For What It's Worth


Monday, May 7, 2012

Book Blogger Confessions #9



Book Blogger Confessions is a meme that posts the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month, where book bloggers "confess" and vent about topics that are unique to us. Feel free to share, vent and offer solutions. Just keep it respectful - no bashing authors or other bloggers!

If you want to participate just grab our button and include it in your post with a link to either Tiger's All Consuming Media or For What It's Worth. We will be providing a linky at the end of our posts so people can "hop" to see all the participants answers.

Question for Monday May 7th: The holy grail of blogging success! What type of posts do you leave comments on? How do you try to encourage more comments on your own blog? Do you respond to people who leave comments on your posts? How do you handle negative/spam comments? Do you use captcha?


I LOVE comments. Who doesn't? We all spend a lot of time writing our posts & it's nice to have interaction and feedback. Sometimes I'll be having a bad day and one comment will turn that all around. So thank you to each and every one of you who take the time to leave comments.


What type of posts do you leave comments on? I used to spend a few hours a day commenting on people's posts but I just don't have the time to do that anymore so I try to do at least 10 comments per day in addition to my favorite bloggers who I try to visit whenever they post.

I comment on whatever interests me. A review that was very informative (either negative or positive), an opinion post where the blogger is specifically asking for feedback & I think I have something to add to the conversation.

I know memes bring a lot of hits but I burn out commenting on those after awhile. There are only so many ways to say "great books!" or "I want that too!" lol

How do you try to encourage more comments on your own blog? Do you respond to people who leave comments on your posts? I don't really do anything special to encourage comments which is kind of sad. I know I should but I also know everyone is super busy. I love to get them and I also try to respond to every comment directly here on the blog or visit/comment on their blog in return. I'm finding that I get a lot of responses to my posts via Twitter these days.

How do you handle negative/spam comments? Do you use captcha? I just delete spam comments. I receive maybe 10 for a whole year so I don't get too annoyed by it. Some are downright funny. I haven't received any negative comments. A few brusque ones from people who disagree with my reviews but I feel they're are entitled to their opinion just as I'm entitled to mine. No offense taken. If they were to be vulgar or aggressive then I would delete them. I’m not going to get into a shouting match on my blog.

I don't use captcha. The level of frustration it causes people (including myself) trying to leave the comments we love so much isn't worth the trade off just to avoid a few spam comments.

(To turn off Captcha on your blog - A Blogging 101 tutorial by Parajunkee)

** I would like to know how you guys feel about the "meaningful" comment. I hear that a lot when people say they want comments but only meaningful ones. Sometimes that stops me from commenting because I don't have time to type something meaningful or I really just want to stop in and let you know I read your post and great review is all I've got. I do try to say a little more though.

I do realize that meaningful doesn't necessarily mean a long comment but would you rather have no comment instead of the dreaded great review comment?

That being said - I hate commenters who say: "Great review! Enter my giveaway/read my review/please follow me." with links (other than memes which of course a link is helpful) That's trolling - and btw it doesn't really work. At least not for me.

Question for  Monday May 21st: Memes. Love em or hate em? How many do you participate in? Which kinds do you like best? Do you feel like there are too many?

37 comments:

  1. the evil captcha!!! and i pretty much follow your mantra. i used to be so good with catching up with everyone and commenting. I need to take some time out today and really catch up with some bloggers.

    great post Karen dear :D

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  2. I LOVE commenting on people's blogs and replying to their comments on my posts, but sometimes, real life does get in the way!

    And I hate CAPTCHA!

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    1. Yeah - that whole real life things ruins things lol

      I'm trying to comment more these days.

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  3. I take it in spurts, the commenting thing. Sometimes I'm in a hurry and simply don't have the time to comment as frequently as I'd like to ... but I really try to comment on my friends' blogs, or when someone has a birthday, or something important to them that they are sharing. Sometimes I'm just trying to pay forward a smile, or make someone laugh with a joke.
    BTW ...... [wait for it] ... GREAT REVIEW!!! lol ;D

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    1. I have a few good friends that I try to comment on all their posts if possible but everyone else I just try to make the rounds and get in as many as time allows each week.

      I'm finding more posts through twitter these days and it's easier to comment on those as the pop up in my feed.

