Read and Leave Readers
This post was inspired by a twitter conversation with my girl Amber from Obviously Obsessed where we talked about increasing our own commenting on other people's blogs.
I have seen it recommended countless times, in order to grow your own readership, you comment on other blogs. There are tons of suggests, comment on x number of blogs a day, leave personal comments etc etc.
I can tell you that those suggestions are 100% true and yet we all have that "silent majority" or those readers that just do not comment.
As a blogger, I am far more likely to take notice if someone comments more than once with actual comments and not just "Hey, follow me comments" I definitely notice when someone comments more than once and engages in conversation and that is when I will check out that person's blog, because I feel like I know them.
I'm calling you out, you read and leave bloggers and readers. I think it's really easy to read a post, want to "like" it but just clicking the "x" button because we don't have a really profound or unique thing to say.
And I'm not just calling you out, my lovely silent majority, I'm calling myself out because I am one of the world's worst. A lot of times, I have my laptop propped on my legs, my arms wrapped up in a blanket with just my one hand out to press the down arrow on my keyboard. Then I click x, without ever really telling the blogger how much I loved that post. Sometimes, I'm too tired to write a comment, even if I have a lot to say.
One of the things I'm trying to be better about is commenting on other blogs, especially if I have a lot to say. But, even if it's something as simple as "You rocked that outfit!" I want to comment.
As a blogger, one of the only ways we know what readers like and don't like is by the feedback and comments we get. It's also a great way to leave a smile on someone's face that is free and easy to do, if we just take those couple of extra seconds to tell them that we appreciate their time and effort because blogging sure does take a lot of effort.
Do you try to comment on a certain number of blogs each day?
Or, are you a read and leave reader like myself?
Have you met this amazing blogger?
41 comments:
I don't have a set number that I leave comments on each day... I typically only comment if I have something legitimate to say (and I do on almost every blog I read simply because I only follow blogs I truly love).
I never ask for follow backs. Ever. I will check out the blog of anyone who comments on my blog but it doesn't always end in me following or even leaving a reciprocate comment. I believe in quality not quantity.
If you start forcing yourself to comment... it'll become a chore. Comment because you want to... not because you feel obligated to.
I just wrote a post about this last week and the response I got was tremendous! Many other bloggers feel the same...they want to blog & comment with intention to build relationships rather than commenting for followers. It's something that's been weighing on my heart a lot lately, too...especially since so many people leave those generic "follow me back" comments. They drive me NUTS! I've made it my mission this year to strive for more meaningful interactions because truthfully, isn't that why we all blog? To be heard and related to? Making connections with other bloggers is so important, but I have no set amount of blogs I comment on each day. When I find a post I love, I leave them love. I expect the same from my readers, so why not do that myself?! Comments are what make this blogging world go round! Here's the post if you wanna take a look. Thanks for the great reminder to be a better commenter, Paige! Oh and I LOVE your new blog look!! :)
http://keepingupwiththecotes.blogspot.de/2013/01/on-blogging-currency.html
I try to comment as much as I can on other blogs, because I absolutely agree with you, commenting and that whole email exchange really helps to get to know people better.
But sometimes I'm so tired, especially after working all day and taking care of the kids when I get home, so I'm definitely guilty of reading & leaving sometimes. :/
I've seen my number of page views and comments go down a lot recently and you've made me wonder if it could be because I'm not reading and commenting as much as I used to because I've been very busy lately. I work on certain days to write and schedule posts, but don't always give myself a lot of time to go read blogs myself.
I usually comment on posts that I feel like I have something to say about. Honestly, I usually leave a comment on almost every post I read because I go through and pick the ones to read that interest me. I'm also usually reading the posts from people I already have built a relationship with, so I want to say something to them.
I do wonder about people who read and leave because I'll have people I interact with somewhere (like through a link up or on Twitter) and they're like "I read your blog all the time" and I have no idea who they are.
To me it feels like I know who reads my blog the most by who comments. I have everyday commenters. No matter what I post, they weigh in- and I know they are in it for the long haul with me.
I agree this is something you have to commit to. you have to give to receive. Loved this!
I'm guilty of being a read a leave person...mostly on posts when I don't have anything significant to say. I'm trying to be better, but it doesn't always happen.
I will agree that the "follow me back" comments annoy me slightly, especially when they include little to nothing about the blog post. I have never chosen to add "follow me back" on a comment, even on blogs found through blog hops.
