August 7, 2006

10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 8:50 am

My Secret

My name is Liz and I have a secret. I read your blog almost every day, but you you wouldn’t know that. That’s because I hardly ever leave a comment.

I know the value of a well-placed comment. I’m pretty good at writing down what I think. Yet, when it comes time to writing a response to what you wrote, some days I can’t quite get my fingers to the keyboard. I start to write something . . . then I leave without posting it.

There are more readers like me than ones who are not. I know. I’ve talked to them. I’ve been talking to them about why they don’t comment. It seems that we have the same secret reasons for not leaving our calling card. We want to leave our thoughts, but things get between us and that comment box.

It’s time we came clean and let you know what they are.

10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments

I don’t suppose this is all of the reasons folks choose not to comment. This is only a list of 10 +1 of them that I’ve heard over and over again.

1. What you write is so complete, that I don’t know what to say except good job. I feel silly writing that, so I read and move on.
2. You’ve taught me something I didn’t know, and I need to think about it before I even have a question. Much like number 1, I don’t want to embarrass myself. I’m better off moving on.
3. I get ready to type a comment, but I notice you only respond to a few friends who mostly share inside jokes. I won’t take the risk of being overlooked in public.
4. The folks who comment on your posts like to argue and I don’t. I’m not sure I’m brave enough to fight my way into the crowd.
5. You rarely respond to comments. So, there’s no point in writing one.
6. Your blog has geeky attitude and I’m not geeky enough to keep up.
7. I really like your blog and your post, but I’m too tired, busy, or any one of a number things that you can’t control. I’ll comment the next I come back to read.
8. You end your posts with a giant general question like “What do you think of the Big Bang Theory?” That question is such a big one. I don’t have time to answer it. I feel strange answering with a lesser comment.
9. You put up a fence by making me login to comment. I have too many passwords already and I don’t know you well enough to add one to my list.
10. Your content wasn’t fresh and exciting, and I couldn’t find anything YOU inside it. It seemed the same post that I’ve read on 10 other blogs. If I commented, I would have to tell you that.
PLUS ONE: Your post was negative. Negative is scary. Most folks don’t like negative stuff, because they know they could be next to be the recipient. I don’t comment, because I don’t want to be part of it.

Sometimes I don’t comment because I’m self-conscious about new groups and fitting in. I suppose most people feel that way now and then. I’m working on that.

Yet when the content is rich and compelling, I lose all self-consciousness. My fingers can’t wait to share what you’ve started me thinking. My hands literally jump to the keyboard and start typing out the words. Other readers have said that is true for them too.

Compelling content causes comments.

Did I miss the reasons that keep you from commenting?

–ME “Liz” Strauss

The Show Is in the Comments
An Open Thought: Please Take the Keys
Who’s Reading Your Comments?

Filed under Comments, Customer Think, Marketing, Successful Blog, Writing |

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424 Comments to “10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments”

August 7th, 2006 at 9:56 am
cat said
PLUS ANOTHER ONE:

Sometimes I sound like I’m arguing, when I’m actually not. I just have a way of putting my posts stronger than intended.

It’s easier to keep out of the conversation and not take the chance of being misunderstood.
August 7th, 2006 at 9:59 am
Easton Ellsworth said
Good job.

I mean, er, awesome thoughts, Liz - I need some time to think about this!
August 7th, 2006 at 10:08 am
ME Strauss said
Easton,
You are the best commenter on the planet! I should just give up and take lessons from you.
August 7th, 2006 at 11:04 am
Big Roy said
Without sounding like I am stating the obvious I assume that you are trying to teach us bloggers something with this post Liz. So I will say what I have learned and APPLIED from reading this site and this post.

1. Make it easy for people to post. No one wants to jump through hoops to write a quick comment.

2. Respond to comments in a personal way. Make your readers feel like they’re part of a community.

3. Include YOU in your posts so people feel they are reading a real person.

I changed my commenting name to Big Roy as I saw there was another Roy who comments here. That’s the name I use on my blog. I didn’t just pull the name out of thin air, there is a story behind it.
August 7th, 2006 at 11:06 am
ME Strauss said
Hey Big Roy,
I think you could pick up that comment and use it as a blog post. What you wrote is great advice any way that you look at it.

You’re welcome here, with any name.
August 7th, 2006 at 11:44 am
Martin said
For moi Liz, I have no self-consciousness issues in commenting whenever/where ever. Firstly, the post has to interest me enough for me to have a say - negative/positive - doesn’t matter.

But the real reason is time issues - there’s just never enough hours in the day to comment, track, follow up etc. So I had to bite the bullet and really only comment within my niche so I can at least fool myself into thinking I’m being productive. I stray sometimes of course…

I track comments using co.mments now - which helps a little.

#1. on occassions - even here

#2. on the contrary, you’ve taught me something so I’m commenting to essentially say “thank you”.

#5. is also a big one for me.

#9. you force me to login - I’m outta here

BTW Liz, I found the Bizerati manu and have spent an hour on it tonight. Polish it up more tomorrow and I’ll pdf-it to you for a perusal - of course, I’m mentioning this in public so that your fan base can be let in on the secret - Liz.eBook.Coming Soon. A bit of buzz never hurt anyone
August 7th, 2006 at 11:49 am
ME Strauss said
Hey, Martin!
How ya doing? You picked the ones closed to my heart too, despite the fact I know I am guilty of #1 when I don’t pay attention. Oh well.

Cool about the eBook coming down the pike. That sounds exciting. I’ll have to get the confetti ready!!!
August 7th, 2006 at 12:15 pm
Starbucker said
Oh, so that explains it Liz - AND I know your secret too! I look at commenting in this way - since I’m relatively new to blogging, I always thought from the beginning that it was a two-way medium, where someone is starting a conversation that invites interaction, so I picked up the habit right away. In contrast, I’d think if some folks never commented when they first ventured into the blogosphere, it would be more difficult to jump in down the road (i.e. not a habit). Nevertheless, I agree with you on your last statement - I don’t comment unless I’m compelled to, habit or not. Luckily, a lot of what I choose to read IS compelling (your little blog included), so I’ll keep typing!
August 7th, 2006 at 12:19 pm
ME Strauss said
Why, thank you, Starbucker.

You have a great outlook on commenting. I started blogging and it was quite quiet for weeks. I got to listen to myself think.

Then I learned about community and campfires to talk around. . . .

Some blogs seem more like high school hallways though.
August 7th, 2006 at 12:22 pm
Brian Clark said
What about my number one reason… I have a comment but I’m too damn lazy at the moment to force it out of me.

Not being lazy right now…

Brian
August 7th, 2006 at 12:24 pm
ME Strauss said
Thanks, Brian.
That’s the one I was leaving room for.

I’m still laughing as I type this.

So true. So true. I’ve been known to be lazy.
August 7th, 2006 at 1:02 pm
DavidC said
Hi Liz

I was at a seminar once (can’t remember what it was about), and invited one of my employees to attend it with me. There were maybe 100 or so people in the room, and at the end the hosts went into the typical Q&A session. As I raised my hand to ask a question, my associate looked at me with deer-in-the-headlights eyes and asked, incredulously, ‘Are you really going to ask a question?!?’ To her it was simply inconceivable to do something like that. There is an entire block of readers that will NEVER consider leaving a comment, itâ€™s just not part of their personality style.

I try to gear my blog towards users that are less than experts using the computer, and I know that many of my readers fall firmly into your #6. Even though I go to great lengths to make it simple, I know many will not comment because theyâ€™re afraid of asking the dreaded â€˜stupid questionâ€™.
August 7th, 2006 at 2:00 pm
Starbucker said
Love that High School reference - I didn’t like high school that much for that very reason, and it carries over to today. Thanks again.
August 7th, 2006 at 2:17 pm
Shirley George Frazier said
I appreciate all of the above as reasons why readers don’t comment on my blogs.

My audience is silent, but I know they’re out there reading my ideas and clicking on associated links.

If visitors use the information to create better, well-managed, and more-profitable businesses, I’m happy.
August 7th, 2006 at 2:45 pm
ME Strauss said
David,
What a great point you make. Yes, some people just don’t need to comment to feel they have participated to the fullest. That’s not their style. You’re right on the money with that. Thanks for remembering them.
August 7th, 2006 at 2:46 pm
ME Strauss said
Yeah, Starbucker,
I never comment on those high school blogs, even when the content is great!
August 7th, 2006 at 2:48 pm
ME Strauss said
Shirley,
How great to hear from you!
A silent audience doesn’t mean they’re not listening in. I’ve had messages from readers tell me that more than once. Thanks for saying that out loud so that everyone knows.

Readers don’t need to talk to be readers.
August 7th, 2006 at 2:51 pm
candice said
Mine is often guilty of the hallway kind of thing - a large chunk of my subscriber base is in-person friends, the in-jokes just kind of follow. I try to respond to everyone though.

There are also the people who will stop me on the street (say, out in the french quarter on a friday or something, that kind of running into people) to say “hey I really liked that thing on your blog” but won’t comment.
August 7th, 2006 at 2:54 pm
ME Strauss said
Hi Candice!
A few in-crowd jokes aren’t a problem when you let other folks know that they’re still welcome to hang around.

It’s cool that you get to see people who read your blog in person. I know plenty of Chicagoans read this blog, but we’d never recognize each other on the street.
August 7th, 2006 at 6:39 pm
Kenneth Johnson said
Oh, all right; I’ll answer. Usually, the reason I don’t is pure laziness. Otherwise, it seems to me you’ve covered it pretty thoroughly.

But then, I’d never given it a thought before.

Ehhhh … OK, bookmarked you too, I did.

Actually, this seems a pretty decent blog, and since I’ve contemplated entering the 21st Century, you’re a good source of advice on blogging.

I would recommend some sort of system to filter blog spam.

Ken Johnson
Sand Point, Alaska
August 7th, 2006 at 7:10 pm
Scot Herrick said
I would LOVE to comment on posts.

My RSS feed has 89 blogs lined up to do just that. My number one reason for not commenting on blogs?

The content isn’t worth commenting on.

Which is negative, but accurate. I’m guilty of the same thing - I have to make sure my posts have some good content and I have a lot to learn there. But really, the content doesn’t have anything to comment on.

The rest of the reasons I agree with. I fall into the “too complete” area a lot - or at least think I do!

Scot
August 7th, 2006 at 7:19 pm
ME Strauss said
Hi Ken Johnson,
Welcome! You’re only a stranger once here!

Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. It’s good to hear from you and to know that Brian and i aren’t the only ones who are lazy sometimes.

What sort of blogging software are you on?
August 7th, 2006 at 7:21 pm
ME Strauss said
Hi Scot,
Bad content is a really great reason not to comment, and I have to admit I’ve been running into more and more boring content lately.

Yeah, you do write some very complete posts. You suffer from the same disease I do. Want to get the whole story out there and tie it up with a bow all pretty.
August 8th, 2006 at 2:01 am
Cuileann McKenzie » Archives » Being a Good Host to Your Blog Readers said
[...] Liz Strauss has posted a great piece, “10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments,” at successful-blog.com. It’s a worthwhile read for all bloggers! The article leads us in considering the perspective of our readers, and that’s information that’s more valuable for blog improvement than any batch of blog stats. [...]
August 8th, 2006 at 3:34 am
chartreuse (BETA) » Blog Archive » Blogs, The Bible, And Charlie Sheen’s Ex-Wife (The Tuesday Morning Remix) said
[...] Ever since I started this blog Liz has always been the smart woman I turn to when I don’t understand this blogging stuff. She always has the answers. Case in point: Why people don’t leave comments on your blog. [...]
August 8th, 2006 at 5:05 am
Yvonne said
Points 3, 5 and 9 are so true - I hear so many bloggers complaining about how they rarely get any comments, yet they seem to think they’re above replying to ‘newbie’ comments, and they obviously hate spammers more than lurkers if they force everyone to login!

I admit blog authors who reply to their comments encourage me to de-lurk and comment more. I try to reply to my own ASAP - discussions with my readers are my favourite part of blogging =)
August 8th, 2006 at 5:12 am
How to Leave a Positive Impression on Other Bloggers Through Comments said
[...] Update: for a related post see Liz’s on 10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments on Your Blog If you enjoyed this post Subscribe to the Free ProBlogger Newsletter [...]
August 8th, 2006 at 6:12 am
Rico said
I think you can do no wrong making things easier for your readers, and I think this is achieved through preview and subscription functionalities.

Previews will help people get over their “self-worth” issues, by allowing them to look before they leap.

Comment Subscriptions will help me keep track of what’s happening in the discussion. With them, I no longer have to go through the relative inconvenience of having to the check the post regularly.

Thank God you have comment subscriptions here. Honestly, I prefer posting comments only on Blogs with them.
August 8th, 2006 at 6:25 am
cat said
“Thank God you have comment subscriptions here. Honestly, I prefer posting comments only on Blogs with them.”

Ditto for me. At times I’ll post and go off, only remembering the next day or week. Sure, I could use cocomments (yet one more thing to learn), but why when it’s so easy to offer the ability to subscribe?
August 8th, 2006 at 6:28 am
ME Strauss said
Hi Yvonne,
I can understand that bloggers who have a life don’t respond to every comment one-by-one immediately, but so many show up in their comments and acknowledge folks who leave word there. It seems to me a fair trade in respect that if someone leaves their words and ideas, after reading mine, that I should respond in kind in the same way I would if they stopped by my business to talk about something.

There is a person behind every comment — okay we won’t count spammers — and every person who leaves a comment is a reader, who didn’t have to stop to read HERE.

I’m grateful that my readers do.

I think I ought hold up my end of the bargain.
August 8th, 2006 at 6:40 am
ME Strauss said
Hi Rico,
Thank you for mentioning that.

Thank God you have comment subscriptions here.

Those first two words show you care about something. I’d be silly not to have it here for you.

I want the experience to be easy and fun for everyone. YEAH!
August 8th, 2006 at 6:45 am
ME Strauss said
Hi Cat!
I tried coComments and found it one more multi-tasking obstacle between me and the people that I care about talking to.[ I've figured out that not everything I say is that important that I really need to follow up on it. Thank God, I'm no sage. The pressure would kill me. :)]
August 8th, 2006 at 6:47 am
Yvonne said
I completely understand that all bloggers have other commitments outside of their site - I’m a uni student, after all - it’s the authors of small sites who regularly publish content but rarely (if ever) respond to their reader feedback that puzzle me.

No matter how easy you make it for a reader to leave feedback, they still have to take some time to do it, and to show how much they care - what’s a few moments to respond to them and thank them for doing so?

Anyway, you do a great job of that here Liz - a lot of bloggers should learn from you =)
August 8th, 2006 at 6:54 am
ME Strauss said
Yes, Yvonne,
Thank you.

I agree. I don’t know whether it’s bad manners or just that young bloggers don’t understand the nature of the conversation. I remember when I started the SOB program it was to promote conversation and dialogue, even to me the concept felt a little “foreign.”

It was like promoting a childhood game of “pass it on.”

Until a person really understands the depth of conversation that can happen and the relationships that can form, I don’t think that person will ever get the reason for comment ettiquette or why it’s important.

