Good morning!
As we know, people reading our blogs are mainly.. other bloggers! I know, and participated, into a challenge consisting of returning all the comments we’d get. Which seems like a good idea, you know, giving back and everything. Although it’s essential to be sure to bloghop and comment on other’s posts- Here’s why I choose not to return all the comments i’m getting.
Related; My blog hopping pet peeves
First and foremost, it needs to be genuine! If you comment on a post just to say SOMETHING, believe me, we can tell. Not only the receiver might not know what to answer to your comment.. but it does feel like an empty one aswell.
I usually like to say something deeper than simply a “nice post!”, atleast pick one specific line or something they mentionned in the post that you can share something relating to that. If the person hasn’t posted in a while or the newer posts has been solely sharing reviews – and especially for fantasy books that I’m not really interrested into, I find it had for me to say anything useful.
I scroll my WP feed rather frequently, so even if I skip on that day, I might go back and check at a later date to see if I can find something more appropriate for me to connect on. If not, I just refrain from doing any empty comment and continue my road.
Setting yourself the rule to ABSOLUTELY return all comments can quickly turn into over-stressing yourself; because now not only do you have to schedule your posts (which can be stressful in itself if you’re on strict posting schedule like I do), you also need to return and find SOMETING on the person’s page to comment. As we all have pecular things we might like or find annoying, depending on the other person posting style & topics might be harder.
Instead of doing that, I think the best way to connect to other bloggers is through blog hopping. Liking and replying to the comments always – although I do get more “empty comments” that I have NO idea how to respond to. Some posts catch my eyes and some doesn’t; i’m not one to read review posts if the book isn’t even on my list (Aka fantasy or historical per exemple).
I do like to comment within our book blogging community, but I also like to read more mental health & lifestyle blog posts too. My blog is not strictly about books anymore, so I do love to wander in other niches out there. Sure, it’s nice if they come back and find an interresting post of mine to further connect on; but if they doesn’t return it? Hey, that’s fine too. Although i’m a bit conscious about my views/comments stats, as everyone really, I understand not everyone like to read the same things and my posts won’t be for everyone. And that’s absolutely okay!
What do you think, are you returning all the comments you get?
I always try to answer and return all comments IF as you said what’s been posted on the other’s blog is “speaking” to me. Not just “very good ” or…
Yes! Ofcourse I could just pop a random comment on the latest post but- it’s no use if it’s a simple « nice post » or « nice review ».. I atleast wanna say that im adding it to my list or something.
Oh yes I feel you on the clearly compulsory comments you get. I get those on ttt and they are a struggle to reply to. I used to try to comment back on everything but I really don’t have the time for that anymore. I struggle already to reply to all comments on my blog, let alone blog hop to all my blogging friends. I try to return comments of TTT as I feel that is part of that but only if I get to them in a timely manner.
Sometimes I do comment on things from like a month ago 😂 ahah ! Fair.. but sometimes other’s takes on TTT can be boring? And often times I dont even know of the books mentionned 🫠
Oh I love this post so much, you make such a great argument here. I used to think I HAD to return all comments, felt guilty and so stressed out about it, overall. But sometimes, no matter how hard you try and want to, there’s just nothing I can connect to. I completely agree with that! I love spreading some love back and deeply want to support other bloggers, but I sometimes just can’t connect with the blogger’s content. I don’t want to leave an empty comment, I’d rather leave a genuine, thoughtful comment, as well.
Some other times, I just… lack time. I’ve been prioritizing other things in my life, like writing, and blogging and therefore blog hopping has taken a bit of a back-burner. So, I do my best to at the very least to visit my blogging friends! 🙂
Loved this post!
Yes that too! When im overworking myself at work.. I dont guarantee I have the mental headspace to leave a coherant comment ahah 😂
For me it happens mostly when the main content is reviews, or sometimes they hasnt posted in MONTHS- so im like weell.. 🤷🏽♀️ sorry but,