Thanks for the reminder to be a better and more consistent commenter! I want to build more relationships in the blogging community, and that's really the only way to do it.
I completely agree about the importance of commenting. I used to take the time to leave insightful comments with meaningful feedback every day on almost all blogs that I follow, but some bloggers would NEVER respond with a comment. I became super frustrated because my time is just as valuable as theirs (well known bloggers or not). Now I am more picky with my comments out of principle. Thanks for letting me vent about my #1 blogging issue...haha :)
http://cstyledesign.blogspot.com
I try really hard to be a good commenter - but sometimes it's hard. But I know that comments mean a lot to me, so I have to do better! Thanks for inspiring me : )
I usually will leave a comment if I took the time to read, just so the blogger knows I stopped by. But usually I will pass some over in my reader if the title/topic doesn't grab me. I figure if I want comments I need to comment. I never give myself a rule of 'I need to comment on x amount of blogs each day' Then it would feel like work! Great post :)
As a blogger, I read more blogs than I have time to comment on. So I tend to comment only if I feel I have something to contribute or if my socks were just knocked clear across the room.
I try to remember to comment and then I get distracted and forget. I hate it. I feel like I need to acknowledge the awesome posts that other bloggers are posting but I just suck at it. It's actually my goal to get better this year!
I usually only comment if it's something I know about, have a connection with or really love. I never want to come across as someone who is fishing for readers by commenting on a ton of blogs. So even though I read some blogs daily, I may not comment daily.
I have been really trying to comment more on blog recently, but it's hard! I really only have time to read them when I'm on my phone and it's near impossible to comment then. Trying to be more intentional about it though.
I usually go through new posts in the morning and try to comment on all of them. :) It's my ritual. I love my blogger friends.
I am a pretty bad commenter, but I don't think there's much of a point to commenting if I don't have anything worthwhile to say. I do try to make a point to leave a comment if the post has me thinking and I feel those thoughts are worth leaving (such as this post!) but I blog because I enjoy it and read blogs because I enjoy them, so I'm not going to leave a useless comment just so someone's numbers can go up and maybe I'll get a hit or two.
I also can't stand when people leave comments and say something like "follow me back," it takes away anything genuine they said before that and I am often tempted to delete it because it's insanely desperate.
I've been lacking on the "leaving comments" part lately. Sometimes, I just don't have anything to say! I will leave a comment if the topic is something that triggers my brain, but I really need to get better at leaving comments!
could not love this post more. I totally agree and think commenting is important. I can't stand when people obviously don't read and just say something without meaning. great post!
This is such an awesome post! Personally, I don't have a set amount of blogs that I comment on daily. Basically, I just scroll down my list and if a post catches my eye, I click and comment on it. Of course I have blogs that I read daily and on those, I do try to comment but sometimes I have nothing to say and I don't really want to put a smile face just so I won't be a read and leave blogger.
I think quality should trump quantity when commenting because that is what will draw in potential readers.
My habits all depend.
I definitely don't have a set number of blogs I that I feel I should comment on in a day (or week or month). Because the people who do that often times leave generic comments and that isn't what I want.
I blog for me... therefore, although I would love more interaction with people who read my blog... I would rather have a real comment or thought than one that someone leaves just to increase their readership.
I tend to be a read and leave commenter, unless I have something important to say. I tend to try to leave a real comment, even if it's just a (((HUGS))) comment when they need support.
I'm trying to get better about posting comments on posts that I read because I like to give the encouragement that I myself would like to receive. That being said sometimes posts just don't resonate with me and posting something like "That was a good post" feels vague and just an excuse to get my name on their comment page. I also stop commenting on some blogs who seem like they don't even read their comments, the don't respond, or even seem to acknowledge that anyone has ever said anything.
I used to be really good about it but have been slacking lately. Thanks for the reminder!!
i have days when i'm good and others when i'm not so good. i think there are blogs where i comment almost every single post or a big majority.and yet i'm sure they've never checked my blog even to say thank you...
i dont have many followers. but it kind of surprises me how there is always the same 5 that comment...what abot the other 135?
I dont know, sometimes blogging is like that. but i still try to put as much love as possible in my comments and dedicate time to read them. even if is just a simple: great post!, nice review! or amaying color!
