You comment, I answer…
I’m going to try a little something new. Beginning with my last post, I am trying to answer each comment I receive at my site. You’ll find my response after your comment.
I read other blogs that do this (Busy Dad, D is for Dad, and Daily Blessings, to only name a few), and I enjoy going back to read their answers to all their comments. A few of the bloggers I read regularly e-mail me responses directly (thanks Stacey, Kim, Zoeyjane, and Smoochiefrog). I love getting e-mail, but I am awful about returning the favor. Add to the fact that I’m usually at work when I blog, e-mails can be tricky. (I know I shouldn’t be doing this at work, but I don’t smoke, so I claim blogging breaks.)
I’ve been wanting to do this for a while, and had experimented with a few ideas… those didn’t work for me. Then I finally figured out how to get into each comment and add my own stuff. (Amazing things FAQs… there is a wealth of really good information in there.)
The new WordPress dashboard actually makes this a little easier, so I decided to take this window of opportunity and just dive in. I promise to respond to each comment in as timely manner as I can, and I hope this will be as fun for you as it has been for me.
You comment, I answer…
FIRST!
good morning dear,
it’s very cool. i went back to yesterday and saw that you called me hon! he he. hope your day is groovy, TARa. take care, beany
[Tara R.] Beany!… love to see your smiley notes, great morning wake-up. You have a neato day to!
Email direct comments are the main reason I’m moving to wordpress.org.
It’s much easier to just hit reply on those comment notification emails, but I’ll probably continue replying to comments on blog entries too – I dunno.
Bloggy breaks…I love it!
[Tara R.] Maria… the .com version gives me the same option, but I can’t do that from work – we have a different e-mail server. And, I am basically lazy.
I love that you’re doing this! I wish Blogger would let us do anything even remotely like this. My solution has been to reply within my comments section to people, since I really like to see the conversations that get going on other people’s blogs when they do this. But it’s not as easy to respond to every single comment this way. And it certainly is a clunkier model than the one you and BusyDad have going. So — good for you!
[Tara R.] MommyM… thanks for stopping by. This is really kinda cheating… if Blogger allows you to edit comments, you can add your response that way. That’s what I’m doing here.
Hi there, This sounds like a great idea. I am still fairly new to blogging so I am still trying to learn the system. Thanks for the comment on my article about adolescents and inhalant drugs! It is great to shear and learn new things from others. Thanks. Mags
[Tara R.] Mags… glad you came by. I enjoyed your blog… great info and from a trained professional, can’t get better than that.
I was responding to comments via emails but the WordPress version I have has a glitch in it that won’t allow it and I don’t want to update. It will be interesting how this works out. I wonder if it is possible to do it on mine? Hmmmm. I’m off to find out.
[Tara R.] Danielle… good to hear from you. There is still a lot about WordPress that I don’t know, but I keep finding out new stuff. Good luck!
P.S. I wonder how many people come back to check on replies?
[Tara R.]… D… I hope a lot.
Me again!!! Oh, I am sooo excited. I can do it too
I do believe I will give it a try.
[Tara R.] D… I’m glad you figured it out… it really wasn’t that hard to do. I’ll be checking in with you too.
I’m trying to do that a bit more, too – but I’m not quite ready to commit to it the way you have here. Good luck!
[Tara R.] April… thanks! We’ll see how successful I can be at this… right now I don’t get so many comments that it’s difficult to keep up. I do love my regular readers, maybe this can fetch me a few more.
First I want to thank you for linking to me….secondly I think commenting to commenters is fun. I love your blog btw.
[Tara R.] Kim… you’re very welcome. I love your blog too, it’s always so thought provoking and inspirational. I have a question for your other blog, but I’m trying to figure out how to ask it.
I was just going to type “Hi” but then I have something to say(what else is new) lol…
I try to comment back and if its something I’d like to go further into…I direct email…
lately I havent been getting many comments(sob sob) so…I havent been responding…(yes I am a dork)
[Tara R.] Jodi… awww. If your other blog readers are anything like me, I’m so stunned by how beautifully you write, that anything I could say would sound, well, dumb. I LOVE your blog. I promise to do better about leaving comments. You rock!
Nice move, on personal blogs I find a bit snooty if the authors don’t respond to comments at all.
mail, or reply comments, are all good. shows interaction.
good luck.
[Tara R.] Xbox… thanks for the encouragement. Yeah, I felt that I was missing something not having some sort of response to all the great comments I get. I guess this is a way for me to say ‘thanks for stopping by’.
Hi Tara – thanks for the mention! Good luck with this. I thought it was going to be more of an issue when we picked it up but it ended up not being an issue at all. I figure comments are like email. I wouldn’t ignore an email sent to me so I shouldn’t ignore comments either. – I hope you’re having a great weekend!
[Tara R.] Chuck… yep, that’s kinda what I was thinking. Someone went to the trouble of coming over to my place, I didn’t want to ignore that. Hope you and yours are having a great weekend too!
