TooFondOfBooks: @florinda_3rs interesting article abt auto-responders. I think non-bloggers might feel invaded, less likely to visit/comment again (IMO) what do YOU think of it?
florinda_3rs: @TooFondOfBooks Part of me likes it, part of me might be unnerved if I got one. I think I prefer the personal response to comments
TooFondOfBooks: @florinda_3rs I don’t mind pop-up “hello” to new visitors (a plugin that shows for 3 visits, I think), but auto-email feels invasive to me
florinda_3rs: @TooFondOfBooks I’ve seen that plug-in, but I don’t think Blogger blogs can use it. It IS more low-key than the comment auto-response
The original post highlights a blogger who has created a semi-personalized, chatty little e-mail that automatically gets sent out in reply to first-time commenters on her two blogs – the goal is to make them feel welcome and encourage them to come back. The blogger said she wasn’t sure exactly how the auto-response affected her traffic, but she sees the e-mail as more of a community-building tool for her sites.
I’ve never received an auto-response to a comment, as far as I can remember – I don’t know if the idea would have even occurred to me before reading about it. I tend to agree with Dawn that non-bloggers could actually be scared off, or at least confused, by an auto-response to a comment. On the other hand, as a blogger who does respond to nearly every comment I receive, I can see the appeal of the auto-response, although the volume of comments here doesn’t warrant it; besides, so many commenters here are at least semi-regulars that their comments wouldn’t get a first-timer auto-response anyway.
Dispatches: Links from Across the Blogiverse this Week
Reporting on the Nashville flood experience (with info about how you can help)
The favor of a reply is not just requested, it’s basic courtesy (and a life lesson)
When you accept that item for review, you’re not just obligated to the provider (and the FTC) – you’re responsible to your readers, too; when it is OK for a writer to defend herself in writing? Speaking of writing: look out, kids, the English teacher’s watching you!
Facing the facts of the 40s (and yes, someday they will most likely happen to you, too!)
One way I’ve been lucky as a parent/step-parent is that I’ve had very few “food fights” with my kids – for those who do face off on the mealtime battleground, here’s a little help. On the other hand, some kids are just eating machines
I love it when couples share their geekery (it’s one of the things that keeps my own relationship strong!)
Blogthings Quiz of the Week
| You Are Acrophobia |
 You are the fear of heights.It’s likely that you expect bad things to happen to you. You often feel unlucky. It would be just your luck to fall from a high spot… and you’re not going to chance it. |
This is absolutely true. Could it be because at less than five feet tall, nearly everything is at a height relative to me?
Don’t be afraid to have a great weekend!
