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Feb
11

I’m really bad at commenting

As a blogger myself, you would assume I was really good at commenting and adding thoughts to other peoples blogs. Unfortunately, that is just not true. And something I really need to fix.

Don’t get me wrong, I read a lot of blogs…probably about 30 or so posts per day from both blogs I subscribe to and links I click on through twitter. Of those 30, I will maybe comment on one each day…if that.

Why is this such a problem? Because commenting on blogs is one of the key parts of being a blogger.

First, it helps you to build your community. Say someone leaves a comment on your blog, and then you respond to them. They are now more likely to comment again because you have made them special, included and a part of the conversation. People want to feel like they are making a difference, and when you appreciate their comment by commenting back, they will.

Second,  if you comment on someone else’s blog, they appreciate it. Appreciation leads to visitation, visitation leads to comments on your content, and maybe even subscribing to your content. So, if you leave valuable comments on multiple blogs, you will have more people coming to see your work.

Third, comments build your SEO. When you leave a comment on a site, you leave your url as well. If you leave comments on blogs that are in the same topic area as you, and your comment includes that topic, your link is attributed to that comment, and in turn, that content. The more links you have that are connected to your content, the stronger your SEO will be.

Finally, it is just nice. I love when people leave me comments, which means that they probably love it when they get comments too. So if I leave them comments, I am making them happy. Nice, see?

Now the tough question, if I know all this, why do I still not comment more?

I have a couple theories.

My first theory is that I just don’t have the time. But this is a pretty pathetic theory because I can make time, I have time to do it while I watch TV at night, or while drinking my morning coffee. If I have time to read their blog, I have time to comment. I could cut out a bit of twitter and facebook time and do it then, or read 3-5 less blogs a day and use that time to comment. I could just suck it up and stop blaming time as the issue.

If I do that, then I hit theory number two: frustration with other commenter’s. This one is a little more realistic. I get frustrated when I see blogs with 50 comments that all say the same thing: “good content, I agree with you, you’re amazing, blah blah blah”. When I see those comments, even if I have something interesting to say that would add to the conversation (as opposed to kissing the butt of the author) I won’t leave it. Why? I don’t know. But I just don’t like adding comments on top of garbage like that.

Okay, so theory two makes sense, but it leaves out a lot of the blogs I read that don’t get comments like that (or gets a lot less of that). So what about those blogs? Theory three is that I am shy. Yup, me, shy. Stop laughing. Seriously, are you done? Okay, thank you. The reality is, I am very shy with my writing. I actually avoid writing about a lot of stuff on this blog because I don’t want to offend people or don’t want to come across the wrong way (even though sometimes I still do). There are many times I have contemplated creating a whole new (anonymous) blog to share the thoughts and stories I don’t share here. It is the same thing with comments. I either think that I can’t express my point well enough, so why try, or I worry that my comment will offend someone because it is the opposite of what everyone else is saying. So, instead of opening up, I become shy and don’t leave the comment.

What I am realizing, after looking at these theories, is that I really don’t have a good reason at all not to start commenting more. In fact, after asking my readers to de-lurk last year, I should be required to start de-lurking more myself. And I plan on it, starting today.

What say you?

Related posts:

  1. Benefits of commenting on blogs
  2. Choosing where to comment
  3. Your comment is waiting for approval.

Category: Blog Management, Blog Tutorials, Content Development
Topics: , ,
  • catholland

    Not to use the comment that frustrates you so, but I agree. I mean it! I'm horrible at commenting, and I attribute it in part to theory one — time. Or lack thereof. I think theory three applies to me, too. I hate sounding like a dope, even though I'm pretty dang good at it. I don't mean to be a lurker, but I admit that's what I often am. I will take up your implied challenge to be a better commenter because you're right. Comments are what make the blog-world turn. Thank you for getting me out of my commenting rut. Not commenting rut? (There's the dope thing I was referring to, but you know what I mean.)

    • kirstenwright

      Cat,

      I know exactly what you mean! And appreciate that you took the time to comment – and to take my implied challenge with me! I look forward to hearing how it goes :)

  • Lisa McClure

    I too am completely guilty of this. I can really relate to feeling shy or being fearful of controversy, of not feeling ready to expose or even express. I guess my new mantra will be the Emerson quote “Do the thing and you shall have the power.” Jump in and do it and with time it will become more natural, more conversational and what a treat for those who do put time into writing posts with thought and care.

    Thank you for the post. Your share embolded me to share! Cheers!

