Friends,
I have been blogging for almost 2 years now and think I have found the 'style' that works for me, which is:
- Participate in Memes and comment - I try to respond to all those that I already follow during memes and when a meme has 50 or less participants I will respond to all most times.
- Visiting and Commenting on blogs, my favourites and others I have followed at some point
- Those that comment that are new to me, I will go visit their blog and most times comment
I am always looking at ways to improve so would like to know: (Please participate in Poll - sidebar)
- Do you go back to blogs to see if they commented back to you?
- If you ask a question, do you come back for the answer or prefer a response on your blog or an email?
- Do you like email responses to comments? (BTW - I love this from my favourite bloggers because it helps to build relationships but I find it odd from bloggers I don't really know, unless they are responding to a query)
How do you think I can improve more with networking? I am up for suggestions.
Thank you for the comments and feedback. I appreciate you. Bloggers have really changed my life and added in many ways, like my unbelievable TBR and Wishlist :-)
Reading overall is my escapism.
NOTE: For new bloggers. If you want genuine followers, comment, I am amazed by how many followers I have had for almost the whole time of blogging that still comment. I am happy with my approx 300 followers and getting approx 7 - 12 comments on each post, I find that rewarding but know it is only because I have also tried to be a good networking blogger.
I don't expect a reply for every comment a leave, so I don't reply to every comment I receive. I do appreciate all of them, though. I think everyone has to do what works best for them.
ReplyDeleteQ: Does this style work for you? Do you feel I show appreciation or recognition for you as a blogger?
ReplyDeleteA: I don't like that route. Usually because by then I've forgotten what I said and need a little reminder.
Q: Do you go back to blogs to see if they commented back to you? If you ask a question, do you come back for the answer or prefer a response on your blog or an email? Do you like email responses to comments?
A: Sometimes. If I really want to see the answer.
But I'm starting to notice I prefer a separate email with the answer.
GREAT question. You've left me thinking and wondering how I should handle my comments.
I still find the best networking is visiting blogs and commenting. I also really like networking on Goodreads.
ReplyDeleteYour style is much the same as mine so I think it works fine.
ReplyDeleteIf I ask a question I'll go back for the answer - I don't expect emails.
I find time is a major factor in how much commenting I manage to do.
I agree with you about responding to comments by email. Sometimes I love it but other times it just weirds me out. If there's a discussion in a comment section that I'm really interested in, chances are I'll check back in and keep up with people's replies.
ReplyDeleteAnd I do love when new bloggers I visit stop in with comments on mine too - I always take it as a nice little "thanks for stopping by" and have tried to get in the habit of doing the same!
(That graphic is awesome by the way! I would never want to actually do that to a book, but it looks really cool in the photo!)
Marce: I think you do a nice job on your blog networking. I am not nearly as diligent but I think it's a time issue for me and I hope to work towards more commenting and more visiting.
ReplyDeleteI try to reply to everyone who leaves me a comment, I call it "good blogging etiquette." If I don't comment that day because of some unforeseen reason, I try to comment the next day.
ReplyDeleteDo I check back to see if they leave me a comment in their comment box? No, well I shouldn't say that is a complete NO, if I leave a question, I may check back to see if they answered it. I have to many other bloggers to visit to keep coming back to see if a comment has been left for me, after I comment.
If I visit bloggers and comment, and they don't return and comment on my blog after a few times I stop visiting them. I figure they don't care for my commenting, so I just remove them from my sidebar. There are to many out there I would like to visit to waste my time on ones who don't appreciate my taking time out of my busy day to visit them. You are not one of them Marce, you always visit and leave comments and I appreciate it, and enjoy reading them.
I guess I will get off my soapbox now, I said enough, probably to much. ; )
* Participate in Memes and comment --> I don't really do Memes. I may do it one here and then, but not regularly. I tried doing Booking Through Thursday, but I usually forget, or by the time I get to it it's the weekend and there are already a lot of posts... and I feel bad not going to all the posts and read...
ReplyDelete* Visiting and Commenting on blogs, my favourites and others I have followed at some point - I do that too, I comment more on my favourites, or I comment on a new blog if it's a book I'd read to share my thoughts, or sometimes I let them know their review now made me add it to my TBR! I try to leave some thoughtful comments...
* Those that comment that are new to me, I will go visit their blog and most times comment - I do this also. I will also browse their blog to see if I want to add it to my RSS.
* Do you feel I show appreciation or recognition for you as a blogger? --> Yes! THANK YOU :)
* Do you go back to blogs to see if they commented back to you? --> I like blogs where I can subscribe the comments by email so I will get responses that way :) The blogs that don't have this option, it's harder to track... I may keep the URL of that review somewhere, but usually forget about it...