I never know what protocol to you to answer my commenters. I wish I could just email them – that’s what I prefer to get. I might not think to come back here and check on my comment….y’know?
[Tara R.] Tasina… I’m just anal, or OCD enough that I always come back to someone’s post if I know they answer on site. Maybe it’s just narcissism?
What an incredible idea! Thanks for passing it along! I am also guilty of “meaning to” reply to an email or a comment…and never making it back around to it. This’ll take care of blog comments….now I just gotta figure out what to do about those emails! ha!
Also…for the folks using WordPress, you can click on the “My Comments” link on the main dashboard…it’ll show the comments you’ve made on WordPress blogs and any responses. It makes it crazyeasy to track blogland conversations.
[Tara R.] Ms. H…. thanks! The more I explore on WordPress, the more fun stuff I find I can do. I like the ‘my comments’ feature too. I set up a blog specific e-mail address, so I know that the vast majority of messages are related to one of my posts. That makes responding a little easier too.
OMG, i had no idea that the new wordpress version allowed us to do this. This will solve those sometimes missing emailed comment notification problems.
thanks for edumacating me! and the blog love.
[Tara R.] Zoeyjane… always have blog love for you! I think we could always do this… it’s just added as an edit to the comment, it just seems a little easier to format now.
i came back and looked … but you, TARa, are one of my favorite people in the whole world, so don’t be surprised. he he. very cool.
hug ya girl, beany bear
[TARa R.] Beany… you surprise me all the time… but that’s a good thing.
I’ve always wondered about the netiquette about this; I wonder if the commenters actually come back to my blog (I comment all over the place, and I forget where I’ve popped in sometimes … getting old!) so what I’ve tried to do is pop back into the commenter’s blog and post a comment there and answer anything if there was a question. I’m not very good at it; and the conversation tends to be a bit disjointed. I have always admired how BusyDad did it, and now you are too; so impressed!
I don’t think I have the option in blogger, but perhaps I’ll try the editing?
Sorry about this long comment LOL!
[Tara R] KarenMEG… no problem. I’ve gotten to where I can remember most of the bloggers who answer on their own site and will go back to see if they responded to a comment. If someone asks a question that can’t really be answered this way, I will send an e-mail. I will also go to the site of every person who comments and try to leave a comment on one of their posts.
ooooh, i came back to ask how and you answered it for me, without even having to ask. smooches!
[Tara R.] Zj… right back atcha… mwah!
I think this is a great idea and have noticed it on other sites also. I wish I could be dedicated enough to do it. Geez, I only have a few commentors per post (if that), so I should do it while it’s easy!
Kudos to you!
[Tara R.] Nicole… thanks! I hope this doesn’t get away from me and I can keep it up.
Hey, cool. I enjoy BusyDad and D is for Dad as well…and I always go back to read what they say. Glad to have met you through Cre8buzz. Looking forward to being a regular. Have a great week!
[Tara R.] SWC… Thanks for stopping by… looks like we both have good taste in men (blogs).
Look forward to seeing you around too.
Great idea! I’m not sure how to do this with blogger. I am also guilty of taking a quick ( sometimes not so quick ) blog break at work. I am interested in seeing how this works! Hope this doesn’t overload you.
[Tara R.] BadMomma… I’m cutting back on how much I blog at work, it was getting dangerously out of hand there for a while. Now, I only really check my stuff at lunch (mostly.) I hope it doesn’t get away from me too. Can you edit comments on blogger? That’s all I’m doing here.
I’m so glad you posted about this today. It really has helped me solve the dilemma of my comment/email….I love the ‘interactive’ feel that it gives to my blog
[Tara R.] Danielle… I’m so glad it’s working for you too.
It’s a really nice idea. Wish I could do it on blogger, but as we all know. Blogger sucks big donkey testicles. Oh wait, can I say that here???
[Tara R.] Kelly… hon, YOU can say anything you want here.
Awwwwwwwwwwww, bloggy love. It’s such a grand thing!
I just started responding to the comments via email b/c I just simply don’t have enough to do in one day. LOL
Nah, I thought it was easier b/c I didn’t know how many people would come back to check for a comment on their comment. It works and hopefully I’m not too annoying to people.
Have a great week!
[Tara R] Smoochiefrog… I know I love getting e-mails from you! I’m even bad about sending ‘thank you’ cards, I thought this would be easier for me.
I’m just stopping by to say hi, its been too long and since you promised to respond, well that makes it all the more worth it. I’m not too sure what you will respond with since I’m pretty much rambling about nothing but you’re clever so I’m sure you will come up with something. Toodles!
[Tara R.] Allie… Hi, right back atcha! You’re here and I love that, so that makes it worth it!
I LOVE this–it is irritating not to be able to do it in Blogger. I probably spend (on average) more time on commenting (I usually write long ones–no quickies here!) than on posting. It would be nice to get feedback, but there really isn’t an efficient way to do it in Blogger–UGH.
