If you do go back and read blogger's replies to yours is it because you are using say.....Disqus? I like how when I go to a blog with Disqus it shows blogs that replied to my comments. As we all know since most of you reading this is a blogger... we love comments. I enjoy reading what people think of my posts. I mean... when you sit around and take the time to post something you usually want people to be entertained. So of course comments mean a lot to bloggers. I love comments WAY more then I love page views. I even love when people leave trackbacks on my blog. Trackbacks really are links to your blog so those who visit my blog can see yours. A circle of love (or commentluv which many of you have on your comments).
Here is the problem with Blogger. We really can't do commentluv without installing intense debate . You have probably seen this on some blogs. If I am going to download one or the other though I would rather do Disqus. I like the style of it better and more people seem to have it. I like Blogger ... I know a lot of people don't and have switched to Wordpress but I plan to stick with Blogger for now.
I would really like to know... as a reader of blogs... do you ever go back to a blog and respond to a comment? If you do... do you actually physically go back to that blog? Or do you use a commenting system to see that there was a response to the comment (like Disqus)? Do you just not check back for comments that the blog owner may have written to you? Only maybe 1% of my blog comments have someone come back and respond the the reply I made. If you use Blogger have you made the switch the Disqus commenting system? How was the transition?
When you reply to comments do you (typically)
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I sometimes go back when I left a question, but most of the times I only return when I'm notified in the mail with, example, Disqus.
ReplyDeleteI will go back to Disqus if I happen to comment on a blog with Disqus and then it will show I have say 6 new replies to my replies. Then I will go back to that blog and look at the answer.
DeleteI'm really bad about checking back. Sometimes I've read and commented on so many posts I don't remember to check back for replies. Discus is cool because those blogs that I've commented on who use it I get emails saying someone replied to my post. I don't like following comments through Wordpress because then I get a million emails to sort through to read the one reply to my comment.
ReplyDeleteYours is really the only blog I try to check back on to see what you said to my comment. I also try to reply to every comment on my blog just because I like knowing some one read my posts. Like you, I love comments more than page views.
I think that on a topic like this... me replying to comments is good because those who comment later might read through the comments and see some interesting discussions. So I really think replying to comments on discussion posts is great. Now review posts and memes I don't think anyone ever comes back and looks. It's true that when you reply on a lot of blogs you don't even bother going back to look and see what they had to say. I suppose that's when you find your favorite blogs and go back and glance at those blogs.
DeleteYou make a good point, about the memes. When I was doing the Follow Friday (which I need to get back to) I comment just to let people know I visited but never go back. When it comes to discussion I try to go back.
DeleteWell, this is kind of difficult for me. I read quite a few posts and will comment every time I read something, but I don't always go back to the post and check every day to see if the blogger replied. Disqus is nice in that factor where you can get an email that says there was a response to your comment. And then you can go back and forth to commenting.
ReplyDeleteI guess it depends on the comment if I go back and comment on it in return. If it's one to promote a discussion of sorts, I will go back and comment or if I can, reply via email to their comment if I have something worth saying. Other times...it's like, there's not much conversation fodder. Like with the hop memes we'll say things like "oh how cool!" or "that's new to me!" of "Nice pick, but not really my kind of read" when it's something outside our reading genre choices. So there's not much to work with on discussions.
But I do try to create a conversation. I'll reply back to a comment if I am able...it can be tricky trying to track down the commenter sometimes. Other times, it's hard to respond back to something. And then of course there's the "how do I know you made a comment back to me"?
Nice post!
I agree about the memes. This makes me question whether or not to respond to meme replies. I mean you are right... sometimes not only is the original comment just... "oh great picks".. then the reply becomes "thanks". You I have noticed are very good at going to all the blogs involved in a meme, and I have noticed you don't reply to all the comments on your blog. I think this might save you a lot of time. It looks like blogger has a "notify me" box where you have to sign up with email. Not sure how many people actually use this option.
DeleteI always click "Notify Me" under the comments box, yep. (And I use disqus, but not for Blogger.)
ReplyDeleteI wish more people used the Notify Me on blogger. I wonder if it would be a good thing to mention it at the end of blog posts. I would have to come up with something smooth though.. I wouldn't want people to think I am spamming them. Like "be sure to click on the notify me box if you want to keep the conversation going". Or something like that.
DeleteHuge fan of Disqus! I've noticed a lot more interaction since installing it, and I definitely tend to go back for further discussion on blogs that use it.
ReplyDeleteNot sure if you will come back and read this...LOL!!! But did you transfer your blogger to Disqus after using the Blogger commenting system? How was the transition?
DeleteThis is a great topic of discussion. I comment back to every single person that leaves a comment on my blog, but like you said in your post I maybe have 2 people that come back and reply to the reply. I like to check back on posts I have commented on to see what the author thinks. I often just read the reply and don't comment back on it so I'm guilty there. If the author says something that I really feel like needs a reply back I will reply back to the comment. Then there are the posts that yes I do forget to go back and check for replies. I do have to admit that it hurts my feelings a little bit when I left a long comment on a blog and I make the effort to go back and check the post that the author hasn't even replied to my comment. That makes it look like the comment is not appreciated. Even if nobody reads replies on my blog I will continue to take the time to do them. I don't get very many comments so it isn't that time consuming. Maybe, just maybe there is one person that comes back to check for my reply and at least reads the reply. I never want to make my readers feel like they are not appreciated because comments seriously make my day. I'm going to link up this discussion post to my end of the year survey if that is all right with you.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with leaving a long comment and the blog author doesn't even comment back. That is why I will always comment back to people who comment on my blog. I mean... if they took the time to reply to me then I should reply back. I just really want to find the best way to get replies to the reply. It is totally fine with me if you link up this post! Thank you!! I just think we as bloggers forget that it is just as important to comment and check the replies. Sometimes amazing discussions come from the comments themselves.
