Personally, I tend to read sites like this one for the information it provides. Leaving a comment is just my way of saying thanks for the effort.( if I had a personal question I would email).

I would rather pro bloggers devote their efforts to producing content than spend it responding to readers comments.

Hi David Risley,

Im JP Manching from blogmatters.net

I actually read the blog and I commented on that. Honestly the comment that I have there is kind of BIAS because I only listened to his side and im SORRY for that.

Now I know the reason why. I don't want to be on either of the sides but I know your point is right. A busy person with too many responsibilities just can't be facing one thing the whole day and get stuck!

Thanks for the Video, now it's clear to me. Thanks David

Jp @ Beginners Blogging Guide

Class structure ? One thing I found is people like Sire are cool good people and many of the so called well known bloggers are not. in other words most are Goof snobs who think they are way more important then they are.A person is always going to find time to do what's important I don't care how much money a person has if someone asks a ? or makes a statement that warrants a response and you don't then your a jerk plain and simple :)
The backlash is going down in 2010. We sat back and watched all these lame gurus now it's our turn to do it right.My big thing is the lack of people saying Thanks.When someone does or says something nice I say thanks we have to many ways to send a person a quick message for anyone to have an excuse why they don't and if they are that rich and busy they should hire someone to do it for them PERIOD :)
sites looking awesome BTW
thanks LOL :)

I personally enjoyed Sire's post as well as this video David. What I don't get is why people take this type of article so seriously.

I, for one, saw it completely differently. It doesn't matter to me how "A-List" you are, if I don't get anything out of commenting on your blog, then why waste my time? And that goes for "little" blogs too. It certainly doesn't mean I won't read Darren's blog anymore, I just may not comment as much. Problogger was one of the first blogs I subscribed to when I first started researching blogging, and I continue to learn from his and other so called "A-listers" (I really hate that term).

I thought the real question was why spend my valuable time commenting if it doesn't create any conversation or is ignored because that blogger doesn't have time to reply (which I actually understand) or in some cases just simply doesn't care (believe it or not this is the case on some blogs, I don't think Darren or John fall into that category though).

I could actually be doing something more productive or educational rather than comment somewhere that it never even gets read.

Of course that is just the way I see it, and I am nobody :-)

I agree with your comments on linking. dont get political and over think it.

in regards to comments, like you always say with post scheduel, it comes to CONSISTANCY. How you set the tone of your blog when its small, is the expectaionas your blog will have when its big. Post twice a day, reply to every comment...thats what will be expected. so be carefull when your to set a resonable tone when your small.

You're right. I only get a tenth of the email and comments that many of you guys get, but even that is too much. If I reply with a short line, I get another paragraph back, and then it becomes a long process.

However, I consider myself very approachable and I do try to get back as much as possible. The guy says that personal interaction shouldn't be tied to "if it scales," but I challenge him to say the same thing when he gets 500 emails a day.

I link where I link and promote where I promote. I do it based on the needs of my audience, not my own needs. Anything other than that is selfish. Sounds like this blogger isn't choosing his battles well.

In response to your 'video response'; I couldn't agree with you more, David.
Your also, very gracious in responding with such an informative video for us out here in the community that are trying to learn the in's and out's of successful blogging.

It seems that the blogger that is withdrawing his links, is cutting off his nose to spite his face...(a saying that I cherish). He is, in my opinion, just not getting the correct outlook on the entire concept of professional blogging. And, what makes you stand above the rest, is your gracious reply to such 'unlearned' and obviously untrainable thinking.
I don't EXPECT anyone to reply to my 'comments on blog posts. Rather, I leave a post usually to just express my view on a matter... I must say, it is a pleasant surprise when I do get replied to, but I have never EXPECTED it. This 'other blogger person is in for some rude surprises with his online activities, because the way I am seeing it, is he has the wrong attitude. Sorry for him.
Best Regards,
Valerie Mosso

honestly David, what you said makes no sense. how does responding to comments illustrate that someone is or is not approaching blogging like a business?

Allyn...
Have you read this entire thread/comment whatever you want to call it?

I am here tonight, because of a response to an email....out of curiousity, I came over here to see what all the fuss was about. And, sure enough! People making insane, idiotic comments. I am surprised at the total LACK of business sense you 'objectors are exposing for the whole wide world to view!

Lets just put it like this.

