Bring IT! Do You Want More Comments or Retweets on Your Blog Posts?

February 16th, 2011 130 Comments

thinking cap Bring IT! Do You Want More Comments or Retweets on Your Blog Posts?Hello My Lovelies,

Are the weeks flying by, or is it just me? Because I could’ve sworn I just finished writing last week’s Bring IT! 10 minutes ago. But then again, I could’ve sworn I was 21 only yesterday. Sigh :(.

I hate to sound repetitive, but I’m just so damn happy about the success of this series so far. Seriously folks – thank you for being such wonderful conversationalists and contributors and for making me look forward to Wednesday’s :D.

Alright, enough small talk…

I’ve been scratching my head for some time now about the answer to this week’s Bring IT! question.

Do You Prefer To Get More Comments or RTs on Your Posts?

Would you be happier with 10 comments and 100 retweets or 100 comments and 10 retweets?

I know most of you do a bit of both and if you’ve got nothing to say or simply lack the time or patience to comment, then retweeting is the quicker way to help out and spread the word.

But I’m interested in what you’d rather have more people do on YOUR blog. RT or comment? And I’m not talking about the ever so popular drive-by’s either.

As For Me…

Granted…I want to see a sh** load of both. I want Godin’s RT’s and Higbee’s comments lol! But I’m sure you do too.

On the one hand – the more RT’s a post gets, the more it helps the growth of the blog. It means new and recurring visitors and more traffic – which inevitably leads to higher rankings and maybe even a larger Twitter following.

With some stroke of luck, your post could even go viral if the right “influencer’s” get a hold of it.

But on the other hand, a lot of comments means a healthy and engaging community. And it’s one of the things we strive to achieve as bloggers.

  • It means I get a chance to reply in kind – something you know I enjoy doing.
  • It means my post made some kind of an impact and that my readers appreciated (or even disliked) it enough to take the time to do more than RT.
  • It means getting to know your audience a bit more and even learning from them.
  • It means generating ideas for future posts and exchanging ideas, tips or techniques.
  • It means attracting more folks to join the conversation because let’s face it, a post becomes more appealing to readers when they see others discussing it.

I’ve noticed a lot of my posts have been getting more comments than RT’s lately – or else an equal amount. I’m not sure what that ratio indicates but I know it means that people are enjoying the topics enough to want to participate. And that’s fantastic!

Damn! When I first set out to answer this, I thought I’d never be able to decide. But it seems that my choice has become more and more evident as I write.

So, although I absolutely LOVE to have my posts retweeted (hint, HINT) and watch my blog grow, I’m going with comments.

Oh, and in case my hint wasn’t clear…

“Please share the love and RT this post if you like it. And of course, a comment from you, would surely make my day :D.”

After all, your input is kinda what this series is about.

Now it’s your turn to Bring IT!

What About You?

What do you prefer to see more of on your blog posts – RT’s or comments? And why…

Again, I know getting a lot of both would rock. But pretend it’s a life and death situation for a minute, and you just had to choose.

[image credit: by Mark A. Hicks – Clip art licensed from the Clip Art Gallery on DiscoverySchool.com]

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About the Author

Ingrid Abboud aka 'Griddy' is a whole lot of things with a ridiculous amount of interests. For one, I'm a Social Media enthusiast with a tremendous passion for writing and blogging. I'm also a pretty cool Copywriter but a more serious MarCom Consultant. But most of all, I'm the proud owner and driving force behind nittyGriddy.com - A Kinda Social Media Journal with Net News & more.

Visit Griddy's Website
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  • http://www.adventuresinexpatland.com lindainexpatland.com

    Enjoying the series (so yes, I will RT because I think it’s worth sharing). I have to really care to leave a comment – either something new/different/interesting to say, or simply ‘this is good stuff’. My comment? Isn’t it great that this is an ‘AND’ situation (RTs + comments) and not an ‘Either/OR’ situation??

    So to summarize: RT=Sharing, Comment=Caring; Sharing + Caring = You’re Doing Something Right!!

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  • http://www.techwork.dk Thomas

    I think I would prefer comments over RT. Everybody can retweet, but I think that comments are more personally and I guess that is why I like them best. If people are writing a comment they are reflecting on something you wrote in the post. That is what I find interesting about blogging. Of cause both think are great for a blog owner.

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Hello again Thomas :)

      Yes, both comments and RT’s are awesome to have! But comments take the extra time and effort to write and they usually add value in some way or another. You learn a lot from a comment – both from the person leaving it and about them sometimes.

      Thanks for sharing your input here. I appreciate it.
      Have a good week.
      Cheers

  • Forkitoverdubai

    I would go for both obviously but a bit more to the comment side. i love comments on my blog it shows that someone read it and took to the time to share their thoughts. also most importantly its a chance that I get to speak directly to the people who read my blog. i guess since im still in the early stages of my blogging life cycle i want to know that people are reading it and enjoying it. maybe as time progresses i would be more concerned with the amount of viewers and about its growth. love the post! love the interaction on this site great job!!!

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Hi there and welcome :)
      You’ve got me intrigued about your name and blog now. Care to send me a link ;)?

      It seems you and I share the same thoughts about comments. It’s a great feeling to know that people are actually taking the time to read your work. A comment means you sparked some kind of interest to make them want to share their pennies with you and your readers. And that’s a good thing!

      As a new blogger – or any blogger for that matter – RT’s are also important as they help your blog grow. They can bring in new readers. So, let’s be honest and say that we LOVE those as well. But a comment brings a lot more to the table. It allows you to engage with your community. Plus – a comment is here to stay for as long as your blog is around.

      I really appreciate you taking the time to drop by and share your 2 cents here. I look forward to seeing you around these parts more often.

      Best of luck to you on your blogging journey and thanks again for all your kind and encouraging words. I’m thrilled that you loved the post and the interaction on this site. I’m pretty psyched about it myself ;).

      Have a great week.
      Cheers

  • http://www.omnificdesign.com.au/ MelbourneGraphicDesign

    I found this post too late, Ingrid. :( I am already at the tail end of things. But, nevertheless, I would like to say that comments trump RTs all the time. I am relatively new to the blog commenting community, so enjoying comments on my blog articles is still new and very much appreciated for me. I never thought I would say this, as antisocial as I was at first, but I love the interaction. :)

    – Wes –

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Hey Wes,
      You’re never too late here – as I’ll always reply regardless :).
      I appreciate you coming by here to share your input.

      You and I agree on 2 things you said here:

      1 – Comments trump RT’s – this post = point in case :)
      2 – Lovin’ the interaction – I too was like you at first – talking to strangers was not something I was keen on doing. I’m glad I changed my old fashioned ways (to an extent lol) for I have met some of the most incredible people through blogging. It actually took forever to build up the courage to comment the first time on a blog.

      I hope to see you around these parts more often – and thanks again for sharing your 2 cents. They’re always appreciated here and elsewhere.

      Happy Sunday
      Cheers

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  • http://franstips.com/20-ways-to-provide-killer-blog-writing-content Fran Aslam

    Hi Ingrid:

    Since you like comments, comments is what you get. Awesome post, but you have asked a difficult question as people like both. Re tweets and comments. It is really hard to choose between the two. Okay I do not like less than 20 comments to a blog post. So, I will say 20 comments and as many tweets as I can get, as tweets are just the tips here, originally I asked for comments. Right.

    Make it an awesome week for yourself
    Fran A

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Hey Fran,
      Nice to see you back here :).

      LOL – I thought this was a difficult question as well. Actually, until I was writing it out – I didn’t know what my answer would be. But then as I stated my reasons for each – it became blatantly obvious to me that I’d rather have more comments. But again – that doesn’t mean I don’t cherish the little RT’s :). I love them dearly but I just feel that a blog gets a lot more out of comments. And in general – but not always – someone who comments will RT as well – whereas someone who RT’s may not comment.

