Rethinking Blog Comments: Much More Than Just A Quick Way to Get Web Traffic

I think your site has gotten it’s share of commercial comments, and a lot of people here became subscribers where you first branded it as a “Make Money Online” blog in the title tag, so you definitely have some of those “pimp your website” commenters.

Personally, I am “guilty” of leaving short, thoughtless comments like “great post!” because I just want to be interactive and leave feedback, rather than just ignore the authors efforts. Sometimes I don’t feel like writing prose and contributing to the discussion, but I don’t want to ignore their effort.

I kept thinking throughout the article that it was mostly common sense, but although it’s surprising (to me) that most people really don’t get it, I also see it almost everywhere I look.

I guess we need more people like you who spell out the common sense, so the sheeple can follow.

What a great expansion on the most abused marketing method online. Since I was in the webosphere during your last post I watched it get amazing. Between the comments and the social buzz it was like a 24hr forum mixed with a peer thinktank. Very cool to see and share some part in.

Also nice to see someone bringing back the meaning of comments as more than a method of promotion.

Nice post as always man, Peace

Maki, thats an insightful post. I’d like to talk about two specific points:

1: You said: ” When you think in the short-term, you’re usually overlooking the value of relationships”. True. In fact this is not only with blog commenting but in all the aspects of life. A strong relationship develops on the foundation of prolonged and constructive interaction over a period of time, especially in the blogosphere. Hence I completely agree with you there.

2: You also said: “Commenting is an extraordinary easy way to not only get visitors to your site, but develop mutually beneficial relationships along the way.” Thats a misconception. It is not an “extraordinarily easy way “. Why? Here are the reasons:

a) Leaving good blog comments takes up considerable amount of time and doing that just on some blogs, will not get you many visitors. In fact they will usually be way below your expectations.

b) If you turn out to be the first commentator on a top blog and you expect a good amount of traffic, then I want to inform that there have been instances when I left the first comment on top blogs and that too a good and elaborate comment. However the results were discouraging. Not too many visitors flocked to my blog. Hence thats when this myth, that if I am the top commentator on a post in a top blog, it will bring good traffic, was busted .

But blog commenting is definitely a nice way to bring “some” traffic but it only happens if you are consistent in commenting over a period of time. And it is definitely a very effective way to build relationships. But its not an easy way. Although it doesn’t require any money but does require your time to read the blog post and then post a genuine comment.

The lines between self-promotion and community participation are often very blurry. I think this is a good focus piece for the blog community, hopefully those commentators who are serious about building long term benefits will actually read this post. It’s always good to have a wake-up call- and the blog community should regulate itself before it explodes with usesless comments.

Dead on post, Maki. Indeed, commenting is very important in establishing a direct relationship between the blog author and its readers. It’s the medium through which readers can exercise their voice and freely share their opinions on a particular post. I’ve also had my share of spam comments, most automatic, but a big chunk of them are manually submitted (most probably copy/pasted). I usually have no tolerance for this kind of behavior and quickly proceed to delete them. Comments like “great post” and stuff like that don’t mind me that much, although basically, in this situation, the commenter is stealing attention without really providing any particular value to the discussion.

“I don’t comment often because with the blogs that I do read, I read to learn from. Here, for instance, there is not much that I could add in the comments that would benefit anyone else, and I refuse to comment just because I can.”

I have to agree with Lid on this. Of course this does not apply for all blogs I read, but it does certainly apply for this blog. However, I don’t think short comments like “great post!” are bad at all, even though they doesn’t help building a good relationship with the author. Now this is just my own opinion but just hearing someone say that kind of thing makes me happy. Of course I prefer longer comments and discussing with the the commenters but a short comment is perfectly fine with me

Dude. Maki, it’s like you read my draft of an upcoming post and put it out here in beautifully polished form. I’ve been thinking a lot about this topic lately and I totally agree. Commenting can be such a powerful branding and relationship activity. Doing it just for traffic and links is usually an uphill battle and nearly always a waste of time.

Thanks and I’ll get my post up ASAP so we can flesh this topic out even more.

While I am loathe to tell other people how to run their lives, I think that if you’re leaving comments on a blog purely for traffic/attention reasons, you’re doing it wrong.

I think a comment should be about adding value while sharing an opinion. When you leave a comment, you are indeed in a sense representing yourself to the world. If you want people to see you as a thoughtful and valuable contributor, leave a thoughtful comment.

Of course, there are exceptions. For example, if a post is a how-to or fix-it post, it’s perfectly acceptable in my view to leave a “thanks! it worked!” or “interesting project…here’s a link to what mine ended up looking like”. The writer usually likes to know that they’ve helped and/or are interested in seeing the results of other people following their instructions.

