I love commenting on blogs – I really do – and I comment on quite a few. But it all started to go pear-shaped a couple of weeks ago.
My email inbox was becoming so full of notifications of comment streams I’d subscribed to, I felt as if I was drowning. Keeping on top of these messages was taking up all my time – and unsubscribing wasn’t always as easy as I thought. Sometimes it was a one click job, but not always. The REALLY irritating ones were those that took me to a link, which kindly informed me I’d be getting another email with a link to the unsubscribe page – AARRRGGGHHH!
Why, you might ask, have I been such an idiot? Why have I subscribed to all these comments? Here’s why:
Three Reasons Why I Clicked “Subscribe”
- The main reason is simply this – I regard blog commenting as a conversation, so I like to know if someone’s responded to me – that’s not unreasonable, is it? Otherwise, it’s like dropping comments into a black hole or speaking to my husband when he’s watching the football – futile. If you’re just leaving comments to score points, I guess it won’t be that important to you, but it matters to me.
- Occasionally I’ll include a question in a comment – but what’s the point if I’m not going to see the reply?
- What if the blogger replies by asking me a question or says something that warrants a further comment? I obviously can’t respond if I haven’t seen their message.
Why Some Blog Comments are Like Unposted Letters
If you don’t find a way to let your readers know you’ve replied to their comment, it’s a bit like writing them a letter but not bothering to put it in the mail. Do you expect them to come round to your house to collect it?
When I started to receive the first few comments on my own blog, apart from being very excited, I was immediately concerned about how the commenter would know when I’d posted a reply. I hated the thought that a visitor might never know I’d responded to them. I knew I couldn’t rely on them returning to my blog to check – why should they?
Do other bloggers not worry about this?
Initially, I manually sent an email, notifying each commenter of my response. This isn’t difficult when you’ve only got a handful of comments to deal with, but it obviously wasn’t a long-term solution. I noticed other bloggers seemed to have some automated reply system, and eventually discovered the wonderful ReplyMe plugin, thanks to Adrienne Smith, blog commenting Queen extraordinaire! I’ve now replaced ReplyMe with the premium version of CommentLuv, which includes the same function. This means whenever I post a response, the reader automatically gets an email with a copy of their comment together with my reply – so they can see what I’ve said without returning to my site.
I know many of you provide a ReplyMe service – for which you have my heartfelt thanks – but sadly, by no means all bloggers do. This means that unless you opt to subscribe, in order to be notified of follow-up comments (if that option’s available), you may never know whether the blogger or anyone else has replied to your witty, thought-provoking contribution. The only other way is to keep going back to the site and trawling through the comment stream to check, which could involve several fool’s errands, assuming you don’t have a telepathic link informing you if and when the blogger’s got around to posting a reply.
How Do People Commenting on Your Blog Know If You’ve Replied?
- If you’re reading this post and you don’t have a way of letting people know when you’ve replied to their comments, how do you expect them to find out?
- If you offer them the option to subscribe, what will they be letting themselves in for? Some blogs give you the option just to be notified of responses to your own comment, but not always. Often you have to tick a box that means you’re going to get emails from now until kingdom come whenever someone leaves a comment on that post – unless and until you unsubscribe.
- Which brings me on to the next question – how easy is it for your readers to unsubscribe? Personally, I think it should be a one-click escape route. The systems that send you to a link telling you you’re going to get yet another email to yet another link are totally infuriating and have me screaming at the screen, “Is it not obvious by now that I don’t want any more emails?!”
Why I’ve Sadly Unsubscribed From Blog Comments
Unsubscribe—eddiedangerous (Flickr.com)
Well, I’ve had it with subscribing to comments, folks – life’s too short, my inbox can’t stand the strain and I have better things to do with my time than keep on top of endless lists of subscriptions.
So I’ve spent the last couple of weeks unsubscribing from all blog comment streams and won’t be ticking those little boxes any more. And I don’t have time to navigate back to every blog post I’ve commented on to check, so if you want to be sure I’ve received your reply, you’ll have to find some way of getting it back to me. I’m really sorry about this, because I’d love to see your messages and there are times when I might want to drop you another line in response, but I just haven’t time to visit all your houses to collect my own mail!
OK – that’s my rant for the week. Over to you – how do you deal with this issue? Do you subscribe to comment streams when bloggers don’t have a ReplyMe service? If you don’t provide such a service yourself, have you considered how your readers will know you’ve replied? Or maybe this doesn’t worry you at all. Do let me know what you think by leaving a comment below (to which you WILL receive a reply!)
And if you think your friends and followers might appreciate this post, please don’t forget to ‘share’!
Best wishes,
Sue Neal
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Hi Sue,
Now that’s a very good point about user experience on our blogs
I used to go back and check if I got a reply in my first days
I didn’t know what is subscribing to comment and thought all the follow up comments gonna be in my inbox and blow up. Well, still I don’t subscribe for comments dear.
I don’t like to see my inbox filled with unwanted stuff. I really hate that
A reason why I don’t subscribe to newsletters Sue.
Right now I read replies get to my inbox and I find that’s very easy for me to keep up with ‘em as time is a limited factor. There are few blogs that don’t send me a email responses. Then I might visit that blog and check out the reply. But only if I’m not busy enough. Else I might miss it or read it the next time I visit that blog again
When it comes to mine there’s a way to subscribe for comment notifications and as I use Disqus comment system, users with Disqus profile will be notified via email. I hope I’m not on your list as you already have a Disqus profile and hence I believe you get replies via email Sue
I hope bloggers haven’t thought about reply notifications will give a look again and implement it on their blogs to make it easy for commenters
Have a wonderful week with more notifications Sue
Cheers…
(dofollow)
Mayura recently posted…Download Your Instagram Photos with Instaport
Hi Mayura,
Thanks for this VERY speedy reply to my post, hot off the press! It’s quite a job, isn’t it, keeping our email inboxes free of rubbish these days? Like you, I don’t tend to subscribe to newsletters either, for the same reason.
I’ve occasionally popped back to a blog to see if I have a reply, but I don’t see myself having time to do that in future.
I don’t think I have been getting email notifications from you, Mayura – I sign in with my Twitter account when I leave comments on blogs using Disqus – to be honest, I’m not sure if I have a Disqus profile, I’ll have to check. If registering with Disqus means I’ll get notifications from bloggers who use that system, I’ll have to get that sorted. I’ll be honest with you, the first few times I came across Disqus or Lifefyre comment systems they also drove me scatty – I thought I could do without all that signing-in lark, more passwords, more hassle….. As you can see, I’m well into my ranting mode today!
Thanks so much, Mayura – especially for the tip-off about Disqus, which I must look into,
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
Hi Sue,
You already have a Disqus profile then, but you need to input your email address editing your profile to get replies dear
You can find the setting easily and manage your email notification settings too
Cheers…
(dofollow)
Mayura recently posted…Download Your Instagram Photos with Instaport
Hi – I’ve done that now, Mayura. Maybe it would help if people who use Disqus and Livefyre on their blogs had a little note explaining that?
Anyway, I’ve learned something new here, so thanks very much for that – I presume Livefyre has a similar system, so I’ll have to get that one sorted too, as I comment on one or two blogs that use it.
Many thanks, Mayura – I’ll now look forward to receiving your replies to my comments!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
Very good idea Sue. I’ve just implemented it there after reading your reply.
Usually Disqus dashboard shows all the comments and replies. But not everyone visit there much I guess
Also if you come across a blog that use Disqus, you will see notification bubble for any replies on Disqus. Well, not everyone use same commenting system 
lol…
Yeah Sue
You need to provide email in the same way to receive notifications via email on Livefyre.