      Thanks for sharing your thoughts about this. I appreciate you taking the time to add your input.

      Wishing you an equally awesome week :)!
      Cheers

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Hey Fran,
      Nice to see you back here :).

      LOL – I thought this was a difficult question as well. Actually, until I was writing it out – I didn’t know what my answer would be. But then as I stated my reasons for each – it became blatantly obvious to me that I’d rather have more comments. But again – that doesn’t mean I don’t cherish the little RT’s :). I love them dearly but I just feel that a blog gets a lot more out of comments. And in general – but not always – someone who comments will RT as well – whereas someone who RT’s may not comment.

      Thanks for sharing your thoughts about this. I appreciate you taking the time to add your input.

      Wishing you an equally awesome week :)!
      Cheers

  • http://www.iblogzone.com/ DiTesco

    NO question, I would prefer comments. Obviously if I can have the best of both worlds, why not? Comments is a form of interacting better with your audience and most of the time they leave their thoughts, opinions and that is unbeatable. RTs are fine for spreading the word out, but in my opinion it lacks that all important discussion with your readers.

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Hey Francisco,
      It’s great of you to stop by and join the conversation :). Thank you.

      I think we’d all love the best of both world’s on this one by having an equally large amount of the two, but alas…it would defy the point of my little game here hehe.

      I totally agree with what you said here. Comments – at least one’s that aren’t simple drive-by’s – are indeed timeless (like Danny Brown said here). Learning from and about your readers is one of the main factors of blogging and you can’t do that through a simple RT.

      But again – all this doesn’t mean that I don’t LOVE retweets – for I most certainly do and then some! 😉

      Thanks for stopping by DiTesco. I appreciate your valuable comment.
      Cheers

  • Joey Strawn

    Well it seems as if you really don’t have to worry about this issue as it seems your comments are ranging around the 1 million number lately. : )

    I think for me it will depend on the number of unique comments as opposed to Retweets. I will choose comments every time but sometimes I’d rather have a wide variety of people commenting and not just one looooooooong back and forth with one person.

    Don’t get me wrong. I LOVE the back and forth, but that can skew the number of comments in relation to RTs. When I see a lot of RTs on a post I know it resonated to a certain degree and I love to watch my ideas spread (it’s also nice for Google Spiders) but when someone takes the time to comment, it’s a whole other kind of engagement and I think I’d prefer that every time.

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Hola Joey,
      Always nice to see you around these parts my friend :). Thanks for coming over and sharing.

      Oh, how I wish that I was near the 1 million mark! My fingers would have fallen off from replying but what the heck haha.

      That’s actually a pretty good point about the back and forths. I too love to have them but much like you – I’d want a great variety of commenters as well. I mean if I have 30 comments on a post, I would rather see a few back and forths and bunch of different people instead of 2 unique commenters and 28 between me and someone else. But what a debate that must be eh?

      Let’s be honest, who doesn’t like/love RT’s. I certainly do! But your blog feels all the more richer when they’re people taking part in the conversation and adding on to what you have to say.

      Ideally, it would be great to see an equal number between the two but I was mean and made you guys choose which you’d rather have more or less of ;).

      Either way – it looks like you and I agree on this one. Comments it is!

      Thanks for your thoughts Mr. Strawn. Truly appreciated.

      Have a great week.
      Cheers

  • http://twitter.com/newbizblogger Michele Welch

    That’s a tough one Ingrid! I love comments, but I can see your point on RT’s. But if I had to choose, as much as commenting is time consuming, I think it’s it’s the best way to build your community. It’s all in the conversation. 😉

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Hey Michele,
      How have you been Mrs. New Biz Blogger?
      It’s great of you to come by and share how you feel – thank you :).

      Well, we certainly agree on this one ma dear. What better way to learn and build a community around your blog then by joining and adding to the conversation?

      But as I said in many of my comments here and in the actual post – it doesn’t mean I don’t love those little RT’s. They’re the bomb as well lol!

      Wishing you a great day.
      Cheers

  • http://markharai.com Mark Harai

    Hey Griddy – great to see you this week and another great topic of disucssion going on in the community!

    I’m a student of life and business and there’s much more to learn in the comment section of a blog then there is in any 140 character message or series of them.

    However, I’ve discovered every blog I read in the Twitter community. It’s the best platform to discover great resources and make new connections that you can then turn into meaningful relationships that matter.

    I’d prefer to have a good balance of RT’s and blog comments. I like to meet new interesting people and connect in meaniful ways. These two working together have enhanced my overall social media experience in profound ways.

    Not having one of them would suck!

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Hey Mark,
      I appreciate you sharing your thoughts here – thanks a lot my friend :).

      “I’m a student of life and business” – I love that! So true for everyone I would think.

      Much like you – I too discovered many of the blogs I read via Twitter – but I’ve also discovered many through their author’s comments on other blogs. When a comment captivates you in some way or gets your attention for whatever reason – it entices you to see who’s behind the words.

      A good balance of the two would be great indeed for all the reasons you stated and going without one of them would most definitely suck lol. But if I had to absolutely choose which one I’d want more of – it would have to be comments. But again – that doesn’t mean I don’t love RT’s – quite the contrary.

      Danny made a great point here which you “liked” saying that comments are timeless as long as your blog is online – we control that. But Twitter and all the rest could disappear one day and our 140 characters of wisdom with them :(.

      Thanks for sharing your thoughts Mark. I always appreciate what you have to say.
      Hope you have a super week.
      Cheers

  • http://www.thesaleslion.com/ Marcus Sheridan,The Sales Lion

    Dang girl, this comment strand has been great!

    Me, I’ll take comments. Why? Because I’m all about the tribe and the community and what we can learn from each other. I sometimes see my blog as me simply rolling out the ball and letting everyone else play with it (exactly what you’ve done with this article Ingrid)—thus becoming a facilitator of thought and conversation.

    Sometimes, the comments are actually better then the actual blog post anyway–which is doubly awesome.

    Finally, I like comments because they make me feel like I’m not a total idiot :-)

    Marcus

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Hey Marcus,
      Great of you to come here and add on to the conversation :).

      I couldn’t agree more with you. I’ve said it many times – that you can learn just as much if not more from certain comments than the post itself – both about the person and from them. This would be a prime example.

      It’s always interesting to learn how others are doing things and what they deem important to them. As we all know – we can’t all have the same opinion about things but with this particular subject – it seems that many of us agree that comments are the biggie – phewww…I’m s o relieved with my initial answer – for now I know that “I’m not a total idiot” haha. Sorry but I just had to borrow those words of yours ;).

      I do this series (Bring IT!) every Wednesday and I’ve been really pleased with the level of interaction that’s been going on. Just goes to reinforce our thoughts on comments even more.

      Thanks again for taking the time to share both with me and my readers. I really appreciate that :).
      Have a great week Mr. Sales Lion.

      Cheers

    • http://www.analienamongus.blogspot.com K of Multa

      I have to agree comments are gold. I’m new to blogging and I’d love some comments so that I’d actually know people are reading. It would be great feedback to know what people think of my posts and what else they have to add to the subject. Besides, I’m still not sure how the twitter thing works.

  • http://twitter.com/bdorman264 Bill Dorman

    I keep learning something new about Twitter the more I engage with it; I guess I should have known retweets and replies are both good ways to get feedback. I’ve been mostly a ‘reply’ person to this point……

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Hi Bill and welcome to the community :)

      Twitter is one of the best ways to engage online – and the learning process never ends. There’s an incredible number of like-minded individuals out there who are willing to share, respond and take the time to get to know you. Not to mention the benefits of RT’s. I don’t think there’s one person who blogs who doesn’t like to get them – including me!

      But I think comments is where the gold lies (I’m borrowing Gini’s words here). It’s truly unbelievable what you can learn from people’s comments – both from them and about them. Often times – when the conversation is rich – you can learn more than the actual post.

      Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. Hope to see you around these parts more often.

      Cheers

      • http://twitter.com/bdorman264 Bill Dorman

        Like a bad penny, I keep turning up…….the people I have ‘connected’ with on some level have been very engaging, helpful and patient.

        I like to comment and receive feedback because it makes the people ‘real’. I might not be as deep or insightful as some, but every once in awhile I can come up with something that will make you laugh or at least smile a little bit.

        I always like to help my ‘friends’ and if retweeting your post helps you in any way, then that’s the least I can do, right?

        As I told Gini, I know this is your paying gig and probably keeps you very busy so if you don’t respond at times I’ll still pimp for ya……..:). I’ll be back……

        • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

          Hey Bill

          Thanks for coming back :)

          As you said – the back and forth with comments makes us human – you fell like you’re talking to “real” person and that they’re listening to you. Much like using a phone, it’s a two-way and many-way conversation. To me – that’s the beauty of a blog and its community. It’s alive.

          We can be deep or insightful at times, humorous at others, controversial, or just plain supportive. What matters (at least to me) is that folks participate. I certainly am not adding revolutionary value every time I comment but value can be identified differently for each person. So to me, every comment I get here adds a little value in some way or other.

          I don’t think anyone will say no to a retweet. Heck, I love them and I’ll take them every time. It’s one of the main factors that allows our blogs to grow and attain new readers.

          I write in this blog because I love to write and I learn more and more everyday from reading people’s work from around the blogosphere. nittyGriddy is not monetized (not yet) and I don’t make a cent from doing this – but I love it all the same. It’s people like you who take the time to share and support my efforts that makes it all worthwhile. So if I have 1 reader a day or 10,000 – I’ll still be doing this for some time cause the bottom line is: I write for me just as much as I write for my audience.

          Oh, and you’ll always get a reply from me here ;). Gini (who I absolutely adore as a friend and admire as a pro) will tell you that much.

          Unlike the Terminator series, I’ll be looking forward to you coming back…;)
          Cheers

  • http://spinsucks.com Gini Dietrich

    Based on the comments we get on Spin Sucks, I think you know the answer! It used to really bother me that there are waaaaaaaay more comments than tweets because I think some people look at that tweetmeme button, see how large the number is, and decide if it’s worth their time to read. But now I’m OK with it because I know the real gold lies in the comments.

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Well heck, you didn’t even need to trouble yourself to come and tell me. Of course I know you prefer Diggs and Reddit’s LOL ;). I’m kidding with ya Gin.

      That’s actually a fantastic point you brought up there on how people sometimes judge whether a post is worth reading depending on the number of tweets. Sad but true.

      But you’re right – the value and the learning – at least for me – is in the comments. And in all honestly – they too are like a domino effect at times – where one leads to another. If I see 50 or so comments on a post – I’m even more curious – not only about the post itself but about what others have to share. Joining the discussion tends to be beneficial in every way.

      But that doesn’t mean I don’t like RT’s as well and I certainly LOVED yours ;).

      Thanks Aunt Gini
      Hope you’re having a rockin’ Sunday

      Ciao

  • http://twitter.com/YesVictory Edwin

    Great article. I would rather get a mix of both but if thats not possible than comments because it shows a community

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      He Edwin,

      Great of you to stop by here and share :). Thank you.
      Yes! An active community is always a fantastic thing to have.

      Cheers

  • http://twitter.com/shawnetuma Shawn E. Tuma, J.D.

    Though I have only been at this a couple of weeks, the answer is crystal clear to me though my thoughts may be a little skewed vis-a-vis many in the blogging world. I would much rather comments than RTs any day. My profession is as a lawyer and that will never change for I absolutely love what I do. My foray into blogging is for two reasons: (1) I love to write and share my thoughts with others; and, (2) (and more importantly) I love to try and have an impact on helping other people in whatever way I can and this gives me a great medium by which to do that. So I look at the difference between the two and anyone can simply hit RT with next to no effort and on to the next post, right? It’s effortless — kinda like a one night stand — it’s a “sure, ok, why not?” type thing! Leaving a comment, however, is much more. It means that something you have said has touched a person in such a way that it compels them to do something that actually takes a little time and effort — but despite the effort it takes, they do it anyway. That is, you really reached them. For me, that is my purpose. I have no delusions of ever making a dime off of blogging but that is not my motivation; my motivation is to touch people … err, well, not literally … perhaps I should say to reach people and impact them! But nonetheless, to me, a comment says you have done that whereas with a RT you never know if it’s something real or just a “sure why not?” kinda thing!

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Hey Shawn,
      Nice to see you here :). I appreciate you coming by to leave that thorough comment.

      Those are the 2 best reasons to blog – at least for me.
      And I have to give you credit for that hysterical analogy LOL. I never thought of that one.
      Although giving an RT is an effortless thing to do – it is still wanted by many – including me. An Rt goes a long way when it comes to growing your blog and it’s viewers. But you’re right – a comment is much more than that.

      If someone has left a comment here – it means in some way or another – I must have done something right. Something that compelled them to think that my post was worth the effort.

      I’d like to think I have an impact on people but I know that I still have a long ways to go. There’s so much to learn and so many people to learn from – and in all honesty it can be overwhelming at times but it’s still amazing.

      I usually like to think that if someone is gonna’ leave a comment – there is a good chance they will also RT your post (not always but often). But the other way around isn’t as common.

      Best of luck in your blogging journey. From what I can see so far, I think you’re well on your way to reaching your goals. It’s a great journey but one that requires continuous nurturing.

      Thanks so much for coming over here and sharing your thoughts. I look forward to seeing you around these parts more often.

      Happy Sunday

      Cheers

  • http://dannybrown.me Danny Brown

    I think your answer lies in the amount of comments here versus retweets, miss. 😉

    To me, comments will get the vote every time. Twitter might disappear (as might Facebook, Digg, Stumbleupon, etc) so any conversations over there will disappear too.

    But your blog? That will only disappear when you let it disappear; so the comments are timeless.

    Protect the timeless, because they’ll protect you. :)

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Hi Bonsai Boy aka Danny,

      It’s nice to see you back here. I read your comment over at Brankica’s blog post about MMS – it was very cool of you to head over there and share a piece of your mind :).

      Phewww…I’m kinda relieved that you agree with me on this – but then again – it should have been obvious that that would be your vote too! We know how well you take care of your community of devotees.

      Excellent points about how Twitter and the likes of Digg, FB…could disappear one day and there wouldn’t be much you could do about it. But your blog on the other hand – well, you’re the sole master of that. As long as it’s there, your readers voices are safe and sound.

      Thanks a lot for sharing DB. I always appreciate you stopping by.
      Happy Sunday to ya.
      Will be heading to your brunch soon :).

      Cheers

    • http://www.thesaleslion.com/ Marcus Sheridan,The Sales Lion

      Me likey that response Danny….well said, as I hadn’t thought about it that way.

      • http://dannybrown.me Danny Brown

        Bookmark it, Marcus – wiseness from me is like trying to find black licorice in a black hole nebula. 😉

        • http://www.thesaleslion.com/ Marcus Sheridan,The Sales Lion

          Ha!! And I LOVE black licorice 😉

          • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

            Hear, hear ;)!

      • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

        I too thought it was pretty wise of him to point that out :). I think a lot of us may have missed that factor.

  • http://www.slymarketing.com Jens P. Berget

    I prefer comments, that’s because it’s more personal (takes more time to write, and it shows that the person actually read what I have written). It’s too easy to retweet :-)

    And a comment can actually add a lot of value to what I have written, and it might be very helpful and I might learn a thing or two.

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Hey Jens,

      Well, it looks like you and I prefer comments for many of the same reasons :). But that doesn’t go to say that I don’t like RT’s as well ;).

