Not long ago, Damyianti from the blog Daily(w)rite posted this:
If you could give just One #blogging tip, what would it be?
Many commented on quality content. While that is the foundation of a good blog, I also believe that responding to comments on my posts and commenting on fellow blogger posts is as important.
I’m not the only one. Amy A. Corron had this to say:
I have found that the blogs I enjoy the most are the ones where the blogger consistently responds to commenters. I have unfollowed several blogs just because I would comment regularly and the blogger NEVER replied to any comments. I find this rather snobbish, rude and off-putting. So, if you want to get a good following on your blog and build relationships with readers, I would suggest treating comments with respect and trying your best to respond to them, even if it’s just to say “thanks for stopping by”.
So, here’s the thing.
As much as I LOVE blogging and communicating with fellow bloggers, I find that it takes up an awful lot of time.
source: Standing the Test of Time
Carol Balawyder 
Carol – Really interesting question. i don’t always feel I have something to add to others’ blog posts, but when I do, I think commenting is important for a number of reasons. One is of course that the topic is something I want to add to; another is that I know how much work people put into their blogs. I like to acknowledge that.
As to my own blog, I consider it no more than courteous to respond to each blog comment, unless it’s specifically directed at another person who’s commented. To do otherwise (to me) is as rude is ignoring someone who’s speaking directly to you. But that’s must my view.
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I agree with you regarding the rudeness.
I also feel like you do that sometimes I don’t have anything to comment on but I like the post and so I’ll merely put a “like”.
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I love to comment on other people’s blogs – if I read or see something that really hits me, why not share how much I enjoyed it with them? I also respond to everyone who comments on my posts- I think it is rude not to- they took the time to comment, I feel it should be acknowledged. I have also formed “relationships” with the people who routinely comment, which is an added bonus in my eyes. 🙂
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In my opinion it’s the comments and responses to comments that are the glue of a blogging community.
It’s also a give and take relationship. When someone takes the time to comment on my post I find it only courteous to respond.
And when I read a post I really like and feel I’ve something to say I like to put in my two cents worth…or with inflation is it now ten cents worth?
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🙂
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While I don’t consider blogging a full-time job, I do consider writing as a second career, and I take it seriously whether it’s putting in the time to write or responding to comments on my blog.
Alana hit the nail on the head. Blogging (to me) is about building relationships and that means responding to comments on my blog.
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Your comment made me think how posting for me is also writing and each time I post I’m improving (I hope) my writing style.
And yes, building relationships is really the core of blogging.
As usual, thanks, Elke for reading and commenting 🙂
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I do not have nearly the amounts that you speak of, but I do cherish every single comment I get and no matter how big my blog gets, I always will. I know we are all so busy, and each comment takes time to write so it must be appreciated. I set aside a special time each morning to respond. I try not to post another post until my last post is responded to. I feel funny writing more and hoping for comments when I have not responded to the prior post’s comments.. If I have not acknowledged the gift of their comments before posting again, I feel quite ungrateful. Do I miss days….sadly, occasionally. But, I know, because I have tried to be so very faithful to those that follow and comment, that they give me grace on my off days. I hope that answers your question. Have a lovely day!
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What a lovely comment. Your soul shines through. Thank you for reading, Skye 🙂
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I love comments!! We are all blogging, which is actually quite a personal thing to do, putting your thoughts and ideas out into the web. To get something back is amazing. It is the ripple effect of your concious thought.
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I like the way you put it. It’s like karma.
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I respond to every comment (except the occasional comment that slips through the cracks). I stop commenting on blogs where I feel as if I’m “talking to myself” because no reply is forthcoming.
I would rather have a smaller pool of followers who comment . . . than an enormous pool of “silent admirers.”
I did a post about “comments” today too ~ from people who are really reading our words.
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Neat…great minds think alike 🙂
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I agree that replying to commenters is extremely important. Otherwise it looks as though you don’t care what they have to say and you’re just writing your posts for yourself.
In as far as the social network world goes, I think the blogosphere is more of a community than any of the others. I have built up what I feel are some solid online friendships through my blog.
