I love reading comments, I love giving you link juice but I have a problem. Some of you make it very hard for me to figure out if I should give you link juice. Blog commenting obviously is one of the best ways to get exposure , back-links and most important it establishes a relationship with the blog owner.
I know when you are commenting you more than likely are just looking to get back links and some traffic. Most of you do a really good job of leaving thoughtful comments, that is why sometimes I give you a back-link even though you don’t have a gravatar 🙂
I can’t force you to do anything, but if you want your comments to be see, if you want traffic from those comments you will listen to what I am saying.
How Not To Get Your Comments Approved
While I have touched on this on other post, it is obvious to me that I need to go over this again. Especially because people keep insisting on leaving terrible comments.
1. Comments that go something like this *(Great Post! Keep them coming) is lame at best. As soon as I see someone give me that kind of comment, I reject it instantly.
2. Your still not using gravitar? Are you kidding me? Listen if you can’t do something as simple as upload a picture you definitely aren’t serious about your online marketing business. A 5 yr old could handle uploading a picture to gravitar.
If you haven’t uploaded a picture because your are embarrassed of yourself, you need to focus on building your self-esteem up. NOBODY wants to work with someone who has not guts. Nobody will be beating down your door. Get over your fear.
3. Did you actually read the post? Don’t say something like *(Great video!) because there is a video. What did you like about the video? What didn’t you like about the video? Have an opinion know what I mean.
4. Newsflash! I don’t want to clutter my blog with links going to landing pages that aren’t mine. I don’t mind giving a person a back link to their blog. What I don’t like doing is giving a back link to someone who is just pushing their lead capture page hoping for some free traffic. Where is the value in that?
I like my readers, I want them to get value from visiting my site, sending people to landing pages isn’t sharing value. If it is your blog, your traffic then you earned the right to share with your readers whatever you like. If however you are visiting someone else’s home respect their crib know what I mean jellybean?
How To Get Your Comments Approved
The secret to getting your comments approved is to really soak in what the author of a blog is saying. When you are leaving comments always think about how you can add value to your comment. Leaving comments that say something like, *(this is the most amazing article I ever read, I was looking for this information) that isn’t a good comment. If anything it looks like a auto comment. (Real Bloggers Don’t Like Auto Comments –> It’s a cheap lazy trick that doesn’t work)
Here are some helpful tidbits:
- Respond to other Commentors
- Be first to comment
- Be last to comment
- Divide your thoughts into paragraphs
- Use your blog url -> not landing page
- share the bloggers post –>Tell them you are sharing it in the comment
- Return to follow up on a comment
It doesn’t take much to establish communication with a blog owner. You would be surprised how a well placed comments on a dozen or so high traffic blogs can bring you visitors to your blog.
What’s this you say you don’t have a blog? –> Well you need to set up one ASAP!
The reason for this post was because I just went through 95 comments that were totally worthless and will never see the light of day. So to wrap this up…
I want to give your comments love but you need to provide me with a good reason to give you love. I love blogs, when you want to get link juice to your blog from me. Don’t try to put a link on my site with 5 blog post or less. At least take the time and put some quality content on your blog.
Please use gravatar, besides myself I am sure my readers would like to see who you are. Or at least a graphic that represents who you are. Note: When I visit other blogs I don’t even read comments from people who don’t have a gravatar. I simply by-pass the comment and move on to someone who took the time to upload a pic.
Sadly even though I just said all that I am sure I will get a ton of spam comments!
You always hear people within our community say that 95% of the people fail who come online and try. The reality is that only 5% of the people are really taking the extra time to do the right things in their businesses. Simply decide to be part of the 5% and do the things they do.. It’s that easy…
Related articles
- Network Marketing Blogs – No More Excuses, Gravatar Tutorial (profitonknowledge.com)
- When Will You People Get A Damn Gravatar (wassupblog.com)
- Branding Tip: Gravatar (wineconversation.com)
When I first started commenting on blogs I would just summarize what the post was about. But now I try to add value when I comment by offering a different perspective or even sharing my experience as it relates to the topic.
Hi Yaisa, I think for most people they realize on their own. Once your blog starts generating a decent amount of traffic. You are almost bewildered by how many people try and actually cheat the system..
It makes our jobs as bloggers, harder….. Because we have to weed out the good from the bad, that in of itself can take an hour of your time..
Thanks for stopping by and commenting 🙂
When you are newbie and try to build inbound links for site through blog commenting, you usually write anything which often makes no sense. I too am not different as I did same mistakes before but when you learn things you become mature and you avoid doing spamming, makes comment to show your value.
