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Everyone likes comments on your blog posts... right?

When someone visits your blog regularly, and comments, you want to know WHO they are right? It's always good to know WHO is reading your stuff and WHO reads and comments, as well as recognize the 'regulars' that visit your BLOGS. I have regular blogs that I visit EVERY TIME I am on Active Rain, and then I often gander out to see WHO ELSE is posting what, and learn a few new things daily.... We all do this, don't you?

Recently, I read a blog post (made by a neighboring Active Rainer), and commented on the blog post (MY BLOG POSTS COMMENTS ARE ALWAYS POSITIVE, or I DON'T make them). If you have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all... right? Well I received an "off the record" message that said, "this is offensive to me, and considered SPAM, remove your graphics before I delete your comment".

Don't you know... BEFORE I EVEN HAD A CHANCE TO DELETE my own comment (out of respect for THAT writers opinion), my comment was already deleted! I was shocked!!

Well, here is my question, especially to all of you REGULAR Rain Makers out there...

If I took the time to READ your blog post, and left some positive feedback via commenting on your BLOG post, and maybe even took extra time to check the box that says "notify me of future comments".

Then, at the end, I put my little 'TINK' at the bottom to let you know I was there, and enjoyed your post...

WOULD THAT OFFEND YOU???
Would you consider it SPAM to leave this on the bottom of MY comment, in your blog post?
The Definition of SPAM is unwanted BULK email, etc.

In my opinion, if you are NOT leaving ANY reciprocating links back to you (which I would consider offensive to the writer), and you took the time to comment on MY BLOG, I SAY 'WELCOME'!!!!!

What say YOU ? ? ?

Posted by Tampa FL Homes for sale | Tampa Bay Katrina Madewell (813) 777-1196 on 07/30/2007 09:13 PM

Comments (34)

welcome, blogging etiquette, comments, tink

Originally posted at: Tampa Bay Area Real Estate Blog: Everyone likes comments on your blog posts... right?

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34 Comments on Everyone likes comments on your blog posts... right?

JUL

2007

katrina, You are one of the sweetest and kindest bloggers I have befriended in the Rain. I can not imagine anyone considering any of your comments Spam or offensive!!

Katrina - Would not be offended at all. Thats the complaint you got? Love your Oh my God Picture!

Thanks Mana, I REALLY appreciate that! I wanted to make SURE I WAS NOT offending anyone!

Bill - YES!!! that was the compliment I got! Thanks and that's oh my GAWD, I would NEVER use gods name like that, thought the pic was funny. THANKS for stopping by!

Katrina -- feel free to leave a comment and tinkerbell on any blog of interest to you. I am not offended and appreciate the comments.

I wouldn't be offended, but I do consider graphics that contribute nothing to be a waste of bandwidth, and sometimes they can cause things to not be read. The reason for that is a lot of graphics are hiding malware, etc.

Katrina, I personally love your "tink". It actually caught my eye and brought me to your blog. You can visit my blog anytime and leave as many "tinks" as you like. :-)

Hi, Katrina! I think some people just need something to complain about...it's a shame. I think your "tink" is cute - and not at all offensive, annoying or otherwise objectionable! It's welcome on my blog anytime!

~Maura Gebhardt

How can the combination of Pink and Tinkerbell every be considered offensive.... You got both my hot buttons.... blog away.....

Thanks - Joan, Jim, Irina, The Gebhart Group, and Desiree - I will be personally checking out ALL of your blogs! Thanks for your response, I appreciate EVERY comment! Welcome back anytime, comments and graphics welcome :o)

I don't think signatures are considered comment spam. However, I do see how flashy objects could distract the attention. For example, I would have a hard time reading the comments if everyone had an animated graphic below their signature. It's just my opinion but if I were you, I would probably switch to a static graphic. The only other exception is if one of my competitors posted a comment and linked their logo in one of my post. That may not sit right with me.

All that being said, feel free to continue to include your signature when commenting on my post. It won't get deleted. :-)

JUL

2007

Katrina - on Active Rain - Graphics in signatures ARE considered SPAM because many feel they detract from the writer's post which is a BIG NO NO - especially since many of our posts are written as professionals for the local consumers - we want them focused on our writing - and who can compete with "tinkerbell".

This is something many newer people stumble across like you did.

Since you asked - I love comments and of course I think the world of you as a person and I would also prefer comments on my blog did not distract from my Localism / Public post since I am working to attract local consumers.

Members only posts are a little different to me since it's just us guys and gals seeing it - but we don't tend to change our signature between posts for localism or members only - this may give you a different insight to it.

I had my website listed when I first joined on many of my comments and learned quickly that I was offending my peers who I wanted to connect to and have them refer to me so I quickly cleaned up my signature and apologized where appropriate - that's just how I chose to handle it.

Hope this helps shed some light on what happened.

