I actually usually don't have posts on Sunday, but I thought this was interesting. Plus, it's not actually a formal discussion [at least to me!] so let's put it on the off day and see what happens.
What brought this on: I'm in the middle of doing blog maintenance and I was cleaning up old posts. I still have around 200 to go, so I'm crying inside. However, I found this post that interested me so much! It's a post from August of last year, which isn't even that long ago. This post is about my commenting habits back then [it can be found here] and I wanted to write a follow up to it!
Most of the stuff I'm going to say is pretty much the same. So if I were you, I'd read THIS post before checking out the old one.
First, I comment through Bloglovin'. There's no other way I use. I hate email [things get cluttered] and my GFC is a hot mess.
Next, if I follow you, it means I'm dedicated. Like you will see me coming back for the most part. No, I will not comment on all your posts but yes, I will appreciate you for the blogger you are. I love discussion posts and will almost 100% comment on all of those. As you guys can probably tell, I love to talk!
What I don't comment on are promo posts [cover reveals etc.], posts from authors I don't recognize, adult things and book reviews on books I either haven't read or am not interested in reading. Yes, I know how to use the "mark as read" button and I'm not shy at all about using it. I've never found sense in commenting on every post because when I tried, my comments became really... fake.
Next, I don't leave links back to my blog in the comment itself unless it's part of a meme. If you leave a comment on ANY of my posts like "please check out [obnoxious link here]" and then your comment is this two sentence vague thing, I will be very upset. Not only will I not check out your blog, I'll also delete the comment and pretend nothing happened. I don't know if this is harsh, but self promo-ing on others' blogs is rude, thirsty and makes you look desperate. I don't mind it too much during memes [unless you copy and paste the same message. Then I'm pretty much blacklisting you.]
To get comments and friends, just be yourself, be interactive and don't be thirsty. Also, please please please! Appreciate the blogger you are commenting on and make that known. No matter how popular, I think every blogger wants to be told that they're relevant and commenters are the BIGGEST part of that.
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| No, but seriously. I get really salty over self promo. I work my butt off for these posts and I cannot take inconsiderates thinking they can get views by disregarding others' work and making it the "me" show. |
Moving on, I try to comment back. I'm not very good at it. Sometimes, I'll get this DUMP of comments [like one day, I came home from school to like fifteen comments all at once] and that'll make replying and commenting back hard. Plus, some people have blogs with posts that are out of my element, so I cannot even comment.
I'm part of the Readers In Wonderland commenting back program but most of the people who comment back are people I follow, so it isn't too big of a deal!
Unlike the old post, I don't get as salty over people not commenting back as I used to. I have to remember that I'm not commenting to get comments. I'm doing it because I appreciate the blogger. Plus, a lot of people are behind on commenting, which is totally fine. Life happens, right? Sometimes it makes me a little sad because I work on a post for forever only for it to get no attention. But most of the time, I just appreciate what I have [little or a lot.]
Lastly, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but I actually have this horrible problem. Whenever I see people who comment on a lot of my posts but don't follow me, I get this really bad feeling and I don't know why. It's like "are you just trying to be polite?" or "do you even like my blog or are you just commenting because I commented?" It's a feeling of doubt and I know, I'm a total drama queen. I don't let it bother me too much, but sometimes, it creeps in.
So these are my habits. Do you have any of them?
I use Bloglovin to find posts to comment on too! It's just the easiest for me- email is ridiculously cluttered, and I don't really like the GFC interface.
ReplyDeleteI literally never leave links back to my own posts, unless there's a commentluv thing. Mostly because I'm lazy and can't be bothered haha.
And I definitely try to comment back! Sort of as a thank you, but also because people who bother to comment on other blogs tend to have great posts themselves :)
I really really hate comments that have obviously been copied and pasted onto loads of blog posts- it annoys me that someone can't even be bothered to read the post that I have worked hard on and comment something related to it. I definitely try to comment back to nice comments, though, and I'm okay with a bit of self promo as long as it is together with a relevant comment to do with my post :)
ReplyDeleteYES! Sometimes, I spend HOURS on posts and if someone copy and pastes a message with their own blog link, well, I already explained it in the post haha
DeleteI also use Bloglovin'. That's the easiest platform to use and I like how I can save posts so I can return later. I only comment on reviews, discussion posts and personal things. I don't care about most promo posts, cover reveals etc.
ReplyDeleteBloglovin is awesome! I'm definitely also annoyed about comments that are obviously just meant to promote the commenter's blog. It's ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteI understand what you mean about people commenting but not following, even though I'm often guilty of this. I read SO many blogs and love many of them, but I'm horrible at remembering to click the follow button. I do frequently check back for new content, though, on most blogs.