IF a person has a nice little blog....and they make a nice little post...and push "publish" on the publish button, and then quickly go to view the blog...and re-read their little post, and then sit and wait for the comments to come in, with their chin in their hands, and their eyes glued to the comment section........ then GREAT! GO FOR IT!

As for a blog that is aimed at making money.......... as a professional, NOT amateur blog, then there is more to it than sitting glued to the comment section, answering each and every comment to the post.
Also, have any of you given it a thought, that many Pro-bloggers have a few more irons in the fire, than just one "pro" blog?
Heck, what do you think these guys are anyway? Internet Supermen?
Get for real!
Its NOT good business ethics to sit and drool over the comment section 24/7, lest a post goes unanswered......
You all need Business 101 for crying out loud!
GEEEZE..

The blogger who began this discussion made a habit of replying to EVERY comment on his blog. It is that which I said wasn't a good use of time.

I guess it would depend on his monetization method. I have nearly 200 "blogs" and only get social on a couple of them. The ones where I am not social are ones that are designed to make money off the search engine visitor who is coming in to buy something. (we're talking non MMO niche here)
However, the blogs I get social on are ones designed to make money from the community either by gaining trust so I can sell them something, or to increase loyalty and return visits so traffic levels are sustained, thus I can charge private advertisers more money.
I think the we can gain more insight on the issue if we step out of the MMO and IM niches... as I am sure you are aware, that is where the real money is.
AL
PS- I do find it funny that Chow has all those subs and Twitter followers but gets a handful of drivel comments on his posts. What's that tell you?

David - I do tell my readers to moderate and try to reply to comments. Especially when a comment on their blog adds something to the conversation. And that is also how and when I decide to reply to a comment too. When I can continue to add something to the conversation. Do I reply to every comment, no. Do I read every comment, yes. I moderate every comment sent to my blog.

I find it funny someone would complain about Darren not replying to all of his comments. I mean really. While I do comment from time to time on one of Darren's post. I have never expected him to reply. Darren gives out so much content and information, the person complaining is really missing the point. Quite frankly, I would rather Darren provide the new, relevant content in his blog post than spend his time answering all of his comments.

David, you commented to Sire:
>I have a feeling you and I are saying the same thing here, but just to differing degrees, no?

I think you are right and your point makes perfect sense. I think Sire has a valid point too.

I think what Sire is missing is that you and Darren understand that you may loose some readers by not responding as much. It is a conscious decision because you believe there will be a net is a gain by focusing on other things that draw more readers.

I did notice however that you didn't mention his blog or name in your video. That came across as odd and perhaps deliberate to me.

David,

I haven't blogged in a while. I am stuck in that part of the "cycle" where I am simply reading blogs, studying, preparing, and taking notes. I accidentally overwrote an entire blog, which was crushing for me. I couldn't restore it since there was no recent backup. I learned my lesson, but so far have not had the heart to start up again.

When I am actively blogging, however, I tend to interact with the community through the posts. Yes, I will comment back to an occasional comment, provided that the number of comments aren't overwhelming, but generally speaking I would try to take a day every week or so to make a post that addressed any issues that were being brought up in the comments section. That way the community didn't feel ignored, but I also didn't create extra work for myself.

I think you hit the nail on the head when you called this "petty." I was disgusted by the post you referenced, personally. I love reading Darren Rowse (though I don't subscribe to John Chow).

David,

I understand and agree with most of this. But let look at it from a different point of view. What about the little guy. After all it is the advice of the A-list bloggers that replying to comments is vital. A bit hypocritical when they do not do it themselves.

I understand that you cannot reply to every one of the hudreds of comments you get every day. But then surely one can come up with a plan. See who are those who comment more than once. Draw up a schedule, and put in some effort to reply back to at least a few different comments a day.

Make a list of a few little guys whose blogs you can read and perhaps even comment on. Let me tell you, if this were to be done, then you would not get this type of retaliation.

Look at the great upliftment you gave @mikecj, thats what I am talking about.

Remember this, it is those little and unknown bloggers that keep the A-list bloggers alive. With out them, their blogs and traffic will dry out and die. Keep your readers happy.

No one said it would be easy. If you can't handle the 10 000 readers, then tell us so and let us bother with someone else who does care.

I have utmost respect for both you and Darren. You guys have taught me much. So don't take this up the wrong way when I say that it is time for you guys to get some advice from the likes of me.