DeleteI will read replies to my comments, but I rarely comment back unless there's a real reason to. I do like knowing that someone took the time to comment though, so it makes me more likely to leave a comment on a blog in a future post.
ReplyDeleteHumm... maybe that is the trick. Maybe the content in the post isn't intriguing enough to want to come back and continue the conversation. Like you said... you need a real reason to. There could be something there... almost like writing good posts to get people to come to the blog you also need to write good comments to get people to want to come back and keep talking about that post.
DeleteI usually tick the box, if there is one, to notify me if I get a reply and if it's a WordPress blog I get an alert in my notifications. I will comment again if I want to add anything else or the replier is obviously looking for a response.
ReplyDeleteThat is the one good things about Wordpress. It sounds like it's easy to know if you commented on a blog and that comment got a reply. I am glad you click the notify me box. I might need to come up with a way to inspire people to click it more so they know to come back and continue the discussions.
DeleteI really appreciate when a blogger replies to my comments; it's a major factor in whether or not I continue following that blog. I always bookmark posts that I comment on, and then I'll check back to see if I got a reply... and will reply back if it seems necessary, otherwise the conversation usually ends there.
ReplyDeleteAs for comment options, I'm not really a fan of Disqus. I really couldn't tell you why. It's sort of annoying that they send me so many notifications, though I'm sure I could turn those off if I'd bother to find the options. But I will say I'm less likely to comment on blogs that use Disqus (though not as unlikely as I am if they have captcha enabled).
I definitely think CommentLuv is the best, even though I don't have it myself. It's just such a great way to promote community; I'm much more likely to click on a post title that catches my interest than I am just the default link, and I've found a lot of great new blogs that way.
I agree about the blogger commenting to my comments. For me.. it's not so much if I will continue to read that blog if the content is good. But I won't comment on that blog if I feel that no one ever replies to my comments. I think when we see a blogger replying to our comments we feel as if that blogger actually read our comment. If there is no reply to a comment then it's almost like no one read it and it's was all for nothing.
DeleteCAPTCHA sucks. I just had to throw that out there. :)
I do use Disqus and have an account there but I used a spam email I have so I don't ever actually get the notifications. I like how I go to a blog though and there is that little box that has a number in it and I can see the blogs that commented back. I never thought about the notifications it would keep sending. Good point. Intense Data base is an option for Blogger to add commentluv but I find it more annoying then Disqus set up. It just has so many options and I am afraid it will confuse my followers and turn them away from taking the time to comment.
There are definitely blogs I'll follow whether or not the blogger replies back (usually bigger blogs that get tons of comments on every post) but I have to really enjoy the content to make it worth it for me. Otherwise I feel like I'm investing time that would be better spent making connections elsewhere.
DeleteI find on the larger blogs I just don't connect. I sometimes find great linkbacks to the people commenting rather then the blog itself.
DeleteI pretty much always go back and look at replies on comments I make on other people's blogs. But only if I get an email notification for it (which means that it never happens with Blogger blogs) or am super interested to hear what the blogger had to say in response to my comment and actually go back and check. I really wish that I was able to be notified about comment replies on Blogger blogs, but oh well.
ReplyDeleteThis is just a personal preference, but...I hate Disqus so much that I don't follow blogs who use the Disqus commenting system. It's pretty much an automatic disqualification when it comes to me considering adding a certain blog to my BlogLovin'. It aggravates me that you have to login, and that it won't link my comment directly back to my blog, so I'd just rather not have to deal with it at all.
The only way you can do it with Blogger is if you check the box that says Notify Me. I wonder if people who are not on blogger even notice it or are aware of it (you can see it next to the Preview option). I am going to try to think of a way to get this out to more people who come to the blog... Maybe there is a way I can add it into the comment section.
DeleteI try to comment back when the author replies to me, but sometimes it's hard. Like when I comment and there is no option to get notification of a response. If I don't stalk that blog regularly I forget where I went to comment. And really that's the problem we go out and comment on so many blogs it is hard to keep track of how many we comment on without some sort of notification system. But I do go to those blogs I stalk on a regular basis and have had amazing conversations through the comment section.
ReplyDeleteBut I often wonder the same thing, are people reading the comments? Good post and I do love disquis as well but I too am sticking with blogger for a while longer!
I agree... for those of us who follow several blogs and go out there and comment a lot we lose track of where we commented. I try myself to look back at the replies to my comments on discussions that I comment on. I do get disappointed if I don't see anyone commenting to my comments.
DeleteYea me too. I do like the fact that you can follow blogger comments easier now than before which makes it so much easier to follow the conversation, but I think you and everyone here is right. Not everyone realizes there is a simple way to get notifications about comments.
