What's Your Opinion On Comment Replies?

I'm new to the "blogging for the public" thing. My other blogs were always just for family. If someone would comment, I could just talk to them later or shoot them an e-mail or something. I had it all figured out.

But now, I've started this blog and am welcoming anyone to read (if they can stand to do so) and welcoming anyone to comment.

My question is, how do YOU go about responding to comments? Is there a right way? A wrong way?

I've had a couple people return replies by e-mail. I thought that was pretty neat that they took the time to send me a letter.

I've seen others who comment on their own post with their replies. Like @June-haha @John- I know dude! Yeah, kinda like that. But I wonder if the people they reply to ever get to see what the author's reply was.

And then there are the other blogs where I get no reply. I assume that's because there are 100+ comments and the author just doesn't have time to respond to each and every comment... and that's totally cool, too. I mean, sometimes, comments just don't need a reply.

So what do you do? What do you prefer that other authors do?

The only option you're not allowed to pick is to go to their blog and say "Thanks for stopping by my blog." We're just going to assume that we've passed that part of our new blogger friend relationship. =D
Posted on 11:29 AM by Chris and filed under , | 12 Comments »

12 comments:

IB said... @ January 17, 2009 at 11:57 AM

I don't typically respond to comments. Even though I only get 20-30 comments per post, I would feel bad if I couldn't get to everyone, so I figure I won't do it at all.

I know a few of my favorite bloggers are able to keep up and I admire their efforts.

If I comment on a blog and I know the owner will comment on my comment I usually check back to see what they say.

And, I will usually thank a person on their blog if they sign-on as a follower of mine. I figure it's polite.

IB

Unknown said... @ January 17, 2009 at 12:07 PM

HI, new to your blog. :)

Usually I don't reply to comments left on my blog...I do however go over to their blog and try to comment on something they have written. Like a comment me, I'll comment you. IF I like what I am reading, then I will follow (as I have with yours).

If I feel a comment REQUIRES a reply, I will devote a post to it, gives me a break on coming up with a topic for the day ;)

Sometimes I will email, but that is very rare.

Good luck in coming up what works for you!

Terri said... @ January 17, 2009 at 1:01 PM

I normally don't comment on post to my blog , unless a question was asked that would require me to answer. I do however at least go visit the persons blog and post of theirs.

Michelle said... @ January 17, 2009 at 3:02 PM

Sometimes I reply in the comments, sometimes I email, sometimes I stop by their blog and reply. I was actually thinking about this very topic yesterday.

Chris said... @ January 17, 2009 at 4:48 PM

Well, I guess for today I'll be responding here.

@IB - I remember when you commented to say thanks for subscribing to Idiot's Stew. I did appreciate that and thought it very polite.

@Stacie - I try to do the same thing and at least visit their blog and check them out. Which usually sends me on a huge blogroll clicking spree.

@Terri - Sometimes I try to leave those comments that might warrant another post. I know it's hard to come up with topics sometimes.

@Michelle - I think I'm gonna go with what you do. Just...do whatever I feel like doing at that time. Whatever seems appropriate. And I'm glad I'm not the only one thinking about this question.

Thank you to all who've answered so far. =D

Ginny Marie said... @ January 17, 2009 at 9:31 PM

I do what Stacie does and try to comment on the other person's blog since I love reading comments on my posts. There have been times when I'm reading through blogs and I'm holding my toddler at the same time, and so I don't comment...it's too hard to type!

ChurchPunkMom said... @ January 18, 2009 at 12:10 PM

I just reply in the comments, if I feel the inclination to do so.. Sometimes I don't reply. Just depends.

This is an easy way for me, since I average less than 10 comments per post.

Chris said... @ January 18, 2009 at 3:22 PM

Thank you Ginny Marie and ChurchPunkMom for stopping by and for leaving comments/answers. I think ya'll are right. It's just best to do whatever is it YOU want to do.

Magpie said... @ January 19, 2009 at 2:08 PM

I like to reply by email, if it provokes a reply (some comments don't need one). If it's a new commenter, I'll try to visit the site. Hi!

Chris said... @ January 19, 2009 at 3:52 PM

Magpie, that's a good idea, too. I try to always make sure to go visit their site as well.

Anonymous said... @ January 23, 2009 at 12:49 AM

bounced to your site through a friend's - I try to comment on my comments but don't always get to because of time or I just plain forget to go back and comment on the comment. I usually do it with the @ before each name. I do go and check out the sites of people that comment on my page, but the truth is that I don't get a whole lot of comments on my page either.

Anonymous said... @ February 9, 2009 at 9:12 AM

I only ever get a few comments on my blog and I'm always so excited to hear from people that I reply to them by email. I don't have that much time in the day to spend looking at blogs so I don't go back to ones I've commented on to see if there's a comment back - I guess I must miss a lot of comment responses that way!

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Hey?? I moved -- You should be over at TextImps.com reading & commenting. Don't worry. All of the posts from here are over there now. See ya soon. =D