Note: This is an excerpt from my 2nd SEO and content marketing book, Visit My Site, Bitch!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: comments are the lifeblood of blogs.
They’re what writers love seeing when they wake up in the morning and they keep them going through thin times.
I love getting comments on my own site, even though they’re few and far between. I always respond to each one, typically within hours after they happen. I like it when others sites do this to the comments I make. I know it keeps my visitors coming back to read more, as I go back to those sites that reply to my comments.
But what about sites that don’t reply to your blog comments? I know you’ve probably left a comment or two, checked back a few days later, and seen that others were replied to, but yours was not. And what if this happens again, or over several weeks. Is the blog trying to tell you something?
Let’s take a look at 10 reasons you should stop commenting on blogs.
They’re what writers love seeing when they wake up in the morning and they keep them going through thin times.
I love getting comments on my own site, even though they’re few and far between. I always respond to each one, typically within hours after they happen. I like it when others sites do this to the comments I make. I know it keeps my visitors coming back to read more, as I go back to those sites that reply to my comments.
But what about sites that don’t reply to your blog comments? I know you’ve probably left a comment or two, checked back a few days later, and seen that others were replied to, but yours was not. And what if this happens again, or over several weeks. Is the blog trying to tell you something?
Let’s take a look at 10 reasons you should stop commenting on blogs.
#1 - No Blog Comment Replies
We’ve all gone to popular blogs and commented away on them. The sites you usually find yourself coming back to are the ones you got replies from.
Now, you shouldn’t expect to get a reply to all of your posts all of the time, but you should expect a few. If you’ve commented a dozen times or more and received no replies, well, perhaps it’s time to move on.
Now, you shouldn’t expect to get a reply to all of your posts all of the time, but you should expect a few. If you’ve commented a dozen times or more and received no replies, well, perhaps it’s time to move on.
#2 - Tone of Blog Comment Replies
Chances are you’re going to the blogs you like because you like the style and tone of them. Message is of course important, but really, you can find about 10 other sites out there saying pretty much the same thing.
And just like a blog has a tone, so too do replies to comments have a tone. If you notice that replies directed at you are sarcastic, degrading, or flat out tell you to leave (perhaps in so many words) then it’s probably time to find a new blog hangout.
And just like a blog has a tone, so too do replies to comments have a tone. If you notice that replies directed at you are sarcastic, degrading, or flat out tell you to leave (perhaps in so many words) then it’s probably time to find a new blog hangout.
#3 - Comments Made By Others
Are other people ganging up on you in the commenting section? I’m sure most of us have seen those blogs with a loyal following, a following that can get a little nasty at even the slightest perceived threat to their beloved blogger.
If you feel you’re on the receiving end of malicious, obscene, or just plain silly comments then I’d head for the hills.
If you feel you’re on the receiving end of malicious, obscene, or just plain silly comments then I’d head for the hills.
#4 - You Disagree With the Blog Message
I really like blue and if I had to spend my time on a blog for colors that’d be it. You sure wouldn’t be finding me on a blog about green, although maybe I’ll stop in from time to time to see how it’s going over there. More than likely I’ll disagree with their message that green is the best.
It could be that I’ll leave a snide remark now and again, but for the most part sites like this should be off my radar.
It could be that I’ll leave a snide remark now and again, but for the most part sites like this should be off my radar.
#5 - You Agree With the Blog Message
No one likes a broken record, and having a friend that says ‘thank you’ all the time can get old fast.
On a regular day I’ll visit a lot of sites, and if they have fresh content I’ll be tempted to comment on it. But sometimes you just have to hold back and let one of those blog posts go.
Let someone else get a word in, kind of like how you got started with the site.
On a regular day I’ll visit a lot of sites, and if they have fresh content I’ll be tempted to comment on it. But sometimes you just have to hold back and let one of those blog posts go.
Let someone else get a word in, kind of like how you got started with the site.
#6 - You Have Nothing to Say
“Thanks, great post!” These kind of ego comments are great, but not too constructive. If you’re just going to put down one comment like this, well, maybe it’d be better to say nothing at all.
This is often a tactic of link-builders and I hardly ever see regular site users do this. I guess the only exception is if the post has no comments on it yet. Then the blogger would probably be really happy! (Please feel free to leave a “Thanks, great post!” on this post if there’s no comments)
This is often a tactic of link-builders and I hardly ever see regular site users do this. I guess the only exception is if the post has no comments on it yet. Then the blogger would probably be really happy! (Please feel free to leave a “Thanks, great post!” on this post if there’s no comments)
#7 - You’re Trying to Increase Traffic to Your Site
No one likes spam and if you’re going around to a lot of blogs in your niche or industry with the sole intention of leaving blog comments to increase traffic, well my friend, I say ‘Fuck You!’
#8 - You’re Trying to Sell Something
This is a delicate one, as most people are trying to sell something online at all times. You have to leave a thoughtful comment that makes people want to click on your gravatar or whatever.
Point that link back to your product page and move on, not repeating for at least 4 weeks and hopefully with a different product.
Point that link back to your product page and move on, not repeating for at least 4 weeks and hopefully with a different product.
#9 - You’re a Spammer
Hey, getting up to 10 can be hard. Cut me some slack!
#10 - You Just Don’t Care Anymore
Oftentimes we get burnt out on what we’re doing, but we keep going through the motions. Work is a classic example. If your in that mentality then commenting probably won’t do much good for you, the site…anyone, really. If you just don’t care it shows and perhaps it’s time to sit it out for a while until you get your fire back.
As you can see there are many reasons for you to stop commenting on that blog. I think the biggest reason is that they ignore you. If no one’s replying to your comments I’d say fuck ‘em. If they don’t need you then why do you need them? Is their content really that valuable?
Successful sites reply to all comments – alright, maybe not spam – in a friendly and helpful tone, or at least the tone you brought to the table. If the site you love so much isn’t doing that for you any longer, or perhaps never did, then why the hell are you wasting your time? There are millions of sites out there, and plenty of them would love to have you as a visitor.
Or am I wrong about that?
Successful sites reply to all comments – alright, maybe not spam – in a friendly and helpful tone, or at least the tone you brought to the table. If the site you love so much isn’t doing that for you any longer, or perhaps never did, then why the hell are you wasting your time? There are millions of sites out there, and plenty of them would love to have you as a visitor.
Or am I wrong about that?
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