If there’s one piece of sage advice for WP bloggers I’d offer up, it’s this:
When replying to a comment, address the recipient with an “@Joe” or straightaway in a sentence (i.e., “Ain’t that the truth, Joe!” “Hey Joe, thanks!”)
The threaded comments format makes evident the targeted recipient. However, most of us aren’t viewing comments by hopscotching through the blogs. We’re getting them via emails and feed readers.
And if ever you’ve sifted through or scanned stacks of comments for the one intended for you — assuming it can even be recognized or deduced since it requires remembering the gist of your every comment deposited across the blogs — you realize that at best it’s a system that can be improved upon and at worst a chore.
(I’ve been guilty of deleting or marking all as read on a reader by a handful when there’s no ascertaining which of 50 comments staring me down was meant for me. I can’t be the only one.)
That little @ paired with a name is powerful. It can vastly improve comments’ readability, flow and function for all. Plus it’s a nice lil’ personal touch and in the imperfect WP messaging design a thoughtful courtesy.
@readers – n’est-ce pas?
Barefoot Blogger 
Oct 07, 2010 @ 12:53:10
@ Allycat, ten-four, back @ ya, over.
Oct 07, 2010 @ 13:30:53
@Raymond – yo, thanks, dude.
Oct 08, 2010 @ 05:48:04
@Allycat – agreed!!