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July 31, 2007
Question of the Day: What Motivates YOU to leave a Comment in a blog post?
So I was wondering why is it that some blog posts get a lot of comments and others get few or none. Is it comfort with the subject matter? Is it because something was said that you felt compelled to share your feelings about? Is it because you wanted to respond to another comment that you read? Or is it something else?
Which leads to today’s Question of the Day: What Motivates YOU to leave a Comment in a blog post?
Tags: Question of the Day, Jeff Pulver
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Posted by jeff on July 31, 2007 06:01 AM | Permalink
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Comments
I tend to comment more on friends' blogs, or blogs of people I know than random ones, unless someone has linked to a post of mine, and then I almost invariably comment, even if the person is trashing my post.
Posted by: 成立公司 at March 19, 2008 03:44 AM
i was reading this post and it reminded me of an earlier post i read that could, somehow, help you in finding the answer, through PostRank.
here's the link: http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/first_look_aiderss_feed_filtering.php
Niv
Posted by: Niv Calderon at August 4, 2007 03:40 PM
1) Sometime it depends on the day and time of reading the blog post, how busy or free I am and also mental state :).
2) I comment if I like it very much or I dislike it very much. If something very generic, I might not comment but again Rule 1 prevails.
3) I never ever comment if I have to register to make a comment.
Posted by: Yusuf Motiwala at August 2, 2007 12:58 PM
motivation #1 say something stupid and i will comment
motivation #2 say something very smart
motivation #3 say something contraversial
Posted by: bobby at August 1, 2007 02:22 PM
Apparently Scott Adams of "Dilbert" fame wondered the same thing but along gender lines and conducted a little experiment (albeit a highly unscientific experiment):
http://dilbertblog.typepad.com/the_dilbert_blog/2007/08/results-of-the-.html
He found that typically only 10% of the commentors to his blog are female (how he knows that, I have no idea) but when he specifically asked a question calling out gender differences, it changed to 25% female.
I call BS on this little experiment, but perhaps it's true that specifically asking for female viewpoints could change the mix of comments you receive.
This sounds like a dangerous topic, so I'm running away at this point.
Posted by: Patrick Fitzgerald at August 1, 2007 12:59 PM
A good question.
Posted by: Erik at July 31, 2007 06:06 PM
Being asked.
Posted by: steve garfield at July 31, 2007 02:59 PM
Cookies, really.
Posted by: engtech IDT at July 31, 2007 02:11 PM
I really don't know! I often have a response in my head but don't leave a comment because I don't think I'll really be adding anything to the conversation. And I won't leave a negative comment ("if you can't say anything nice...") When I do leave a comment I want it to be a good one, and I definitely comment more on the blogs of people I like and admire :).
Posted by: Annie Boccio at July 31, 2007 12:34 PM
I tend to comment when something in the blog compels me, either because of a similar event or incident that happened to me and how I solved it. Or if there is a contest of who knows XX or who can spot XX as Tom Evslin often does in his blog. Otherwise, I am more of a passive reader.
Posted by: Judith Hellerstein at July 31, 2007 11:58 AM
I'm a sucker for blog posts that ask a question in the title. I try to resist, but I usually end up leaving a comment.
Hey, wait a minute! Damn you, Pulver, you got me again.
Posted by: Patrick Fitzgerald at July 31, 2007 11:03 AM
I only comment if I feel like I have something absolutely new and genuine to bring to the conversation... (which in this case evidently I don't! see previous comments!)
Posted by: kathryn Jones at July 31, 2007 10:37 AM
As much as I would like to offer an interesting and insightful answer to this Question du Jour, I am afraid I am stuck with a simple "If the wind blows me in that direction..." I try not to think about it too much, instead opting to offer comments unedited as they come to me.
Posted by: K² at July 31, 2007 10:34 AM
Conditions for a comment. Any one will do.
1. If I have something to contribute of value.
2. If someone left me a comment.
3. If I see search/reputation benefit for leaving a comment.
4. To get someone's attention by non-messaging means.
5. To get someone to comment back.
Posted by: Christopher S. Penn at July 31, 2007 10:07 AM
I tend to comment when I like the article and I can also connect it to another article or piece of knowledge I have and the author may not.
I like to connect the dots and grow the knowledge networks, especially in the less-popular niches.
Posted by: Alexandre Rafalovitch at July 31, 2007 09:33 AM
I tend to comment when having something unique to add to the subject matter and having the time correlates, or if commenting only takes a minute or two - like with this simple question.
Posted by: Vidar Andersen at July 31, 2007 08:30 AM
I don't really leave very many comments - but when I do, I typically follow what Chris Brogan said below.
Posted by: Michael Bailey at July 31, 2007 08:20 AM
The topic has to create thought or an expression of an opinion which I must respond to. Usually in the form of paragraph laying out the results of that idea or opinions. Sometimes its enough to respond positively to suggest approval of an idea.
Posted by: Nicholas Butler at July 31, 2007 08:12 AM
Looking at the layout of the comments let me change my answer to I agree with Chris said below...
Posted by: Jesse Chenard at July 31, 2007 08:11 AM
I agree with what Chris said above and would add that how busy I am and my mood also has some influence.
Posted by: Jesse Chenard at July 31, 2007 08:10 AM
I comment when I feel like I have something to add to the conversation, when I feel as if I'm an expert or at least have a useful opinion on a topic.
I tend to comment more on friends' blogs, or blogs of people I know than random ones, unless someone has linked to a post of mine, and then I almost invariably comment, even if the person is trashing my post.
Posted by: Chris Brogan... at July 31, 2007 07:54 AM