Some folks can’t see past the letters on the screen to the person who wrote them. It’s a disability of sorts. At least that’s how I see it.
August 8th, 2006 at 7:37 am
Rico said
See? Thanks to the comment subscription (CS), I was able to read all your wonderful insights.

Liz, would you mind me asking what blogging platform you use? My personal blog is hosted by Wordpress (fool45.wordpress.com), and it doesn’t have CS functionality. I’m planning to move it to its own domain, and end my slight hypocrisy (hehe) by implementing CS on my blog as soon as I can!

PS: The multiple comments of this entry are also divided among pages, not shown as a whole, thus helping readability even further. How was that implemented?
August 8th, 2006 at 7:41 am
ME Strauss said
Hi Rico,
This, too, is a Word Press Blog. The paged comments are a plug-in Called Paged Comments by Bryan.

http://www.coldforged.org/plugins/

I think the comments feed was just setup through bloglines.
August 8th, 2006 at 7:57 am
Rico said
Thanks for the prompt reply Liz.

Oops, I should’ve been more specific. I was talking about CS that updated you via e-mail, which is what I’m using now to stay updated.

I have enough RSS feeds to contend with (research for my pro-blog), that’s I why I really enjoy receiving the updates on my Gmail. It keeps my RSS life simple (I can’t handle 89 feeds like Scot Herrick can), and because the link back to the blog is saved on my account, I can check back on my own time.

So my real question is: is there a Wordpress plug-in that allows you to provide CS functionality via e-mail?
August 8th, 2006 at 7:57 am
Big Roy said
Good question Rico, Liz does have a nice comment system. I wonder too if it’s a plugin or requires a bunch of fancy coding?
August 8th, 2006 at 8:00 am
Big Roy said
Liz answered the question as I had the page opened and was getting some coffee.

Thanks
August 8th, 2006 at 8:03 am
ME Strauss said
I don’t know, Rico. I’ve never looked into that question. Someone reading might have the answer.
August 8th, 2006 at 8:24 am
Rico said
I did some “research” (click on “Manage your subscriptions” underneath the comment box) and I was presented with a page with the Wordpress interface. So I guess Wordpress does provide that functionality. Let me ask my geekier friends; they’ll probably clear things up, and I’ll post it once I find out.

Thank you again Liz, you’re really doing a great job with this blog!
August 8th, 2006 at 8:32 am
ME Strauss said
Thank you, Rico,
That’s what is so special about bloggers. Bloggers are the most unselfish, helpful people on the planet. You just can’t convince otherwise.
August 8th, 2006 at 8:59 am
Easton Ellsworth said
So I come back and there’s 40 comments. I love how the conversations just flourish at this blog! Looks like those 10 reasons don’t apply here :).
August 8th, 2006 at 9:22 am
ME Strauss said
Easton,
You just pick the right posts to visit. I know that. We are a conversational group who likes to figure things out, now aren’t we?
August 8th, 2006 at 9:38 am
MamaDuck said
Oftentimes the posts are about very personal things or areas that I don’t know much about as well. If someone has a long funny story about their cat destroying their couch, I may laugh but as I don’t have a cat (ha just a toddler destroying mine), I might not have anything to say about it other than a LOL which is rather silly to post.

I find by responding to all my comments and making it easy for people to comment, I get a lot of comments ;). Some people don’t really like getting comments though, so I suppose it depends what you want, but you can just turn off comments for that matter ;).
August 8th, 2006 at 9:48 am
ME Strauss said
Hi MamaDuck,
Yeah, I have had that problem, where I enjoy the post, but I have no experience with the subject, as in your example with the cats. So when I have time I try to think of something to say and when I don’t I move along wishing I did.

I agree. I don’t like to write silly things in comment boxes either. It’s not what I want to leave behind as my signature.

Thanks for your comment. It’s nice to meet you. You’re not a stranger here anymore.
August 8th, 2006 at 10:58 am
John Doe said
In brief, to have readers leave comments you must :
- not write so complete
- not teach something readers didn’t know
- not be geeky
Pretty ridiculous.
August 8th, 2006 at 11:00 am
ME Strauss said
John,
Don’t miss the part about not being negative.
August 8th, 2006 at 11:15 am
Sanne Roemen said
Great post, and great commentbait as wel ;-). I thought it was a Dutch thing, that readers don’t respond well. I also notice that my readers prefer to respond by e-mail, they might feel self conscious about having their response show up for everyone to see. So I have my e-mail adress in plain view on the website to at least get some response… I’m assuming you don’t speak Dutch… so it would be quite useless for you to visit my weblog and comment her her her.
August 8th, 2006 at 11:23 am
ME Strauss said
Hi Sanne,
I’ve been to Amsterdam, but have no Dutch. I’m sorry. Thank you for speaking English.

I think the feeling of being self-conscious is universal. We all have a bit of stage fright. Some blogs make us feel more at home. Some bloggers build a high-trust environment.

Some folks will not ever want to stand on stage and that’s all right too. Listening and reading is interacting in my book and I value it deeply.

I could visit your weblog, but I would have to comment in English.
August 8th, 2006 at 11:32 am
Danielle said
I feel both schooled and convicted. Allow me to introduce myself, She Who Almost Never Replies to Comments. I dare say I’m famous for it, at least @ LiveJournal. I do try to respond to questions, etc, but due to busy-ness, laziness… an inability to properly chit-chat that is surprising, given my gender…. In the end, there are no genuine excuses (although work has played a pivotal role in my lack of free time and well-formed thoughts.) I’m just plain bad at commenting back.

At any rate, I am commenting here because I am new, because I’m tickled by the thought of being replied to, and because I like to own up when I’m in the wrong. I will endeavor to reply more often, at my own set of weblogs. Thank you for the tips!
August 8th, 2006 at 11:39 am
ME Strauss said
Hi Danielle,
Welcome,
You might be surprised at how many people just like you have told me that they hardly ever commented and then, after we talk a while here, I see them commenting everywhere.

The conversation gets addictive. Blogging friendships and the dialogue are very rewarding and inspiring. I’ve learned so much from the folks I talk to through the comment boxes that I use.

Now you’re not a stranger. Maybe you’ll visit open comment night tonight and meet the folks who hang out here on a regular basis.
August 8th, 2006 at 11:59 am
Naomi said
I would say I’ve commented maybe five times in my blog-reading history. Here’s why:

#1.) A lot of the blogs I read are popular, and so I feel like when there are already too many comments, mine won’t get read and I’ll feel like a loser.

#2.) I am a stark-raving perfectionist, and because of this I haven’t started my own blog yet. I don’t want to comment without being able to have a website to send people to.

#3.) I have a problem knowing when any social exchange is over, and I get embarassed and think I’ll look clingy. Say I comment on your blog, and you comment back with a nice little welcome note. I feel like I shoul day something, but I don’t know what. And if I DO say something, and you say something back, then do I write back again? I worry that I’ll look like the person who doesn’t know when to quit. So I avoid the whole thing entirely.

#4.) Brevity is not my strongpoint, and I worry that I babble.

I do love your blog, by the way.
August 8th, 2006 at 12:06 pm
Danielle said
Naomi: I know how you feel, being a perfectionist myself. (But don’t let that stop you from starting your own weblog! Even perfectionists need outlets, and the therapeutic aspects of blogging alone are worthwhile. It’s good for you, DO IT.)

Liz: I’m sure I’m not in the minority by any means, but I do intend to improve. I suppose my main problem is that I find large numbers of comments overwhelming, I can honestly say that I’ve skipped reading entries at friends’ blogs, just because there’s already ninety comments on it, and I a) don’t want to get lost in the shuffle, or worse b) don’t want to be obligated to spew out forty comments of my own. (One person in particular had lengthy discourses with all her friends in every single post, so ninety comments might only represent four people. Conversation is great, don’t get me wrong, but that sort of thing, in my view, belongs in a chat window.)
August 8th, 2006 at 12:06 pm
ME Strauss said
Hey, Naomi,
I’m laughing because I see myself in you.
I had to start a blog without reading any or I never would have started one. I’m a boutique shopper for that very same reason. Too many options and too much need to get the right one.

I also feel a need to answer, but I guess you’ve already seen that. Once or twice on this blog. The guys have tested me and said not to answer back . . . I didn’t. Those were probably the only comments besides trackbacks that haven’t answered.

I have the problem too of getting to a blog and finding that I figure the conversation is already over hours ago. That’s the downside of putting the hour stamp on your comments by the way.

Stop by comment night tonight. You’ll get answered, faster than you can answer and three conversations will be going on at one time, so you might even get ignored while you’re being paid attention to.

Welcome. Thanks for the comment. It was a fun one. Answer back if you want to or don’t if your busy doing other things.
August 8th, 2006 at 12:10 pm
ME Strauss said
Danielle,
I read the posts that are inviting and then sometimes I skim the long comments to see what’s in them. I feel no obligation to read all of the comments. They certainly weren’t put there for my attention — if they were that’s even less reason for me to read them.

Sometime near the end I’ll jump in and add one. Sometimes I won’t I’ll just move on.

We get in conversation here, but that usually on a post that draws no other comments. [translation: the boring ones. :)]
August 8th, 2006 at 12:31 pm
Rico said
I think the Newton’s First Law (Law of Inertia) holds true with comments; once things get going, it’s hard to stop. And as you can see Liz, since you’re dilligently replying to our comments, you keep the ball rolling.

This simply reinforces commandment #5. Yes, I’m calling them the 10 Commenting Commandments now.
August 8th, 2006 at 12:36 pm
Ann Handley said
Great post! Here’s a bit of irony, I found it by reading the comments on Converstations….because it was referenced in a comment there.

Nice job. (Or is that too lame a comment? LOL)
August 8th, 2006 at 12:40 pm
ME Strauss said
Hi Ann,
Welcome. I love Converstations. Mike’s a great blog. It’s nice to meet his readers.

Thanks for coming over. We don’t grade comments here. If we did we have some weird scale that involved a code-writing donkey and snacks and beverages.

We like people better than rules.
August 8th, 2006 at 1:04 pm
Fool For Five » How Can Newton’s First Law Apply to Blog Comments? said
[...] Liz Strauss has a very great entry on Comments: 10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments. It’s hardly ironic that this post alone has already generated 59 comments, and I’m proud to have participated in the discussion. Liz also walks the walk, prominently avoiding reason #5: “You rarely respond to comments. So, thereâ€™s no point in writing one.” [...]
August 8th, 2006 at 2:33 pm
Rico said
Great news, boys and girls! Remember the comment subscriptions I was talking about on comments 10, 12, and 16? Apparently there’s a Wordpress plug-in that allows you to add this functionality.

This is yet another incentive for me to switch to my own domain. I’ll have more freedom to customize my blog to maximize reader enjoyment.
August 8th, 2006 at 2:36 pm
ME Strauss said
Yea! Rico!
Thanks for sharing the news. Congratulations on the chance to start your own blogdom.
August 8th, 2006 at 3:32 pm
HART (1-800-HART) said
I think it’s okay not to comment on blogs that you know don’t answer them in real time - otherwise let’s face it - it’s just spam.

Now, with all these spammers out there (in all languages) offering “Good Job”s and compliment your posts, I would offer these two suggestions…

1) Tell us WHY you think it was a good job - or, at least - tell us WHAT you think was a good job, and make us believe it wasn’t just another spam comment to delete

2) Don’t bother posting on my blogs if your email contains the domain .ru or has both yahoo/hotmail/etc PLUS a product in your name@ - you can have a valid comment - but I will still delete you… sorry.
August 8th, 2006 at 3:34 pm
HART (1-800-HART) said
um, PS.. eg
“Good Job” on your list of reasons why readers don’t leave comments. I was going to add a few more (as a reader) but, saw them already on earlier comments.
August 8th, 2006 at 3:36 pm
HART (1-800-HART) said
erm.. PPSS ..
How about 10+1 Reasons why readers would WANT to leave comments?
August 8th, 2006 at 4:49 pm
ME Strauss said
HART!
It’s so good to have you back! Whew! 10 Reasons folks would want to comment. That would take some real thinking, now wouldn’t it?
August 8th, 2006 at 5:00 pm
HART (1-800-HART) said
You’re probably right .. I pretty much know why I comment on blogs (and I comment a lot) .. but, it can probably be summarized into 3 reasons only
August 8th, 2006 at 5:03 pm
ME Strauss said
I wonder if there are more than maybe 5.
What are yours?
August 8th, 2006 at 5:30 pm
HART (1-800-HART) said
I was going to wait until later tonight on Open Mic but, here’s 3 quickie reasons why HART might comment on your blog:

1) You looked at the same garbage everybody else does, but interpreted it differently. YAH! Finally another thinker.

2) I like to take what you say and put my own slant on it - either agreeing or completely disagreeing with you and giving you my 2cents. Some call this “contributing to the conversation” .. I often do this too often - where I could have more blog posts on my own blog and just link it, but instead write too much on other blogs (like this one) that I’m too tired to re-write it back on my own blog.

3) I just like to comment usually, when I can either continue (or the blog owner comments) all in real time .. i.e. I like ya and just want to chat - Really, it’s not you or my blog - it’s to relieve some stress on this side of the monitor.

I just thought of a couple more while writing the above.. Maybe a list of 10 is possible?

3+1) To correct or point out obvious mistakes, URL’s, etc

3+2) I can rip off my Superman T-Shirt and come to the rescue to give advice or tips or to add some humour to all these serious people on the internet .. and finally

3+3) Basically, when someone mistakenly asks .. “What’s your opinion” .. I am not afraid to give it because I also believe - it never hurts to ask so, good for you for asking me!
August 8th, 2006 at 5:31 pm
Caryn said
Another reason I don’t comment: so many people have commented already, that I’m sure what I have to say has already been said, and I don’t feel like reading all the comments to find out.

Actually, I almost did that just now, when I saw there were already 68 comments on this thread, but because of the subject I thought it would be too ironic not to comment.
August 8th, 2006 at 5:36 pm
ME Strauss said
Caryn,
Welcome!
I do exactly the same thing. I don’t blame you for not commenting if you think you’re not going to add something new to the discussion.

I don’t like reading through all of the comments either to find out what so many people have said before me. That’s the reason I don’t take the risk of looking foolish and just move on.