Interact more with the small guy and we will keep coming back.

I must admit tho, that I comment on A-lst blogs, not for the purpose of trying to get a response form the blogger, but for the purpose to ad value to the thread, and to interact with the other commentators.

Often times when I comment on A-list blogs, I get a some referral traffic. Now it's not a spike nor is it a flood, but it is traffic none the less. New people reading my blog. Maybe one or two might come back. That's what I am interested in.

For example, I often get what I call trickle traffic from Mashable, Problogger, Chris Brogan, etc. So with all the rants, for me it is not entirely about response form the blogger, but a response from the community. It's about reaching out to a audience that I do not know yet. Finding new faces and new eyes to read my blog.

Robert, I have to disagree with this statement and view you have...(if you are reading this!)
To quote you:
" Make a list of a few little guys whose blogs you can read and perhaps even comment on. Let me tell you, if this were to be done, then you would not get this type of retaliation."

I have to disagree....... For one, you are advising for David (or any A-list pro- blogger ) to make a list of a FEW little guys to interact with. How do you know if they arnt doing this? And, what about the other few that dont make the list... that still leaves everything wide open to petty complaints from unlearned, or unteachable people that just DONT GET IT!
It is pure stupid to think that a pro-blogger with a lot of comments to read, etc etc, is going to spend all his time replying every post. I for one, cannot believe that this other blogger guy is even serious!! He is just not getting it~
You will never be able to please all the people, all the time, and probably not even a few... but, to run a professional blog, one that is there to MAKE money, you cannot feasibly comment a reply to every post......
NO one does that... that I know of.....
Regards,
Valerie Mosso

HI Valarie,

Yes i'm reading this.

First off it was a suggestion.
Next I agree that A-list bloggers cannot reply to every comment. But they need to realise one thing. It is the readers that make their blogs. Not interacting with them, when they themselves teach that this is a must, just shows arogance. With out the readers, there is no blog.

No, You won't be able to please all the people all time. But you should be able to show that you care not for the lack of trying.

As far as the list is concerned. If one guy does not make the list, Perhaps he might on the next list. THis Sugggestion is by no means fail proof. What would you have the A-list bloggers to. Ignore their readers. If thats the case, then why blog. Are they not putting their articles on their blogs fro me to read. Why allow comments, if you are not going to take notice of said comment. Might as well switch comments off.

But let me repeat, I do not comment on A-list blogs to get a reply, I comment to add value to the other readers and commenters there. If my reason to comment were to solicit a reply, I might as well give up now.

My point is not that I want a reply on every comment. The point is that Bloggers should live by what they teach. If you teach that you need to respond to comment, they you better make sure you do the same.

The argument is not that A-list blogger do not reply to all their comments, it is that they do not or very seldom reply at all.

I agree with Robert about this last paragraph of his comment, it's more like getting known to the audience, instead of just waiting for reply every time you comment something.

When I first started commenting (and believe me, I am veeeeery new to commenting on major blogs like this) I used to be stuffing keywords in my name because it seemed perfectly "logic" to me, since you already submit a link to your site (blog in my case) why not to make it an anchor text also?

Then I got the opposite advice from one other fellow blogger who actively responds to his readers and community, that other people don't like such behaviour because it shows from the start that the only intention of your comment is to get a link and some traffic from it.

So, replying to comments shouldn't be ignored also, it helps to build some kind of relationship, and that is better than a one or two time visitor who will never come back to your site/blog again.

Please link to me David! ;-)

Great video dude ... totally agree with it!

Talk soon,

Ryan

Like other people have suggested, these guys (as we all do) have to manage their time and set priorities. I haven't interacted with John Chow before, but I have interacted with folks like Darren Rowse, Chris Brogan, etc. and they're both human, decent guys overall.

I can't help but wonder if Sire was, in part, linkbaiting for the sake of getting traffic, although I can understand his frustrations. We all go through that. Darren himself has written about times when he hasn't been able to get through to other bloggers.

I notice that Darren showed up on Sire's blog and engaged with him, as I've seen him do in other circumstances.

It can be disheartening if you feel ignored, but sometimes there are good reasons.

David, if you don't mind, I'm including a link which addresses the topic of being ignored, I think it's pertinent to the conversation and might be helpful to some people:

http://broadcasting-brain.com/2009/03/02/reasons-why-people-ignore-you/

Thanks for finding this and pointing it out to your audience.

