Hello.
This post is for you.
The person who is reading this post. Who will probably read every single word of it, faithfully. Then you will click away from it.
MAYBE, if I’m lucky, you’ll comment on it. If I’m lucky. But more often, you’ll just read it and move on with your day.
Listen.
I need you to comment on my blog.
I desperately need it.
More than I need you to “like” the post in which I’ve shared this blog on Facebook, more than I need you to text me and say “hey I read your blog today!” or whatever.
Sometimes I think it’s hard for my non-blogger friends to really understand why this is so important to me, because what does it matter so long as there is a response?
I’ll say it again, and then I’ll tell you why:
Please please please comment on my blog.
Here are 4 simple reasons why:
- I pay for my blog.
Every month I pay for hosting and every year I pay for the domain renewal. This blog is a small investment. Facebook is free. Do me the little favor of jumping over and saying SOMETHING. It makes the money worth it, and you don’t even know how often I feel like  giving up! - Comments on my blog really matter to me.Â
You know how after 11 comments on instagram, it goes from sharing names to just showing a number? The thought of my blog post comments even hitting the double digits on a post gets me really excited. - Comments on my blog really matter to others.
One of the ways we do a quick evaluation of fellow bloggers is to see how many comments they are receiving – it is a glimpse into the influence of the blogger, the health of their community and it is a tell of the blog’s engagement. Blog comments help my reputation. - I want to know you’ve read it.
I don’t share TONS on Facebook or social media. The bulk of my life lived out online is here on my blog. While I do genuinely appreciate text messages letting me know you’ve read my blog, it makes my day to know you’ve taken a few minutes to respond in the actual venue in which I’ve shared the information. Sometimes the conversation needs to be private, but for the most part it’s welcomed in the comments.
Wowie rebrand! I’m on my phone so I’m excited to pull it up on my computer and really check it out! I can’t wait to talk blogging with you tomorrow!
yay!!! i cannot wait to talk shop with you. i’m determined and motivated and so on and so forth haha. <3
Yay! Me too! I just wrote a mission statement for my blog and I’m sharing it (and why mission statements are important) tomorrow! <3
And here you got me commenting in your blog post 🙂 Very accurate and straightforward, thank you for this!!
aha! i knew my evil plan would work!!! 😉
Yay! I will definitely start commenting more. I’ve been slacking.
jayme!! you are CONSISTENTLY the most faithful poster on my blog, i am pretty sure!!! even in your slacking, you are AWESOME.
I love you and your blog. I read at every opportunity, and feel blessed by it every time. Thanks for being real and vulnerable.
i love you love you love you
Good to know! I always just immediately text, perhaps thinking that was more personal? I dunno. But I’ll definitely start doing that instead as a first instinct 🙂
PS Exactly agreed with what Lisa said
<3
it’s rough. texts i get to keep whining about things, hahaha. but then like… it’s EXCITING to get a blog comment. i guess we just need to know when the dialogue is open in both areas, you know?
I agree and I will try my best!
I came. I read. I commented.
but seriously, I will try to make an effort to respond more often.
THANKS!!!! i mostly just don’t think people really understand it, you know? because what does it matter, i guess….. but then it does.
I am probably the worst person ever at this. It’s one of the things I want to start trying to improve on, because I understand how it feels when you do get comments. I always love your posts and feel inspired by them and you!
katie i’m super bad at this too, i’ve kind of felt convicted by this post…. but it was primarily geared towards my non-blogger, in real life friends, you know? && thanks so much. <3 <3 <3
Where did all the glitter go?
I admit, I do read your blog but never comment. I always mean to, but it doesnt happen. I just click the link through facebook and read and then contemplate what you said and then there is a dialogue that occurs in my head that somehow doesnt make it into this box. Oops. Sorry!
i’m figuring things out, blog wise. the glitter may come back on my sidebar/header/signature, but i’m in a transition phase. I STILL LOVE GLITTER THOUGH DON’T WORRY!!! haha. && we should for real dialogue about the things in your head ahhaha
Oh good. I was worried there for a second. I mean, you without sparkle and glitter? I;m pretty sure that would be a sign of the apocolypse 😉
We defintiely should and soon! Since its a three hour drive (yes?), we should probably plan for a weekend day to make it happen.
