When we set goals for ourselves, we often neglect to look at the complete picture.

Take for example, actors.

They crave to to see their name up in lights, make big bucks like their peers or predecessors, and may want a life of luxury where anything they ever wanted is well within their reach. In fact, if they achieve fame, materially they can have it all.

But…there’s a flip side to fame.

When an actor becomes well known, others want a piece of them.

Maybe it’s a photo, compromising or other. Maybe it’s their money. Or their friendship.

After awhile, some begin to wonder, whom they can trust. Where they can go to have a moment of peace.

All of a sudden, that which they wished for, becomes more than they can handle and they begin to yearn for the days when life was simple.

Today’s Lesson

When we discussed wanting more comments on our blogs, I remember when I received none, and wished for more.

When readers began to show up and comment, I was elated. In fact, comments are one of the things I enjoy most about blogging. Not just receiving them, but leaving them too.

Comments connect bloggers, reveal more about us as people, help as a learning/teaching aid, and are often the start of a cyber friendship.

In fact, as I’ve shared in the sidebar, it’s in the comment section of this blog where the value truly lies. You, who comment here, have made this blog what it is.

However, with receiving additional comments, comes with what I see as an added responsibility.

1. Where will the time come from to answer all of our comments (if we choose to)?

What I’ve found is each comment requires an average of six minutes of my time. That includes reading the comment, thinking about a reply and then typing it out.

When I see 20 comments on a post, I know I need to set aside two hours to answer them.

2. If we’re spending an excessive amount of time answering comments on our own blogs, where will the time come from to visit other blogs?

If I visit another blog, and don’t skim the post, I can spend up to spend 20 minutes reading and then constructing a comment. If that’s the case, I know I’ll have less time to spend visiting others.

3. If we spend our allotted blogging time on answering comments and visiting the bloggers who visit us, where do we find time to write additional posts, promote our work, communicate on social networking sites, and/or to work behind the scenes?

I’ll be the first to admit, I struggle with finding that balance. Some days I steal minutes from my real life, other days, I have no time for blogging. I now limit the time I spend on Twitter and Facebook, publish less, let emails stack up in my inbox and postpone the launch of my next project.

With a business, a family, a life, and only 24 hours in a day, I know some things will fall by the wayside. I’m okay with that.

Because I enjoy challenges and get so much pleasure from blogging, I don’t yearn for the days when blogging was simple, but from experience, I do know receiving more comments means how we once viewed blogging, changes.

Today’s Assignment

How much time do you spend answering comments?

If the time is excessive, do other parts of blogging suffer?

If you’re not receiving a lot of comments now, but hope for more, have you contemplated where the time will come from to answer them?

I’m looking forward to your answer.

Care to share?

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Comments. A topic many bloggers stress over.

Let’s face it, receiving comments means we know “for sure” our blog posts are be read (or maybe skimmed), and in some cases, comments are what keeps us motivated to keep going.

But, how to get others to comment on our blogs is something we’re often uncertain of.

Today’s Lesson

Recently a semi-new blogger left a comment on an older post of mine.

To reiterate, this is what Linda of Roses To Rainbows wrote.

I’m glad I stumbled across your blog. I am trying to earn an audience. I have been blogging since September, and thanks to a statcounter, I know a few people are stopping by. To date I have had a total of 3 comments and a couple people responded to my email instead of commenting.

I invite people to comment, and often times ask a question or invite readers to relate a story or experience. I would really [like to] interact with people. My blog is not about any one thing specifically. I have pictures, recipes, coupon & grocery stores savings, musings about what we’ve been up to and links to other places I visit. I’ve tried to make it attractive and interesting, but apparently something is lacking.

I do post on other blogs when I enjoy what I’ve read/seen, have something useful or informative to say or ask a question. I don’t just plop down a comment on every blog just for the sake of “being seen”.

I noticed two things about Linda’s comment. First she said she is trying to EARN an audience, and secondly she says, “I don’t just plop down a comment on every blog just for the sake of “being seen”.”

I like her attitude. She’s not looking for a free ride, nor will she comment just to comment.

When answering her comment, I wanted to share what I’ve learned and in part, said,

I also noticed you commented on an older post. Although I don’t close comments and appreciate any comment I get, what I’ve found is by also commenting on the current post (if it’s something that moves you) the other bloggers who comment may read your comment and click on your link. I can’t guarantee it will drive more traffic to your blog, but it will help to get yourself in front of others as on most blogs the “action” is on the most current post.

That’s one thing I’ve found to be true. Although we may have dozens of articles buried in our archives, unless a reader has subscribed to comments, the comments which are left on older posts usually end up being a conversation between the blog author and the commenter only.

Today’s Assignment

To help Linda (or any new blogger) get more comments, what advice would you give?

Or, do you have the same problem as Linda?

Care to share?

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