Hope you werent so tired after spending half the night out...=)
Bea =)
dailylivingingeneva.blogspot.com
So funny, this is one of my goals! I want to try and comment on NEW blogs....not just all my usual reads! I know how much it encourages me to have new commenters!
Carly
www.lipglossandcrayons.com
I need to get better at it. When I'm blogging, I'll comment on other blogs - probably because I remember how much I appreciate them. But when I'm not blogging, I get lazy. Sometimes with captchas and logging into different accounts - it can be a lot of work!
99% of the time if there's a comment running through my head, I'll type it out. Sometimes I like the post read it but genuinely don't have anything to add or say. I'd say my comment to leave ratio is pretty good though.
I was just commenting the other day about, no matter how much I enjoy a post, I completely forget to comment. Which is odd because I am hardly ever speechless. lol. I don't know why I do that. I have been making an effort to not just be a blog stalker. I don't think of a stalker as someone who comments a lot and follows us on twitter and FB and instagram and Pinterest. When I think of a blog stalker (like myself sometimes) I think of someone who just peeking around and never saying anything. Imagine that in real life - Creeeepy. lol.
So I am trying and I hope everyone else will too.
xoxo
Gracie B
http://littlemisswhisk.blogspot.com/
I try to reciprocate comments to bloggers who I know comment on my blog a lot. Then once or twice a week I spend a little more time reaching out, finding new blogs, or commenting on others blogs I wouldn't normally.
The thing is, a lot of posts don't really warrant a response. Like I'm just not sure what to say. I feel like it's too shallow to just be like "your dog is cute" or "nice outfit". Like if I leave a comment I want to really say something, to really respond to their thoughts. And writing something simple would be doing them a disservice.
I usually only comment on posts when I have something to say, even if it is just a simple "love it!". Some days when I'm feeling lazy I won't comment, but I try not to make that a habit. I know I love getting comments and I really only know if someone reads my post based on whether or not they left a comment. I figure the least I can do is leave a comment for someone else!
There's like 4 blogs that I comment on every single day. No matter what. There's like 6 or 7 more I comment if I have something to say about the post.
There's others I scan each day. With a full-time job, husband, etc, I don't have time to comment on each blog I open every day :(
I'm definitely guilty! I'm trying to get better though. Commenting only takes a few seconds and we all know how happy a comment makes us :)
I am soooo bad at this. Super easy to do with a busy life but I always feel guilty!
If I'm at work and reading blogs on my break then I won't comment back because I usually don't have time.
I try and comment more on the posts that really touch me or that I can relate to. I received my first real blanket comment (not a follow but I didn't feel like she read my post because she just repeated the title!) and I didn't appreciate it.
So I definitely try and post real comments. :)
Just found your blog and this was the first post I saw (obviously) and I loved it's message! I have no follower base whatsoever, but I'm trying to comment more often when I read something I enjoy. Good post!
I love that you wrote this! It seems that a lot of bloggers have been hit with this feeling in some way or another lately! I try really hard to comment on all the posts I read. Unless it's one where I get little to no interaction back, because that's frustrating. If I've commented multiple times with little interaction I don't feel like my readership is valued so I stop commenting and sometimes stop reading. Thanks for this post, it's great to know bigger bloggers care about this too! :)
Paige... I think that so many of us need this call out. =/ I know I'm guilty of this sometimes.
Thanks for posting...I'm going to pass it along!
I'm a terrible blog commenter! I read like every post out there & go to comment and just get so distracted! I blame kids. And the dog.... and David too. *sigh*
Wow! This hit home and I'm so guilty of this!!! Passing it on! Thank you Brooke for passing it on to Twitter....that's where i saw this!
I usually comment on those blogs that have some sort of impact or something that I can relate to. I probably comment on 25 to 30% of the blogs that I follow and read. I have tried recently to click over to a blog rather than just reading in my Google Reader. I know that bloggers spend lots of time on their layouts, and I can't see any of the fun stuff in Google Reader.
I am a read and leave blogger a lot of times too! I try to comment and it seems that a lot of the time I read and close it out but think to myself that I will come back to comment later... Then later I'm thinking, "who was that that I was going to comment on?" Oops! Thanks for the call out!
Read and leave readers? Soory i can't understand this. Can anyone explain it.
Jogos de moto
I need this formation and got from this blog. Thanks for this awesome awareness..
Funny Images
Post a Comment