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  4. I detest trolling, too. And I also have problems commenting, or "meaningful" commenting, anyway...*le sigh*

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    1. You leave great comments! What the heck are you talking about??? lol

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  5. I consider "meaningful" any comment that looks like the commenter made the effort to connect and share a thought. And don't worry, all the comments I got from you I considered them meaningful ;-)

    What irritates me are the "Enter me in the contest" comments when the author clearly asked a question as entry for the giveaway, but other than that I really enjoy any comment :-)

    (oh yeah there are those spam comments where bloggers don't try to comment but just say "Visit my blog www. and folloow me", it's different when they say something that amkes me interested in them/their blog/reading,etc. because then I search their blog to read more, and not because they told me to)

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    1. Thanks Stella :-)

      Those link/spam comments are annoying and I'm guessing they don't work either. Every blogger I know hates the trolling comments.

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  6. I am pretty much convinced that I am a robot. Captcha is a pain and I do not use it. I just delete the spam comments. I always try to comment on the blogger's posts that i am friendly with. I like the answer question contests because they make me think and I enjoy interacting with the author/bloggers. I prefer to leave posts on interviews and articles. Reviews I kind of shy away from if i have not already reviewed or read the book because I try to read the books I am reviewing with a clean slate. I have wrote very few article type of blog posts and those I do try to encourage comments on. Everything else I just dont think much about comments.

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    1. Captcha has got to go. I would rather delete all the spam comments myself than have followers waste time front heir busy day trying to decipher those stupid things.

      That's an interesting point about not reading reviews before you finish the book yourself. I tend to skim those reviews. I want an idea if it's worth buying the book but I also don't want to be spoiled or influenced.

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  7. Excellent topic this week! I love that you brought up the "meaningful" comment idea. I'm guessing that every one had a different idea of what a "meaningful" comment is but to me I'm thinking the blogger is asking for you to show that you actually read the post instead of the generic "great review/great giveaway" comment. But I also get what you are saying and sometimes you *do* just want to leave a comment saying "hey I was here and I like what you had to say".

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    1. I guess the ideal comment is one where you discuss a book. The next best thing is where the commenter shows they've read your review and comments on something specific - even if it's just a quick comment.

      I try to do that but sometimes I do visit a blog but it could be the 50th review I've read for the same book & I just don't' have anything left to say other than I was here lol

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  8. I don't mind "non-meaningful" comments. At least the commenter took the time to say something. However, my response, if anything will probably only be a thank you.

    However I hate the ones who are all "check out my stuff" Blah blah. I don't mind them leaving a link to their content, but at least take the effort to show that they really looked at my content first. My blog is not your promotion platform. ><

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    1. I don't even respond to people who say "Great review/blog check out my blog"

      If they say something that showed they actually read my blog or posts then leave a link that's great and makes it easier fro me.

      It doesn't bother me if people don't have much to say. I get the time constraints and I'm just happy you stopped by at all.

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  9. I agree about the meaningful comment. Who says what is and what isn't and if someone doesn't have a lot of time yet still takes time to say something what is wrong with that!

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    1. I want to say something great but sometimes after my 15th blog I just don't have it in me. I just want to say Hi - I was here lol

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  10. I'd say you are a very good commenter. 10 blogs a day is a lot more than I manage!

    And yes, it's hard to comment on "book haul" posts after you've done it a hundred times. If someone's gotten a book I adore, I'll usually mention some aspect of the book that I think they'll like, but beyond that it's hard to know what to say.

    I don't feel like I /have/ to have meaningful comments left for me, but they are the ones that light up my day the most.

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    1. Exactly. I love those really awesome *meaningful* comments but I don't expect everyone to have time to do that & I know I can't reciprocate all the time either.

      A good comment makes it all worth while though.

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  11. Great post darling! My response for this week is my longest one so far I think. As for meaningful comments. A meaningful comments to me is one that indicates that the reader actually read my post, it doesn't have to be long just have a bit of effort that being said I don't mind a "great review" comment at all as long as it doesn't come with an "advert" for me to enter a giveaway, follow the person, visit their blog.

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    1. Definitely no Great review - here's my link!!! Bad BAD commenter! lol

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  12. GAHH I know about meme commenting! It's SO HARD to make those meaningful and I still feel like I end up being repetitive. I've been more lax with commenting lately but I do try to comment as often as I can. Sometimes I read a post, mean to comment, and forget though. Captcha is the bane of my existence. Hate it! I don't mind if a comment isn't "meaningful" but if it's obvious that they copy & pasted the same comment to every other blog, it's annoying. Great post!