    • kirstenwright

      Love that quote! It always amazes me how brilliantly quotes from people who were around way before social media and blogging gave us quotes that fit it so perfectly :)

  • http://www.bcausemedia.com/ Bryan Dainty

    At risk of sounding like a “good content, I agree with you, you’re amazing, blah blah blah” comment, I do agree and am guilty of this as well. I think my reasons for not commenting are a combination of all three theories. No ass kissing here, but thanks for reminding us how valuable the comments are, both to the author and the reader posting the comment. Many times I will just comment on Twitter or retweet stuff I find valuable but we all should be posting comments on blogs as well. It's the conversation and the exchange is what makes “social media” or “new media” so powerful and valuable.

    • kirstenwright

      I have found the move to twitter and facebook comments to be a common trend – it is quicker and easier than typing an actual comment. Which is also why tools like Disqus comment system pull in twitter RT's and conversations as “discussions”…but still, there is something so powerful about an actual comment that twitter and facebook just don't have. Thanks for taking time to join the conversation!

  • http://twitter.com/swoodruff Steve Woodruff

    Good content, I agree with you, you’re amazing, blah blah blah ;>}

    • kirstenwright

      Only you Steve…only you! ;)

  • DavidJGarcia

    Kirsten,

    I'm in. Like you, I read a ton of blogs every day, but I comment on almost none. I'll add a fourth excuse to the mix: On blogs with few comments, I'm hesitant to become “that guy” who's the only one commenting (over and over). On blogs with lots of comments, I figure they don't need my input anyway.

    With that said, I think you make some good arguments about the value of comments (and I know I highly prize them as a blogger, myself). It may mean cutting out some of my subscriptions to the blogs that aren't worth commenting on, but I'm going to try again to comment on a much high percent of the posts I read.

    Thank you!

    • kirstenwright

      I am glad that you are going to take my implied challenge too – I look forward to hearing what your results are. Please make sure to share them with us!

  • http://www.jontusmedia.com/ Jon Buscall

    I know where you're coming from here so take it from me that I really appreciate it the times you take to comment on my blog :)

    Personally, I did a little experiment in the fall: I left five comments a day on blogs and made a note of it in a Excel file. Low and behold one month later I was able to see that it was generating more traffic to my site, better leads and better connections.

    As a consequence I decided to shift resources permanently and have worked hard to ensure I make my full five comments a day ever since.

    It IS worth it, but you can't fake it. Or it shows and people spot it.

    • kirstenwright

      Thanks for sharing your experience with tracking comments! I hadn't even thought of trying that as I can see the effect it has. but, it might be really interesting to see how MUCH of an effect it actually has.

      And you are absolutely tight – a fake comment is not even worth the time to write.

  • lorennason

    I think it is twitter that has caused the lack of commenting. Disqus helps fix that problem.

    I have commented now.

    Therefor I am

    • kirstenwright

      I couldn't agree more – it is a million times faster to just RT and add a small thought than to actually come to the blog. But I sure appreciate it :)

      I have responded now.

      Therefore I care.

  • alanbaumbach

    I was really surprised to see this post from you. I would never have thought someone so creative would have a difficult time commenting on other people's blogs. Not sure I buy the shy bit you are trying to sell. I think you are just being coy. :-)

    Anyway—-

    So just dive in and comment!! Not every comment has to be a literary masterpiece.

    I like your idea of an anonymous blog. I have often thought Ben Franklin with his Poor Richard penname was trying to get the word out without it coming back to him. I'd go for it.

    • kirstenwright

      Alan -

      Great point about Ben Franklin! Maybe I will have to create a pen name. And, I promise… I am not being coy, I really am shy (my hubby would even agree!)

      • alanbaumbach

        Kirsten:

        I was the typical backroom accountant for over 25 years and quite the introvert, but I have forced myself to get out there. Guess I am now the trained and still learning extrovert. Say—one book I recommend is “The Fine Art of Small Talk” by Deborah Fine. Great book and very helpful for those of us in the scientific and technical communities to get out there. Deborah was an introverted engineer (her own words) for several years until she started with a conscious decision to “get out there”. Try it.

  • Lisa McClure

    I have been thinking about why commenting is so powerful and I couldn't stop thinking about a bit in a movie I saw. Fortunately the very clip of the movie is on YouTube (YAY YouTube)

    Here is the piece: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKFW5OkJb4U

    It's what we life for.

  • enterprisetaker

    We should leave a comment after reading others blog,cause it wil improve others and yourself,it benefic both parties.thanks

    Enterprisetaker
    http://enterprisetaker.wordpress.com

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