First off, THANK YOU! Thank you everyone who has been reading and commenting on my blog. I really appreciate your kind comments, funny stories and bits of information. Most of all, I appreciate your support and friendship.
A million times a day I seem to quickly check my blog to see any new comments. I LOVE GETTING COMMENTS! I get all excited when I see the counter has changed. You can only imagine how excited I was to see double digits!
I blog for many reasons, but I never realized how important the comments and support I get from all of you is to me. All the comments I received on Tuesday about Benjamin really helped me validate and understand the many emotions and feelings I have about that special little boy, his struggle, death and legacy. It also helped me further understand my connection and friendship with Donna. Everyone was so kind, and the comments so wonderful that it all brought tears to my eyes. I struggled to get that post out of my head. And it was worth it, because of the comments and support I got from all of you.
I love seeing comments from new readers. I then link to their blog and get acquainted with their posts. And I look so forward to hearing what my regular-readers and blog-pals have to say. I love guessing who will comment!
All the wonderful comments got me thinking. Being relatively new to blogging, I have a few blogging etiquette, or blogiquette questions.
1) Do you/should you reply to all those who comment on your post?
---After reading each comment, I felt like sending a personal note back - or better yet, calling up the commenter and chatting for hours! I felt so connected and supported!
2) Do you read other people's comments?
---I find myself looking at other people's comments, especially if I was touched or moved by a post, and linking to the commenter's blog and peeking around and usually leave a comment of my own!
3) Some of my new blog-friends send me an email commenting or following up on a comment I left on their blog. How can I do that too? Is there an automatic way of replying?
4) I have heard about update lists that tell you when favorite blogs have new posts. Which of these neat tools do you recommend? I love so many blogs (and the list seems to grow every day!) and find myself clicking through to them all and just hoping not to miss a great post.
5) How did I ever live without my blog? I love it!!! Anyone else feel this way? I have found this such a great outlet, therapy, memory keeper and friendship maker!
Well, I will end this rambling with another THANK YOU! I so appreciate every one's comments.
And, if you are a lurker, PLEASE leave a quick comment - I would LOVE to hear from you!
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12 comments:
I follow back every comment I receive and leave one on their blog. If they comment more than once or twice I add them to my reader. I would die without Google Reader and especially without my blog! It's such a release!
I still reply to all new commentors and usually end up being a new reader of theirs, I hope that doesn't change. I read from google reader so if I have time and am going to comment, I have to click over to the actual blog, then I do read others comments. Google reader is one way to be automatically notified when a blog is updated. It is a great way to stay on top of them. I was wasting so much time obsessively checking all my favorites multiple times a day to see if they had been updated or not this way I just leave a tab open and it lets me know when there is a new read! Let me know if you need help setting this up. All you need is a gmail account, which is free. There are a ton of other reader sites too. :)
I do reply to all new commenters with an email and also go check out their blogs if they link. I also often send an email to an old commenter if he or she leaves a particularly meaty comment.
I use Google reader, which should be easy for you since you already have an account (using blogger). It has really cut down the time I used to spend clicking from one place to another.
I really don't know how to do any of those fancy follow up email either. I'm no help to you there.
I do try and comment back to everyone that leaves me a comment. I just love getting comments too. I get so excited! And going and commenting at their site has really been fun and allows me to find awesome new blogs.
I'm so glad I found you. I love your blog!
Blogging Basics 101 just had a post yesterday about blog etiquette.
For those of you who read through Google Reader, there are so many other options that allow you to see comments without having to subscribe to them.
For example, I use Mozilla Thunderbird as my email program (instead of Outlook, etc.) and I can put my feeds in there. When I check my feeds, it pulls up the full feed and comments (usually).
I think the follow-up emails are dependent on which platform you use. In Blogger, you cannot email a response directly from a comment. Instead, you have to click on the profile and email from there.
Hope this helps.
wow, i thought i was so technology-savvy until i read that last comment. i am SO not on par with some of you guys!!! but i do what the rest of them do, which is to always respond. it is so ego-building to get responses to what you post! i know i am a way better reader (read: stalker! sometimes) than i am a poster, because unfortunately for me, i have given the blasted address to everyone i know. that was a colossal mistake.
:) melinda
I LOVE comments too!
I use google reader to keep track of all my favorite blogs, and try to respond to comments.
Run, don't walk, and sign up for Google Reader. Now. Seriously, it has changed my life, and I no longer feel overwhelmed trying to get to all of my favorite blogs. And yes, I've found some of my best blogger friends by getting to them through someone else's comments!!
1. I read and comment on everyone's blogs that comment on mine. Most of the regular commenters I have subscribed to on Google Reader (question #4) and usually, if a person has commented more that a couple times, I add them to my reader, or right away if I feel that connection after reading their blog.
2. I read other comments sometimes, but not always. It depends on how much time I have. But, I don't like my comment to sound the same as all the others so I usually at least skim through if pressed for time.
3. I e-mail back responses to comments that I find particularly conversational. Or if the comment really hit home and deserved a more personal response. I don't usually respond to comments in the comment area, just because I am not sure how many people check the comments again, after leaving theirs. Blogger, does not have a good way of doing this...yet.
4. Answered in #1
5. I sooo much agree!
Hi there! I just wanted to tell you first off that I wrote a note on your Benjamin post, but I couldn't get it to post. I don't know why...but let me just say now that I, too was incredibly touched by your post, and moved by the injustice of it all. Benjamin sounded a very special boy, and I am so glad that you and his mother have been able to reconnect. I am sure it is a comfort to both of you.
In terms of comments -- I try to go and comment on the blogs of people who are kind enough to comment on mine. Except where their settings do not allow me to access their blogs.
I also use Google Reader to keep up with the blogs I read daily. It is a great tool that tells me when one of my favourite blogs have added a new post (in fact, your blog is on my list :)).
Thanks again, Laura, for that moving post about Benjamin. You clearly touched a nerve in very many!
Have a good weekend, Heidi
I'm not a lurker, but I do love your blog Laura!!
i am the same way...its like comment crack...gotsta have me some!!
i am fairly new (1 yr) to blogging but i cannot get enough bloggy goodness...i am like a sponge.
i always try and comment, ALWAYS even if it is just a little 3 word something.
i know how i need my bloggy love, so i like to spread it around.
as for returning peoples comments, that would take FOREVER, unless they ask a question or they are new (like you) then i will make sure to pop over and say hello.
YAY for blogging!
i am going to add you to my blog roll so i can remember to come back.
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