I’m glad you took a minute to stop and write a comment this time. Thank you. It’s nice to know that other people do the same thing that I do.
Liz
August 8th, 2006 at 5:48 pm
Susan Reynolds said
What you write plus the great observations already made before I get around to reading not to mention commenting, result in me feeling like I need to say something profound.
And this is in spite of the fact that I’m happy when people who comment on my blog say something like “thanks for posting this.” It’s a clear case of perfectionsim gone bad.
August 8th, 2006 at 5:50 pm
ME Strauss said
Hey Susan,
Your comment makes me smile. Hang around with us bloggers, especially me with my typos and you’ll get use to the fact that we value you for your person and your ideas (and that gorgeous art I add) and not for those perfect details.
August 8th, 2006 at 6:00 pm
Sasha Manuel said
I can’t help but laugh when I read them. All I can do was nod in agreement! Hahaha.
August 8th, 2006 at 6:02 pm
ME Strauss said
Hi Sasha!
It’s really quite fun isn’t it? We’re finding out how the same we all are. Guess blogging shows we have a lot more in common than we ever thought we did.
August 8th, 2006 at 6:06 pm
Sasha Manuel said
Yea, Liz. It’s loads of fun. I do wish people would just leave comments so we can all have fun together! I simply have got to find a way for them to speak up! =)

Sasha
August 8th, 2006 at 6:21 pm
ME Strauss said
Sasha,
You should come back in about an hour and join on our open comment night that’s when all we do is comment and get to know each other. It’s lots of fun. All kinds of interesting people show up.
August 8th, 2006 at 6:23 pm
Sasha Manuel said
Sounds great! I’ll be there! =)

Sasha
August 8th, 2006 at 6:26 pm
ME Strauss said
That’s cool. It’s on the front page. The post shows up at around 7, but it takes a few minutes to get really rolling.
August 8th, 2006 at 11:26 pm
Sanjeev.NET » Blog Archive » links for 2006-08-09 said
[...] Successful Blog - 10 Reasons Readers Donâ€™t Leave Comments (tags: blogging comments articles 2do) [...]
August 9th, 2006 at 12:14 pm
Blog comments, they’re not just for spammers! - PimpMyPageRank.com said
[...] Liz Strauss over at Successful Blog has written an excellent article titled 10 reasons readers don’t leave comments. [...]
August 9th, 2006 at 2:04 pm
Johan SundstrÃ¶m said
There is no comment form.
The comment form is hidden.
The comment form doesn’t work.
The comment form doesn’t work in my browser.
There are other comments, but it’s mostly spam.
I’m inclined to make an involved comment, but it’s either apparent that large comments are disallowed, get truncated or don’t get permalinks of their own, so I instead head over to my own blog and post a on the topic.
August 9th, 2006 at 2:08 pm
ME Strauss said
Johan,
Yours should be at the top of the pile.
You must be a designer or page builder.

These are all points that everyone missed. Thanks for seeing the proverbial elephant in the room. Excellent.

As they say, “I feel so stupid.”

Thank you!!
August 9th, 2006 at 7:08 pm
vaspers the grate said
The main reason is probably that users are in a big hurry and to stop and write carefully a smart comment that would be flamed or considered dumb, this is not easy for many.

Many lurkers are just not articulate. They find your post interesting, but cannot think of anything to add or to say about it, but “I agree” or “Great post” which sounds vacant.

Another reason is they don’t like comment moderation with captchas and delayed posting.

Finally, I add also: they are not appreciative, they are pampered and just take everything for granted.

They don’t realize that a blog is a conversation, not a preaching pulpit.
August 9th, 2006 at 7:16 pm
ME Strauss said
Hi Vaspars,
Thanks for adding your insights.
I love your choice of the word vacant, that’s really what is the problem isn’t it the comment seems so empty and useless.

Comment moderation does put some people off, I suppose, but I would guess those would be folks who aren’t people who’ve had to deal with spam in any quantity. The blogger and typepad word verification are the worst form of that. They can be downright unhuman forms of proving that you are not a machine.

I hear you saying that some folks are just not grateful for the work that went into writing a post. I suppose there are some of those too. I hadn’t thought of them really.

As always, you have put that mind of yours to see things that I wasn’t seeing. I appreciate that. I love your brain.
August 9th, 2006 at 10:50 pm
qureyoon said
aahh…. i got hit by #5 !! so that’s why there’s just a small people who commented

thx you for bringin this up ^^

i’ll link it on my blog later on ^^
August 10th, 2006 at 6:03 am
ME Strauss said
Hi queryoon,
Welcome. Many people like to know when they comment that someone is listening. The way to let them know that there is someone behind the computer screen who cares what they say is to respond when they say something.

It sounds like you heard that. I’m thinking that will make a difference once they notice you’re there and listening.
August 10th, 2006 at 8:02 am
milo said
Comment? Uhh, err, what to say?
August 10th, 2006 at 8:09 am
ME Strauss said
Hi Milo,
Welcome,
Yep. That’s a significant problem. I often have exactly the same one. Maybe I’ll borrow your response the next time. Would you mind if I did?
August 10th, 2006 at 9:10 am
vaspers the grate said
I came up with 13 More Reasons on my blog, but please let me mention Reciprocal Commenting: you try to always post a comment at the blog of a person who posted a comment at your blog.

You reap what you sow. You post lots of comments at other blogs, you should end up with lots of comments at your blog. But this needs some qualification: some bloggers are rude, “too busy”, selfish, or lazy. So those turps won’t reciprocate.

Main reason for no comments is bad content and no interaction with other bloggers.

New blogger, try posting a very controversial poeeeem or essay. Not naughty or racist, but a post on Why Air Is Unneccesary or How My Head Transplant Improved My Personality or Why Net Neutrality and Web 2.0 Are Clashing Madly.

Write about millionaire bloggers, blog psychosis, blogs and murder, or the future of blogging.

Topics that will grab attention. Say something smart, even if just a few remarks.

Shorten your freaky paragraphs, and slash your long posts to more skim friendly format.
August 10th, 2006 at 9:13 am
ME Strauss said
Hi Vaspars,
I came over last night, but I had new reason not to comment. I felt too sickly.

What great advice in this comment. You should pick it up in it’s entirety and make it a post. I love the ideas you offer to grab attention. You should become a blog idea consultant.
August 10th, 2006 at 1:47 pm
Tony Lawrence said
I’ll go you one better: why do so many blogs require a name and email? Both can be forged, so why bother?

On my site, the default name is anonymous. You can put any name you want in its place, but that’s all I need to know. I already track your IP (and will block you next time if you are a spammer), and I hash that and display it next to your name as a “key” so that other folks can tell if it’s the same person who left another comment with the same name.

As to spammers: I get dozens of *attempts* every day, but very few get through..

Responses: I respond to anything that needs a response and almost always acknowledge any comment - with the exception of the few pages that attract dozens and dozens of “Thanks so much!” posts.

The “in crowd”: we don’t get too much of that. There are a few regulars who comment frequently, but there’s seldom any “insider” content, and if I see anything like that, my response will explain or reference something that does explain it.

Argument: we get some, but it’s a tech blog so the issue is usually easy to settle..
August 10th, 2006 at 1:53 pm
ME Strauss said
Hi Tony,
That is one better! We do put up a silly barrier, but most folks do put in their real email. That’s nice because every once in a while I think of something I want to say in an email and THAT person hasn’t put up any contact information on his or her blog.

You have one of the best-run blogs I’ve ever visited. If I knew more about tech stuff, I’d even comment.
August 10th, 2006 at 2:19 pm
Tony Lawrence said
I forgot to add that (as is so often the case) your article caused me to review my comments code and add some more verbiage reminding users about our strong spam controls (so Preview before posting) and that we do impose length limits (but just pop me an email and I’m happy to add your comment manually) and also reminding them yet again that they CAN put their website in if they like - assuming their comment isn’t just an attempt to get a (relatively value-less “no-follow”) link.

So once again I have to thank you for another helpful post. I can’t tell you how many times something you have said has prodded me to action that improves my site.

In fact, the very first thing you ever said to me (”I’m confused”) made me add a link to a more bloggish style page for those who don’t like old style indexes (most of my readers do like it that way, so that’s my default).

I forget now what some of the other things were, but I know there have been several, so: Thanks so very much.

(But please stop: you make me work too much!)
August 10th, 2006 at 2:25 pm
ME Strauss said
Tony,
Thanks, I appreciate what you say. It makes writing worth it.

But I’m not about to forget that you’re the guy finding stuff and doing it. You’re a blogger with a bias toward action. Wow! How many times did I try to hire that?

I’ll do my best to try not to get confused quite so much. Though I do happen to have an exceptional talent for it.
August 11th, 2006 at 7:58 am
» und warum kommentiert keiner? - Dr. Web Weblog said
[...] Ein tolles Posting und nichts passiert… Woran kÃ¶nnte das liegen? Liz Strauss kennt ein paar GrÃ¼nde und teilt sie gern mit. Komplett frei Ã¼bersetzt liest sich das so: [...]
August 11th, 2006 at 2:17 pm
HAPHT » Blog Archive » links for 2006-08-11 said
[...] Successful Blog - 10 Reasons Readers Donâ€™t Leave Comments (tags: blogging) [...]
August 12th, 2006 at 8:48 am
Is Negativity Bad? at Internet Marketing Fool said
[...] Liz Strauss has some interesting thoughts about why blog readers don’t leave comments and offers 10 possible causes of in-interactivity. [...]
August 13th, 2006 at 6:13 am
Tips To Get More Blog Comments at Internet Marketing Fool said
[...] Look into addressing the reasons why readers might not be commenting on your posts. [...]
August 13th, 2006 at 6:54 am
Fool for Five :: How Can Newtonâ€™s First Law Apply to Blog Comments? said
[...] Liz Strauss has a very great entry on Comments: 10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments. It’s hardly ironic that this post alone has already generated 59 comments, and I’m proud to have participated in the discussion. Liz also walks the walk, prominently avoiding reason #5: “You rarely respond to comments. So, thereâ€™s no point in writing one.” [...]
August 13th, 2006 at 7:31 am
Bright Meadow » Sunday Roast: suicide is a little extreme, even for a Villa supporter said
[...] I am not unaware of the pointing you towards an article about why people don’t comment and not commenting on the article myself… Liz has 10 reasons readers don’t leave comments (and I’d suggest taking the time to read the comment thread for the post as well). Now my main reasons for not commenting are 1) I am self-conscious about new groups and fitting in (I am working on it), and… pretty much everything on Liz’s list. What are your reasons, oh lurkers mine? [...]
August 13th, 2006 at 5:54 pm
notgartner » Blog Archive » How does a geek blogger not write geekily? said
[...] Is geekily even a word? I was playing around with the new Tag Surfing feature in WordPress when I came across this blog post. It pointed to to Liz Strauss’ blog – “Successful (and Outstanding) Blog(gers)”, in particular this post on “10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments”. [...]
August 14th, 2006 at 10:56 am
Blog Kommentare - SEO Blog said
[...] Meiner Meinung nach ist es ein echtes Defizit das in fast allen Blogs von den Besuchern die Kommentarfunktion so selten genutzt wird. Woran kann das liegen? Sven Lennartz vom Dr. Web Weblog stellt sich die gleiche Frage: Ein tolles Posting und warum kommentiert keiner?Â In seinem Beitrag liefert er auch gleich ein paar Gründe für die wenigen Kommentare, welche er aus dem Artikel von Liz StraussÂ ÃnÂ dasÂ deutsche übersetzt hat. [...]
August 15th, 2006 at 9:31 am
Und warum kommentiert keiner? | Endl.de | Zielpublikum Weblog said
[...] Liz Strauss (via Dr. Web und dort auch ins Deutsche übertragen) fast folgende 10 Gründe zusammen. [...]
August 16th, 2006 at 12:16 am
Colin Morris said
“Good job!”

Hah. No, seriously. You’ve captured and reflected my sentiments exactly.
August 16th, 2006 at 6:09 am
ME Strauss said
Hi Colin!
That was a fun comment. Thanks for reading and for taking the time to leave word that you were here and got something from it.
August 17th, 2006 at 10:03 am
Jen said
Interesting…
August 17th, 2006 at 10:07 am
ME Strauss said
Hi Jen,
I’d love to hear you elaborate.
August 18th, 2006 at 11:01 am
N. Mallory said
Hi, I wandered over from a link on Pesky Apostrophe. This is a great post!

I can add a thought as to why I’ve given up commenting at a couple of sites. Some sites tend to be clique-like and it’s too much like a rerun of high school to me. I most often feel like my comments are ignored. I do tend to keep going back and commented on sites where the poster interacts with the commenters.

That said, I sure wish I knew what to do to get more people to interact with me on my blog. Granted, probably the last week’s worth of posts aren’t a good example.
August 18th, 2006 at 11:05 am
ME Strauss said
Hi N, Mallory!
Welcome.
I know about the kind of sites in question. I’ve given up on those kind of sites too, and I get furious when then they don’t let me leave by the back button. Grrrr.

You’re more than welcome here. Your comments and your insights help out. They’ll always be valued and noticed. It’s the only way I have of know whether what I’m doing is useful.

Come back soon, you’re not a stranger anymore. You’re a friend now.
Liz
August 18th, 2006 at 12:58 pm
vaspers the grate said
N. Mallory, and anyone else who “wishes for more comments”:

(1) improve your blog post content, its relevance, sparkle, brevity, writing stylistics, credibility, and passion!

(2) Wake Up: you’re in a blog that gets huge response, averaging about 100 comments per post. Wake Up and watch what she does to attract such vibrant and lively commentary. Watch how she treats commenters. Watch what she posts about. Watch how she builds online community around shared interests. Smell the coffee or the coffin, it’s up to you.

(3) Get up off your butt and start posting rich, relevant, clever, sincere, funny, encouraging comments at other blogs. Guaranteed to generate comments at your blog. Called “reciprocal commenting” in my book.

(4) Reply to those who do post comments, respond quickly, to each commenter if possible.

(5) Sometimes directly invite your readers to post their opinion. Use the word “opinion” like in: “Now I shut up and listen to YOU. What say you? Post a comment about this topic and share your insights and opinions with us. Thanks.”
August 18th, 2006 at 1:08 pm
Rico said
Hey vaspers, this should’ve been a post!

Anyways if it was, I would’ve commented: “But I think #5 will only work when you have a huge audience.”
August 18th, 2006 at 1:13 pm
ME Strauss said
Hi Vaspers and Rico,
Great to see you guys. Wait until you see what I’ve been wasting my time on, simply to see whether I can do it. It’s one of those self challenge things I’ve gotten myself into. But hopefully other folks will find it fun.
August 18th, 2006 at 4:46 pm
vaspers the grate said
114 comments on this post, and ppl are “wishing I had more comments”. Well, then, you’ve come to the right place for rolemodeled advice.

Way to go Liz. Blonde blogger DO get more comments, tee hee.
August 18th, 2006 at 5:19 pm
ME Strauss said
Hi Vaspers,
It’s nice to know that you’re looking out for me. It’s fun to let people have a place to vent. They deserve one. Most folks are doing great and deserve the attention.
August 18th, 2006 at 10:54 pm
zeal said
Sometimes I just don’t think I’ll be back to check out what’s your response on my comment, so I’d rather leave nothing here
August 18th, 2006 at 10:58 pm
ME Strauss said
Hi Zeal,
That’s a fair reason not to comment, especially if you’ve got reason to believe that I won’t respond even if you do come back — which is true more often than not I would guess. At least it seems so to me.

Thanks, despite the number of comments, no one has pointed this out.
Liz
August 19th, 2006 at 7:52 am
Rico said
With all due respect Zeal, you should look at the other comments; except for extremely rare occasions, Liz Strauss answers each comment directly. You should be grateful for the time and effort she puts into doing so.
August 19th, 2006 at 8:08 am
ME Strauss said
Rico,
I’m not sure that Zeal was talking about this site in particular. He might have been using the generic “you.”

