Tag Archives: blog comments

To Comment . . . or not to comment

table piece. . . a blog re-do is similar to a New Year’s Resolution, but in my case, I hope this intention sticks.

My previous post suggested that sincere commenters send me emails, and I received two:

A) Shari, I am glad you are blogging again. Also, I am pleased I signed up for your RSS feed long ago, because this post popped up in my reader. Look forward to future posts.    Hope this comment works, since you seem to think commenting got eliminated? – Leora  Wenger Web Designer and Developer

[Leora was one of the first great people I met online through my blog in 2009]

B)   From: John Hunter

To: sharisax

Sent:Fri, Mar 27, 2015 02:12 AM

Subject: can’t add a comment

I tried to add a comment on   http://sharisax.com/2015/03/22/how-to-re-do-a-blog-and-why/   but I just get a failure message “Requested Range Not Satisfiable”

What I wrote:
 “Good luck. Paying attention to old content is important and something people overlook almost constantly.  I do occasionally make adjustments to categories and occasionally go back and add those to old posts (but most of the time I don’t get around to it, still I think doing it is wise).”

On Fri, Mar 27, 2015 at 5:45 PM, <sharisax@aol.com> wrote:

John, thanks so much for your comment. I will be adding comments like yours to future blog posts. There are actually TWO things going on regarding comments:

(1) apparently one of my plug-ins has caused a problem and so, in addition to going through my posts and categories and tags, I will need to check all the plug-ins AND figure out which ones I really need.

(2) Secondly, however, is the current conversation about commenting in general. Many bloggers have discontinued comments because they receive too many value-less spam messages AND there is the belief that the online conversation should be broader than simply with one person’s Blog — and if people have deep enough feelings about a topic, they need to post on their own sites and reference the “inciting” article.

Now, in direct reference to what you said — which I will begin my post with — when I do go over those old posts, I plan to re-publish those with particular relevance these days . . .  and make the relevant updates.

Thanks for taking the time to write.

Shari Weiss

John sent a subsequent comment:
 Yes, I certainly see the problem with no-value and spam comments.  Good comments though really add value, I think.

Commenters: BRING THEM ON

simply email me: sharisax@aol.com

BTW: You might want to check out my third post about Blog Commenting and how to get your blog noticed — from six years ago

Avoid These 9 Blogging Blunders: Guest Post by Suzanne Vara

“Blogging is a way to share your thoughts, knowledge and information like never before.  We blog for many reasons which are  unique to us as people, but yet share a community that is a part of us.” — Suzanne Vara

Suzanne Vara is one of my new online friends/collaborators/role models, whom I mentioned in a recent article about How To Choose A Blog To Read.

Suzanne and I participate in many of the same LinkedIn groups and have built a very supportive relationship, which includes reading and commenting on each other’s blogs and group discussions — truly one of the great values of the Social Web.

Her online marketing agency, Kherize5, Builds  Big Brands for Small Business and her blog offers consistently great advice and guidelines for reaping great rewards through social media marketing. We have such similar interests and goals that I look forward to each one of her posts.

Today’s article on my blog actually ran a few days ago on Suzanne’s, but her thoughtful insights regarding some commonly discussed blogging tips is definitely worth passing along to new bloggers — and experienced ones as well.

How to Improve your Blog — or start a new one

Guest Post by Suzanne Vara

As a new blogger who is trying to gain new readership we look for new ways to get as many eyes (readers) and fingers to the keys (comments) to drive us to continue to write.  Seasoned vets who have been blogging for upwards of 8 years still look for new avenues as technology changes.

Technology is a tool that we utilize to gain new eyes and fingers but the means by which we determine how, what and why we will blog have not really changed over the years.  The same fundamentals that were incorporated to be a success still hold true today:

  • Provide useful and valuable content
  • Acknowledge those who read and comment with a comment back
  • Reach out to other bloggers
  • Comment there as we are all in this together.

Pretty basic but yet there seems to be a disconnect at some point as we get busier or feel that we are not gaining traction as we believed we should.  This is not to say that veering off course from time to time is disastrous but falling off the radar is in a sense waiving the white flag of setting unrealistic goals and expectations of yourself.  Blogging is not always easy as the what if no-one reads or am I a great writer or do I really have the time to commit to this do come into play as the post itself is just a part of blogging.

Everyone makes mistakes and how we identify and correct them builds that confidence and a better blog.

9 Blogging Mistakes to Avoid

1. Inconsistency: In the beginning new bloggers have the energy and set out to post every day, even 2x a day. Great strategy if you have planned for it and reasonably set aside time to keep up with this.  As a new blogger it is advantageous to have 20 or so blogs posted when you start to promote.  Set a schedule of when you will post so that readers expect it and do return to see what is next.  Being inconsistent leads to lack of trust as you were supposed to be here but you were not.

2. Lack of Focus:  As a new blogger trying different things to determine where you fit in is what is so unique to a new blogger.  An opportunity to establish yourself and determine  your niche.  Meet the expectations of readers to develop a loyalty. It is inviting to then try and branch out from your niche and expand.  There is opportunity to do so but not always on the main blog.  Seek new ways to expand on your style with guest posting or publishing on other sites.  Grow within yourself while maintaining focus on what you are trying to accomplish with the main blog or in some cases multiple blogs.

