Challenges of Reading and Commenting | Bloggers Lair | Yakezie Forums

It sounds like you're doing just fine to me. There's no way that you'll be able to visit all of the blogs each day. Pick out 5-10 that you love and hit those each day. If you have additional time, look at some others.

There are actually some days where I'm not able to comment on any sites. It happens. Don't worry too much about it. Just do your best from day to day.

You're not alone Miss T.  There are so many great blogs out there and it's hard to find the time to hit them all.  There are a handful of blogs that I try to read consistently even if I don't always leave a comment, and for the rest I try to rotate so I eventually get to everyone.  But there are only so many hours in the day, and you can't let your own content writing suffer either.  Just do the best you can.  :)

I know that there's only so much free time we have, with other life responsibilities. Blogging is great, but many of us have more important things going on as well (family, job, etc). My answer is perhaps different, but I'd say just have fun with it and do your best with whatever blogging time you have.  If you have to comment less in order to keep up the posting schedule you want, so be it. It's all good. Besides, you've gotten established now anyway, so nobody's going to forget you:) You seem to be doing well.

Hi Miss T.,

Do what is right for you.  The are some awesome commenting machine bloggers out there.  I tried to keep up and felt bad that I couldn't.  In the end, we all have different priorities, schedules, lives, etc.  Ultimately you need to make the moves that benefit you.  Plus, since we are all mostly bloggers, you need to remember, everyone should understand.  Take care!

I have to admit my commenting has dwindled as the writing ramped up.  I still try to get some in but I only like to write when I have something relevant to say.

That being said, I have about 75 blogs in my RSS.  It takes quite some time to scan through them all and read those that interest me.  I've since split them up in sub folders.

Every day i'll look through the folder I deem "big guys".  The bigger sites I tend to get more traffic from.  I then go through my "Favs" folder – folks like Miss T!   After that I plow through a lot of feeds that are pretty educational but not always ones I comment on.  Lastly, the unorganized.  I'll comment/read those if I get a chance.

But there don't seem to be enough hours in the day to get through everything as thoroughly as i'd like to.

I'm pretty random with my reading/commenting. I don't comment for the sake of just writing something. I don't see the need for a set schedule. Just do what works for you.

Speaking of commenting, I have been individually emailing sites with Disque that most of the time I cannot comment on their sites. I have an account, and it just won't let me sign in! I also have difficulties signing into some of the Blogger comments (like SquarePennies).

Anyone else having these issues with just not being able to comment on some sites?

Thank you everyone for your ideas and words of encouragement. They mean a lot. I know it is good for link backs and networking but I honestly can't keep up with commenting right now. I am glad as fellow bloggers you understand this challenge. I will comment as I can though because I want to do my part to help all of you.

I really liked SOOVERDEBT's idea. I have pasted it below: 

This is the solution I proposed:

- We create a Google spreadsheet or calendar where all of us sign up for a particular day.
- When it's your turn, you commit to posting something fantastic on your blog for the assigned day.
- The rest of us will concentrate on that blog for the designated time period – linking, retweeting, commenting, etc.
- If you have time to comment on other blogs, great! If not, at least you've hit the featured blog of the day.
- The featured blog benefits from the traffic, Alexa boost, and promotion from the rest of us.
- We benefit from helping our fellow Yakezies, plus the hope of referral traffic from our comments.

So that's my idea – what do you guys think?

What do you all think about this? It might actually create a manageable system for all of us. 

Thanks again for hearing my vent and taking  a bit of a load off. I have honestly been almost at tears lately trying to keep up with everything. 

Thanks Squirrelers for reminding me that no one has forgotten about me. I forget that I am "established" now- I still feel like a little guy. 

Note: If you do take time to comment on my site, I will do my best to comment on yours going forward. Just bear with me.

Cheers to all you AMAZING people!

Miss T, you are doing a wonderful job.  Don't let yourself get overwhelmed.  Melissa has given you some great advice… some that I will be taking, myself.  About a month ago I found out that a relative whom I am close to (a cousin) was diagnosed with terminal cancer.  I have since become the lead for her care (on top of my own job, blogging, and managing my own house).  And in the middle of all this, a beloved aunt died unexpectedly.  So the last month has been adjusting to my new "normal" (and will likely be this way for the next 6-12 months).  I did exactly what Melissa suggested and took a step back from everything blog-related until I could get myself physically and mentally situated to the new routine.  I have felt terribly guilty and have missed the blog world, but sometimes it is important to recharge yourself or else you will get overwhelmed.  Now I am back and feeling much more creative and am ready to move forward with The Single Saver and other bloggy ventures as time permits.  Hang in there!

I really like So Over Debt's idea.  Another idea might be to form "teams of 10-15 people who can at least visit other blogs in their "team" each day – comment or not based on time.  It might help keep our Alexa ranks stable.  I have to admit mine has taken a nose dive but that is mainly due to not posting or promoting nearly as much due to the family issues.  I guess I need to get back to work.  :)