But thank you, for your gracious description of me. You’re my hero!
August 22nd, 2006 at 1:42 am
webduck said
I am new to blogging, so I feel like I am in the “just taking notes” phase. But when I do find a blog topic I like, I do comment because I genuinely like what has been said or the information was helpful to me. I am officially linked to your blog now, so I will be checking in often! Thanks for all the great advice.
August 22nd, 2006 at 5:15 am
ME Strauss said
Hello webduck,
Welcome to Succesful Blog and welcome to blogging. To paraphrase something they say about Texas,
I wasn’t born blogging, but I got here as fast as I could.

Since you’re a new blogger I hope you’ve found the New Blogger page,

http://www.successful-blog.com/new-blogger-page/

and I hope you’ll stop by Open Comments Night tonight (Tuesday after 7pm Chicago) to meet some of the folks who hang out around here. We’re a good group and we like to talk to each other and meet new people.

Do feel free to email me if I can point you to some information you might need. lizsun2 at gmail dot com.
August 22nd, 2006 at 7:27 am
shirazi said
When I wan to steal the idea or worst still the entire post, I will not comment fearing you will come to know about that.
August 22nd, 2006 at 7:36 am
ME Strauss said
Shirazi!
Hello, wonderful to see you!
How wise you are to point this one out. I know you are speaking from the experience of the person who has had her work taken. . . . Unfortunately, an idea is not something one can steal, but words are.

And you’re right about that. It would silly to comment, because that would draw attention to your misdeed.
September 6th, 2006 at 8:58 am
Huub Koch said
I knew that research said that 97 % of weblogreaders just read and only 3 % responds, but it is good to see the reasons why those who don’t do this! Thanks and keep up the good work!
September 6th, 2006 at 9:28 am
ME Strauss said
Hi Huub
Welcome!
Thank you for taking the time to be one of the 3%. It’s an honor to have your words here.

I appreciate them.
Liz
September 28th, 2006 at 12:27 pm
Successful Blog - Leaving Folks Room to Comment — Why I Said So and Why Most of the Time It’s Impossible to Do So said
[...] In August when I wrote the post, 10 Reasons Readers Donâ€™t Leave Comments, I was sure to include that — always leave room for people to comment. [...]
September 28th, 2006 at 1:45 pm
TechZOnline.net » Blog Interview with Liz Strauss of successful-blog.com said
[...] Ever since I was kid, I’ve the kind of person who thinks too much. I read the SOB blogs a lot, but when I get there, I don’t often comment. I wrote that 10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments mostly about myself. I have a really big, shy streak. I get to your blog and I see everyone talking and I think what I have to say isn’t really that important or that the comment I’m going to make is the usual uniquely Liz kind that in the middle of the others will look odd sitting there. Then I think, aw, this blogger might think I just stopped by to get some notice. I actually talk myself out of commenting quite a lot. [...]
October 13th, 2006 at 3:38 pm
iopa said
is the stuff good, smbdy will leave a comment
October 13th, 2006 at 4:56 pm
ME Strauss said
Welcome iopa,
You’re so right. If the post is good quality many folks will come forward and say something.
October 23rd, 2006 at 8:50 pm
Successful Blog - 6 Reasons Readers Don’t Click Your Ads and What to Do about It said
[...] Related Donâ€™t Hijack My Attention Customer Solve Your Own Problem 10 Reasons Readers Donâ€™t Leave Comments [...]
November 19th, 2006 at 1:38 pm
Zhealy said
Pretty Interesting

The only reason for not posting any comment, in my case, is when my blog hoster or internet connection is down.

Regards,
November 19th, 2006 at 9:40 pm
shirazi said
No excuses; one must leave comment after reading. That is what keeps the bloggers going besides many other things.
November 19th, 2006 at 10:00 pm
ME Strauss said
Thank Shirazi!
Your comments are a lovely gift! It’s always nice to see you stop by here!
November 20th, 2006 at 6:14 am
Tony Lawrence said
“No excuses; one must leave comment after reading” ??

Nonsense. If everyone left comments on every post they read, how much originality and usefulness would there be? Go read Slashdot as a bad example of that - without the moderation filtering, it would be even worse. There’s no value in that for anyone.

It’s good to leave appropriate and intelligent comments. Regurgitating something that has already been said (and worse: asking a question that is already answered!) is annoying.

Way back in comment #53, Naomi said that sometimes there are “already too many comments”. When that’s the case, unless you have something truly important to add, leave it be.

I’ve had to cut off open comments on some popular articles at my site: the steady stream of “me too” posts and repetitions of the same opinions were too much. After cutoff, I suggest that if anyone truly does have something original to say, they can drop me an email. If what they have to offer truly does add to the conversation, I’ll thread it in manually.

“Too much of a good thing” seems on the mark here.
November 20th, 2006 at 6:33 am
ME Strauss said
Hi Tony!
You make a great point, and if you don’t, I’m going to make a post of it.

I’m certainly one of those who doesn’t take the time to read everyone’s comments and I can’t stand to write (let alone read) a “me too” comment for the sake of leaving my name behind.

It’s more likely that I think of what I want to say about three days after I’ve read the post. The conversation is long over and my comment is no longer relevant to anything.
Of course, as your probably remember from day 1, I’ve had that comment relevancy problem all along anyway.

So I keep my comments to a minimum and make sure that they’re worth something when I leave them. You do the same — I know that I perk up when I see a comment with your name attached, because there will be something worth reading inside.

This comment from you is a great example of that. Thanks for keeping the balance. You know I need it more than most understand that fact.
November 20th, 2006 at 11:43 pm
Shelly said
Usually, when I don’t comment, it’s because I’m either feeling lazy or with reading 350 or so blogs, plus another hundred newsfeeds, etc, I don’t have the time.

But I’m taking the time to comment here. Nice post.
November 21st, 2006 at 6:23 am
ME Strauss said
Thanks, Shelly, both for your insight — I don’t think anyone actually pointed that reason — and for taking the time to leave with us.

You make us smarter. I appreciate that. We all do.
November 21st, 2006 at 12:18 pm
Thesis Writing said
A well-written comment moves the discussion forward. I find myself often saying to commenters on my blog that their comments are a great start on a new blog post, because the idea that they have put forth is well-thought and well presented in a compelling fashion.

This thread is a great example of where good commenting can take a discussion. You canâ€™t keep me from commenting when the discussion is focused as this one is. But you canâ€™t get me to comment when folks are just dropping a note and leaving.

Thanks, Darren, for the mention. We had a good discussion on why people donâ€™t comment over there too.
November 21st, 2006 at 1:19 pm
ME Strauss said
HI TW,
That’s true good comments and great comments do that. And good blogger leaves room for that to happen too.

I agree about comments that are a start on blog posts. I’ve even pulled a comment out and made it a post, because it deserved to be one.

Thanks for your comment today. It did just what you say a great comment should do.
November 27th, 2006 at 10:36 am
kdevereaux said
You all make a wonderful argument against leaving a comment, but it is so funny because everyone has a reason for not leaving a comment, however there are 25 comments on this blog…. Go Figure. I guess the author just has a way of phrasing the post so that readers will comment!
November 27th, 2006 at 10:43 am
shirazi said
Why dont we all agree on one thing: Leave a comment and let the writer know what you think when you visit a blog, notwithstanding all valid reasons given here.
November 27th, 2006 at 10:43 am
ME Strauss said
Hi K!
Welcome. You make valid points all of them. I think that we want to be heard as much as we don’t want to leave comments in the wrong circumstances. It’s a human response to a human problem — as contadictory as we all are.
November 27th, 2006 at 10:45 am
ME Strauss said
Hi Shirazi,
Bloggers are fiercely independent people. We’ll never agree on something that we “should” do.
November 27th, 2006 at 2:11 pm
V-+a%S(p#E*rsT=`hE..]gra_Te[ said
I am indebted to this blog and its comment posters for enlightening me on Good Reasons NOT To Post a Comment.

I have focused so much on Why You SHOULD Post Comments, I kind of lost track of some good reasons not to.

And the best reason is: too many “me too” and butt kissing comments.

I hate flattery comments, where someone just agrees in a knee jerk reaction, without expressing an original or genuine opinion.

Lurkers I love and I often encourage bloggers to thank their shy, or inarticulate, or too busy lurkers, who often promote our ideas exo-blogistically.

But PLEASE DO NOT (yes I’m shouting!) think that your comment is “dumb” or not wanted. Us bloggers love all comments, and your so-called “dumb” comment or question or complaint might be an Extremely Valuable Revelation to all the smug smarty pants!

Keep posting them relevant and idiosyncratic comments, unless it’s just “I agree” or “me too” when the post already has 352 comments on it. ha ha ha
November 27th, 2006 at 2:35 pm
ME Strauss said
Steven,
Thank you for this comment. You make a great point that no comment, like no question, is dumb. I don’t think I’ve ever actually heard anyone come out and say that.
November 27th, 2006 at 2:40 pm
HART (1-800-HART) said
And speaking of “no comments are dumb comments” ….

Why would anybody call themselves..
V-+a%S(p#E*rsT=`hE..]gra_Te[

??

And .. How the heck did Liz figure it out that spells the name “Steve”

??
(yup - still subscribed to this thread)
November 27th, 2006 at 3:29 pm
V-+a%S(p#E*rsT=`hE..]gra_Te[ said
HART (all caps): thanks for your recent inquiry about my comment signature. I use those symbols in my name because

(1) nobody else does, so it makes it easy for me to find my comments in a long thread

(2) clicking on that symbol-laden link takes you to my blog and simultaneously triggers a config file that, when enough people click on it, will eventually erase all the root servers and directories, thus deleting the entire internet.

Vaspers = a night service, I do my best work late at night from 11 PM to 6 AM

Grate = abrasive, my writings rub some ppl the wrong way, and I’m like sandpaper at times, putting a nice smoothe finish on things.
November 27th, 2006 at 4:54 pm
ME Strauss said
Thanks Steven, for the explanation. I always wondered what was behind the name!
November 27th, 2006 at 7:40 pm
V-+a%S(p#E*rsT=`hE..]gra_Te[ said
You in particular will like this funny bloggery notion: I once speculated in some ancient Vaspers post what a blog would be like if it consisted of only one post, with hundreds of comments.

One post spawning infinite comments, and the entire conversation was based on that one single solitary post.

What could that post be? Any ideas? I guess this is a threadjack. Sorry. OT penalty.
December 20th, 2006 at 3:27 am
Library Views åœ–æ›¸é¤¨è§€é»ž :: 10 å€‹è®“ Blog å¯ä»¥ç²å¾—æ›´å¤šè¿´éŸ¿çš„æŠ€å·§ :: October :: 2006 said
[...] 10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments [...]
December 28th, 2006 at 12:49 pm
Dabbling Mum said
I love this. I get lots of readers who love to read and leave. I’ve added a monthly drawing to draw in more commenters, but as you’ve said so eloquently, sometimes there’s not much to say when the post says it all.
December 28th, 2006 at 2:44 pm
ME Strauss said
Hi Dabbling Mum,
A monthly drawing! Now there’s an idea no one one has mentioned. . .
January 3rd, 2007 at 6:15 pm
Liz Strauss at Successful Blog - We Know A Lot About Blogging . . . said
[...] 10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments [...]
January 13th, 2007 at 4:33 am
Ian said
I must admit, I tend not to comment if it’s just to say “great article.” Maybe we should though to inspire a little?
January 13th, 2007 at 6:33 am
ME Strauss said
Hi Ian!
Welcome!
I’m with in that a “great article” comment is usually one I reserve for a rare occasion when I’m commenting a friend’s blog and he or she knows that I wrote that because I’m really impressed.

Comments on exact point in the article can lead a blogger to blog even better — yes! I know that thoughts I hear from the comment box often lead me to think, “Hey someone’s listening and DOES invest in what I write.”
January 19th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
carllys said
in my opinion, blog content is a king. If you give your readers a good info.. i belive we can get a positive comment.. rite?
January 19th, 2007 at 1:25 pm
ME Strauss said
Hi carllys!
Welcome!
You might think that, but it doesn’t prove so. Many folks read great content and have no to remark. I don’t blame them. Sometimes a great post says all that needs saying. (See my post it makes about leaving room for folks to have something to comment on. )
January 24th, 2007 at 11:39 am
sremington » Some Reasons Your Blog Ain’t So Hot said
[...] Learn from Liz about why you arent’ getting comments. Read her 10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments. [...]
January 30th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
5 Ways to Keep Your Blogging Buddies Happy at MInTheGap said
[...] There is community in ongoing comment dialogue. Not getting any comments? Check out: Ten Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments by Liz Strauss [...]
March 19th, 2007 at 3:43 am
kostenlos Versicherungsvergleich said
Thank you for the great article. Greetings from Germany.
March 19th, 2007 at 7:52 am
ME Strauss said
Hi Kostenlos,
You’re welcome. Thank you for reading it!
April 1st, 2007 at 8:50 am
Dating said
I’m pretty new to blogging too. I have to aggree with your point about passwords etc - If your reading in your lunch hour it’s just WAY to much trouble.

Interesting article. It’s certainly got lots of comments!
April 6th, 2007 at 6:28 am
Dmitri said
I guess one of the best ways to attract visitors to comment is leaving an URL field… even though it is nofollow, it is like magnet to everyone… I’m sorry if there was such a comment, I just couldn’t ready all the 165 preceeding comments.
April 6th, 2007 at 7:23 am
ME Strauss said
Hi Dimitri!
Welcome!
No one expects your to read all of the previous comments. Though when you have time you might give them a look — there’s lots of great ideas there for getting more comments and readers.
April 23rd, 2007 at 10:20 am
Chitika Blog Bash : 30 DAYS 30 EXPERTS : » Blog Archive » Staying connected: The secret to keeping those loyal readers â€“By Liz Strauss said
[...] After reading your blog, I noticed one of your posts from August 2006 where you talked about “10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments”. You have 167 comments on that post! Should bloggers worry if they receive comments or not? How [...]
April 28th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
Zeira said
What I do to provoke readers to make comments is ask them questions - finish a post with a question asking for people’s opinion. It only works if people readign your post care enough about what you ask - but if it does hit the right spont in your readers’ minds it can cause explosive effect.
April 28th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
ME Strauss said
Welcome Zeira!
Questions are a great way. I agree, Zeira, especially if the questions are specific and sincerely asked. Readers love to help writers, and they love to be asked their opinion. It can be a marvelous way to engage them in what we are doing.
May 8th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
Life Learning Today - What Do YOU Want to Learn Today? » Make Money with Your Blog: The Ultimate Resource List said
[...] 10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments - by Liz Strauss. Same topic as above but from a different perspective. You will learn a lot from this and how to avoid this problem. [...]
May 31st, 2007 at 10:31 am
magpie’s shiny things»Blog Archive » TQR - Deep Secrets of Successful Blogging said
[...] the readers is where the value is added in blogging. You can dig deeper into her thoughts on how to encourage (and discourage) comments in her SOB blog. I just wish she’d bundle up her replies to her reader’s comments. [...]
June 6th, 2007 at 5:16 am
Amanda said
Its is true what you have said above people do not leave comments “7. I really like your blog and your post, but Iâ€™m too tired, busy, or any one of a number things that you canâ€™t control. Iâ€™ll comment the next I come back to read.”

