Holidays: Day 27: Penny for your thoughts?

[Source: Street Art Utopia]

How cool is this yarnbombing? Click the link under the poster for more incredible guerilla street art!

In September 2011 I posted on blogging as a form of dialogue when I posted I wuz 'ere.  18 months on, I realize from my stats and talking to people there are a number of people popping by to read these posts, it's only a few that stop and leave a comment.

It's lovely that you took the time to stop by, I appreciate that.  I am always surprised when I talk to friends in real life, telling them our week's news only they say...Oh yeah, I read that on the blog!  

A few people have said that they wanted to comment but didn't know what to say in response to posts or didn't know how and some obviously through my personal facebook page or by Google+ only as the stats go down when I don't post there.

So... I thought I'd do a little bit of housekeeping and let you know how the easiest ways to follow and comment on a blog are:

Did you know...that you can get posts emailed to your inbox?  I find this handy for reading my fave bloggers as I don't always check facebook or Google+ so I love getting their latest posts sent straight to my inbox.  That way I don't miss any of their amazing writing and thoughts! On Little Gumnut, you can find that teenyweeny amazing little gadgety internet thing right here (see orange arrow)

All you need to do is type in your email address, press submit and then respond to the email in your inbox confirming you want to receive updates! Et voila!

Did you know...how to comment?  Sorry if, in this day and age of tech-savvy peeps that sounds like your Granny teaching you to suck eggs, but I want to check.  Some people don't!

At the end of every post, there's an important couple of words telling you who posted and commented and how to share a post.  The orange arrow below points to the number of comments already on the post.  If you click on the words, they will open up the comment area to you so you can leave your comments too.  If you've been put off by the palaver that is word verification,  you'll be glad to know I've taken it off now so all you have to do is leave your comment and click submit.  

Did you know...if you like a post, you can share it with friends or on your social media pages.  The green arrow in the image above shows you where the share buttons are.  Click M for emailing it to someone you'd like to share it with, click B to blog it, click T to share the link on twitter, F for facebook and G+1 to share it on Google+.  Sharing an article you found interesting, inspiring, thought-provoking or challenging is a great way to start interacting with bloggers.  I feel honoured when someone shares and recommends a post of mine that touched them.

Did you know... you can like a blog's facebook page and get updates everytime they post in your newsfeed.  Also very handy for keeping up with your blog reading.  Just click the Like Button.

And just to round up, if you'd like to comment on a post but don't know what to say to the author, perhaps you could try one of these:

• Hi, loved/loved it.
• Very challenged by this thought.
• I'm going through this too.
• Lots of love.
• Great thoughts.
• I'm going to try this.
• You've inspired me.
• Great to catch up on your news.

I've loved catching up on my blog reading this holiday.  I guess I know I'm really on holiday when I can take the time to read and comment on other people's blogs.  Although I don't comment on every post I visit, I try and comment on most and leave something encouraging for that person, especially if it's a smaller blog and there aren't already 1000 comments for the author to wade through.

  

One of the things I'd like to do in 2013  is more blog-reading, more commenting and more encouraging of other bloggers.  How about you? Will you join me in spreading the comment love?