Comments and Feedback

I was flipping through google reader yesterday and stumbled across a post that is becoming nearer and dearer to my heart... Big Teeth & Clouds wrote on the importance of good comments...

I am really becoming disillusioned by hit and run traffic MeMes like Friday follows and the like, only because you get hit and run posters who write comments that say ... I'm a follower from ___ and could you follow me back... I guess my problem is that for the blogs I follow, I actually READ the posts... and if I can think of enough intelligent things to say, I will go and comment on them... and if I go back a few times, or read multiple posts in the same setting after I find a new blog, I'll follow it... and try to become a productive contributer...

It hit home hardest yesterday when I had a guest poster who had taken time out of her busy life to do an additional post for my little blog... and not only post about it, but do all the math ... which as you may know would boggle this writer's mind... and half the comments were 'following from x, follow me back' without even acknowledging that they read a single word of the guest post... or anything else for that matter...

So this is an open post to all of those people who are following me just so I will follow them... I am happy to follow blogs of contributing followers, and I will probably go so far as to check out any blog of a person following me... but I have to say that those who give good comment are probably the same people who are good blog writers and will capture my interest enough to add to my reader...

If you're not interested in my blog, for goodness sake, please stop following it... but if you like what you read, even if you aren't a commenter, please stay and enjoy... I started writing this blog for me to share things with others, and I've come to the realization that I will no longer participate in blind memes ... I will cultivate those who follow my blog regularly, always visit the blogs of people who leave intelligent comments and follow any blog I like, whether you follow me back or not...

I am still working towards my 1000 comment challenge this month - and the good news is I will likely make it... with time to spare... but I've decided on my April personal challenge already ... to leave only good comments... and only when I have something reasonable to say...

I now return you to our regularly scheduled blogs... and don't worry, there will be a blog post tomorrow that isn't a Friday Follow... not sure what it will be ... but that's for tomorrow :)

BTW - I wanted to say thank you to everyone who left good thoughts for Liam - He had a great day yesterday and it appears that the antibiotic has finally cleared his system, his ears are on track and he's headed BACK to PRESCHOOL today!!! Can you say 2 hrs of mommy time?

Happy Thursday all :)
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Joe Zachs's avatar - Go to profile

Joe Zachs · 788 weeks ago

This is very true.
And I make it a point not to follow some one who "asks" me to follow.
Another thing I observed is that most of the readers have just enough time to read your latest blog and add some comment.
There are very few who actually read your previous posts.
But there are some genuine ones who really read through and write about it.
Like one commented:
"I spent most of today's working day reading your blog! Until I got to the very end... I think you've had some great experiences over the years and have an awesome way of penning them down. Easy to read, light and breeze!

I read this blog till I got to the very end, but I'm looking forward to many more posts in the future!

Cheers!"
My recent post A novel way to protest
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shanilie · 788 weeks ago

I know how you feel. For a while I was SO interested in joining all of the FF and would generate TONS of new visitors who would say the same things "following, follow me back' then I would never hear from them again. So I stopped. I am more interested in keeping up with fewer bloggers than tons I will never get a chance to read. Once I follow someone, I try to comment at least every time I blog, or once/week at the very least. I always think people will get annoyed if I comment every time lol. Need to find a balance.
1 reply · active 788 weeks ago
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actingbalanced 78p · 788 weeks ago

yep, that's what I've found too... although I have added comment luv on top of my intense debate comment format to allow the occasional gratification here on my site :P
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The Local Cook · 788 weeks ago

You know, I just started getting these kinds of comments. I've decided not to let myself feel guilty if they leave a comment that says "stopping by from ____, hope you come check out my blog!" If they can't be more original with their commenting, what is their blog like? ;-)
My recent post 5 Simple Tips to Avoid Heart Disease
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actingbalanced 78p · 788 weeks ago

totally agree - if they put thought into their comment and like what they read, they will probably be back.... and if not, that's okay too... I've been a blog statistic before because I can't think of anything nice or productive to say, so I say nothing at all... It's totally okay not to like the content of my blog... but don't 'follow' me just to get me to follow you... I'm not likely to like your content either :)
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Keri · 788 weeks ago

I can totally relate. I was really bummed to be blogging daily and able to count my followers on one hand, not to mention never getting any comments. I started doing Follow Friday and got lots of followers, plus found some great blogs. I still only get a few comments here and there on certain posts though.

I read an interesting post a few weeks ago by a lady who followed and read hundreds of her followers. It was driving her crazy until one day she just quit reading them all. I think you have to find a balance - although I don't think I have yet!
1 reply · active 788 weeks ago
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actingbalanced 78p · 788 weeks ago

True... that's another reason I stopped FF - I have about 75 blogs I read regularly through google reader, another bunch I visit through SITS when their content looks interesting... and I know that I'm starting to reach my max limit... time to save the rest of the spaces for wonderful people who comment on my blog :)
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Sarah · 788 weeks ago

I hear this - although, I have not participated in Follow Friday, I do promote my blog in other communities - like SITS (I think that is where we found each other). I see benefit it in and have made some great commections through it, but the 'stopping by' comments annoy me. I would rather 10 people stop by my blog, read it and not comment, than 50 people stop by, comment and not read it.