Nice post Liz Thanks
June 6th, 2007 at 5:39 am
ME Strauss said
Hi Amanda!
Great to see you around here again. It always feels good to know someone is reading old favorites like this one.

Your reasons for not commenting are reasons I understand. They are some that are mine as well. I’ve taken to choosing several times a week when I will got out to read with purpose of leaving a specific number of comments before I move on to the next thing I do.
June 6th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
Amanda said
Thank you Liz you have a great blog with Brilliant articles with full of knowledge for every one to read

Thank You
Amanda
June 6th, 2007 at 7:38 pm
ME Strauss said
Amanda,
Thank you for reading. It wouldn’t be much fun to write if no one stopped by to make use of it.
June 11th, 2007 at 3:42 am
Feed parcial ou feed completo? Completo! - Marketing de busca said
[...] Uma das razÃµes apontadas para nÃ£o publicar feeds completos sÃ£o os comentÃ¡rios, supostamente em menor nÃºmero com feed completo. O Bruno Amaral observou o contrÃ¡rio, no seu relaÃ§Ãµes pÃºblicas: os comentÃ¡rios aumentaram desde que publica feed completo. Se o seu blog nÃ£o atrai os comentÃ¡rios que deseja talvez seja melhor comeÃ§ar por procurar outros causas. [...]
June 13th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
m said
“Compelling content causes comments.”

You’re right. In that spirit I add comment here.

Thanks!

[this is a time when I feel I've learned something I already knew but saw in a different light and typically do not comment on...]
June 13th, 2007 at 7:34 pm
ME Strauss said
Hi m,
Your comment sounds so much like something I’d say that I’m smiling bigger than usual. Welcome to the conversation.
June 14th, 2007 at 5:39 pm
robotii said
Thanks for reading my blog, like you said at the beginning. I’m having problems getting people to start leaving comments. I’ve tried a lot of the above, but it doesn’t seem to work.
June 14th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
ME Strauss said
Hi Robotii,
The most important thing you can do is become a part of an existing conversation among people who talk about the things you care about. They click through to see your blog. Some will start reading and commenting.

It does take time, but getting to know people is the way to get the comments started.
July 5th, 2007 at 2:44 am
Sueblimely said
As I was reading then skimming through the myriad of comments above, another reason came to mind. On a blog with many comments I often do not comment even though I may have something to say. I may be repeating something already said and often do not have the time to read all comments that have already been made.

Another point that applies to me is that posts that interest me often compel me to delve into the subject area further - so I wander off searching for more and end up not coming back.

A great article Liz, which I will ponder on further in the attempt to stop making some of these mistakes myself (to be honest that should have read “almost all of these mistakes”)
July 5th, 2007 at 7:47 am
ME Strauss said
Hi Sue!
How do you think I came write this post? It’s because I’ve been there and made all of these mistakes myself.

Meanwhile, you pointed out something everyone does and no one has mentioned (that I recall). I sure do avoid commenting if I think I run the risk of looking like I’m going to be repeating something already said. I also wander off and forget to come back. Sometimes I remember three days later and return to comment then.
July 12th, 2007 at 6:17 am
Peter Handel-Mazzetti said
I’ve been scouring the web for blogs on the arts scene in Vienna, Austria and have found very few to leave a comment on.
July 20th, 2007 at 8:33 am
baldai said
very strong arguments but even now it is possible to leave comments in your blog. very nice.
July 20th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
ME Strauss said
Ye Baldai,
Even now, comments are here.
July 25th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
Yes, You Are Allowed to Leave a Comment on A Gardening Blog | This Garden Is Illegal said
[...] but just as interesting post about Comments on blogs. Actually, the lack of comments on blogs. 10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments talks about why people don’t leave comments on [...]
August 6th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
Lu said
Great post, I read this a while ago and, since then, I try to change my own attitude as a blogger in order to get more comments. I was wondering… can I translate your post into portuguese - with link to your original post, of course?
August 6th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
Michael said
If I spend time reading a particular blog, I like to leave a comment to let the author know I read their stuff and it was thought provoking for me to hang around and check out other posts.

Sometimes I read the erudite and intelligent comments of others and I feel not up tho their level and don’t want to appear so. That is something I try to get over and just comment.

But you’re right, sometime all I feel is “Good job” but don’t want to just leave that as a comment.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:00 pm
Michael said
And it is almost a year to the day since you wrote this, and people are still commenting.

Good Job
August 6th, 2007 at 10:15 pm
A great article on why readers do not leave comments said
[...] why readers do not comment. Liz gave some compelling reasons. I suggest you give it a read, Link: Why readers do not leave comments Whenever I read a blog regularly I like to leave comments, to let the author know I am not just [...]
August 6th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
ME Strauss said
Hi Michael,
Yep, I know exactly what you’re saying. I have the same problem sometimes. Sometimes, too, I’m feeling too “uncreative” to express the thoughts I want to say. I don’t feel up to the challenge. Sometimes the work I read is fabulous, but I’m weary.
August 6th, 2007 at 10:49 pm
Michael said
Yes and sometimes I think so hard trying to come up with a comment as eloquent as the other comments I just work myself up to, clicking away from all the brain ache I am giving myself.
August 7th, 2007 at 5:19 am
ME Strauss said
Yeah, Michael,
I can certainly overthink myself into that state.
August 10th, 2007 at 1:55 am
Paulette Insall said
Great article Liz! I followed a link to it from over at Susan Renyolds blog. Mostly the reason I don’t leave many comments is #7 on your list. And also one other one some one mentioned a couple of commments above…that the other commenters were so eloquent that I don’t feel that I can write something and express myself as well as they can and I give myself a headache just stressing about it.
August 10th, 2007 at 8:39 am
ME Strauss said
Hi Paulette!
Welcome!
I know the part about overthinking comments. I do that all of the time. Sometimes when I know my comment can stand on its own I choose only to skim the other comments to make sure no one as said exactly what I’ve said — that helps me not feel so much pressure to be brlliant everty time.
August 15th, 2007 at 9:20 am
aftab said
First of all lemme thank you for putting up such a great topic. Well i would say that it depends on a person and how open-minded he or she is.
According to me one must never shy away from what he wants to say.
All you have to do it just say it.
August 15th, 2007 at 10:57 am
ME Strauss said
Hi AftaB
Welcome!
Yes the writer does make a difference does it? I feel differently depenind on how friendly he or she is. I try to comment when I feel strongly, but if I don’t I’m likely to just move on.
August 17th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
The Dog said
I almost didn’t leave a comment.

A blog entry can stay online for years before a reader gets to it. It seems pointless for many people to write a comment where there has not been any activity for a year or two.

And in some cases, if there are already many comments, far too many to wade through, a potential commenter may be afraid to post a message in fear that a point has already been raised.
August 17th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
ME Strauss said
Hi The Dog,
And sometimes a year later, someone is still listening.

You’re right, though, your comment belongs on the list of why folks don’t respond to a blog post with a comment of their own.

I’m still glad that you did.
August 28th, 2007 at 5:49 pm
Sami said
the reason why people still comment after all this time is simply becouse they would want a link back to thier blog or website. its effective but you’ll end up with a bunch of crap in your blog.
August 28th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
ME Strauss said
Gee Sami!
Welcome!
That sure seems a dismal view. It wouldn’t be why I would comment. I have to suppose that there are some folks who are like me.

Is that the reason that you commented?
August 29th, 2007 at 7:08 am
Sami said
Of coarse not. hehehe :). in my country its summer and i have nothing else to do for now so i stay visiting blogs to find some interesting subjects to post to.. this was one of them
August 29th, 2007 at 7:11 am
ME Strauss said
Hi Sami!
Then I guess, you proved yourself wrong. [grin] Too fun!! It’s summer here too.
August 29th, 2007 at 7:50 am
Sami said
it might be but i can assure you that its not as hot as here. i live in malta. “http://www.malta-map.com/maltese_islands/Malta/detail_level_02/images/malta_map_16.gif”. right now there’s a heatwave passing through the islands. 2 days ago it was 41 degrees. we went out to swim and the the sea was litterly hot. i’d rather stay in under the AC blooging around. where do you live?
September 14th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
Amr said
Thanks alot for this discussion.
I’m always leaving comments to improve the discussion.

http://booster.110mb.com
September 18th, 2007 at 6:17 pm
Wealth Magnet System said
I’m just too old and lazy to do all the required typing :o)
September 21st, 2007 at 3:46 pm
Shakeel said
Another reason I think users dont leave comments is because of slow sites. People cant be bothered to wait for the site to load.
September 21st, 2007 at 6:12 pm
ME Strauss said
Hi Amr, Wealth Magnet and Shakeel!
All three of you point out interactions that are typical. Sometimes I don’t comment, because people make a big deal when I do.
September 21st, 2007 at 6:13 pm
ME Strauss said
Hi Sami!
Sorry it took ages to get back here. A business deal took over my life for a while there. I live in Chicago and it’s incredibly hot here today.
September 27th, 2007 at 6:53 am
25 Reasons You Get Thumbs Up | Andy Beard - Niche Marketing said
[...] To make a comment because they force you to register (just hope it is good) [...]
September 29th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
Craig said
I’m feeling #9.
September 29th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
ME Strauss said
Well, Craig, that’s most intereting comment. Why?
September 30th, 2007 at 6:29 am
kee said
when people talk to me face to face http://babes.nofate.com I can be myself, here people often are rude, would you say that when you looked into my eyes?
September 30th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
ME Strauss said
Hi Kee,
I’m sorry that you find people rude. We don’t take to that here.
October 24th, 2007 at 8:57 am
Michael said
Thanks Liz

I also feel like #1
October 24th, 2007 at 10:13 am
ME Strauss said
Yeah, I think all do sometimes.
November 5th, 2007 at 10:45 am
goldabidz said
i really have fun reading comments of other people on my posts..good or bad, well, it goes to show that they have indeed read ‘em. but i’m also guilty of not leaving comments on other blogs as well, i guess it’s more of the #7 reason..:)) anyway, is there some program or some kinda comment box which automatically appears as one signs out of my site, that he won’t be able to sign out unless he leaves a comment? just wondering… (but I think I saw one like that, just can’t remeber on what site exactly)
November 12th, 2007 at 5:39 am
Robinson Go said
1, 9 and 10 have to be the most common based on my experience.
December 9th, 2007 at 11:58 am
Capp said
Yea I know what u mean i have a domaining blog @ dropdr.com
and I dont get any comments , maybe u guys can help

thanx,
dropdr
December 31st, 2007 at 2:54 pm
Paul said
Thanks for a great article. I’ll put your advic into practice.
January 2nd, 2008 at 3:57 pm
saÃ§ ekimi said
when people talk to me face to face http://www.sacekimmerkezi.org I can be myself, here people often are rude, would you say that when you looked into my eyes?
January 2nd, 2008 at 7:47 pm
Chester's Clean House said
Thank you for the informative post. I have been trying to get my readers more involved and you have given me some great ideas. I also think my lack of comments has to do with my use of blogger. I hope blogger creates a better commenting system. They did impliment the LiveID thing so I guess they are working on it.
January 2nd, 2008 at 9:16 pm
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Godabidz!
Yep reading them is an important part of showing that we value them. I agree with you. Thanks for the comment.
January 2nd, 2008 at 9:17 pm
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Robinson Go!
It seems for me that they go in cycles. Though the ones you point to stand out a bit more than the others.
January 2nd, 2008 at 9:38 pm
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi saÃ§ ekimi,
Welcome!
Sometimes I find that people on the street are also rude. It’s when we don’t think of each other as people that we act rudely. It happens in both worlds sadly.
January 7th, 2008 at 3:35 am
Computer-Freak said
One reason may be the fear, that your comment will be deleted by the Webmaster because of spam, for at some blogs, simply leaving your website seems to be suspicious enough to do so.
January 7th, 2008 at 9:12 am
Kazeban said
A business deal took over we life for a while there. Sorry it took ages to get back here We live in Chicago and itâ€™s incredibly hot here today!!
January 7th, 2008 at 9:40 am
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Computer Freak!
I’m thinking that comments sometimes fall into spam filters by mistake, but real comments, in my experience rarely get deleted. I’d quit reading a blog that did that.
January 7th, 2008 at 10:08 am
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Kazeban!
Yes, it’s a beautiful day in our city today, isn’t it?
January 10th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Idiomas Madrid said
I often wonder why people don’t leave comments on my posts but then months later an old post gets picked up and suddenly gets inundated.

I think that public mood is very important.

Regards from Madrid,

JAFP
February 1st, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Owen Wiltshire said
I would leave more comments if I wasn’t so bored living in Ontario. now i’m moving back to London.

How did I get to this page searching for toronto moving companies? who knows, but I did comment.

Owen Wiltshire
U of T
February 1st, 2008 at 7:34 pm
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Owen,
I have no idea . . . sometimes it makes me crazy when that happens to me. Then I think, “eh? Google gets me there most of the time.”
February 10th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Palabras de un lector a su blogger favorito | Blog en Serio said
[...] El artÃculo surge de una traducciÃ³n libre e inspiraciÃ³n de 10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments, de Liz [...]
February 12th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Por quÃ© no comento en tu blog | Dondado said
[...] Creo que es la primera vez que lo hago, pero el post me ha gustado tanto que me animo a hacer un copy&paste. El post del que copia es de blogenserio que a su vez es una traducciÃ³n de este otro post en successful-blog. [...]
February 12th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
Life Crisis Guide said
Hi Liz!

I read your blog. hehe.. but I never comment. I fall into one of your categories, 1 or 2, sometimes 7.

Your comments on comments are very inspiring and very helpful to me. It helps me to keep that in mind when I write my blog.

Good job! You have more than 200 comments on this single post! Congratulations!

Cheers,
Amos
February 13th, 2008 at 9:17 am
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Amos!
Welcome! Thank you for taking the time to share your thought and to let me know you’re there.
February 25th, 2008 at 8:36 am
RusÃ§a tercÃ¼man said
Your comment contains very useful information about all thank you… rusÃ§a tercüman
February 25th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Mexico seo said
Hi,
Nice post! Number 9 is more realistic, readers look for simplicity. If you put a Wall or a Fence like you say will stop comments.
February 25th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Mexico Seo
You’re right, most readers don’t have time to jump fences.
February 29th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
farouk said
after reading this, i cant leave without leaving a comment:))) really nice idea
February 29th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
ME Liz Strauss said
thanks Farouk!
March 13th, 2008 at 10:37 am
Team Leader said
Yeah, why don’t more folks leave comments. I always try to drop some love or discontent depending on the issue of the day.But most people are to lazy to do that? Am i wrong
Prove me wrong, leave yours here
March 14th, 2008 at 7:15 am
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Team Leader,
I wonder . . . my experience of bloggers is that we’re all so fiercely independent that drawing a line in the sand might not be the most magnetic invitation.
March 20th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Vara Lakshmi said
Hi,
I appreciate the most of the things that the readers who interested didn’t comment will fit
well in the 10 reasons you quoted in your write up. I too am the one, now wants to change my naive and looks up to drop a comment henceforth.
Right! thank you.
March 20th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Vara,
Thank you. I wrote what I know and it seems that it’s what most folks know too. A comment is always welcome.

