Credit: I’m Still Here by Pechiv, Deviantart.

When I was new to blogging and still didn’t get many comments, I used to check my Reader every day and frequently commented on other people’s blogs. In my blogging articles, I’ve always stressed how important commenting is, because it helps you build a network of fellow bloggers who can share your posts or link to your blog. One of the nicest things about WordPress.com is the sense of community.

But lately I haven’t been following my own advice as much as I’d like and often fail to comment on other blogs, or even “Like” new posts. I may not need to “network” the way I used to since this blog is doing well on its own now, but I do miss the sense of community. The problem is time. After reading and replying to my own comments, it’s hard to find enough time to read other people’s posts (and there are so many good ones–how do you choose which ones to read?) and I don’t want to “Like” or comment on something I haven’t even read.

Sometimes I worry when someone who has been commenting a lot suddenly stops, even though I know they’re probably in the same boat as me and are just too busy and can’t find the time. So I just want to take a moment to say it’s nothing personal if I don’t “Like” or comment on your article. Also, please don’t take it personally if my replies to your comments aren’t very long.