DeleteMy problem is remembering to actually click that stupid little box! Ugh
This is part of the reason I love wordpress I get notifications of comments and replies to replies! I tend not to check back on blogger account but I get notifications if the blogger uses disquis! Great discussion...I think replies matter definitely!
ReplyDeleteSee... the Blogger comments are a bummer. I really wish people knew more about the Notify Me box on the comment box. If you already get emails notifications from Disqus and Wordpress why not click the box to blogger comments?? I'll have to think about this more.
DeleteThis is why I had Discus when I used the blogger platform. I visit way too many blogs to go back and look to see if they commented. Now that I am on WordPress I use comment luv. It sends an email reply. Like you comments and chatting are my favorite things. I always visit blogs back its fun
ReplyDeleteI think it's fun to visit blogs too. I can see new things and maybe even things I like that I would add to my blog. I agree about visiting way too many blogs to keep going back to all of them. What I will do though... is when I re-visit the blog I will go back to a post I commented on and THEN look at the replies. I do like to do that.
DeleteI do! I do! The problem is that some blogs (like yours) or posts (like this one!) get too many replies and then I keep getting notifications about a new reply. I mean, I mind for 2 or 3, but after that I have already moved on and don't want to see more replies :-)
ReplyDeleteOH... I didn't know that EVERY time someone replied you got a notification!! WHAT!! I thought the notify me box was only for you and the bloggers comments not everyone's comments. Hummm... that changes things.
DeleteHi Angie,
ReplyDeleteI like the dialogue with other readers / blog author, so I like to check back. I'll either tick the box to get notified by email, or if it's disqus or wordpress, I'll get notified automatically.
When I had a Blogger blog, I found that no one commented there, probably because people didn't have a blogger account, nor G+. I added disqus, and it got a bit better. Now with my blog on Wordpress, I seem to have more community engagement and get comments. I make a point to respond. Just my experience.
I enjoy commenting on blogs and am often disappointed when blog authors don't respond to my comments. I mean, I have taken the time to read your post, and have something to say. I continue reading, but I do wonder what THEY'RE thinking... It's a fine dance, for sure!
That would make me switch to wordpress. I like interaction and conversation. It's one of the reasons I love goodreads. People talk back and forth and discuss books and bookish topics. Right now the poll seems pretty even with responses so no one really uses one comment program or another it seems.
DeleteSeems like you have a decent gig here on Blogger - more than I could achieve when I was there. And if you move to Wordpress, you may end up losing some of your reader-base, so something to think about.
DeleteBTW, disqus worked really well when I was on Blogger (in case you're wondering). And I don't know why my last comment posted twice...sorry, my credentials could not be verified the first time! lol :)
DeleteI have thought of losing readers at the blog. I really do like blogger. I have found that it's easy and I have discovered ways to twerk it. Did you transfer to Disqus on Blogger after you had comments on Blogger? Meaning how did they transfer over? I would hate to lose all the comments I already have on here.
DeleteAll of your comments transfer to discus but also sync back and remain on blogger. I was able to take my comments with me. once you import your comments to discus and they reappear on your blog, go back and sync comments to be kept on blogger as well. This way if you transfer to WordPress they go with you..
DeleteOh thank you for that advice! I have read about people having problems with this.
DeleteWhen I get an email about a comment response, I read it, but I don't go back to a post otherwise.
ReplyDeleteHummm.. that makes sense. I am not innocent here either. I don't normally go back to a blog to find the comment especially if it's on a review.
DeleteI've thought about this as well and it really makes me want to install disqus on my blog... I don't always reply to comments, but if I do, I would want those people to actually read my reply... Which they most likely won't, because they don't get a notification about it. I rarely check back for replies myself, only if I'm really curious or if I asked a question or something. I actually really like getting replies in the mail. It makes things a lot easier!
ReplyDeleteI have thought about Disqus but I don't know if all my comments/replies would transfer. Honestly I have been a lot of work into comments. I would hate for them to all disappear. I guess that if you have a good blog and it's engaging people will come back to look. It's true though... I want people to read my reply. I usually try to make my replies good and thought provoking just like the comment.
DeleteAll my comments transferred over to disqus ok! It took about 24 hours and I was so nervous but it was fine. I did lose disqus comments when I moved to wordpress but that was because I didn't set disqus up to sych to blogger properly.
DeleteI try to go back on comments especially when I've built up a relationship with the blogger but sometimes I just don't time to. I loved disqus when I was on blogger (and still do for blogger friends) as I love getting an email when someone replies to a comment. I feel a bit put out if a blogger doesn't reply to a comment you made, I know sometimes it all gets too much and a person leaves it slip (been there, done that) but to never reply to a comment seems rude. If I feel someone is constantly ignoring what I say, I feel they don't want to hear it and will stop commenting. So yep, replies are important for me.
ReplyDeleteI usually take time every day to comment back to comments (like right now). It can be time consuming I suppose. But to me why blog and gain followers if you don't want to interact with them. If I didn't want to interact with them I just wouldn't care about followers. So I agree about being put off if someone doesn't reply. This is typically why I don't comment on the bigger blogs I follow. They never bother visiting my blog back or even commenting to my posts so I save my comments for blogs that seem like they will appreciate it.