3. Burnout:  Blogger burnout is an excuse, an enabler, a way to throw your arms up and admit defeat. There is always something to post.  A quote, an opinion on another blog, a post why you feel burnt out.  The ideas are endless.  Physical limitations are a factor and being unable to even pull a post from the “can” is completely understandable (life happens) but outside that it is setting a standard for not being committed to yourself and audience.

4. Boxed Comments:  We hear over and over again to comment on comments to our blog and comment on other blogs, and we all do, so this is not a mistake in that aspect. But, what happens when the comment is “Great post, found it useful.”  Commenting back at first thought is the “Thanks for reading and finding this useful.”  Expand on that by seeing if they have a blog and refer to their blog in your comment back.  Thank them of course but also include how you liked a certain post as it relates back to yours. What happens if they do not have  a post that relates to yours, either respectfully thank them as above or ask them a question of some sort that relates a post of theirs.

5. Fear of First:  First to post or first to comment. Why?  If you find something and see that no-one else has written about write about it.  Being the first to comment on a blog is an opportunity to be able to share your thoughts without influence of others. After you comment share the post as it  meant enough to you to comment so why not share?

6.   Complacency:  Developing your niche and readership that meet your personal goals is wonderful but not a time to sit back. What happens when you do not meet your goals or even expansion.   Complacency is convenient and assumes loyalty.  That warm jacket is nice but yet decreases in size each year.

7. Closure: Closure as it relates to the lack of putting a piece of you and who you are into the post. When providing tips or relating a strategy, throw in what has worked for you (ie this blog) something you want to or are learning more about or something personal that connects people to you. Going outside a comfort zone is not always easy but yet it is welcomed.  Whether we deem ourselves as an introvert or extrovert, we all are a part of both. We tell people what we want them to know whether this be sharing knowledge from people we admire or exposing things about ourselves.  ie every so often my son becomes a part of this blog. As a mom first instinct is to shelter and protect but yet he is a big part of my life and actually inspires my writing though his curiosity of learning all that he can.

8. Lack Luster  Headlines: Think linkbait.  The headline is the what gets the article read. The content can be so valuable but if the headline is not enticing enough to read, many overlook. Headlines for some are the easy part where with others we struggle. Look at others that enticed you to read and incorporate.

9. Blinders to Community Expansion: This somewhat goes back to complacency, the expansion of your community is almost endless.  Commenting on blogs is great but not looking at the blogs of other commentors or the blog roll of people you read is not expanding upon your community.  The opportunity exists but time does not always but at the same time, we make time for what is important to us.

As a blogger who is blogging for the betterment of the business, exposure of the business or just to share thoughts we all have our reasons but all make mistakes.  The way to get around the mistakes is to acknowledge them and improve.  So, tell me how you are improving instead of identifying with the mistakes you have made?

Learn anything new here?

Tell us in a comment below.

One of the new tips for me was #4 “Boxed comments.” You can read my comment about that on Suzanne’s original post here.

Commenting on other blogs will build traffic on yours

Popularity has a price: You’ve got to do some Work

Yosemite is popular for a reason


Some of my students have started blogging, and one student asked me today [actually in a comment on my first post]:

“How can I get my blog noticed?”

Interestingly enough, that question was answered in a blog posting today, April 25, from Problogger.net, one of the most popular blogs around. Blogging expert Darren Rowse said that adding comments on other blogs, especially the most popular ones, is a great way to build traffic.

Darren’s article referred me to a 2007 post listing 11 tips for getting your comments noticed on a popular blog. Would you believe there were 136 comments on that one article?

No, I couldn’t read all of them . . . had to stop myself somewhere around comment 93. But I learned a lot and wanted to share some of Darren’s tips, some from his readers, and just a few I’ve picked up along the Revolutionary Road we’re traveling.

Tips to get your blog noticed

  • First off, social media is really all about conversation, so the comments are every bit as important as the post. IMPLICATION: Be sure your comment adds value and doesn’t just say “I agree” or “You suck” or “Read my blog.”
  • When you read a blog, you ought to consider leaving your comment. Lots of people have set goals for themselves to comment on every blog post they read. Of course, if you read someone’s opinion every single day and you comment every single day, you could be getting a bad rep as a stalker.
  • Commenting gives you a chance to show what you know. And that’s always fun; plus you really can contribute, especially if you stay on topic. Very important. Stay on topic; don’t talk just to be heard.
  • If you want to connect with people, then your comments should show some of your personality and/or sense of humor. A comment has been called a mini-resume. You can be establishing your personal brand in your comments.
  • Actually, I’d read advice early on that commenting was the best way to find your voice before you started to actually blog.
  • In the business world, lots of comments are complaints — and this isn’t always a totally negative situation. Actually it is an opportunity for a company to handle a problem that they might never have known about otherwise. Handling disagreeable comments in a polite and respectful manner goes a long way to building better relationships and the community that companies are now trying to establish.
  • One last tip: Ask relevant and thoughtful questions in your comment, so . . .

What kind of comment can you add here?

PS I did want to add a link to the Air Force’s “Blog Assessment” flow chart which offers suggestions on how to deal with comments on their blogs. Good for business people, particularly, to Think before Replying.

Next post: Listening Tips