Hi Aanchal, that’s cool. I was guilty of the same thing, but only for about month many moons ago. It didn’t take me long to realize that it was a waste of time and effort to do business that way.
I actually have some people leaving comments every day.. Even though I never give them the light of day they keep blasting comments. What I especially enjoy are folks who try and leave comments under a dozen or so different gmail accounts as if somehow the lame comment is going to be less lame under a different email address, or IP address for that matter.
Your comments are fine though, 🙂 I appreciate you taking the time to stop by and comment..
Hi Larry,
I have no problem using a gravitar; I’m quite a handsome guy. 😉 However, I find that sometimes my gravitar doesn’t load on sites. Do you have any idea why that may be? I’m good looking but I’m not too bright.
This is the second post I have read on commenting policy this week. I have written one myself, and I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news but unfortunately the spam comments will continue.
I will admit, I am link building at the minute. The problem is though, for those people who don’t read posts and leave a generic comment, they don’t know what they are missing out on. While they’re scurrying around trying to get all that link juice, they are missing out on a valuable resource – the blogs they are commenting on. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that if you actually subscribe to blogs like yours that you will learn something more than just dropping links. I am currently subscribed to 100s of blogs, all filtered into their own folders. Those blogs taught me how to write HTML, promotion, build backlinks, find affiliates etc. That has always been the frustrating thing for me – the sheer irony of what these spammers do.
Yes, I am linking building, but I defy you to find another blogger who takes so long to gain 10 links on blogs. The way I see it; I wouldn’t like it if you did it to me, so I’m not going to do it to you.
I hope I don’t end up with egg on my face, and my gravitar actually works this time. Oh, and I loved your use of the term “know what I mean jellybean?” Classic.
Hi Frank! Thanks your comment is a great example of a good comment.
Believe me I know the spam will never stop. Every so often I feel the need to rant.lols..
Your right people don’t realize just how valuable some blogs are. They don’t realize just how much good information you can learn from the blogging community.
Like I said I love giving link juice and sharing the love. I also get tons of email and questions and complaining why people don’t make money online.
Part of the reason is because they (the people who aren’t making money online) fail to do just that little bit extra that makes a world of difference.
I can only call it lazyness.
Thanks for such a thoughtful comment 🙂
I must also admit that I am looking for backlinks also. But for it is unprofessional if the comment is irrelevant or a cliche (like “great post”etc..), I agree….
Word!
Ah Larry,
I had to implement some commenting rules over at my place for the same reasons you mentioned here. Of course I did get a better plug-in that knocked out a lot of that spam but it’s obvious those people still trying to just get link juice from me don’t don’t bother to read those rules.
I’m sure not everyone who first starts this commenting venture does all of these mistakes but I know I made a lot of them myself. I didn’t know any better and was definitely not taught the right way to go about doing this. But you can sure waste a lot of your valuable time going through them all.
I will definitely say that if they don’t have a blog and are linking to a service, I don’t care how great your comment is it won’t get approved. Like you, I’m here to connect with people and I can’t do that through your product website. It’s just not going to happen.
Hope your readers take this post to heart and join the platform you are offering. It’s definitely a simple way to get started if they haven’t already.
~Adrienne
Hi Adrienne, Good to see you 🙂
You hit the nail on the head. I think most people are interested in actually making connections. It is a real turn off to go say hi and get greeted by landing page.
I get a lot of my comments filtered but they keep getting craftier at getting them through…
Thanks for stopping by and sharing
At first, its really hard for me to have a posted comments because some administrator are very strict when it comes to commenting. I totally agree on this article. It must have t least respond to the commentors.
Hi Mika, I use to be more laxed with my comments. Funny thing happens when your blog gets more popular though.
If more people are reading that means more spammers are trying to get through. Sometimes regular commenters who prove themselves not to be spammers end up in the spam folder. So I always have to check my spam folder to make sure i don’t miss anyone.
This is why some bloggers are real strict in the commenting policy. It takes time to weed out the spam when we could be spending that time making money.
Nobody likes a spammer, in fact i am not sure why people even bother doing it, it just gets them black listed and or banned period.
Hi Larry! Thanks for the reply. I totally agree on what you said and how protector you are for your private things and sites as well.
Very good points, Larry. Those type of generic one sentence comments really irritate me too. Sometimes, when I have nothing to add to or expand upon what has been discussed in the blog already, I don’t comment on it at all lest it be taken the wrong way as a cheap way to get backlinks. It also keeps the comments section neater and easier to go through for all.
