It's sad but I believe I need to explain how to comment on a blog without spamming.
As a blogger, I feel great when someone comes along and writes a really great comment on one of my blogs that adds value or creates debate.
I don't automatically publish comments so an email comes in to my "blog comments" folder and it's one of the first things I look at when I collect my emails.
But so often the comments are little more than spam and a deliberate attempt to pull away my traffic to the commentators website.
The Captcha system eliminates the machine generated spam but it is sad to see people wasting their time and mine writing stuff that has little likelihood of being published.
Why People Comment On Blogs
- Commenting builds a relationship with the blogger - we really do like our efforts to be appreciated and we quickly notice if someone becomes a regular contributor. This can pave the way for favours and cross-publications.
- Comments gives you a chance to have your say and get involved. You may read something that stirs up your emotions - either where you agree or don't agree.
- It can attract traffic to your own website or blog where your comment is valuable and offers extra information or resources.
Because of spam abuse most blogs automatically stamp comments with the "no follow" attribute so you don't collect Page Rank and Google juice to boost your page up the search engine rankings.
Some blogs tried to buck the trend with a proud "We Do Follow" policy but many have been forced to do away with it. (see Do Follow Blogs). To check if they still follow you will need to either install a Firefox plug-in or View Page Source and see if the rel="nofollow" tag is included (so they don't follow) or is missing.
How To Comment On Blogs So That You Get Published
The overriding focus should be to get your comment published by answering the bloggers question "what's in it for me if I do publish?"
Generic "nice post" or "well written" don't cut it with me - and especially with a keyword rich name.
So "nice post" by seo consultant won't get published.
No value to me and it is clear the commenter is trying to hijack my traffic.
But I recognise social proof is important so
"Great post. I agree with you entirely" by Jane Smith stands a good chance of being published unless it is in the middle of a lot of spammy comments.
"Excellent post about commenting on blogs. All the spam drives me crazy on my blog too" by Jane Smith which in this case helps to reinforce my own choice of keywords will get published unless there is a batch of them virtually the same.
Reinforcing the keywords for the blogger is important as it helps the blog rank in the search engines. You can tell what phrase the blogger is targetting from the title so a repeat of it or a similar phrase that will help attract the long tail searches will be well received.
The rule is simple, you help me attract traffic and you will be rewarded so things like "Loved the post so much I Stumbled It" by Bill Jones will also get published (although I do check).
No keyword reinforcement this time but more social proof.
Create controversy by challenging my views can be good as it helps to stimulate debate and more comments. It gives other readers a chance to agree with me or an opposing point of view.
"Paul I understand the issue about commenting on blogs but I don't agree with you. So many people sleepwalk through life that I am prepared to publish anything except the most blatant spam as a thank you for giving me their time and attention. It helps to keep the content fresh in the search engines." by Janet
It's a different view and is likely to draw a comment back from me.
"Thanks Janet for your comment and I do appreciate it. I just take a firm line in trying to reinforce the behaviour I want - comments that add value - and discourage comments that don't."
Of course you can take controversy too far.
"You pretentious ****. You have no right to refuse to publish any comment" by Mr Angry
If I am in the right mood it may get published and draw a comment after editing out any words I am not prepared to publish or it may just be ignored.
Generally speaking insulting the blogger is not going to get your comment published.
"You're an idiot who can't spell and has no right to give advice to anyone" by I am Great
isn't going to be published although I will spell-check the post again if I have time.
I've had a few of these, checked and there has been nothing wrong with my spelling - although it can be transatlantic - neither UK or American but a compromise as I have preference for spelling some words one way or another. (50% of my readership is from North America but I can't use the popular z)
Build on the blog - pick up one point that is mentioned and give more details or tell a story.
If the blog is about sales mistakes, then a great comment would be
"I remember on my first call on my very first sales job I went to see a customer who was unhappy. He blasted the product, the service, the company and thought I was an idiot working for a joke. When I tried to explain that it wasn't my fault because it was my first day he went ballastic. Red faced, shouting and he was waving his fist around so much that I thought he was going to hit me. Still it was a great lesson. Listen to your customer, sympathise and take responsibility. Do whatever you can to put things that have gone wrong in the past right but build bridges. I had negative sales figures on my first day because of the returns (and my sales manager was furious) but the customer stayed with us, the problems were fixed and his purchases went up by a factor of ten over the previous year"
With such a great story, I am not going to object if the writer adds
"I have written my own collection of sales mistakes and funny stories at http://www.salesisalaugh.com"
The link in the comment is relevant to my blog and gives the reader another source of inspiration or amusement.
But a link on one of my product launch blogs that says
"See my huge product launch bonus worth $999,997 at http://www.irippeopleoff.com" by Money Grabber
is going to fail.
I'm not stupid.
(Incidentally the url "i rip people off dot com" does still seem to be available.)
Basic Rules For Writing Comments That Get Published
- Be relevant
- Add value - give the blogger a reason to publish and not a reason not to publish a comment.
- Don't be blatant about attracting traffic unless the value you add in the comment is high or your link is very relevant.
Remember the golden rule - treat others as you want to be treated.
Go one step further and use the platinum rule - treat people as they want to be treated.
Is There Anything You Want To Add?
Your chance now.
Do you agree with me and get irritated with the people who write blog spam.
Or do I have it wrong?
All you have to do is write a comment - and if you follow my guidelines, it will be published.
Stumble It!