Katrina, it seems like you and Griselda had the same experience with graphic signatures. I use them since they're fun but others view them differently. As you get to know the authors better, you can determine which ones won't mind Tinkerbell. You presented good arguments for using them. Thanks!

Katrina..... Cyndee does make a good point. But at the same time.... several members took it upon themselves to say that signatures are considered spam. I never saw it in the actual AR guidelines. And you are right about spam. This is not spam. And even though I can see Cyndee's point, I think some just use this as an excuse to complain. Does it really distract others? I don't think so, especially if it's in the comments which are below the blog itself. And if your blog is that good, people will read it. But this is just my opinion. And I know some are mad at me... but I have had only one tell me directly so I don't use the signature if I comment in this person's post. Now, if others would just stand up and tell you, I have no problem. I have a problem with those that tell others behind my back, that they don't like this..... but never tell me directly themselves. How am I suppose to know?

In any case, Tink is always welcomed in my posts.

jeff belonger

I agree with you completely.

Hi, Katrina! I'm happy to have you comment, do what you want while you're there as long as you're polite to me and the others. I think your signature is cute and I have another reason I signatures like yours and Jeff's -- if I've fallen behind on replying to comments they make a nice reference point as I scroll up and down!! ;o)

And I don't use this much here, but I feel a need.

Good Morning Katrina!

I hope this doesn't stop you from commenting on my posts!

But you DID ask for opinions......

I do find the extra signatures annoying - this is because a Member's name and a link to their page is automatically inserted into every comment made, so there really isn't any need for it.

I feel - as do quite a few other Members - that AR is turning into MySpace for adults, and that's a shame.

Would I delete a comment because of it? Absolutely not! There are MUCH bigger problems in this site to worry about.

American Flag

Graffics should Be fine in comments.

haven't gotten around to the tinker yet.... but i will thanks for the information this one is from www.mylivesignature.com

Katrina,

I wouldn't consider your signature comment spam. I think you have done a good job branding yourself, with the tinkerbell/pink signature. I see it everywhere around the Rain, its very YOU! :)

Brad - I am SO IMPRESSED by your blog posts, and they are truely ALWAYS one of my favorites to read. perhaps you could help with the static graphic. It seems to me that most DO NOT THINK THIS IS SPAM.

Cyndee - you are one of my dearest friends and I would never want to offend you so out of respect for you I will leave my flying tink OFF or your blog post. Since I was invited to AR by you and started participating shortly after you, I wouldn't consider myself all that green or 'new'. I think out goals are all similar to give to the community, and connect with locals & relocations to our area, as well as network with some of the greatest professionals! I really never thought of it as "competing with Tink", or me since there is NO last name! Again, I am NOT linking back to me or anywhere else. I am not adding ANY OF THESE THINGS:

email address
phone number
website or blogsite link
your photo
a link to one of your posts (especially if it doesn't relate to the topic at hand)

Yolanda - I really think it's a matter of opinion! I read Griselda's post, thanks for the link!

Jeff- And here I thought it was JUST ME. I looked in the AR guidelines as well. I also agree with you that I REALLY don't think this is distracting and rather and easier reference point (especially when reading a blow with MILLIONS of comments-so it seems). I too have ONLY encountered this ONCE, and no-one else has EVER said anything or I would either A not use it in their blog post or B not visit their blog post because I feel they were rude or inconsiderate when GIVING THEIR COMMENTS about my "tink". It's just expressing "me' and WHO I am. Thanks Jeff I DO visit your posts regularly and your signature stamp DOES NOT offend me at all, so WELCOME ANYTIME!

Joe - Thanks for stopping by with your signature too! Welcome.

Sarah - I couldn't agree with you more!!! This is exactly how I feel.

Marc - I sure did ask for your opinion, and you KNOW how much respect I have for you as a person, especially after our conversations when I referred you. Your comment on my blog does not stop me from visiting yours or referring you in the future. I absolutely would not want to have AR turn into myspace for the real estate community. At the same time, there are a LOT of great people on here with a LOT of integrity. As with Cyndee, I will not leave my flying tink friend on your post when I comment, out of respect for you. I REALLY appreciate your comment and your opinion! This is why I asked because I wanted to KNOW if was offeneding EVERYONE or just the few think it's annoying. Agreed about the "bigger problems here".

James - These graphics don't bother me. People seem to forget that these ARE PUBLICLY READ blogs that are open to anyone on the WWW. IF you have a Blog people will comment.

I have only deleted ONE comment the entire time I have been on Active Rain because it was offensive to me and others, outside of that people are entitled to their OWN OPINIONS via comment, that's all they really are!

Desi - I like your signature! Great job. Did you check out GlitterGraphics?

Suzanne - Thanks for stopping by and your comment, this is really the 'truth' behind the signature... it's just me!

Hi Katrina-

You don't have to do anything special!

This post should prove a point to a lot of people - people can have different opinions and not go nuts!