-Jean
Hi Jean, thanks for commenting.. I am the same way there are plenty of times I visit my favorite blogs and I really don’t have anything to add to the conversation so I opt to just not say anything at all…
Your right people don’t realize just how valuable some blogs are. They don’t realize just how much good information you can learn from the blogging community.Like I said I love giving link juice and sharing the love. I also get tons of email and questions and complaining why people don’t make money online.
See perfect example of a crappy comment. I will removing your link if you don’t reply back to this… Repeating what i just said isn’t a good comment.
I’m actually fairly new to commenting on blogs. Yes, partly to gain link juice as you say: but as Frank says, there is information to be gleaned as well. I rarely use social networking sites, I do not run my own blog, and until I read this page I had never heard of Gravatar. Amazing how I simple over looked and ignored the little avatar pics that were next to blog posts.
Personally I prefer to post anonymously on blogs, even though I can now see it may come across as spammy to regular blog posters. Alll I will say, when I do comment on a blog, I read it fully and only comment if the subject is of interest to me.
Playing devil’s advocate. I could see why some people may not want a permanent Gravatar. From what I read the username always stays the same, and the backlink as well. Well if I was professional blogger, and posted ALOT, maybe the search engines could view the link juice as automated as the link text remains the same, no matter how good the comment. If someone posts useful comments, but alternates their username, then it may be beneficial in that respect.
Hi Caliowl, imagine getting 95 comments a day everyday.. Now imagine 80 of them being spam. The fastest way for me to identify who is a *real reader and who is just a backlink grubber is to see who they are. OR atleast see a gravatar that i am familiar with.
FYI , you can add as many emails as your want to your gravatar you can even have different emails trigger different gravatars.. Just saying…
99% of the time people who post anonymously has something to hide. Blogging is about making connections and making friends not hiding playing hide and seek.
I am fine if a person doesn’t want to show themselves.. But you don’t actually need to use a picture of yourself as a gravatar you can use whatever picture you think relates to your personality.
Whilst using your actual picture is preferable, just the fact that you took the effort to create an identity of some sort adds credibility to your comment. And even more important than that, tells me you been here before and saves me precious time in deciding to approve you or deny you.
Very help full n appreciated stuff.
It will liked by many, no doubt
Good work
Okay this is exactly the shizzit I am talking about. You are linking to salespage that offers my readers no frigging value at all. Nobody cares what you are selling dude. Not me, not my readers not no one.. It’s not a good way to do business.
I know you know that already I also know you took 3 seconds to add this comment.
Do you care that I have spent hundreds of hours in this blog? Na i didn’t think so.
Thanks for responding to my comment Larry. I agree that posters who stay anonymous are definitely a higher risk group when it comes to spammy comments. And from running a free submission directory in the past, I am aware just how much spam one can receive.
Being the blogging newb that I am, a quick question Larry. I signed up with Gravatar after reading this page. I made a user on that service called Caliowl. I uploaded a picture on that Caliowl account but it hasn’t appeared next to my comment listed above. Just wondered what I may have done incorrectly.
Could be 1 of 2 things I think…
1. Try using a gmail account maybe its your email address
2. you may be uploading the wrong size picture or graphic type..
I always try to add value whenever I comment on a post. I need to work towards following up on a comment. I tend to ignore a post after I comment on it. I need to get my email settings for notification setup correctly.
Hi Cheolsu, thanks for commenting. You always leave good comments 🙂
Thank you Larry 🙂
Adding Gravatar can give that more comfortable feeling between a blog owner and blog commentators. It allows that more realistic connection between the two since they could personally see how someone looks like. Oh well, the comment content matter most I guess. So as commentators, we need to make our comments much more interesting by just simply saying nice post.
Hi Christina, thanks for stopping by and commenting. Your right it definitely gives it a more realistic feel. From a blog owners point of view, it’s easier for us to sift through comments when we are familiar with people.
Most times if I don’t see a Gravatar, I don’t read the comment I just delete it.
Yeah, I totally agree. When you’re familiar with our faces, you could immediately recognized who among your commentators make useful insights in their comments. In addition to that, there’s a high possibility for you and your commentators to build better online friendship since both of you feel more comfortable with each other.
Exactly 🙂
I left a really good comment (if I do say so myself) at one of your posts, but you didn’t include it. I don’t know if the comment was automatically labeled “spam,” as stated in your Comment Policy, or what.