I may at times be slow responding to comments, but I do try to make sure I respond to people who take the time to not only read, but leave a comment on my blog. It means a lot to me to read those comments.
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I agree that the blogosphere is more of a community than any of the other social networks. I am very grateful for the community I have and truly appreciate reading comments. Thank you for reading and for your insight. 🙂
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Hi, Carol. Keeping up with my blog comments is both fun and challenging, especially now that my following has grown. I find that I can’t post as often, because I made a promise to myself that if I’m not available to respond to comments, then I won’t post until I can. It’s difficult finding the balance. Full time job? Not now, that’s for sure…family and friends come first!
Thanks for posting this relevant topic!
Elisa
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Thanks for reading and commenting, Elisa. I find your promise to not post if you’re not available to respond to comments very honorable.
Thanks for contributing to a healthy blogging environment. 🙂
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Impossible to treat my blog as a full time job since my real job takes up 4 days out of every week. I think about 98% of my followers rarely have time to read even 2% of what I write, so when someone actually reads and comments! that is a very big deal. I do try really hard to answer but I’m less than perfect and sometimes really suck at getting it done. Having hundreds of followers has never been worth all the work to me, but having a loyal few who take the time to talk to me is very very sweet. I also like people who like and say nothing. Because I am very guilty of being one of those people myself.
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Thanks for reading and commenting. I really like your comments, especially about having a loyal few who take the time to talk to you…
I too like the “like” button. Sometimes you just don’t have time to comment or have nothing to comment on a certain post but you’re telling the blogger that you like to follow their blog.
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Pingback: Fly By Nighters | Spirit Lights The Way
Thanks for the link on your post 🙂
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Blogging is about reciprocal relationships, no doubt, and I agree, leaving comments that go unanswered can be off-putting. That’s why I tend to close out comments if I put up a short post but can’t respond to comments that day. I feel bad doing that, but I’d feel worse if I couldn’t answer the comments.
But you’re right–it’s time-consuming. I devote a set number of hours to social media per day (much less on the weekends) and then have to cut myself off. Otherwise I’d never get anything else done. But opting out isn’t an option for those of us who are marketing. Plus, it’s always fun seeing what others have to say.
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I too have to cut myself off because there are so many interesting posts out there that if I don’t manage my time then I won’t get any writing done (or anything else, such as :housework, cooking, or just going outside).
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I can’t get to every post the bloggers I follow publish, but I try to stop in at least weekly since that’s the frequency in which I post. Usually. I didn’t post last week. Sometimes I get lazy…
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I do treat it as a secondary job, and give the comments made there the respect they deserve by responding in as timely a fashion as I can.
I’m like you in my thoughts on comments and the courtesy of a reply.
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Thanks for reading and commenting. Respect is a valuable commodity. 🙂
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I love getting comments – it makes me feel like I’ve been heard. I also enjoy getting responses to my comments because it feels like a conversation in which I’ve been heard. I enjoy that sense of community that it creates where you feel like you are getting to know each other. A feeding of energy back and forth.
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It’s true, Diahann, responding to comments is a way to get to know each other beyond our writing. I also like comments. I find them motivating. And when I prepare posts I always hope that my posts will bring something to those who read them.
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I respond to every comment on my own blog, but rarely comment on other blogs, although I read and ‘like’. I wish there were were more hours in a day!
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Yes…more hours in a day. It does take a chunk of time to write comments. And, although I tend to like to write comments (if I feel I have something to say), sometimes I’ll just put a “like” because of lack of time. We are living in a time when everyone wants our attention and so we have to pick and choose wisely. I think. 🙂
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I usually respond to comments on my blogs, but I can’t respond immediately. It might take a day or so, but I do. I used to panic about not responding immediately, but I think my readers understand that I may be tied up with my office job, et al — and I do acknowledge.
If I comment on others’ blogs and never hear back, I pretty much ease up on my commenting and just “like” their blogs (if, in fact, I do). ~Susan
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I don’t think it’s necessary to respond right away.
I too tend to ease up on commenting on bloggers I never hear back.