I’m guilty of this. I always mean to comment, but like to think about what I’m going to say before I say it… and then I forget to come back until the next post pops up in my feed. 😉
RIIIIGHT!? i have a hard time because i follow blogs that i like reading but literally have nothing to say in response to. but those are mostly like fashion bloggers or people who post pictures of their kids or something. i cherish our in person talks more than any comments you could ever leave me <3
I know…I know…I’m TERRIBLE at blog commenting but chin up b/c about 90% of my readers don’t comment either. I’ll see over 100 shares and have 1-2 comments and just feel a bit down about it sometimes too. One thing I can say that is when I read blogs mobile (which is 99% of the time) I don’t comment on blogs w/ Disqus installed b/c it takes forever to load. Sometimes I’ll finish reading the post and Disqus still hasn’t loaded. If that’s the case I click off.
dang!!! LOTS of shares and few comments, that’s so crazy! it’s weird because i seriously judge a blog by the # of comments they get (is that bad??????? i can’t tell) but i’ve NEVER thought to consider other social media interaction.
& i totally feel you on the mobile reader thing. i’ve heard recently that some people HATE disqus and i’d never considered that it would cause anybody any trouble so now maybe i see the other side of that 🙂
This is perfect! I completely agree with EVERYTHING you said. And although I’m bad at it sometimes; it’s so satisfying receiving comments on a post. I do think it’s totally strange for non bloggers to understand though.
yeah!!! the non-bloggers is the primary target of this. i think as bloggers we understand that sometimes you don’t leave a comment because “cool post!!!” doesn’t really do much and that’s all you have to say, and then sometimes you write NOVELS and that kind of makes up for it because you’re at least like “hey i’m here, i’m still reading.” you know?
Well boom, you’re way over the double digit mark! I haveta admit, sometimes I’m the one not commenting but reading everything so I’m sorry. I has zero excuse except that sometimes I get so far behind. Ok there’s my attempt at an excuse lol.
RIGHT!? i was SO excited to see that number — it might be a bunch of pity comments (lol) but this is the most comments i’ve ever had on a post and i’m weirdly excited about it. it was mostly geared towards my real-life friends who read my blog because i have alllll the grace in the world for bloggers… the struggle is so real sometimes in blogland.
preach it sister! sometimes I worry that I won’t have a comment worth posting, like I always want them to be meaningful but then I’m like “what if she thinks that’s just the dumbest thing anyone has ever said?”
oh gosh! yes!!! this is my thing. someone in the peony project commented about link ups, and i feel this way about link ups… i ALWAYS end up behind the person who left the post about “how to use q tips to take your mascara off” or something that i literally have NOTHING to comment about. but i think for the most part so long as the comment is well thought out, it’s welcomed.
Your mom.
yours
Eat Drink & Be Mary linked to this post so I had to come read. I totally agree. I love commenting on people’s blogs now that I have my own. Before I never really commented. Also, every time I find a PNW blogger I get a little too excited so now I’ll be following. 🙂
I hopped over because Mary linked to it too 🙂
I totally get it! Comments make everyone feel happeh!
YES! comments are to bloggers like applause is to tinker bell.
hey so now we’re friends because i left a comment on your blog. haha.
& there’s no such thing as too excited. thanks for stopping by and commenting, new friend!!!! <3
I found this through Eat Drink & Be Mary’s blog. I totally agree about how important comments are to bloggers. I’m only a new blogger so I get super excited every single time I get a comment.
yay! thanks for stopping by! super honored to be linked by mary, she’s one of my FAVORITE bloggers ever. keep blogging! the comments NEVER stop being exciting 🙂
This is so true! Especially for a new blogger like me!!! 🙂 Comments mean a lot!
http://www.strolldownsomerdelane.weebly.com
they’re always exciting and mean so much!! welcome to the blogging world! 🙂 stay awhile, it’s fun here.
