Commenting 101: Fitting it All In

Welcome back to my Commenting 101 blogging series. If you'd like to read from the beginning of the series, please click here.

I'm sure some of you are wondering how this series could possibly have stretched out over 7 weeks, but I really have wanted to try and address as many aspects of commenting as possible. Because, as you've read, it's really so much more than just "leave me a comment."

This week's topic is: Fitting it All In


After reading over comments left throughout this series, I've noticed that many of my readers who are new bloggers tend to just sort of fly by the seat of their pants when it comes to blogging and networking.

If you are blogging solely for recreation and not concerned with growing your audience, then it really shouldn't matter when you blog, how often, or how you return comments.

If you have a goal for your blog and seeing growth in your readership is important to you, then you need to consider being intentional in the way that you spend your time on the computer.

1. Why have a blogging schedule?

• If readers know when to expect posts from you, they're more likely to stop by regularly.
• If readers know that you are a blogger who makes a point of interacting with your readers, they'll be eager to leave you feedback.
• If you are a wife, husband, mom, or dad then you have additional responsibilities outside of your job/blog/home/family. It makes sense to fit in regular time for blogging rather than make those other activities come to a halt whenever you feel inspired to write.
• Keep a notebook or a Drafts folder to jot down notes when you feel inspired. Then you can write that post when the time is right.

2. How to get started with a blogging schedule?

• Decide which time(s) of the day you'll have to carve out for projects, writing, and networking.

My girls are old enough now that they play on their own/together quite nicely. If they see me working on a craft they sometimes like to watch or "help," but for the most part they stay occupied with Barbies, dollhouse, and Polly Pockets. When Natalie is at preschool, Michaela Byrd and I usually run errands. I spend parts of naptime and an hour or so after they go to bed networking and writing/scheduling the next day's blog post. 

• What works for me might not work for you.

We all have different schedules and lifestyles. You may be an uber early bird who likes to write before your family wakes for the day. Maybe you write your posts on your lunch break at work. Find what works with you and stick with it.

• Be consistent!

Again, most readers like a blog they can rely on...not only for solid content, but for a blogger they know they can interact with. If you have a small blog that hasn't received many hits or comments yet, being consistent in visiting the sites of your readers and leaving feedback for them is a great way to grow!

As a new blogger, scheduling a bit of time to network with your readers should be just as important as writing your posts. 

3. Rome wasn't built in a day.

• Wait, we're not talking about history, we're talking about blogging...the point is, don't expect for every blogger you visit to hope over and become a dedicated reader right away. Finding good bloggy friends takes time and effort. 
• Don't rely on link parties for your sole source of traffic. 

Participants can be fickle (sometimes they visit other blogs and sometimes they just "link and leave"), and parties are time consuming, particularly if you link to more than one a day. And when you get burned out and decide to stop linking up, where does your traffic go? I truly believe that stepping back and building trust and relationships with your visitors makes for loyal readers.

4. Content is King!

• No matter what, focus on publishing good, solid content first. When I have one of those ridiculously crazy weeks, I do my best to make sure I have time to write a new post or pull something fun from my Drafts folder.

5. When should you stop returning every comment?

The title of today's post is misleading because you can't fit it all in when you find your blog expanding. You just can't. 

• At some point you'll start experiencing continued growth, more comments, more traffic...and less time.
• Take a look at your life.

If you are overwhelmed by the number of comments you receive each day and you spend more time replying to those than with your family, it's time to reevaluate. 

Lately, I've been feeling tied to my computer, staying up an hour or two later each night than I normally would because I feel compelled to reply to every comment, whether via email or personal blog visit. I'm missing out on time spent unwinding with my husband, and (let's be honest!) folding the pile of laundry on the couch. I knew it was time to take a step back yesterday when I was feeling guilty for not being able to comment on each of the 90+ posts that linked up to my Weekend Bloggy Reading party. I had to remind myself that I'd spent the weekend with family at a funeral!

Contrary to what some readers think, bloggers are not magical robots that can add hours to their days to fit in projects and type up emails. In order to be able to write posts that make sense and have some notes of humor or interest, you have to be able to live. And you can't live when you're tied to your laptop replying to the 40+ comments left on your blog each day. That's a lot of computer time!

My friend Beckie offered some great advice for bloggers whose inboxes are consistently packed full of comments:

Read each comment, appreciate them, and then move on. 

It seems simple enough, but it's hard for those of us who cherish that interaction to let go! I'm not advocating just deleting all your messages without a backwards glance, particularly if you regularly link to blog parties. I firmly believe that blog parties imply some form of participation, and other readers will wise up when they see your posts linked to multiple sites and they don't see your presence in the comments sections. Even today, if I link a post to a blog party, I do my best to return each comment for that post, particularly when someone mentions that they are visiting from ___'s blog party.

I'm learning to read each comment the way I've always done, respond via email or a quick blog visit to the ones I can, and be happy with what I am able to accomplish for the day. I tend to visit regular commenters first, because I value loyalty. And, of course, there are some spots on my Blog Roll that I consistently visit, even though I know the writers receive far too many daily messages to respond to each one. Commenting is just my way of showing support because I know those ladies appreciate comments just as much as the smaller blogs!

Obviously, new bloggers or bloggers who receive a small amount of comments on their daily posts should make interacting with their readers a priority because that is one way you will see growth. I can't stress this enough! But for bloggers who are seeing lots of traffic and are starting to feel torn between living life and typing up emails and comments...the choice needs to be life.

I hope this post was helpful to those of you who have mentioned feeling stressed out about trying to squeeze everything in. When you're just starting out, interaction with your readers is so important. Fewer comments means more time to spend on writing, scheduling, etc. As your blog grows, you have to adjust along with it!

Thank you so much for staying with me through this series. This post was incredibly long, but I really felt led to share this with you all today. I have a new series in the works for when this one ends, so you won't get bored! Next week, we'll discuss some Commenting Technical How-Tos and we'll wrap the series up with some Highlights.

Linking to The Stories of A 2 Z and Homebody.