DeleteExactly! And I do get that the bigger blogs have a huge amount of comments but to never, ever reply is taking people for granted. Some I still visit because I love the content but don't bother commenting.
DeleteYea... I don't bother commenting on those blogs either. I just really feel like my comments are never read. Kind of a bummer. Even if other bloggers who are commenting don't read them... I still want to know that the blog author is reading them.
DeleteI used to respond to every comment but the time struggle won out. Now I try to respond by email if the blogger has email in their Blogger profile (you don't) or on twitter. But even still sometimes time wins. I DO wish I was on WP but after 7 years it's too much to switch. I like Disqus ok but HATE that I have to login to comment. I HATE intense debate. :)
ReplyDeleteIn terms of subscribing to comments, I only do if I know someone responds (like you do). I can't remember to check back otherwise. :(
It is true I don't have my email posted. I would rather people contact me through this blog or through twitter. This is because I constantly get spam if I post my personal email. I don't love intense debate either... it just looks confusing. I would only get it for the commentluv but that doesn't seem like incentive enough for me to get it.
DeleteI don't usually go back to blogs to see if I've received replies to my comments. I wait for notifications via email or Wordpress and when they do come in and replies are the conversational type, then I reply to comment replies as well.
ReplyDeleteAs for commenting systems, I'd vote for Disqus! I hate the standard Blogger commenting system because half the time my comments don't go through, and I can't be bothered to type my response all over again. At that point I just give up commenting on a blogpost altogether.
I too hate when I have typed a response and it doesn't go through. I don't bother retyping it either. I have learned my lesson enough times that if it is a long and thought out comment I'll copy it just in case I need to paste it back on the blog. I have never really had a problem with blogger not posting my comments... it usually on blogs that use other servers.
DeleteAs a blogger, I prefer to go to other people's blogs to comment back if they ask me a question. I assume they aren't going to come back to mine. I'm not always perfect about doing it but I try.
ReplyDeleteAs a reader, I hardly ever go back to blogs to see if the blogger responded. I do occasionally for blogs that I know always respond to questions or if I've asked a question that I want answered.
Honestly it seems to me that the consensus here is that no one really goes back and reads replies that the blog author does. It's like a double edge sword... because if the blog owner doesn't reply it's like they're ignoring you but if you do reply no one ever reads it!!! AYE!
DeleteYes this. I have had major anxiety over this the past year since I quit responding to comments (when I was working there were some days when I literally did not have a moment to myself). I've finally had to decide that I'll interact by leaving comments when I can rather than spending that time writing a response no one might see. Sucks but I think that interaction is just as worthy. You're doing great Angie!
DeleteIn fact Trish... one of your posts I actually went back a few times to see if you commented back to me and you didn't (I am laying on the guilt hahahaha!). It was your post about skin cancer!! (really it's not a big deal but I did check).
DeleteI like to check and see if my comment received a reply. But sometimes I forget which posts I commented on. I'll check with Disqus the most because it makes it easy for you.
ReplyDeleteI was really going to get Disqus but it really seems to me after reading all the comments that people don't usually check replies. So I think just leaving the Blogger commenting system up will be just fine. It is easy for people to comment here and they don't have to "sign in" so that might actually keep people commenting and interacting.
DeleteI have basically no hope of remembering all the places I comment, so I neeeeeed the email reminders from disqus or WP-plugins! Now I feel guilty D:
ReplyDeleteLOL! Don't feel guilty. I think we all comment on a lot of blogs. The ones I really forget about are the ones I'm not following. Say I stop by on a hop. I totally forget those blogs!
DeleteI try to comment on quite a few blogs, but I don't often check back unless I know that there will be some serious discussion going on. I'm a Blogger user (who, like you, has decided to stick with this platform for now) and got so frustrated with the spam and general bugginess I was having that I installed Disqus about 6 months ago - I've absolutely loved it. I have it set up so people can comment as guests, so they don't need to create an account (which seems to be the biggest complaint many people have with the system) and I haven't had any problems yet. I've seen such a big improvement in discussion, people checking back to my replies and just general conversation going on, it's great. And the upside is, people aren't getting e-mails every time someone comments on the post in general, just their individual comment.
ReplyDeleteThat is what I am looking for.... no one wants an email every time there is a new post from many people. I didn't realize Blogger's notify me button did that till this post. I get a lot of spam comments but they are all usually caught by Blogger. In fact... it does a fantastic job too. Most of them though are anonymous so I suppose that gives Blogger a heads up to block them.
DeleteI definitely like reading the replies to my comments :D Especially if I think I said something witty or asked a question. I use Disqus though, and you're right about it being a really great way to track conversations on Blogger. Sometimes I know that I'll visit the blogger again during the week so I'll check back the other post that I commented on while I'm there writing on the new one. I always reply and visit back because comments on my page mean a lot to me as well :D Jaclyn @ JC's Book Haven
ReplyDeleteI do that too... the blogs I follow I know I'll check again during the week so I'll check on my comments then. I also find sometimes when I go and visit a blog that has commented on my blog a new blog that I wouldn't have found otherwise. That is one thing I do love about the memes. Even though the comments are usually meaningless like "Great list" sometimes though when I go back to that blog I am like WOW! In fact... I found your blog I think through Harry Potter Moment of the Week meme!!
