Blue Monday - Comments, Please!

Hello. It's Blue Monday! I'm so glad you decided to join in the fun.

To participate: just click here for BLUE MONDAY INSTRUCTIONS.

Please visit other Blue Monday participants by clicking on their links. Leave a nice comment. In addition, because I ❤ comments, please remember to leave one for me.
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Recently, I've had several frustrated bloggers asking me for tips on how to get more comments. Comments represent blogger love, and sometimes bloggers feel (sigh) yes, blue by the absence of comments.




Now, we can't have this kind of blue, so I thought it might be a good time for a post on comments. I tried to create it with as much beautiful blue as possible.





1. Comments = comments.
My first suggestion is to visit others. I visit every Blue Monday link every single Blue Monday. In addition, I visit as many on my blogroll as time permits. Whenever any person leaves me a comment, I visit their blog and leave a comment. (Most Bloggers will return a comment; it's simply good blogging manners.)



2. Keep it short.
Short posts are most often read. People have busy lives; wordy posts are often ignored. I've actually read, on more than one occasion, "I don't know what to say... "



3. A picture is worth a thousand words.
Use pictures; folks would rather look at them than read words, words, and more words. Paragraphs turn most folks off!






4. Keep it simple.
Restrict each post to one theme. Rambling is for roses!



5. Try, try again.
Don't give up. I've been blogging--and commenting--for over two years.



6. Post daily.
For over a year and a half, I posted every single day. Whew! It's a BUNCH of work, but I got to know a group of great Bloggers, who I now call my friends.




If you have additional tips, please include them.
I hope this helps a bit and makes for happier bloggers!

Happy Blue Monday!


Blue Monday Participants

1. mizhelle 2. Quintessential Magpie (Color My World) 3. Candy @ The Little Round Table 4. LaVoice 5. peggy gatto 6. Lana G! 7. Lani, Taiwan 8. Happy Summer! 9. BLUE & COOL @ Cabin & Cottage 10. Abu Dhabi Formula One Circuit 11. Dena E Dream Doodlers 12. Milla 13. Debra Kaye 14. Fifi Flowers 15. Ivory Spring 16. Shannara 17. Iris 18. Loui 19. Race 20. Riet, Holland 21. carolynUSA 22. Regina, Philippines 23. Self Sagacity 24. Komali Nunna - Fallen petals 25. Dave Q, UK 26. Briarside Lane

27. Anni 28. Race@ Beyond Horizons 29. Eden, Australia 30. Belle 31. foto CHIP - Birgitta (wedding) 32. Cindy @ Applestone Cottage 33. hip chick 34. Kayce's Life and Journey 35. Black Eyed Susans Kitchen 36. Delightsome Summer makeover 37. Reach Beyond Limits 38. LUNA 39. Bittersweet Blues 40. MIN FOTODAGBOK SWEDEN 41. Manang Kim~USA 42. The Tablescaper 43. A Vintage Cottage Home 44. hrg at Sacred Ruminations 45. Jeanne,backyard neighbor 46. Blue Fish 47. cindy 48. Mama Zen 49. Kathryn 50. Ms. Sharlotte's....Southern Reflections 51. Christi at A SOUTHERN LIFE 52. Joan @ Applejack Lane

53. Grandmother Wren 54. Hyanne, South Korea 55. Hyacinths for the Soul 56. Tin and Sparkle 57. hapzydeco 58. Baba's Special babies 59. bj @Sweet Nothings 60. My Painting Room 61. Tracy F. @ Honey Suckle and Hissy Fits 62. Joy- Books and Life 63. Diann @ The Thrifty Groove 64. Dhemz 65. Fe's Journey of Life 66. Mary @ Vintage Comfort 67. Barbara Jean 68. MyTwistedRoad-USA 69. Vivapinay in Germany 70. Pie 71. Irene Photography, Norway 72. mississippiartist 73. Joyful in Vancouver Canada 74. Teena @ Rosy Colour 75. Maria's Space 76. Chie's Camera Works 77. SailingSimply 78. annies home -

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The Bloggers Meme

There's a new meme going around Blogland. I first saw it Notes in the Key of Life. I've dropped some of the questions and added the final one. Barbara of Stray Thoughts is the originator of this interesting meme, and her blog along with her answers can be found here. Please give her credit if you choose to join in.