Hope you got the reply via email
Cheers…
(dofollow)
Mayura recently posted…Download Your Instagram Photos with Instaport
Oops… I’ve submitted before finishing.
Thanks for the tip on adding a note on reply notifications Sue
Readers will find it very helpful for sure.
Cheers…
(dofollow)
Mayura recently posted…Download Your Instagram Photos with Instaport
Hi Mayura – thanks for this two-part comment (I hope you’re OK with a one-part response!) I’m pleased you liked my suggestion and it’s great that you’ve implemented it on your blog – love the way you’ve provided the link, to make it easier for your readers.
I think the trouble is that some bloggers who are familiar with these systems don’t realise that other people, particularly those new to blog commenting, might struggle with them.
Many thanks – and YES, I have now received your reply to my latest comment in my in-box, which is just great!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
Hi Sue,
First time reading your blog. I’m here to vouch for Disqus! There are actually so many settings on Disqus that you know exactly what you’re getting into. Blogs can make it so you don’t have to register to post, just enter a name. Then as a commenter, you can choose to not be notified by email even if you do register. If you choose that option, you still know if you have a reply by checking your Disqus dashboard which alerts you of all the replies to only your post in that discussion. That way, your email inbox stays clean and all of your subscriptions is on one neat dashboard. Enjoy!
Vincent Nguyen recently posted…The Zen of a Morning Person: How to Love 6.00 a.m.
Hi Vincent – welcome!
Very interesting point – Mayura’s also mentioned Disqus and uses it on his blog. I must admit I’m not a huge fan – when I first came across it I found it quite off-putting, having to log in to leave a comment, and I’ve only just discovered (thanks to Mayura’s comment below) that I needed to edit my profile in order to get notifications. I can see that once you’re familiar with it, it’s quite a good system, but not all readers will want the hassle of registering and sorting their profile out.
I think bloggers who use systems like Disqus and Livefyre should include a little note on their blog, explaining how to use it – I seem to remember that the very first time I ever came across them it put me off leaving a comment at all – I was already up to my neck in passwords (this was before I discovered the life-saving LastPass password manager!) and couldn’t face registering with yet another service just to leave a comment.
I guess if ALL blogs used Disqus it would be fine and everyone would quickly get to grips with it – the trouble is, it’s just one of many options – and one that involves jumping through a few hoops to take advantage of it. I like things nice and simple!
Thanks very much for your comment, Vincent – you’ve provided some very helpful info for anyone who wants to explore Disqus,
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
Wanted to drop in again, if you don’t mind Sue. I just removed Disqus from my blog because I installed Jetpack which provides a TON of other features, including commenting. Although I love Disqus, I felt it was unnecessary to have it while using Jetpack.
So if anyone visits my site and thinks I’m some sort of advertiser for Disqus, please don’t hurt me!
Vincent Nguyen recently posted…The Zen of a Morning Person: How to Love 6.00 a.m.
Hi Vincent – I don’t mind at all – in fact I’m delighted, particularly as I’m planning to do a follow-up to this post next week about Disqus and LiveFyre – I’ll have to check out Jetpack now and maybe give that a mention too.
I’m very grateful to you for popping back to give me this update – I’m sure no-one will mind you’re not using Disqus any more! I enjoyed your ‘morning person’ post, by the way.
Thanks, Vincent – have a great weekend!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…Proofreading Tips: How to Stop Your Blog Post Making You Blush
Hi Sue,
Interesting thoughts! You’ve covered a vast range of opinions here. I can totally understand your path from first replying to comments, to simply giving up and having enough of the emails.
I really think you should reconsider though. There are a few thoughts and ideas I’d like to share.
This feels quite similar to the problem of receiving too much DM spam on Twitter, where the only solution is to unfollow everyone. Although trawling through the spam might seem too much like hard work, you’d be surprised how much of the spam is coming from a small number of accounts – and how many DMs are not 100% spam, but are merely a one-time, one-off message when you first follow someone. Unfollowing or blocking the main offenders will go a long way to clearing things up.
With an overflow of email notifications to your comments, stepping away from them altogether is not the only way (but I completely understand your reasoning!). Out of interest, how many comments were you posting in a typical week? How many emails were you getting? I don’t get a lot of those emails, as in all honesty, I don’t around to commenting as much as I would like. But I do get some, and I have ways of dealing with them.
Don’t let your email build up. If you do, you should try to “blitz” it every week or two. When I do this, I go through all of my comment replies, and read them. If they’re a reply to my comment, I might post a follow-up, but this could go on forever. Most of the time, I read the reply and delete the notification email. As for replies to other comments on the same post (but not replies to me directly), I skim those but usually delete them without a second thought.
I do still comment on blogs regardless of whether they allow me to opt in for that notification email. If it’s a really thoughtful comment (like this one!) and I can’t subscribe, I’ll bookmark the post. I only keep the bookmark for a week or two, or until I get a reply. Once I get a reply, I delete the bookmark. It’s just that I don’t need to hang onto it forever.
One thing I don’t like is getting notifications of other people’s comments on a post that’s not on my blog. Unfortunately some blogs don’t give you a way to avoid these emails without also lacking the replies to your own comments. So I opt in anyway, and if the emails get really crazy, I unsubscribe.
I also find that even on the busiest blogs, almost every post dies down after a few days. So the notifications stop. Then, occasionally, someone new brings up a good point in a month or two. But I don’t often unsubscribe from those emails as they seem to stop before I get annoyed.
Having said that, if spam starts rolling in on a post I commented on months ago, I’ll unsubscribe in an instant.
Gmail also gives you a great way to handle lots of email: filters and labels. I filter all of my Twitter notification emails so they don’t appear in the inbox. I have multiple accounts so it’s not always convenient to follow people back instantly, as I might be signed into a different account. I use tools to make this easier, but I usually let my Twitter emails build up and go through them all in one go at the weekend.
I don’t know if I had an overall point.
Just some random views. Anyway, hope you don’t mind the super long blog comment. You certainly raised a great topic 
Hi Ben,
I LOVE super-long comments – this one would classify as a post in its own right and puts you in direct competition with Mayura!
Interesting you should mention DM spam on Twitter – I don’t necessarily unfollow, I just tend to ignore DMs because they’re mainly automated rubbish.
You make some excellent points – I’ve no idea how many blogs I was commenting on in a week, I never count and it varies from day to day, as I tend to comment quite organically, often following a CommentLuv link I’ve spotted while leaving a comment on another blog, or responding to a post I’ve found on Twitter.
I do use gmail and try to organise my messages using their labels, but even doing that I’ve found the subscription option too time-consuming. I’m not the smartest or quickest when it comes to keeping up with my mail and social media feeds – it’s something I’m working on and I’m sure I’ll improve with time, but at the moment I’m going as fast as I can. All I know is that the subscription emails were taking up WAY too much of my time – I do all this evenings and weekends, so my time’s very limited and I can’t afford to waste it.
This won’t stop me commenting on anyone’s blog – but it will take a lot to persuade me to subscribe to comments in future and I think I’d only ever tick that box if I knew I was only going to get replies to my own comment. As you say, not all blogs give you that option.
Thanks for this epic contribution to the debate, Ben – appreciated!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
Same as me Sue,
In fact, this same issue worries me a lot too. There is this particular one that is still coming to my inbox even as i type this. The sad part of it is that i don’t even know when i subscribe to receive those comments.