You’re not a stranger anymore.
Liz
April 12th, 2008 at 2:09 am
Mr Surbade said
Leaving comments is useless
April 12th, 2008 at 6:51 am
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Mr. Surbade,
I would add one word to your remark.
Leaving useless comments is useless.

The words above in this comment thread and the conversations that have changed the way I think refute what you say.
April 12th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
lauren said
Im leaving a comment just to say that I have left a comment.

lauren
April 12th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
ME Liz Strauss said
Hope you found it all that you thought it would be.
April 18th, 2008 at 4:48 am
Ron said
Hi, I have a fishing blog and am having difficulty to generate comments, despite having over 50 hits per day I recieve an average of 2 comments. Having read your comments I will now structure my site to make it inviting and get back to you with the resluts. Thanks
April 18th, 2008 at 7:30 am
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Ron!
Good luck! Hope it works well for you!
May 3rd, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Dennis Royman said
You covered some reasons that I had not considered. And I intend to focus on them more often. Because you surely know the field of commenting to have recieved all the comments I had to scrolled through to post mine.
May 29th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Srinivas said
I generally comment. But I just move on with a “good one” phrase. But Now Definitely I need to write something.

For the maximum number of people, the reason they won’t comment is lazy to read whole post. If they comment on the half read posts, they just cannot keep up with exact point of talk. Of course this is almost same. I just read your 10 points, skipped first and last :).
June 4th, 2008 at 5:34 am
Drew Douglass said
“Your blog has geeky attitude and Iâ€™m not geeky enough to keep up.”

I have to say I connect with this one, I often find myself analyzing if I feel “smart enough” to commit to the convo.

I enjoyed your article, it will help me think of how my readers view my site more.

Regards,

Drew
June 4th, 2008 at 6:06 am
ME Liz Strauss said
Yeah, Drew!
Welcome!
Some blogs are too geeky and they aren’t meant for me or you. That may be okay. After all my blog isn’t right for everybody. But if you’re looking for readers and comments, it’s sure something to consider.
June 15th, 2008 at 7:43 am
Kaum Kommentare? | orange Gedankenfussel said
[...] Meinung zählt schließlich. Ich stieß kürzlich auf ein älteres Posting im successful-blog. 10 Gründe werden dort genannt, warum viele Blogs bzw. deren Beiträge kaum Kommentare [...]
June 19th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Ivan said
the reason i dont post is because they ask so many questions before posting, the ones that i hate the most are the ones that after writing a paragraph you click the submit button and it asks you to log in, i hope this one isnt one of them.. lol lets see..
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:08 pm
More power to you! « I do not like green eggs and ham said
[...] came across this blog post, it’s from Liz Strauss 10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments.Â I don’t know Liz, I just happened to stumble across her blog from a subscription I have on [...]
July 7th, 2008 at 4:16 am
sandy said
i have read this why people don’t leave comment, its only because there concentration does not lie on leaving a comment, instead they are busy in getting their search result for which they are on to
July 7th, 2008 at 6:59 am
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Sandy!
After all of these comments, I think you could be the first who has brought that one to light!
July 19th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
joju said
you pointed 10 awesome reasons why i not leave a comment in most cases …
July 20th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
â€œItâ€™s Like Open Mic Only Differentâ€ | The Parody said
[...] was just talking to her about how much I agree with her 10 reasons why readers don’t leave comments and how much I wish my readers would just talk to me that same day when she told me that I should [...]
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Success Blognet - Blogs For Success » Success means Comments on the Blognet said
[...] On August 7th, 2006 a lady by the name ofÂ Liz created a buzz on the blogosphere with her a post on why readers do not leave comments which is at Successful-blog. [...]
July 27th, 2008 at 9:05 am
natheepat said
OKay, I don’t to forget comment to you!
August 6th, 2008 at 5:01 am
Yuvaraj said
“What you write is so complete, that I donâ€™t know what to say except good job. I feel silly writing that, so I read and move on.” I do this sometimes! but if thats going to be dicussion and question being fired, I would be answering it really.
August 23rd, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Elizabeth Day said
I hope #2 is the reason for no comments on my blog, but I don’t think it is.
September 17th, 2008 at 7:25 am
Social Networking & Business: Help! My Mom is My Only Reader (Promoting Your Blog) said
[...] Read Top Ten Reasons Reader’s Don’t Leave Comments [...]
September 26th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments said
[...] article is taken from by 10 Reasons Readers Donâ€™t Leave Comments by Liz Strauss at Successful-Blog and is reprinted with some added ideas here with her [...]
October 2nd, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Jack said
[â€¦] On August 7th, 2006 a lady by the name of Liz created a buzz on the blogosphere with her a post on why readers do not leave comments which is at Successful-blog. [â€¦]
October 13th, 2008 at 9:42 am
blog ni ella » Blog Archive » Comment loves said
[...] she wrote a post two years ago about why readers don’t leave comments. I bookmarked it then at nakalikot ko [...]
October 18th, 2008 at 9:30 am
und warum kommentiert keiner? | Dr. Web Magazin said
[...] tolles Posting und nichts passiert… Woran kÃ¶nnte das liegen? Liz Strauss kennt ein paar GrÃ¼nde und teilt sie gern mit. Komplett frei Ã¼bersetzt liest sich das [...]
October 19th, 2008 at 10:57 am
moussette said
i too do not post comments if there’s a fence and i have to sign in. often the signing in function does not work right on some blogs at the time i try to sign in; and i can’t for some odd reason. or once i have signed in, i can no longer find the original post i wanted to comment on, or i just don’t have the time to sign in. i think it is good information to know reasons why people do not leave comments.
October 21st, 2008 at 5:10 pm
chance said
I like your outlook on leaving comments. Good point of view! Thanks!
November 4th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Bujio said
I’ve just recently started blogging, and I try to comment as a matter of course. If you do not comment on other peoples’ blogs, than why should you ever expect them to comment on yours? How will you even expect them to know where you are? There’s just no way.

So I always try to comment.

Cheers!!
November 26th, 2008 at 4:33 am
Saç Ekimi said
You are the best commenter on the planet! I should just give up and take lessons from you.
November 26th, 2008 at 4:40 am
Burun Esteti?i said
I mean, er, awesome thoughts, Liz - I need some time to think about this!
November 26th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
godefroy said
This is amazing, Liz! The power of compelling content you were writing about is obvious here. It’s been over 2 years since you wrote it and it still gets comments. Such a great job!
November 30th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Kelly said
I never used to comment on blogs. Now that I created a blog as a hobby, I feel more obligated to comment occasionally.

I won’t comment where registering is required.

I do think it is an excellent post. I also know that getting comments on any blog can be a problem, but in all honesty I have found that once you get a reasonable amount of visitors a few will comment. Once this happens, more will follow. Maybe it’s peer pressure of sorts.
December 3rd, 2008 at 4:49 am
Nick van man said
Blogs are good for info but leaving comments to release thoughts upon the world which most are lost in the mire are theraputic
December 24th, 2008 at 10:36 am
5 Last Minute Gifts for your Favorite ‘Virtual’ Friends and Services | Andrea Hill - afhill.com said
[...] on a blog for the first time. Many of us simply don’t take the time, although I think there are very few bloggers who don’t love to receive input from others. [...]
January 15th, 2009 at 2:09 am
Daniel Richard said
Haha. I’m one of those who would most probably send email to the author rather than leaving a comment. Well that depends on wherever seems more convenient for *ahem* me.
January 21st, 2009 at 8:06 am
PCLove said
The only time I comment on others’ blogs is when I believe I can be of some help (maybe this one too). This would have to mean that the post didn’t already solve a problem or describe enough.

I see too many blog posts that talk about nothing…that “I’ll share whatever rolls around in my head” thing that we all have.

It all goes back to mother’s old adage: “If you don’t have anything helpful to say, then don’t say anything.”

Just simply saying thanks is nice to hear as a blog writer. One word.
January 21st, 2009 at 4:10 pm
oyun indir said
Hey Big Roy,
I think you could pick up that comment and use it as a blog post. What you wrote is great advice any way that you look at it.
February 7th, 2009 at 1:31 am
InfoCreators said
Hi,

Great trigger and great thinking.

I guess, this is what they call, ‘thinking out of box’. Most of us think of the benefits or the problems of leaving a comment. But, you have clearly presented the viewer’s perspective as to why he/she might not leave a comment.

Keep going.
February 9th, 2009 at 2:58 am
Saç Ekimi said
Sometimes, people may not want to leave comments because they don’t feel confident in themselves. As you wisely mentioned, I have found that adding some encouraging language towards the end of my posts has helped with this big time. “C’mon Let’s Talk!” is also a great way to get people writing Thanks for the article!
February 18th, 2009 at 3:16 am
humblejuice said
Mam Liz… Can i post in on my site? If its ok with you? I’m just a starter in making blog. Your post here will serve as my guide in doing or creating blog.
February 18th, 2009 at 8:00 am
ME Liz Strauss said
Humblejuice,
You can copy out the 10 reasons if you give it proper credit and link back to this post. That’s the way it’s done. You’re good for asking permission. Thank you.
February 18th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
humblejuice said
Ur welcome Mam Liz! Thank you also!
February 28th, 2009 at 11:04 am
ITEC656 @ AU: Help! My Mom is My Only Reader (Promoting Your Blog) said
[...] Read Top Ten Reasons Reader’s Don’t Leave Comments [...]
March 18th, 2009 at 9:53 am
DEBPRATIM GHOSH said
LEAVING A COMMENT IS A VERY GOOD HABIT BECAUSE IT LETS PEOPLE KNOW EACH OTHER AND CONTACT. IT HELPS TO DISCOVER NEW PERSONS ON INTERNET. THE BEST WAY TO BE FOUND IN A SEARCH REASULT IS TO LEAVE A COMMENT FOR THE NAME ON ANY TOPIC. THATS WHAT I DO IT FOR.

I AM DEBPRATIM GHOSH.
MY EMAIL IS debpratim.ghosh@gmail.com
March 20th, 2009 at 5:35 am
jN. said
uh, can i copy this? I’ll credit you.
March 20th, 2009 at 7:27 am
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi jN,
Thank you, as long as you use my name, the title of the post and link back here. Then we’re good!
March 24th, 2009 at 11:46 am
Mark Twain said
Well you certainly have no problem getting comments. I wish I could say the same about my website. I wish someone would take a look at my website. It’s a search engine that finds free books. I thought people would like it. Free Book Quest.
March 26th, 2009 at 7:13 am
10 raisons de ne jamais laisser de commentaires | [Ré]créations graphiques said
[...] via. Partager cet article : [...]
March 27th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Linda Paquette said
I try to always leave comments as I also like to receive them. I am leaving you this one trying to get the word out to everyone about your potential to see something horrific if you use stumble. I did yesterday and you can read the full story here:
http://www.webupon.com/Web-Talk/Stumbling-in-Bad-Taste.617053
Please let as many people as you can know about this.
March 29th, 2009 at 1:39 am
cocacolya said
it depends on many factors..like dofollow or not
March 30th, 2009 at 8:45 am
Henry said
I am leaving this comment because I have ready your blog and I find it informative. I will keep checking back for some more.
April 6th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Articles said
I leave a comment if I find a blog interesting, informative or humorous.

I’ll let you guess which combination of the three I found this to be.
April 11th, 2009 at 8:06 am
27 Must Read Tips and Tutorials for Bloggers [Day 6 - 31DBBB] | Money Makers said
[...] 10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments [...]
April 11th, 2009 at 8:39 am
Karenne Sylvester said
Popped on over from Darren’s 31 Day Challenge - a mighty list of great posts necessary to read and digest and am bit-by-bit copying and pasting on to a Word Doc so I can read them later (in a nice cafe, in the sunshine and not in front of my computer again)…

Yours is the first where I actually copied some of the comments too!

Cheers,
Karenne
April 11th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Annaleen said
I don’t get comments on website now I have to figure out which of the ten or all maybe the culprit, got me thinking mmmmm
April 11th, 2009 at 9:49 am
Mike Kirkeberg said
I think of this as “The Twitter Reason” –
I wonder if my comment will be taken the way I mean it. It is hard to either show (or hide) emotions and intent in letters on the screen. My Twitter example - I have made comments that I think of as totally innocent, and all of a sudden 10 followers drop off. That doesn’t put me off, but I would imagine that a lot of people do not want to be taken “out of context” and looked at poorly — even it they may not be, the question may be, “Is it worth the risk?”
April 11th, 2009 at 10:19 am
Laura said
I don’t comment when there is word verification. Comment moderation should be enough. I hate trying to read those squiggly letters and numbers. Why should I?

I also comment less often when there are already a lot of comments, like here. Chances are someone has already said what I thought to say but I don’t want to read all those previous comments to find out.
April 11th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Shawnymac said
I’m sorry. I had to come back and leave a comment. I was going to leave a nice comment about why I don’t leave comments on other blogs and decided not to then left your blog.

But, once I left, I laughed at myself because that was exactly what your post was about. I want to leave a comment but then I get second thoughts and don’t care anymore. The IRONY! Anyways, for that, your post deserves my comment.

I was going to say, the first time I was here, that I want to leave something valuable and feel good even for a second or two. I believe comments differ in importance depending on how many comments a single posts receives. Like this post, I feel like I’m just another being all the way down here. I could do this on my own blog. Who the heck is going to read this comment? Maybe Liz and possibly the next few commenters until my comment gets pushed up.

I’d more likely leave a comment if I were 1 of the top say 20 first commenters on a post.
April 11th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Day 6: 10 Reasons You Might Not Comment « Sciolist in the City of Salt and Saints said
[...] to become like them. I haven’t yet read any of them except for one, which was a list about reasons readers don’t comment. I decided to make my own [...]
April 11th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Larrie Campbell said
Great list, thanks! You know how they say that the greatest compliment you can receive is to have somebody copy you, right? I hope you don’t mind, but I made my own version of this list specific for my blog, which, of course, makes fun of my blog.
It was a fun post to write!
April 11th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
CGabriel said
I just revisited this post through the ProBlogger challenge…you never fail to nail an issue (if we can call it that because it’s relative) squarely and head-on.

Liz, can I just say again - what a blessing it’s been to discover you, your wisdom and your incredible sense of (blog) community, and how to build it by living in it.

I’ve not had a chance to visit here as much as I’d like lately - I just wanted you to know how much your words and your sharing are endlessly appreciated by me….and certainly everyone who crosses paths with you.

Christopher
April 11th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
Mattb4rd said
I shall believe that my readers don’t comment because I’ve written the post so well that they don’t feel that they’ve anything to add.

Monkeys might fly out of my rear too.