How do you feel about being tagged for memes?

I like it, but perhaps it's because I only began blogging this past June. It's all kind of new to me. However, I can understand the opposing point of view as it does take time to do them.

Do you participate in any regular weekly memes? Which ones?

I discovered Booking Through Thursday first, and because I've always loved to read, I am delighted to have found it. A couple of weeks ago, I jumped on the bandwagon with Pink Saturday, and more recently, began my very own Blue Monday.

Have you found any bloggers who you began to read regularly after participating in a meme with them?

Yes, of course. That's one of the big advantages of doing a meme--to meet people.

Did you find any favorite blogs through comments or blogrolls on others’ blogs?

Sure, I have even searched to find new "friends."

If you comment on someone’s blog, do you expect a response? If so, do you prefer that response to come through an e-mail, a comment from them on the same post, or a comment on your blog?

I always comment whenever I visit, and I 'd like to get a comment from people who I visit. It's silly to answer back on your own post; how will I see that response unless I return and dig into the comments?

An email is a good idea if it's a more private matter.

I feel to not return the favor of a visit with a comment is sort of like a snub. To me, it would feel as if I said, "Hello" and received no reply. : (

Are there certain types of blogs that attract you?

My favorites are those who give me a chuckle. I also enjoy the welcoming ones.

Are there certain types of blogs that repel you?

I don't care for blogs with anything off-color, profane, or mean-spirited. I also roll my eyes when confronted with a wordy post.

Do your family and friends know about your blog? Do they read it? Do they mind if you mention them? Do they suggest posts for it?

(sigh) My friends and family know about my blog, but I don't think many of them read it. My older friends don't seem to understand how to work the computer well enough. Honestly, I've had two ask me how to find and read the blog! At least one member of my family thinks it's a foolish waste of time. I will therefore be careful whenever I mention them, if ever.

Obviously, I get no suggestions for posts.

However, another member reads and comments on a regular basis. (Thank you, Allen!) My husband reads every post; hey, he has no choice. I drag him into the office and SHOW him my most recent offering! Poor baby. (He really is quite supportive, and I think a bit proud of me.)

How do you feel about people who never leave comments?


How do you spell "stalker?"

I'd Like to Hear from You. Really!

I'm new at this blogging, so bear with me. Several of my friends and family members have blogs--mostly people younger than me, and I've read quite a few of them. When I first began to read blogs, I did not leave a comment--even when I had an opinion--which is most of the time! I felt that comments might bother the blogger, and that I would be a bit out of place. "Is it really the right thing to do," I wondered. Once in a while, however, I gave in to the urge to express myself and I left a comment.

When one person, mentioned how WONDERFUL she felt because I'd left a comment on her blog, I really didn't understand her excitement. I began to grasp the worth of commenting. Since then, I've commented all over town! Sometimes, I've felt a tad guilty at hogging all the action since it appeared that not too many others left comments. I've asked a few bloggers about letting up, but they've confirmed that I should continue.

Now that I have my own blog, I realize how empty it is to have so few leave comments. It feels as if my stuff isn't being read. On the other hand, I love getting remarks left; it encourages me and makes me happy to be included in a discussion.

Several people have actually written me an email after looking at my blog! I am shaking my head; isn't it easier to leave a comment? Or perhaps they don't know that just clicking on the word, "comment" will open up a little window that will enable them to tell me what they think. Fewer keystrokes.

This is your chance: PLEASE leave a comment and tell me why you usually do/don't leave comments.