Challenges of Reading and Commenting | Bloggers Lair | Yakezie Forums

I have probably 100 blogs in my RSS reader.  I have them broken down into two categories, ones which I have bookmarked and ones which I don't.  Those which are bookmarked get my first attention in case I run out of time.  I generally tweak my bookmarks once per month and add blogs that I find myself commenting on more frequently, and taking blogs out that have gone dormant or that don't provide a full RSS feed of their posts (pet peeve). 

I also make sure to comment on blogs that I find commenting on mine.  I think establishing this type of relationship is great.

I also find (and maybe it's counter-productive) that I tend to shy away from some of the blogs that get tons of comments.  I'd rather comment on a blog whose posts routinely get a dozen posts versus one where a post gets a hundred hits.  First, the 'mega'-blog owner probably isn't going to click through to my blog.  Second, if I'm comment 87, chances are very few other readers are going to read through all comments, see mine, and click to the blog.  I have a better chance being the fifth comment on a post with 10% of the traffic. 

The Single Saver said:

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.  :)

 

So sorry to hear about your family Denise. If there is anything I can do let me know. I am thinking of you all right now.

I like your idea too about the teams. Definitely another option I think is worth discussing. What do you all think?

I keep a separate RSS feed for Yakezie blogs.  It just contains the Yakezie blogs I personally find interesting and it is slowly growing as I discover new blogs but it is still manageable.  If I find an article interesting I'll click through and read it on the site.  My goal is to leave at least one comment a day which is a pretty easy goal to meet.  I also try to make it a point to comment on the blogs of those who have commented on my blog.  I think this system works well as the benefit people receive from commenting is in line with how much they comment.  If you comment more you will benefit more and if you comment less you will benefit less.  A schedule doesn't appeal to me but I'm sure it could work for many.

Miss T,

I'm starting to feel overwhelmed too. Last night I didn't even turn on the computer after I get home, I was exhausted.

I think the team idea and other ideas are great. It'll help focus our effort. Previously, I try to rotate through my Google Reader list and comment on as many blogs as possible, but there are just so many sites on my list now. I think I'll have to make a folder for each day and go to only those blogs on that day.

Suba @ Wealth Informatics said:

I visit every single blog every day (Yakezie + non yakezie blogs I have bookmarked), but I don't comment on each one of them. I thought about that, it was difficult to comment on every blog and if/only if I commented I got visits back. So it was difficult for me to decide, but eventually I decided to just visit without thinking about whether that blogger visits me or not. I do comment when I really have something to add, but if I already see that someone said what I wanted to say in the comments, I move on. Sometimes I just promote it in reddit/twitter as it is faster and I can do it from my phone…

 

So my referral traffic has been abysmal but I already work 10 hrs in my day job and 6 hrs on my blog (I take a long time to write my posts :( ) there is only so much time… You are doing great. Don't stress about commenting, try to comment when you can…

Wow Suba that is incredible. I try for 10 a day.