The Gentle Art of Commenting

Somebody famous once said, I won't know what you want from me if you don't tell me. Oh wait. That was my husband.

Anywaaaay... I thought I'd write a post letting you know my thoughts on commenting - and what I want you to do about it.
If you hadn't realised yet, there's nothing a blogger loves better than to open up her inbox and see a lovely bunch of new comments.
Her heart leaps with anticipation... until she clicks them open and realises half of them are from spammers... or even better, Russian Spammers.

The problem is that I have "Anonymous" as a commenting option.Thankfully Blogger has figured out that these are bogus comments and they get sent straight to the Spam Lock Up...

But why don't you just get rid of "Anonymous", Simoney? I hear you ask.

Two reasons.

1. Grandma can't remember how to access her google account and she likes to comment occasionally.
2. I want to make it as easy as possible for people to comment on my blog - including non-bloggers.

If you want to make sure that your readers can comment, you might want to include the Name/URL option until Blogger sorts this problem out or you could well be missing out on lots of lovely comments.

 

I know it comes with the annoying "Anonymous" option but there is no way to hack around it. Trust me I've tried.

By the way, please don't suggest Disqus or Intense Debate commenting systems. I tried Disqus last year and my comments dried up overnight. Seriously. So I ditched it. And with  Intense Debate  I might lose all my old comments, so I will just have to be patient and hope that Blogger will ONE DAY stop twiddling with making their post editor prettier and give us the interactive commenting service we need and deserve. 

The First Step. Comment the easy way.
Why do I need to comment? Can't I just be a reader? I hear you ask.

Sure. But for me the best part of blogging is the interaction. The feedback. The connection.

I appreciate each and every single comment I get {except those blimmin spammers of course}.
Only a tiny percentage of my readers actually comment. I would love to change that, even a little.

Don't be shy.
Blog lurkers, I know you are out there.
Some of you email me. Which is awesome! I love hearing from you.
The next step is learning to comment.
It's not hard, honest.
I've left on the name/anonymous option just for you {and grandma} and to make it even easier for you, I also got rid of word verification.

But pleeease don't use the Anonymous button. Leave a name, even if its "Flossie". Here's how to do that.

The Next Step: Become a regular commenter and have interaction.

Do you already comment but have never had a reply from me?
I can tell you why that is. You haven't got your email address showing up in your Google profile. So when you comment, all I get is no-reply@google.com. I can't email you. Which at the moment is the only way us Blogger users can reply.

So please, bloggers, can we all go to our Google profile and select "Show email". If you want to keep your home email private, go set up a free hotmail or Gmail account. Then you can add that new address into your profile and I can start replying to your comments!

Non-bloggers who are my regular readers, you are my hidden treasures.

I can interact with you too if you set up a Google profile. Click on "Follow" and then follow the steps to create your google profile. Make sure you choose a password you won't forget or you'll find yourself like Grandma: commenting via "anonymous" again. Which is better than nothing. But still.

{Oh and remember to "show email" as well - so I can reply.}

You will find commenting to be really easy once you try it. All you have to do is just sign in to your google account when you sit down with your cuppa to do some blog-reading, and then you can blog-hop and comment to your hearts content, without having to sign in each time you want to comment.

Give it a try OK? I dare you. Let's interact!

Commenting Tips for Bloggers.
You girls are the "professional commenters".
You already know that if you want comments on your blog, you need to visit other blogs and leave comments... right? At least until you are a blogging superstar at which point you will have to employ people to read and reply to your comments...

But until then, "If you want a friend be a friend" etc etc

I have discovered many great blogs through great comments people have left me. By "great" I mean the kind that made my day. Meaningful. Heartfelt. Encouraging... and showing that they actually read my post???!!

I have limited blogging time, same as you.
When I get comments, I reply to the ones I can via email.
I would love to be able to go visit every person and comment back... but I just can't.
I have children to feed and dust bunnies to banish, just like you.

So guess who I visit?
The ones whose comments arouse my interest.
The ones who don't just say, "Stopping by from XYZ linky" or "I'm following come follow me back" or "Hi I have a great giveaway coming up for haemorrhoid cream..."

I recently featured a number of my new favourite blogs on my Loving Post. All of those girls I met because they left me great comments and I just had to go see who they were.
You know what I mean??

You girls who already comment here are all great at leaving fab comments! And they really do mean a lot.
Honestly, the other day I was having such a downer and some of the comments you left me really lifted my spirits. Encouraged me. Made me feel appreciated and valued.

Which is the point of commenting, isn't it? We can all do with more of that, right?
Its not just to stroke egos or pat down insecurities. It really means a lot to know that somebody is reading what you write and that they like it. Or they agree. Or disagree. Or they like your new header and fresher, cleaner layout... {thanks Sarah - she noticed}

What can I say? Comments rock.

I hope this rambling post has in some way clarified some of your Commenting Questions.
What? You weren't asking questions about commenting? Oh. Never mind.

To recap:

1. Go add your email address to your google profile and THEN comment - I will reply to you!
2. Go to your blog and select "Anyone (includes Anonymous)" in Settings under "Who can comment". Then leave me a stupendous comment and I will come visit you!
3. If you're a regular reader and you haven't already, click "Follow" and then sign up for a Google profile; make sure you "show email" so I can to reply to you... then try leaving me a comment!

I think that's about it.
I hope to hear from you sooooon!
♥