And when i clicked the link to opt out, i got a notification saying that i will receive an email that i will use to unsubscribe. The whole thing is just confusing Sue.
I don’t have anyway of notifying my readers when there comments gets a reply for now as I’m still using the free version of comment luv. Do you know of any alternative, possibly free?
Thanks a lot Sue for sharing this post with us, i’m happy to see a partner…Lol
(dofollow)
Theodore Nwangene recently posted…10 Surefire Ways to Find Amazing Blog Post Ideas
Hi Theodore,
I think some blogs have the opt-in box for subscriptions automatically ticked, which is a bit naughty in my view – so you need to check, before you post your comment, and untick the box if you don’t want to subscribe. They are so annoying, aren’t they?
Regarding free alternatives, I think the ReplyMe plugin’s still available – I was using it until very recently. It hasn’t been upgraded for a while, that’s the only slight worry with it, but there don’t seem to be any compatibility issues yet with the latest versions of WordPress.
Another option would be to use a commenting system like Disqus or possibly Livefyre – I’ve always found them a bit irritating, because you have to sign in before you comment, which I think some people (like me!) find a hassle. I’ve also only just discovered that you need to edit your profile in order to get replies sent via email – at least, that’s how Disqus works, I assume Livefyre is similar. I think they’re both free, so they might be something you want to explore. Personally, though, I think bloggers who use these systems should give their readers some advice about using them – I’ve found them quite confusing, but I guess they’re OK once you get used to them.
The thing I like about ReplyMe and CommentLuv is they don’t involve any logging in or registration process, so it’s nice and easy for people to comment.
Thanks for your comment, Theodore – good to know I’m not alone!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
Hi Sue,
I don’t like Disqus either, I don’t know about the other one you mentioned.
I think I should check out the reply me plugin to see what it looks like.
Thanks a lot for your recommendations Sue.
Sure……You’re never alone.
Theodore Nwangene recently posted…10 Surefire Ways to Find Amazing Blog Post Ideas
Hi Theodore – I’m glad I’m not the only one who’s not a great Disqus fan.
I’m very pleased if I’ve been of help and hope the ReplyMe plugin works OK for you.
Thanks so much for your input,
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
Hey Sue,
Ah, thank you for the mention. I really appreciate that and am so glad that I was able to share with my readers this very same thing. I mean you know I love to comment but I would much rather be a part of that conversation.
Like you though, there is no way I can spend my day running back to someone’s blog to see if they replied. The more you comment the harder it becomes to keep up and I refuse to sign up to some system I don’t use just to get comment replies.
I hope that everyone will put this into place on their blog and every single person who has installed the ReplyMe plug-in told me that their readers increased as well as the conversations in their comments. Just goes to show you that this little gem does work beautifully.
Thank you again, fabulous message and you have a wonderful week.
~Adrienne
(dofollow)
Adrienne recently posted…Marketing Tips the Walking Dead Could Teach You about Blogging
Hi Adrienne,
Glad you agree with me on this one – I’ve always been so grateful to you for tipping me off about ReplyMe and then CommentLuv. As you say, it’s just too time-consuming to keep subscribing or trailing back to posts to check for replies.
Mayura and Vincent both recommend Disqus, but I must admit I find those systems that require you to log in a bit of a pain, too – I’m all for an easy life, me!
It’s interesting that bloggers have told you their readers and comments increased when they started using ReplyMe – that just reinforces how valuable it is to provide this kind of service.
Thanks for your lovely comment, Adrienne – you have a great week, too!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
Sue, It is good for bloggers to have a replyme plugin or something. I do like knowing I was replied to however, I do not like spending my time replying to comments all day.
If I am very interested in the response I get the I will personally visit the blog to reply to the response.
I can understand your pain over this type of system, but I value my time so I do not have time to subscribe to them all.
Hi Michael,
As you say, commenting and replying to comments can be extremely time-consuming. Time management is such a hot issue for just about anyone working online, and I think providing a ReplyMe-type service is just one way we can help each other out – it’s such a quick and easy way to keep the conversation alive, without requiring readers to go through the hassle of subscribing.
Thanks, Michael – I appreciate your comment,
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
You are very correct at your points Sue. I am also not a fond of subscribing the blog comments because if I do it my inbox is gonna cry
.
every blogger should use ReplyMe or something like that in order to make sure that his/her reply reached to the commenter.
great post as always.
(dofollow)
Atish Ranjan recently posted…Why Should You help the Newbie Bloggers?
Hi Atish,
I know, my inbox was positively weeping! Another option I didn’t mention in the post is a system like Disqus or Livefyre – Mayura and Vincent both like Disqus – the trouble is I don’t think all readers will want to go through the hassle of registering with this kind of service and signing in every time before they can comment. I think it’s nice to keep it simple
Thanks for your feedback – always appreciated,
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
Hi Sue,
You’ve surely raise a very valid topic of discussion this time, something about which I too have always wondered. I fail to understand how bloggers feel that their commenters would get reply’s in their inbox if they don’t provide some service like ReplyMe or any other. I’m sure they don’t expect us to visit their blog to check the reply!
Yes, there was a time long back when I was in the same boat as you, but because of the problem you faced, I unsubscribed (and it took me a few days!) from all of such comments. All of us have busy lives, and no spare time to visit blog to and fro to check replies or any further communication if any. Just like you, I’d also learnt about the ReplyMe plugin and later the CommentLuv Preimum, which also serves the same purpose from Adrienne’s wonderful blog, and was quick to install it.
Speaking of which, now if I see someone is mentioned on any of my blog posts, and doesn’t get notified if they’re mentioned by any other or if they are mentioned in the comments – I email and let them know personally, though such cases are rare. Similarly, if I am mentioned someplace, it would be nice if the blog owner emails or messages me, so that I can reply back. That works best I guess if the commenter mentions another person outside the conversation or without the reply option.
Thanks for sharing more about this with us.
Have a wonderful week ahead 
(dofollow)
Harleena Singh recently posted…How to Change Your Life with Knowledge
Hi Harleena,
Looks like you’ve been through exactly the same kind of trauma and now have yourself pretty much sorted – I’m glad I’m not the only one!
As you say, we’re all very busy – you only have to see how many posts are written about time management to know that no-one working online has a minute to spare. The way I see it, providing a ReplyMe service is a great way to help each other out, killing two birds with one stone – we save each other time and hassle as well as promoting engagement. Adrienne’s just mentioned that bloggers who install ReplyMe report increased readers and comments, so it’s got to be worth it for everyone.
I like your point about letting people know if they get a mention – I must admit that hadn’t occurred to me, so I’ll bear that in mind in future – it’s a great idea.
Many thanks for adding such great value,
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
Auto reply service is the only solution of this issue.
I have a list of blog where I comments. So, it is not a tough job for me to checking the my comments reply.
(dofollow)
Hossain recently posted…Join relevant blogging community to get more quality traffic.
Hello there,
It sounds as if you’re quite organised, knowing which blogs you comment on – I’m afraid I’m a bit erratic and some days flit from blog to blog, so it’s not so easy to keep track. For people like me (who don’t keep very good lists!) an automated reply service is definitely what’s needed.
Sue
PS We’ve lost your picture again – do you need to re-set your gravatar?
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
Hi Sue; You’ve captured a feeling that many of us have! No way is it possible to keep up with all comments. I try to make note of comments I’ve made and where and check back once in awhile. Unfortunately, my blog only has the “subscribe to comments and/or posts option. Thanks for that tip about “Reply me”. Will check it out, right now! My only excuse is ignorance due to lack of experience. Thanks for the education.