Honestly, I think that the lack of comments is characteristic of the aloof demeanor of the average info-junkie. We want to move on to find more and to write a meaningful comment would delay the search for the next nugget.
April 11th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
topseekrit said
My top 3 reasons for not leaving comments:

~ Sometimes, I just don’t want to be the first one to comment

~ There isn’t a lot of comment activity on the blog let alone the post, so I don’t feel compelled to write one

~ The location of the comment link could be at the top, by the time I’ve read and scrolled to the bottom, I don’t feel like scrolling back up to click on the link and leave a comment
April 11th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
ME Liz Strauss said
@Karenne
Thanks! I’ve talked to lots of folks since I wrote this list and it’s still gets a great discussion. Writing for blogs is different than writing for print. That’s a sure thing.
April 11th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
ME Liz Strauss said
@Annaleen,
Don’t try too hard. Just keep your readers in mind when you write and leave a little room them to respond. You’ll be fine.

Hi Mike Kirkeberg!
I’ve actually looked down a few comment threads and had the same response. My comment was going to be so different. I decided that I didn’t want to be the one who “stuck out.”

Hi Laura
I with you on the word verification — to me that’s just like asking me to login. The number of comments sometimes makes me stop. Mostly it depends on whether the blog post moved me to have a new thought.
April 11th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Shawnymac!
On posts with huge comment threads I’m often really interested who writes a comment at this end. Like the comment you wrote, these comments are often rich with substance. Thanks for coming back to leave yours.

@Larrie Campbell I think that’s fabulous! I’ll be over to read it!
April 11th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
ME Liz Strauss said
@Mattb4rd
Honestly, I think that the lack of comments is characteristic of the aloof demeanor of the average info-junkie. If that’s what you think of your readers (I realize you included yourself in that grou), I suspect that shows. If that does show, it seems they’re just living up to your expectations.

Maybe if you were looking for a conversation, you’d get one.
April 11th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
ME Liz Strauss said
Hey topseekrit
I have had all three of those response myself. I particularly hate to have to find the comment link.
April 11th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Mattb4rd said
@Liz Strauss

Most of the interaction with my readers takes place on FriendFeed, Twitter, Facebook, and email.

Certainly those venues have a larger audience than my blog and perhaps by commenting there, the desires of my readers to see and be seen are more adequately fulfilled.

I’m guessing at this point, really. Feel free to visit my site and let me know if there’s anything that might compel you to comment.
April 11th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Matt,
I misunderstood what you were saying. You’re getting the comments — just not on your blog.

Both ways work. It’s a matter of what your goal is. If you want conversation your blog, I’ll go take a look to see if anything stands out. If you’re not worried about having folks comment on your blog. I wouldn’t give it (or me) another thought.

I’ll shoot you an email.
April 11th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
27 Must Read Tips and Tutorials for Bloggers [Day 6 - 31DBBB] said
[...] 10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments [...]
April 11th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
CGabriel said
One more thought on comments - nearly 100% of the time, I receive comments on posts I never imagine will generate them. Conversely, the posts I believe will become active discussions…nothing. Zippo.

And yet…

I get lots of emails about posts. And they’ve all been positive…except for one post. I wrote a satire on Notre Dame Football and every ND fan came out of the woodwork to trash me, threaten me, “yell” at me.

But it was comforting I got their attention.
April 11th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
ProBlogger Offers 27 Tips for Bloggers < Chris Abraham said
[...] 10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments [...]
April 11th, 2009 at 11:29 pm
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi CGabriel,
So manypeople have shared that same experience. I’ve thought about it a lot. I think when we think that we’re going to get the comments, we somehow have written too loudly, too proudly, and our thoughts only resonate inside our own heads. Conversely, when we are surprised by the discussion that happens, we’ve said something simple that echoes like the shot heard round the world.
April 11th, 2009 at 11:41 pm
jan geronimo said
Nearly nothing fazes me as a reader. I can even ignore bad grammar, but the core ideas must make up for the awkwardness of sentence construction. I’m a bit of a gossip - I need to take a peek at person behind the blog. He need not put in anything salacious or very personal details. I just want some personal traits of the writer to shine through his post.

So I guess what prevents me from commenting is if I stumble across a post as perfect as a textbook prose: impersonal, passionless, dreadfully devoid of any hints about the man who writes it.

Then I let it be and move on.

And hey, I forget this: the perfect post. Just like what you said. I have nothing to add. I’d like to elaborate a bit. This post is so well written it’s almost perfection itself. I feel that if a leave a comment it will stain the carpet and mess the overall grandeur of the blog. I beat a hasty retreat. But I come again to check how the author responds to commenters. If he’s not stuffy in his responses, if he does not play favorites, then I will chime in. I need to be reassured I will not be ignored, laughed at or talked to. But then again it’s much more a function of my shortcomings as a visitor, I concede.

A little note: Darren sent me to read up on you. An assignment we had on day 6 of 31 Days to Better Blogging Program.

But this feels quite unlike an assignment. I enjoyed it here. I’ve run off the mouth as it is. Will restrain myself next time, promise. Thank you, mam.
April 12th, 2009 at 1:16 am
27 Must Read Tips and Tutorials for Bloggers [Day 6 - 31DBBB] | Richard Johnson | The Get Rich Guy said
[...] 10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments [...]
April 12th, 2009 at 7:28 am
Louellen Coker said
Liz, Love the post…. you might want to add one more that is more a sign of success.

So many others have already posted comments that I’m not sure I can add anything new.

Oh that all our posts have this particular problem!
April 12th, 2009 at 8:17 am
31 Days To A Better Blog - Day 6 « Virtual High School Meanderings said
[...] 10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments [...]
April 12th, 2009 at 10:10 am
27 Tips for Bloggers from Top Bloggers - Marketing Conversation - New Marketing and Social Media by Abraham Harrison LLC — Marketing Conversation said
[...] 10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments [...]
April 12th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Best blogs from the best bloggers | Wright Creativity said
[...] 10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments [...]
April 12th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
27 Must Read Tips and Tutorials for Bloggers [Day 6 - 31DBBB] | linkfeedr said
[...] Strauss from Successful Blog 10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments The Secret to Massive Digg/StumbleUpon Traffic Without Spamming 7 Great Ways to Connect with Other [...]
April 12th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Liz said
I have read over & over how most readers of blogs don’t leave comments. Mostly I don’t because I just don’t have time, but I have been trying to get out there and comment more. I like meeting new people and sharing thoughts and seeing who I have things in common with.
April 12th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
pendolino said
* this post is one of the examples of the type i dont leave comments on because there’s already 323 for gods sake including one saying ‘i’ll meet you later’. there has to be a way to clean this up since i think what im saying has already been said in that pile somewhere.

* another reason: stop asking for my email address or get on one of the universal login networks.

* suggested: universal RSS comment feeds. some sites have them now but not all. that way i can track the discussion and then remove it from my reader once it dies rather than risk providing my email.

* google reader’s new ‘comments’ tool is worth checking out although its only shared between ‘friends’ at the moment.
April 13th, 2009 at 8:35 am
Darran said
Liz, I came across your post while doing problogger’s 31 days to build a better blog challenge, and I am using it as a reference to change the way I approach posts to encourage readers to start leaving comments.
April 13th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
mensch & chance said
[Kein Kommentar]…

Was möchte ein Blogschreiber wie ich als erstes? Genau: Artikel verfassen. Und als zweites? Ebenfalls richtig: Kommentare bekommen. Denn Kommentare sind bei Blogs das Salz in der Suppe. Erst durch sie entstehen Diskussionen und neue Einsichten.
…
April 13th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
Mark said
You missed my favorite number 1 reason for not commenting - I have absolutely no idea as to what the writer is talking about! I am constantly finding posts that have a nice hook in the title but can’t seem to get the idea across in the post.
April 13th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
Improve Your Blog By Learning From the Best « D-Mac’s Blog said
[...] Liz Strauss from Successful Blog [...]
April 13th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
27 Great Tips for a Better Blog | FitnessProBlogger.com said
[...] 10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments: comments are a huge boon for your blog. They show others that people are truly interested in [...]
April 14th, 2009 at 10:40 pm
TerryFree said
Reading through this long haul of posts which started almost three years ago, I have similar reservations about having anything worthwhile to add other than tagging on the end. I’ve noticed (here and elsewhere) posters start replying to each other …even more so if they are regular readers and again I feel like I’m pushing into a club. I leave stuff like that for my time on Twitter etc.
April 15th, 2009 at 10:18 am
hotel rimini said
Really cool
April 15th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
inDglass said
PLUS ANOTHER:

You have an obnoxious CAPTCHA to protect you from spammers, and it’s not worth fighting. Sometimes I hit enter, the CAPTCHA isn’t accepted, and my comment disappears. How likely do you think I am to type my same comment a second time?!
April 16th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Earn Blogging Money » ProBlogger - 31 DBBB - Day 6 said
[...] 10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments [...]
April 18th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
seamus walsh said
….because you are the 337 post, what can I say that has not already been said?

I did enjoy it, I was getting a complex no one was commenting on my posts, after seeing the number of replies you received, there is no more “getting” one…I HAVE one..
April 19th, 2009 at 11:29 pm
sh said
Great article Liz! I followed a link to it from over at Susan Renyolds blog. Mostly the reason I don’t leave many comments is #7 on your list. And also one other one some one mentioned a couple of commments above…that the other commenters were so eloquent that I don’t feel that I can write something and express myself as well as they can and I give myself a headache just stressing about it.

best regards
sh_kaveh57@yahoo.com
April 20th, 2009 at 6:07 am
Lorraine Ball said
I’m an extrovert, so I often don’t understand people who aren’t. The same applies to my blogging.

Thanks for helping me understand the other side of the equation, why people aren’t responding to my posts.

Lots to work on
April 20th, 2009 at 7:29 am
It Courses said
Sometime reading through the comments, what I want to say has been said already. So whats the point, it would only annoy the blogger whos post you are commenting on if in 4 seperate comments the same has been said then you would reply, yes. then as per #(above), this again, see above. this happens and the reader leaving the comments is a bit sad that they have repeated much to the annoyance of the blogger and made their blood boil.
April 20th, 2009 at 8:15 am
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Terry,
I feel that way often in person and sometimes on blogs — that the conversation is so established I would be interrupting. I know exactly what you mean about that.

I guess on the Internet, I feel a little better about being about to see everyone as equal to each other even if I’m new to them.
April 20th, 2009 at 8:16 am
ME Liz Strauss said
Yeah inDglass,
I’ve left many a comment floating in cyberspace because I was unwilling to type it again.
April 20th, 2009 at 8:20 am
ME Liz Strauss said
Oh Seamus,
Did you see how old this post is and how old this blog is too? Chris Brogan went 8 years before he got his first comment.

Some topics, blogs, and writing styles lend themselves to comments more than others.
April 20th, 2009 at 8:23 am
ME Liz Strauss said
sh!
I can identify with that. Really. Other folks seem to go deeper on certain topics than I ever will (or want to). That leaves me wondering whether my observation from left field will look shallow or look new.
April 20th, 2009 at 8:25 am
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Lorraine!
It’s funny how a different blog can change the way I feel about commenting. But I like the fact that the comment box allows me room to think about what I’m saying to you.
April 20th, 2009 at 8:31 am
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi ItCourses,
I find that every person says it in a slightly different way that gives me just a little more insight into what that comment means to the community. I like that.

No comment ever made my blood boil. Though people in person have … once in a while … usually they just amaze me.

You’re not a stranger anymore.
April 21st, 2009 at 12:10 pm
DK said
Hi Liz,

This is my first time here and this post was indeed thought provoking. I find there is a gap between the no. of readers and the comments I get. I personally think that even though I ask questions not many come fwd to answer. And believe you me, my questions are not ‘Big Bang theory’ types.

Recently a friend of mine confided that her friend to whom she recommended my blog has been lurking but feels intimidated to write since she feels her command over English would be ridiculed by mine - aah!

Frankly I don’t write hi-fi words myself and I think that if I make it more simpler than now, then the “other classier” readers will feel, it will be ‘below them’ to read my contents!

What can one do in such a case?
April 21st, 2009 at 12:46 pm
SC Admin said
While I’m reading this post, I was quite giggling at myself especially with #1.

I maintain a tech blog which was quite new and it seems that scarcity in comments or sometimes not even a single one bothers me but I’m certain that I give my readers a full blast of what they should know.

However, engaging them in a conversation within the comment section is an added challenge, is it normal for tech blogs to have less comments? Or is it just giving so much information like #1?
Any thoughts on this?
April 22nd, 2009 at 8:20 pm
krissy knox said
Why I don’t comment:
1. The post is so long that I don’t have time to read it, nevertheless ascertain what it is saying so that I can comment.
2. The post is so poorly written that I can’t decipher what it’s point is.
3. The post is so boring that there’s no point in commenting.
4. The post is written in one or two long paragraphs, and it’s structure appears so daunting to tackle, that I don’t even want to attempt to read it!
5. The post is one long diatribe of someone’s personal life, without any lesson to learn, or inspiration.

So Liz, what do you consider “rich and compelling?” I need to know what makes you leave a comment!

krissy knox
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http://www.twitter.com/iamkrissy
April 30th, 2009 at 1:07 am
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[...] 10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments - Well that clarifies a bunch of stuff! via: [...]
May 1st, 2009 at 12:22 am
27 Must Read Posts for Bloggers | Blogger Talkz said
[...] Traffic You’re Not Just a Writer, You’re the Editor-in-Chief. Liz Strauss from Successful Blog 10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments The Secret to Massive Digg/StumbleUpon Traffic Without Spamming 7 Great Ways to Connect with Other [...]
May 8th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Ronnica said
Probably the number one reason why I don’t comment is I have nothing to say, either because the topic isn’t relevant to me whatsoever, or because it’s entirely uninteresting.
May 11th, 2009 at 7:39 am
kratom said
Hi,

My name is kratom. I don’t usually leave comments, but I’m amazed at how many people comment on a comment blog. It took me 1/2 hour and several cups of tea to read through them all… Good job.

Kratom
May 11th, 2009 at 7:55 am
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Ronnica,
Valid reasons. In those cases, I stop reading entirely and move on. I bet you do too.
May 11th, 2009 at 7:57 am
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Kratom,
What I’ve found is that we all want to be heard. It’s more about sharing as we’re learning than teaching what we know. That leaves folks a whole lot more room to talk.
May 14th, 2009 at 5:03 am
Pants Man said
Brilliant & Thank you! I often wondered why I was getting loads of traffic yet very, very few comments. Then I looked at your list and thought about my own behaviour (I never comment) and the penny dropped. Now I just need to work on my writing to make people WANT to comment.
May 16th, 2009 at 2:49 am
saç ekimi said
I’ve left many a comment floating in cyberspace because I was unwilling to type it again.
May 26th, 2009 at 2:37 am
sh said
I came up with 13 More Reasons on my blog, but please let me mention Reciprocal Commenting: you try to always post a comment at the blog of a person sh_kaveh57@yahoo.com who posted a comment at your blog.

You reap what you sow. You post lots of comments at other blogs, you should end up with lots of comments at your blog. But this needs some qualification: some bloggers are rude, “too busy”, selfish, or lazy. So those turps won’t reciprocate.