Thanks for reading, Susan and for commenting.
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Responding to comments is really important. While I was in Manchester and York, I could respond only little. Afterwards I tried to catch up with all comments.
When visiting other blogs, I occasionally refrain from commenting – if there are already comments stating what I would say. In these cases, I at least like the blog post and the respective comment(s). Carol, if you recommend to post a comment anyway – please let me know. I would really appreciate your advice on this. 🙂
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I’m really not an expert on this and i think if you read the comments on this post you’ll find some excellent advice.
I too will only comment if I have something to add or simply to leave the blogger a little note as to how much I liked her/his post. I find it’s a touch more personal than a “like”. But I don’t dismiss “likes” I do it all the time, with or without a comment. 🙂
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Thank you, Carol. 🙂
It is definitely more personal to leave a comment. In some cases, I might not really have something to contribute – then I rather comment somthing like ‘Thank you, …’ My “likes” always mean that I really liked the blog post.
It is always a pleasure to discuss with you, Carol. 🙂
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The feeling is mutual. 🙂
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Thank you! 🙂
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This is a fascinating post Carol. I always reply to comments on my own blog, as I believe people who’ve taken the time to give feedback deserve nothing less.
Also, I think it is important to comment on other posts that resonate with me – blogging is about connecting with one another, a wonderful feedback loop that I love being part of!
Oh, and I wish I had time to treat my blog like a full-time job. There’s so much more I’d love to do if I could.
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Blogging can be so captivating and enriching.
Like you, I like the contact with other bloggers. They become online friends and I find that they are usually very positive and encouraging souls. 🙂
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I am fairly new here and have a smaller number or followers…so it’s very easy to follow up. Having said that…I do have a much larger following in my fb pages and I make sure that I acknowledge every comment that appears on a current post. I keep scrolling back periodically down here at wp and at fb to see if there is a new comment that I need to reply to. In my understanding…Acknowledgment is what it is all about – for a blogger, for a commenter and for any human being 🙂 🙂
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Thank you for reading and commenting. I posted the question because I really wondered how those bloggers who 500 plus followers tend to respond to their posts. Of course, not everybody that follows reads my post. I know this because more than half my “followers” never respond either with a like or a comment. But that’s okay. It’s better to have people who are really interested in what I post.
I like your last line about acknowledgement…we are all human beings sharing wp and this planet…:)
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Oh, dear — I suspect I fall down on commenting, I’m afraid. Must do better!
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Not a problem 🙂
Thanks for reading and commenting…
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I reply to comments on my blog whenever I get them, though most of the time I get more “likes” than actual comments.
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Ah…next time I’m on your blog I’ll be sure to leave a comment.
Thanks for reading and commenting. 🙂
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Ha, sure thing. Not a problem.
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It think it’s great the way you’re bringing this up for discussion, Carol.
At first blogging and commenting reminded me of a wheel that had to be turned to keep up the motion. Then I realised, so are relationships in real life, and blogging is a wonderful way to share thoughts and receive feedback. You have a lot of comments about bloggers being busy, what do you think of posts that go for pages?
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I tend not to read them…It’s really a question of time and I think that blogging is not twitter but not a novella either.
Everybody has busy lives and I think we, as bloggers, have to take that into consideration.
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Good point! 🙂
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🙂
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I have only about 400 followers, and I have a feeling a lot of them are salespeople trying to get me to follow them. I don’t get a lot of responses, although I do end a number of blogs with a question or ask for an opinion. I answer everyone who makes a comment, and I try and make a comment on those blogs I do follow. I truly appreciate and enjoy the people that talk to me…it’s like having found a new friend. I hope someday to have a bigger following, but as you say, it’s a job that deserves a lot of work and attention, something I don’t always have.. Like others, I have other writings and a full time job that takes over sometimes, too. I appreciate reading all the other responses.
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400 followers is quite a lot. I have about 275 and I’m grateful that not even half of them respond or probably don’t read my posts. I’d be up all night responding to comments otherwise. I don’t know how those who have over 1,000 followers do it.