Hi Debbie,
I’m glad I’m not on my own here, struggling to keep on top of things!
You might want to check out Adrienne’s post about ReplyMe, in which she mentions the fact that it hasn’t been updated in quite a while – however, I was using it until very recently and it was working just fine, there don’t appear to have been any compatibility issues with recent versions of WordPress.
You might also want to consider commenting systems like Disqus, which Mayura and Vincent both recommend in their comments – I’m not a huge fan, because I think it involves readers going through hoops to register and set up profiles, but it’s a way to enable them to receive notifications of replies. There’s another system called Livefyre, which I think provides a similar service, and I think they’re both free.
Thanks so much for your feedback – glad it’s been helpful,
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
Thanks for the suggestions, Sue. I did see that message on the the ReplyMe plugin, so, I just went whole hog and purchased the CommentLuv Premium, because it includes an updated version of that, plus a bunch of other goodies. It was a bit pricey, but, I figure I’m in this for the long haul and it was a one-time expense. Might even make some money with the blog, eventually, so it’s an investment.
Way to go, Debbie! I’m sure you won’t be disappointed – I rarely pay for a plugin but I think CommentLuv’s definitely worth it – the developer’s really helpful, too – responds immediately if you have any queries. Hope you enjoy it!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
Hi Sue,
What a wonderful and important topic you raised here.
As you know I just started blogging about 3 months ago and when I first started commenting on people’s blogs I didn’t know how things will work or how I will get to be notified by their reply. I subscribed to 2 blogs and I don’t want to tell you how this drove me crazy with all the emails in my inbox just notifications from those two blogs that had lots of commenters. I just had to unsubscribe because as you said there is no time for all these junk.
Now, whenever I comment I make sure not to hit that little box even by mistake. I’ve learnt my lesson.
It’s a great advise by Adrienne to use that ReplyMe Plug-in. It’s a great tool and time saver for sure. I’m very happy I got the Premium CommentLuv. It works perfectly for me.
Thanks Sue for such a great post as always.
Be Blessed,
Neamat
(dofollow)
Neamat Tawadrous recently posted…The Most Common Challenges in Network Marketing!
Hello Neamat,
Thanks for letting me know I’m not the only one who’s been drowning in subscriptions. Like you, I couldn’t believe it when I started getting email after email about other people’s comments – a complete nightmare!
Looks like we both learned the hard way not to tick that little box. Mind you, I’ve noticed it’s sometimes ticked automatically and you have to make sure you UN-TICK it before you post your comment – I always think that’s a bit sneaky. I bet a lot of people get caught out and subscribe by accident because they never noticed that little tick!
Like you, I’m delighted with my premium CommentLuv – one of my wiser online purchases.
Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Neamat – have a great week!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
Hi Sue,
This post sure was an aha moment for me. While I was reading your post I started thinking if readers are subscribing and if not how will they know I’ve replied….and like you I think Adrienne is awesome so I’m off to look at the ReplyMe or upgrade my CommentLuv, which will probably be my best option.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and feelings. I hope you find a balance with this! Enjoy your week
Corina Ramos recently posted…Earn Money As A Product Demonstrator
Hi Corina,
You might want to check out Adrienne’s post about ReplyMe, in which she mentions the fact that some people were concerned it hadn’t been upgraded in a while – I was using it until recently and there don’t appear to be any compatibility issues with the latest versions of WordPress, but it’s just something you need to be aware of. If you’re prepared to make the investment, I think the premium version of CommentLuv is hard to beat.
Thanks very much for your feedback and I’m pleased if this has been helpful – I must admit, I’m finding it much easier to face my inbox since I hit the unsubscribe button!
You have a great week, too!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
Thanks for the advice, I’ll definitely check it out.
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Corina Ramos recently posted…Earn Money As A Product Demonstrator
You’re welcome, Corina.
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…Why Blog Commenting Almost Drove Me Round the Bend (and how you can help…)
Subscribing equals taking part…
Maybe a little tip how I handle the 200+ emails a day I get from subscribing to comments and notifications:
I use a Gmail account for that. In that account I search the inbox for messages containing the words “new post” so I get to see and act on emails containing those words. I do the same with emails containing the words “new comment”.
If I can’t act on them right away I move them to a folder I made for those kind of emails and do them later.
And yes… still hard work.
JanBierens recently posted…Dealing with Information Overload
Hi Jan,
I know what you mean, but if I’d carried on subscribing I’d never get any posts written! I also use a Gmail account and could probably be more organised in my use of filters etc. but whatever I do, I just couldn’t cope with all those subscriptions.
I take my hat off to you if you’re dealing with over 200 a day – makes mine seem like chicken feed – it’s a real credit to your organisational skills. I guess I’m just a disorganised chicken!
I’m all for taking part, but time management being such a hot potato for everyone working online, I think we should do what we can to help each other out in order to save unnecessary time and hassle.
Speaking of which, I see your CommentLuv link is to a post on information overload, so I’m looking forward to checking that out.
Thanks for sharing your way of managing this issue, Jan – I’m completely in awe!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
I don’t know about the chicken part, Sue.
Reading your answer I understand the fact it’s hard to keep up when you need all your time for blogging for/as a business. I’m doing it for fun, so I don’t have to deal with that kind of pressure and that makes things a lot easier. I know where you are coming from.
Just call me a chatterbox sometimes…
JanBierens recently posted…Dealing with Information Overload
Thanks, Jan – I guess we all deal with this in different ways, depending on our circumstances and our strengths (and weaknesses – of which I have many!)
I enjoy your chatter – don’t stop!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
Hi Sue, I felt your pain with all those emails
I usually check the box for just my own comments instead of “all comments” that some offer. Days I don’t have time I just delete them from my inbox. Many blogs I do return to as I always check out their new posts. I have the commentluv premium and love it! You really got a lot of input here too Sue. Excellent topic.
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Lisa recently posted…Alexa Ranking Dropping Like A Meteorite To Earth
Hi Lisa,
I don’t feel so lonely now after reading all these comments. I must admit, I was worried I might upset a few people! It’s very interesting seeing how other bloggers have responded – one or two don’t seem to think the subscriptions are an issue, but I find them a total pain.
Like you, when I’ve been snowed under, I’ve just ended up deleting stuff, which is a shame really. And I agree – CommentLuv’s the business!
Thanks for your feedback, Lisa,
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
Hi Sue
Great post!
You have a point here.Many times the slightest click here and there and the email box starts getting bizarre. I have faced this issue many times and this really create a situation of hara-kiri for me.
Now I make a point while commenting that I don’t click anywhere except on “Confirm you..”.
Adrienne shared ReplyMe plugin and since I have premium version of commentluv so I don’t have such issues.
Thanks Sue for sharing this.
Sapna
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Sapna recently posted…Hey Google Larry Page you have these businesses unexplored(An infographic)
Hello Sapna – it’s good to hear from a fellow sufferer – nice to know that other people share my pain!
Like you, I’m now very careful which boxes I tick before I post any comments – also to un-tick those that are sometimes ticked by default, which I think is a sneaky trick! As you say, CommentLuv saves a lot of hassle – I’m so glad I invested in that.
Thanks for your comment, Sapna,
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
G’day Sue! It’s a bit of a catch 22 with subscribing to comment threads…yes, you want to know what’s happening in the conversation especially if you’ve asked a question but at the same time do you really want 20 + emails coming back saying someone has commented?
great topic I must say
I think these comment systems need to have an @ mention feature so that you get notified only if someone mentions you in the convo..how’s that for food for thought?
