For this week’s edition of Blogging Insights, Dr. Tanya wants us to talk about the value of comments, and she’s especially interested in the longer, “meaningful” comments that are the subject the discussion. Dr. Tanya asks…
Do you think that comments add value to a blog post? If so, how?
Dr. Tanya points out in her post that, being human, she sometimes leaves comments like “Good one,” “Great Post,” or “Loved this.” We all do this at times, don’t we? Or we comment with emojis like 👍 or 👏 or 😉 or 😂 or maybe even 😡. But Dr. Tanya wants us to talk about long, meaningful comments, comments that demonstrate that we have read the post and have something valuable to say in response.
I previously answered this question about whether comments add value to a blog post when Dr. Tanya, in her Blogging Insights post back in May, asked “How important is the comments section to your blog?” As I noted back then, I love my blog’s comment section. I love reading what others have to say. It’s that sense of community and the interchange of ideas that make all the hours I spend writing and reading posts worthwhile. It’s that feeling you get when you know that something you wrote and posted resonated enough with someone else that they actually took their time to write a comment in response.
In my opinion, the best part about blogging is the interaction and engagement one gets through comments. Were it not for that aspect of blogging, why not just keep a personal journal in Word on your computer or in a handwritten paper diary? It’s the interaction — the comments on what you posted — that is the true allure, for me anyway, of blogging.
As to “longer, meaningful,” I am not sure, in the case of comments, anyway, that size matters. What’s more important to me is that someone took the time to read and write a comment that demonstrated that they appreciated what I wrote, and felt compelled to respond via a comment. That can be accomplished in a few words sometimes even better than in a long-winded comment.
And sometimes it’s rewarding when a blogger is so inspired by something I’ve posted — and I’m not talking about my prompt posts — that, rather than posting a long comment on my post, they will write their own “spin-off” post in response to what I wrote and link it back to my original post.
Okay, I think I’ve said about as much as I can on this topic. Your comments are appreciated.
This, That, and the Other 
Without the Comments section, I don’t think that I would have ever made any friends here.
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Very true. Without comments, blogging would be a very lonely avocation.
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Yes, I agree, comments from others makes it a community feeling. And when someone really goes their way with conversation, or several conversations, because they can relate, makes is special.
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I share your views about comments.
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I love comments too, I think we all do. I write for myself but if someone gets a kick out of it and says so, it makes my day. I love the last line, F!
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Thanks, Cheryl. I appreciate your comment. 😉
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I appreciate the sense of community, especially as an introvert. I still get foot-in-the-mouth disease but the writer’s community I’ve found here, with blogs like yours Fandango, is for the most part nurturing and non-judgmental and I appreciate that so much.
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Being part of a nurturing and supportive community of bloggers is magical.
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Yes, it is 😊
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Finding a community helps to keep writing.
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Engagement and interaction are indeed the best part of blogging!
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I often write about things that I enjoy, and I get a certain amount of satisfaction from that. But I find a great deal more satisfaction in writing something that others enjoy or are (in those rare instances) inspired by.
We NEED honest comments. How else could we know what others enjoy reading? Comments let us know what kinds of gifts to give.
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Exactly!
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I agree, size of comment doesn’t matter. It’s what they’ve written that matters. 😊
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It’s about community, but due to ar-fur-itis, I don’t always have the hands capable of doing too much, so it’s either look or talk. Often, I’m scrolling through WP after I’ve done the work on my story, so hands are painful and it’s more walk than talk. I still feel the community, though.
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I think the comments are important – I agree that a thoughtful response is better, but sometimes one just can’t think of a thoughtful response, so they end up just saying “great post” or something like this, which is good too. I always look at how many people liked my posts, but I get excited when there are comments to read! I also try to comment on others’ blogs, but again, sometimes I just can’t think of something intelligent or witty or thoughtful to say.
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And sometimes, after reading the comments other bloggers have left, if they’ve already said in their comments what I would have said, I won’t leave a nearly duplicate comment just for the sake of leaving a comment.
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I agree with everything that you and the previous commenters have said. Blogging, at least for us hobby bloggers is about forming a community and the comment section is where we meet to chat.
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That’s exactly right.
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Personally, I don’t think it needs to be a super long comment (like this one isn’t). But something more than “great post,” something that (as Dr. Tanya points out) indicates that someone actually read the post, is I think good.
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Yes, I generally agree.
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I agree, it makes writing much worthwhile when you interact with your readers. I have found real good blogger friends here on WordPress and every time I post a new blog, I look forward to interacting with them. I also go to their websites to see if they’ve posted something new and I’ll read and comment and ask them how they’ve been doing. I really value interacting with my WordPress friends because they are what makes this community enjoyable. Thanks for this! ❤
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Well said. I completely agree, it’s the comments that keep this community writing. And share that writing. Thank you for this🙏
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I agree with your opinion. Comments make it more of an interactive activity.
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It’s like a miniature book club… we read a blog and discuss it. It is a wonderful community.
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Good analogy.
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