I'm serious! Kind of like...if a tree falls in a forest....blah blah blah
I've read a few blogs this week about commenting on blogs. I think everyone enjoys having their blogs visited and commented on but does it have to be the be all and end all? I'm pretty new in Active Rain and have enjoyed splashing around. But once the novelty wore off and I realized I want to do this as a regular part of my marketing I started seeing things differently.
Please don't misunderstand me. I think it's polite to try and add a valuable comment if I can. I've done more than my maximum 10 comments daily, simply because I thought it was the appropriate thing to do. If I was reading, I wanted the blogger to know it. Sometimes I commented precisely because there were no comments and I felt the blogger should be acknowledged. Sometimes I've used the comment box as an instant messenger of sorts and just went back and forth with the blogger. Only once did I read a blog with zero comments and found myself stumped as to what to say, so I snuck out the back door hoping I had not been seen.
I'm writing because I've realized how important the comments have become to me and I don't like feeling that way. If there's comments...you like me! If there's no comments...you don't like me! I thought I had figured out a way to fix that. I remembered seeing in my settings a box I could check to not allow comments. YES! That would be my solution. If I can't get comments, then I won't worry about them not being there. Does that make sense? Am I giving you TMI here? I went over to my settings and discovered I had misunderstood the box. It was there only to exclude non-member comments. Oh rats. I was back to square one.
For those of you who've been around longer, I'd like to ask: did you feel this way at all in the beginning? If so, does the feeling pass? Are these just growing pains? I read Maureen Francis once saying she'd broken her AR addiction. How'd you do it MF?
For the newer ones: is anyone else out there feeling like this?
For all: if AR were to give us a box whereby we could turn commenting OFF, would you use it?
Please be gentle with me. I've always been the type to wear my heart on my sleeve. I'm doing it again now. How's that for transparency?
Maggie Dokic, SFR is a licensed real estate broker in the state of Florida selling residential real estate in Miami, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Coral Gables, Gables by the Sea, High Pines, the Redland and other select areas of SW Miami-Dade County.
Maggie has earned her SFR certification to be able to better serve the needs of her customers in today's non-traditional real estate market. SFR is a Short Sale, Foreclosure Resource Specialist. Designees have been trained to understand the highly specialized options available to Sellers facing short sales & foreclosures and Buyers looking to buy them.
For more information on our local real estate market, or to see or sell a home in Miami, Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Coral Gables or the Redland, visit my Miami Real Estate blog or contact me at Maggie (at) TheBlogThatAteMiami (dot) com.
The opinions expressed herein, are those of the author, and not necessarily of Prudential Florida Realty.
Oh! Oh! Maggie posted again! Yay, Maggie!
OK, now to content. YES, I have had posts that no one commented on. They're darned fine posts, but mostly they're about West Virginia and I realize that most of the country does not live here and they have other things to think about. I move on. Still, I do LOVE the comments and if someone says something nice about my post, I practically purr.
My name is Sarah. I'm a Comment Ho. Well, that's too drastic. Still, you get the picture.
If you find a way to get over it, let me in on the secret.
And I never have a problem commenting on your posts because you are GOOD, girl! If you decide to leave real estate, give journalism a try.
Rich - I SWEAR I didn't steal my headline from you. On my honor. They're both so similar. It makes me feel better knowing someone of your blogging stature (I'm not kissing up here, I've already told you I respect you) felt similarly at one point. That was a great blog. I'll go back and comment here.
Sarah - it's always nice to see you. Actually, I expect my Localism posts to go uncommented. I'm writing those for the consumer. There's even been talk of whether it's proper for us to interject our comments on the Localism stuff. I'm not trying to get all my stuff commented on. I'm just wondering when I'll just move on and get over it? Why the heck should it matter so? Now, as for your language young lady..My name is Sarah. I'm a Comment Ho. ROFLMBO!! I didn't know you had it in you!
Shucks. I blog all the time without comments. They go to Localism. Other blogs either get comments or they don't. But, they all get links to my web site(s).
If your site doesn't get featured. it's off the radar before you can get comments.
So be it. I believe this is about my 20th comment today. I've been snowed in and it's fun.
Lenn
Maggie,
If I had to guess....most of the people that "actually participate" in this site feel pretty much the same way. What we all need to remember is sometimes a blog will just slide by. It's not necessarily a "bad blog", just gets lost in the shuffle. For instance, if Rich didn't link his blog here, I would not have seen it cause I was getting ready to sign off. Some blogs don't seem to require a comment. Sometimes, there's nothing else to say after others have commented.
And good news, the Addiction can be managed! Take it one day at a time:) Pace yourself and remember to take at least one day off a week!! (and don't blog in your head while your not on Active Rain:)
Maggie don't be discouraged. Besides, you could get phone calls or referrals from blogging without anyone commenting. And either way, it's all good!