You know, I think I had a point there but I suspect I may have lost it along the way.

(and yes, a tendency to ramble a little and be somewhat absent-minded is part of my personality and therefore I’m comfortable with these concepts representing me in this comment )

Maki,

I really have to say that this gives me pause, because I am often one to leave a comment if for no other reason then I don’t like to be a lurker, or leave you thinking it was a boring or bad article when I really enjoyed it.

I am a newer blogger and it feels weird to me to have 36-40 ( or whatever– the ratio is the point) views on a post one day and then four or five comments. I feel like…hey? Why won’t they talk to me? So I want to make sure I at least say hi, I stopped by and this is what I thought.

I do admit though that if I am on a site where I haven’t really had a chance to establish a relationship and there are 70 other comments and I would be re-hashing then..well I might just slip out the back door til next time.

I just have to say that your post about blog comments is really thoughtful. For people like me commenting on blogs requires a lot of thinking, too (what to say, how would other people react…). Commenting on blogs is fun, and as long as people post relevant comments , everyone will be happy. I think, unlike forums, where there are people comparing their number of posts with each other, blogs have far better quality comments, which contribute greatly to the discussion.

I have subscribed to your blog. I am a new blogger and want to learn everything I can to be a good blogger. So far I like what I see here and wanted to subscribe to read more (otherwise, my fog mind wouldn’t remember regularly).

Awesome comments to a very good post. Leave a comment if you feel passionately about the topic, if you just enjoy the writer’s content, or just want to give praise. Don’t do it for the wrong reasons, people are too aware in today’s day n age.

Maki, thanks for this insightful article on commenting.

One way to deter people who want to comment FIRST, for the sake of getting more traffic to their websites, is to use a reverse commenting order.

This means the latest comment says on top, the very first comment will be on the bottom of the page! (like a blog ).

I have seen few blogs following this style.

I tend only to comment when what I have read resonates with me in some way. When it does, I feel enthusiastic about leaving a comment. I would imagine that is when our comments would be at our best. What good is an empty comment? Either way, thanks for the article. It has reminded me that it is in my best interest to comment more!

When I was new to blogging,I never cared much about this important element.When I blog-hopped through those well-known blogsites and noticed the amazing responses through comment,then I have realized the importance of it. And yeah,I agree on commenting in popular blog(s),lets say as one of your “marketing strategy” of promoting yourself(as I’m doing it right now ^_^)

Thanks for this post.I will put up a link in my blog and share em with my friends.

Angela.

Great post Maki.

One more point to add, which agrees with all you’ve said - if you’ve identified a bigger blog than you in your niche and want to a) get some visibility and short-term traffic, and b) start developing a relationship with the blogger, then I suggest you make an effort to post quality comments regularly over at least a 2-3 week period.

I’m not saying you should comment on every post during that time, or get to the point where it’s more stalking than commenting, but if you can provide quality comments, over an extended period, you will start to be noticed - not just by the blogger, but by his readers also. You do need to add value, if you take it too far and become a burden, rather than an asset, you’re going to end up with nothing.

yeas i agree that comments really gets good traffic, coz i have observe it when I am doing blog commenting in sites and blogs, I can see that the rankings get up a little bit

Hi Maki - I hope you put the guy’s comment back in the spam folder.

I can see what you mean about comments being a useful way of leaving your brand all over the Internet. I noticed that when I google my name, I often get comments I made on other blogs in the search results. That also makes you realise that you’ve got to be extra careful about what you say. People like the guy you mentioned are really harming their reputation.

Hi Maki

Well said, and in fact, I’ve read about this issue on other blogs previously.

Essentially, the comments section of a blog is supposed to be an avenue for blog visitors to provide input or thoughts on a topic being discussed. Ideally, comments should aim to add value to a post, to disagree with the points explained, or simply to add another dimension to the matter.

However, many have exploited this tool in the interest of Internet Marketing. Nevertheless, commenting shouldn’t be confined to a box, as suggested by Mikael. It is a tool to express ourselves and people should really be encouraged to see it that way.

In the long run, comment spam filters are still necessary (I delete much comment spam on a daily basis). But, as bloggers, the comments section is still a very special part of a blog that allows readers to share their opinions constructively. Only then would two way communication be achieved, helping the blogger to expand his thoughts, or to gain new ideas from others.

Cheers, Samantha Tang

I tend to agree that most people who are leaving comments aren’t looking at the big picture, so to speak. For instance, I recently had a reader leave a poorly written, off topic, one sentence comment on a post, and then proceeded to leave 4 of her links in the body of that comment. I checked out the sites, and it wasn’t a spammer, but it just goes to show how one dimensional this issue can be with some.

