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The How’s and Why’s of Commenting on Blogs
I’m going to cover some tips on the best way to leave blog comments, as well as, the importance … the “why” … you should be commenting on other people’s blogs.
Why You Should Comment on Blogs
Let’s start with why it’s such a good idea to leave your comments when you visit someone’s blog. This is a very simple habit to form and it can be a great thing for you and for the blog author.
1. Say Thank You. It’s a great way to thank the blogger for sharing their thoughts, insight, expertise, or whatever type of content they’re sharing.
2. Mention What You’ve Learned. You can use the comments section to tell the author what you’ve learned from the post and how you will apply it personally. Most blogs offer free information that’s there to help others so this is always great feedback.
3. Expand On the Topic. This is also a great way to share what you know about the topic with others who will be reading the blog. You can expand on what’s already been said or give a different perspective.
4. Links Back To Your Site. Most comment forms give you an opportunity to link your name to your own website URL.
5. Free Traffic To Your Site. Many blog readers are naturally curious and they will often visit your site after reading your comments.
6. Name Recognition. Commenting on blogs is a great way to start building name recognition for you and/or for your website.
How You Should Comment on Blogs
Now that you see how many benefits there are to commenting on blogs let’s look at how to post your comments.
1. Comment on the Correct Post. Before you post your comment make sure that you are commenting on the post your comment pertains to. It’s annoying to other readers if you post a comment about a different post.
2. Reference Something That’s In the Post. It’s always a good idea to mention something that’s actually in the post so the author and other visitors know you’ve read the post. You don’t want to be accused of being a “comment pussy.” (See #5 below).
3. Add Helpful Information. After reading the post it’s great to offer additional information and/or your point of view or opinion. Try not to steal the author’s thunder since it’s their site … but this is also a great way to help countless others who visit the blog.
4. Use Your Manners. My mom always said, “If you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all.” Remember your comments are a reflection of you and of your business (if you link to your site). There is just no reason to be ugly. I would also remind you that the internet is like writing with indelible ink and your comment could be there for years to come. It’s fine to share your differences of opinion but find a nice way to do so.
5. Don’t Be a Comment Pussy. I sure wish I could remember where I first heard this term so I could give credit where it’s due. From what I read a “comment pussy” is someone who comments on a post JUST for sake of getting links back to their site. I get comments all the time with something like, “Great post. I like your writing style. Keep up the good work.” I’ve even seen some automating software that posts these types of comments for the backlinks. Yuck! Don’t even go there!
6. Ask Questions About the Topic. As a blogger I love it when my readers ask me questions about the post. Blogs are Web 2.0 and should encourage reader participation.
7. Subscribe To the Comment. If the blog offers the “Subscribe To This Comment” you should do so. Anytime someone else comments on the post you will get an email alert. Often the author or another commenter will comment back to you or ask you a question and if you’re not subscribed you might not ever know about it.
8. Do Link Back To Your Site. There is usually a place in the comment form for you to enter your website URL. Some blogs allow the search engine spiders to “follow” the links in their comments and that is a great way to get links to your site. You might also be surprised at the amount of traffic you will get from leaving comments on the blogs you read. Most authors will stop by your site, as well as, many of the other readers.
9. Use Good Anchor Text. If you are going to be linking to one of your websites I suggest you use good keyword anchor text where the comment form asks for your name. This is in case the blog allows the spiders to “follow” the links in the comments to your site.
So, as you can see there are some great reasons to leave comments on the blogs you read and hopefully I’ve given you some ideas on how to comment as well. With that said … I look forward to your comments!
*SmiLes* Suzanne
Erika says:
Suzanne,
This was an excellent post. I absolutely hate number 5, they’re kind of flaky. (Hopefully, I didn’t violate rule #4 LOL.) It’s nice when ppl comment, subscribe, comment back…it creates a conversation.
And I can’t believe I’m the first to comment. LOL.
June 25th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Suzanne says:
Hey Erika ~ That’s funny! And feel free to bash the CPs here all you want! LOL. Great to have you here *hugs* Suzanne
June 25th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Donald Howqard Smith says:
From what I read a “comment pussy” is someone who comments on a post JUST for sake of getting links back to their site. I get comments all the time with something like, “Great post. I like your writing style. Keep up the good work.” I’ve even seen some automating software that posts these types of comments for the backlinks. Yuck! Don’t even go there!”
Sue…I often make comments like that and it is not just to get my site noted. If I say that, I truly mean it. I think that we should be encouraging to others and it does not always mean that those comments are there simply to get a site noticed. I believe in being truthful. And if the Blog commentary does not move me, the above comments won’t be added.
June 26th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Lukeither Willingham says:
Suzanne, these tips are great for novice bloggers like myself who are shy about leaving comments because we don’t know the rules of commenting which may make us appear to be, eeerr #5.
I’d also like to add that the better quality the comment the more traffic you direct back to your own blog.
You can also go to coComment and see all of the places where you’ve commented and read recent comments to those posts.
Thanks Suzanne, this was enlightening in so many ways.
June 26th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
JoJo Tabares says:
As a student of communication for over 20 years, I really appreciate this post. You make excellent points.
I especially want to speak to the one about manners. One of my pet peeves is that in the information age, people tend to think manners are only for when you are face to face. People will say things over email or even on the phone that they would never dare say in person.
Everything we say and do communicates something about your and your business to others.