I try to comment as much as possible...
but I do have several blogs with great stats readerwise and noone wants to leave feedback...
for me, being new here, I would love to know that I'm doing something right/wrong... or that I'm not just way out there... maybe I should write one that is and see what happens!
Maybe it is just that South Floridians like us aren't understood???
Lenn - I'm honored to be your 20th. Really! Thanks.
Eric - I agree. Thanks for commenting. I guess I'm not making myself clear. I don't want my Localism stuff commented on. I want to stop caring whether I get comments or not on the AR stuff. Maybe I'll just join Sarah at the 12-step AR meeting.
Maggie: You simply MUST, know how we feel about comments!
Jay
Karen - YES! that's what I want. A glimmer of hope. Thanks. Now about taking one day off.... wait, you also expect me to not think about AR while I'm not on here? That's just cruel and unusual punishment.
Carole - I agree it's all good. AR is the bee's knees! I just want to go back to the way things were before AR. Maybe cold turkey is the way.......
David - let's not use our locale as the excuse :-) I'm heading over to your blog for some reading...oh yeah, and commenting.
Hi Maggie,
One thing I've appreciated about comments, is that occasionally an individual can bring a slightly different perspective to a blog, or add a personal experience on the same subject. And of course, I've continued to learn from both types of comments. Every now and then I'll pass on commenting myself if I simply agree as said by so many previously.
And I too, like you wrote a blog on the same subject previously covered, and we actually had some of the same description on the heading, I was mortified when I found out. Yet, I guess that bound to happen. In the future I'll check on the specific subject to check for potential repeats.
And like Carole said above, you are still connecting with others out there. I receved a buyer referral my first 2 weeks on ar, and a couple of absolutely heart-warming calls since then.
Take care,
Lynda
Maggie,
You know I used to be mostly consumed by adding content to get into Localism and then of course the points were somewhat important to me. But I have to say that I enjoy commenting and reading more than anything. I never gave a thought to the points on commenting. I just get caught up in the network somehow and the "Featured" element gets to me more than anything. You're way ahead of the game on that because you seem to have got that down to a science. But the more reading I do, the more I am trying to get a handle on "my voice". But I digress. I did my post on the importance of the Comment. I just have to add that a newer member commented on my post about commenting and he remarked that nobody ever commented on his blogs. So I looked at his Blogs to find that they were very good so I commented and in turn others followed. Now he's a happy chappy and that just made my day that I contributed to his happiness! That's what I think is important to me - the community building. But we all have our own "stuff" that's most important to us. So I suppose to answer the original question - "no" I wouldn't turn off the comments. But then that's just one girl's opinion.
Lisa
Maggie, I love commenting and I love getting comments. It's all good. By the way:
"Rehab is for quiters" Enjoy your addiction. I do.
This network is so unique, in so many ways. The boys built it in such a way as to encourage commenting-but in the blogosphere in general, you don't see nearly the level of commenting that you see here on AR. Comments ARE addictive and it does seem like a personality contest-until you look outside of the Rain and realize that the larger blog community is different. =)
I had to chuckle when I read your post. I host my other blog on blogger: http;//buyersbroker.biz/blog/
For the longest time I didn't get any comments. After about six months, I realized that with comment moderation on, and not having comments e-mailed to me as they are made, I had a bunch of comments awaiting moderation after all! One of the comments was from somebody who asked why do I call it a blog if no one comments! So I guess for some people, if there are no comments, it is not really a blog! :-)
I am also new to Blogging ( A couple of weeks or so now ) . From the very beginning I have tried to define in my mind the purpose of blogging. Why Would I Blog? Yes it is enjoyable. It is very informative. It is also very time consuming.
Here is what I have finally come up with ( in this short 2 or 3 weeks ). I use my blog post on activerain to socialize, inform, build trust, learn, share, and enjoy. I love to leave comments.
When it comes time to blog about hard hitting topics directly aimed at consumers, I post those on my other blog site and tease them on this site with a link to the other blog.
I guess when it comes to a lack of comments, I have always looked at that as a challenge. What one person can do so can another...
Alvin - where you at that Broker's Open I had? ;-) All that food went to waste...... It can feel kinda like that! thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Jeff - how right you are. There is much wisdom out there. I've been learning a lot here in the Rain. I hope no one gets the wrong idea. I LOVE the comments. That's precisely my problem.
Lynda - you make some very valid points. You always do. Whenever I see your comments in the Rain your experience in this industry is evident. I think you may have set a record with that 2 week referral. Congratulations.