Like the girls below I clicked over from Eat, Drink, and Be Mary! Love this, SO true!! Posts and “likes” in other venues are nice too, but comments on the blog itself feel more engaging! The other day a post of mine got the most comments I’ve ever had on a post (33) and I was giddy! I guess it makes you feel like you are connecting to someone more.
yes!!! congrats on the 33, that’s HUGE!!! this might be my most commented post but i feel like that’s kind of a given, in terms of the actual content of the post. i mostly was trying to call out my real life friends who read and never respond. like my friend travis down there who commented “your mom.” haha.
ooooh i think it’s because on our actual blog platforms there’s no “like” option, you know? a person can’t just click a button and be added to a growing number, they have to actually comment and put some thought into it. that might be why comments are so great; they’re not casual interaction like all the other social media offers!!! have a great friday <3
Agreed! Sometimes I forget to comment if I’m reading on my phone on Bloglovin (since there’s no easy way to do so), but I’ve been trying to comment as much as possible! As a blogger myself, I know how much work goes into it!
oooh. yeah mobile readers are SO DIFFICULT. i’m the worst texter in the world – i text like a drunk preschooler – so i’d embarrass myself if i tried to comment from my phone… plus the hassle of it!! thank you for taking the time to comment on my blog <3
Oh I can definitely relate as someone who’s just really getting into the blogging world it’s nice to know that I’m not the only one struggling with wanting comments, knowing that someone has read and appreciated my post.
Liz → {sundays with sophie}
liz – you’re DEFINITELY not alone!! i’d say most bloggers probably feel this way. keep at it!! <3
I love love love love this! And could not agree more with your points. I love when I get a lot of posts on a blog, makes me feel like the time I spent on the post was enjoyed by others. I am including this on my link love post this weekend!!
THANK YOU (again!) for linking to this post! this is definitely the most response i’ve EVER gotten on a blog post and it’s crazy how much it’s motivated me to keep on keeping on with my blogging. <3
This. Makes. So. Much. Sense. I think honestly people don’t think about it! But I identify with this post SO MUCH. Thank you for making it! I’m totally gonna link to it in a future post.
yay allie! i’m so glad you can relate – it’s nice knowing i’m not just the one crazy blogger in the world who is fueled by comments!! let me know when you link it up so i can share it on my social media 🙂 🙂 🙂 <3
Deal! Will do!!! 🙂
this is so true. i have stepped away from my blog (mostly) these past months but i am eager to get back to it – and absolutely get so excited every time i get a comment!! makes all the work that i put into it, completely worth it
right!! it’s kind of like if you have a lemonade stand and someone comes by and buys a cup for .25 cents as opposed to giving you a quarter two weeks after you’ve run out of lemonade. like… it’s super appreciated and cool but you just want people to visit your lemonade stand!!!
Amen, sister! I couldn’t agree more. I love that you write this post.
hey, thanks lysha!! i’m glad that you could relate to it! #thebloggerstruggle 🙂
Comments do rock. I had someone say to me yesterday that she reads all my posts, but I had no idea! I think that with all of the other social media platforms that people just aren’t commenting as much, period. Plus, I am never on a desktop computer, and if a site makes it hard for me to comment, I just don’t. Great post!
it’s so true that unless i’m actually at a computer i won’t comment.. commenting on my phone is NOT easy!! if i read something from twitter, i at least try to retweet it so i can go back and comment. not the same at all, but it’s still showing love! nothing replaces the comments, though!
It’s so true that the average reader doesn’t know why comments are so important. We know! Thanks for this post! 🙂
hey ashley! thanks for stopping by… and commenting… ;D
i wrote this post for the non-bloggers because us bloggers are pretty solid in knowing how it feels to get comments and try to extend the favor to others. <3
This is so true! I am definitely going to share this on my blog!
thanks mariah! let me know when you do so i can share your blog post 🙂
ps i LOOOVE your blog!
What an AMAZING post and so true! Thank you or sharing it.I wish I could get my family and those close to me to understand. I will be sharing this too. God bless
thanks so much! make sure to let me know when you share it so i can send some love to your blog (hopefully!). maybe our non-blogger friends will eventually get it, right?? 🙂
Check out my twitter page @PleasingtothePotter…Love for you to share some of my posts that you like. I will be Pinning this post for the “non-bloggers” to see. thanks again for your sharing your thoughts!
If someone takes the time to write it – I take the time to read and comment – even if it’s one sentence or thought about the post.
I wish more people would get this – especially other bloggers. And with me a big deal is being part of these link ups – and commenting on over 20 blogs – legitimately taking the time to read and comment on peoples posts – and only getting 3 extra comments that day. It makes me sad.