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  13. Captcha is the devil's work, oh so annoying! And always when I am the most irritated it shows up.

    Meme commenting, I have given up on that cos yes what to say? I still do the mailbox mondays cos at least there there are cool books

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  14. totally agree with the standard --great review ...but then I so adore that leave a comment and then their blog asking for a comment.

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  15. Captcha does often make me turn away and not comment on a post. It is just such a hassle.
    At this point I am grateful for any comment. I can understand why people want meaningful comments. But if my comment is sincere shouldn't it be counted as meaningful? I do agree with you about people commenting solely with the purpose of getting you to follow them back. It shouldn't be forced on you. I want to follow them because I like them not because they shoved their blog down my throat.

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  16. This post made me giggle: 'that's trolling', 'leave a meaningful comment'. lol I agree. I think the meaningful comment is what you said, no "great review' but what did you like that made it great. If it's an interview then what is something you liked or thought about the interview. That's my take anyway.

    Here's my giveaway link: KIDDING!!! :D

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  17. It seems as tho Captcha is universally despised...lets all hope that tons of peeps go turn it off. Hey we should all have a Turn off the Captcha day :) Loved this set of q's btw. Thanks!

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    1. My blogger friend Missie from the Unread Reader has a button on her sidebar for "The League of Ladies Against Captcha" lol http://theunreadreader.com/

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  18. Karen, I have no problem with 'non-meaningful' comments, I have never understood that!! I love to see comments like 'great review', and 'cool cover', they don't bother me at all!! I feel like it's just a way to let someone know that you read the post. Like, "Hi! I was here!" I appreciate someone letting me know that they have read the review and visited my blog. I also agree with you on the "follow me back" comments. They aren't so much fun. Sometimes I get those from people who I am already following, lol :)

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  19. This was a great topic choice and I had fun writing about it. I definitely hear you loud and clear about not always having the time to comment. I also know the feeling of wondering whether I should comment unless I have a deep and meaningful message for the blogger in question.

    I think the thing I focused on most in my own post is that if you want people to respond to what you are saying, "you" need to be in there. It's hard to leave something "meaningful" when the review is generic to the point I'm not sure if someone read the book or if the response to a meme is a picture and book description with no explanation why the blogger picked it.

    Anyway, have a great day!

    Kathy Ann,
    I Write, I Read, I Review

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  20. To me, any non-spam or non-shameless-self-promoting comment is one that I really appreciate. Even if it's only "great review" or "I want to read this book," at least I know that the person took the time to glance at my post and even get out of their Google Reader. I don't mind people leaving links to their blogs, except when it's obvious that they haven't read a word I said and they just want to get a return visit from me.

    The comments that are the most meaningful to me are ones where you can tell that the person really read and spent a little time thinking about what I wrote. I also realize that these can take a lot of time though, especially when you follow a lot of blogs, so I don't expect them (though I do get excited when I get one)!

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    1. I agree with everything you said. Sure the more meaningful comments are better and show that someone spent time but we're all doing the best we can so any comment that's not spam is good with me.

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  21. Thanks for bringin gup the "meaningful" comments. I don't mind if someone leaves a comment just saying "good job on the post." That's meaningful enough to me. I don't get that annoyed by CAPTCHA though.

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  22. One thing I started doing recently is ending my reviews with a question. That seems to be bringing in more comments because it gives you something to respond to. As for the meaningful comments, I just try to make sure the blogger knows I read their post.

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  23. I totally know what you mean about the pressure to leave a 'meaningful comment'. When I see that, I start over thinking what I'm want to say and then I decide against commenting at all. It's too much pressure, people. LOL

    Everyday, expect on weekends, I try dang hard to get out there and leave comments with the hope that people will visit me back, but I do notice that on days I'm tied up with work or school and can't comment as much, the comments count on my blog is low, which is always a little heartbreaking, but hey, real life has to take priority, and you can only do the best you can do, right?!

    Thanks for not having CAPTCHA.

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  24. I turned off my CAPTCHA long ago, I don't get enough comments to worry about spam. I don't really mind if someone just says great review, but of course I like when they add something or point out something I haven't seen or even disagree. I really don't like the trolling though.

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