DeleteI never go back and read replies. Honestly it's just not feasible. A lot of the times I leave comments on blogs that I just visit out of the blue (like I found a link on Twitter or on someone else's blog, etc.). So let's say I leave comments on 5 blogs I've never visited before.. I'm honestly not going to remember what those 5 blogs were, or even if I do, I'm just not going to take the time to revisit each one. I have a hard enough time keeping up with my own schedule and I just can't take the extra time to go back to blogs. :/
ReplyDeleteHowever, if I do get a notification saying there was a reply (like from WordPress or Disqus) then I will at least READ the reply, but I don't always reply again. I usually don't leave another comment because the owner's reply doesn't merit one. Usually they just thank me for my comment or say they agree or something like that. But there's usually nothing else left for me to say.
That is a good point about visiting new blogs that you might just comment on and not follow. I do that too. I'll find a blog and think they have an interesting topic to discuss but their posts just aren't what I am interested in otherwise. At least with Disqus you can go back and see and read the reply. That is one of my issues with blogger. Does anyone even SEE my replies? I love your blog Ashley and I know you have A LOT of visitors. So I can't really see you going back to everyone and keeping up with them. So now that leads to the question... if your blog is large do you spend as much time with all your followers as a smaller blog would? I often wonder that. Sometimes I don't even comment on large blogs because I am afraid that my comments will be lost in a sea with 100 other comments.
DeleteI usually try to go back to blogs to check if I have gotten a reply back, and I always reply on my own blog. And I always visit the blogs of those who comment on mine.
ReplyDeleteWhen I remember, I click the 'notify me' button so that I will get an e-mail when there have been replies to a post I commented on - however, that is not the best, since sometimes, a post is so active I get too many e-mails, and none of the replies to the post were for me... It's still interesting to see what other bloggers replied to that post, but my inbox is already very cluttered.
With Wordpress, I get a little notification icon in my dashboard, and that's both for comments on my blog-posts, and if someone comments back to something I wrote in the comment section on another blog. That works really well for me, because then I'm sure I don't miss out.
However, I have also gone back to blogs (and yes, I bookmark interesting discussion posts) only to see that nobody has even acknowledged that I commented at all. I get that it's not easy to keep up with everything, but if I spend a lot of time on a comment, it's a little sad if there's nothing more to it, you know what I mean?
And sometimes, I will leave yet another comment, other times not - but most of the time, I will go back and see.
Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews
I think it's interesting to learn about the commenting system on wordpress here. I wasn't aware of that before. I never really saw a big need to move to wordpress but that makes it more appealing.
DeleteOn discussion posts I always try to go back and check and see what the blogger said back to me. I also LOVE reading what other people are saying during the discussion. I find you can actually learn a lot not only from the blog post but from all the comments and discussions everyone is having together. It is one of the reasons I love goodreads but it seems to me more and more people are leaving there.
That's exactly it! Seeing both comments from the other people and form the blogger herself is awesome. (See, I did the notify me thing on this post- and got several e-mails - but it did get me back here!).
DeleteYes, when I comment on other wordpress blogs, I know when someone respond to my comment, and that really helps a lot.
I love this discussion - so many ways to figure out how to stay up to date.
I think I am going to try to figure out a way to edit the blogger comment systems for people to check the notify me box. Of course ...I hope they don't feel spammed by me though if they get a ton of notifications. Usually there aren't too many in my posts I don't think that would seem spammy.
DeleteGood luck! I hope you'll be able to find a way.
DeleteIt's hard with Blogger. I know a couple of my friends come back to my blog to check for replies, but I do know most don't. So I guess you could say commenting might be a waste, but I don't see it that way. I usually just respond to the comments that I feel like I have a decent reply for. I think not responding to EVERYTHING has really cut down on that time wasting feeling.
ReplyDeleteI do think that there are some bloggers who follow me regularly that when they come back to look at a new post they will check the old posts and look at the comments then. That is actually something I do on blogger blogs. I tend to respond to everything.. even if it is just a "thanks for visiting". Right now though I think my blog is small enough and so I don't get a ton of comments like other blogs. I wish more people commented on reviews. That is when I really want to discuss a book with someone and I start to discuss it with the commenter and they never come back!
DeleteI sometimes go back and check if I've asked a question or have left a comment that needs an answer. In that case, I'll usually try and sign up to the post to get notification of replies, as remembering everything I've commented on can be tough. Other times, I'll be commenting on a different post in the same blog, and remember about a comment I've left earlier, and I'll go and take a quick look at that one.
ReplyDeleteBlogger does make it tough to track comments (I'm not very technical and haven't installed stuff that could help), but I'm with you in that I like it and for the moment will be sticking with it.
Sarah
I've been using Blogger for years now. I did set up a wordpress blog and was just confused. If I started out on wordpress that would've been different. But I googled the best way to set up a blog and most places said blogger was easier for people who have never done it before. Perhaps I'll work with that wordpress one more. I think though that if you blog well and try your best people will follow. So on blogger I do find that I have success.... especially with bloglovin which allows everyone to be able to follow any kind of blog easily.
DeleteThat's why I love Disqus. I also love commentluv etc, but since my blog is on blogger, it's Disqus for me :) And yes, I do like to know if/when someone replies to me esp. since I almost always forget to check back commenting systems like Disqus are godsends. I only reply back to those replies if I have something more to say, though.
