Lorelle VanFossen is an A+ list blogger. She writes about blogging on the WordPress publishing platform, which I use. She really has excellent blog tips, no matter which publishing system you use.
She asked us to write about our Most Favorite Blog Post Failure. I did. I even left a comment on her post. It’s #9 out of nine. Out of five comments including mine, she replied to three of them. Yes, my comment was smart-assery. Yes, I was looking to get some new readers. But here’s what she wrote to one commenter:
Oh, funny! That just goes to show that you can’t judge a book until you’ve read it from cover to cover…or something like that.
So I thought it would be OK to kid with her a little. I guess not. She maybe one of those bloggers who want to be taken totally seriously, and if there are jokes to be made - she will make them.
She probably recognized by comment for the blatant, desperate appeal it was - I want more readers.
She may have thought I was a content spammer. You probably have gotten a few of these, right?
- I read similar article also named <Post Title Here>, and it was completely different. Personally, I agree with you more, because this article makes a little bit more sense for me
- I couldn’t understand some parts of this article <Post Title Here>, but I guess I just need to check some more resources regarding this, because it sounds interesting.
- This is exactly what I expected to find out after reading the title <Post Title Here>. Thanks for informative article.
- Hey! Nice blog posting about <Post Title Here>. I would have to agree with you on this one. I am going to look more into it. This Thursday I have time.
According to her, spammers pay people in Bangalore to post these comments on my site pretty regularly. If I start deleting these comments, my comments will fall to negative two per post.
(BTW: spammers? contact me, nickel a comment to much? What’s the going rate?)
Heres another danger to comments…
Worried about people using swear words in the blog comments? WP-Devowelizer WordPress Plugin and WP Polite-ifier Plugin for Swearing are among several WordPress Plugins for comments that convert “swear words” or any words of your choosing into asterisks or other symbols to “bleep” out cuss words in your blog comment while allowing them to remain, thus making your blog a more family-friendly place to visit.
Yeah, that’s a ****in’ brilliant idea. Holy ****, my G** D**** comments would go to ****in’ negative ****’in’ four if I did that. Jeepers, this would be a swell place to hang out, right kids? Oh for pity’s sake.
I’m not making fun of people who choose not to swear. They really are better than the rest of us. I commend you for living a better life. Please don’t go away.
While those of us who blog about blogging often blog warnings about comment spam issues and challenges, don’t fear blog comments. They are the most fun you can have online! It’s a way of creating friendships, support networks, and getting the feedback you want and deserve.
Here’s my addendum: if you have five commenters and you reply to three, the other two one really feels low.
I need a pick me up. Tell me YOU like me.
I love you Sixty. I have a photograph of you on my mantelpiece. [by the way, could you please send me a photograph?]
Grandad’s last blog post..This is not a blog
@Grandad: I love you too, man.
You are soooo needy….
@Jay, yeah well, I’ve been ignored/insulted by better than you!
Sorry your self esteem revolves around me. What a sad life you must have.
Unfortunately, for those who bash me, they find little traffic nor support, if bashing Lorelle is another strategy for attracting more readers. Not that I’m not worth bashing, it just isn’t a traffic builder.
Your blog challenge has been open in my computer for over a week as I returned back to full time work after a long recovery from surgery and hit the road immediately. Today is my first day back in my office and now I have time to go through my comments and respond.
I really worry about people who judge those who respond with silence. Silence is nothing but the absence of sound. It doesn’t mean you aren’t worthy, nor important, or anything. Didn’t your family teach you a little patience?
So, now that I’m back in the office, I’ll do what I can to reply to the month of backlog emails, comments, and bloggers wanting my attention. But thanks for thinking about me while I was recovering.
Oh, and don’t forget to add to your citations that I’m one of the ones who is the biggest proponent of the notion that not every comment needs, nor deserves, a response.
Oh crap, this is getting WAAAAY to serious for me.
1. If you felt bashed, apologies, leg pulling was what I was going for. Aside: my traffic was almost double that day. (See the chart on my “chief typesetter” page.
2. How in the heck was I supposed to know you were gone for surgery? You didn’t write about it! (Still haven’t on your blog.)
I’m sorry for your surgery, probably an emergency, and am glad everything seems to be going OK. But if you had an emergency… I guess you had a pre-published post for 6/24? and this left you time to go to Vegas for a “few days” after surgery?
3. Patience? Yes, my parents taught me well, and what they taught me has been effectively beaten out of my brain because of the internet.
3. I think you are a little unfair by saying silence is the absence of sound. Silence can be deafening! If blogging is a conversation (and I believe it is) then not to respond is more than just a non-response.
EG: a blogger in my blogroll just died. Two days later, his widow was on his blog tell us about it. http://www.nobodyasked.com/2008/06/30/voice-stilled/
4. I did not know that you felt that way about comments. I think you are wrong. Either turn off comments and tell readers you are too busy… or respond to each comment. You run about 6-12 comments per post, how long can it take, even if just to put
or LOL, or STFU.
Meh, I’ve learned a lesson.
Wow, Lorelle wrote a comment in to YOU!!! You have had a brush with fame.
I need a pick me up. Tell me YOU like me.
Dewd - I’m ‘in-like’ with you! That’s so much better than just simply ‘liking’ you. It means I can assume that we have a super special relationship with each other and should therefore expect comments on each other’s blog posts as often as possible.
Heh, sorry my snark got outta hand. For further reading, see this post: http://www.krississippi.com/2008/04/are-you-in-a-blog-clique/
“Sorry your self esteem revolves around me. What a sad life you must have.”
This tidbit sounds a lot like like something that generally annoys me about bloggers who have chips on their shoulders…
Seriously, get over yourself! (http://www.krississippi.com/2008/03/seriously-get-over-yourself/)
K2
Krissi’s last blog post..Happy Canada Day
P.S. (since I’m spamming your blog)
I believe that each comment deserves a reply. Have you seen the iComment movement? http://www.krississippi.com/2008/06/you-comment-i-reply/
P.P.S. Since I’m REALLY spamming your blog, it’s the ‘iReply’ not the ‘iComment’ movement. I’ll get it straight, and you’ll at least be able to say I never ignored you.
@Rhea: Yeah, still looking from out-and-out stardom, however.
@Krissi: Yeah, two links in one post and you’re marked a spammer. Please make a big red S for your shirt, and wear it when you blog so we can see it.
I’ve noticed the You Comment/I Follow movement, but that just puts too much pressure on me. I can’t handle the stress.
Yes, I really LIKE you. No, I will not bear your children. But thanks for asking.
me again’s last blog post..dang nature
Hi,
Did your readership go up during this wild discussion?
I write a boomer consumer blog called The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide at http://boomersurvive-thriveguide.typepad.com.
Rita
P.S. I’ve read what you go about comments is answer them until you get famous and have too many. I’m looking forward to that day!
@Rita: Wild? No. I got double the traffic the day of the post, but then it fell back to norm.
Uh lol, i should do something like this too. Look at the attention!!
usws´s last blog post..Conan The (Still) Clueless
@usws: Thanks for your comment, now go f*** yourself. I mean that in a a nice way.