If I am asked a specific question, I’ll answer it in my comments section OR I will go to their site and answer (which seems out of context when others read my response).
Now, how do you handle comments on other blogs???
Great idea!!!
[Tara R.] LaskiGal… I really just wanted a way to interact with people who left comments. When a comment needs a more detailed answer I will still send an e-mail. I’m not sure what you mean about ‘comments on other blogs.’ Doesn’t Blogger allow you to edit incoming comments?
he he cutie! TARa — your last comment to me made me giggle aloud. you are adorable. see you in the morning
**tucking you in sweetie** — beany bear
[Tara R.] Beany… nighty, night.
I try to respond in my comment sections to everyone’s comments (cause I have Blogger) but to be honest, I always forget and I hate that! GRRRR.
There has to be a better way.
Another reason, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to switch to WP.
Hmm..
[Tara R.] Heather…WP is the only blog server (is that the right word?) that I’ve used so I don’t know why Blogger doesn’t allow comment edits, but adding responses to each comment here is very easy.
Hey Tara! Well, I finally found you here! I am sooo lame with this blogging stuff, I feel like a dinosaur trying to figure out things…but its coming along slowly. You are like sooo way ahead of me. Sounds like the kiddies are doing great in school! Freshman year woohoo! Ah to be young again, no thanks! Have a great blog breaking day! Piroska
[Tara R] Piroska… good to see you here! School is almost out for the summer for both of them, and I am actually looking forward to that. You, have a fab day too!
I keep saying that I am going to do this, but I am horrible about responding to comments at ALL.
Ok – it’s Monday – start of a new week….time for me to get cracking on comment replies!
[Tara R.] Mindi… come join me, the water’s fine! So, far this has been fun… hopefully, I won’t let it get ahead of me and still be able to read everyone else’s blog.
Big Kudos, Tara! I always wanted to do it, too. Occasionally I will, but I feel usually comments I receive don’t want/require an answer. (Plus I’m not good with compliments, so I just take those, blush, & move on! lol) I make sure I visit the commenter’s blog, but most are already my regular reads anyway..
Maybe you’ll be my motivation, though.
[Tara R.] Nissa… thanks! I’m bad about compliments too. Maybe we can start a trend.
I liked your comment response format so much that I attempted it on blogger–even looked at the FAQs. Seems it’s not an option there.
Anyhoo, I love the format, and am more than a little envious.
[Tara R.] Angela… bummer. This was so easy once I realized I could do it, then I kicked myself for not thinking of it sooner.
I actually started to shy away from the email comments.. it is overwhelming and hard to be original for each commenter.. I need to re-evaluate my comment thing.. I use squarespace like BD .. but I am in blog limbo right now.. not sure which direction I am goin..
But I will visit your blog regardless.. 
xox
[Tara R.] Kim… don’t think I like that phrase… ‘blog limbo…’ maybe ‘hiatus’ is better.
Great idea! I wish I could answer every one of my commenters but like you, I am just awful at it. **sigh**
[Tara R.] Nikki… I hope I can make this a regular feature… I can see that this will be easier for me than trying to send out e-mails.
Okay, I loved this so much that I got a WordPress blog and I am seriously considering switching. Here’s the thing, now that I am here, how the hell do I respond to comments? I can’t figure it out and rather than ask a stranger I thought I would ask you. Thanks
[Tara R.] Allie… aww, shucks! In the comments section, click on the commentor’s name and that will take you to a text box where you can edit the comments. I just add my responses as an edit.
Thank you thank you thank you!!! I’ve been wanting to do this comment within a comment thing for awhile and now that you’ve led me to the FAQs (cause they were so hard to discover on my own) I’m starting to do it effective now. And i gave you a shout out thanks in my post!
Your blog totally ROCKS. Love it.
[Tara R.] AmandaJ… {taking a bow}, thank you, thank you very much! FAQs are the bomb!
OK, seriously…I’m stupid. I can’t figure this out…how do you do the comment within the comments??? HELP!!!!
[Tara R.] AmandaJ… in WordPress, go to the Comments section. Click on the commentors name and this should take you to where you can edit the comments. Add your response as an edit. I italicize my part to set it off, you could do that or use bolding. Hope this helps.
Ok, is it narcissistic of me that I love reading about me the third person? haha! I’m scanning all the comments here to see if people like how I comment back on their comments.
At any rate, I know not everyone reads the comments I write back to them. But that is ok! Know why? I have been told my many people that they enjoy reading my comments back to others. In a way it creates a “story behind the post” for each post because that’s where people ask about that particular event that I was writing about. It gets tedious. I won’t lie about that! But in the end, I wouldn’t do it any other way. I think if people take the time to comment, I should at least acknowledge it.
In the end, it helps me connect on some level with the folks who visit my blog, and that’s what matters most to me.
Glad you’re doing it!
[Tara R.] BD… I always come back to read your response to my comments and a lot of the others. I was glad I finally figured out how to do this. I think you’re right, it does help bring all this to a more personal level… thanks for being such a great mentor!