Kapil Jekishan recently posted…Zang: The Best Plugin For Getting More Social Shares
G’day Kapil (does that greeting mean you’re from Down Under?)
As you say, it’s a bit of a minefield. I think the problem with blog commenting is that it’s more cumbersome than other forms of social media, not nearly so easy to keep track of conversations without going through a few hoops. Your idea of the @mention feature’s a good one – now you just need a developer to build it into a plugin!
Thanks for stopping by and commenting – appreciated!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
Hi Sue,
I have not been one to intentionally click the subscribe button on a post, unless it is a post I expect would generate intense debates in the comment section.
Sometimes (shady) bloggers preselect the subscribe to comments check box and spam my inbox with a load of chatter that I have no use for.
That I left a comment does not mean I am keenly interested in the opinions of all other readers. When a blogger does that to me, I get real :-
Great move! No one should intentionally subject themselves to that endless stream of emails.
Yeremi Akpan recently posted…Streamline Your Blogging With Front End Editing
Hello Yeremi,
I think those boxes ticked by default are VERY cheeky – I’ll bet a lot of people end up subscribing by accident because they just don’t realise they need to un-tick the box. Underhand tactics, in my view. As you say, just because you’ve left a comment doesn’t mean you want to hear what everyone else has to say – and if it happens to be a popular post with zillions of comments, what a nightmare!
Well, I’m all unsubscribed now (apart from a couple that have faulty links and won’t let me unsubscribe – now that’s REALLY annoying!)
Thanks for your comment – and glad you agree!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
I added Comment Luv onto everything, so much easier and can decide post by post If I want followup or don’t really care!
Some what new to the Blogging and commenting world, so still finding my feet. You, Adrienne and a couple more are great Mentors to follow..always posting helpful info…to absorb and use.
Thanks for another helpful share.
Cararta
Cararta recently posted…What I have on My Shared Pages
Hi Cararta – I agree with you, CommentLuv is a fantastic tool. I also agree that you can’t have a better guide through this blogging maze than Adrienne – she’s taught me just about all I know!
Thanks for letting me know you find my content helpful – I appreciate that,
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
A Puzzle without an end…I seldom subscribe to follow up comments unless I’m the first to comment! and maybe interested in following the post results.
I’m much to disorganized to keep up with everything!! Why I luv my Comment Luv !
Hi Cararta – you’re very wise not to subscribe to too many posts. It can quickly become overwhelming, as I discovered to my cost!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
hello sue
blog commenting is a nice way to create bond / relation with your readers. if you are creating bonds then no one can stop you . this results in more sales and conversions. talking about subscriptions, it is a nice way to keep your readers updated about your blog.
prabhat recently posted…Download Hike Messenger Free for Android, iPhone, Symbian, & Windows| Whatsapp Alternative
You’re absolutely right, Prabhat – I think those bloggers who create strong relationships with their readers will be more successful in the end – it’s all about building trust and credibility.
I think subscriptions are fine, but I’m afraid I find them too much hassle just to keep up with comment streams on individual posts.
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…Proofreading Tips: How to Stop Your Blog Post Making You Blush
Hi Sue
I’ve slowed down a lot on blog commenting. It was driving me nuts.
Now I feel more in control and I don’t feel like I’m neglecting what I should be doing, such as tidying up, vacuuming the house etc!
I may be late coming to the party but I’ll make it in the end
.
I use the reply me part of CommentLuv so people know when I’ve replied and I know when they’ve replied.
It certainly helps to keep the conversation going!
(dofollow)
Tim Bonner recently posted…HostGator Is My Web Host Of Choice
Hi Tim,
I’ve been amazed at how pressurized I’ve found the whole blog commenting business – I do love it but, as you say, you have to make sure you’re in control of it and not the other way around. I feel so much happier now I’ve stopped all that subscribing lark.
It’s quite fashionable to be late, by the way – and I’m sure your wife’s pleased about the housework!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
Hello Sue,
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This is an interesting topic to read. Getting unwanted bulk mail is so much irritating and frustrating. I had such problems at a time but I’ve unsubscribe from all and thank God most blogs now have the replyme plugin which i feel is great.
But when i bump into a blog and the post is interesting and i asked a question, i don’t subscribe to the comment because of the bad experience i’ve faced, but what i’ll do is to bookmark the link so i can check it at a latter time for any reply. Thanks
babanature recently posted…SEO and SMM: How to Understand the Difference
Hi Babanature,
Thanks for your comment. Sounds you have a good system sorted for this now. As you say, subscriptions can just get out of hand and overwhelm your in-box, and bookmarking individual posts and then re-visiting them is very time-consuming – you’re very disciplined and organised to do that!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
Hi Sue,
That is really an unpleasant situation and I must say I have had this type of situation on some occasions. Right now I’m having that problem with a couple blogs which I know that I really did not subscribe to the comments but I receive a notification every time someone post a comment. I have not cared to unsubscribe though because these are friends and I really love their blogs. But I would have loved it if I do not receive a notification every time.
Personally, I do not depend on comment subscription to notify a commenter when their comments are replied. I use a plugin for that. Every time you post a comment and I reply that comment or someone else replies the comment, you get a notification. You don’t have to subscribe before that happens. But you will never receive any notification if your comment is not replied.
For me I think this is enough. However, i think if you want updates from the blog you can subscribe to the blog which is really different from the comment notification. I also know that some bloggers use the comment notification plugin but still have “subscribe to comments” options enabled (like you have on your blog). If you visit my blog you discover that I do not have that option enabled yet I reply to comments and the commenters get the reply. I think bloggers should just learn to ignore this option.
Btw. I only hope this experience will not prevent you from continuing your commenting adventure for indeed, no matter what happens, blog commenting is a way of connecting!
(dofollow)
Chadrack recently posted…How To Effectively Use A Blog To Boost Your Home Based Business Success!
Hi Chadrack,
I don’t think you should feel bad about unsubscribing from a post just because it’s on a friend’s blog – I’m sure people understand and wouldn’t take offence. You can’t be expected to keep subscriptions open for ever and a day.
You have a good system set up on your blog – I think it’s good to notify commenters that you’ve replied without expecting them to subscribe.
I understand what you’re saying about subscribing to blog updates rather than comments – I still do that, to make sure I don’t miss new posts on blogs I want to follow.
Thanks so much for your comment, Chadrack – I think you have exactly the right approach to this issue. And don’t worry, I have no intention of stopping my blog commenting activities – I enjoy it too much. I just want to keep it manageable!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
I agree with you on not just keeping the subscription because it’s on a friend’s blog. But because I’m not really being flooded by emails from these couple subscriptions right, I simply look at it as negligible! All the same, I might just do it sometime very soon! Thanks for the reply.
(dofollow)
Chadrack recently posted…Frankly, Are You Building A Business Or A Blog?
You’re welcome, Chadrack – I just think keeping on top of our emails is such a challenge and I’m sure even our blogging friends understand we can’t stay subscribed to their blog posts for ever!
Take care – and have a great weekend!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
The same problem bugs me too, Sue – My inbox is flooded with emails about comment notifications. My phone almost always rings and that is because of these emails.
Right now, I’m not offering any method to subscribe to comments on my blog. I used to have the Jetpack plugin which offered that feature but I had to remove it because it was giving me some problems elsewhere.