Lisa - I, too, get a lot of joy from reading and commenting. There are some very generous folks out there and I love learning from them. I don't know what it is that I am doing that gets some of my stuff featured. I haven't been able to figure that one out. I'm glad to hear of your "happy chappy." David above made the same comment and when I checked his blog out I discovered much the same as you. He has some good stuff there.
I figure that if a person takes the time to "click" on my blog...I hope they comment..... I don't get too many comments and that is fine......
BUT I get a BUNCH of people who READ my blogs...and that is fine..if I made them think...I have done my job....
Maggie.. congrats on the star!! hey didn't i just say that yesterday? and the day before!! and.. well you deserve it. i humbly submit that you have touched on something we all go through.
Maggie. i think you have a gift. nurture it. water it. give it light.. but dont let it grow so big that the roots take over! just kidding about the roots thing. :) i love how your transparency shows who great you are. how you shine through so innocently and kind. others can try their entire lives to reach that point, posting junk for points to appear larger than life. well you post from the heart and are knocking it out of the park every time. i love that about you. who else would admit to sneaking out the back door? i wish you success beyond your desires, but less than where its a problem.
Bryant - I can always count on you to set me straight. Love that line. "Rehab is for quiters" The irony's not lost on me. Very good! Now when are you going to start classes or write that blogging book everyone's asking for? We may have a chance to follow in your royal footsteps that way.
Leigh - AR was my very first attempt with blogging so this is all I know. There's no denying that it's somewhat addictive. I do need to get past the having fun stage and start developing a sound strategy for maximizing my time here in order to gain the almighty SEO. But that sounds so much like work. While up until now it's been purely fun.
Stefan - that's a funny story. And I think you're the first to answer the headline question. So a blog's not technically a blog unless they can comment? Thanks!
Herb - does that mean you're not posting your consumer stuff to Localism? It promises to be huge. I think you should. Thanks for stopping by.
Maggie, love your blog... and yes... for me it is sort of an addiction. Not sure how people beat it outside of just staying away. I always feel a little bad when no one comments, but at the same time, it's a learning opportunity and I am grateful to Active Rain for being here for us!
Alexander - Thanks for your comment. Your point is well taken. Thank you.
Kaushik - very good point! I can easily get addicted to those emails as well.
Nick - my very first AR friend. Thanks for your humbling comment. I don't know what else to say in response to that except thank you. (from my heart).
Maggie,
You are right - it is nice to be recognized - I seem to write for 2 different audiences - 1 for the AR members and the other for the public. It turns out I work harder on the public articles and those are the ones that receive the least activity...but that's OK, because Google likes what I write and it helps with the search engine placement.
Now Have a Blessed Day,
John Occhi, Hemet CA REALTOR
http://www.johnocchi.com/
I am not a quitter either!
If it makes you feel better Maggie ~ I love to read your posts with your smiling face next to it even if I don't respond. You have great energy and a great perspective that keeps me coming back to your blog.
As for me turning off comments? HECK NO! Not a chance! Someone may be able to give me perspective on something I am missing the 5:00 train on. My personality is very diplomatic and my opinion (while strong) is subject to change when convincing evidence is presented.
As far as commenting? Some days I am like Lenn and feel like commenting all over the place and spreading the joy. Other days I am cranky as all get go (not often, really) and don't feel like sharing the love but just read and learn with very little comments.
THis profession can be lonely as it is very cut throat and back stabbing so AR is a fresh way to learn about different principles and practices from all over the country.
Comments are cool. Everyone likes to be validated, and if one is seeking something specifically from blogging, then of course you want to know that your blog is relevant or meaningful.
I just started my "other blog" http://debsbeachblog.com and only use the AR blog now for member interaction.
I also don't have strong reactions to much of what I read, and I personally need that impetus to comment.
I don't think the absence of comments has a direct correlation on your worth as a blogger.
Not at all.
If the comments are strictly generic, for networking purposes, you're really not missing anything, but I guess it could hurt your ranking.
Everything is so impersonal these days - it's all about the stats. People talk to you to boost their own ranking, while helping yours . . .
Good to see you again on the featured page, Maggie. I know I was more concerned about it when I started - I thought that getting comments, in a way, validated that what you are saying is important to people. However, given how blogging works, I don't feel that way now. No comments, that's fine, especially when I am writing to share info with consumers - and then I am not looking for comments but simply to educate them. I do like the feedback and the many good ideas and suggestions I get from readers here on AR, and quite frankly the old ego DOES get a little stroking when someone comments. But that is NOT why I write, and I am just fine if there are no comments.
On the other side, I like commenting on others' blogs, but there are many I read and enjoy but don't comment since I dot have something that I feel is really relevant to say. Just saying "great post" time and again seems rather superficial.
Jeff
Maggie,
For the first 18 months that I had my "real" blog I got very few comments. Then I came to activerain. The comments started pouring in. I was addicted. Loved the feedback. Now I am back on the other blog. My writing has changed. I get comments there. Not at the AR level but I get contact from consumers there, which I have never had here.