      Thanks a lot for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. I appreciate it.
      Enjoy the weekend.
      Cheers

  • http://twitter.com/benbarden Ben

    I like RTs for a short-term boost, and comments for posterity.

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Hi Ben,
      Thanks for stopping by and sharing :). Appreciated.
      Have a good weekend.
      Cheers

  • http://easypublicspeaking.co.uk/ Keith Davis

    Hi Ingrid
    I’d go with comments every time.
    Chance to build up that bloggers community.
    Reply to the comment, thank the commenter by email – real email not automated response and then… visit their site and leave a meaningful comment.

    Nothing looks sadder than a post with no comments.
    My choice?
    Comments, comments, comments.

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Hey Keith,

      Ha! You’ve certainly made your preference loud and clear lol. Good to know we agree. I too think it’s a great way to build a community – and I’m grateful for the one we’ve built here :).

      Very cool of you to take the time to stop by and tell us how you feel. Thank you.
      Have a good weekend.

      Cheers

  • http://easypublicspeaking.co.uk/ Keith Davis

    Hi Ingrid
    I’d go with comments every time.
    Chance to build up that bloggers community.
    Reply to the comment, thank the commenter by email – real email not automated response and then… visit their site and leave a meaningful comment.

    Nothing looks sadder than a post with no comments.
    My choice?
    Comments, comments, comments.

  • http://twitter.com/skypulsemedia Howie at Sky Pulse Media

    SHEEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIITTTTTTT! Ingrid. You have so many comments here I will just tweet.

    Who is Higbee? And I won’t read Godin because he doesn’t allow comments on his blog. Comments mean maintenance! Tweets do not. I think my vertical scroll control blew a fuse from all these comments.

    I am a simple Alien. I would love 5 Tweets and 5 comments. Not greedy or needy.

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      LOL Howie,
      I think I actually read that first word probably the same way you wrote it ;).

      Tristan Higbee is an excellent bloggafriend who blogs over at bloggingbookshelf.com – I call him the “human R2D2 of Blogging” lol. You should see the number of comments he gets on each of his posts :).

      Well you certainly aren’t greedy or needy Mr. Chief Alien. Quite the contrary my friend. You’re generous and it’s us who want and look forward to your witty and insightful comments :).

      Thanks so much for coming over and sharing. Great to see you here as always.
      Hope you have a good weekend.

      Cheers

  • http://www.larissaphotography.com/blog TJ McDowell

    Speaking of Godin – why wouldn’t he have comments enabled on his blog? I think I’d read his blog more if I felt like there was a sense of community. If I didn’t want community, I’d just read another one of his books (which I definitely will do). Maybe he just doesn’t want to respond to all the comments, and I get that. It just seems very…non-Godin to not allow comments. Thoughts?

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Hey TJ,
      John made some good points in his comments here regarding Godin and his no-comment policy actually. But he did mention that he replies to all emails.

      I can understand why he does it and I’m sure he would need to sacrifice entire days to replying to them. But I think comments are what allow a blog to prosper and to build a community. Not that he needs his to grow – but still. So I speak for myself in this case. I learn a ton from other people’s comments and often times much more than I learn from the post itself.

      Definitely check out what John F. had to say about that though.

      Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.
      Have a good weekend.
      Cheers

  • Anonymous

    I like to see a mix of both but I had to choose I would select comments. Comments are conversation and RT are promotion. When I leave a comment on a blog it takes more time than it does to RT. The author of the post will know what my thoughts are about the post.

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Hey Joe :),

      “Comments are conversation and RT are promotion” – LOVE that!
      It’s always nice to people talking the time to leave their input on your post.

      Well, it seems you, me and a bunch of other folks here agree that comments are the bomb!

      Thanks so much for stopping by today and sharing your 2 cents :). Very kind of you Mr. Hackman.

      Wishing you a pleasant week.
      Cheers

      • Anonymous

        So we’ll “Bring on the comments” :)

        Have a nice weekend,

        Joe

        • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

          Ha! Sounds good to me Joe :).
          And thank you.

          Hope you’re enjoying your weekend.
          Ciao

  • http://www.ruzanneromo.com ruzanne carmen di romo

    Hi Ingrid! You’re addictive! Add that to the remote now attached to my left hand! And chocolates, hugs from the little one and listening to Bon Jovi until forever. Glorious addictions.

    Anyways, I like comments better. Not only because I love making them on any post – like show me the comment area, and I’d write there after reading. I always have something to say. I have to be held back at times. Ooops. Another addiction. Goodness me, I hope not.

    But yea, comments are way awesome-er than retweets. There’s deeper meaning there, particularly sincere ones. When insights, questions, additional information and spicy fun is put in the comment area, it’s like building one new diverse neighborhood. When I’m in one, expect to find one nosy next-door-blogger who intentionally breaks the tools or run out of sugar just so I could come and borrow some. LOL!

    You rock, Ingrid. :) Because you push others to let their thoughts out. Here’s waiting for the next one from you. :)

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Oh boy do I LOVE this comment Ruzanne :). Seriously, I’m talking love as in I want to print you out and carry you around in my back pocket to show my friends lol.

      Thanks so much for all that you said. I truly appreciate it. You can understand why I chose comments now right? 😉

      And to top it all off – we agree!

      Now I’ve said it a few times and I’ll say it again – I love getting RT’s as well. I want a heck of a lot of them too. But in all honesty, I still smile and am excited to read a new well-written comments (such as yours). It means someone is listening. It means I’ve ignited some kind of spark that made a person want to click on the comments section and share their thoughts. And for that, I can only be grateful. It encourages me to continue doing what I’m doing even more.

      It was a pleasure having you stop by here today. I do this particular series every Wednesday so I hope you’ll come back either then or whenever else you feel like it :).

      Have a fabulous weekend.
      Cheers

      • http://www.ruzanneromo.com ruzanne carmen di romo

        no, i’m not blushing. must be the sun. or this new expensive blusher my hubby gave me. whatever. thanks, ingrid. i find conversations in the comment area a source of fun and affirmations. now enough of nurturing this mutual admiration society (or am i imagining this still?). you go get back to writing the next rockin’ piece! go. go!

        • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

          LOL ;).
          I’m on it! But it’s not like I have added pressure on me now or anything hahaha.

          I appreciate you coming back here all “blushed” to respond. Thank you!

          Have a super Friday.
          Cheers

  • http://www.socialmediawannabe.com Todd Lyden

    RT, cuz I don’t care if people comment.

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Hi Todd,

      Thanks for sharing your thoughts. RT’s are always great too. But I do care if people comment – I’d love for them to.

      Cheers

  • http://twitter.com/ElisesReview Elise M

    hehehe tough choice Ingrid! Actually I think I’m with you on comments. I think tweets are great, sometimes I feel like people do it because it’s easy… and sometimes they can be automated, like when people add your feed to their TwitterFeed stream. So, I like more quality comments… even though it’s a ton more work to read and reply to, but it’s worth it! People can’t fake their opinions or comments (except for spam haha) and being able to stimulate total strangers to engage in convo is a big deal! So, that’s what I choose 😛 comments… you know I am going to RT this too anyway 😀

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Hola Elise,

      Love having you here sharing your wise words of wisdom my dear :). It’s settled then – comments it is! lol

      A lot of the times, what I like to do when I RT is add a little note before the RT itself. Even if it’s something like “great discussion topic” – “excellent examples” – whatever. It just shows that I took the time to actually read the article. But in my case – I read every (99%) article that I retweet. Whether before or after.

      And you know I’m grateful for that RT right? 😉
      Thanks again Elise – for participating and sharing!

      Enjoy the rest of the week.
      Ciao

  • http://www.lifeasanexperiment.com James D. Burrell II

    How it took me so long to get over here, I’ll never know. Perhaps I was aboard an Italian train or stuck in a Greek airport and the workers went on strike. Whatever happened in reality, I’m sure the excuse is exceptionally amazing otherwise I’d have been first to comment. Seriously, I would have. Don’t question my sincerity on that.