I have the ReplyMe plugin installed and that automatically notifies the commentator in case of a reply. It’s really good and I have no problems with that. I also have the Thank me later plugin which send a personalized thank you message to the commentator.
If I start unsubscribing from now, it’d take more than an hour to sort out my issues.
A really good post. An important issue addressed here. Thanks for that!
BTW, your husband? Which club does he support? (Please not Man U
)
Aditya
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Aditya recently posted…Do You Give Yourself a Second Chance?
Hi Aditya,
It’s worth unsubscribing – it’s really worth it! It takes a while to sort them out, but it’s a nice feeling when you visit your inbox and it’s not inundated with comment notifications!
You have just the right system on your own blog – I think the ReplyMe plugin’s great – it’s just nice to notify people without expecting them to jump through hoops and subjecting them to a load of emails they can do without. Interested to hear you mention the plugin that sends a thank-you message – I wondered how people did that!
My husband supports Leicester City – which is very bad for his mental health!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
Hi Sue,
I stopped commenting on other blogs a while back because I felt it was too time consuming with little reward. All top bloggers focus 99% of their time on their blog and that is why they are successful.
I still comment now, but only about an hour a week. And like you, those reply to me comments are annoying me in my inbox.
Justin recently posted…Understanding Your Subconscious Mind For Better Results
Hi Justin – it’s a shame you stopped commenting – I agree it is time-consuming, but personally I think the rewards are worth it; it’s a good way to connect with and support other bloggers. I guess the top bloggers can afford not to spend much time commenting!
As you now restrict yourself to an hour a week, I feel very honoured that you’ve taken the time to comment here – thank you!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
Hello Sue,
First off great post. I see the comment section as a conversion and make sure the person’s blog I read will see my comment and that I would receive a email response if they replied. I use Disqus and it has a lot of great features. Your post makes me want to make sure people receive a response when I reply to their comments on my blog.
Dan Black recently posted…How to Become a Leadership Expert
Hi Dan,
You’re the third Disqus user to comment here – I’m planning a follow-up post next week to talk about third party commenting services like Disqus and Livefyre, because I can see they’re another option, though I must admit I’ve found them a bit confusing. My good friend Mayura has kindly explained how I can edit my Disqus settings to receive replies, because I hadn’t realised I could do that (I’m sometimes a bit slow on the uptake!)
Thanks very much for your feedback – appreciated!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
Looking forward to that post! Glad to share.
(dofollow)
Dan Black recently posted…How to Become a Leadership Expert
Cheers, Dan – watch this space!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
Hi Sue,
Know what you mean. I hit that little button recently thinking I would only get a reply back from my own comment but soon here comes a stream of chatting comments…every poop and hiccup came into my email….ugh. The worst part is I did’nt know how to turn it off…it’s really annoying.
I feel your pain.
Thanks for giving us an outlet to vent.
Tonya
Ah, Tonya – another fellow-sufferer! Thanks for letting me know I’m not on my own. I’ve still got two subscriptions I just CAN’T get rid of because there’s some problem with the unsubscribe link – VERY annoying!
Best things just not to tick that little box – and be on your guard for those devilish bloggers who have it ticked by default!
Thanks for venting with me – I wish you a lovely weekend, free of unwanted emails!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
thanks Sue,
It was fun venting…thanks for letting me!
Tonya
Any time, Tonya – be my guest!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
Totally understand! I used to have the “reply-me” plugin on my site which only emails a commenter if someone replied to them directly, and I loved it, it kept the conversation going without anyone having to subscribe to comments. But, about 2 weeks ago my site was freezing up, not responding or showing up at all and I know that “reply-me” plugin is out-dated. Worried that it was the culprit, I removed it along with other plug-ins. I’ll have to replace it with something soon, though. I agree, I need to know if someone replied and I want people to know when I’ve replied to them as well.
(dofollow)
Denise recently posted…Things to Keep in Mind When Sharing an Artist’s Work Online and Why Credit Matters
Hi Denise,
It’s a shame you’ve had to remove ReplyMe – I know there are concerns that it hasn’t been updated in a while, but I hadn’t heard any reports of problems with it. I guess you won’t know if it was the cause of your problems if you’ve removed several plugins at once, but I can understand you’d just want to get rid of anything that might be messing things up – I’d have been just the same, it’s horrible when you get a technical glitch like that.
I’m doing a follow-up post next week about third party commenting systems like Disqus and Livefyre – one or two people commenting here use Disqus. I’m not a huge fan, but it’s another option you might want to consider.
As you can tell from my post, I agree with you wholeheartedly about the need to have some way of letting readers know you’ve replied. I’ve had a couple of very useful ‘conversations’ with other bloggers recently, and those exchanges just wouldn’t have been possible without the help of a reply notification service.
Thanks, Denise – and I hope you find a replacement for ReplyMe soon!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
Been down that road and ended up doing what you did. With rare exceptions, I only subscribe to comments when I really need an answer to a gnarly technical question, and typically unsub after. Just too many responses coming in to a mailbox. I do tend to find my way back to good blogs (with tantalizing titles) and often find myself commenting on a string where I commented a year ago! Today I did set CommentLuv to offer the *option* to be notified of a reply (it was defaulted to on — how rude I have been!).
Hello Astro – your pseudonym makes me a little nervous – I assume you’re a benign ‘gremlin’!
Sounds like you’ve got this pretty much sorted. Like you, I now only subscribe if I’m really keen to get a response. I reckon blog posts that maintain a following for a year or more deserve a medal – that must be some high quality content!
I think a lot of people with CommentLuv use the default setting to notify people of replies to their own comments – I do, and I’m not planning to change this at the moment, but you’ve certainly made me think. I’m not sure this is such a bad thing, as they’ll only get a reply to their own individual comment and it saves them returning to the blog to see your response. The ones I object to are those where the ‘subscribe’ box is ticked by default and you have to untick it in order to avoid getting tons of unsolicited messages. However, if I get any complaints, I’ll certainly review this policy – thanks for pointing it out. I’m doing a follow-up post on third party commenting systems tomorrow, so I might add a question about this to see what people think.
Many thanks for your helpful contribution to the debate – appreciated,
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…Why Blog Commenting Almost Drove Me Round the Bend (and how you can help…)
Hi Sue,
I can see how subscribing to comments will just fill up your inbox. I do subscribe to comments only when I guest post so I know who commented on my guest post and can go and reply to them there.
However, I do not do so on my other blogs because it’s just way too much. As for my blogs I do use the reply me plugin as well.
I know those comments can drive you crazy, in a good way, but still.
P.S: Do you get pingbacks? I linked one of your recent posts on my last writing blog post. I was just wondering if everyone gets pingbacks.
(dofollow)
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted…Is Your Business Not Taking Off – A Real Life Case Study
Hi Sylviane,
As you say, comments are good – but some good things can still drive you crazy – as the old saying goes, you can have too much of a good thing! I can see that you’d have to subscribe to comments if you’re doing a guest post – I hadn’t thought of that. I must admit, my email inbox is much more manageable since I cancelled most of those subscriptions – it was getting so I just didn’t want to go there!
I do get pingbacks, but I can’t recall getting one recently from your blog, Sylviane – I’d like to have known so I could thank you – which post did you link to? I’ll check in case it’s been spammed by mistake. You’ve also reminded me I must spend more time on your writing and marketing blog, you have some great articles there I haven’t read yet.
Thanks so much for your comments – and for the link!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
Hey Sue, first time on your blog – like what I see so far. Thanks for sending me this way through your comment on my blog.
