Do You Read Comments?
I know that when I first started reading blogs I used to skip, or at least skim, the comments at the end of the post. Back then, it seemed to me that the content of the post was the most important thing on the blog and that the contents were superfluous.
Over time, however, I’ve come to a totally different conclusion.
Now, I realize that, if there’s a good discussion going (such as the one we are having right now at my What Do You Do With Your Time Off? post), then the contents can actually contain as much information (if not more) as the original post.
Not only is reading comments informative, it’s also a great way to interact with others who have similar interests. Since I’ve started blogging I’ve come to know many individuals that I would probably never have the opportunity to meet otherwise. One of the primary ways that we’ve become acquainted is through comments.
So now, time allowing, I make a point to read the comments when I visit a blog.
What do you think? Do you read comments?
Contents (c) Copyright 2008, Laura Spencer. All rights reserved
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About the Author: I am a successful freelance writer with 20 years of copy writing experience. I am available for consulting, business writing, copy writing, editing, technical writing, and web content writing. In addition, I have written an ebook, 
Marce | Mar 13, 2008 | Reply
Hi, new reader to your blog.
I don’t read comments regularly but I will glance at them sometimes. Good points - I could use some more ways to procrastinate!!
Vivienne Quek | Mar 13, 2008 | Reply
All the time, Laura, all the time because great blogs attract excellent reviewers. So I got to know a lot of your fans and supporters this way.
Laura Spencer | Mar 13, 2008 | Reply
Hi Vivienne!
Thanks for the comment. Yes, I’ve actually followed comment links through and discovered new blogs that way.
Laura | Mar 13, 2008 | Reply
Hi Marce!
Of course, too much networking can be procrastinating…
Solomon | Mar 13, 2008 | Reply
Hi Laura!
I personally like your posts because there is so much meat in it, and also some others’ too. I too used to neglect the comments, but when Vivienne told me to read the comments I did found a great wealth of info. Sometimes a different perspective to our surprise.
It’s a great platform to brainstorm and learn from others’ for the greater good of all (like me kinda folks).
I chance upon, with great luck, some rare gems in comments to my surprise ( like your comments and Matt’s on some posts in Versa communications) with great insights! I learnt a great deal through comments in copyblogger and others copy blogs.
Thank you, and all, for your sharing !
Solomon
Andrew Reynolds | Mar 13, 2008 | Reply
I do read comments! It’s the best way to open up a conversation with people having different opinions on a certain topic.
Renae | Mar 13, 2008 | Reply
I enjoy seeing different personalities and perspectives, so I often read comments.
Debra | Mar 14, 2008 | Reply
Yes, I read comments. I’m always up for additional information and points of view. And I’ve found some of my favorite writing blogs by following the links in comments.
Tom Lindstrom | Mar 14, 2008 | Reply
Comments are a big part of blogging.I read comments and often reply to the comments I receive on my blog. I like to comment on other peoples blogs as well. Interactivity is a good thing!
Laura | Mar 14, 2008 | Reply
Solomon, Andrew, Debra, Renae, and Tom
It’s good to see the conversation is still going on.
Despite that fact that everyone seems to agree that comments are a good thing, I view many blogs every day that have not comments at all.
Even worse, I’ve seen a few that have comments turned off. What’s up with that?
I suppose I could see it if the blogger were getting threats, or something. But, these just seem to be ordinary blogs that don’t allow comments.
Laura | Mar 14, 2008 | Reply
P.S. Solomon, your link doesn’t work.
Solomon | Mar 14, 2008 | Reply
Hi Luara!
Thank you so much!
I goofed off my bloglog link by trying to correct a spello in my profile. I couldn’t fix it thereafter. However, I thank you for trying to visit it. Though I’m an avid fan of your blog, I never commented; but, slowly and steadily I learnt a great deal.
I wish I had all the time in the world to read all the previous posts and the myriad comments downunder to enrich myself!
Soomon
Laura Spencer | Mar 14, 2008 | Reply
Solomon - Thanks for the compliment.
Bob Younce | Mar 14, 2008 | Reply
@ Laura - I’ve skipped over all of the above comments to say “thanks” for a great article, and for stopping by my site today.
Seriously, I think that comments are one of the most important characteristics of a good blog. There are only a handful of successful blogs that I can think of that don’t use comments.
Part of the reason that someone will follow a blog is because they have established a bond with the writer, and this most often happens via comments.
Viviene is correct: great blogs do attract excellent reviewers.
Debra hits the nail on the head, too. I’ve found many of my favorite blogs via comments at my blog and others.
Good Form, Laura, and all!
Laura | Mar 14, 2008 | Reply
Hi Bob!
Well, the comment left earlier has helped me to discover your blog - and I’ll definitely be back.
I know that if I see comments turned off on a blog, then I’m kind of turned off by that blog.
It happened to me a few days ago. I was visiting a blog and wanted to leave a comment to encourage the poster. I tried to figure out how to do that for a few minutes before I realized that there was really no way for me to comment. I won’t be going back there.
Jeanne Dininni | Mar 14, 2008 | Reply
Laura,
I love to read all the other comments on a post whenever I can. The reality is, though, that I’m often strapped for time and so must sometimes choose between reading all the comments on one or two posts and actually getting the chance to visit the blogs of several of my favorite bloggers and having enough time to read and comment on their posts!
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we had all the time we wanted to thoroughly read and enjoy all the posts and comments we’d l0ve to digest–and enough time left over for leaving our own comments, too? That would just be ideal! But, alas, so often it doesn’t seem to be the case!
Jeanne
Yvonne Russell | Mar 15, 2008 | Reply
The comments add so much to the conversation.
I try to read comments associated with posts I’m particularly interested in, and have found I often learn a lot from the interaction.
Laura | Mar 15, 2008 | Reply
Hi Jeanne and Yvonne!
Well, it is true that I’m more likely to read the comments if I’m interested in the topic. To be honest, if the post didn’t grab my attention, then I’m unlikely to read the comments.
Thanks for coming by!
Solomon | Mar 16, 2008 | Reply
Laura
What amazes me is: how many different ways one can look at one thing. What I feel vindicated and final, may suddenly turn out to be plesantly opposite. That makes me feel new and growing.
As said, it all boils down to the topic in discussion - the post.
Often, we may not say anything in the comment( just l like I do right now:) ), but may just second the opinion, that too has a role; can trigger few newer perspectives, who knows!
Shantanu | Mar 18, 2008 | Reply
Oh, I read comments all the time! It is many a time more fun than the post itself.