    I had a very concrete answer when I started reading, but I vacillated as I read. My initial thought, and ultimately what I’ll go with, is that I want more comments than RTs. However, RTs are significant insomuch as they help validate my ability as a writer. It’s encouraging to see multiple (I average about 1% of yours but it’s still nice) RTs on a post because that makes me believe my post carried relevance to more than just me.

    However, as I stated here last week, at the end of the day, I’m still writing for myself. I write to unravel the mysteries of my life, and if I write well enough, I solicit comments from readers who have shared similar experiences. This is the true value of my blog. I hope to open up a forum to explore topics of life and business. I’m old enough to know I know very little, yet through the relationships I’ve developed via Twitter & Blogging, I dare say I’m wise enough to know that the answers are out there stored away in the minds of people such as those that have commented here today.

    To me, nothing is more comforting than being in a situation that seems daunting only to receive an encouraging word from a fellow blogger that they too were once in my particular plight yet persevered and that I can, too.

    Comment away, but I’ll be just as happy to know you stopped by and were moved enough to RT with your followers.

    Thanks Griddypants.

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      I always look forward to the Jimbo comments :). I really do. They’re personal, well-written, valuable, kind and genuine.

      And I totally believe that regardless of the train and strike factors – you’d still have been the first to comment lol ;).

      I understand that some new blogs may prefer the RT’s at first. It’s only normal as we all want to grow and know that our work is being shared around the twitterverse. Many people still refer the RT’s and they have their reasons and they’re very valid. Heck, I love RT’s and I always wanna’ see more of them.

      But as you said yourself, “comments are the true value of my blog”. They are for my blog as well! This Bring IT! series I created is dependent on people’s comments. It is how we learn from each other. It is how we slowly build a community of active engagers.

      Now this series may be an exception because it is after all one big call for action – but – could you imagine this post having 100 RT’s but no comments? Besides it being spread – which I would be very grateful as well – what other value will it have brought to those looking for answers and justifications? I do this because I’m genuinely interested in people’s feedback. This series lives for the comments and so does this blog. But again – I won’t take away from the importance of RT’s for they are a main force behind the growth of a blog as well as the new traffic.

      Your forum sounds like a great plan Jamey. I think with time it would generate a lot of insightful opinions.

      As for having been in your shoes – I hear ya my dear friend! I was there and even worse – I had not come half as far as you have now. We’ve all been there. I actually often feel like I visit that time every so often. But like you said, it’s perseverance combined with patience, diligence, charisma, the willingness to listen and learn, an honest and unique voice/personality…and a few others. And I assure you that you possess every one of these traits and more.

      Thank you again for that amazing comment Jamey. I appreciate the time it took you to share your thoughts here.

      Hope you have an awesome weekend.
      Cheers from the GriddyPants 😉

  • http://www.allisondevelopmentgroup.com Erica Allison

    Hello, my dear. I actually saw this pop up in my feed last night around 11:30pm (god knows what time it was where you are) and went to bed thinking about it and composing a well-thought out answer. Only to sleep, wake up and have a massive day.

    At any rate, it’s coming back to me. Great question, of course. And much like others who’ve commented already, we all love a good RT…I pride myself on GIVING the engaging RT, actually :).

    But, the biggest of all kahunas for me – esp as a NEW blogger – is the comment. I LOVE comments. I was surprised the other day when I thought very few people were reading my blog only to bump into a friend of mine who said she thoroughly enjoyed my video blog series. Really? Why didn’t you say so? In the comments section?

    Then it hit me, I’m living in a parallel universe here. There are lots of folks in this online world that willingly comment, understand how important the comment is, because they actually blog or understand how important feedback can be to someone who is blogging.

    Turn to the offline world. They may read my blog because our kids are in school together or because they are a client, but it never enters their mind to comment on it. They view it, read it, peruse it, or scan it and scoot…never to leave a comment. I’m thinking that happens a lot – I’d like to think that anyway! Sometimes, I actually get more ‘likes’ on my FB page when I post the blog there than comments on the original. Hmmmm.

    That realization of course leads to another…that it is important for me to always comment and not just RT. I actually have a bit of a guideline for myself and that is not to RT unless I’ve commented. That’s a tough one if I have a busy day. I’ve even fudged a bit lately, RT’ing before I commented, reminding myself to head back over once the dust settles on my day and give some comment love.

    For most of us, we give what we’d like to receive. If we keep at it, we’ll all be the better for it. Thanks for having an environment like Bring IT’ where we can do just that!

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      This is my placeholder and little message to you to tell you that I love your comment (as always) and I’ll be back to reply in kind very shortly :). So sorry for the wait Erica and thanks for your patience!

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Hey Erica,
      I’m sorry for the wait and I appreciate your patience.
      And wow what an awesome comment you left for me here :).

      You brought up and excellent point about some people (bloggers) knowing how important and valuable it is to take the time and add their input. I’ve also had some friends mention to me how they like my last article or that they always read my blog but I’ve never seen one of their comments here. Needless to say, none of them blog or know much about what blogging actually entails.

      They may shy away from leaving a comment at times. I can be intimidating your first time – as it was for me. I actually still remember the first comment I ever left on a blog. It took me quite some time to press send after I had written it – evaluating myself and my words – in order to see if it was up to the standards.

      I also try to leave a comment on other blogs whenever I feel I can add to the conversation. I’m not much of a drive-by person though and will rarely – if ever – just say “great post”.

      That being said, I love RT’s as well and I often try to write a little note before the RT. I think that’s a great thing to do. It shows further appreciation of the author’s post.

      It’s great of you to come by and leave such a valuable comment Erica. And I think you hit the nail on the head with much of what you said.

      It’s always such a pleasure to have you here and I certainly appreciate the time it takes you to write these long well-thought out mini-posts ;). Thanks for being a wonderful part of this community. I always look forward to hear what you have to say.

      Wishing you a great weekend.
      Cheers

      • http://www.allisondevelopmentgroup.com Erica Allison

        You are too kind to reply ‘in kind’…sorry for the long ‘mini-post’! I hope I didn’t expound too much on my thoughts. I guess your blog is one in particular where I feel comfortable to do so – and for that, I thank you. Thanks for having me and I hope you’ve had a lovely weekend. I’m pooped! :) Best, E

        • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

          My pleasure Erica – it’s the least I can do. When people take the time to leave a comment here – you can be sure I’ll take the time to reply. And you never need to be sorry for leaving a mini-post or an entire post on this blog ;)!

          It means a lot that you feel comfortable coming here and sharing your views. I always want my readers to feel that this is their blog as much as it is mine.]

          Thanks for coming back Erica. I really appreciate that.

          Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
          All the best

  • http://jimijones.com/ Jimi Jones

    Lost my first comment, bummer :-(

    To answer this question one must first determine their own strategy and what they actually want. If you are building a brand and want the exposure, RT’s will extend your reach. If you want to build an engaged community then comments wins hands down. I am in the latter camp.

    While RT’s are great, and we can all feel good at the end of the day having received X number of them, it cannot compare to the relationship building and interaction that takes place among people. It’s the difference between talking to your neighbors or sending them a flyer. It comes down to a simple matter of value and which gives you the most.

    I have visited many blogs with RTs numbering in the hundreds, but the atmospherics seem out of balance when there are no or few comments. It’s like, does anyone want to talk to this person, what gives?

    I think having lots of comments says a lot about the host site. It’s a form of social proof. When you see lots of comments, you’re likely to join in as well. If there are none, well, people tend to be followers. Don’t believe it? Why do people laugh at those mindless sit-coms when they play a pre-recorded laugh track? It seems the things to do so other join in.

    Given the choice, I’ll take the comments every time.