ReplyDeleteThe way I check old comments on blogger is by making posts older then 7 days "be approved by moderator". This way I know when someone has commented on old posts. I never comment on blogs when it is a really old post because I am afraid they won't even see the comment. This is how I've gotten around the whole Blogger system not notifying me of comments.
DeleteAngie-notifying you of new comments on your blog? You can have them emailed to you...go to Settings and then Mobile and Email.
DeleteTrish- you blew my mind!!!
DeleteHaha yes, I *made* blogger to send me comment notification emails before Disqus too. *high five Trish*
DeleteIf I have to physically go back to the blog without notification, no, I probably won't unless I'm waiting for an answer on something. I love it when there's a way to get notified in my mail when I get a reply though. I always read those, even if I have to click a link to go back to the blog to read the reply.
ReplyDeleteI am googling right now how to change the comment form on blogger right now. I want it to say.. "be sure to click notify me if you want to continue the discussions". Or something like that. Hopefully I can figure it out to make it easier for people to follow the conversation.
DeleteGood luck! I hope it can be done. I almost missed it when I did my first comment, but I had seen it mentioned in an earlier comment so I remembered to look for it. I used Disqus when I was on Blogger. I just like it better, but I've heard that some people don't like it.
DeleteI subscribe to comments (the 'notify me' option in Blogger) whenever I leave a comment to see if anyone replies to my comment. If I have a reply to the reply to my comment, or if I have something to add on to someone else's comment, I'll stop by and leave another comment.
ReplyDeleteThis is great!! I am not sure that many people know this is available on Blogger. That is really great that you do this. I think you are what I would consider one of the "bigger blogs" so I really think this is a great way to keep your followers interested in commenting to you!
DeleteAnother awesome thing about Blogger blogs is that you can actually subscribe to comments without leaving a comment yourself. I don't think too many people know about that feature either.
DeleteThis is a really, really hard part of blogging for me. I read and appreciate every single comment that comes on my blog. I will sometimes tweet people back or email them I feel lead to but I found myself starting to get into this lose/lose situation. I only have a certain amount, like everyone, of time to devote to book blogging (DANGIT WHY CAN I NOT DO THIS FT) and I started finding myself trying to keep up with commenting on other blogs and then replying ot comments on my own blog and this severely cut into my blogging and reading time. Esp my reading time. I was spending SO much time doing the blogging stuff I wasn't reading. And that seemed silly to me. Then I noticed that maybe 5% (if that) of the people that I replied back to on my blog actually came back and let me know they were reading my response. So I decided I had to give on something so I figured i'd really try to concentrate on spreading the love and getting off my own blog and going to others with the caveat I'd really try hard to respond back to really discussiony posts and personal things. I made a good effort and then things got crazy for me -- looking for a job is a FT job in it of itself and then I got very, very depressed. I tried really hard to keep it all up and I just found myself not motivated and it had nothing to do with not appreciating (seriously these comments of love kept me sane) the people commenting. I would cry about it to Will. To other bloggers. especially because I would see comments like "ugh I hate bloggers who don't visit after I visit them" or "people who don't respond back are so selfish and don't care about me" and I'm like I CANNOT WIN. I fail. I cannot please everyone and it made me feel so close to just quitting bc I was really eaten up about the things people would say because I know I had been slacking. But I also knew on some of those posts I had somehow gotten a crazy amount of comments and I was gracious and astounded but also overwhelmed. I thought well maybe I'll just stop posting until I can catch up but then that made me more sad because I wanted to post bc it keeps me sane during unemployment. And then that made me feel overwhlemed because then I'd get behind. So basically I feel, at this point in time, that I've just failed. Discussion and openness have always been the cornerstone of my blog and I just cannot feasibly with the hours in the day do all the things I need to do. And right now...I feel like people hate me. I know that's absurd sounding but the assumptions of WHY bloggers might not comment hurts my heart and makes me feel small. It makes me want to give up because I've been not doing as well as I used to. It hurts that people think I might be selfish when that is the opposite of how I blog or that I don't care because I honestly care too much. The connections I've made through my personal posts are so important to me. I think at the end of the day..we need to remember that there is a person who leads a full time life behind every blog and we never, ever know their situation or what they have on their plate. I try to always be the best person and blogger I can be and unfortunately sometimes I can't measure up. :/
ReplyDeleteSeriously... THIS I think is what all bloggers are feeling and why this topic has been a popular one with what seems like everyone. I agree. Sometimes I will spend hours blogging... commenting commenting. I do like to reply on the comments on my own blog, BUT on the other hand you are a large blog and the number of comments you get are pretty amazing. I think people appreciate it more if you visit their blog then reply to their comment.
DeleteI don't know if you follow Bookish Heart but she was just talking about the same thing as you. Too many comments and she just couldn't respond to each and everyone. I think... by reading your post... that blogs that have a lot of followers just have to cut time somewhere. And comments might have to be that place. Simply the main reason to me is because who comes back and reads replies????? The night I wrote this post I was replying to a bunch of comments and it was taking a lot of time and I thought to myself.. are they even going to read this long reply I am writing??? If I ever start to feel overwhelmed on my blog (like you) I hate to say it but the first thing I would probably cut is replying to comments on my own blog. I would instead skip that and just click on the person and visit their blog.
