by Barbara Radisavljevic
Member since:
October 7, 2009

Please Make It Easy to Respond

January 24, 2013 09:18 PM UTC
views: 0 | 3 people recommend this | comments: 36


I've read a lot of posts and seen a lot of pictures today, and some have left me wondering what to say about them. I'd like to let the poster know I was there, but I don't have much to contribute. I don't want to be the tenth person that says, "I agree." Some posts seem to say it all, leaving little left to be said. It would be so much easier if posts ended with a question to spark discussion.

What do you think is the best way to encourage people to make comments?



Comments: 36

Larry H. Jan 24, 2013, 9:23pm UTC
I don't know, I get very few comments.
Barbara Radisavljevic Jan 24, 2013, 10:40pm UTC
Hmm! I'll have to visit your profile and see what's there.
Debbie W. Jan 24, 2013, 9:33pm UTC
If I don't have a response, but enjoyed the picture I say something like "passing thru to view." That way they get a comment. I agree about the articles, though, that a question at the end would help with responses.
Barbara Radisavljevic Jan 24, 2013, 10:41pm UTC
That works. Good idea. I may start passing through.
Jennifer T. Jan 24, 2013, 10:03pm UTC
I think just the way you did! End with a question! LOL!! I feel the same way a lot and if I really don't know what to say, I just recommend the post.
Barbara Radisavljevic Jan 24, 2013, 10:44pm UTC
Sometimes I don't know what to say because it's something I don't honestly want to recommend. There are some things that leave me cold. I'm with Thumper's mother. If I can't say something good, I'd rather day nothing at all, unless I'm defending something I believe in. Sometimes, though, I get so busy commenting I forget to recommend posts I really like.
Betty S. Jan 24, 2013, 10:41pm UTC
asking a question does seem to help.
Barbara Radisavljevic Jan 24, 2013, 10:44pm UTC
That's why I will try to remember to do it from now on. Unless, of course, I forget.
Rebecca P. Jan 24, 2013, 11:02pm UTC
I try to ask a question at the end of mine. Sometimes I don't know what to say or don't feel my comment would be enough so I just recommend. But questions work usually or if its something that a commenter might want to know more about.
Barbara Radisavljevic Jan 24, 2013, 11:46pm UTC
I love it when commenters ask questions. That makes it easier to comment back. Sometimes my comments are questions, since some posts or photos bring questions to my mind.
Karen E. Jan 24, 2013, 11:24pm UTC
I wish there was "I visited" button...
Barbara Radisavljevic Jan 24, 2013, 11:47pm UTC
Great idea, Karen. Or a thumbs up, thumbs down like they have on some sites I could mention but won't.
Karen E. Jan 25, 2013, 12:15am UTC
True!
Beth J. Jan 24, 2013, 11:36pm UTC
Thanks for sharing on Getting to 3000 Together
Barbara Radisavljevic Jan 24, 2013, 11:48pm UTC
Do people ever get to 3000 before cashing out? Curious minds want to know.
Angela H. Jan 25, 2013, 2:58am UTC
Conversing just like you are doing here is working. Yes the question is key. Good post!
Barbara Radisavljevic Jan 25, 2013, 4:35am UTC
I guess Gather is here to promote conversation, right?
Phill Senters Jan 25, 2013, 9:28am UTC
Gather is here to promote Gather, not necessarily conversations. If you send your Gather content to other sites like Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon, ect, it will increase your views and thus your points.
Barbara Radisavljevic Jan 25, 2013, 2:45pm UTC
Good point, Phil. Thanks for the advice. I don't do that very often, but I sometimes link to certain Gather articles from my articles on other sites if they tie in.
Cynthia C. Jan 25, 2013, 9:32am UTC
Thank you for sharing and posting to Sadies Points:)
Barbara Radisavljevic Jan 25, 2013, 2:45pm UTC
You're welcome. I love having all the visitors who find me that way.
William M. Jan 25, 2013, 9:34am UTC
Gather is eating my comments.

I never get caught up on the internet. I asked a question a while back and it seemed most people prefer to have their posts commented on rather than their comments replied to. I try to comment on my friends post and don't reply to comments on my posts.
Barbara Radisavljevic Jan 25, 2013, 2:49pm UTC
From some feedback I've had, some people don't care about any of it except getting the views when people get to their pages. I suspect, though, that engagement time also counts for something -- how long peoples spend on your page engaging by reading a post or writing a comment.

I always try to reply to comments, too, in a personal way if possible. Some people do return to read replies and continue the conversation.
Heather - child of God, C. Jan 25, 2013, 10:30am UTC
If you ask for an opinion, you can get a lot of comments... People are helpful, but they do like to share their opinions.
Barbara Radisavljevic Jan 25, 2013, 2:54pm UTC
That's why I try to allow for varying opinions on most posts. It's also a good way to find out what people are thinking. Preaching to the choir is safer, but isn't often heard outside the congregation. If we find out what people's real needs are, it's easier to speak to those needs. As you say, everyone has an opinion and loves a chance to share it. I allow people to express their opinions on my posts as long as they are courteous and respectful of the opinions of others.
Hev L. Jan 25, 2013, 11:27am UTC
It's really hard to say because what you would think would get you comments doesn't really. I think a lot of it is the topic and how it's worded.
Barbara Radisavljevic Jan 25, 2013, 2:56pm UTC
It's true that controversial posts will generate more comments than a picture of a beautiful flower. I suspect longer conversations are generated by posts with lots of words than photo posts that have hardly any.
Hev L. Jan 26, 2013, 2:20pm UTC
Or even just a what's going on with your day. People love to talk about themselves and when they find something in common with someone else it excites everyone.
Barbara Radisavljevic Jan 27, 2013, 12:19am UTC
Quite true.
Hev L. Jan 27, 2013, 1:55pm UTC
:) at least that's what makes me happy when posting and commenting. I once told someone on here that I have better friends on gather than in my life
Barbara Radisavljevic Jan 27, 2013, 2:35pm UTC
Can you imagine what it will be like if the government decides to interfere with our free use of the Internet? For millions it would shut down their businesses and cut people off from family and friends that depend upon social networks and email to communicate.
Hev L. Jan 30, 2013, 10:06am UTC
Do you realize that if happens over half of gather would be arrested and the other half just kicked off lol
Barbara Radisavljevic Jan 30, 2013, 3:16pm UTC
I'm quite aware of that, except that Gather itself would probably no longer be here either.
Hev L. Jan 30, 2013, 9:03pm UTC
That's so true and very scary.
Rayda Renshaw Jan 25, 2013, 4:23pm UTC
When I can't think of a thing to say, I just recommend and move on. We are paid for views so even just popping in and looking at a post is really enough.
Barbara Radisavljevic Jan 25, 2013, 6:43pm UTC
You're right. Thanks for taking the time to comment here.

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