If you have any intention of getting out into the blogging community and making contact with other bloggers (which is essential to the success of your own blog) then you have to learn not only how to blog professionally, but also how to comment professionally.
Let’s start by showing the wrong way to comment:
Ur blog RoCks!
- SuPeR KeWl BlOgGnUtS
http://thisismyblog.blogspot.com
http://myotherannoyingblog.blogspot.com
I think it’s pretty obvious why this particular comment would get deleted, but you’ll be surprised how often it shows up.
For starters, blog comments are a conversation. Whether they are a conversation between you and your readers or just your readers themselves is entirely up to you.
Since this is a conversation we’re talking about here, the basic rules of conversation etiquette should apply.
Would you jump into the middle of a conversation a group of strangers were having on the street and scream “You people rock!” then yell your website URL at them and walk off?
If you answered “yes” to this question, there really is nothing I can do for you. If you answered “no”, then it should be pretty clear why the comment above is useless.
When you comment you should be contributing to the conversation. Engage the audience on the blog and speak intelligently on the topic being discussed without starting a flame war or belittling any other commentors. You can certainly disagree with them - but do so in a respectful manner.
When it comes time to close off your statement do not leave your blog URL in your comment. Almost every blogging platform in existence gives you a place to input your URL when you are typing in your comment. Put the address in the box that specifically asks for it - and leave it out of your comment.
Why?
Because you are a professional. The two or three visits you might get from that link are not worth the number of eyes that will completely skip over your comment if you leave it in there.
The first thing that most people think when they look through comments and they see a URL is either:
it’s spam - and they skip it.
it’s some blogger just trying to post links to his/her site....which is also spam...and they skip it.
Do you want to be lumped into the “some blogger” category, or do you want to be an authority on your topic? Do you want people to look to you thinking you are a professional or an amateur?
Now, don’t misunderstand and think that your comments have to be several paragraphs long. That’s actually another way to get your comment skipped over. Keep your thoughts as concise as possible, and try not to be over-wordy.
Here’s an example of a good comment from my Apple blog. The article, “7 Predictions for WWDC 2007” sparked a lot of feedback.
“I don’t think multi-touch is going to take off for at least another year or so. I think any iLife/iTunes updates will be saved for Leopards release, as Peter stated. If this turns into another iPhone event, I’ll be upset and I’m not a developer.
Just my 2 cents.”
Bryan’s comment is part of the ongoing conversation of the blog. He expresses his thoughts concisely, contributes to the conversation and doesn’t spam the blog with a URL.
So next time you stop by a blog that you like and read an article that sparks your own desire to comment, get out there and do it! The more you comment the more you’ll become part of the community of your niche, and the better off your blog will be.
Just don’t spam them. :)