Thank you for giving us your point of view. I wouldn't feel so guilty. LOL! Anytime I have commented on your blog you have always come back and commented on mine. I know what it is like to look for a job. It's HELL! Truly HELL! I suppose maybe if I used twitter more discussions would continue there but I really don't use it enough. I feel like if I started to that it would take time from my blog. I mean... here I am blogging instead of reading or watching the movie I have on TV right now! Love your blog Jamie!!
Omg, I just Googled this topic because I was thinking the exact same thing! I just started my book blog last month and have had plenty of comments to keep me busy as a newbie. I then realized, "oh, no one is commenting on my responses. How do I fix this?
ReplyDeleteI considered IntenseDebate & Disqus. (I like sticking with Blogger for design purposes- I feel that it's easier than Wordpress when you don't have the money to spend.) I thought about how many people actually click the "Notify Me" button... I doubt very many. (I only recently discovered it myself a few months before starting my blog.) After reading through pretty much all of your comments on this post... I'm pretty dedicated to the topic, I think Disqus seems to be the one that most people actually go back and check because of the notification. Even though I love IntenseDebate on other blogs because of their "recent post" link-back, I really can't decide right now.
I'm not going to worry about old comments not switching because of a malfunction... I don't need any more stress in my life! I think I will give it a couple of days thought, maybe try Disqus for a while and see what happens.
I love your blog by the way! We have a lot in common. :)
Well hey! Good to know I am coming up in the google search engine. WOOT WOOT! If you do switch to Disqus I want to know how it goes. Be sure to come back by here and let me know. I too like Blogger and one of the main reasons is that it's free. Coming up with a good way for people to follow the comment system though is one thing Blogger needs to work on. Only about a year ago did they finally add in the reply button to comments. You just to have to start a whole new post to reply to people.
DeleteI almost exclusively go back if there's some sort of commenting system, usually wordpress or disqus. Sometimes I'll notice that I'm not getting notifications for comment replies on a blog I read regularly and check out old posts when I'm visiting new ones, but not often.
ReplyDeleteThat is good to know!! It seems that the commenting system on wordpress works really really well. Those who use it are really happy with it. I am guessing that all the people who picked the answer "use a different commenting system" are talking about wordpress. I was wondering what the answer would be but since there really aren't a lot of commenting programs out there I bet that is what they are using.
DeleteGreat topic! I do reply on the people that left a comment on my post, but on other people's blogs, I don't reply to the reply, but I DO read the reply.
ReplyDeleteLeigh
Little Book Star
littlebookstar.wordpress.com
Great to know!!
DeleteI always try to read all the replys and comments that I get! Lately I've been disheartened at the fact that I haven't received any comments on blog posts! Any tips to get people to comment more?
ReplyDeleteTo get people to comment more???? Hummm.. now that is a hard one. I find (and it seems a lot of bloggers find this too) that people don't really comment on reviews. This is because people either read reviews if 1. they've already read the book or 2. they plan to read the book. If the book is not on their radar they don't usually stop by and even comment on it. That is why sometimes bloggers will only review what's popular. Usually discussions posts get the most comments. It's because people can just talk. Meme's will also get a lot of comments but they are usually generic ones. " I like your list", "come follow my blog", things like that. You may get a lot of comments from those but they really aren't comments with substance. Hope this helps!
DeleteI also noticed you have captcha on. This can turn away people from commenting especially if they comment on a lot of blogs. FYI
DeleteI am absolutely HORRIBLE at checking back for replies. I want to read the replies but I have a hard time keeping track of where I've left replies. Plus, sometimes I will remember to check back and the blogger hasn't replied yet (which I get - it takes me a few days sometimes to respond because life happens). I'm on WordPress so I use Comment Luv to send notifications to people when I reply to their comments and I've noticed people do come back. And I really appreciate blogs that have some system setup that lets me know when they've responded (like CommentLuv or Disqus). I used to try and click the Notify Me of new replies button, but the problem was that I'd get every comment on the post emailed to me, rather than just a response to my own. And while I totally wish I had time to read everyone's blog comments, I don't. So if there's no system for letting me know my comment has been replied to, I probably don't get back to it unless I was really really dying for an answer to a question. Awesome post!!
ReplyDeleteI am horrible too..... unless it's a blog I normally follow. Then we I go back to their blog I'll look around and see what their reply was. I agree... that notify me feature should ONLY be for the conversation between two people not the entire commenting community. But of course... you can't suggest anything to blogger because that is like talking to a wall. There really isn't anyone there since it is a free service. It's like facebook. This post is the first time where I have thought about and considered switching to wordpress.
DeleteWhat do you know - I remembered to check back! LOL
DeleteI didn't really have any problems with Blogger, but I didn't like the way I was so restricted. The reasons I switched were commenting, Ashley's UBB plugin and the customizability of plugins in general. I'm glad I made the switch, though I totally understand why it's not for everyone (money being a prominent reason!).