I wouldn't ever get upset at a blogger for not following, but I have really bad self esteem, so it would kind of make me question.
DeleteI hate when I get generic comments that also ask me to visit the commenter's blog. However, I don't mind if it's an occasional generic comment from someone who has left meaningful comments on my blog before. I also don't mind if the post topic lends itself to generic comments like "Congratulations" or something like that. I also try to reply to all the comments on my blog and comment on my commenter's blogs, too. I feel like it's just good etiquette, you know?
ReplyDeleteI can definitely relate to you, Nova! Unfortunately I don't follow blogs often because once I'm done checking out your blog (and sometimes spazzing over the gorgeous design) and typing a comment -- as you can probably tell, my comments are mostly pretty dang long-winded T_T -- I just forget and close the tab. Whoops. Which reminds me, I don't think I've followed your blog yet! Following you on Bloglovin' and Feedly now, haha.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm kind of picky on what type of content I comment on. Actually, if I'm being honest, I don't follow blogs who do huge amounts of blog tours or cover reveals, because I'm just not interested in that kind of thing. I like to comment on stuff I know about, instead of just leaving one-liners that say, "Wow, this book sounds good, thanks for sharing!" I'm okay with leaving comments on books I've never heard of/have no interest in reading, though, if the review isn't so short that there's nothing left for me to say.
And OH MY GOSH, THOSE PROMO COMMENTS. They annoy me so much. Thankfully I don't receive too many of them these days, but I did just get one a couple of days ago telling me something like: "I'm now following your blog and will be a returning reader! Check out mine here." Don't know if that person actually followed (lazy too check, lol), but it didn't contain anything relevant to my post at all. People who think I'm going to check out and read your blog just because of that are stupid, really. I agree, appreciating the blogger and the post is SUPER important.
But hey, you seem really good at commenting! Better than me, at least. :P I always get distracted with other things, so commenting back takes a really long time for me. That, and I procrastinate way too much. Even though I don't *really* mind if someone doesn't comment back (I would feel a little dejected, though xD) I would be so happy if they did. Who doesn't want their posts to be more recognized, right?
I don't think that last point of yours was horrible -- I feel the same way too. Only a lot has changed since I started blogging, and I'm kind of proud to say that I don't care about numbers as much as I used to. I just blog because I love it! Getting more followers and readers is just an added bonus. :) Awesome post, girl! Thanks for speaking your mind!
Your comment is MADE of awesome. And I can't even pick at certain things you said because I was like "TRUE THOUGH" the whole time. You win the epic of the day, comment.
DeleteAnd can you believe me if I told you that I used to be EVEN MORE obsessed with stats? I think I've actually mellowed out, since then :P
I'm a total Bloglovin lover, I subscribe to few through email but I seem to delete more than I read that way. It is really hard to comment back, especially on the meme posts. I try so hard but I have such a hard time with the stacking the shelves comments. Mostly because I have clinicals for 9 hours on Saturdays and then when I get home, I'm dead and I don't want to do nothing :/ I try to make up for it during the week though haha.
ReplyDeleteI love your habits/policy Nova.
ReplyDeleteI comment whenever I have something to say. Period. I never comment out of obligation or guilt or anything like that, because I don't think that's how comments should work. You shouldn't feel pressured into giving one.
So if a post makes me want to SAY something or contribute, then I say it. This is usually the case with:
1. Discussion posts.
2. Personal posts I connect with or have something in common with.
3. Reviews for books I haven't read but suddenly REALLY want to read.
4. Reviews for books that I have read and I felt pretty much the same way about.
I don't even read promo posts.
This is actually such an interesting thing to say. I've never really thought that way. I always thought that if someone comments on your blog, you should comment back on theirs. Sometimes, I don't, though. Like for adult blogs or blogs with just promo. It ain't happening.
DeleteI really love your policy too. Really makes me think.
I really hate it when people leave links in my comments, particularly if they are completely unrelated to the topic of the post. I'm like you and overuse that "mark as read" button on Bloglovin'. I follow so many blogs that I don't even really feel guilty about it... :O I'm trying to be better about commenting back as well. I feel like I've been doing better since the start of the year, which is great! Such a lovely post, Nova! :)
ReplyDeleteEm @ Books & Cleverness
Oh my gosh, Bloglovin' is a life saver. I find it difficult to comment with something substantial if a I visit a particular blog too often as well. I want to be genuine and not repeat myself every other post. I've been trying to comment back as well to show appreciation to my followers but I don't force it. Either I like a blog or I don't.
ReplyDeleteThat's a really good attitude to have. I tried to comment back on all blogs but there is bound to be a few that I either don't like, or can't comment on because it isn't for me.
DeleteAh, this is such a good post, Nova!