Nope, I actually didn't link to any of the big boys. The whole thing would have probably gone unnoticed except for a comment left by one of the readers who mentioned David's name. Then some BackType magic got hold of David and the rest is History.

Thanks for getting the ball rolling David.

No, I don't expect bloggers who get hundreds of comments a day to respond to my comments.

I respond to the comments I receive on my blogs, The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide, the Boomer Consumer on the Seattle PI Web site, and Boomer411 (I write weekly as a guest blogger).

When I begin getting hundreds of comments, I won't be able to respond because of the time involved.

Rita

Creating quality content sustains a blog as it draws readers into it although commenting can help create a community within the blog through interaction, it's not practical if it's becoming detrimental to one's success.

I do agree that balance is the key. It always depends on how a blogger runs his blog and his blogging goals. I'm sure a lot of newbies has to learn from pros like yourself but again, what will matter in the long run is how will a blogger respond or make use of such learning to benefit himself.

Honestly, I don't get much comments like other blogs do but on a personal perspective, getting direct advertisers from time to time makes sense to me that I'm indeed creating valuable content with commercial value that's why software companies approach me.

If I were to respond to a comment or jump into a commentator's site, it's not always that I can do it, I make an effort but not most of time. Maybe it all depends as well if I really have something to say or I've read something that interest me.

It's reality that we cannot expect reciprocation (comments for instance) but again, it all boils down to balancing what matters the most (our goals) and the call for urgency (things that needs to be done in accordance to our goals).

I think some of these Bloggers become so successful that they forget who ads to their success- their readers. When you get as many comments as Darren does it might be hard to reply to every comment, but I think one needs to make an effort even if it is addressing everyone as a whole. I once emailed Darren and requested an interview. He was too busy for my offer.FYI: And big names like Darren are not the only bloggers who don't return comments. I have commented on many blogs where the blogger never returned to my blog or even acknowledged my comment.

I just wanted to say I just found this site via Twitter, and it looks really cool! This is all interesting to me. I don't know if I'm just a freak, but sometimes I feel like I reply too much to comments, Like people really want to hear what I say? But I do get a kick out of it when someone comments back to me... all good things to think about. Of course, none of this stuff really applies to me because I have a very small little blog. But I still like to learn from you pros!

Little and small aren't bad. Think of your blog as a little treasure.

Thanks, I shall!

Hi David,

It's my first time here but I couldn't help but jump in. Based on the post I read on Sire's blog about not linking to Problogger and Chow anymore, it does seem that the problem issue (according to Sire) is that neither Darren or John pop over and visit a blog that just linked to them, nor do they leave a comment or a thank you for the link.

Good grief. If Darren and/or John stopped dead in their tracks to rush over to each and every blog that links to them every time a link comes in...to leave a comment of their own and say thanks etc, neither of them would ever get anything else done. Sorry, but it sounds like whining to me.

I've seen Darren interact with readers in his comment section when he felt it was warranted. On Darren's blog, it does appear that much of the comment section of late is filled with "A lister" groupies as I call them wanting the "big star" to notice them. (rolls eyes) I haven't been to Chow's blog for a long time so I have no idea what he does or doesn't do anymore. I have Darren's blog in my reader, and whenever he decides to start writing his own posts again instead of a bunch of guest posts (plus giving out crappy links), I just might actually read what he has to say again.

Commenting on other blogs is certainly a good thing to do, but there does come a point where BALANCE is necessary so the entire day is not spent running around the internet commenting on everyone else's posts, rather than spending the time needed to write more content for your own blog(s). The next complaint will be that the A Listers don't @ reply someone on Twitter who is busting a gut to get noticed. Fan clubs are nice, but they don't pay the bills.

Hi Lin, I'm an Aussie, and as an Aussie I like to point out that we don't whine, we may whinge a little, we may even chuck a fit on occasion, but we don't whine ;)

Also the crux of the post was that I felt Darren and the like didn't really need me to support them, and wouldn't miss me in the slightest, and that I felt there were a lot of other bloggers out there who I could help and needed my support. So I figured if they didn't have the time to even reply to a comment that I left on their blog, then I would be better off associating with those that did.

It was a personal view and not once did I suggest that anyone should follow my lead.

