Since my post on the benefits of commenting I have been asked this question a few times so I thought it must be something bloggers puzzle over. Here is the question as asked by “Haacked” in the original thread:
Sometimes I find I am writing a loooong comment in response. So I abandon the comment and write a blog post instead linking back to the original.
In your opinion, do you like that better? Or would you rather (hypothetically speaking) I leave a short comment anyways, along with the blog post?
My approach to this is always
- If what I have to say is short and to the point, submit a comment
- When I start to go on a bit I cut my comment down to the bare essentials and put up a post on my own blog
- Either way, I almost always comment
The remaining issue is should you post a link to your longer comment post?
In actual fact I have found it is rarely necessary to actually link it. Just say you are making a brief comment but your thoughts will be in full on your blog. They can click your name link to see it in most cases. Some people put the URL to their post in the address field in case the post goes off their homepage before the reader gets to see it.
Where some people go wrong is to do this just out of attention seeking (e.g. trolling, snark, irrelevant arguments, taking off-topic, etc).
I feel strongly that blogging is half about joining the conversation and adding to it. Most people are glad to read your thoughts and would be even more glad that you took the time to flesh out a full post, but the key is to add to the conversation and not hijack it.