    Now which would you like today on this wonderful post, because you’re not getting both…
    until I get to the buttons. :-)

    Happy Wednesday, keep rockin!

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Oh no Jimi :(! I’m sorry to hear that – was it my blog’s fault?
      It always sucks to have to rewrite a comment especially one like yours here which clearly shows the effort that has gone into it. I had to do that earlier today as well on a friend’s blog. So I certainly appreciate you taking the time to comment – not once but twice! :)

      I love your comparison here – talking to your neighbor or sending them a flyer HA! What a great way to look at it. I never thought of that.

      I obviously agree with all that you pointed out especially the fact that comments are a form of social proof and that seeing a lot of them makes you want to comment as well – it’s almost like a domino effect – where one comment leads to the next – at least sometimes.

      It’s funny that you mention seeing some blogs with hundreds of RT’s but no comments. What does that mean? I always wonder about that.

      As for the mindless sitcoms – I have to admit that there are a few that I LMAO at anyways ;). But that’s quite the example you give here! That’s two excellent comparisons you made here Jimi – which I think are not only original but spot on!

      Thanks so much for sharing here today Jimi. I loved what you said.

      Oh, and thank you for getting to the buttons hahaha., RT’s are always great to have nevertheless and I for one – won’t say NO to them. I say – Bring them on! 😉

      Hope you enjoy the rest of your week.
      Cheers

      • http://jimijones.com/ Jimi Jones

        Well my dear friend, I won’t lay that lost comment here at your doorstep. I was actually having some broadband fits and farts at the time, which of course quickly evaporated upon zapping my comment. LOL

        Worst yet, I could hardly remember all that I had written so I just started again. Anyhow, it’s enjoyable to visit here and leave a few pennies. :-)

        I’m off to New York so we’ll holler at ya later.

        • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

          Hey Jimi,

          Good of you to come back :).
          I’m glad your broadband was sorted out and that you had the patience to start all over from scratch. Thanks again.

          Have a great trip and enjoy New York. Always a great state to be in.

          Bon Voyage

  • Adrienne

    Hi Ingrid,

    That’s an easy one for me. I go with more comments. I want people to take the time to read my posts and leave comments. It helps me know if I’m supplying the kind of information my readers are interested in or if they are perhaps able to learn something from my posts. Don’t get me wrong, RT’s are awesome too and always appreciated but I just think that leaving a comment means that you took the time to stop by and really read my post. That’s always a great feeling.

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us all. AND, I’ll be sure to RT your post as well. I’ll be spreading the love.

    Adrienne

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Hi Adrienne,

      A pleasure to have you back here – as always :).
      I was just telling Lisa below that it’s nice to see that a lot of people share my sentiment about comments. I know we all want RT’s and tons of them but comments tend to go a long way with getting to know more about your audience.

      You made some excellent points and I definitely agree with you about wanting people to take the time to read my posts. Until today, I smile when I see a new comment on one of my posts. It means I did something right to spark an interest somehow.

      Thanks so much for spreading the love :). I certainly appreciate it!
      Have a good week.

      Cheers

  • http://www.thefriendlyblogger.com thefriendlyblogger

    Hmmm….I want it all dang it!! :) Actually I would like a balance between both, but at the end of the day, I guess I would like more comments. I think this helps build more relationships where I can actually respond and engage. And since I get good comments and the illusive RT is a mystery to me, I’m stickin’ with that!!

    Woot,
    Lisa

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Hey Wooty 😉

      It’s nice to see that a lot of people feel the same way as me about comments. Although RT’s are fabulous – Tony made a great point below on how comments are a “footprint” whereas RT’s eventually get lost in a stream.

      But shhhhh, don’t tell everyone that I too want them both dang it!!! 😉

      Enjoy the rest of the week.
      All the best

  • http://www.thetop10blog.com/ Tony Hastings

    Another excellent question and this week I am not being tardy with my reply.

    It has to be comments! Why? A comment means that someone has (hopefully) taken a little time to read your post and then been motivated to respond to you, that is a very human connection which gives you the opportunity to respond and maybe form some kind of meaningful relationship. Also a comment remains in place so is a ‘footprint’ to show other visitors that you are worthy of their time.

    I love getting RT’s, as you know and they are always extremely welcome and vital to communicating your message. However they are there and then gone in an electronic moment as they shuffle off down the Twitter stream leaving only a tiny imprint compared to the comment, also an RT is not always an indication that your post has been read let alone visited.

    (All that being said please feel free to RT my scintillating Tweets at any time, I don’t want you to think I am ungrateful)

    So in terms of appreciation of your blog posts I think comments are more welcome but in terms of communication and getting your message out RT’s most definitely have their place.

    I rest my case M’Lud

    Tony

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Hey Tony,

      You’re never tardy my friend – it’s awesome of you to give your take on this and for you to participate in this series :). Thank you.

      Looks like you and I agree. RT’s are amazing to have but comments tend to go a long way. I love your explanation of a “footprint” :). I didn’t think of that factor – how a comment is there to stay – great point!

      And yes, a comment usually means that someone has read the post whereas an RT doesn’t always imply that.

      Your case was very well rested Tony!
      Always a pleasure to have your well-thought out comments here. They never fail to add value.

      Have a great week.
      Cheers

  • http://www.hectorjcuevas.com/ Hector Cuevas

    Wow tough question.. I think it depends on what you want.

    If I’m looking to foster a sense of community around my blog, then I would definitely want more comments. They add social proof, and may push other visitors to leave comments as well.

    However, if I was looking to get noticed, get more traffic, get more leads and grow my business (you see where I’m going with this) – RT’s would definitely be my choice. Conversations can always happen on twitter, so your followers can tell you how much they enjoyed your post and you’ll feel awesome (because that’s another thing comments do, they make you feel like you’re doing something right)

    But yea.. it all depends. And today, you’re getting both. Great post :0)
    Hector

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Hey Hector,
      I know what you mean LOL I had to answer it too ;).

      You bring up a great point about how conversations also take place on Twitter – it’s one I neglected to mention but I wanted people to make the tough decision of having to choose between a simple RT of a post or a worthy comment. I couldn’t make it easy now could I? hehe

      But you’re right – and I often get that happen – where people tel me what they thought of one of my posts via Twitter – and it’s still great to have that.

      You’ve broken down the reasons for each very well and you’re right – it always depends on what your goal is.

      Although my objective is obviously both – fostering a community and growing – I decided to go with comments for one of the reasons you mentioned here – in that comments attract more people to leave one of their own. Also – a comment will usually – but now always – be followed by and RT – so you get the best of both worlds. But an RT doesn’t always mean a comment.

      Ahhh…the tough decisions we must make in life ;).
      But I’m grateful that you accorded me both…phew! After all, I do LOVE the RT’s as well :).

      Thanks so much for taking the time to leave such a valuable response – you brought up some excellent points. I really appreciate it.

      Always a pleasure to see you here Hector.
      Have a good week.

      Cheers

  • http://www.geekface.co.uk John – Geek Face

    For me getting comments is kinda cool. I’ve only just recently started my blog. When I did my list of top female bloggers it felt pretty special to have people leaving their comments…..although most of those were left by the people on that list :) I think if people do leave a comment it’s a good indication that someone has actually taken the time to read your post. A Retweet is perhaps less personal but still indicates that someone though it worthy of a mention. Both are great but comments win for me.

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Hi John and welcome to my blog

      I gotta tell ya – I just hopped over to your site and I loved the design – not to mention your little animated illustration of Geek Face – very cool. I’m presuming you designed it yourself (yes, I read your about page lol)? Either way – very cute and catchy.

      Looks like you and I agree on comments – although as I mentioned I love getting RT’s as well. A lot of both is always a good sign but well-thought comments (like yours here) are a big plus for me. Like you said – when someone takes the time to leave more than a drive-by like “hey, great post” it means you or your words sparked some kind of interest.