I agree with you David in that once you're professionally blogging, balance becomes important.

I'm still a newbie, so I have the luxury of replying to every comment on my blog. (Haven't seen your comment on there yet though :) ). However, I'm aware that if I became extremely busy like you family men who are also trying to generate a full time handsome income online, then I would probably struggle to justify replying to every comment in future.

Most of you guys have a wife and kids. I can't imagine putting comment replies ahead of spending time with my kids if I decide to have them in future.

At the moment, I think you're quite lucky, because you're a famous problogger, but you don't get the huge amount of comments of ProBlogger or CopyBlogger. Your commenters tend to be fewer but more in depth when they do leave a comment.

Many comments on the other blogs such as "I really enjoyed this" and "Great post" don't warrant replies.

Cheers.

Well, that's also because this blog doesn't get the traffic that Problogger or Copyblogger does. :-) If it grows to that point, things could change. But, yeah, the "good post" stuff does get old. I still get that stuff here.

David, I've found you to be very responsive, and I agree that responding to every single comment is not necessarily mandatory. That said, it's not my experience that running a site professionally necessarily means you cannot be fully interactive with your readers. It simply depends on the niche, what you're selling and how you monetize your site.

I build small stuff that depends on a high level of engagement. Clearly though, in a space like the "make money online" space where you are getting hundreds of thousands of visitors, it's just not practical to be interactive on that level.

I think it's pretty unrealistic. Some of those blogs get hundreds of comments a day. I think they probably have more important things to do.

That being said I think, they should be paying attention to their comments to get feed back about their articles and the direction of the blog.

For me, it's important for up and coming bloggers to interact with their readers, develop relationships and momentum.

Mike - I think that's a good point. What I try to do is keep an eye on what's happening in comments even if I don't respond IN comments to everything because those comments shape my next posts. So in an indirect way I'm interacting with comments.... but in a way that I hope will bring benefit to the person commenting but also others.

I was just going to say that as a reader, I always feel that you do read all the comments because they are addressed in posts and referenced pretty regularly. I think most people don't really expect a personal response. You provide endless awesome content for free on a daily basis! What often happens is other commenters answer questions, etc. You've built a great community feeling there :)

Thanks for the video David.

I've left a long reply on the post so won't regurgitate here but for me it doesn't really come down so much to how to be profitable or have a smart business approach (although it's probably part of it) but for me it's probably more about how do I deliver the best value that I can to my readers?

If I spend 2 hours today reading every comment on my blogs and then responding to 10% of them (which is what I'd calculate it to take) - what does that take me away from doing.... and is the interaction in comments more or less valuable to readers?

The reality is that if I spent 14 hours a week in comments that I'd have less time for creating content. This would mean the quality of posts goes down.... and I'm less useful to readers.

I guess for me the reality is that I think I can be more useful to my community writing a single post than responding to comments - in most cases.

I'm certainly not happy with that - I'd love to respond to everyone - but I'm not sure it's really going to deliver value to my community to do that.

Darren...
You have a way of putting it all into words. You surmized exactly what David has been trying to say the whole time!

I am surprised at this 'debate, as I would much rather see good content on the blog to read and learn from, than go around worrying if someone is answering every comment I make on their post.
Professional is the key word here.
There are Professional bloggers, and then there are..... um well, what I call, wannabes.
Some people are just never going to "get it".
Best Regards,
Valerie Mosso

Agreed. And that decision to focus more on the content is a smart business approach. After all, it is the content which brings traffic, not the comments. And the traffic puts people on your list, creates new feed subscribers, new members to the Problogger forums, and so on and so on.

It always comes down to how best to leverage time for best value.

yes - I guess my decision to try to be more useful to readers is partly a business decision too :-)

Every decision to do something is also a decision to not do something else - tough questions to ask oneself :-)

I'm still trying to figure out how to set up a Backtype notification. Maybe a post on that? :)

I did mention it more in-depth in this post:
http://www.davidrisley.com/2009/02/16/3-powerful-tools-for-monitoring-your-brand/

The person you're talking about is being petty and diminishing himself publicly by whining like this, which is too bad. Separately from that, each blogger decides on an approach to commenting, and that approach doesn't have to be the same as anyone else's. It doesn't have to be justified or even explained. If the blog readership grows and the audience digs it and business is good, then it's the right thing.

I'm sure Darren and John are emotionally shattered over the loss of those links.