“Let your conversation always be full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” -Colossians 4:6
June 27th, 2008 at 7:21 am
Woo! It’s the AW Blog Comment Blitz « Musings from the Mitten says:
[...] time…just as it does for these folks…none of whom would ever be mistaken for being blog comment pussies. (Many thanks to Suzanne Franco for adding that term to my lexicon. [...]
June 27th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Jay says:
Suzanne,
OMG! That title was hilarious! I’ve written about commenting and the why’s behind it but your article definitely goes into detail.
I’m going to add this to my weekly roundup on good/interesting articles that I stsrted doing once a week.
Oh, and I also delete all those “Good post!” comments because 99% of the time, they’re spam and I make sure to put names out there when I catch someone doing so.
Jay
July 1st, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Weekly Roundup 2 – Interesting Articles Around the Blogosphere | Blogging Tips & Custom Banner Designs at DatMoney.com says:
[...] you a “Comment Pussy?” LOL! Hey, it’s not my title. Article was written by Suzanne [...]
July 7th, 2008 at 10:15 am
Suzanne says:
Erika ~ Thanks again for daring to be the first to comment on this touchy subject! LOL Stop by anytime! *hugs*
Donald ~ I totally agree with you that we need to encourage each other. I’m sorry if this post seemed negative or cynical but I get inundated with spam-type comments and it’s frustrating! Now that I’ve started to really study the blogging world I can usually spot the spam a mile away … but unfortunately someone like you who’s giving a sincere, yet brief, comment might be mistaken for one of these time-wasters. My only advice is to maybe add something (even if it’s very brief) that conveys that you’ve read the post … it means the world to the author and will probably fair better for you too in the long run.
Lukeither ~ Ditto! LOL I fear I too was guilty of leaving many “spam-looking” comments without knowing it … live and learn.
JoJo ~ This one really strikes a chord with me too. I can’t believe some of the language and attitude I come across daily on forums and blogs. Actually makes me pretty sad. Just like you said, I highly doubt most of these people would dare communicate in this manner in person. I for one will strive to continue to treat others as I’d like to be treated … you can hold me to that too.
Jay ~ It’s so nice to see you here and thanks for the great comment! For my other readers, if you haven’t visited Jay’s blog please check out his http://www.datmoney.com blog where he gives great blogging tips and does custom banner design.
July 7th, 2008 at 11:36 am
ItyBites Consumes Big Elephant says:
I will definitely be directing my mom to this article in her ItyBite challenge. It’s succinct and says everything about commenting I would tell her and now I can just say remember what Suzanne said about commenting and funny enough she’ll remember. Where as if I say it…
Rhonda “ItyBites Consumes Big Elephant” LaShae
July 7th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Jim Hutchinson | Website Managers says:
Many blogs make you create and account and log in to comment. Those most often do not have the option to subscribe to comments.
When people ask me how to start getting traffic to their new blogs, one of the things I tell them is to comment on relate blogs.
Your article goes in much more depth than that and I will send others here to get the great tips you offered.
July 7th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Jovana says:
Hi Suzanne - you got me
I was reading your blog post after being sent forth from datmoney and enjoyed your blog a lot. But I was in a rush and never had time to post.
I’d just like to say that your posts are wonderful - I’ve been in affiliate marketing for a while but I’m still new to promoting/writing a blog so all of this information is so refreshing!
About the comment pussy, I’ve had a few people post and I was debating with myself whether or not I should delete them - Jay at datmoney convinced me to
I was just wondering, I can’t find your RSS feed - if you have that or an email subscription, could you let me know? Thanks a mil!
July 8th, 2008 at 5:40 am
Blog for Beginners says:
This has got to be one title I’d remember for a long time. You have covered the “Whys” and “Hows” of commenting in great details.
How I deal with, errh comment pussy? I’ll just let it stay on the askimet folder *forever*..
Interesting read, Suzanne.
Yan
July 10th, 2008 at 2:15 am
Jay says:
Suzanne - Thanks for the shout out and compliments! Also, you should definitely set up an RSS Feeds if you haven’t already done so.
Jovana - Nice to see you here and if you need help with blogs or whatever, you know where to find me!
Jay
July 10th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
To Follow or Not to Follow? | Money Making Ideas - Suzanne Franco says:
[...] you already follow my blog then you know that I believe in the importance of leaving solid, meaningful comments on the blogs you visit and [...]
July 14th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
I’ve Got A Blog and I Still Don’t Know What To DO! « Ity Bites, The Art of Consuming Entire Elephants says:
[...] any lurkers reading this, do you have any suggestions, questions, concerns, tips? Seriously, Are you being a blog comment pussy?, Speak up, let me know what you’ve got to say. Heck I’m learning [...]
July 15th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
OPENGIGA says:
very informative posts and at least it’s clear out some good points which is helpful for me. thanks
July 16th, 2008 at 12:26 am
Warhammer Online says:
Hehe, funny stuff, which I try to remember now
August 5th, 2008 at 9:46 am
David | Custom Term Paper says:
very nice and informative post specially your title of your blog amazing haha
August 7th, 2008 at 2:08 am
Allan Collins | Web Design says:
The title has blown me away! Excellent post, I hope it will help slow down the “comment pussies”.
August 9th, 2008 at 11:57 am
RandyBrown says:
Nice Site. I am new here but will be visiting more often as you have done a good job.
Thanks
August 16th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Cleo says:
Great tips!! Very objective text. Some of it may sound obvious but most people don´t have a clue about certain things. Thank you so much!
August 19th, 2008 at 12:22 pm