Back in early July, I wrote a posting about Using Comments to Get Linkbacks. Although I still agree with this concept, I’ve started to think more about the value-added piece that I continue to promote. My question is:
Why do so many people make comments on posts that are completely unrelated to the main blog topic?
A recent post by John Chow called Letting Off Steam at Steamworks is a post about a dinner that John attended with some friends, colleagues and fellow bloggers. While I think it’s great that John shows his personal side to his readers, I can’t understand the 61 comments that were posted on the site. I guess if you’ve got over 6,400 RSS readers a select few will create a forum through your comments; however, making comments about someone else eating lunch astounds me!
After only a month of actively blogging, I’m beginning to really focus my time and try to create a great readership with my content. I’m not going to say that I’ve never commented on postings like this one but I’m beginning to feel more strongly that comments should:
- Add new information
- Show your personal opinion about a topic
- Challenge the writer’s facts or opinion
- Give a thumbs up or thanks to the author (Digg it as well!)
- Ask a question of the author
- Give additional links to other sources of information
I would suggest that as you read blogs around the web, that you make comments on postings that help you move toward your goals or challenge your opinions! I plan to continue using comments as a way to generate traffic for Lewis Empire, generate free content for other bloggers and build a community of fellow bloggers to discuss successes with. I’m sure I’ll see you around the web!
You are right on with comments. I think adding comments should be about value to the post. The issue especially for sites like John Chow is adding as many comments as you can might get you on his top commentators list. Which will obviously drive traffic to your site. So your going to see 60 comments about John Chows lunch. Sad really
Posted by Real Estate Editorial | July 23, 2007, 8:04 amNo kidding. I’ve seen (and been involved in) a few different battles. Usually they are totally unrelated to the original posting!
Posted by Lewis Empire | July 24, 2007, 12:35 amYeah. I figure if a site has been set up to have junk comments then use their Google Pagerank for a boost to your own site. Go ahead and leave crap like everyone else. For those postings and sites that are a good read and offer great info, I will always leave a good comment or reply.
Posted by Lewis Empire | July 24, 2007, 12:37 amHey Lewis! I completely agree with this. My beef is with people who ALWAYS make the one-liner comments that add absolutely no value. Also, the ones who type comments that aren’t even related to the topic, or try to disguise their real agenda, which is to promote their site.
I think site owners don’t have a problem with people plugin their site, but if you blatantly do it in every comment or don’t add any kind of value whatsoever (or if it is difficult to interpret what you are trying to say), then it really borders on being a junk comment.
This is a long comment, but what also came to mind is how you can shut other people down. Don’t reply to certain comments, because the poster wants another reason to leave another plug for his site. Also, I’ve found this to be useful but when you comment, try to make it a complete one, so that no one else can say anything additional about what you have said. Try to plug all of your holes to shutdown further convo, then if someone does comment, you know they are being frivolous. Make yourself out to be a hero and the other person a despised villain, and you elevate yourself while shutting down the potential spammer.
I’m sorry, I guess I could have made an entire post out of this one comment!
Posted by cooliojones | July 25, 2007, 11:30 amHey Coolio,
I don’t mind the long comment at all! I can guarantee that I do not consider you to be one of the ‘no value added’ commentators! I have seen so many different commentators that have a longer plug for their site than the entire comment – just a waste of time in my opinion. I’ve made it a point to visit sites created by people who leave intelligent responses to blog postings. As you already I know I’m over at your site all the time anyways!
Posted by Lewis | July 26, 2007, 12:13 am