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Sep
11

Choosing where to comment

If you’re anything like me, you have a whole heck of a lot of blogs that come via rss every morning. Currently, I have about 50 that I subscribe to and read every day. I also love leaving comments on the blogs that I read, but as I was commenting on a couple posts this morning, I found something very interesting: I rarely comment on posts that already have a lot of comments. I read their posts, but when I notice that I would be the some-teenth comment, I choose not to leave one. I would much prefer to leave a comment on a blog post that has no other comments then on one that has 20 or 30 other comments.

So, after leaving comments on a couple posts that didn’t have any yet, and not leaving comments on those who did have a ton…my thoughts caught up with me. Am I the only one that does this? Do other people prefer to leave comments on blogs that already have a lot? What drives someone to leave a comment in the first place? And the most important – why is it that I comment this way?

Never being okay with just wondering, I dissected my commenting strategy:

First, I feel that if I comment on a post that has no comments (or even just one or two) that my comment will be more appreciated. It will make the person realize that they did write something quality, and that they touched at least 1 person that day with their thoughts.

Second, I feel like if you already have 30 or so comments, why do you need mine? More than likely it will just get lost in the clutter, or will sound similar to someone else. I don’t feel special leaving a comment on a blog that has that many comments already – and a commenter deserves to feel special.

And finally, I know what it feels like to get no comments on a post that I worked a long time on, and that feeling sucks. So, if I can, I try to keep others from that feeling. I want good writers to keep writing, and I know how hard it was for me when I wouldn’t get comments to want to keep writing.

What is your commenting strategy? Do you like commenting when there are lots of others or do you prefer to help out someone who doesn’t have a lot of comments? And the kicker – what makes you want to comment at all?

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Category: Blog Tutorials, Content Development, Graphic & Website Design, Wright Point of View
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  • http://www.magniferous.com Elle Kasey

    You are right on about the number of comments being a motivator for whether or not I post my own comment. If someone has already said what I would have I try to refrain from “what Poster #2 said!”. Several times in the past few days I’ve wanted to comment on a site like Consumerist but just the thought of registering to give my two cents was enough to drive me away. Finally, I give a whisp of thought to the online footprint of my ID online. “If mom found this on Google, what would she think?” (with or without anonymity)
    .-= Elle Kasey´s last blog ..Nine Nine Oh Nine =-.

  • http://smilingtreewriting.wordpress.com Dava Stewart

    Sadly, I very rarely left comments until I started writing a blog. Then I found out how nice it is to know who’s reading my blog and what they think about it.

    You’re right–when I leave a comment on a blog that already has a bunch of comments, it feels like noise. Also, it’s better when the comments section of a blog becomes a discussion, and if a bunch of people leave basically the same comment there is no discussion, only reaction.

    Thanks for writing this, I hadn’t thought much about my commenting habits before. Turns out they are pretty similar to yours.
    .-= Dava Stewart´s last blog ..Can a Slob Become a Neatnik? =-.

  • http://wwwjackbenimble.blogspot.com/ Jack

    I don’t pay any attention to the number of comments. It is a matter of whether I feel like I have interest in the topic and whether it adds value.

    It also depends on whether the blogger comments on my blog. There are some people who consistently comment on mine, but receive few comments from me on theirs.

    So sometimes I’ll go leave a comment on theirs just to let them know that I am around. It is always nice to know that someone appreciates your work.
    .-= Jack´s last blog ..September 11- Eight Years Later =-.

  • http://www.wrightcreativity.com Kirsten Wright

    Thanks for all the great comments! It is really interesting to see everyone’s views on comments :)

    Elle, I am the same way, especially when I write my posts, since my mother does read them!

    Dava, that is very common – I didn’t ever leave comments or even read blogs until I started my own.

    Jack, and I definitely appreciate your comments!

  • Lori Greer

    I have to admit that I’ve never left a comment on a blog. It was never because I didn’t want to, but either because I didn’t feel I had the time or felt someone had already posted something similar to what I was thinking. I will definitely keep the writer in mind next time and try to leave something, even if its just to say that I agree with someone else or that I enjoyed reading it.

  • http://www.TwentyFourAtHeart.com Twenty Four At Heart

    Is that why I haven’t heard from you lately? : )
    My comment strategy is having no strategy at all. I read way more blogs than I have time to comment on. I comment when I have time. I also try to reciprocate comments as often as I can to those who take the time to comment on my blog. I haven’t done very well all summer because I’ve been traveling a ton. How many comments someone already has doesn’t make any difference to me.
    .-= Twenty Four At Heart´s last blog ..My Nightmare/Your Dream – Giveaway! =-.

    • http://www.wrightcreativity.com Kirsten Wright

      Aww…24! I actually commented on your posts a lot recently (but I commented anonymously). Your posts stir up too much emotion sometimes to link back to myself!!

  • http://www.angryjuliemonday.com Julie @ Angry Julie Monday

    I try to leave comments, even if it was what someone has already said it..like, yea me too, blah blah…

    But one of my #1 Reasons for Leaving Comments…reciprocation. Maybe sure that people can link back to your blog through comments. I get a lot of readers, new followers, etc. on my blog, from comments I’ve left on other blogs.

    For example, I’ve left comments on Heather Armstrong’s blog, Dooce.com. The woman receives sometimes 900+ comments on her blog. I could be #786. But I’ve gotten comments, “coming over from dooce.com…”. I know a blogger who’s gotten PR offers just from the comments that she’s left on other blogs.
    .-= Julie @ Angry Julie Monday´s last blog ..Emily Post Inspired by Twitter =-.

  • http://www.gacconsultants.com Mark Harai

    Interesting Kristen, I think very similarly to you regarding posts and now that you’ve shared your thoughts, I’m sure there are many others that think the same way too. I’m sure readers are missing out on some valuable insight and opinions because of this thought process… hmmm – on the other hand, I don’t normally read all of the comments on posts that have a large number of them…
    .-= Mark Harai´s last blog ..I’ll Hit it Hard Tomorrow… =-.

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