* If you ask a question, do you come back for the answer or prefer a response on your blog or an email? --> I actually prefer it through the blog, so others can see the answer too if they are curious! :)
* Do you like email responses to comments? (BTW - I love this from my favourite bloggers because it helps to build relationships but I find it odd from bloggers I don't really know, unless they are responding to a query) --> I agree with you here too... I don't get a lot of direct email right now though.
I haven't been as actively networking as I'd like, due to time constraint. But I know like in real life relationship, you need to put in the effort in order for it to happen. I hope I will have more chances to network in the future!
Geez, didn't mean to write a blog post in your comments! :)
ReplyDeleteI think you do a great job, Marce! :)
ReplyDeleteI try to visit everyone who leaves a comment on my blog.
Do you go back to blogs to see if they commented back to you?
Not really, unless I asked a question.
Do you like email responses to comments?
I really appreciate them! I do not always have the time to reply to all comments on my blog, so I really admire bloggers who are able to do that.
I have discovered some great blogs due to networking. I need to improve though! :D
I think this is funny that you re asking these questions because I have been asking myself many of these questions this week. I have been torn at how to answer comments..email or comment on my comments. Is email creepy? If I comment on my comments, will the commenter see it?
ReplyDeleteI do try to visit blogs of those who comment on my blog. Sometimes it doesn't happen due to time constraints. I need to be better about this.
I do a few memes(Mailbox Monday, WWW Wednesdays, and recently Weekend Cooking) and I try to visit those who participate but sometimes I can't get them all if it is a meme with a huge following.
You raise some interesting questions and thoughts. I will be thinking about this even more.
I pretty much do as you do, Marce. I haven't been as good at it this month. Life has been crazy--mostly at work and that and the heat has left me pretty tired when I get home. I hope that not being quite as active in the comment realm won't lose me some contacts, but I figure I can only do what I can do.
ReplyDeleteYou're doing a great job!
Marce:
ReplyDeleteI think you do a great job. I do, however, agree with Bev. Sometimes, especially with me lately, RL is so hectic that I feel that I don't have the time, and feel bad and guilty about it, that I don't comment as much as I should be.
*I usually respond back via email because I just assume people aren't going to come back a 2nd time to see the response and I want to acknowledge them especially if it's a question.
*I have a love/hate relationshp with memes. I think they are so much fun, finding new blogs, reading others' view points, reading reviews and the part that I need help with..adding more books to my tbr bucket list.
You have a wonderful blog!
I think the best way to really network is to comment, I agree. Some days are harder, but I try to visit every blog that I follow.
ReplyDeleteI always try to visit everyone who comments on my blog. It's hard to respond to the individual comments though. Unless someone asks something specific, I don't respond directly to each comment. I prefer to visit everyone's blog and see what they are talking about on any given day.
ReplyDeleteYou do a wonderful job networking and communicating. I love getting your responses in email. that's how i do it too. I try to respond to everyone that leaves a comment. Honestly if their email is not activated for me to respond that way, I do have a harder time commenting back but I do try to atleast pop over and say hi.
ReplyDeleteI think you're fine. I seldom comment back on my blog but try to visit bloggers who visit me, and visit my favorites. It's time consuming! Everyone has to do what works for them. I have to admit that if I comment often on someone's blog and tehy NEVER comment on mine, eventually I'll stop reading. But that seems petty and honestly it hasn't happened yet- it's just one of those things I keep telling myself!
ReplyDeleteMarce, I think you do a wonderful job. I love getting your thoughtful comments!
ReplyDeleteI have to admit, I don't comment as often as I'd like to on blogs, but I am trying to improve!
I add every blog that comments on mine to my reader for at least 3 months. I make an effort to comment at least at the beginning and if we continue to have something to say to each other, great!
ReplyDeleteI am bad about responding to every comment on my blog. I don't have the time to do that and visit and comment on other blogs so I choose to visit and comment on as many as I can.
You have to do what works for you :)
I get really sort of carried away with blog reading...I really enjoy it and try to comment...on as many as I can...
ReplyDeleteWhen someone comments on my post I really try to contact them to let them know I appreciated it and read it...now I am freaking out just a bit thinking that I am weirding people out by this behavior...if I respond on my own blog do they see it?
I worry about that.
I don' t like following a pattern or rules on my blog...all of the time... I like to change it up!!!
Sadly... I think I suffer by doing this...I seriously yearn for comments and I do not often get that many...
Does that mean I should be doing more memes...giveaways...etc?