Blog Tip Tuesday: Responding to your comments
Written on July 22nd, 2008 by Graham
With all the recent hype about blog comments, and what a core component they are to your blog and it’s surrounding community, I need to take a moment to address another essential factor of your blog’s comments.
Today we’re talking about something that, once again, everyone should be doing. I’m talking, of course, about responding to your blog comments.
When someone comments on your blog, essentially what they’re doing is starting a conversation about your post. If that conversation is to continue, it needs the input of another individual. Instead of waiting around for someone else to come along and pick up the conversation, you really need to take it upon yourself to respond to comments on your blog.
In all the blog reading I’ve done, one particular blogger has stood out as exceptionally dedicated to this. Neil Patel, I’ve noticed will typically respond to nearly every comment left on his blog. Neil is a smart and motivated guy, and we could all learn a valuable lesson by taking this page out of his play book and putting it in our own.
Traffic, Traffic, Traffic
If someone is commenting on your blog, they’re clearly interested in your material and it has motivated them such that they engage you directly. If they know you respond to your comments, they will check back later that day, or the next day, to see what you said in response. So one visit turns into 3 or 4 as they check back repeatedly to see if you responded. Then, they may comment again in response to your response. So one comment turns into two. Now, everyone following the comments, will also repeatedly check back to see how the conversation is evolving.
In short, responding to your comments is what I like to call a “Best Practice” for building your community, because it takes your most engaged readers -the ones who comment and actively follow the comments, and it keeps them coming back for more.
Sound Off:
- Do you respond to your comments on your blog?
- Do you respond to all of them? Or just some of them?
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:58 pm
I have been replying to all comments on my blog for some time now. As yet I have only had one follow up comment, to my reply. I’ve no doubt that some do pop back to read my replies, even if there is no follow up comment. I will continue to reply, it seems only polite to do so really. and I’m sure that slowly it will have it’s benefits.
On the flip side. I have gone back to check for a reply to comments I have left on blogs, that I felt needed a response. I have been a little offended when it has been ignored. If this happens more than a couple of times, I usually stop reading that blog.
Replying to comments is a very important part of blogging – if you want readers to frequent your blog.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:09 pm
I make it a point to reply to all my comments. If somebody takes the time to read and comment I won’t ignore them,it’s courtesy pure and simple and I enjoy doing it, it’s like having friends round.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Well, up until a few days ago, I made a point of responding to ever comment. The amount of comments I’ve had just recently though have been a bit overwhelming.
I often have some interesting conversations in the comments on my blog. Otherwise it’s like I’m expounding to people, and not listening to what they have to say.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:27 pm
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately and my change my practices, but I always comment via email. This worked well for me in the past and, now that I’m back to blogging again, I think replying in comments may be more beneficial than email for many reasons.
Uh…I usually let “Great post” comments slide.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:29 pm
It felt weird at first for me to be posting comments in my own blog, but I’ve gotten over that. Now I’m following the lead of several bloggers I respect and making a point of addressing comments back to every person who leaves one, even if the only possible response is a simple “Thank you”.
What I do need to improve on now is responding in a timely manner. It’s almost as bad as not responding at all if the blogger waits too long to respond. The conversation gets cold.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:31 pm
I agree, responses need to occur in a timely manner. As soon as possible, but I would say try to always respond within 12 hours.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:40 pm
I probably get the most comments in the world and I think it’s simply because I respond to just about everyone. Oh, my posts are also awesome, 97.6% of the time.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Having a 97.6% awesome rate goes a long way
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Even though I have only been blogging for less than a year, one thing that I have always made sure of is to respond to comments in a timely manner.
I think there have been maybe one or two in the entire time I have been blogging but I do have to say that it is one thing I really try to focus on.
Also one way of getting people back (which I think also deserves a mention) is giving people the ability to subscribe to follow up comments via email.
This is one thing that I have yet to put on my blogs (it is in the pipeline) however I think it promotes even greater readership, even after considering that people will not visit the site as often.