(Now that I think about it, this one might end up in the same scrap heap and you won’t even see it…)
Actually Sunny this comment was in my spam. Sometimes good comments get thrown in there, because i wait till there are 100 or so spam messages often times i just delete all of them without looking.
Hi Larry,
Great post – give us a backlink. Just kidding lol 😉
Somewhere or other you sent me a message inviting me to comment on your blog for some link juice and I lost it! But I’m a resourceful sort and soon tracked you down.
Actually, seriously, this is a great post and I’ve been thinking of putting a notice on my blog telling people not to waste their time leaving comments which will never get approved by me. Then I thought better of it because if they’re not reading the post and they’re obviously not, why would they read a notice? I used to get really excited when I got a notification of a comment but I don’t even read them now.
I’m always surprised by the number of bloggers who approve (and sometimes even comment on) the spam. “Thank you so much for the compliment. I’m really pleased you liked my blog post.” Yeah right! Like they even read it, assuming they’re even human. I can spot a spam comment a mile off!
So to prove I read your post, I’ve linked one of my blogs, I’ve used paragraphs, I’ve shared it and please could nobody comment after me (couldn’t manage being the first). Oh and I sure hope my gravatar shows up 😉
Hi Penny, thanks for commenting 🙂
There was a time were I felt really desperate for comments. All I was getting for the longest time was spam comments. So I let some in. After some time I got sick of getting crappy commentors.
What I did was start reading blogs where each post on the blog had at least 20 comments and each comment was a real comment.
What I Realized was that many of the commentors were all commenting on each other stuff. That is when I realized the power of comment tribes.
I have found if you follow these basic tips you will start to build a good community. I only look for blogs that have comment luv and I look for blogs where the majority of people are using gravatar already. Those are the blogs where I spend my time commenting.
Also I always do a quick page rank check : http://www.prchecker.info/check_page_rank.php
For me anything under pagerank 4 really doesn’t do much for me.. But as you are working on your back link structure look for pr 2 and higher to save yourself time. Generally speaking pr0 blogs can get to 2 in a matter of weeks if they do their structure right. Anyhow…..
1. Always respond to your commentors
2. Do what you can to visit there blog and comment. Sometimes I run into a problem were I just don’t have any value to add to a blog post. In those cases I don’t comment…
3. Have your blog set up to reward the commentor, commentluv+ does a great job at that.
And thank you for an excellent comment 🙂
Thanks for the tips, Larry.
I tried to get commentluv on my blog a while ago but I couldn’t get it to work properly. I must have another go. Actually I think this is a new version you have on yours.
Cheers!
My pleasure Penny.. Next time you try installing comment luv first Deactivate all your other plugins. Also make sure your wordpress and other plugins are all up to date. Before re-activating your other plugins see if commentluv is working. If it is turn your other plugins on 1 at a time till you find the offending plugin.
Thanks Larry, I got it working 🙂
A lot of the comments I get are trackbacks but when I visit the site, there’s no sign of a link to me. Why is that and do I want to be approving those comments?
Sometimes not always the trackbank links are at the bottom with a more link. I only allow trackbacks from people who have similar sites or if I know the person personally.
If a person is referencing my blog within the body of there article I will give them a trackbacks..
The only time a trackbacks hurts is if it is in a bad neiborhood ie.. porn site or link farm.
Oh one more thing. They did link u somewhere because a trackbacks means someone just link to you. I approve only about 2 percent of the trackbacks I get … so really giving them link love is at your discretion. Careful though auto bloggers try and still link juice and other dirty tricks. So some trackbacks are indeed fake.
You have my support Larry!
I just copied your article in my computer, to help me write a similar article for my blog to establish clear rules.
Well done!
Hi Albert, excellent you are using a swipe file 🙂 swipe files are marketers best friends…
Thanks for commenting..
Hey Larry,
Some good points there. I think that most people simply don’t realise the value of interacting, in a civilised and friendly manner, with other bloggers. In my opinion, that’s just as important as getting a backlink to your site/blog. You never know when you might need a favour – or be able to do one for someone else. Community is important.
I always try to leave decent comments on blogs – but I must admit that I didn’t have a gravatar for a long time. You’re right – it doesn’t take long and I was just being lazy. Got one now (hope it shows up).
Best Regards,
Hi Hamish, Thanks for commenting…
That is what I was trying to say, it literally is painless to set up, yet so many people don’t use it.