As for what broke my AR addiction, that topic is better left alone now.
I do love your sense of humor! And I also wear my heart on my proverbial sleeve. I think that's what makes blogs fun. At least, to me... Just a stream of consciousness- not professionally edited-- written by a realtor or a mortgage broker or appraiser that may or may not be far away. How neat!
I just like to let 'em know I dropped in. Also, I think just putting a smiley or whatever should count as a comment. That way, those who are really comment-adverse could still find a way to let you know that they heard your tree fall. Maybe a smiley "counts" now. I don't know. Anyway, great post.
Rich - I do? Crack you up, I mean. Now that's sweet. I made Rich laugh. YESSSSS! And yes, you do have a certain blogging stature. You've earned it fair and square. Thank you for your second comment. Dare I say it was even better than the first? As for that 3rd comment, I won't let it go to my head. Looks like a system burp to me.
Renee - hi my friend! That's an incredibly sweet thing to say. Thank you. I love your spunky attitude. It makes your blogs a blast to read. You tell it like it is, no holds barred. I really like that about you. Thanks for your input.
Deb - thanks for the thoughful comment. When I first started here I guess I was just giddy with excitement and left "great post!" all over the place. I didn't get ActiveRain then. I was just learning it. There's still much to learn and as it evolves so do we along with it. I tried to look at your blog but the link was dead.
Mariana - I have to tell you...after I wrote it, I thought maybe it was too much ME and I should yank it.... but I was in the car on my way to pick up the kid. When I returned I saw that it had already been seen and it was too late. Thanks for your kind comment. It's a two way street. I enjoy yours very much.
Jeff - thank you. That's exactly what I'm looking for: to hear from someone who's been there that it will get better. I'm glad there's hope for me. Thank you, thank you.
Maureen - I see that so many of you have your outside blogs that I've already started looking into one of my own. I honestly don't know where I'll find the time but I'd be foolish not to attempt it. As for your addiction-breaking, should you decide to ever blog about it, I'll be eagerly awaiting it. Thanks for stopping by!
Lloyd - Thank you. It surprised me how many comments. More than just numbers, I got a lot of great feedback. OK, after all this I must say that I don't think I'd ever use that Turn Comments Off even if it were available.
Karen - you've got me thinking...You're right! As much as I think it would behoove me to keep my heart where it belongs and not on my sleeve, I really can't. That really is me. It would go against the grain for me to try and be otherwise. That must be what everyone's talking about when they say to find your voice. I guess that one is mine. It seems to suit you, too. I loved your blog about the trainee, but I already told you that :-)
I decided to comment. If I comment in the middle of the night does anone hear it? :)
Nice post Maggie!
Chris - I always enjoy your wit. Thanks. By the way, the trip to the Greek festival turned out to be one long, drawn-out binge. OPA!!
Rob - you just did! Thanks for stopping by and not sneaking out the back door.
Ryan - thanks for the very nice compliment. I've visited your blog and it looks good! You're one ahead of me...I always forget to rate the blogs. I've got to keep that in mind as I read. Thanks for stopping by.
Angela - we have another winner ladies and gentlemen! Your blog, like Ryan's, looks good too! Keep participating here. It will pay off in many ways.
I'm keeping an eye on both of you!
Maggie, I didn't read all the comments yet , so hopefully somebody didn't already say this.
Have you ever sat down and thought, "I'm writing this for myself", because maybe you have something you just have to get off your chest? Sometimes I do. Most of the time though, I do want some feedback. We all feel that way I think.
Take a look at this. It got 1 comment. But, wow, what a comment. I will always post what I have on my mind since I received that comment. Maybe someone will notice, maybe not. That was a post I wrote to me, because the issue made me sad. If I hadn't written it....
Maggie,
Another good thing about your post is the newbies that have shown up here to comment. Hopefully others will go to their sites and connect:)
Danny - nice to see you! You always make me smile. Don't give the lazy ones any ideas. They might start canning "this blog stinks. Why'd you write it? Better yet, what are you doing on AR?"
Mark - fabulous post from a fabulous man. It doesn't surprise me. Point well taken. Thank you.
Karen - a very good point on your part! I've discovered some good reading myself.
Luke - you are so funny. I can just hear you with your Brooklyn accent saying "maybe my post sucked?" Nothing against Brooklyn. On the contrary. I was raised in New York and left 6 years ago. I miss the characters sometimes! As for your posts I just went over there and spent a most enjoyable half an hour. Thanks!
Irene - Funny how we all remember our first blogs. I remember who left my first comment and am grateful to her. I think I'm getting over this comment thing =) phew! Thanks for stopping by.