Stuart
July 22nd, 2008 at 6:25 pm
I try to respond to all the comments on my blog. Sometimes a general “thanks for your thoughts” is all that’s required but most of the time I address each commenter individually. I don’t generally respond straight away though but wait until a few people have commented (unless for some reason I feel it’s better to respond straight away).
It’s interesting how different bloggers approach the comments section in different ways. But if I come across a blog where I don’t see any response by the blogger through their comments, I tend to wonder if they even read their comments.
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:13 pm
Like most of those that I commented here, I respond to all my comments on my blog, although this can often be a while after they are made. If the comment asks a specific question or makes a specific point I am more likely to respond quickly. If the comment is of the more general (but equally welcome) ‘great post’ or ‘nice blog’ types then I may wait a while before responding.
I wonder how many people make use of the option to be informed of any other comments to the same post that appears on some blogs.
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:03 pm
I try to respond to as many comments as I can. I am still lacking in that department, but I try to remember.
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:03 pm
I’m ashamed to admit it, but here goes…..I have yet to respond to comments (cringe), I just didn’t realize the importance of that small act! Well, I can tell you one thing, after reading this post, I’m sure gonna be replying to comments from now on! Having a conversation with my readers sounds exciting and fun! I’ve only been blogging since December, and not being a particularly quick learner…roflmao….I think I’m just starting to grasp some of the ways to make my blog a place that people will want to come back to, time and again. This was a great post for me and I’ll be back here frequently to learn more on how to be a better blogger…..MANY THANKS! Oh yah, I added SezWho today
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:18 pm
I also make it a point to reply to all my comments.
Beamer
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Good advice. I have seen quite a few bloggers that don’t bother with commenting. I always try to respond as soon as I see them (usually right after moderating if they are new).
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:43 pm
You missed my blog.
I also respond to almost every comment. But since I’m not online all the time due to my work he replies are late. Conversations always lead to popular blog.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:27 pm
I respond to every comment as well. Sometimes I’m away so I don’t get to right away, but everybody gets a response in at least a couple days!
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Okay, I’m going for the other side of the comment response here – at several times with my personal blog, I tried responding to comments.
For me, I didn’t want to feel obligated to replying to all. I work 6 days a week, have 3 main blogs, am a blog admin for a multi-authored site, maintain a weekly meme, and try to visit & comment on over 80 blogs in my reader on a regular basis. I don’t have time to reply to every comment, and I accept that. Call it a character flaw if you want, but I’m good with it.
I reply via e-mail to comments from close friends or to comments that I feel warrant a reply. But I simply don’t think it is compulsory for every blogger to reply to comment left on their blog.
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:05 pm
it pays to reply to comments received from your readers. it speaks a lot about the blogger – it means that you read their comments and take the time to thank them in return. it need not be a lengthy reply, a thank you would suffice.
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Those are some great tips! Lets see if you respond to this comment.
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:46 pm
I respond to every comment on my blog. Some really good debates happen in those comments. Also, sometimes the comments contain better or more interesting information than the post itself if it’s a post that created conversation.
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:49 pm
I respond to every comment on my blog within 24-36 hours…sometimes sooner, depending on the type of post. Some blog posts lend themselves to more heated discussions and debates, others are more whimsical and it’s not as urgent to respond to the comments. In addition, I try to visit the blog of the commenter, read their recent posts and comment as well….I don’t put u drop I drop or u comment i follow banners on my blog, but I adhere to the principal as much as possible. My traffic, and my comments, have been steadily increasing along with my alexa ranking and technorati authority.
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:54 pm
I do my best to respond to my comments everyday… and when I do respond it’s to every single one – unless someone adds a comment days later after I have moved on to another post
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:00 am
To me responding to a comment is more of whether or not it is necessary. I’ve had a lot of comments where they mostly just say “Interesting post” or “Great post I like your blog” and those just seem to be spammy to me. I received a comment on my last post asking me a question directly. I responded shortly afterwards because the nature of the question necessitated it.
Some comments require a reply – mostly the relevant ones that are engaging – and recently I have been trying to look at my comment section as a mini-forum if you will. There have been many discussions in the comments section.