But as you say…a lot of them might be salespeople.
Thanks for reading and commenting. 🙂
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With followers such as “Columbian Beauties” following me, I think your “numbers” are alot more on the mark. But if I can connect with one reader with every blog, its made my day. Don’t you feel that way too?
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Yes, I do think so.Not every post will be of interest to everyone. We all have different tastes. But it is nice to know that some people like what I post.
Seems to me that “Columbian Beauties” also follow me as well. 🙂
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Have no choice: it is like a full time job only at night time for me for the day job puts bread on table 😀 As to comments I make a point of replying to all even if with brief acknowledgement, the comments that I suspect come from trolls or are insulting etc to individuals etc I simply delete and I have published Disclaimer and Comment Rule/Policy on bottom the site so the commentator knows in advance what the rules are. Cheers
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I’ve never really had insulting comments. Cross my fingers. But if I did I would delete them for sure. I don’t want that kind of energy around me.
I am really grateful for the quality of the bloggers in my blogging community. I learn so much about so many different aspects of life. It’s very enriching for me. I’m sure it is for you as well; otherwise why do it?
Thanking you for reading and commenting. 🙂
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Trolls can be a pain but we learn to not feed them by deleting or moderating their comments 😀
Cheers
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Sometimes I feel like I work on it full time. 🙂 I try very hard to respond to comments left on my blog. And I always return the comment. If someone comments on my post, I comment back, even if it takes me a little while, but most times it doesn’t. I cherish my blogging friendships. And content is important, but personality just the same. I love seeing a blogger’s personality in the post, something about them that stands out.
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I know exactly what you mean about blogging taking a lot of time. But, I sense in your comment that you really enjoy it and I think this is why we do it…for the sheer joy and pleasure of communicating with others and getting to develop friendships that enrich our lives.
Thanks for reading and commenting. I do appreciate it. 🙂
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Love this post Carol! I agree with you 100%. If we take the time to blog and hope for people to read our words and they read and comment, I certainly believe they should be acknowledged. Blogging is a part-time job for many of us who visit our own and other people’s blogs regularly. I enjoy reading many blogs and learn from many of them as well. I always find it interesting to see that many blogs you and I both follow, particularly all of the ones you have mentioned in this post. Thanks for putting it out there to serve as a courtesy reminder for those who may have overlooked the value in readership. I find that I have abandoned blogs as well in the past after several visits and comments and never receiving a reply or a simple thank you. 🙂
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Thank you for reading and responding. Your comments are precious to me. The comments I got on this post are amazing. People do care! At least those bloggers I follow.Blogging is a give and take. You can’t always be a taker or as you said, people will abandon you. It takes time to built a friendship and the friendships developed online are no different than offline. 🙂
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Absolutely true. I treasure my writing friends like you, I have made online. The world of writers is a unique one and one of which many of my ‘real life’ friends can’t begin to comprehend. It is great to get feedback and learn new things from fellow writers and bloggers. 🙂
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Indeed it is. Many of my friends are non writers and so don’t “get it”. I sometimes feel embarrassed to tell my friends when they call and ask me what I’m doing: I say “working” or “writing” Seems i’m always doing that.
I can sense a sigh on the other line. 🙂
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Sounds so much like me and my friends. Many think because we say we are working and may be home in our sweat pants writing, they can’t wrap their heads around the word work. Ahh, misunderstood writers. 🙂
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Once again, an excellent topic, Carol. I have often thought the very same. How could you have so many followers and get back to them? It would be a full time job. Life is much too busy and things happen. I am happy with the few that follow me and that we connect in a special way.
