Podcast: Lurking and Commenting

This is the third installment of my blog discussion with Shannon. Today we're talking about whether lurking on a blog is rude. We're also spouting opinions on comments. You can listen to the podcast with the links below or on iTunes (you can search the iTunes podcasts for Blogging Basics 101 and you'll find us, just click on the BB101 graphic that comes up and you'll see all the podcasts). If you don't have the QuickTime Player, you may need to download it for free. Let me know if that helps you with these links. Thanks!

Version m4a:

Version mp3:

Comments

[All Adither]

I can hardly wait to listen. Thanks!

[Marketing Mama]

This was my first time listening to a podcast - and it was very interesting and informative. I'm trying to bring my blog to the "next level" and your site has given me some great tips. I'll keep checking back. Thanks!

[stacey]

sorry, can't navigate itunes and the other two links don't seem to be accessible. probably just me, but would love to be able to listen!

[Alisha]

I've just recently come across this blog, so I'm not sure whether this is the right place to ask a question. But it's on the topic of commenting so I'm going to just throw it out there.

I use blogger, which does not require an email address from posters. I generally try to respond to comments in the comments section. Is this weird (to comment on my own blog)? Is there a better way to respond? Is it even necessary to respond? What are your thoughts?

[Heth]

Good stuff guys!

[jenni]

Thanks, ladies, for the great tips!

[Headless Mom]

Thanks for the info. You gave me lots to think about as a 'blogging baby'...

[Shalee]

I agree with the leaving a comments bit. I like to leave a comment if I have something to say or if I'm trying to get a snort out of the blogger. But I don't feel obligated to leave a comment on every post. I think my good blogging friends understand that I'm reading, I'm there and I still love them... I just don't have anything worthwhile to say.

Plus, due to the STUPID WORK FILTER (!), I can't leave comments at Blogger blogs unless I read them at home, which is a something I can only do when there is no family around me. But I'm reading a lot of them.

And Thank You for the emphasis on bloggers attaching email addresses to the comments! That is one of my blogging pet peeves - not being able to respond/correspond with a commentor or a winner of a giveaway!

You girls are mighty helpful and you both rock!

[Jendi]

So glad to find you in iTunes! So glad!!
I can now listen to part one and two so-o much easier. Already listened to this one and subscribed for any new podcasts.
Thanks for your help.

[Penny Raine]

is there any way to read this rather than hear it?
blessings, Penny Raine
http://www.pennyraine.com/blog

[Lindsey]

Great job!

I'd like to echo the question of "Stacy" - when someone leaves a comment, should you reply on your own blog or go to their blog and leave the reply there?

I know that, if I leave a comment, I rarely check the comments again for that post unless I know that the blogger leaves answers in their comments section...

(Did that make any sense?) :-)

[Liz Plummer]

Thanks for this - I've been blogging for 3 years but it's nice to check up on whether I'm doing stuff right or not!!!!

With regards to leaving a link to your blog on someone else's in the comments if it is relevant, if you write a comment on your blog and link back to theirs, they SHOULD get a pingback if their blog is set up to receive them. So they'd hear about it that way. And it is in their interests to find out who is referring to them so hopefully if they know enough about blogging, they should do!

[Tami]

Thanks Melanie and Shannon for sharing a very informative podcast about commenting and lurking on blogs. I agree that I don't leave as many comments as I should. But unless it's truly adding to the conversation I try not to leave a "me too" comment. Then I think that it's so very nice to receive comments that I'll go through and leave a few comments on some of the blogs that I read.

Oh, and thanks to Shannon, I still get hits every once in a while to my post on making a project with a friend's daughter. Thanks again Shannon!

[A Brit and Two Bits]

I had, in all honesty, never given much thought to lurking and the ramifications of any sort of etiquette behind it. Although, I'm teeny tiny taters compared to you ladies, I did give it some thought over at my own blog, and with a recent surge in hits and being able to see, via IP footprints, some of the locals viewing, I did wonder who was "lurking"....it just seemed odd to me to have this sudden jump in hits.

I guess I'm just happy to have the few readers I do have -family mostly-...but I do enjoy receiving comments from people.

Sorry if that rambles...I am so tired. Toddlers and teenagers tend to do that to a mom!

Awesome topic thanks for airing it.

Audrey