Tips On Making Blog Comments

What is, or should be, the purpose of making comments on a blog post? Where should it be posted? What should it say? These are questions that some have and others should ask themselves before commenting on a blog or blog post. Opinions vary between bloggers as to the value of receiving comments. But a disturbing trend in comments received has made it increasingly difficult on the blogging community.



In the months since I started writing my personal blog, I have received over 14,000 comments. Over the past several months the quality of the comments on my blog, and the value they add to the readers experience, has declined to the point that it is no longer an asset to the readers. Don't get me wrong, I love receiving a well thought out comment about a specific article, telling me why they agree, or disagree, and adding their thoughts and opinions on the topic of that article. A general complement on the quality and tone of the blog is also welcome, but is best placed on the testimonial page rather than on a particular article.

First- Where should a comment be placed. If the blogger wants comments, they will usually say so at the end of the post, and a place will be provided for your comment. That is where you should put it, after the article that you are commenting on. Some blogs, have a page titled "Testimonial". Although this page is usually intended for testimonials from friends and associates, to be put there by the owner of the blog, many people put their comments on this page. That would be acceptable for a general comment on the blog site, but not for a comment on a specific article. Or at the very least if commenting on the "Testimonial" page about a specific article, it should say in the comment which article it is referring to. Placing the comment anywhere but on the article removes it from the flow of comments for others to read and, if they wish to, comment on.Second-What is the purpose of making comments? If you were a blogger which of these comments would you prefer?

"Dude, awesome post. Check my blog at my.wordpress.com"

or

"I appreciated your article and understand what you mean when you said___, and am glad others think the way I do. But I would also add that ____and____! Thanks for your candor on ____."

I think you will agree that the second comment is preferable because it was written to expand on the ideas presented in the original post, and to create a relationship between the blogger and the reader, while the first was written only for the purpose of self promotion.

The following five tips will help you when commenting on a blog.

Be Specific. Place your comment on the article and personalize it so the blogger will know that you actually read it and why you felt compelled to comment on it. The purpose of making comments on a blog post is to forge a relationship between the blogger and their readers. It allows the reader to join the "conversation" by saying what they liked about the article, and why they agree or disagree.

Don't include a link to your blog in the comment. When you leave a comment your name and website will automatically link to your blog so there is no need to include it again. Obvious self promotion of you or your website will almost always be ignored and deleted. Don't tarnish your reputation by being considered a spammer.

Stay on topic. Keep your comment on the topic of the article and don't digress into other areas or topics. It's ok to share a link to a third-party source if you think it is relevant to the article, but be sure to explain how it relates to the article.

Be polite. Rude comments and profanity do not add value to any discussion and divert attention from the bloggers article. If you disagree with the writer, it is perfectly acceptable to offer your opinion, but do so in a polite manner. If you are a blogger and you receive disrespectful or derogatory comments, always delete them. Don't waste your time by acknowledging them.

Keep it short. A brief, concise comment is easier for the blogger or others to read and respond to. A few sentences should be sufficient to convey your message. If you have strong feelings about a topic and wish to make a longer comment, you should do that on the contact page. Most blogs will have one. There you may enter your contact information and your comment. The blogger may then respond to you by email if they wish to carry on the discussion further.

Third.The biggest problem facing bloggers today is the increasing amount of spam they receive. This spam can consist of everything from a simple comment which includes a link to their website or business, comments that have absolutely no relationship to the blog or article, to huge gibberish messages generated solely for the purpose of testing spam filters. Why someone would take the time to write a comment that has nothing to do with the article is beyond me.

Another comment that can be considered spam is one written by someone who attempts to use large sophisticated sounding words that don't fit the context, or have such a poor command of the English language that their comment makes no sense at all. Yet another type is the "copied" comment where a person uses another one of their comments over and over, or worse repeats someone elses comment, almost word for word. If you wish to put your name out there for all to see, you should first make sure that others can read and understand the message, and that it is your original comment.

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