I'm really bad at replying to the comments on my blog. I guess I figure that nobody expects a reply and they probably won't come back to read it anyway. Or do they?
Then I realised it's not just blog specific. I hardly reply to Facebook comments left on my posts nor do I reply to Instagram comments. Basically I post, people comment and I ignore them. Or so it seems.
How rude!
I mean, I do read them. I do appreciate them. Given I always engage in real life - why not in the online world?
I didn't notice this as an issue until I watched how diligently my teen daughter replies to comments on her Instagram posts. Occasionally she doesn't (like when it's a guy who may feel as though he's "in" if she engages) but for the most part she's really good at acknowledging the interaction and therefore creating further engagement.
So I decided to learn something from my girl and I'm trying very hard to re-train myself to reply. To engage. To converse. To thank. To show appreciation for your presence.
According to Blog Marketing Academy it's about completing the open loop. While they agree there are two sides to the debate (to reply to comments or not reply to comments) they rightly compare it to real life when someone leaves a voice mail and never gets a return call. Or if you were to congratulate someone and they just sat their blank faced without responding. How does that make the other person feel?
Ignored.
I always reply to texts and phone calls. I wouldn't even contemplate ignoring them. So why did I get into the habit of not paying the same respect to my blog and social media?
Have my habits been formed due to lack of time, or is there a culture of not needing to reply in a social media forum?
So I ask you, do you reply to comments on your blog? Your Facebook posts? Twitter? Insta? Texts? Phone calls?
Do you reply when people comment on your social media?
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It's Lovin' Life Linky time!
The Lovin' Life Linky is brought to you by Team Lovin' Life: Deep Fried Fruit, Debbish, Write of the Middle, And Anyways, 50 Shades of Age and Lifestyle Fifty
Yes I reply to every comment ever made on my blog, my IG and FB. I think that it is part of the connection I make and it is something I have always done and will continue. "Denyse Whelan Blogs To Connect" as my motto would be a one-way street unless I responded and I always do because I enjoy it as well as the new connections I might make as well as acknowledging those I have known for ages.
ReplyDeleteInteresting topic. Thanks for sharing your view too.
Denyse x
Yes, well, Denyse Whelan definitely connects! :)
DeleteHi Leanne, I make an effort to reply to all comments on the blog and social media. It can be time consuming but if someone has taken the time to write a comment I like to show them my appreciated. I've built some wonderful friendships and connections this way. Of course, sometimes I don't know if they even read my comments but at least I feel better :)
ReplyDeleteThat is exactly my reason too.
DeleteI used to do it back in the day. Then I decided nobody probably came back to read them anyway, so didn't bother anymore. Plus blogging every day back then, it all became a bit too much. Not sure how I've managed to build the connections I have given my lax approach!
DeleteI reply to my blog comments, but I must admit I'm a bit slacker on Instagram. I try to reply to most but I suspect there are a few that I miss from time to time!
ReplyDeleteDi from Max The Unicorn
I don't get many instagram comments so mine should be easy. I have no excuse really.
DeleteI try and make an effort to always reply to comments on both my blog and Instagram.
ReplyDeleteYou're so good! I will learn from all you lovely commenters
DeleteHi Leanne - My first comment seems to disappear so I'm sending a second one. I reply to all comments on my blog as I like to show my appreciation, and have a dialogue with my blog readers and fellow bloggers. Thanks for hosting the link up and sharing your view.
ReplyDeleteIt's the "dialogue" I'm failing at. I write and I run. Then I read and run again. Dialogue. Check!
DeleteI'm guilty of not replying on my blog. Time is my poor excuse. Thinking that I should probably post less if I can't reply. I'm better at emails and Instagram. Two out of three!
ReplyDeleteSSG xxx
I feel like there's been a different "culture" to blogging previously (back in our day - LOL) where we didn't need to reply. It was write and run. I feel like we made all of our connections via visiting other people's blogs and reciprocating with comments there (rather than conversing on our own home turf).
DeleteI always try to reply to comments, although it's easier with the disqus system since they get communicated back to the commentor. I remember the first time I didn't use that, and didn't realize that no one saw the replies---I was shocked11
ReplyDeleteThe one place I don't reply is Instagram, but I make sure to go comment on their feed so we keep up the communication!!