Nice Reply ....
Nicely put...
You ""Get it""...

Well, at this point I am capable of replying on every relevant comment, unfortunatelly I get a few comments which tell a few generic sentences about how my blog is good, keep up the good work bla bla, and I don't really get any comments intented to start some kind of communication.

and they put the link to their own site/blog.
I know that I am still new, with the beginner type of blog, I don't use all those fancy stuff you big bloggers do, but I think I make some baby steps now, getting some traffic, people now and then download ebooks on my internet marketing ebooks blog (yea, here I am, doing the same thing other people do on my blog lol) which is kind of the most realistic measurement of success of my blog, which is not personal like the blogs of you big guys, but more like a niche kind of blog.

Anyway, I am also commenting on problogger and john chow, and I don't find the fact that they don't respond that often such disturbing. In fact, I find John Chow's blog not so good as problogger because problogger gives more valuable stuff than john chow to me now, since I am a lower-end kind of dude, near broken, meaning that I can't buy all those stuff John Chow promotes on his blog and in his posts, while on problogger I find many more useful things, that I can use and follow in my blogging quests.

Daren doesn't really NEED to reply to all the comments because he delivers, while John Chow even might be involved in replying a little more, but that is only my (more or less) newbie opinion.

Firstly my post was not a boycott of the ProBloggers of this world. I don't believe that I said or even implied that people took this stance.

I'm also not suggesting that you have to reply to every single comment, just that they should have more interaction, something that I see you actually do on your posts.

In my opinion I feel it is bad business to ignore your commentators, and the time taken to interact more fully with them can only bring positive results.

Just as Mike CJ was thrilled when you commented on his blog, I am sure that many would feel the same way when you personally reply to their comment. It shows that you valued the time they took to not only read your post but to formulate an opinion. How can this be bad for business.

Oops, I almost forgot. In regards to all the ads, while I blog for the sheer enjoyment of it I am not adverse to making a little cash on the side. I'm pretty sure I could do a whole lot better by researching ad placement, analytics and the like, but then that would take all the fun out of blogging.

Still, it is an interesting discussion and I will follow it with interest.

Welcome to my side of the woods. :-)

I don't always reply as much as I am in this post. Usually, I monitor and respond a little less. But, I do try.

BTW, just to clarify, its only bad for business when taken to the point that you're not focusing on growth of the blog, your product line, etc. My goal here is to show people how to turn their blogging passions into a real business, and I'd be lying to folks if I said that could be done by high-volume commenting.

Ultimately, building a list and creating/marketing products will put a blogger on the radar much faster than high-volume commenting.

Anyway... thought it was an interesting discussion, hence my time to make the video. Getting some interesting feedback, too. :)

Oh, I've been in this neck of the woods before, I've just found them a little inhospitable. ;)

As to the commenting, I would have to disagree, especially if you're doing it professionally as I would assume you have more time. I work full time and I still take the time to comment, and it's not like I only get one or two comments per post either.

I can't see why you can't do both, comment and focusing on growing your blog etc. It's only an hour a day and it would put you way ahead of the other guys who won't do it?

I have a feeling you and I are saying the same thing here, but just to differing degrees, no?

I'll just leave it with this: It IS different when you are creating a full business from a blog. Ultimately, the market and your business is better served by creating relationships through your email list, creating products, etc. When that and great content are your priority, you are best leveraging your time. So, again, it is a matter of degrees here.

Hope that makes sense.

Sorry mate, maybe I am just too old and too set in my ways. I've been associated in the retail business for over 40 years and I just see my commentators as customers. When in retail, ignoring your customer base is not the best thing to do.

I'm not telling you how to be a problogger, all I'm saying is that you could be better than the rest.

Nobody is talking about ignoring them. I think I've made that very clear, have I not? I said BALANCE.

Plus, when you have products to sell, customers are generally people who PAY you. In retail, somebody else makes the products you have around. In this business, you're a one-man show. I make the products. My customers are people who buy stuff or are on my mailing list.

This is the difference between a livable income and $95. My argument is to comment less and focus on business growth. Note, I said comment LESS, not none. Don't reply to every comment, but schedule in time to reply to some in a selective manner. Use the remaining time to create ACTUAL customers.

Dude, if you can't see my point, I'm sorry. I'm trying to be as clear as I can. :)

Off for dinner with the fam. Peace out.