      You learn a lot more from comments – both from the person who left it and about them. And I always make it a point to reply to each one. I see it this way: If someone takes the time to share their views and it’s nice to accord them that same respect and respond.

      The top 10 style posts/lists are usually a hit with folks – especially those that are on it hehe. The title alone captures a reader’s attention and it’s always courteous of those that are included to stop by and show their gratitude.

      It’s great of you to stop by here today and share your thoughts. I look forward to seeing you around these parts more often and maybe again for round 4 of Bring IT! next Wednesday :).

      Cheers

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Hi John and welcome to my blog

      I gotta tell ya – I just hopped over to your site and I loved the design – not to mention your little animated illustration of Geek Face – very cool. I’m presuming you designed it yourself (yes, I read your about page lol)? Either way – very cute and catchy.

      Looks like you and I agree on comments – although as I mentioned I love getting RT’s as well. A lot of both is always a good sign but well-thought comments (like yours here) are a big plus for me. Like you said – when someone takes the time to leave more than a drive-by like “hey, great post” it means you or your words sparked some kind of interest.

      You learn a lot more from comments – both from the person who left it and about them. And I always make it a point to reply to each one. I see it this way: If someone takes the time to share their views and it’s nice to accord them that same respect and respond.

      The top 10 style posts/lists are usually a hit with folks – especially those that are on it hehe. The title alone captures a reader’s attention and it’s always courteous of those that are included to stop by and show their gratitude.

      It’s great of you to stop by here today and share your thoughts. I look forward to seeing you around these parts more often and maybe again for round 4 of Bring IT! next Wednesday :).

      Cheers

  • http://twitter.com/TabithaEdwards Tabitha Edwards

    You are good with the tough questions!

    While RTs can contribute to growth and exposure, I have to go with comments. A comment that adds value can spur conversation. It’s more personal. From my personal experience, I haven’t seen RTs create the same level of interaction.

    For the record, I also retweeted this post!

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      LOL Tabitha 😉

      I even made it hard for ME to answer hehe. I didn’t think I’d be able to but as I was writing the post – it started to become obvious. But, I’ll admit to loving RT’s just as much. I mean, who doesn’t right?

      I truly believe in listening to and engaging with your community. And one of the best ways to do that is by leaving well-thought out comments and replying to those you get. There’s so much you can learn both from and about a person through the comments they leave you – and not just their posts.

      Plus it’s a great feeling to know that people like the content you’re putting out there enough to take the time and share their views with you and your readers.

      So – it looks like we agree on that :).

      But heck – I’ll take that RT of yours any day! hehe
      Thanks so much for dropping by and sharing your pennies. Always appreciated.

      Have a great day.
      Cheers

  • http://twitter.com/Shanty2 Chantal Akkary

    As you said, i would love to have both, but at the time being i would love to have more Comments!!
    Dunno why, but i rarely get comments :( maybe i should put my posts more on Facebook & twitter to get more feedbacks!
    Great topic as usual!!

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Hey Chantal,

      I’m so happy you’re liking this Bring IT! series :). Thanks a lot for being such a great contributor. Very cool of you.

      Looks like you and I agree on the comments – although I do LOVE RT’s as well and it was a touch choice to make. But I think what makes this blog what it is – is the engagement and interaction that goes on in the comments from generous and interesting people such as yourself.

      Do you have a FB group for your blog? I actually never post them on my personal account – just on my group page – although I really should and I know most bloggers do. But for some reason – I wanted to try and keep my personal account separate.

      So if you don’t have a FB group – I would recommend one. But in all honesty – I think Twitter is what has helped me the most.

      Thanks again for sharing. I’ll be over to last week’s Bring IT! to reply to you in a bit :).
      Happy Wednesday
      Cheers

      • http://twitter.com/Shanty2 Chantal Akkary

        Hey,
        Actually i don’t have a Facebook page for my blog yet, i though about it once but i’m not sure if i want to make it, because my Blog isn’t so famous, i’m still giving it a thought!

        • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

          Hi Chantal,

          You should consider it at some point. My blog barely had any readers when I started using a FB page and Twitter. But I’ll say it again – in my case – Twitter helped a lot.

  • http://www.expatlifecoach.com/blog John Falchetto

    Comments or RTs? I like to compare those to do you want Fame (comments) or Fortune (RT)?

    I prefer comments, why?My goal is a blogger is to build a community of expats entrepreneur and professionals. I feel comments show a deeper connection with readers and this is what I am looking for.
    RTs is word of mouth or 2.0 advertising, ya I like your post and I will tell my friends about it.

    I guess what you are really looking for and what your goal of your blog is about. Godin doesn’t allow comments because he feels it distracts him from producing art, honestly if he opened comments he would have to spend hours a day answering them, so I agree. Also it’s hard for anyone to compare our blogs to Godin because he is already uber-famous so it’s not representative of a ‘normal’ blogger.

    So it really depends on what you are after fame or fortune?

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Fame or Fortune! I love that comparison John and I can’t believe it didn’t even cross my mind :)!
      Now just made it even harder because who the heck doesn’t want both right? lol

      It seems you and I share the same thoughts about comments and the advantages they have. I know most bloggers will have “growth” as one of their goals and that’s why I think this question was a bit tough for many – including me.

      But in all honestly – I learn a lot more from the comments on this blog and elsewhere than RT’s. I’m not talking actualy interactions on Twitter – just simple RT’s of a post. I think are reasons for preferring comments are similar even though are target audiences or communities may be a little different – although heck – I’ll take the expats as well haha.

      As for Godin – I’m not sure how I feel about him disabling comments but I totally understand that if he hadn’t done that – he’d need more than 24 hours in a day to reply. But then again – there are a lot of other biggies out there who keep the comments active but simply don’t reply to all. Not sure which is better here. I’m a believer in that comments help give your blog a soul, a life. Oddly enough, they’re often better than the actual post.

      Looks like you and I picked Fame. Now get the paparazzi’s out of my face please LOL ;).

      Thanks so much for coming over and sharing your views on this John. You always have such wonderful insight to share.

      Wishing you and your family a great week.
      Cheers

      • http://www.expatlifecoach.com/blog John Falchetto

        Audience and target audiences aren’t the way we think of them anymore. I talk to people who live abroad and guess what I am sure some of them are interested in SM, so where does your tribe start and mine stop?

        As for Godin he is funny guy. He doesn’t do comments but he will answer every email you send him with a real question. I email him quite often with a question and the guy takes the time from his schedule to answer. He is also a perfectionist so what is the point of keeping comments active if you don’t reply to all? Do you go back to a blog where you comment and nobody replies to you?

        Yala thanks for the conversation and TGIF tomorrow

        • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

          Good point about where our tribes start and end John.

          As for Godin – I’ve never sent him an email or anything but it’s great to know that he takes the time to do that. I admire that. I think regardless of who you are, you should give your readers the time of day – because after all, you often rely on them. Good of you to share that – will make sure to keep that in mind if I ever do have a question for him.

          As for going back to blogs that don’t reply – I’ve been lucky so far that most of the places I comment – the author is kind enough to reply. If they don’t reply once or twice – I guess it’s fine – but if I know they’re never gonna’ reply to me then probably not. But in that case – if I really have something to say, maybe I can start a conversation with another of the commenters there. Maybe they’d reply.

          Danny Brown once said in a podcast (panel with Joe Hackman) that “you’re only as influential as your audience allows you to be”. I loved that quote and I totally intend on using very soon in a new post :).

          Ha! Yalla okay :))
          Enjoy your weekend John and thanks for taking the time to come back here to respond.