Main reason sh_kaveh57@yahoo.com for no comments is bad content and no interaction with other bloggers.

New blogger, try posting a very controversial poeeeem or essay. Not naughty or racist, but a post on Why Air Is Unneccesary or How My Head Transplant Improved My Personality or Why Net Neutrality and Web 2.0 Are Clashing Madly.

Write about sh_kaveh57@yahoo.com millionaire bloggers, blog psychosis, blogs and murder, or the future of blogging.

Topics that will grab attention. Say something smart, even if just a few remarks.

Shorten your sh_kaveh57@yahoo.com freaky paragraphs, and slash your long posts to more skim friendly format.
May 28th, 2009 at 9:04 am
JulieD said
Excellent list.

I hate typing a comment only to have to wrestle with the log-in screen and possibly lose the comment.

Being too complete or asking too big a question are probably two of the biggest killers.

Bookmarking this…
June 9th, 2009 at 4:25 am
moratghoiksd said
Hi, I wandered over from a link on Pesky Apostrophe. This is a great post!

I can add a thought as to why I’ve given up commenting at a couple of sites. Some sites tend to be clique-like and it’s too much like a rerun of high school to me. I most often feel like my comments are ignored. I do tend to keep going back and commented on sites where the poster interacts with the commenters.
sh_kaveh57@yahoo.com
That said, I sure wish I knew what to do to get more people to interact with me on my blog. Granted, probably the last week’s worth of posts aren’t a good example
June 19th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
Perception System - Taufik said
This is really nice.
Thanks to ME Liz Strauss for posting this .
June 20th, 2009 at 4:09 am
Nimesh said
Comments are good because one can share his or her ideas with one another.

Good to read it.
June 21st, 2009 at 2:04 pm
color book said
lots of comments on this one
and now you got mine as well.
i enjoyed reading. thank you very much for this lovely post.
June 30th, 2009 at 7:38 am
veri kurtarma said
Great post and great comments. But unfortunately i couldn’t read all of them.
July 1st, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Fred said
Thank you for the list of reasons. The responses here were interesting as well and are food for thought. However I get next to no comments on my blog (I ALWAYS respond to the ones I do get and comment on the blogs of others). While I post music mostly, I write about other things to keep the door open. No luck, lots of views but responses are like getting blood from a stone. I look at other blogs that get many responses but the subject matter leaves me cold. Not sure what to do.
July 1st, 2009 at 9:53 pm
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Fred,
Looks to me like you get comments more than most folks do. Some blogs and some topics are more inclinded to draw folks who respond … some less. Let me know if you want help with that.
July 6th, 2009 at 2:16 am
Saç Ekimi said
Thank you for the account of reasons. The responses actuality were absorbing as able-bodied and are aliment for thought. However I get next to no comments on my blog i always acknowledge to the ones I do get and animadversion on the blogs of others. While I column music mostly, I address about added things to accumulate the aperture open. No luck, lots of angle but responses are like accepting claret from a stone. I attending at added blogs that get abounding responses but the accountable amount leaves me cold. Not abiding what to do.
July 8th, 2009 at 8:07 am
lizzie waters said
This is a funny post i liked reading it, keep posting!
July 8th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Schattendings » To comment or not to comment said
[...] auf einen nicht mehr ganz taufrischen Beitrag bei Dr. Web gestoßen, der seinerseits auf einem Blog-Eintrag von Liz Strauss basiert: Es geht um die Frage, warum Leser eines Blogs nicht [...]
July 10th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Debra said
This was helfpul, but I don’t know how to fix this problem. I have been getting plently of traffic, but still very few comments.
July 11th, 2009 at 1:41 am
Rikesh said
haha nice findings and really when i read ur thoughts i was like “that always happens to me” this is the first time i am commenting on any blog post. keep it up and thanks for ur good thoughts.
July 11th, 2009 at 10:55 am
Araba said
I post music mostly, I write about other things to keep the door open. No luck, lots of views but responses are like getting blood from a stone. I look at other blogs that get many responses but the subject matter leaves me cold. Not sure what to do.
July 14th, 2009 at 10:58 am
Sen said
I think so many people left comments on this posting because they want to do exactly the opposite of what this article is about. Human behavior is quite predictable?
July 14th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Sen,
I agree that many folks have done and many more have tried and not made the comment stick.

Still if they’ve added something relevant, I’ve keep what they’ve had to say. Commenting is contagious. heh heh
July 21st, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Saç ekimi said
much obliged!
July 27th, 2009 at 10:27 am
vviadana said
Interesting to see that you have thought about theses things. I don’t get why people would not want to read negative things though.
However, if I think about what I like I have to admit that positive and light posts are my favorites.
August 27th, 2009 at 6:38 am
klip izle said
Looks to me like you get comments more than most folks do.
September 1st, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Usman said
Great post. I am facing a couple of these problems.
September 14th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
michael said
Great post, I notice that it seems to be a different world online, so many people don’t leave comments, even when you give them a great subject and a perfect place to reply. Though Some of your 10 reasons are very valid and understandable.
September 20th, 2009 at 1:44 am
Justin Wright said
It’s always difficult to draw in a lot of comments. Asking questions always seems to help. I usually leave comments when I want to let the author know I liked the article, I have something to add, or simply have a question about the content.
September 21st, 2009 at 7:09 am
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Justin,
Asking questions is one of the best ways to get folks to interact. Though, I have to say great questions take almost as much time as a great blog post does.
September 30th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Eze said
11. I was going to leave a comment but you have so many already that i dont want to scroll down to the bottom of the page for an hour or so.. lol
September 30th, 2009 at 10:24 am
ME Liz Strauss said
Yep, Eze,
That’s getting to be a valid comment in this case. heh heh
October 11th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Angela Wilson said
I get so tired of needing extra logins, I just don’t bother. If it won’t allow me to just enter my info, or use Google or Open ID, it simply is not worth it. Newspapers are bad for this.

Lately, though, I’ve stopped leaving comments because of trolls. I don’t want to get sucked into their vortex of vitriol. I commented at a Web site - quite nicely - and the trolls followed me on the Web for weeks, leaving nasty comments. It was like a virtual lynch mob. I’ve never had to deal with that before, and certainly don’t again - especially when clients are reading my stuff.

Unless it is a blog I know well, I likely won’t leave a comment.
October 12th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Angela,
Sorry I didn’t get here sooner. This travel does have a downside connecting online happens less than I might like.

I’m with you about logins … I don’t bother either. I also don’t pay attention to trolls or go where they’re popular.
No worries here. Trolls don’t like the nice atmosphere. heh heh
October 15th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Gracy said
Your post was the basis of my comment policy.Do check it out @ gracelyne.wordpress.com/comment-policy
October 15th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
successful said
Great post, I always mention that, but really its neat, and i relate with it. I have to confess much of my blog commenting is self motivated as I intend to build a passive income with my websites and that requires traffic.

The reason i don’t leave comments most times is because I don’t think they will get published if I use a keyword in my “name”.

I want to leave the keyword.

It helps me.

I like to also leave a thoughtful comment. I don’t comment much, but when I do my journey starts with the keyword I’m working with and I always end up learning something, like today.

This is a great blog. You are a very committed person and I bet you really enjoy what your doing. Its remarkable, really.

My name is really joe, but my internet friends sometimes call be successful.

He He.

Thanks!
October 26th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Hubie Goode said
Well your reasons are a kind of “maybe/maybe not” situation. I used to have two web blogs under different names with the same posts. One would get real and fake posts all the time, the other gets nothing. So who really knows why this happens?
November 6th, 2009 at 3:52 am
Dape said
389
November 29th, 2009 at 11:38 am
Optimizing Your Blog for Search Engines « Uplift Antidote said
[...] 10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments [...]
December 3rd, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Steven Mullaney said
I’ve noticed I have a lot of readers but I never get any comments. Also the comments I do receive tend to be meaningless, that I suspect to simply be a way for passersby to vandalize my blog with their blog link, a bit like what I’ve done here. I’ve not said much but there it is, next to my comment, my blog link.
December 14th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
InterviewPattern said
The whole web ranking concept is broken. Good webpage supposed to have many incomming links, so people spamming blogs with hundreds on garbage comments like “Nice post” or so.
December 15th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
wholesale shoes said
After reading this post , my heart a long time can not be quiet, shake ah! Why is there such a good post!Why is there such a good post!
December 15th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
24365.info | information always » 10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments | Liz Strauss at Successful Blog said
[...] 10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments | Liz Strauss at Successful Blog. [...]
December 18th, 2009 at 5:01 am
Joe said
I know its a little late but its still a great post
December 18th, 2009 at 7:31 am
ME Liz Strauss said
Thank you, Joe, for saying so.
December 21st, 2009 at 1:19 pm
nina said
I think that was a good oppinion but I have another oppinion!See all these people are leaving comments and I like to! I just like to, I guess tell everyone how I’m feeling…or it COULD be that I love typing.Either way, I always leave comments wp (when possible)
December 22nd, 2009 at 11:53 pm
ed hardy said
Thank you for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbour were preparing to do some research about that. We got a good book on that matter from our local library and most books where not as influensive as your information. I am very glad to see such information which I was searching for a long time.This made very glad Smile
December 23rd, 2009 at 2:18 am
DAY 6 27 MUST-READ TIPS AND TUTORIALS FOR BLOGGERS | NetFuns.net said
[...] 10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments. [...]
December 28th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
Adam Bean said
For me it all comes back to what value can I add to the conversation.

If I can add a point that complements the post and keeps the interaction going then I will comment.

The only time I will comment with a thanks or a well done is if the post is written by someone I know.

That way they know that the comment is genuine because they know me.

Cheers Adam
December 28th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Michelle Gillies said
I am very aware now of writing comments for the blogs I read. I know how much it means if someone comments on mine. However, there are times I still feel self concious that what I am writing is not valuable to the blogger. The old “I’m not worthy” syndrome. I am working on that. One thing you did mention was that some people are offended when they don’t receive a reply on their comment. I am guilty of that…a lot. I didn’t really think people wanted me to respond at first. Again, I am working on that. I thank you for letting me know I am not alone.
M
December 28th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
Lisa Thorell said
Well- I just had to add a comment into the most provocative, long-lasting blog post AND comment session I have ever encountered.

How do you know when you’ve struck a human nerve with your blog post? When, like here, you are still entertaining comments 3.5 years after the original writing. Not only awesome—AWE-struck!
December 28th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
ME Liz Strauss said
Adam,
I wish I could think like you. You sound so refreshing to me!!
I get there and I get so self-conscious. My point of view sometimes has to do with the elephant in the room when everyone else is painting the ceiling. I’m careful about coming in from left field with a group I don’t know.

Introverts have a different view of commenting. heh heh
December 28th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
ME Liz Strauss said
Michelle,
I just had this conversation with a white-haired brilliant man tonight … we ALL think we’re not worthy at certain moments in certain places.
It’s knowing that and smiling at it that makes us powerful and helps us realize that the person or people who misunderstand what we’re saying have just as many insecure moments as we do.

Thank you 1000 times for leaving this comment. I hold it close just as I did the first comment I ever got.

You are not a stranger anymore.
December 28th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
ME Liz Strauss said
Lisa,
Heck, you think I know?!! I have no idea.
All I can tell you is to write with your head, heart and all of you. Take the leap and be there. When folks respond, say thank you.

That’s all I know.
Somehow I think it’s enough.
January 5th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
real estate investor said
Oftentimes the posts are about very personal things or areas that I don’t know much about as well. If someone has a long funny story about their cat destroying their couch, I may laugh but as I don’t have a cat (ha just a toddler destroying mine), I might not have anything to say about it other than a LOL which is rather silly to post.
January 8th, 2010 at 5:52 pm
Christine said
Wow, all those reasons why people don’t leave comments and several hundred are left here.
January 9th, 2010 at 7:41 pm
2sshoes.com said
If we don’t leave comments, how do the authors know the articles good or bad?
January 10th, 2010 at 8:12 pm
Callista said
You have some good reasons but I don’t understand those who won’t comment because they are rarely replied to. Unless it’s a question, I don’t usually reply. I don’t often reply for one of the same reasons you don’t comment, what’s to say? If someone says great post or I read that book too, what am I supposed to reply to that? Also unless they asked a question, most don’t go back to read replies.
January 15th, 2010 at 9:09 am
Caroline said

Some interesting top 10 list. I like it!
January 16th, 2010 at 7:44 pm
Myla Meadows said
Well, I left comments here!
January 20th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Charris said
thx for post, I’ve been trying to figure out what im doing wrong and why people come to my blog and not leave their footprints.
January 20th, 2010 at 9:28 pm
ME Liz Strauss said
Sometimes, you’re not doing anything wrong, Charris.
Sometimes it just takes time for folks to get to know you.
January 23rd, 2010 at 5:42 am
Sohrab said
Most of the time I don’t even notice that the article I’m reading actually accepts comments. So I just read what I’m looking for and very selfishly close the tab/window. I don’t even think about commenting. Maybe I’m ignorant or maybe im selfish.
January 23rd, 2010 at 7:02 am
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Sohrab,
Not selfish, just missing out on a chance to interact and get more from the experience.
January 25th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
Gloria Kay Vandiver Inman said
OMG… I had a comment, but that was way back before I realized I was in 2006 !!!

1. I quit reading after about 10 comments. I didn’t see what I wanted to say, but hey, 4 years to go, it’s probably there.

3. I will say this. Your approach is a good way to gather material for a book plan that the readers aren’t aware of yet.

4. What I had to say is no longer relevant .. the objective has already been met … already written.

5. you forced me to log in
January 28th, 2010 at 3:56 am
Mutuelle santé said
Good reflexion. Thanks for shring.
January 28th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
Count von Words said
You wrote: *****What you write is so complete, that I don’t know what to say except good job.*****

Well, 418 comments so far, and 23,912 words on top of your original 637 words.
January 30th, 2010 at 7:21 pm
Union Glashutte Watches said
I think you really hit the nail on the head with the logging on thing.. I read a lot of blogs and hate having to log in– if I have to log in the post, it’s a guarantee I won’t post. It’s too much time and trouble. Also– if I can’t figure out your CAPTCHA image, I won’t post. Make it easy..
-Sylvia
February 1st, 2010 at 11:17 am
ME Liz Strauss said
Thank you, Count, for the update!
February 6th, 2010 at 2:11 am
David @ Twitter Designs said
This post got right to the point!!! I just comment on blogs that get my interest!
February 6th, 2010 at 4:25 am
Cafe said
I hear you saying that some folks are just not grateful for the work that went into writing a post. I suppose there are some of those too. I hadn’t thought of them really.
February 8th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
ME Liz Strauss said
Thanks, David!
I do the same!
February 8th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
ME Liz Strauss said
Hi Cafe,
Actually that thought never crossed my mind. I don’t suppose most readers think about the work involved in writing a blog post. Interesting idea about gratitude. Would love to know more about your thoughts.

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10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments

My Secret

10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments

C'mon. Let's talk!

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10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments

My Secret

10 Reasons Readers Don’t Leave Comments

C'mon. Let's talk!

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