Sunday, March 15, 2009

How Do You Prioritize Blog Commenting?


We all look forward to receiving comments. I have about 60 blogs that I read and comment on. I also have an old, slow, computer with dial-up so it takes a long time to download some blogs. It is very time consuming. Generally my method is to start at the top of my reader list and go down. It takes me many hours, more then a week to make my rounds. I have time to do it now, but once I get a regular job my method will be impractical. I was wondering how you prioritize your blog reading/commenting? Do you have any tips to make the process faster?

Sometimes it takes up to 10 minutes for me to download a blog. Occasionally my computer will freeze, and I have to start again. I'm sure that there are many others in my position. One way that you can make your blog more accessible is to cut down on the number of posts you have per page. (Some say the maximum should be 7.) As I wrote before, "factors that influence the load times of pages include the number and size of images, extra items like flash, the amount of excess code, and the size of your pages."

Some people might say that they want a lot of posts per page because people only tend to look at the 1st page. However, if your blog takes a long time to download people will get frustrated and leave. So you will be losing readers, and comments in the long run.

I want to thank those who have made their blogs more user friendly...

Lady Banana

Speedycat Hollydale Page

rambling stuff (Mike Golch)


Related Post - Top 10 Easy Tips to Make Your Blog More User Friendly

photo credit

23 comments:

Sonnie-Dee said...

hmmm I never even thought about whether my blog took time to open. let me know if it is slow and I will reduce the number of posts. I don't think there is to much else I can do to make it open more quickly.

As for commenting. I think that you just mix up whose blog you start on. I don't go to all the blogs I read every day but make sure I go at least once a week and will generally comment as and when I want to - there are times when I don't really have much to say so I don't say anything - that probably doesn't help you much but thats how I manage it

Mike Golch said...

I guess that is why I went to dsl from the phone company.my computer would freeze up as well.

Awake In Rochester said...

Hi S'onnie,

It's a little slow because of all the photos on it now, but not bad. I'm doing ok now, but when I get some work I'll have limited time.

Awake In Rochester said...

Hi Mike Golch,

I can't afford that. Plus they have a penalty of $100 if you cancel before the years up.

Awake In Rochester said...

Hi LadyBanana,

I remember you telling me that you cut down on your posts. Thanks!

Your a priority to me too. Ah, I mean your blog. Ah you, ah both. Ah, ...moving right along. :)

Greeneyezz said...

Hi AIM,

I have changed my default for 3 posts on the main page.
I also have just posted a jib jab video, which I've been told by a few others that makes my page slower to load. I'm not sure why, and it seems to be only JibJab that does it.

As far as the 60 blogs.
Wow!!! That's alot.
I used to hop around to alot of blogs before, and noticed that when I was doing that, I was spending less time in my 'real life' with friends, family and events. (I didn't like it.)
I find that I still do visit other blogs, but, as I have time for it. I also understand that others also have lives outside of the blogosphere too and may not visit mine frequently either. And that's ok. :)

On a separate note, I hope all is well with you. Looking forward to nicer Central New York weather!!! Yaaaay!! :)

~ZZ

Awake In Rochester said...

Hi Greeneyezz,

The jib jab video? Hm.

Right now I don't have much going on. When I get my car back on the road & it gets warm, I'll be out more.

I hope your alright too. I second that nicer weather wish!

Babs (Beetle) said...

Some say mine is slow and some say it's fast. I also notice a different load time when I access it. It depends a lot on our individual ISP and server speeds at peak times too.

When I access blogs from my RSS list, I only ever get the post I click on, and it opens on the comments page too. That speeds things up a bit. It often takes me two days to read all in my list though, and I don't get time to comment on them all.

I have 60 too - plus my families blogs.

Awake In Rochester said...

Hi Jedi Master Daryl,

I found a ton of new people by following the blogger "followers." I clicked on one person which led me to another, and so forth. I did this for only one weekend and most got back by commenting. You might want to try it if your looking for new people.

It's great that you have some good positive things going on in your life. Your studies should be a priority. Don't worry if you can't comment much. I understand. Plus we both have a lot in common - Christianity, med field, and Star Trek. I'm not taking anyone out of my reader, I'm just trying to figure out how people comment like they do. See you soon! ;)

Anonymous said...

Well, part of the reason I can only blog once a week now is because it really does take me at least 8 hours to get through my blogroll.

Everyone is a priority to me!

Awake In Rochester said...

Hi Babs (Beetle),

It's always the same blogs that are very slow. Sometimes it has to do with the other things besides posts.

I'm not usually given the option to go directly to the comments. It's not always shown on the reader.

may said...

it's probably not a good system, so i'm not really saying you should do it. usually, when i don't have time to read through all my blogroll, i just am able to read or comment on those who leave a comment on my blog. some sort of an acknowledgement that i appreciate them dropping by. but...

if their posts are something i have really no idea about, i even end up just reading and never commenting.

Awake In Rochester said...

Hi meleah rebeccah,

If I had a fast computer I don't think it would be a problem.

Awake In Rochester said...

Hi May,

That's one of the things that I've been considering.

Speedcat Hollydale said...

I used to have an old computer and dial up .... "HIT STOP LOAD" !!

It is a life saver. If you click stop load before music, flash, and all that other stuff hits, you can comment and be on your way within minutes.

Awake In Rochester said...

Speedcat Hollydale,

First of all that "Stop Load" pop-up sign doesn't always come up. Secondly the last thing that is sometimes loaded are the posts and comments. So I have to load it all to comment on some blogs. :(

Mom Knows Everything said...

I try to blog hop twice a week, but this last week I've been so busy that I haven't really visited anyone.

Awake In Rochester said...

Hi Tammy,

Did you know that blog hopping is against the law in some states? LOL!

Awake In Rochester said...

Hi Everyone,

Maybe the photo was slightly inappropriate. It doesn't really convey what I wanted to say, but that puppy is so darn cute!

57 Bunch Warehouse said...

i really like your blogs, and page. God bless and have wonderful day.

Awake In Rochester said...

Welcome Betty!

Thank you! Have a great day. ;)

Amias (ljm and liquidplastic) said...

You must have a very old computer .. as these days no matter how much is on a blog, my computer, which I purchased in 2004 load without a problem.

Of course it also might have something to do with your DSL ... or if you are getting online via regular telephone.

I got high speed DSL and it works so much better for me than the lower speed.

I have been sort of busy, but am catching up on my reading ...

Have a good day!

Awake In Rochester said...

Hi Amias,

My computer is about 9 years old. I call her my "old lady". lol! I have dial-up because it's inexpensive, but it's very slow.