Hi Dave,
I totally agree here.
If you provide great value and content to your visitors then that is fine.
Reply as much as you can to comments but not to the point where it takes over your day.
I am sure you value your visitors but unfortunately you can not possibly reply to every single post or comment.

I see those guys responding to comments all the time. Chow even sends me back tweats when I mention him in a tweat.

Absolute top video David!

I totally agree with you. There is a class level as you described in blogging. The new bloggers like myself can see a lot of benefit of interacting with just about every comment, email, tweet etc that comes our way because:
A) We're trying to build a reputation and trust within the community and
B) It's MANAGEABLE when you're just starting out.

Many don't get the number of emails, comments, tweets like you do and there will be a time when bloggers reach a level where they will have to adjust their time in efforts in the engagement department to be able to continue delivering quality content and promoting their blog etc.

Sure you could try and continue replying to everything that comes your way but as the numbers grow so does the time and we're limited to time throughout the day to actually do stuff with our blogs.

The only thing I would say is that it would be nice from time to time if the 'pro bloggers' came out and made the random comment on their own posts. I'm sure it probably happens anyway. I know you do. Again, I'm sure it happens but it would also be cool to see the 'pro bloggers' make a comment on the blogs that are just getting started.

Many people know who the top bloggers are and having a comment by someone like yourself, Darren Rowse, John Chow etc appear on their blog would be a huge confidence boost for beginner bloggers. Even if it's just words of encouragement 'I think you're in the right direction, great post' something like that - because it would come from someone so highly respected in the blogging world would mean a lot to some bloggers out there.

But you should only feel the need to comment if it's of value or you feel like you have something to say - like you've done in this instance.

Every blogger has to find some kind of balance when prioritizing what they choose to invest their time doing. There are also different "blogging styles" which cries out for a post I haven't written yet; however, dofollow bloggers like Sire value community and commentator interaction much higher than nofollow Probloggers do.

Each of us filters what we read through our own perceptions. Where some may think Sire is calling for a boycott, knowing him for some time online I believe he was simply recognizing that as he prioritizing who he links to that it simply makes more sense to link to bloggers who appreciate those incoming links and reciprocate.

I doubt that anyone really expects Darren to answer all his comments or even very many of them. I do believe that he could do more to reward those who are very active online and link to his content and recommend him regularly in Social Networking sites.

He could acknowledge a comment from them once in a while, or mention and link to them in a relevant post, include them as a related posts or share a link for them on Social Media now and then.

Major bloggers don't have to reward every regular commentator all the time; giving an upcoming blog a boost once is a while would encourage those bloggers to keep reading, commenting and linking.

I know that guest posts are another potential alternative for their regular readers; however, taking an hour now and then to uplift those who have linked to you over and over or regularly post your content to Social Networks would certainly enhance your reputation and desirability among up-and-coming bloggers.

Good points. Thanks.

Since Darren seems to be the main focus in many of these comments so far, I'll just note this, too:
(1) He accepts guest posts quite a bit from his community, and that gives a LOT of recognition.
(2) He is very active in the Problogger forums.

For what its worth... :)

I don't spend as much time in Darren's forums as I would like; good to know he is very active in them. When I have checked in - usually to the blogging buddies threads - I didn't happen to see him there.

Darren is the main focus of many of the comments because he is widely respected and publishes exceptional content. I link to it regularly; in fact I just added a link to his post about FTC disclosures from mine.

One good thing came out of this controversy - I found your blog. I intentionally focus on interacting in dofollow blogs but do link to and read excellent content in others.

That's ridiculous. They simply choose not to reply to comments because they don't feel they need to. Plain and simple. They are for the most part hypocritical of what they "teach".

Class structure? Seriously?

I think that it has to be remember what these people preach on their own blogs. I remember listening to Darren not so long ago saying that bloggings main focus shouldn't be about making money, making money is just a bonus that he does. Instead it is about the general interaction with a community.

Now I don't know from experience how much Darren et el reply to post etc... But I would expect to see on their own blogs at least an hour set a side to at least do one comment post that sums up any questions etc... maybe not a direct reply to everything. Don't forget that they are doing this on a professional basis so they have a little more time then those who have other jobs to occupy them like myself. As you said community is important in this business and is when you are talking about trust agents, professional bloggers need to keep this up.