Coming to the topic, I use a plugin called “ReplyMy” which is a part of CommentLuv Premium that I use on my blog which sends a notification email to the commentators when I or someone else respond to his/her comment, And yes It has an easy single click unsubscribe option too.
Hi Ehsan,
Thanks very much for stopping by, I appreciate your feedback.
I think the ReplyMe function on CommentLuv, which I also use, is the perfect solution to this issue. However, I’ve just had a comment from another reader, which has made me realise I could change the setting on this to allow readers to choose whether or not to receive that notification. I must admit I’ve never minded receiving ReplyMe emails from other bloggers, because this isn’t the same as subscribing to the whole comment stream, but I’m now wondering whether I should alter my settings to enable people to opt out. I’m doing a follow-up post tomorrow and plan to ask other readers what they think.
Sue
PS Shame you didn’t leave a link to your gravatar post – some of my readers could do with it!
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
Hi Sue,
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You may have learned much from Adrienne, who is fantastic in her own right…but you are also doing a fantastic job of navigating through this online world of ours.
Well, I found this post both informative & disheartening.
I’m fairly new to the blogging scene. I’ve incorporated blog hopping into my business routine.
It’s a great way of gaining exposure for yourself & obtaining new alliances & friends.
I must say, I now feel self-conscious. Bering new to all this, I have nothing in place to inform my readers when I reply to their comments.
I feel like a prize jerk now. However, it’s never too late to change.
I have to decide between the ReplyMe plugin, or the premium version of CommentLuv.
I’ll definitely look to get one of them in the short term.
Thanks to you for this great post! Thanks to Adrienne for informing you of this.
It’s great to network with other marketers! You never know what you’ll learn.
Thanks again, Sue!
Regards,
George
George Nieves recently posted…Revisiting Information Overload – Public Enemy #1
Hi George – please don’t feel bad about it, you’re not on your own. I didn’t have anything in place either when I started out and lots of other bloggers don’t seem to bother.
If it’s any consolation, I’m now feeling a bit of a jerk myself because I’ve only just realised my ReplyMe notification is set to default and I’m wondering if I should change it – I actually hadn’t realized I could alter the setting on this to enable people to opt in, rather than receiving a reply notice automatically. I’m not sure, so I’m adding a query about it in my next post, which is a follow-up to this one, to see what people think.
We’re all learning, that’s the important thing – I’m always picking up new tips and ideas from other bloggers like Adrienne – as you say, that’s one of the great things about the blogosphere.
The ReplyMe plugin is great, but you just need to be aware that it hasn’t been updated in a while – I think a lot of people are still using it, as I was until recently when I switched to the premium version of CommentLuv, but it’s just something to keep your eye on.
Thanks so much for your feedback, George – I’m glad if I’ve been of some help,
Have a great week!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
You are not alone Sue
I’ve had this experience a LOT of time. I’m not sure if I do tick the wrong box, but I get emails when not only someone replies to MY comment, but if there are any following comments (comments made on that post after I leave a comment – not just a reply to my comment). This is really annoying and yes going through unsubscribe is another story. Now I don’t tick any of those boxes 
Lesson learned!
Jane recently posted…Why Your Guest Blogging Campaigns Don’t Perform Well
Hi Jane,
It’s good to know I’m not on my own – thanks for sharing your experience of the subscription minefield! As you say, it’s a lesson most of us seem to have learned the hard way.
Many thanks for stopping by and commenting – I appreciate that!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
Oh yes Sue,
I faced this issue and took time to kick out. However, I have about 5 blogs I don’t want to miss conversion on them. I would always want to know what happens to my comment. That also keeps me going back to these blogs because I do really love to read them.
CommentLuv’s reply me is excellent. I upgraded to it and I’m liking the results.
Generally, most bloggers don’t trigger conversation in their comments. They just drop comments for the sake of backlinks. I think it’s important to be conversational in comments (maybe by asking questions and creating suspense)I have seen few blog owners doing this and I love the spirit. Let’s keep it on.
hope to be back on your blog again
(dofollow)
Enstine Muki recently posted…Surefire Way To Make Money Bogging ~ Guaranteed
Hi Enstine,
I think it’s a shame not to use comments for conversation – I’ve had a few good ‘chats’ with other bloggers via a comment stream, including some very useful information-sharing stuff. As far as I’m concerned, it’s as much about building relationships as building links. I always try to add thought-provoking questions in my posts, to encourage people to comment, and I think that does encourage engagement.
Thank you very much for your contribution here – I appreciate your thoughts, Enstine – and I agree, Commentluv’s the business!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…5 Fatal Blogging Mistakes to Avoid – Lessons from a National Scandal
I HAD to do the same in the past! Basically, I drop off comments on popular blogs in my niche, and I don’t always forget to click Subscribe to comment button because I thought I could reply to another comment that have a question. After few days of these strategy, my email box suddenly flooded with new comments emails, and sure I didn’t like that flood. So, I had to unsubscribe from the blog I subscribed. However, I sometimes visit these pages manually and see if I have got any new reply to my existing comment
Anup Kayastha recently posted…Best Ways to Make Money Online – 13 Proven Methods
Hi Anup – looks like lots of us have had the same problem! I got to the point where I just didn’t want to go to my inbox – I feel much more in control now I’ve cancelled all those subscriptions. Like you, I sometimes return to a blog manually to check, but it’s hard to remember to do that and a bit time-consuming.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting,
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…Why Blog Commenting Almost Drove Me Round the Bend (and how you can help…)
Hi Sue,
I found something that might help you. Maybe you know it, maybe you don’t.
http://www.wpbeginner.com/plugins/how-to-notify-users-only-on-replies-to-their-wordpress-comments/
Hope this helps
Teo
Hi Teo,
Thanks very much for this – it’s interesting you’ve got it from the wpbeginner blog because I’ve just mentioned them in my latest post! This plugin looks similar to the ReplyMe plugin and the similar function in the premium version of CommentLuv. I’m pleased you’ve mentioned it because other readers might find it helpful – the only slight concern is that, like the ReplyMe plugin, it looks as if it hasn’t been updated in a while. It’s another option, though, for people who don’t want to go to the expense of buying CommentLuv.
Thanks for sharing this, Teo – appreciated!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…Are Disqus or Livefyre the Answer to our Blog Commenting Woes?
Hello Sue, Commenting on other blogs is a lot of fun and for the most part I enjoy it very much.
What I do to keep up with those that I consider my loyal readers is each time I find someone interesting and enjoy reading their content I simply pin that blog to my start screen and then I will begin to visit that blog weekly.
Sue you don’t have to choose the option to be notify each time a comment is left on someone blog only if you really enjoy that post and feel you might add yet another comment,this way you won’t be overwhelmed with all the mail.
Thanks so much for sharing a very interesting post my friend.
RobG recently posted…How-to Use Popchrom Text Expander For Google Chrome
Almost forgot Sue yes you’ve been pinned also my friend
RobG recently posted…How-to Use Popchrom Text Expander For Google Chrome
Hi Rob,
Many thanks for your two-part comment – I hope you’ll be happy with a one-part reply! Your advice is good and I admit I just went over the top with my subscriptions – I just like to see if I get a reply. However, I’m now much more selective and only click subscribe if I’m really desperate to see any follow-up comments.
You seem very organised and obviously have an excellent system – and I’m very honoured to have been pinned
I really appreciate your input, Rob – thank you!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…Are Disqus or Livefyre the Answer to our Blog Commenting Woes?
Hi Sue,
Wow, based on the number of comments here, it looks like your rant hit a hot button!