My recent post A Lesson in Love
1 reply · active 788 weeks ago
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actingbalanced 78p · 788 weeks ago

yep - I agree... SITS and some of those other sites are great for both generating traffic and finding great blogs.. but they do have some not so creative people who just go down and spam the list with the same comment... hoping I guess to drive traffic to their site... my fave was one a few weeks back where the poster asked all of the blogs I follow the same question... in excatly the same way and it went something like "stopping by from SITS, I know this is off topic but are you going to bloggy boot camp" and I laughed when I saw the same repeat comment 50 times...
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Joey · 788 weeks ago

The commenting is a hot topic, clearly. I did a the Friday Follow twice and I agree, it pads your numbers and nothing more. I go back and comment on those blogs and many of them have never paid me a second visit. I wonder what the point of having a huge "following" is if none of those followers are readers.

Thanks so much for mentioning me - I feel a little pressure now that I've put it out there that I try to leave good comments.
My recent post Husbands take over blog-land
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actingbalanced 78p · 788 weeks ago

No problem... the same theme had been percolating in my brain but it was the combination of reading your post and having inane comments on a post by my guest blogger that cemented my position ;)
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Dani G · 788 weeks ago

Yep, I agree. I actually DO read all the blogs I follow.... and now I'm following YOU :)
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actingbalanced 78p · 788 weeks ago

Yeah, I hate hit and run comments like when your wife calls - tells you something quick and almost hangs up on you...:-)
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My Baby sweetness · 788 weeks ago

I get what you mean. What's the point of having 1000 followers who never actually read you - so what. I guess it's the HS popularity contest (gone viral!).
My recent post One small year for baby sweetness, twenty five big years for dotcom - Should I thank Al Gore?
1 reply · active 787 weeks ago
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Acting Balanced Mom · 787 weeks ago

Love the analogy! I wasn't worried about being popular in HS either so I guess I'm still bucking the trend!
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angie · 788 weeks ago

Heather, It was great to see you yesterday! I'm reading and commenting on your blog because I like it. :)
1 reply · active 787 weeks ago
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Acting Balanced Mom · 787 weeks ago

Thanks Angie! It was great seeing you yesterday too... we should get together and talk blog shop talk sometime...
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Michelle · 788 weeks ago

This is a well written post.
There are so many blogs I wish I could follow, but blogger keeps telling me I've exceeded my limit.
Which means I must go through and unfollow those I just haven't had time to read.
I wish there was no limit on who I can follow.

Enjoy your mommy moments of rest.
Sounds like your little one is doing great.

`To Be Thode: Saturday Sound Off`
My recent post New Friend Friday
1 reply · active 787 weeks ago
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Acting Balanced Mom · 787 weeks ago

I had no idea blogger had a limit... although I've started reading all my blogs in google reader...
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Single and Sane · 788 weeks ago

I only recently learned that part of blogging is visiting other bloggers and commenting, and I, too have been disappointed to see too many blogs filled with meaningless drive-by comments. Thanks for saying it so well!
My recent post From Cheers to Jeers
1 reply · active 787 weeks ago
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Acting Balanced Mom · 787 weeks ago

Thanks for coming by.... I hope that your foray into commenting and visiting is paying off... I know that I've made great blog friends by being supportive of people whose blogs I admire
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holly · 788 weeks ago

This is a great...I just wrote a post about blogiquette and it had such a huge response...people have so much to say about this. I always try to leave a thoughtful comment...even on Friday Follow days. I will admit that here and there I am guilty of a lame comment...usually when I have received one first---that said...I have changed my pattern...ALWAYS a decent comment...just because someone jumps off a building, doesn't mean you have to right? I stopped by from Lady Bloggers to say hey and congrats on featured blogger status.
Holly

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1 reply · active 787 weeks ago
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Acting Balanced Mom · 787 weeks ago

yep, I've made the same pledge... although it's hard sometimes to come up with good com, I'd rather say nothing at all than be known as the the stopping by from xxx person with nothing intelligent to say
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Acting Balanced Mom · 787 weeks ago

ITA - so many people have stopped listening, stopped debating and just stopped communicating... sad really! Thanks for stoppping by and actually reading my post!
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Stefany @ToBeThode · 787 weeks ago

I hear what you are saying but I think that the Friday Follow has been a good one for me. I really enjoy having the space to jump around so easily and find new blogs. I have found so many I enjoy simply by doing the meme. But, I don't just go and write a little comment. I read what the person is saying and won't follow if they are not jiving with me.

Thanks for linking up with Saturday Sound Off. Sorry it took me so long to get to the posts this week.
My recent post Back in the coupon game

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