I haven’t replied to very many comments in the past but as they start becoming more relevant I can see myself replying to more of them. Relevancy helps more discussions develop in the comment section; at least that is my opinion.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:06 am
I try to respond to all my comments, and I like to give each response as much thought as the person who left the comment. Sometimes, if a person doesn’t seem to have put much thought in the comment, I will still try and engage them in a conversation – if they respond then cool, if not that’s cool too.
I think one of my favourite things about having a blog is conversing with people who are interested in the subject I want to talk about. Though I don’t write to get comments, it’s just nice to get them.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:44 am
I try to respond to every comment.
I also use the ‘Comment Email Responder’ plugin for WordPress so that those who have commented get an email with my reply. That means that if someone has only dropped into my blog in passing, and wouldn’t normally return, I have the opportunity for another point of contact.
http://www.u-g-h.com/wordpress-plugins/wordpress-plugin-comment-email-responder/
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:52 am
i do respond to all comment, because i feel not responding to the comments would be wrong. Readers take the pain to comment on your blog and if you don’t reply then you’re mean…
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:52 am
I respond to every single comment left. Yes, this can be a challenge when there are many. I usually respond in less than 8 hours, or in batches of ten, whichever comes first. I do have the time to respond to all of them. Although I have a full-time job, I don’t have children, so I have the luxury of time.
It’s important to respond to comments in order to build community. People usually drop back to see if I replied. It’s human nature to want to be listened to. Responding to all comments ensures that everyone knows I heard them!
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:13 am
@wolverine…
I don’t think if you do not respond to comments that makes you mean. There are some comments that don’t need a response. Some commens are in response to other comments that you have already responded to. Some comments are meant to be trollish. Some comments are a joke or just a statement that don’t automatically invite a response.
That being said, sometimes a blogger is on vacation. Sometimes there is a large number of comments and a comment will get lost. Sometimes 10 people say the same thing and you don’t have to respond to each person, you can reply to the group. Sometimes things happen in real life that cause a lapse in comment responses.
The thing is, you don’t know. To assume someone is mean because they don’t comment is to assume pretty much the worst of humanity.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:51 am
I try to respond to all the comments, too. I’ve got some great commenters on my site.. we can riff back and forth, and have a great time.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:38 am
I *want* to, but sometimes I cant, so I have a little note in my comment form that says I may not respond to every comment, please understand, because I travel a lot, blah blah…
That said, I dont respond to very general comments which look spammy. And the really spammy comments are deleted. Ha!
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:18 am
Being a working mom, sometimes just finding time to write a post is hard for me. With that being said, if someone leaves a comment with a question or something that needs a response, I will usually reply. Mostly I e-mail my replies. When I am working, there is a filter that prevents me from getting to blogger. I do get my comments via e-mail. If I plan on responding to a comment and can’t do so via e-mail I will leave it in my inbox and take care of it that night when I get home.
I do agree, however that it is very beneficial to respond to comments and make “conversations” with the commenters. I’ve seen many blogs that there would be many comments from the same person due to the author’s interaction with them. Unfortunately, I just do not have the ability to do so on mine.
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:18 am
Good idea
I need trafic for my website, http://gadgetstoreshop.com
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:53 am
I see that Entrecard is stressing on comments. It’s a good sign. But I also agree with Matt that not every comment needs a reply. So atleast reply those which need.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:05 am
I respond to most comments on my blog, but not to every single one. I don’t respond to comments that you can’t really respond to, like ‘Nice post’ or ‘I agree’. The more they write in their comment, the more I can respond to them with.
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:23 am
I respond to almost all my comments. I ditto what has been said. When someone makes a one line comment I don’t usually respond but if there are a few responses I will take a moment to thank them by name for dropping by. I also generally click on their blog and read a bit. If it is appropriate I leave a comment on their site or at least check back again.
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:05 pm
I’m with Mo on this one, I just don’t have the luxury of time to be able to respond to all of the comments left on my blog though I do try to respond to the ones that ask questions or seem like they need a follow-up of some sort; of course I usually do those via email.
