The 31-Day Comment Challenge, from Michele Martin, Sue Waters, Kim Cofino, and Silvia Tolisano, and others. The goal is to help and encourage all of us to become better commenters all over the blogosphere. See Michele’s post for some additional information.
DAY 1- The Self-Audit
For this activity, do the following:
1. Answer the following questions:
- How often do you comment on other blogs during a typical week?
- Do you track your blog comments? How? What do you do with your tracking?
- Do you tend to comment at the same blogs or do you try to comment on at least one new blog per week?
2. Now review Gina Trapani’s Guide to Blog Comments and ask yourself how well you’re doing in each of the different areas. Are there any specific areas where you think you need to do some work? What do you want to do to address these issues?
DAY 2 - Comment on a New Blog
This one is pretty straight forward: leave a comment on a new blog. This doesn’t have to be a blog you’ve never read, just a blog you have yet to comment on. Opening the door to more rounded conversations with someone you are obviously interested in following, or else why do you keep reading the blog? 
I am excited to watch as this 31 days of exploring commenting opens up. I will miss out on the next two weeks but hope to get back into when I return! Be sure to follow along with it through Michele’s blog or someone else’s and see if you can expand your commenting and the comments you receive! Good luck and let me know how it goes!
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31-Day Comment Challenge: Day 19
If any of you have left a comment before, then you know I do respond. (I’m 99.9% sure that I have responded to every commenter.) The difference is that I respond directly in email with my commenters to continue the conversation in that way. Sometimes, I respond both directly in email and on the blog, especially if it is something that would clarify a question or remark to other readers.
Should I change my practices to responding to commenters on the blog instead of email? What do you think?
It could seem to readers that I don’t reply so there is less incentive to leave a comment. But, as I said, I always respond in email (and sometimes those responses turn into long email chains of conversation with readers.) Should I try to continue responding in email but also respond on the blog? This would definitely take some extra steps on my part but if you all would be more engaged by it, I’d certainly be up to it!
I consider my readers friends and colleagues and cherish the relationship built by responding and emailing personally back and forth from comments and questions. If my responses to comments were all also in the comments area of the posts, I often feel that commenters are less likely to see them (at least quickly.) But, if the relationships with readers was made richer by publicly responding, then I’d definitely change.
So, readers, what do you think? I’d appreciate your thoughts on this very much - and will reply personally in email and publicly!