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Yes, I think this is a choice that one must make at some point. I have what I consider quite a few “followers” but many are not active. As it is, responding to comments from “active” followers does take up a lot of time. But this is not a complaint. I enjoy communicating with all of them. They all enrich my life one way or another, including you , my dear friend, 🙂
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I do see it as a full time job, but it is a full time job which I enjoy. I also value the communication with other bloggers or anyone who comments on my blog posts. I may be late in replying sometimes, but I will definitely reply. We learn so much through our connection and communication with one another, especially when it is real and sincere. I always value that 🙂
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Enjoyment, I think, is why we blog. Blogging opened up for me a whole new world. Without it, I never would have met you and so many other wonderful people from different parts of the world. I never would have learned what you’re teaching me about Malaysia and your personal journeys. Thank you so much for your posts and for reading mine. 🙂
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The pleasure is mine, Carol. I learn just as much, if not more, from reading your posts and others as well. This is what beauty means to me – when we enrich one another in more ways than one. So, thank you 🙂
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🙂
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Carol – I’ve enjoyed reading the discussion about replying to a blog commenter. I personally believe it’s my responsibility to answer each commenter, however I often don’t make the comment on the same day. I’ve wrestled with the question of what do you do when your audience grows and you feel as though the control is slipping away. I’m still new enough that I easily remember how easy it was to stay caught up and even have several blogs written in advance. I’m now down to posting one blog a week and yes to your question about it being a full-time job. I can’t call or make blogging a full-time job but I believe that’s what it would require of me to accomplish all that I’d like to accomplish. Great topic!
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Thanks for reading and commenting. Like you, I have so many ideas for posts. I get great satisfaction out of blogging, reading comments as well as responding to them. either on my blog posts or on others.
As it is now, I don’t regard it as a full-time job – nor a job at all. Perhaps if my number of followers increase that will be different as I truly believe that comments need to be treated with respect.
Thanks for following my blog. I gratefully appreciate it.
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Great advice, thank you for sharing!
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Your welcome. 🙂
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Commenting, to me, is THE most important part – the interaction with other bloggers is what makes WordPress a place worth writing on. For me it is a part time job, though when I was guest posting for Opinionated Man, who has 34,000 followers, it was a full-time gig. But it’s fun! And so it doesn’t seem like work at all. 🙂
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I very much enjoy receiving comments (‘likes’, too) – and reviews – so I try to respond to them as soon as possible, the comments anyway, as I don’t think it’s a good policy to argue with reviewers if it’s a bad review or thank a reviewer for a good review. But I digress.
I comment on others’ blogs selectively if the subject matter inspires or I feel I have something constructive to add. That’s the really good thing about comments, in that they can add to the substance of a blog post and generate some lively back and forth. Or, as you put it so well: ‘the glue of a blogging community.’
Also, I’m with nrhatch: “I would rather have a smaller pool of followers who comment . . . than an enormous pool of ‘silent admirers’.”
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Thanks for reading and commenting. This post generated a lot of response, which is a good thing – it makes me feel that I’m building the “right” type of community – one with respect as a value. And, like you, I too would much prefer to have a smaller number of true followers – quality over quantity. 🙂
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For me that interaction is one of the most enjoyable parts of blogging. But as you know, the time required to answer all comments can be extensive! And I’m afraid that if I treated blogging as a full-time job, then my writing would suffer drastically. Ultimately, the time constraints are why I dropped to one post per week (with occasional specials). I can’t keep up with bloggers who post more than two times per week. These days, I’m less likely to follow someone who posts more frequently than that, and if I do, I won’t visit every post. If the day ever came when I received a hundred or more comments on every post, I’d really have to think about how to approach them.
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Thanks for reading and responding. I feel exactly as you do. I’m now posting twice a week but when I finish my Writers’ Desks series I think I’ll only post once a week.
I too, can’t keep up with bloggers who post frequently. There’s just so many hours in a day and as you said…you have to keep time for your writing.
I think it’s also important that bloggers who post often know that just because other bloggers don’t read every post doesn’t mean they don’t like their blog.:)
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I really care about keeping in touch by commenting when I have something to say and I only use the like button if I have actually read the post and thought it valuable, but either have no comment or no time. Recently I have felt really stretched as I always have a backlog of posts to read and these are only the ones on email. I’m afraid I have not even looked at my reader for a few weeks. As I post on different subjects I assume that some bogglers (spellcheck!) bloggers will only respond to the relevant ones. I just wish I had as many parallel lives as I have interests. I notice some bloggers close the comments after a while, this may keep things in bounds.
