Today Lee Wind and I are offering places to check in on the Comment Challenge — to share strategies, comment averages, success stories and such. You can check in at either place. It’s not an official tally, but instead a chance for Comment Challenge participants to support each other.
I’ve been very excited to get my commenting habit back and am averaging eight comments a day. My tip for better, easier commenting is to capture your thoughts during your reading and use them to comment. If nothing jumps out, don’t comment that time. Look at a blog post less as an article, and more as a conversation.
If someone were saying this to you, what would you say? If it were funny, you might chuckle or smile. But a blogger can’t see you smile, so you can say, “Thanks for the smile.” If it were totally on point, you might find yourself nodding in agreement. But a blogger can’t see you nod, so you can say, “True dat.” Add your own experience. Suggest a similar book. Point to your own post on the topic. Think about what you want to add to the conversation.
So, how ya doin’ so far?
I'm doin' great. This here is my 5th comment of the day, and it's 7:50am. Now I just have to do a million other things (like write and work out) before 9:30am. My day is NUTS!
ReplyDeleteBut I'm so happy to be doing this "Comment Challenge" with you - and I think it's going awesome!!!
namaste and a hug,
Lee
I am loving the comment challenge! It is causing me to really think about what the blogger is saying, and give a high five or add in to the conversation. I have really stuck to the 5 a day, some days more though, depending on the blog activity. Yesterday's participant post really helped because I found I was commenting on the same blogs and so I was able to find some new life and branch out. Thanks so much for starting this. I haven't seen much of a difference on my blog, but I am reaching out and giving to others and that of course is what it's all about!
ReplyDeleteMy second of the day, but I'm getting about 5-10 a day!
ReplyDeleteOff to visit more! This is fun!
So far I am doing great. I am excited about the comment challenge. This has forced me to do something I wanted to do, but was a little nervous about doing as I tend to be timid.
ReplyDeleteI have to say I have met some great people this way so thanks!
Even though I'm not officially part of the challenge, I've been making the effort to comment more, and have been averaging between 5-10 comments a day. Here's what's helped: marking everything as "read" in my RSS feed so that I'm greeted with 20 new posts when I log in, not 500. I appreciate it when a blogger gets the urge to do a roundup of his or her best 3-5 posts from the past months so that if I missed something (and most surely I did), I can be sure read it.
ReplyDeleteLoving the challenge. Am averaging about 10 per day. Have discovered about 6 new blogs, and am making a point of commenting on blogs where I was previously just lurking. A couple of new commenters on my own blog, too!
ReplyDeleteHave a good day!!
I'm keeping pretty close to 5 a day, I think--which is a big leap for me. And it's fun to see a little more traffic on my own blog as well!
ReplyDeleteI'm doing awesome! (For me anyway.) I've actually commented on 5 blogs per day (I'm trying to make them different blogs each day, too), and -- here's the kickers -- I'm actually de-lurking some places and finding new blogs.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great idea! (And the push I needed to become more involved.)
32 comments so far - less than 5 a day average, but not by much. And today is still young...
ReplyDeleteOne thing I'm doing with our new book review blog that I never did with our first blog is replying to folks in our own comments section. I'm not sure, but this appears to encourage even more people to comment later...
Week one looks good, and I hit the minimum all but one day. My goal to comment on at least two new blogs worked most of the time. Even with clicking through as I read favorite blogs, it is much harder than I thought.
ReplyDeleteSo far, so good. This is good fun! I've been commenting on blogs I already read, but I'm setting a goal for commenting on new blogs, too.
ReplyDeleteI'm averaging just over 10 per day (with a minimum of 7). Yes, I get a little compulsive about things like this. What I'm finding is kind of what you said in your post, Pam. I'm used to skimming the posts quickly, and often having some sort of reaction, but not sharing that reaction. Now I take the time to say "yes, I liked that book, too", or whatever. And I think that's a good thing!
ReplyDeleteI already read a pretty wide range of blogs (>400 subscriptions in my Google Reader), but I am stopping to look more closely at some of them. I've also discovered some new blogs, like Book Scoops, through people commenting on my blog.
My received comments are way up, too. When this is done I'm going to compare the number received for three weeks before and three weeks during the challenge, and report back.
Thanks, Pam and Lee!
So far:
ReplyDeleteNov. 6: 6 comments
Nov. 7: 6 comments
Nov. 8: 5 comments
Nov. 9: 6 comments
Nov. 10: 6 comments
Nov. 11: 4 comments
Total comments: 33
Over the last six months or so, I'd gotten into the habit of checking one or two blogs a day, at which point, I'd have about two weeks' worth of posts to read at once, which was often why I wasn't commenting. (One feels silly commenting on a post that's a week old. It's like shouting, "I AM SO BEHIND ON MY BLOG READING!") This has shifted me out of that habit, though, and I love being more caught up and commenting when the conversation's more pertinent.
I'm noticing a lot of the things the rest of you are, too: reading posts more carefully, getting more comments on my blog. It's kind of awesome.