XOXO
Jodie
www.jtouchofstyle.com
You get so many comments too! Your blog must be a full time job. I do notice all your comments. No idea how you do it. You're amazing! My blogging time is getting less and less these days.
DeleteI always reply to my blog comments - that's where connections are made and I figure if people take the time to leave me a comment, I want to get to know them and start a conversation. I also tend to reply to FB comments too - but I don't tweet or use IG so I'm not spread too thin.
ReplyDeleteYes I am the same and I have the other two accounts, IG being the one I use more than twitter these days so I always reply and add my comments to others' posts. I like continuing the conversations and connections. I might not chat with many people at all in the course of my day but social media is always one where I find people to connect with.
DeleteI am thinking that perhaps when the kids have left home and I've "retired" I might get better at it, Will blogging still be a thing in 10 years do you think? Will I have time to redeem myself?
DeleteI reply to comments on the blog. On social media it depends on the comment. If it is something like pretty or beautiful then I tend not to reply. If they have taken the time to right something a bit more meaningful then I reply.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I guess I'm the same.
DeleteI am not good at replying to comments on my blog...mainly a time issue...and also because I never go back to blogs I have commented on to see if they have replied! But I do try to visit every blog of the people who have commented on my blog and I comment on theirs. Sometimes I comment on facebook and instagram - depends on what the person has said. Like 'let me be free blog' I don't usually comment if they have just said beautiful or similar. Interesting post and got me thinking.
ReplyDeleteI don't go back to blogs either to see if they've replied to my comment, which is why I've been so slack on replying on my own blog. I totally hear you there. I'm surprised (pleasantly) that people actually do! Apparently the world is full of lovely and engaging followers ... I am learning.
DeleteMostly...Having said that, I rarely go back to a blog I've commented on to see if someone has replied.
ReplyDeleteI NEVER do. Thus my mindset re my own. This conversation is really interesting.
DeleteI reply to every comment at this stage. Maybe if I had way more comments I wouldn't but I actually like doing it.
ReplyDeleteYou're a sweety Nat.
DeleteI reply to every comment (sometimes not immediately) but like others have said in this thread, I never go back to blogs to read if my comment has been replied to. I think it's important to comment on other people's blogs if they've been kind enough to leave a comment on my blog. That's the blog merrygoround isn't it :) On Facebook I always reply too, and there I find a conversation is more likely to happen.
ReplyDeleteI do love commenting on other people's blogs. I've always made that my priority over replying to comments here. I feel like you've left me a lovely gift so I'm going to head to your place and leave you a lovely gift too. To me that feels better than sitting here talking about the gift you left me. LOL. But I can also see the need to reply to comments now. I guess that's like thanking the person for the gift left at my place, before I head to their place to drop off theirs. Or something.
DeleteI don't mean to make you feel bad Leanne, but I always respond to every comment on my blog and social media (except for sleazy comments!) I think it definitely helps you develop a rapport with your readers. But you don't need me to tell you this!
ReplyDeleteI'm learning! It's so good to hear everyone's views. Most of you reply to the comments left on your blog. I'm in the minority! EEEK!
DeleteI always reply to every comment even if it takes me days to do it. I did stop saying thank you when people shared my posts on twitter though after a fellow blogger did a poll and something like 75% of people said they were happy with the share being liked.
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting Twitter fact! Good to know (not that I'm actively on Twitter - I prefer Instagram). I wonder what the Instagram poll would find.
DeleteWell that was fun!! I actually felt like I was at a conference with you all sitting around a table talking about the pros and cons (and ins and outs) of replying to blog comments on your own posts. It took me half an hour - which is half an hour I didn't really have - but next time I'll make a cuppa. Thanks everyone! xoxo
ReplyDeleteI've always replied to comments on my blog posts and used to make sure I went on commented on theirs if they were a blogger. I don't always respond to comments on Instagram or FB though cos often it's less of a conversation - unless I've asked a question....
ReplyDeleteI try to reply to comments on my blog posts (and mostly do) same for insta and my fb page, but tweets are just too hard to keep up with - I'll be sitting all day just replying.
ReplyDeleteSadly, I need to get better on my blog. I am better on my FB page. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you are having a wonderful weekend.
ReplyDeleteI used to but I have mostly stopped replying to the blog ones- I read them all- but it takes up heaps of time. I do tend to reply on fb to most if not all- otherwise I find I spend ages on it!
ReplyDelete