Has 'Comments' Really Improved?
Happy New Year to everyone !!
Im back in Spain and getting on with business... Lots to get on with... a new year and targets to meet.. This is the first time I have really set targets for myself with my SAC website, well apart from the targets set each month by Kyle. So I am working on blogs as usual but also videos this month.
I have spent the last 2 days going through the various platforms suggested by Kyle to see firstly how easy they are to use and what the cost of the full version is. No point trying out a trial version and getting used to it if Im not prepared to pay for the full version in the end. So a few were kicked into touch, others were not intuitive (Im not a great one for reading instructions, or instructional tutorials to be honest - I know, I know, my own worst enemy)
So having gone through all this and settled on Screenflow, I decided to start with a video on a blog that I had written a few weeks ago, still fairly fresh in my mind and an easier one to start with as videoing is totally new to me.
Spent the day fiddling around with it, trying it out, videoing parts to see how it would look, fielding calls in the middle of the 'Take' 😂 So inconsiderate of people to ring me when Im the actor and producer! But after a few takes, I got the swing of it and got through it.
Research on You Tube for similar videos, looked at jaaxy for great keywords to use. Uploaded to my YouTube channel, all details filled in, posted on my website!
Next step to ask for comments.... and this is where I got frustrated... it has been a frustrating day in lots of ways (still waiting for my lost suitcase to turn up 3 days later - Spain is really the pits for getting anything done in a timely fashion, I feel that they are on a totally different timescale to the rest of the world)
I set the request for comments, and considering my video is about 10 minutes long (I don't expect anyone to watch the full 10 minutes) I do expect they might watch 3-4 minutes and as i asked for comments on the topic and the overall article, thats what I expected to get.
Within 2 minutes of setting the request I had a comment back - it was clear they had not listened to anything of the video and even used the work 'writing' - there was no writing and about the overall website.
I still think there is work to do on getting people to understand how to leave comments - maybe a compulsory tutorial on how to do it, what is required before anyone can leave comments or earn credits.
Its still not working that well to be honest. I just hope the rest of the comments are worth my credits.
Recent Comments
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Sorry. Helen, I sympathize. That is one of the few reasons why I dislike SiteComments. Almost a year now since I’ve been a premium member at WA, I have never felt comfortable using SiteComments, for both receiving or giving them. It seems to be too much a problem for me than its worth. I rather go the organic comments route than to use them on here. Its because of these issues, one of them is trying to secure high quality comments. I wouldn't want to experience what you have gone through. You aren't the only one who kvetches about that. I’ve stayed clear from SiteComments, gone rogue on that.
It is frustrating but if you want comments on your site, you can always message me with a link to the article you would like me to read, I will be very happy to leave you a comment !
It sounds like some people don't sit and read any of the posts here at all. I think I have read at least five posts in the last month about commenting on a website. Anyway, I hope you can get some better comments and that it keeps improving as the year goes on.
All the best
Douglas
I’m sorry that you feel my blog is repetitive of information you have read in posts recently. You’re not obliged to read them all and my title clearly states what it’s about. I have not been active daily in here since the beginning of December, with travelling with my son, surgery in the UK and our most important Christian festival of the year, so I apologise if I’ve bored you.
Oh, I'm sorry I didn't mean it that way. I meant that I wish people would continue to bring this up and that people who give bad comments would realize it and better them. I really am sorry to make it sound like that I didn't mean it in that way really. Please forgive me and I hope that this makes sense. You didn't bore me at all either I really love reading these posts and every post. Sorry again.
Douglas
Thanks Doug! I must have misunderstood so thankyou so much for setting me straight... its an ongoing issue unfortunately... I know that Kyle is aware, but we do need a different system I think. Hope you have a great day!
Yea I didn't realize how I had worded my response to the post. I hope that something happens as I have rejected almost more comments then I have put on my site.
Douglas
Hi Helen, you make a good point and I'm sure it is shared by many members of the WA community. Ensuring comments are of high quality and appropriate can be difficult for any feedback system because what may be acceptable to you is not for others and vice versa. This can be difficult to change because of inherent cultural or societal differences within the WA membership. Ultimately, if you don't like the comments given, disapprove them and give feedback to that person as to why the comment was rejected.
Where I think we can influence the Comments section for the better is how we incentivise the earning of credits for giving comments. Too often we see some WA members offering less than acceptable comments merely to secure easy Community credits, and in particular Cash credits, and then brag about the cash they are earning from this as if it is adding to their business' bottom line. It's not.
Do you have any thoughts on how SiteComments could be improved?
I totally agree with you. I personally dont think there should be a cash incentive. It should be in credit form only... maybe there could be other incentives to spend the credits, such as getting an ambassador to look over a blog or something to do with your website. To be honest I dont think much of anyone who thinks they can 'earn' from leaving credits. It should be done on the basis that you 'pay it forward', WA is a community and we do help each other so earning your monthly subs from comments isnt my idea of a business.
Or, no one can leave comments until they have taken a tutorial on how to do it properly. I dont think Im expecting too much but I do expect that if I ask for a comment on the overall topic or article, thats what I should get and it be one that clearly shows they have read/watched what I have taken time to do.
Yes, agree. I really feel like there needs to be a Suggestions Box here at WA. This would really save on having to post about these issues all the time.
Or is there such a box and I've missed it?
I agree Helen - I left a site feedback for a site owner a couple of days ago - I noticed, after I had added my feedback, that there were 5-6 entries made earlier that the owner hadn't replied to - I think that all folks requesting comments/feedback should reply to those who have given them - it's a give-and-take process here at WA in most cases
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Good to know that you hv started working with YouTube now. It’s a huge leap from where I see it. We should get used to irrelevant comments as social media is full of it. Don’t get bogged down. This has happened now and will happen in future also. Concentrate on the positives and ignore the negatives. All the best
sensible advice, thanks Alia