Love this post. I do tend to go back and read if someone replied to what I wrong but I never comment again. I just don't want to be annoying and talk to much. I don't do it to every comment just ones that I either asked a question or a comment that would require a comment back. I know on my blog I comment on everyone comments to me and I haven't seen anyone come back. I'm usually just happy someone comments or read my post it really is what matters to me more than the pageviews also :)
ReplyDeleteFantastic Post
See... no one does seem to come back. But it makes your blog look better if you reply to people. So it's like a double edged sword. You lose if you don't reply, you lose (time) if you do reply. I do think though you shouldn't worry about talking too much. People want comments on their blog, they are blogging to get people thinking and wanting to talk about books! So comment away I say!
DeleteGreat discussion post! Like several others, I usually forget where I've left replies so rarely go back to check. I've started leaving replies to the comments on my blog, but also use it to remind myself that I've visited their blog and returned the comment love. I wish there was some easy way to know that there's a new reply waiting!
ReplyDeleteI agree.. I always try to return to the love to another blog. I think people appreciate that more then replying to someone. Great idea though about reminding yourself whether or not you've visited that blog. I really think that is a good plan. Sometimes if I have a lot of comments I forget who I visited and go to blogs twice and it would save me time if I followed your example! Thanks!
DeleteI love comments on my blog!
ReplyDeleteI always reply to comments on my blog and since a month or so I have the 'bloggers commenting back' button on my blog and do my best to visit every blog from someone who commented on mine. Sometimes if I make a comment I check back, it also depends on what the comment was about.
I also check back with disqus sometimes, but then it's more like I am visitng blog B and see the blogger of blog A replied to my comment. I really should get better at checking back to see if my comments has gotten a reply.
I have been seeing that "bloggers commenting back" button on the blogs this week. That is a nice thing to do. In fact... I think I am going to add that button to my blog today too!!
DeleteThis is a late reply but I rarely go back to a blog to see the owner's reply not because I am lazy or uninterested. It's because I comment on a lot of blogs especially during meme hops and it's very hard to keep track.
ReplyDeleteThe easiest ways for me to monitor replies would be that of the wordpress feature wherein you instantly get an e-mail notifying you that that the owner has replied to your post. Disqus is also good too because of the e-mail notification. Once I received them, I always read them but well, I don't always reply to them. It really depends. If I think the convo is already finished then I wouldn't reply back. However, if the owner's reply has still some questions or some areas that needed further probing, then I wouldn't hesitate to reply back.
And like you, I always ensure that I comment back to those blogs who comment on mine. Sometimes, it may take me long but yeah, I always visit back.
This is an interesting discussion. I think I usually try to go back to see what the reply to my comment was, but often it's difficult to keep track of everyplace I commented. However, I hardly ever reply back to the reply to my comment. I think the only times I do is when I feel like I have something substantial to say. It's something I'd definitely like to work on though.
ReplyDeleteWhile Disqus doesn't work on my blog or Intense Debate, I have had commenters return after I have responded. I make a point of responding to every comment. I have a small blog so I figure it's the least I can do if someone takes the time to comment. I have returned to other blogs too from time to time, to respond to their response, especially if I have asked a question. Often I just bookmark it or...occasionally, just remember it later and then return.
ReplyDeleteI recently added Disqus to my blog. I had it Blogger comments. I wasn't able to respond anymore to each comment... like you I respond to every comment (you can probably tell the comments on this post are confusing but that's because Disqus can't thread blogger comments). I am sorry that those commenting systems don't work on your blog.. it was nice to have a back up commenting system when the Blogger one quit working.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the Disqus camp. Sometimes I remember to go check back for comments but sometimes I just forget! Disqus makes everything better.
ReplyDeleteSo I have wordpress, so I don't really have the same issue, but I do read all comments and actually expect that people will read mine and respond to them. Good discussion!
ReplyDeleteThank you for linking up to the Spread the Love Linky Party! Even though it’s my last week of hosting, April @ The Steadfast Reader will be taking over, which is super exciting! More info to come. . . :D
I don't go back to the blog to see if someone replied to my comment. I really don't even keep track of which posts I have commented on and when. But, if a commenting service emails me that my comment has a reply, I'll go click on that link and read it at the time.
ReplyDeleteI am glad to hear that someone else will be continuing the Love Linky Party!! I thought it was just gone for good. This was my first week participating in it too! LOL! The wordpress comment system is good for wordpress users but as a Blogger user I don't get notifications for it. So I have to remember to go back to that post and check on it to see the comments. So it is similar to the blogger commenting system to me as far as replies. I will say that I have a huge jump in replies to replies after switching to Disqus!
ReplyDeleteI don't really think anyone goes back and checks on comments and replies I have learned from this post. I have noticed though a HUGE jump in replies to replies with Disqus. It is really nice actually!!
ReplyDeleteSee? Disqus brought me back! :)
ReplyDeleteI really only read the replies when they come to my mailbox, like from Disqus.
ReplyDeleteMissie @ A Flurry of Ponderings
Since writing this post, I switched to Disqus. I can say without a doubt that there is a BIG change in people coming back and commenting on my replies to their comments. It has really been amazing and I am really glad I made the switch!!
ReplyDeleteComments and replies are important to make our discussion more clear.We always want answers and replies from others.I try to check all comments back comments to know what reply I got.I enjoy to talk with others.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.onelifeblog.com/
Great reply.... I agree. The reason we blog is to communicate with people about a subject and talk about it. Well most of us blog for that reason.
ReplyDelete