          Cheers

          • http://www.larissaphotography.com/blog TJ McDowell

            Ingrid,
            Thanks for letting me know about this comment section. I sent Godin an email once. Had a reply within about 15 minutes. Knocked my socks off.
            As far as leaving comments closed though, it still doesn’t seem natural to me. On Bob Parson’s video blog (the founder of GoDaddy), he has comments on, but he only responds to a couple of the comments. To me, that seems like a more natural way to handle large comment volume.
            With Godin’s blog though, I honestly don’t read it too much because comments aren’t enabled. I’m probably a small minority, but that’s the truth from one guy.

            • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

              Hey TJ,

              Thanks for coming back :). From what you and John are saying it seems Godin is doing his part when it comes to interacting with his community. Again though – comments are a big part of engaging with your community and now I’m trying to decide whether I’d rather he not allow comments (as he does now) or simply reply to a couple here and there.

              A few bigger bloggers do that as well – where they’ll reply to one or 2 people. What’s reassuring when they do that is that you know they’re reading the comments that folks are leaving at least. Plus you get to read and comment on what other people have to say. Remember that it’s not just about talking to the author – you can always strike up a conversation from someone else’s comment you came across.

              What kind of bums though is that might keep you wondering if yours is the one they’ll answer – and if it isn’t, does that mean it wasn’t adequate? Will they only answer other known bloggers in the same league as them? If 2 or 3 – then why not 10? Many questions here – but I’m the kind of gal who likes to see and read comments.

              Oh, and I don’t visit Godin that often either – not sure why – cause I know his posts are always succinct (they don’t get much shorter than that for blog posts lol) and very interesting.

  • http://www.foursides.ca James M

    I’d prefer the comments, but only if they are of quality. To retweet something takes a few seconds to locate the blue bird and click on it. A quality comment takes at least a minute to type out if they have read the post and think about what to write. And, generally, if they leave a comment, they are likely to RT it, as well.

    This is a great way to get the best of both worlds, though. I’ve been trying to get the word out that I’ll feature the top commenter at my blog, but that hasn’t been working out so well. Time to ramp it up a bit.

    I’m really liking this series of posts, by the way. Maybe you should write another one within ten minutes?

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Hey James,
      Great to see you here again :).

      I totally agree about quality comments – that’s why I made it a point to say “not drive-by’s” which would be the ever so popular “hey, great post” LOL. Those count too – a comment is a comment – but I’d much rather have a comment like the ones my readers have been so generous to share. They always have a ton of value to add.

      And yes – a comment usually leads to an RT whereas an RT doesn’t always lead to a comment. But again – I love having my posts RT’d as it does help with the growth and sometimes attracts new visitors.

      So it seems you and I agree on that :).

      Have you tried installing a plugin like mine for top commenters? It’s a start and plus maybe an incentive. I recently installed – about a week ago or less – and I like the idea. Plus there’s a little trophy that goes next to your name if you’ve left 4 or more comments in that particular month.

      I’m very happy you’re enjoying this series – it will of course be here every Wednesday :). I wish I would whip up another one for ya now in 10 minutes hahaha but I’ll have to get crackin’ soon on next week’s – which will probably be here in less than 2 minutes lol.

      Thanks again for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. They’re always appreciated here.
      Have a good week.

      Cheers

      • http://www.foursides.ca James M

        Hi Ingrid,

        I have added a plugin into the sidebar that displays the top commenters for the month. My top commenter is at 5, but I’ve only had maybe 12 comments for the month. I’m not as wide read as your blog is. I’ve been struggling to build up the traffic due to a lack of time. An additional problem is the ComLuv plugin can’t find the RSS feed on my blog so doesn’t display the most recent post when commenting on blogs that have it installed (like on Tristan’s blog). Been trying to resolve that issue to no avail.

        Either way, I’ll still keep reading your stuff and posting when I have a free moment from my daughter. Keep it up!

        • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

          Hey James,
          Thanks for coming back. Congrats on installing the plugin. The comments will come in due time :).
          As for your RSS feed with ComLuv – I’m not sure if its the same thing that happened to me or not – but sometimes a URL get banned by accident and you just have to go to the dedicated page on ComLuv and plugin your URL and it unbans it in a second. It happens every so often and it’s not big deal and very easy to fix. But again – I’m not sure if that’s the case or not. Did you try contacting Andy or someone from ComLuv to see if they can steer you in the right direction?

  • Ehab

    Great post. I think I’m crying for both right now :(
    Do here’s my comment, and the RT follows :)

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Hey Ehab and welcome

      Glad you enjoyed this post – I do this series every Wednesday and it’s always a question for my readers :).

      Having to choose kinda sucks but I had to do it. Thanks for the comment and the RT. But…I’m still curious to know which you would rather have more of on your blog. Comments or RT’s? It’s a life and death situation – remember? LOL 😉

      Have a nice day
      Cheers

  • http://www.twitter.com/fitzternet John Fitzgerald

    Interesting premise. It’s like choosing pizza or beer. I’m happy with either, but the goal is to always pass out with a bottle in your hand and an almost empty pizza box in your lap. At least that’s what I think I learned in high school.

    But yeah… Comments, definitely.

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Hey John,
      Well that has got to be one of the most creative analogies or comparison’s ever LOL! Pizza and beer for Comments and RT’s eh? hehe

      But hey, I totally get your point ;). High school was always such a learning experience haha.

      It look like we agree on comments – although RT’s are always a huge plus and super beneficial.

      Thanks for dropping by and sharing.
      Cheers

  • http://diyblogger.net/about Dino Dogan

    Dont make me choose :-( ok, so I’ll comment AND RT this post, as far as what I would prefer…10 comments and 100 retweets …no reason…just because.

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Ah, but we all had to choose lol. Tell me about it – I almost went with a different subject because I detest having to chose between two things I love and want :(. But as I kept writing – the choice became a bit clearer – but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to compete with Godin for RT’s hahaha/

      Thanks for coming by and sharing Dino – just because…;)
      Cheers

  • http://live-your-love.com/ Brankica U

    OK, you made great points why are comments great and why RTs are great.

    I guess if I had to decide I would like more RTs.

    But to add here is a more detailed explanation:
    1. I would love more comments so I can connect with people
    2. I would love more new visitors comments so I can connect with more people and see that there are some new people running into my blog
    3. I would love more RTs because if someone with a lot of followers RTs my post, there is more chance of getting new visitors.

    Not to get me wrong, I actually love my current visitors, but the truth is that unless there are new ones, it means that the blog is not growing.

    So as I said, if I HAD TO decide, I would go with RTs

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      Welcome back Sharp Shooter aka BloggingTip Meister :)
      nittyGriddy certainly missed ya while you were on holiday.

      This was a tough one for me to decide – because let’s face it – who doesn’t love RT’s?
      You made a great point about wanting/needing new visitors for a blog to grow. It’s always a great thing when the loyal readers stop by – just goes to show they appreciate your work and that you’re doing something right to keep them coming back. But it’s also nice to see new visitors take interest.

      Thanks for the detailed explanation Brankica. Great of you to share – as always.
      Have a super Wednesday. Enjoy your 16.5 pound ball of fur and love :).

      Cheers

  • Rhyme Me a Smile

    Are you one of those “always asks the tough questions” girls? Ugh. If I must choose, I go with the 10 comments and 100 RTs as well. I’m still pretty new. I’ve gathered a decent following and my lovely readers do leave comments… so, right now my goal is to grow. :)

    Rhyme Me a Smile

    • http://nittygriddy.com/ Ingrid Abboud

      LOL Rachel,

      Well, I kinda made it hard for myself to answer as well because until I started typing, I wasn’t sure. I’m not the kind of girl who likes to be forced to choose hahaha.

      I totally understand your point of view and if growing is your focus right now, then RT’s are probably the good way to go. But that’s not to say that comments don’t rock as well.

      Best of luck to you and thanks a lot for stopping by and sharing your views.

      Cheers

      PS – those are some cool “awards for awesomeness” you get there :). And you’ve got great rhymes going on. Nice! Keep it up.