Love this! It's fun finding new blogs, and I have my regular blogs that I check daily. So far, I'm averaging about 7 comments a day! My total is at 43 since last week!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad I signed up to do this. As a former lurker, it's been hard to jump in and say something, but I've actually been having fun. I've made 27 comments in 5 days on 16 different blogs! I'm enjoying getting to know people totally thrilled when they visit my site :)
ReplyDeleteI've been leaving at least 5 a day, perhaps more...and it's nice to see more comments at my own place, too! Not that it would be hard for there to be more comments....so many numbers are higher than zero! :)
ReplyDeleteThis group and this experience has completely changed my feelings about comments. I'm much more likely to share a reaction than wait for an insightful or relevant thought to wander through the old bean.
ReplyDeleteI can't compete with most of you in terms of number, but my comments have increased exponentially.
We joined late, but got in 5 comments each day so far.
ReplyDeleteWe're giving away three copies of The Magician's Book: A Skeptic's Adventures in Narnia by Laura Miller at Book Dads.
Well, folks, I only made it throught the first day. I've had a couple of days since then with 3 comments and days with none. I'm having trouble finding time to read all my blogs, let alone react to them.
ReplyDeleteI am noticing and appreciating the increased number of comments at my own blog, and I'm responding to them. So, keep up the good work, everyone.
Oh, this counts as a comment for today, doesn't it?
I didn't officially join, but am making an effort to do more than I usually do. I think I average 5 per day, but I'm trying to branch out and do more on blogs where I don't say much. Like yours. :)
ReplyDeleteThe 21 Day Comment Challenge been a blast! I started a day late, but I've had a few over-achieving days that have brought my average up to just over 5 comments per day. I have been using a combination of my GoogleReader, the links in our sidebar that aren't on my reader page, and random links I've picked up from various sidebars.
ReplyDeleteI've been doing somewhere between 5 and 15 a day. I am obviously an extrovert and Livejournal still won't let me just sign in as an open user, but I'm Carrie Jones.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.carriejonesbooks.com
Thanks for stopping by today.
I utterly suck, but thanks for the nice comment on my blog!
ReplyDelete"Look at a blog post less as an article, and more as a conversation."
ReplyDeleteLove this. When I write about books I get very few comments but when I write about "stubbing my toe" my readers are always there for me.
Off to read more about the Challenge. When I have an active blogging day, I try to write 5-10 comments to the blogs I frequent and at least 2 or 3 to newer blogs.
Doin' good and loving this challenge! Having the goal has really increased my comments on blogs that I've never really commented on before and I've even added a few new (to me) blogs to my reader. :) I've also been loving getting more comments on my blog. ;)
ReplyDeleteTAG. You're it! (translation: you've been dubbed "heart" worthy... and not because you helped deliver VA to Obama!
ReplyDeleteI'm doing well. Thanks for posting this challenge again. I've felt the benefit in both my comments and on my own blog. I'm averaging my five a day, and still going steady.
ReplyDeleteI'll do better once book fair is OVER - I'm not even reading many posts right now!
ReplyDeleteAfter catching up to where I should be with 5 per dy, I am doing better. I really like the list of participants in the previous post. Nice to go there and click on a blog. Great idea, Forcing me out of the box.
ReplyDeleteThis has been unexpectedly wonderful. I knew it was a great idea when I joined, but I didn't realize how much it would encourage me to dive more deeply into the writing world. Thank you, thank you! ~Cheryl
ReplyDeleteOk, I'm not quite hitting 5 per day. But I've visited many new blogs and look forward to checking out more!
ReplyDeleteMotherReader, I just want to thank you. This challenge has inspired me to start my own blog! So, you have made a lasting impact on the blogosphere with your clever idea!
ReplyDeleteShaking off my post surgical lethargy to say, what a splendid challenge.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like there are so many more ways to connect now, through our listserve and Facebook, it has diverted me from the places we first all came together, our blogs.
Will join the fray.
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ReplyDeleteI only began yesterday and I have to say, sadly I'm behind. But I hope to make great strides today with your participant list. Lots of great blogs to check out!
ReplyDeleteIt's been so nice to meet new bloggers and catch up with old friends. Thanks for doing this!
ReplyDeleteOK, I wrote a new post on my blog specifically with the challenge in mind. I'm looking for your opinions on picture book length. So please chime in!
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting on my site. It's so inspiring to challenge myself to comment. What a great way to build community!
ReplyDeleteThe comment challenge has really expanded my horizons as to how many lit sites there are out there!! I am learning so much! It is energizing. I make about 5 comments every other day. It is hard to fit it in with the teaching and the lesson planning and the new Promethean board training.
ReplyDeleteI'm getting in 7 comments a day and you're #3 today :) I have discovered some new favorite blogs and we're getting lots of comments on ours. It's so nice!
ReplyDeleteThis challenge is a great idea!!!
Thank You,
Kim