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Time is so precious and so I try to use it well. I understand about the backlog of posts to read. But we can’t do everything. To comment on everyone’s post in our readers would be exhausting and I’m not certain fruitful either.I think we have to be selective.
I find comments very useful and motivating and so I would hate to close comments but I can understand why some bloggers do. I can’t imagine having thousands of comments to respond to.
And sometimes we don’t have a comment to make.
Thanks for reading and for taking the time to comment. 🙂
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Carol, I enjoyed this post and perspective. It was helpful. I really wish that the years I stayed home and babysat, from my children’s young ages of 6 months, 1 1/2 years and 3 years old until they were all off into school, that I had had blogging as my refuge! I could have written about the battered womens’ shelter where I was a child advocate before desperate times and bad marriage sent me into another town, midway from an ex and my parents, not one soul did I know. The writing of it now, though, gives me a little distance and clarity. I think writing is wonderful but I would not necessarily be able to ever have given it the time to make it my full time job! Maybe if I ever hit the lottery! Those days with five children plus my three little ones, all hitting the road to parks, swimming, jazz, dance and gymnastic lessons were probably harried enough without blogging added to it! Smiles, Robin
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One thing I like about blogging is learning about other bloggers’ personal lives. It’s really a gift when they let us in.
Yes, too bad we can’t go back into the past and re-play it another way. I admire your courage to bring up 3 children and 5 others. It must have been hectic at times and you surely wouldn’t have had time to blog.
On another note, I noticed that your posts of April 4 and 5 didn’t have the comments button turned on.
I really liked your poems that came out from listening to music and the relationship you write about with you an your parents. And your father sitting in the back seat really being present for his grandchildren. It was very touching. 🙂
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I have over 400 followers at Veggies…and almost 200 at My Poetic Path, in addition to my Blogger review blog readers. That’s a lot of blogs and readers to keep up with but I try my best.
I think it’s important to visit bloggers who are kind enough to leave comments at my blogs. Sometimes I don’t get to all the ones who just LIKE a post but I try to do that when I have the time too.
I was glad to note that you have a recent post list on your sidebar Carol. Sometimes I get to your home page and don’t know where to go from there to see new posts. Hopefully the commenting glitch has worked itself out too, this seems to be going through so far!
Thanks for your kind words re: Laughing AT the Grim Reaper: Gems of Wisdom for Aging Well. It’s great to have another book project completed and avail at Amazon. 🙂
Happy Weekend. G
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Geraldine, I can see with 600 followers how time consuming it can be to respond to comments or leave comments. 🙂
I would think it’s at times overwhelming.
I do think that the comment glitch has worked itself out. Hopefully.
Thanks for reading and commenting. 🙂
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In this post, it’s tempting to cover it all…yes, there is a lot to talk.
#1 Love it…and focus
#2 Blogging karma
#3 Make sharing easy
#4 Get on Pinterest!
#5 Organize your time
#6 Quality content
#7 Open up a little
#8 Build relationships
#9 Work on photography
#10 Don’t play the comparison game
Embrace what you have and what you have accomplished with your blog. It’s your space and no one else’s. Set goals for yourself…weekly, monthly, annually…and rejoice as you meet each one along the way.
There’s always going to be someone who has a “bigger and better” blog. But it’s not your blog, is it? Love what you have created and be proud of it.
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Thanks for the pep talk. 🙂 What did you mean by open up a little?
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Hi Carol, I appreciate your comments. Here is my explanation by ” open up a little” – #7 Open up a little – How much you share is completely up to you.
However, do keep in mind that your readers probably want to get to know you beyond the face they see in your smilebox. Sharing funny anecdotes or thoughts on daily challenges, or sharing a journey that you traveled can be both entertaining and inspiring. Let people relate to you. Let them see that your life is not always picture perfect.
I hope I was able to answer your question.
Cheers;
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Thanks…Good advice. Have a Happy week. 🙂
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It’s always difficult for me to make comments. I never know what to say most of the time. I love replying though. It’s strange. I’m loving the new colour by the way!