If someone has started to come around and leave comments on a regular basis then I go to THEIR blog and leave them a comment rather than expect them to keep coming back to my blog to see if I responded to them.
I think it’s a bit unrealistic to think that a person can take the time to respond to all comments left, write new content, and visit all of the blogs he/she reads on a regular basis. There just aren’t enough hours in the day for those of us who have lives outside of a blog!
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:33 pm
I’m all for commenting and in a timely fashion, too. So that’s a big ditto on that one. Mostly I’ve received “good post” type comments, although occasionally someone poses a good question. Because my blog is primarily a personal blog, I’m not really out there offending anyone, at least not intentionally. *smile*
However, like Mo was saying, if you’re exceedingly busy, it’s hard enough to keep up posting semi-regularly, let alone responding to comments. I have two jobs and big ugly commutes between those jobs and home and I barely have time enough to post regularly.
For this, I’m supremely grateful, Graham, for Entrecard. It’s done a lot to get people to even stop by and take a look. I’m not in blogging to make any money, but I like the fact that something I write might touch somebody’s funny bone, or their heart, and if they take the time to comment, I’m taking the time to respond.
July 24th, 2008 at 5:55 am
I always repeat to a comment – even if it is only for saying “thank you”. This doesn’t take that much time and it shows that I do care. It’s a case of politeness. It may be different if I had a blog with thousands of visitors each day and hundreds of comments – but that’s not the case. So my take on this is if you don’t have the time to react on comments you’d rather save your time writing blogs!
Happily,
Petra
July 24th, 2008 at 5:56 am
Haha – I was so in a hurry – I got even my own name wrong – what does that mean?
Greetings once more…
July 25th, 2008 at 8:15 am
I rarely response the comments on my own post but now I make I make it as a habit as long as I am available online.
July 25th, 2008 at 10:12 am
It’s rare that I don’t respond to comments on my blogs.
usually just the simple ones get ignored. Then again, I should just reply Thanks or something….
July 26th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Response to “Nice Post”
You know, I think you can always reply to a comment. If someone says nice post, you can always say: Thanks for your kind words, I appreciate you stopping by, reading my post, and taking the time to say you liked what you read.
I don’t think though that the response needs to be individual. Let’s assume John has an opinion slightly different than the one I expressed in my post, Jim agrees with me and discusses it at length, and five others just say “Nice Post,” You can reply individually and group responses together, like this:
John–You are so right! That issue is the one I wrestled most with in taking the stand on________ blah blah blah.
Jim–YES! Thanks for the validation. Sometimes when you go out a limb, you wonder if you are out there or if others really agree. Further, blah blah blah….
Joan, Jeff, Jane, Janet and Jack–Thanks for taking the time to read my post and letting me know you liked what I have to say. Readers like you are the cornerstone of my readership, blah, blah, blah.
If you don’t respond to Joan, Jeff, Jane, Janet, and Jack–even if all they say is “Nice Post”, you’re really not encouraging them to comment again in the future. but if you reply to them like I have above, they’ll probably become more engaged the next time a post interests them and they feel moved to comment.
You have to start somewhere. That being said, if your post is a fluff post, most comments will probably be fluff and/or whimsical and may not need a response. Most wordless wednesday posts are: Beautiful picture. There really isn’t much more to say to that other than thanking the commenter for coming by. If your post is an indepth thesis on commenting or blogging or tutorial in some way, comments will be more specific and more individual responses will probably be in order.
Cheers!
July 26th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Most of my blog posts are articles and locally specialized. I’ve never expected comments or asked for them. When I get comments it means someone actually read my material and took the time to add their opinion or words. I always try to reply… I’ve set my comments to automatic and removed the approval part which makes it easier…
Sometimes I leave a fluff comment on sites only because I want them to know I read it. I think just being read without a long response or input to the piece is good enough for the site/writer. Sometimes the only thing you have to say is short or a quick compliment. Small things are still appreciated…
You’re right Matt… Elaborating on the thanks part of a fluff comment is a good idea and something I am going to do now after thinking about what you said. I usually throw a quick thanks out there for those kinds of comments but taking a little extra step sounds much better…
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