Some blogs have zero comments for every entry, and others, especially literary agent blogs have a hundred comments all from different people! So, how do you decide whether or not to comment on a blog?
I thought about it and here are some of the factors that urge me to comment:
1. If the subject matter is something that peaks my interest. For instance, I love movies, and if someone posts something about a sci fi or fantasy movie that I've seen, you bet I'll be there with a comment.
2. If the subject matter is something that I know a lot about. If I feel as though I can contribute in a constructive way, than I sure do comment!
3. If If the person is a regular commenter on my blog. Then, I tend to know more about them and feel comfortable commenting on their posts. I also think it's like returning a favor!
4. If the blogger is feeling down about rejections or whatever. I feel the need to empathize.
5. If they pose a question like: What are your favorite foods? Or how do you deal with rejection? Then I find it easy to comment!
6. If they are having a contest! I love entering contests on blogs and I've won a number of things: Chocolate (thank you, Angie), two critique contests, and numerous books.
7. If the person responds to my comments, especially when I ask a question. Then, I know they are reading the comments and I feel as though my comments are considered.
My question to you is: what gets you to comment on someone else's blog? What makes you be a follower? I'm looking for more followers, so if you could de-mystify this process for me, that would be helpful!
7 comments:
I've often wondered the same thing. I think I comment for pretty much the same reasons as you. I didn't comment on blogs for the longest time because I kind of felt like I was intruding, and even though I didn't technically follow anyone either, I had tons of blogs on my favourites list that I visited regularly. I've realized that part of the fun is getting to know new people through comments.
I follow blogs now, but I still find that I miss out on quite a few posts, and I feel a little bad about that but I do what I can. Also, sometimes I've connected with what someone has written, but I don't have time to comment. There are only so many hours in a day!
I didn't comment on blogs for a long time, but loved reading them. When I started a blog a few years ago, I was completely tickled when I'd get a comment, so now I don't feel shy about posting a comment. I think reasons I do are the same as yours. I just got done posting a Too Long response about independent publishing on a book blogger's site, but it's something I care about and felt like putting in my 2 cents.
I also love going back to blogs that I've been reading for a while each day. It's getting to know people on a text-based, reading only thought-out words level. Truthfully, I'm not too fond of actually talking to people with my mouth. I say really stupid things and feel awkward, so "talking" to people in posts is much easier on my state of mind!
I comment for a lot of those reasons too, but mostly I just love people and I hope my comments make them laugh/smile/happy, even for a brief moment. That's how I feel when I get one. That doesn't exactly help increase your numbers though... I think for that you have to be willing to get on places like twitter and facebook and self-promote maybe? Contests on blogs certainly seem to bring in participants. Also having some kind of "day". When I participated in "kissing" day and the "No kiss blogfest" day that other bloggers where hosting, that's when I went from 10 followers to 60. Mr. Linky is a great tool. Hope these ideas help. :)
Wow, long answers.
Tracy,
Sometimes I feel as though I'm intruding as well. I'm always careful what I say and try to be friendly as I can!
Lisa,
I'm not good at talking to people in person either! I'm very flighty and bubbly and sometimes people take it the wrong way. I totally understand!
Nisa,
Good ideas! I'm going to have a contest when my first print book comes out for sure!
I will follow almost any author/writer/publishing guru I find. I like having that vast depth of people around. But I don't always have the time to comment, although I try to read almost every post. In the time it takes to leave a comment, I could read the next two blogs, so it's really a time issue for me.
But I will comment if there's something strong that pops into my head while reading a post.
Aubrie, you brought up my reasons for following and commenting on blogs. Most important to me are content that interests me as a writer and the feeling of a blogger community. I learn so much from the blogs I follow, including yours.
That is the blogging question, isn't it? And I don't know that it has an answer. Somedays I comment on every blog I read. Somedays I don't comment on any of them. I think it has to do with how much time I have that day, whether the topic is interesting to me that day, reciprocation (like you comment on my blog, I comment on yours), whether the post is crazy long or short and easy to read and comment on. Who knows?
I follow writing blogs and I usually find them when they follow me (so when someone follows me and all they have is a blog with family pictures, I usually don't follow them back). It keeps getting crazier to keep up with everyone, but I try.
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