So many people use the comment thread. When I leave 3 comments and then post my link requesting comments, within an hour or two my request is buried and I don't think most people scroll through to find links posted earlier. I end up with no comments. I have definitely been guilty of leaving comments and posting my link in the reply, asking for a comment back. I can certainly stop doing this. Unless the reply button is disabled though, it is going to continue in my opinion.

Of course we have SiteComments too, but a lot of people don't want to pay for credits, or give 2 to get 1, when you can do a 1 for 1 on the comment thread.

It is very much a "do for me first then I will do for you" environment in the comment thread. My experience is, unless I follow up with my link, a lot of times people will not reciprocate. I apologize for doing that.

I know there are 2 rules and they are easy to follow (here comes the BUT), but, very few people play by those rules. Maybe it worked when there weren't as many people requesting comments.

Just my 2 cents :)
Steve

I do this, but when I post my link, I ask them to post theirs so that I can repay the kindness. And if they ask for my link, I will leave it for them as well.
I'm not too sure why some people choose to pm me when they've left a comment. I believe they just don't understand how this thread works. No harm done for me anyway.
Cheers,
Suzanne

Hi Loes,

I do that all the time - giving and taking comments.
Although I've read elsewhere that one should focus on their own niche in order to build relationships and friendships in that niche, in WA I comment any post I find interesting. There are posts that are real gems (even if they are in another niche).

Thanks for the post :)

Lo,l I was not aware of these rules and somehow have never thought to comment for the purpose of receiving comments
back. My interests in learning have led me to search out others posts and comments are simply a way to be engaged in the conversation...still, I appreciate the need for rules if there is another purpose to this interaction. Thanks for sharing Loes.
Bright and sunny wishes for your day

respectfully David

Thanks for this reminder, Loes. As I'm new to that page, when I saw people doing that, at first I thought that was what I was supposed to do in order to avoid putting my website on a post because I thought that was considered spam. Then I remembered what Kyle had posted at the beginning of the post. That's where he wants us to share our info to invite comments. Carol

Since I use this website comment thread exclusively, I always will comment on a couple of other websites first. Then I post my link with text asking for quality comments on my website page/post.

However I have found that if you do only this, as described by Kyle, it will not produce more comments than if you did not leave comments on 3 other websites first. So I take one extra step that will yield better results.

When I post my link to the content I want comments on, I will end my posting by saying, "After leaving your comment on my website, reply below with a link to your website content and I will return the favor."

Taking this extra step will always yield more comments because a 1 for 1 give and take works better. It also helps me to see the quality of the comments left on my website, so I can repay with the same level of quality.

But that being said, I will not leave comments for people if they should send me their website links via PM, unless they are my referrals or I have already agreed to do so with that specific member.

I always have a good discussion with all viewers that left comments on my site. I want a rich comment, not just one post. I email the viewers to thank and express my appreciation. This method has always been good for me because I end up getting many loyal viewers. I will never use a system that does not allow me to build relationships with my viewers. This is what our business is all about, building relationship with our audiences. I understand a constant PM to harass the person is not ok, but a thank you note to your audiences is a good business practice. I want to build a business relationship with my viewers, no matter from where or how you arrived at my site. A system that does not allow the writer to thank his audience is a terrible system. I value my work, and I ask my viewers to do the same. Maybe I am different.

I always go through SiteComments so I can better pick which websites I feel qualified to comment on. Others of course can do the same with my website. It's actually a lot of work to filter through the website requests and then compose a nice quality helpful comment. Thank you for the information above regarding getting comments in that thread.

I just reread the COMMENT THREAD and it says the same as what you have. I am not sure If I have used it yet, but if I did I am sure I probably did it (all the others) wrong. Does this apply for the intensive training page as well? Is this the "rule of thumb" for commenting and requesting comments?

I remember there was some heated discussion about this a couple of years back but, even though it is not a requirement, I have always made the effort to leave a comment for everyone who has left one for me because I personally feel it's the right thing to do.