I only leave comments if I’m genuinely interested in the content of the post. I value the networking relationship much more than the instant reward. You might gain not only extra exposure, but a good friend in the process.

Hello, you have made me rethink my comments. They are generally of the “great article” one or two lines variety. Rather repetitive and generally self-serving - just for the link. But I will now have to put more thought into my comments. I had never thought past the linking. It was just in comment and than out. Thanks for the insight. I am slowly learning “social networking etiquette ” and adding some sort of substance to a blog post is important.

Maki, thanks for the post. I am hereby networking with you!

I just opened up my blog to comments about a month ago after thinking about it for quite a while. So far I’ve gotten maybe a half-dozen comments. I’m eager to have more readers comment, but I know it will happen in time. Reading your post, though, really made me realize that at some point, I’ll have a constantly increasing concern about spam. I’d love to have 37 comments on a single blog post, like you have on this post so far, but I envision that when a blog gets that much community activity, the requirements of managing the blog increase exponentially. Am I right? How do bloggers successfully manage that level of community involvement and still have time for their clients?

Thank you for sending this e-mail to me. I read thought your comments, i felt that I was smarter than before, and it is the greatest awakeness for me how to learn the properly ways to get my web more traffic. I will follow what you told me about the meaning and get start to build the most traffic web. Thank you so much.

Well said, Maki. Whenever I read an interesting blog post, I ALWAYS read the comments, as well… sometimes there’s more “gold” in the comments than the original post. I discover terrific blogs this way, often in niches that I’d never normally be interested in. But of course I only click through on comments that offer true value and intrigue me.

Comments are what make blogs “addictive” to me. It’s the interactivity, the back-and-forth discussion and networking from a variety of personalities that make a blog much more than a static web site. When I come across a blog that doesn’t allow comments, I scratch my head in disbelief and am unlikely to visit it again, even if the blogger’s posts are interesting.

So from a reader’s standpoint, people who leave thoughtful, interesting comments get my attention, and my visit to their blog/site, where I can get to know them better — their “networking” has succeeded with me.

From a writer’s standpoint, I am usually careful about comments I make. Sometimes I get “fired up” and start writing a comment that exposes serious flaws, inaccuracies or downright stupidity in a post… but I never hit “submit comment” until I’ve calmed down and reread what I wrote. Most often I change my comment to be more positive… or I simply delete it if I can’t think of anything positive to say (unless I feel readers of the post are being intentionally misled; then I do “speak up”). It’s not just that I’m very aware of the points you make in your post, Maki (I do this when my comments are anonymous, as well). It’s a mindset. As a writer, I understand the value of words. I use them with care and treat them with respect, even when no one knows they’re mine.

I’m starting to comment more but based on what articles I like =D. Great insight on your viewpoints on comments.

Absolutely right on, as usual, Maki. Long-term. Relationoships. *Reciprocity*: you give me a great post; I’ll give you a comment that’s worthy of the effort you put into it.

But I can’t count the many many times I’ve wanted to comment on a blog, if only to show appreciation for a particularly useful post (e.g. most everything doshdosh) but had very little else to add of value — no new information or insights, no experience that would shed light on another angle, no cure for the problem raised or questions about the solution — and have had to click away without commenting at all.

Sometimes the barrier is the problem of finding something fresh to add to the 70-something comments that precede mine. Sometimes it’s the pressure of time, or obligations that call me away before I’ve had time to do more than read — no chance to craft a worthy response. (And sometimes it’s as simple as the RSI (”blogger’s elbow” / “mouser’s wrist”) acting up, when every key stroke is agony. You have to really be burning to comment then!) And especially when one comes to a blog to learn, as other commenters here have already said, it’s all that much harder to find ‘value’ to add — good intentions and a keen interest are sometimes not enough.

Add to that the wide range of what different bloggers consider to be ‘valuable’ enough for their blogs, and how they might respond (publically!) to one’s best attempts at commenting — there’s the intimidation factor, too. Just last week, I saw a fairly wellknown blogger (who shall remain nameless) slap down a new reader/commenter for being ‘facile’ and ‘naive’: well, yes, of course that arrogance will come back to bite the blogger, somewhere down the line, but to me the point of the incident is this: how long will it be before the person who got the public tongue-lashing will venture out to leave another comment?

All of which is a very very long-winded way of saying that I wish for a broader definition of ‘value’ in comments. I’ll happily take a ‘Nice blog, thx!’ from an inarticulate teen if that’s what they have to say and all they can offer. Let the other commenters judge the value of that contribution to the conversation, I say. They’ll vote (or not) with clicks through to the commenter’s site…

What do you think of that approach?

this post smart way to inspire intelligent blog comments

way to tell it like it is dude!

and the minimalistic new design is really clean and crisp

# Jay Francis Hunter - remember this: some bloggers (and I personally) use a WP plugin or built-in WP blog option that lets readers sign-up to receive follow-up comments. So regardless you’re the first commenting or the 70th one, it’s worth to still do it.