That's a good idea - replying en mass to comments in a post. Good one.

I think what people want to see is an effort to interaction with the audience and if you do a mass response in the comments section at least your presence is known on your own site and people can take note that you are actually responding to them I don't think everyone wants personal one-to-one, what the social networking and media allows us to do is one to many communication.

I can see both arguments here, but I'm not sure the guy was actually saying that Darren and JC don't interact, it seemed more like he was saying that they don't get out on other blogs to comment back, and I think that is an issue.

I remember the first time you commented on my blog, David, a long time ago. And it gave me a real kick to see someone of your standing take the time and trouble to stop by.

And I think that's the point he was making. I don't see Darren or John on my blog, your blog or even on their peer's blogs, joining in the conversation. And I think that could be a mistake. They don't have to invest too much time in doing it - maybe 2 or 3 comments a day? Sure the ROI for Darren commenting on a new blogger's site is poor, but it's has big PR value, and at the end of the day, it's what we all preach.

I hope I'm never too successful to take the time to read and comment on other people's blogs, irrespective of whether I think it will benefit me.

Well spotted and an interesting post - thanks. And the vid quality was fine as well.

You're right. I'm not sure he was referring to commenting on other blogs, but either way, good point.

Personally, I *try* to post a comment on any blog which mentions my name. It so happens that that is how I usually find these posts. I would have never found this one had a commenter not mentioned my name. :-)

Lol! That was a mistake. What's the betting that there will be 150 posts tomorrow mentioning your name!

Hang on.......maybe that wasn't a mistake :)

Ooops. ;-)

Although I understand your position, I'd have to disagree with you. Isn't this the same type of thinking companies have been using with social media - interaction with our community is great, but it's taking away from time to do "business". But isn't what we're preaching now mostly about how social word-of-mouth marketing & customer relationship management *IS* business and affects your bottom line?

I know I'm playing a bit of devil's advocate here because it's pretty unrealistic to think one person can reply to every single comment... but it seems like your opinion is conceptually contrary to what many of these "pro" bloggers talk about when it comes to social media and business.

In any case, politicizing "link love" by announcing a boycott seems a bit immature to me. Link because you think it's quality content your readers would appreciate... could it be maybe the "pro" bloggers aren't doing it for you because your content isn't? Hmm...

I don't think it is contrary... it is just realistic. As you said yourself, it is unrealistic to reply to every single comment (which is what this guy was doing). And it is definitely possible to spend so much time in conversation that no actual work happens. So, striking that balance is something each person has to work out for themselves. Personally, I think that other blogger was taking it too far to the extreme. And a blogger who never replies is, again, too extreme in the other direction.

Hope that makes sense.

I have to disagree here. I am a fan of Darren from ProBlogger... No, he may not respond to commenter questions on each post but he does do it from time to time. There was a post he did where I asked a question and so did a lot of other people. He actually did multiple comments to address each of us specifically with his answer. If he did this daily then he wouldn't have time to get s*** done but for him to do it once every week or two, it's very good of him. AND out of all the Q's I've sent him via email in the last month, he has answered 8 out of 10... personally. nicely. helpfully.

I don't know about Chow but I know he is big and big means busy... right? I answer all of my commenter Qs but at the same time, it's not my #1 priority.

Exactly.

I try to answer all of my emails. I am also accessible via Twitter. Personally, I don't look at blog comments as a general conversation medium. But, maybe that's just me.

I've gotta say and Indeed I did say something similar only the other day on my site, that it is so annoying to see the big boys in the market who don't interact with their readers.

Without their readers they would be nothing. It doesn't take that long to reply to the odd comment, put aside an hour every couple of days to reply.

It's shows you care and are interested in what they have to say.

I interact with my readers a lot and while I don't get the traffic Darren or John get I really think it shows a nasty arrogance if site owners appear to ignore the very people who make them a success.

I must say though that I am a huge fan of both Darren, John and yourself and can appreciate how busy you guys are, but by not interacting with the very people who put you up there, it can only result in a backlash and this maybe the start of it?

What do you think David?

Well, I don't think this is any backlash trend, no. But, I do agree with you about the importance of not forgetting your audience. Relationships are everything in this business.

What it comes down to, though, is learning to efficiently manage it. And sometimes that does mean you can't reply to every comment. And, in fact, as I said in my video, it isn't really a good idea in the long term.