Comments on Comments

Don't you love it when readers leave comments on your blog? First of all, it means that someone is reading it!

Blogging is meant to generate conversation and relationships. This is the reason you became part of the blogging world. Conversations and relationships are a two-way street. Therefore, comments need comments.

When someone leaves a comment on your blog site always respond; even if it is only a "thank you for your thoughts".

For those new to the blogging world, here are instructions for responding to comments:

For Active Rain users:

1. Login to your Active Rain account.
2. Click the Active Rain blog link.
3. Scroll down to the comment section.
4. Respond to the commenter.
5. Type in the "What does the Graphics Say" word of the day (this step is included to keep "robots" from submitting spam comments to your blog).
6. Click the submit button.

For WordPress users:

1. Login in to your WordPress account.
2. Click on the number next to the word "Comment" (located in the Right Now - At a Glance box).
3. Outstanding comments waiting approval will be listed.
4. When you move your mouse directly under the comment, the words: Unapprove|Spam|Delete|Quick Edit|Edit|Reply will appear.
5. Click Disapprove or delete, if the comment is inappropriate. Click Spam if it appears to be Spam.
6. Click Reply to respond to the commenter.
7. Click Submit Reply.

Real estate professionals know that when they do not respond in a timely fashion to a phone call or email, they have run the risk of losing that person as a client. When you do not respond to a blog comment, you also run the risk of losing the person as a reader first and a potential client second. Not responding to a reader's comment usually means that the reader will not return again because they feel devalued.

Just as you check your phone messages and emails, you need to check your blog for comments. Checking in once a day or every couple days is sufficient, but if you want your blog to have a more conversational tone, then you will want your blog host to email you whenever a comment is left on your blog post. You will receive an email within minutes; your reader may still be online, allowing you to have a friendly "chat". WordPress offers an instant messaging option as well.

Advantages to responding to comments not only increases your chances of gaining readership and building relationships, it also helps with your blog's search engine optimization and, therefore, the blog page ranking.

Here are a couple of tips for you when replying to comments:

• When responding, ask a question whenever it is appropriate to do so.  This can start a dialogue with the reader that can develop into so much more.

• Always end your comment with your signature (name) and a keyword which can be linked to your website: Pamela - Second Self Virtual Assistance.This little step creates a nice little linkback to your website, helping that page ranking as well.

 Happy blogging and commenting everyone!

Pamela - Second Self Virtual Assistance