But, I don’t pay for my blog – it’s a free blogger account. So – it’s just a mutual respect thing for me.
hey!
sometimes for me the blogs i look at are literally SO out of my realm of existence… i make sure to go through link ups and comment on a few blogs, but only ones i can genuinely engage in a response with. i’d rather have the few extra views with no comments than to have each person that visits through a link up give me a really generic “cool post” comment, you know?
but i do wish that (in general) we were better at commenting more consistently. i’m not actually the best at this as a blogger. :/
I completely understand blogs completely out of your realm – but I tend to comment on the ones that I can genuinely respond to. But, there are some that I open up the link and think “I can’t read this tiny print” or “this isn’t relevant to me” – And I will just x out of it.
I know that the working bloggers take a lot of time to get these posts up and I respect that. I will always find a point or thought to make a genuine comment about. Because, the cool post comments only take me so far.
I really enjoyed this post – because it really was true to me – and things that I have thought myself.
My short coming is responding to comments I do get – I need to get WAY better at that – THUS, the reply to your reply 😉
oh preach – i am SO BAD at responding to comments (hello 5 days ago!) but i’m definitely taking time to go through and comment on things, even if it’s 5 days later. it shows that you’re not going to just start a conversation and leave, you know? the dialogue part of it is actually proving to be the most fun. and i’m seeing that the more people have commented on my posts, the more i’m able to gage what to post about in the future.
that’s why the “cool post” comments are so ineffective. this isn’t Facebook; i don’t want you to just click a thumbs up button next to my post, dangit!! right? 😉 hope you’re having a great day!
Lol, I love this post because it’s something all bloggers think but most don’t say.
xx
holla!!!! i’ll say it!!! haha. 🙂 thanks for stopping by <3
YES! I’ve so wanted to tell people this…especially my non-blogging friends that I know read my blog.
share it!! send them a bit of a COUGH COUGH Facebook message, hahaha.
Yes!!!
<3 <3 <3 thanks for stopping by!
I love this! Blog’s aren’t just for other bloggers to read!
right!? mary-keith and i are ALWAYS talking about how the people we’re actually the most interested in reaching are NON-BLOGGERS, because there’s less of a “i scratch your back, you scratch mine” mentality involved with it. we gotta infiltrate those non-bloggers!!
So true! Though I will say, I do prefer comments I can actually respond to, and that realization is honestly why I don’t comment on other blogs as much I used to.
i think that’s more important than commenting just for the sake of commenting, you know? i guess comments kind of help guide our blogs – we figure out what people really love to read about or really get excited about and we can start to move in that direction. but if all our comments are “neat post” then it feels like a waste of everyone’s time and we have NO clue the real impact of what we write!
This is refeshingly honest, and I can relate. I’ve begun and forgotten about more blogs than I can remember (my blogspot account is a graveyard of forgotten blogs), but I feel the exact same way when I post on Facebook.
oh yes… so true on Facebook, though i think their weird newsfeed algorithm keeps popular posts at the top, you know like based on your friends that have liked it and stuff.. so it’s kind of set up to fail. that’s the struggle with that one.
Mmmhm. I’ve tripped over that thing more than once, and every time I reset it from Top Stories to Most Recent, I come across something interesting that wasn’t one of the most popular posts. C’est la Facebook.
Thank you for posting this! While I like the comments and messages I get other places, and currently use a free platform, comments on the blog are so exciting.
absolutely! comments ON your blog are definitely more meaningful to bloggers than other platforms.
Yes, Thank you for saying all of this. When I started my blog I asked all my friends to read it and comment. I got a ton of text but no comments. I want my friends to comments because I know they will be brutally honest. How else am I going to figure out if I am doing a good job?
So thanks for posting. I really enjoyed it.
Definitely still one of my favorite posts. <3
Oh I so like this approach… thank you from those of us who understand and have lost patience with our friends who read the post and then do their lively comments on Facebook!
Hahaha… well, you just got what you asked for, right? Awesome, I’m glad you got so much comments. Although I normally don’t respond to ‘needy’ requests 🙂
I hope you return the favour and comment on my blog too.
Thanks so much for sharing your blog! Happy blogging!