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Thanking Blog Commenters…Let Me Count the Ways!

I love shopping at Nordstrom. I usually find exactly what I'm looking for there. And if not, their helpful staff will find what I need and ship it to me for free. I've never had an issue returning anything either! And after every good dose of retail therapy, I receive a personalized thank you card in the mail. Now that's service!

I'm taking note (literally) of the exceptional service and appreciation Nordstrom provides to its customers. And I'm applying it to my bag of blogging goodies! If Nordstrom can take the time to thank customers for purchasing items, then I can surely thank my blog readers that take time to leave thoughtful comments. Not the "great job" or "awesome post" kind of comments, but those rockin' ActiveRainers that take the extra time to give you some real feedback. Here is my new comment thank you policy that I will employ here at ActiveRain, and at MyTechOpinion and MyMarketWare.

Thanking Commenters:

(1) Reply back in a timely fashion to the thoughtful comments or real feedback made on posts. Same day is best!

(2) Send a personal thank you email. (Very easy to do within the ActiveRain network!)

(3) For those of you that have an additional Wordpress blog, use the Comment Relish Plug-in and set up your custom auto-email responder for all first time commenters on your blog.

(4) Be helpful. If someone asks you a question, provide an answer, reference, or resource.

(5) And make comments on your commenter's blog. The best form of thanking someone in my opinion, is to return the favor. So give real feedback to others.

Now get out there are thank your commenters! Because what goes around comes around....and a little comment karma never hurts!

Posted by Nicole Nicolay on 04/17/2008 12:00 PM

Comments (26)

comments, blogging, community, comment relish, thank you

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26 Comments on Thanking Blog Commenters…Let Me Count the Ways!

APR

2008

Nicole, I think those are some really good Ideas. I believe #5 is a key to building your success in a blogosphere. You gotta give to receive! And BTW, next time you need your retail fix you can always go shopping for me at Nordstrom!!!

I agree with Jeremy that item number five is one of the best ways to recognize a comment. Take a minute to look at their blog and to leave a comment on one or two (or more) of their posts. What a great way to build a friendship and a collaboration with a fellow member! It could also result in future referrals.

Consider also adding that person as an Associate and subscribing to their blog. You have to give sometimes in order to receive.

Thanks Jeremy! Responding to comments and thanking commenters is just fostering great interaction and building your online network. And I'll be happy to be your personal Nordstrom shopper! What's your style? http://shop.nordstrom.com/C/2374609/0~2376777~2374609?origin=tab

Nice add Eric! Yes, subscribing to their blog would definitly be the best form of flattery! Not to mention if it's a rockin' blog with great info. Now that's a win-win!

There are several plugin's I want to add, but I don't have a clue how. I know I need to download and FTP program, so I'll try to work on it, but this sounds fantastic. Have you ever used CommentLUV, Jeff Turner likes that one. It links back to the commenters last post.

Missy-Great suggestion! I may have to give that one a try. I guess there is a plus to having more than one blog afterall...I can test out different plugins and see what works best and how peeps respond. Thanks again!

Thanks for the great ideas. You can just leave a reply comment on your or you can read their blog and comment in turn.

Best - Sash

PS: FREE blog traffic strategy video...click here

Thanks Sasha!

I actually embedded BlogRush on www.MyTechOpinion.com and then removed it. It delayed my loading time and I tracked it for several months but it never really brought me any traffic. Hope you have better luck with it then I did.

Nik-Nik Yes, I like this one too, good stuff! I think we should try that commentluv...let me know your thoughts on it too!

APR

2008

Great information. Will see what works best. Commenting on AR is pretty easy but it is amazing the regular bloggers who never respond to those who comment. Guess it's a manners situation.

You know I started doing that and have had folks sign on to my blog, agree with the thank you 100%. I guess I'll see if I get my thank you!

APR

2008

Basic etiquette. It makes sense. I've even gone out of my way to email someone when I mention their blog on my blog and I still get no response. Which just seems plain rude! I like the idea of commenting on the commenters blogs, which I try to do - but I inevitably get lost! I leave my blog to comment on someone elses blog. I find a great story, then a great resource, then click on a link. Before I know it - it's 3am and I forgot what I was originally doing in the first place!

Good tips. Thanks for the reminder. I agree we can learn from customer service provided at Nordstrom.

Hey Nicole~You are exactly right. We need to treat each other within Active Rain the same way we treat our clients with immediate response and courtesy.

Nicole.....life is about relationships and so is business. Your number 5 is the strongpoint and gets my full attention.

Great rules to blog by! I have commented and asked specific questions of some bloggers on their posts and never get an answer from them. Thank you for posting this and hopefully a few people will "get a clue!"

APR

2008

So true, So true, but many do not do these things. I have written a few blogs, got a few comments, but have gotten lots of looks...more than comments. I probably have commented more than I've blogged & received comments. I won't let it stop me...I'M GONNA MAKE EM COMMENT - EVENTUALLY!

THANK U FOR THE TIPS!

YVETTE

APR

2008

Excellent ideas for keeping the comments coming, Nicole! Thanks for giving me some fresh ideas!

APR

2008

Nicole, I so liked your post...acknowledgement is so powerful....don't we all crave to ''understood' acknowledged? Sometimes I read a post that I really like...but I don't really have anything specific to say, other then that I appreciate it.........other times and long response just flows..........I think both can work....Thanks Nicole!

Liz-You are so right! Sometimes I'll read a post and just don't have much to add....and in that case, a simple "You rock, thanks for the great info!" is all you need. Thank you for making that important point!

Nicole! thanks for the personal e-mail....! now that rocked! lol

APR

2008

Hi Nic...thanks for the suggestion of returning the favor. Great Idea. I write replies on my blogs sometimes but I always wonder if they come back and see them.

JUL

2008

You are so right about Thank yous! And I love the plugin suggestion. Downloading it now...

Thanks Brandon...it's makes responding a snap and leaves no comment behind!

Nicole- I especially like points 2 and 5. A personal thank you email to someone who subcribes to your blog I thinks provides alot of karma...I think...someone would actually have to subscribe to my blog for me to test this theory though, LOL;-) As for 5, I'm always very appreciative when someone comments back on one of my posts, because I know they usually have to sort through a few posts to find one they're inspired to comment about.

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