Hey, even Maki uses this one where people get notified by follow-up comments via e-mail,
straight to their inbox. Did you notice the check box below “Submit Comment”?

Cheers,
Codrut Turcanu - “Succeeding Against All Odds!”

Nice post Maki. The importance of building links through blog commenting is talked all the time. But is it really that important?

Obviously, if someone visited our blog and comment with a URL going back to their website or blog in a signature, it is acceptable as long as that person provide some value to the community. But it should not be done just for the sake of getting backlinks.

People would like to do business with experts. That is the reason why some people are successful as getting traffic through blog commenting and others fail to do so. Actually the latter doesn’t provide any contribution or value to the entire community and it’s telling on their blog comments.

If they do it the right way, it will help them to build a relationship not only with the publisher but with the other community members too who are active on that particular blog and it helps them a lot in the long run.

Cheers,
Codrut Turcanu - “Succeeding Against All Odds!”

Thanks for covering this interesting topic, Maki.

Like most things in life, the Internet’s a lot like Star Wars. There’s both a dark and light side to it.

It’s influential bloggers like yourself, Darren Rowse and Brian Clark who are maintaining the balance, fighting the unethical behaviour of those who want to make a quick buck. Bloggers who emphasize value and explain how to do so are teaching others good Internet morals and ettiquette.

I’m new to your blog and you’ve impressed me. Can’t wait for more!

OOOH, New theme, am I too late to discover ti? I really love it, actually always love ur blog style, neat but really perfect!

Maki- a first comment here for me, so, hello.
I used to envy all the modernists who migrated to Paris and had all those great conversations in cafes, spawned fabulous art , literature and ideas, inventions. The blogs I like are more like those to me, or like a Salon where ideas can be exchanged, discussed, enhanced or hotly debated. You know exercise for the mind, an excursion to find something innovative, or a new relevance for some old tried and trues, or maybe to find that thing you absolutely needed to get. Or maybe we need to see the new edges, the new frontiers and contexts. Sure you want people to get to know you a bit, but for the good stuff you bring to the table, not for being rude.
So the venue is changed, technology new, but it’s still a matter of civility if you’re in it for the long term. Circulating, being au courant, a little adventurous…with a virtual beret.
Nice post.

It is really impersonal to leave a KEYWORD BASED NAME.

I get quite my share of these in my blogs, and on the ones i work at. I tend to edit the name out, and add the persons first name. If it is purely a spammy comment, or a zero value type comment, i dont hesitate in completely deleting it.

Im not a big time blogger, so im guessing people think i will accept a keyword based or spammy comment, because i dont get hundreds of them. But they are wrong, i wont accept them.

I dont believe i have very left a keyword based name anywhere, simply because i have always felt it to be quite impolite and too self-serving type of a thing.

Guys, dont do it, its not worth it. Plus the juice you get from it, is very very minute.

Thanks for another great post, Maki. You’d think if someone were going to take the time to post a comment they would also take the time to make it relevant, interesting, and useful. It probably doesn’t take that much more time and effort and the effects are completely different. On the one hand, you’re likely to have your comment deleted or ignored by other readers of the blog. On the other, you’ll be developing a relationship with the blog owner and the readers of the blog. You’re more likely to incite curiosity in others so they’ll click over to your own blog. In my mind, taking a long-term view, you’re way better off building relationships and adding value to the blogs you post comments on than simply spamming or adding low-value short comments. The question is–are you going to be around long-term or not? If so, the approach to take is obvious–add value.

First of, I can’t believe that you personally responded to each comment. Your actions are an indication how much you value and respect your readers *smile*. Secondly, this article hits home. I am usually a person of few words. Not because I do not want to say something but I prefer to read and observe.. This article has given me a few points to think about, thanks.

Maki, maybe the monkey thing works this way in the wild, but in Zoos they are domesticated. I have observed such behavior while traveling in India, Nepal, and Cambodia.

Monkeys are really smart animals. They gather around tourists attractions to get fed by visitors. In India I bought a bag of peanuts to feed the monkeys. As I was throwing peanuts to them, a few at a time, one monkey ran over to me and grabbed the whole bag of peanuts out of my hand and ran away.

Observing animals in the wild will teach us a lot about society and social media. Remember we are descendants of monkey ancestors.

@Maki
You are absolutely right.
You must have noticed that your words matters. There are no short comments on this post and everybody had tried to give a good comments.