting serious traffic. Help your readers want to come back. Take the two minutes to write that reply, say those words of thanks, or give a head nod in their direction. It's like clicking the "like" button on Facebook; if you do that, you'll see more of their stuff. Maybe they'll even tell their friends what an awesome blog you have!

I wish I could figure out how to say thanks on Tumblr...

Think about it. A blog is a form of social media. Are you making it social?

How about it, bloggers? Do you respond to every comment? If not, what do you do to encourage your readers to return?

Well, that's all for today, folks! Until next time, WRITE ON!

Jo

14 comments:

  1. I completely agree. I'm a little shy, so I don't always comment on blogs I follow. Since you've been so interactive, I feel more comfortable posting comments on your site. It just feels very open and friendly.

    I don't do a daily blog, but when I do post something on my website and it receives a comment, I'll definitely respond. Like you said, it's just polite.

    But you've made me think that maybe I should break out of my shell and comment. After all, when you commented on my blog, I felt like a rock star. Someone took the time to visit my site and comment. I should pay that forward to others.

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    1. Awwwwww What an awesome thing to say :) Must be the polka-dot design hehe! I'm kidding! I think a blogging schedule helps. While not every day (I only do 5 days a week and still miss now and then), maybe a post every Tuesday and Wednesday would help. Just some kind of schedule so your readers know when to check back or when to expect new material. :)

      We'll get you outta that shell yet :P Hugs! Thanks for the awesome comment, L. K.! You ARE a rock star. *grin*

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    2. That's a really good idea. Plus, setting up a schedule would help keep me organized. Thanks for the suggestion :)

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    3. You're welcome :) Blogging need not be so daunting or a chore. 20-30 minutes once or twice a week is worth it and will boost your visibility for a Google search.

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  2. I have about half a dozen blogs I comment on and will see regular comments back (yours included). Unfortunately I haven't had a lot of time lately to visit new blogs but once my schedule clears up, I plan to make it a priority for at least a couple of hours a week.

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    1. It sometimes takes me a minute to get back with people, but I do try. :) It's difficult to branch out and get to know new bloggers. I tend to answer once a week unless it's a burning question. Moderation helps me keep up with those. I love comments and publish everything but spam. Thanks for the note, Heather! Glad to know y'all notice :)

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  3. Great post. I always acknowledge comments but I too find when I re-visit (if I remember) don't get replies. Are they too busy? Thank you for posting what many of us would like to say, and I think coming from an author it may have some effect.

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    1. Thanks, Jane. I've been running at the mouth for over a week now. Seems to be something I do when I'm not feeling well. I wish folks would try to understand it's the readers of the blog who make it a success. :) I lurv comments! Thanks for taking the time!

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  4. I subscribe to this theory. My vague musings blog *cough*unsubtlemention*cough* http://thaddeusthesixth.blogspot.com/ doesn't get too many replies but my F1 betting blog often has quite a few, and I try and make a point of responding to and engaging with commenters.

    I need to blog a bit more often, now I come to think of it.

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    1. Hey, thanks for sharing your blog, Thaddeus!! I'll be checking it out. Appreciate you taking the time. :)

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  5. I tend not to leave too many comments unless I really have something to say, but I don't necessarily expect a comment back unless I argue with the writer ;). I comment back on my own comments when people ask questions, but if it's just a "nice post," I don't usually reply.

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    1. I don't either. But I read a lot of blogs. When I take the time to comment, I try to be sincere and add to the discussion in some way. Argue with the writer :) LOL Sometimes, it takes me a day or two to respond because I tend to do them in bulk. I do reply to everyone though, even if just to say thank you. It's hard to keep up when I get slammed :) Thanks for the comment, Beth! Good to see you around.

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  6. My blogging has been slacking the last few years bc of illness but I'm trying to get back into the swing of things. I do try to reply to comments to my post but it's usually just authors saying thank you or people commenting bc there is a giveaway. Even so,I do try to acknowledge each comment although I sometimes feel like they may not see it and my replies are pointless but your post made me want to try to reply to each comment regardless if they'll see it or not. Now as for other blogs I visit,like my own blogging I haven't done many visits to blogs recently but if I do I try to post a comment when I have something I think worthy of saying and a few times I have just said hi. While I'd like replies especially if I took the time to write something I think was worth saying,I'd like a reply but don't always get one. It does make me smile when that happens. Now I've actually had trouble with commenting on fb pages and seeing the owner reply to every one or just about every one and it left me feeling unwanted.

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    1. Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment :) Sorry I missed it before now. This last year has been CRAAAAAZY! :) Welcome. <3

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