Comments are a great way to get exposure, traffic and backlinks. As a commentor you owe it to the blogger to help them make their blog more engaging.
It’s “I will scratch your back if you scratch my back” type of thing. But what many would be commentors do is just selfish and rude… They don’t read the articles, they don’t even put comments that make any sense to any human. They spam their affiliate links, etc..
Once you establish a small readership even, you want to give priority to people who really are taking the time to leave thoughtful comments. As time goes on the relationship is developed naturally.
The best way to help us (Blog Writers) give you link juice is for you to help us identify you so it is easy to approve…Once we make the visual connection we will remember who you are and approve your comments. Even if you totally disagree with what is written.
I love going to blogs and scrolling down to the comment section and click all the links. I love finding new and interesting blogs…
What I don’t like is finding landing pages… sales pages….etc..
I want people to keep coming back to find more interesting stuff.
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts 🙂
Hi Larry…..Sorry for not being visited here from last many days as I am too busy with something more serious regarding family issues and so I just totally stopped all my work and put my full focused on that and atlast I have solved it and happy to be back to my work.
Thus, forgive me for this and thanks a lot for this important tips which I needed most as this is most common issues between blogger and its audience.
Oh my goodness you have nothing to say sorry for.. 🙂 I always appreciate when you stop by and visit.
Family always comes first… Thanks for taking the time to stop by…
Hi, Larry,
Let me start by saying I’m new to blogging (my blog is only a few months old), but I already get a lot of these…(be nice, Winn) spammers!
Now to read that Guys like you (who’ve been doing this a bit longer than me) are still having this problem, is cause for concern. I thought Akismet was supposed to take care of this problem? There’s a T-shirt guy who’s very persistant and annoying – does this mean I have do deal with this guy for the rest of my blogging life?
Could it be that there’s something not done right on my side that’s allowing these guys access to my “Crib?”
BTW, I could tell you that your blog is “tight”, but you already know that. Enjoyed the post!
Hey Winn, thanks for the compliment & thanks for commenting 🙂
Ya there are plugins that help counter attack the spammers. But the more popular you become the bigger of a target you also become.
Actually to answer question:
“Could it be that there’s something not done right on my side that’s allowing these guys access to my “Crib?””
There are plugins you could try..
Spam Karma 2 Blacklist Ban
WP-Ban-User
IP Ban
Probably you should also say that comments shouldn’t be too long. Looking through comments for this post I was not very interested in endless and a little bit confused opinions of some of the readers. Sorry, but laconic phrases have more chances to be read
Hi Anny, I guess its a double edged sword.
As a blog owner -> The longer and well thought out the comment the more new fresh content is being added to my blog. That means the powers that be at Google see my blog as more of an authority figure. That means I get even more traffic slammed to my site. Ideally that means more money in my pocket.
A good portion of my readers are just learning and have lots of questions.
Even more important than that I don’t like censoring people. I say type till your heart is content. As long as you are being genuine I will let you comment 🙂
Thanks for stopping by and commenting…
When I first try commenting I was so frustrated, because every time I submit my comment and when I get back with it the next day, I cant log in on my forums account and my comments are no where to be found… just so glad I read your blog now got the hint…
Hi Alex thanks for stopping by and commenting 🙂
This information was so helpful. As you can tell from the Top Commentator widget, I find commenting easy. But I guess all people don’t feel that way. I do know that some sites are just too hard to comment on. It isn’t worth the time and effort. I also know that some sites never acknowledge any of the comments that are left. I don’t need a response to everything or even most things…but an occassional, “Hey I’m glad you liked my post.” would be nice. You are always wonderful about comments…..a few others need to take lessons. If Seth Godin can find time to comment…they can too! Another thing I have found is that some people only ask for comments on what they are trying to sell to you. If I’m a reader trying to get tips….not purchasing, I would have nothing to comment on.
Hi Jeriea, thanks 🙂
I think that’s part of it. Most people know enough to know they should be blogging so they go through the motions without the substance. Blogging is about creating conversations and sharing..
You create interest in what you are doing by being a good host first.. Thanks again for visiting and commenting I really do appreciate it 🙂
Thank for this article.I tried also, I comment to certain blog site and then my comment was not approved for some reasons..Its frustrating to my part also but then I understand they just protecting their blogs and we cant blame them anyway.. thanks for the post…
This post is necessary Larry 😀
I agree with you that comments are the soul of any blog. But not every blogger likes the “great post, keep it up” comments. I do too if I have my own blog.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
This is really good post here…so much of information…Thanks for this post
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