Comment Here or Comment There?

A simple thing. You visit, you read, you comment.
You're done.

So now, as the author of your blog, how do you respond to your comments?

Do you email the commenter, if their email is provided?

Do you go to the commenter's blog, comment on their post, and then respond to the comment they left you?

Or do you answer everyone's comments within your own comments?

Do you revisit blogs to see if the author has posted comments responding to other's comments?

I have always either emailed my readers with answers/comments, or I would visit their blogs to comment and answer their comments or questions to me. But I've noticed that many people respond to comments within their own comments, on their own blogs.

So just the other day I decided to change tactics -- see comments under Of Dogs and Biscuits and Gold Hydrant Awards, and you'll see I've responded to several people within those comments.

But I still wondered if this is something that other bloggers ponder, and I guess it must be, because lo and behold I Need a Martini Mom posted the very question (and some others) on her blog yesterday. Go ahead, take a peek at her blog and the to-date 99 comments she has received on this topic. It would seem the answers are perhaps evenly divided. Or not. I asked her if she's going to tabulate all the answers and post them in her next post for everyone to see. ;-)

I am totally in agreement with her on one item however: please adjust your settings so that when you DO leave a comment, your email address is available for the author of the blog to respond to you if they choose to do so! This is easily done by changing the settings in the Dashboard of your Blogger profile. Go to Edit Profile and in the first block of settings, make sure you have a check mark in the box for Show my email address.

I always, always try to respond to everyone who comments on my blog. It may not be a direct response to your comment, but I will - at the least - pay a visit to your blog and comment, sometimes on several of your posts. If someone asks me a direct question, I email them with a response if their email is available, or I make sure to respond when I visit their blog to comment.

So tell me what you think of my new format -- answering your comments within my comments, and also how YOU do it. I was curious to know the consensus on this topic and I Need a Martini Mom just pushed my button to post this topic sooner rather than later!
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28 comments:

  1. Julie DJune 14, 2009 at 8:44 AM

    I do try to comment back when I can. Sometimes I just post a blog and walk away because I get so busy the rest of the day and then forget to check back! But I get comments emailed to me, and if the commenter has it set up to use their email address for responses, I respond from my iPhone.

    Thanks for hanging out on my blog!!! It's always nice to see a fellow Buckeye!

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  2. Smart Mouth BroadJune 14, 2009 at 9:50 AM

    This is something I've been wondering about too. I always respond to comments within my blog but wonder if anyone comes back to read them. I love it when it turns into a conversation in the comment section but it's not always that way. Who has the time to go back several times. So many blogs...so little time. LOL

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  3. PseudoJune 14, 2009 at 11:36 AM

    I used to try and comment individually within the comment thread, but with my job and the time difference it just wasn't possible. Now I try and comment in the thread to the gist of where it goes.

    I like commenter's leaving their email. I try to comment individually through emailas I can do that on my wierd time zone and schedule.

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  4. Crone and Bear ItJune 14, 2009 at 11:40 AM

    Hi swee'pea - I have always responded to comments within comments - I figure if you make a comment you'll come back to see if I had a reply to make. Sometimes I'll email someone if what I'm discussing might get too personal but mostly I just rattle on right there at the comments. I always go back to blogs I've commented on to see if there was a reply, but maybe I'm in the minority. Hugs!

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  5. Absolutely LadylikeJune 14, 2009 at 12:58 PM

    Dear Susan, I'm not sure I understand what is it about...But if I'm right the answer is this: If someone asking a question about my blogpost in the comment box, I usually answer for that question on my own blog and I copy that and leave it on the other persons blog too (as a comment).

    If I'm asking a question about a blogpost on someone elses blog, I always go back and check if there is an answer...However I think the best would be if that person would answer that question on my blog :-)But maybe it's too much to ask :-)

    Honestly blogging is really taking sooooooo much time...right?

    Kisses: Evi

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  6. MarthaJune 14, 2009 at 1:41 PM

    Since I normally don't have much blogging time on the weekdays I usually let the comments pile up in my mailbox all week. When I have a chance to take a blog jog on the weekend I always start with visiting all who have left me comments. I rarely have time to go back to see if others have responded to my comments within their own blogs. I usually only respond by email if someone asks a specific question, if they don't have their email available I answer on their blog.

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  7. Alicia @ boylerpfJune 14, 2009 at 5:19 PM

    Found your blog over at Life with Dogs and have been having a great afternoon read.

    Very interesting question and one I have yet to answer. I rarely leave an answer on my blog but go over to theirs and comment. But then the question comes when they haven't done a post in some time, so what then? If I note that a comment comes from someone who answers within theircomments, I'll go back and check the answer. Otherwise, I post on their blog. Boy...was that confusing or what??
    I'm curious to see the outcome of this one!

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  8. Expat From HellJune 14, 2009 at 5:32 PM

    I have tried to be a regular commenter on those blogs that I consider my favorites (yours being one of them). However, rather than try to manufacture something every time I read the postings, I just go with the flow. If the posting compels me to comment, then I do so. I guess that's why they are my favorites! I hope people do the same with my blogs.

    Best to you, my dear.

    EFH

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  9. Wander to the WaysideJune 14, 2009 at 7:20 PM

    I'm relatively new to blogging, and almost always try to leave a comment when out visiting - and check "follow comments by email" when the option is available. Otherwise, I just try to remember to go back in a few days or a week to see if there's a comment on my comment. On my own blog, I'm so excited to have a visitor who comments that I either comment on their comment by email or directly on the post comment. I enjoy seeing all the responses from the blogger to the commenter, and, like Smart Mouth Broad says, I love it when the comments turn into a conversation.