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Thanks, Ojima, for just being here. 🙂
I’m in the process of thinking about redoing my home page. I fell it needs more zap to it…
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What an interesting question and responses. Strange, as only today I was reflecting on my blog and how important it has become to me! Why? Because of the likes, feedback and comments I receive. I am a micro blogger (Hmm like that term!) compared with others but have to say that if the day comes when I cannot respond to a comment on my blog then the day has come to stop blogging.
PS thanks for stopping by humble blog and taking the time to “like”!
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Carol, firstly, thanks for getting the different viewpoints for this topic. Personally, I cannot imagine what it is to have 10,000 readers! I can fully understand why that would be a full time job in writing and communicating with your following.
I don’t have the full time to write, but I feel, for me, it is nice to let the people who make the time to “speak” with me know how much it means to me and that it is greatly appreciated. Not every remark, every time, may seem appropriate, but when in good taste and supportive, I am very thankful for the encouragement and interaction. Thanks!
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Thank you for reading and commenting. I know 10,000 readers would be more than a full time job for me.
Encouragement and interaction are really precious for a writer and blogging fills that gap.
Hope you’re enjoying your day/evening 🙂
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Thanks for posting this Carol. It is important to acknowledge comments. I think as with any other part of writing it gets easier with time. I don’t know how that person with 10,000 followers does it though. I have a much smaller and more intimate following. 😉
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I also prefer an intimate following. Thank you for reading and have a very Happy Easter Weekend. 🙂
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You as well!
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Easter is a promise of joy and renewal
May this one before us
Marks a new beginning
Of happiness, love and prosperity.
Wishing you all a Happy Easter!
With love Maxima
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I absolutely love my followers and if they take the time to comment then I feel an obligation to respond out of appreciation. I hope I never take my followers for granted and that being said; I would also like to let you know what an honor it is to have your following my blog!
The more my followers comment the more I am reminded to pray for them as my dog and I take our daily walk with God. Comments unveil the mask behind the sterile name. What could be more intimate over the net than that? (How I hope you will comment in the future because I would love to get to know the lady behind the brilliant smile better too 🙂 ) Blessings,
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Hi Carol. I’ve nominated you for two awards which you can find out about on my site. I hope you accept awards because you certainly bring sunshine and light to all in a very versatile way. Blessings,
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Hi Ellie,
As I’ve commented on your blog, I’m gratefully declining your nomination. I just find it too difficult to select ten bloggers. I hope that you understand and I greatly appreciate your thinking of me. 🙂
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Carol, thanks so much for commenting on my blog and for taking the time to find me, read my posts, and let me know what you think. I came to reply and have a look around – which I try to do with new likes/comments etc., – as often as I can – and found this thread. I have a lot of followers but cannot engage with each one personally, every time they post. I do have regulars who engage with me so I do get to chat a lot with them. When I can, I follow up new likes and thank them which leaves the door open for them to come back, and I do follow them back, and drop in and out when I can, to see what they are doing. If I get overwhelmed or have not been able to thank people personally for a while, I will post a general thanks to show my appreciation and this is often well received. I have also been declining awards for the same reasons; no time and it is hard to find the number of bloggers I need to engage with to carry out the tasks. I do take part in blog hops/guest author spots now and again as this helps move traffic around and creates opportunities for bloggers, readers, and authors to discover new writers and common interests. Appreciate your visit, am following you now. Good luck and have a great year. 🙂
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Thanks for stopping by and commenting. So happy to have you as a fellow blogger. I too at times feel overwhelmed in responding to other bloggers’ posts and sometimes (this is especially true with bloggers who post everyday or more) I can’t seem to keep up. But it’s never because I don’t appreciate what their posting. Something else: sometimes I have to pull away from the blog and focus on my writing. 🙂
Look forward to following your blog. 🙂
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I agree that it takes substantial time to respond to comments. I love the comments though! It’s one of my favorite parts of blogging, actually. The relationships formed are so beautiful, and that comes not only from the posts themselves but from the remarks left at the end of them. Great post, Carol ❤
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