ReplyDeleteAnd I totally get your feels. Especially with the one liners that only self promote. I don't really get any of these, because I don't partake in any memes any more. But back in the Top Ten Tuesday/Waiting on Wednesday days those comments were EVERYWHERE. *rages*
I am also not a fan of one sentence comments. I mean ... if you really did take the time to read my post, why not expand on the one line you gave me? I just don't understand, especially if it's just an "agreement" sentence like "ohmygosh I feel that way, too!". That's wonderful. Really. It is.
As for your last comment, I just realised I wasn't following you. But I swear sometimes I just legitimately forget to follow people if they comment on my blog a lot, and I comment on theirs a lot. It just becomes a cycle of commenting on great posts, but forgetting to follow. But all is rectified now :D *happy dances* But I totally get what you mean. Like ... why you no follow? Especially if they're commenting regularly. IDK, maybe they are like me, and they forget. I'm pretty crap at actually checking bloglovin, so maybe there are a few people like me around. FORGIVE THEM (and me).
The only thing that I think is kinda sad, is when I love a blog and comment the crap outta it, and then I never hear a peep from the blogger. I feel like I am just speaking to the void, and eventually I'll probably step away. I mean, I want my time and effort to mean something, y'know? Like you said: appreciation is extremely important.
Ugh, I hate, hate, HATE it when people only comment on posts for self-promotion. It's probably my #1 blogging pet peeve - it just makes me so sad, especially since comments in general are such a lovely part of my day. I don't mind people linking their blogs at the bottom of their comments (although I don't do that myself) - I think that's a lot more subtle and tasteful, but just leaving a one-sentence comment along the lines of "Please check out my blog! [link here]" is simply rude, you know?
ReplyDeleteI love your system! It's always interesting to see how other bloggers/readers follow and comment.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I use to comment a lot more than I do now and almost always when someone came to my blog and left a comment. But I changed that after about 3 months, for several reasons, a) I was spending more time commenting than I was on my own blog. and b) My comments were starting to sound vague and generic. Even though I read the whole post, I had nothing INTERESTING to say.
Yes, I love comments and I love to leave them, but I am with Ashley, I only comment when I have something to say. :)
I get this post 100% so no worries there! Whenever I go to a blog I tend to skip the review and look for something that's a discussion, or something with substance I can comment on, especially if the review is a book I haven't read or don't want to read. I hate accidental spoilers, and I hate reading a review I'm not interested in because I don't care for the book!
ReplyDeleteLately I only comment back on blogs that visit my blog because I've been so busy, and finding new blogs has proved challenging. I don't use my social media as I should. That is, the blogs I follow on Feedly and Bloglovin aren't visited as often as I'd like to visit them because, well, I'm busy. I still try, though, because I love commenting and finding new blogs. :P
I full heartedly agree with this post! I used to be really bad at commenting, like I just didn't comment at all. One of my blogging resolutions this year is to comment more, and I've been doing a lot better (knock on wood). I only comment when I have something to say because if I try to force it I sound so generic, and that's not what I want. I want to be completely genuine and myself! So if something resonates, I relate, have an opinion, or if it's a review for a book I'm interested in, etc., I will be there (at least if it's a blog I follow)! I won't comment if I feel like I'm repeating myself, because honestly that's not the point of commenting!
ReplyDeleteI also don't appreciate when people leave a really vague comment on one of my posts, because it's kind of rude. I spent a lot of time on that posts and if your going to comment say more than "nice post" (though it's okay to say that with something else too)! I also get really excited over the rare comments I get, so please don't disappoint me with self promotion as well!
I always try to reply to every single comment, because I appreciate the effort that it took to comment on my little blog! and if they have a blog I will visit it, but I won't follow or comment if it's not something I am comfortable with. Of course this never takes very long, as I'm not bombarded with comments, or it might be more of an issue:)
I never comment on promo posts. I can't stand those to begin with. They just seem like straight spam to me and I get enough spam through emails, phone calls, mail and what not. I don't need anything else thrown in my face. There got that off my chest.
ReplyDeleteI don't know whether I actually have a system in commenting,but one think I always do is comment back.I never fail to reply to a comment I got and do the same favour to the blogger.Having disqus makes it easier for me.
ReplyDeleteBloglovin' is life, basically. Like you, I don't use the other ways. I love Bloglovin' because it's comprehensive and easy to use. I have all my favourite blogs in there. I go through my feed once or twice a day and click on the posts I'm interested in. So, no, I will not comment on every post (pretty much same as you - yes to discussion, no to cover reveals etc), but you'll probably see me around on a regular basis. I don't comment to get comments back (although it's a nice bonus), but because I like to engage in discussion and feel like I'm a part of the community. Being able to talk books 24/7 is the best.
ReplyDelete