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  10. WendyJune 14, 2009 at 8:36 PM

    For me it comes down to how busy I am at the time. I really like to go do a return comment if I can (totally unrelated to their comment) because it's like returning the favor. Sometimes I comment within my comments if I'm feeling like there needs to be an answer but I don't think people really go back and look. Maybe I'm wrong. I have to go back over to Vodka Mom's and see the results. I was one of the first ones to post so I didn't find out what everyone was saying. I'm glad she got a lot of comments. It will be insightful!

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  11. CathyJune 14, 2009 at 8:46 PM

    Truthfully, I do a little of each. Sometimes in the comments on my blog, sometimes on their blog. Seldom do I email.

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  12. SteppingJune 14, 2009 at 9:12 PM

    Good information, Susan! I try to answer my blog comments on my own blog unless they ask me a personal question then I email them. I don't think there is a right or wrong way to handle this.

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  13. LinJune 14, 2009 at 9:47 PM

    Hi Susan,
    I've always wondered the proper way to handle this also. I don't usually revisit a blog after making a comment, so I may be missing alot. I've changed my settings on my profile as you suggested, sorry for the confusion!

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  14. midlife slicesJune 14, 2009 at 10:39 PM

    As you know, I respond within the original comment but I know people don't have time to come check back so sometimes it's good to email. Either way, I feel if you leave your blog open to comments, you should respond in some way or another and if you're too busy to do that, then you should close your comments. Just my humble opinion and getting too many comments to respond to will probably never be a problem I'll have to worry about. HUGS

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  15. Wendy HillJune 15, 2009 at 12:23 AM

    After reading www.cardiogirl.net, I have longed to have a comment forum as she does (she calls hers the VIP lounge and regularly gets feedback conversations going on). I do reply comment within my comments, but can never really tell if people pop back over to see them, so I usually also head to their blog and leave a comment on their posts. My comment section pales in comparison to Cardiogirl's. Great question though!

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  16. Life With DogsJune 15, 2009 at 12:51 PM

    No comment. :p

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  17. Life With DogsJune 15, 2009 at 12:53 PM

    And now for a real answer. I can't do it. Can't visit or comment on all. And I don't like that I cannot, but when I work 80 hours a week, getting back to 30 or 45 comments from a post can eat a lot of time. I think many respond to about half of the comments they receive...

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  18. JanJune 15, 2009 at 2:11 PM

    I visit everyone's blog who leaves a comment on my blog (See? You commented on the bread recipe, and here I am!). Sometimes I answer comments in the comments section of my own blog, and sometimes I email the commenter. Sometimes, if I'm pressed for time, I do neither.

    As for setting your Blogger profile to leave an email, some of us use other blogging platforms, and if there is no field for us to leave an email address when commenting, we can't do it.

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  19. SandraJune 15, 2009 at 8:56 PM

    Hi, I found your blog on boylerpf and saw you mentioned this topic Thought I would pop in.

    I respond on my blog, that is where the comment was posted. I think others who follow may want to read the response, as well. I was an avid forum user, so this may be where it comes from.

    I always try to respond individually, but often a single response covers it all. I always go to the blog of someone new and leave a response there.

    I have many friends who follow my blog, but never say anything online. They talk to me personally about something I have written.

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  20. Far Side of FiftyJune 15, 2009 at 11:42 PM

    So I am curious what the consensus is?? I think it is running for Leaving all comments on your blog on your blog.. That is what I do..but sometimes I do answer on their blog..from now on I guess I will just say.. (Thanks for the comment over on my blog and I answered your question there..check back again sometime!!) I will check back for my answer to this tomorrow!! :)

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  21. GaneidaJune 16, 2009 at 1:09 AM

    This confused me no end when I first began blogging. Is there blogging etiquete? Anyway now I comment within my own blog but I always visit new commentor's blogs & leave my mark. Makes me feel like a cat marking his territory. Like most people I have a regular circle I visit & comment on as well & I check back if there's a good discussion going on a topic. Yep, I'm a nosey parker.

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  22. TONY LETTSJune 16, 2009 at 9:38 AM

    I love to comment on other peoples blogs and I love to see comments on my own but you got me! I'm hopeless at replying to comments. If I wasn't a Brit I'd plead the 5th but truth is I am just soooo busy. My blog readers already know that!

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  23. Fragrant LiarJune 16, 2009 at 6:07 PM

    Shit! I left a comment and it disappeared. It was a LONG comment about this! I will have to return cuz now I'm outta time!

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  24. Far Side of FiftyJune 17, 2009 at 3:56 AM

    Good to hear you will do a follow up post on this ..now I am off to see the dog photos! :)

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  25. Diane ShifferJune 17, 2009 at 5:42 AM

    hello! i followed you over here from ganeida's place;)

    if someone leaves a comment for me at my blog, i always try to leave some kind of response back to them, even if it is just a smiley or something. if someone takes the time to respond to one of my posts, it just seems common courtesy to acknowledge it in some way- but i do know not everyone feels that way. i find it rather odd and disconcerting that some bloggers virtually never respond to commenters.

    i don't always go to their blogs though, and will rarely email commenters.

    nifty discussion.. i have enjoyed reading how other folks handle this!

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  26. binksJune 17, 2009 at 5:09 PM

    I get the comments emailed to me and try to respond back with an email. Other times, when there is not an email listed, I'll visit their blog or just let it go. On the rare occasion that I leave a comment in my comments, it is for someone that I KNOW will be back or was too funny to pass up.
    I have so little time these days, I can't always remember where or when I commented. How in the world would I ever find the reply?

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  27. GaneidaJune 19, 2009 at 4:35 PM

    Thank you for visiting. Commenting here as that seems to be what would work best for you. I'm flexible that way! ;) lol You opened up a can of worms with this one!

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  28. cheap computersJuly 16, 2009 at 6:19 AM

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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