I, too, get tired of all the emails coming from blogs. Most of the ones that I’ve been commenting on have the ReplyMe plugin, which makes it all significantly easier. I’ve also created a Disqus profile because of commenting on a couple of blogs that has that setup, but I’m with you in that I found it to be a pain to create yet another profile.
I also found the ReplyMe plugin thanks to Adrienne, and I’ve had it installed for quite some time now. It does just make it so much easier for people who take the time to comment. And I think defaulting it to be on is the right way, in my opinion, for two reasons. One, most people view commenting as a conversation and appreciate when you take the time to reply to them. Getting an email that shows the reply simply makes it easier for them in this busy world. Second reason is that if they really don’t want to see replies, they’re probably savy enough to click the box to uncheck it. Conversely, many may miss that box and then miss out on replies. Ultimately, I think there’ll be less “offended” people with the option clicked on, if that makes any sense.
I’m also with you on the Twitter DM stuff. I tend to just ignore it as I know it’s almost all auto-generated and I think it’s highly overrated for “connecting” with people, especially when it’s to some free offer which is just a way for somebody to build their list. I actually haven’t set that up to send out to people who follow me because I know how irritating it is to me.
Thanks for the rant, I enjoyed it and I’m glad you got it off of your chest.
I hope you have a truly outstanding week!
~Barry
(dofollow)
Barry Overstreet recently posted…Do You Know Who Your Target Market Is
Hi Barry,
Many thanks – I’m glad you didn’t mind my letting off steam! I really appreciate your comments, because you’ve reinforced my own views – especially about leaving ReplyMe on the default setting. Everyone else who’s commented on that agrees with you, so I’m going to leave it as it is – as you say, some people could miss out on the reply, not realising they need to tick the box, and I think that would be a shame. No-one’s complained about it so far, and I certainly value getting those ReplyMe emails myself. I think that’s different from having a ‘subscribe’ box ticked by default – I don’t think people mind getting replies by default to their own comments, but they may well object to getting sneakily subscribed to a whole comment stream.
As for Twitter DMs, I don’t know why anyone bothers with them – a complete pain in the neck.
You have a great week too, Barry – and thank you for your outstanding comment!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…Are Disqus or Livefyre the Answer to our Blog Commenting Woes?
Wow,
First time to your blog. I found the post very helpful. I’m new to blogging.
What I am VERY IMPRESSED with is how engaged your readers are!!
I’ll be back.
Matthew
Matthew recently posted…Does everyone around you know when you will quit your home based business?
Hello Matthew – a warm welcome and thanks so much for taking the time and trouble to leave that feedback – I really appreciate it.
I look forward to seeing you around!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…8 Blogging Tips From Some Penguins
On my blog I always make it a point to email the people whose comments I respond to. Just an afterthought to my previous comment.
Matthew recently posted…Does everyone around you know when you will quit your home based business?
Hi Matthew,
That’s what I did at first – but if you get a lot of comments you’ll find that’s very labour-intensive, so you might want to look for a more automated solution. It’s great that you’re taking the trouble to do that, though – nice!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…8 Blogging Tips From Some Penguins
Blog commenting is good but yes agree with your point that it’s really irritating when the email is full. That’s why I have stopped subscribing and manually check the blogs.
Prakash recently posted…Download Kik Messenger for Android Smartphones | Tablets
Hi Prakash,
Thanks for your contribution to the debate. Manually checking blogs is fine but it’s hard work and time-consuming – you have to be very disciplined and it can take a while going back to check, especially if it’s a post with tons of comments!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…Warning! Don’t Let Blogging Become a Pain in the Neck
Hi Sue,
I use the Thank Me Later plugin on my blog. It’s a plugin that sends a message to each commentator on my blog telling them their comment will be approved shortly and with a link back to the comment.
I like it because I can also customize that message anyway I want. I’ve added a couple of my favorite posts and ofcourse my FB page, Twitter and G+ page.
I sometimes subscribe to comments but only when I’m asking the blog owner a question and I want to know if he responded. Other than that I rarely tick the comment subscribe box.
Have a great day Sue, cheer.
~Philip
Hi Philip,
I haven’t tried the Thank Me Later plugin, but it sounds like a good option that helps keep your readers engaged – thanks very much for sharing that, as other readers might be interested to explore it.
Thanks for your contribution to the debate – appreciated,
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…Google Reader Rest In Peace: Long Live Feedly!
there are some plugins which notify the commentator about the replies on their comments. and its great for webmaster as it can bring you traffic but i too get irritated by these type of mails so i hardly subscribe for these kind of mails. i do it on good blogs only and this blog is one of them
(dofollow)
prabhat recently posted…Best Tablets Under $400 or $450 in 2013 (Android): iEatTraffic
Hi Prabhat – I don’t think most people mind getting emails notifying them about replies to their own comments – the problem arises when this involves getting subscribed to the entire comment stream, which is very annoying. I comment on lots of blogs but rarely see the replies to my comments because I now refuse to subscribe and most bloggers don’t seem to have a ‘reply me’ function just to send you notification of the reply to your own comment, which I think is a shame.
I’m very honoured that you regard this as a ‘good’ blog – thank you!
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…Is This How You REALLY Learn About Blogging?
Hey Sue,
(dofollow)
Nice post and Yes, Blog commenting is the best way to make relations with other bloggers and also promote our blog and we all are busy with this thing but same as you, we make sure that we not subscribe the blog commenting otherwise our gmail account has to face a big problem. Yes, we have to use replyme plugin as it help commentators about the replies. Thanks for sharing this post.
Sudipto recently posted…How do You Make a Video with Pictures
Glad you agree, Sudipto – I wish more bloggers used some kind of replyme plugin because I still find that I don’t receive notification of replies from the majority of blogs I comment on unless I subscribe to comments, which I now refuse to do.
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…Do Your Blog Posts Obey These 4 Laws?
Hmmm.. People comment on blogs for different reasons best known to them. For me, I comment on blogs mainly for backlinking. Except when the post is very engaging like this one here; then, I’ll seriously just enjoy it for getting “more knowledge” sake.
Thanks for this post.
Hi Kingsley – I guess if you’re just commenting in order to get backlinks, then you’re not going to be too bothered about receiving a reply to your comment. I actually think it’s a shame that so many people only comment for that reason, though – in my view, backlinks are a bonus, but they’re not the main reason I comment on other people’s blogs. For me, it’s more about building relationships and adding value with my comments.
Thanks very much for your positive feedback about my post – I’m glad you enjoyed it,
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…Do Your Blog Posts Obey These 4 Laws?
Well, I’m here to reply back your comment.
I think I will start working towards commenting for “building relationships” with other bloggers rather than focus it entirely on “getting backlinks” only.
I’m now getting to see your reply in a new light.
Hi Kingsley,
Thanks very much – I appreciate your response. Building relationships with other bloggers takes time, but is ultimately very rewarding and worthwhile.
Good luck with your blogging ventures – I wish you every success
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…Is This How You REALLY Learn About Blogging?
hello sue nice article,
(dofollow)
yes blog commenting is good and it helps you build relationships with your readers, and which is a good thing because they will become your customers if you behave good. thanks for this post
raj recently posted…How to Run, Download Android Apps for PC [Windows computer, Mac]
Hi Raj,
You certainly need to work at developing your readers’ trust if you ultimately want them to become your customers – and that’s something that takes time as well as effort. It doesn’t happen overnight.
Sue
Sue Neal recently posted…Is This How You REALLY Learn About Blogging?