(Well, I may already be nuts - but that's besides the point......)

Katrina - as a Newbie on AR this is quite and eye opener. Thanks for the post! I jumped into this only a few days ago and am quickly realizing that AR protocol is extremely important. IMO, Tink is adorable and the signature is a sort of "sweet" goodbye. I would never consider it spam but can see Cyndee's point that others may feel it's a distraction from their posts...although it's never distracted me from reading anyone else's posts.

Hi Katrina,

Since you asked, I will be honest. I love that you comment on my posts but your signature size and the fairy moving around takes away from my post (IMHO). I don't have a problem with anyone's "special" signature, but I think they should be static, and not so large that the eye is drawn to your signature and not to my post or comments left by others. But I would NEVER delete your comments, ever!

Marc - I can always count on you for a smile :o) or 2!

Irene - WELCOME TO ACTIVE RAIN! Glad to see tink is not a distraction to you, thanks for visiting.

Peggy - I appreciate your honesty, that's what I was sincerely looking for with this post, so THANK YOU! I am sorry if I ever offened you or anyone with TINK and or the size, etc. I can agree that a smaller tink might be better. For the record, I feel that You, Cyndee, & Marc are all REALLY GREAT writers, you all post GREAT stuff! I just can't imagine anyone posting anything that would "Take away" from that! Thanks for equally respecting my point of view and comments, as well as not being shallow minded enough to DELETE like others ~ again it really IS just an opinion, that's all! So if I were to scale down my flying friends size, would that still offend you in your blog post comments?

Honestly there is SO MUCH content, I often times skim thru the comments, only really reading the actual post. The graphic signatures just help me 'recognize' some of the regulars. I think MOST people skim thru the comments... only reading the post for the most part.

How about this tiny TINK?

Katrina,

I like your little Tink. I wouldn't know the first thing about making something like it and then placing it in my comments or blog. You go girl!

Kathy

Katrina - While I think "Tink" is cute I find her and other graphics in the signatures distracting. I do read most of the comments as I speed read. Unfortunately for the other commenter's these kind of graphics take away from my reading by distracting me. I end up skipping not only the comment from the person who posted it but the ones that show on the screen as well. Which then takes away from the original poster.

Since a lot of people are using this platform to reach their consumer they may find that this kind of graphic doesn't portray the professional image they are hoping to. It does lend itself more to a MySpace look.

I am on cable and I don't have a problem with images loading but for those in rural settings on dial up these may slow the page loading as well. It is bad enough if it slows because of the photos I choose to post but it is not acceptable because of the graphics in the comments.

Hi Katrina. I don't consider it spam, and I can't imagine hitting the delete button on your post, but I agree with Ashely that it can be distracting to some people. The little tink is definitely cute, perhaps save it for use on more fun, members only posts. just a thought!

I try to read most of the comments because I often find really great information in the comments too.

Katrina ~ After reading your post and all the great comments from the rain. I have to agree with Marc. His comment is right on point. Because you are a friend of mine, I would never delete your comment. However, you still are provided a link back to you and your name when you post a comment. I think this is what you are most concerned about? I would prefer a simple looking signature for everyone, it keeps things steamlined and easy to read for the consumers, because they do read the comments too.

The funny thing is, we are all learning here. We are learning what works and what doesn't. When we join Active Rain, we don't get a "training" class on what to do and what not to do, we just learn as we go. So, I would just chalk this up to a learning experience and keep on keepin' on!

Katrina- Your Tink is a little annoying....but by no means spam!!! :)

Also, you love of the Bucs is a little weak.....but I agree with those up top who said that you're excellent to chat/ comment with and that you seem REALLY sweet, overall.

Let that one grumpy gus pout in a corner while the rest of us have fun, learn and make some cool cross-country friends!

AUG

2007

McHugh - Thanks! I appreciate your comments and the others.

Ashley - not sure if I have visisted your blog post, but if and when I do I will try and remember to 86 my tink. Thanks for stopping by.

Ginger - i think ultimately this is my concensous, post where others are OK with it and skip the ones that aren't.

Leah - Marc does make a valid point, as I believe I do. I like Marc as a person (I've tt him before and referred him) and of coarse you are a friend as well, I don't want to put 'my friends' or others I care about off for that matter.

Jim - Thanks. as you know you can't please everyone, so it's hard to even try. You and Tchaka are my new AR football buddies! I'm looking forward to your fantasy 'help' with my picks... that's not cheating is it?

AUG

2007

Not spam - not to worry. True statement: you can't please everyone all the time. Stop trying and please Y O U, the rest will work itself out.

well said Rosemary! Thanks for popping in!

AUG

2007

Katrina, I welcome you and Tink anytime in any of my blogs. I do like the smaller version. I totally understand you making a statement about your individuality. After all with over 40,000 members, how do we really stand out. You always have great posts and wonderful comments. That speaks volumes!

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