As I have mentioned before, comments are a huge part of what makes blogs such a unique communication tool. We’ve already discussed some of the reasons why people comment. Copyblogger also wrote about some of the pitfalls of using comments as a traffic building strategy.
One of the biggest keys to both of these articles is that bad commenting can really smear your reputation and make you look bad.
Josh Hanagarne from the WorldsStrongestLibrarian.com also wrote an excellent guest post on Problogger giving statistical evidence that quality commenting can increase traffic, comments, and subscriptions on your blog.
The best way to ensure that your comments are seen in a positive light is to follow these ten commandments of comment etiquette:
The Commandments:
I. Thou shalt comment using your real name, not keywords.
II. Thou shalt only comment if you are contributing to the conversation.
III. Thou shalt engage the author and other readers in conversation.
IV. Thou shalt not post spammy self seeking comments.
V. Thou shalt only link to highly relevant content.
VI. Thou shalt not put affiliate links in your comments.
VII. Thou may disagree and participate in civil debate.
VIII. Thou shalt not start a flame war or troll.
IX. Thou shalt proofread your comments.
X. Thou shalt comment in the same language as the blog
Bonus: XI. Thou Shalt not comment until you have read the post from the beginning to the end.*
Follow these commandments if you want to receive all the blessings of following comment etiquette. Break them and be damned to a poor reputation and no authority in your niche.
Do you follow these commandments? What are your commenting pet peeves?
* Special thanks to Young from Free Nuts for reminding me of this one. It really should have been near the top.
Related posts:
October 20th, 2009 at 12:36 PM
nice post.I seem to be breaking at least few every time :).But Whenever I comment I want to contribute to the post,making it more useful for the reader.I think in the end that what matter :).
October 21st, 2009 at 3:08 AM
But i think that there are many blogger already used to keyword as commenting user name.
.-= Dana@Online Knowledge´s last blog ..Use Google Analytics =-.
October 21st, 2009 at 8:30 AM
I know that John Chow once said that using keywords was smart for the top commentator plugin to help with link juice, and he is obviously right.
On his webpage I even use that practice now; although, I am switching to Blake @ Blog Reviews or something like that.
From a community perspective using keywords for your name comes across as very spammy. I would rather lose the link juice than have a reputation for spammy comments.
I like the way you have your username on my site. You have your real name, and you have keywords. That makes you a part of the community, but you also get the link juice as well.
October 21st, 2009 at 8:08 PM
Though shalt shun the Metric System and limit thyself to Top 9 lists.
October 21st, 2009 at 9:34 PM
Nice commandments on comment etiquette. Too bad there are so many violators!
Anyway, as for “V. Thou shalt only link to highly relevant content.”, although I’ve been tempted to link to an article of mine when it’s perfectly relevant, I have never done it. I don’t see a problem with it if it’s relevant but I just choose not to do it.
However, I link to my posts on my own site when it’s appropriate.
.-= Gabe | freebloghelp.com´s last blog ..Simple tip for prioritizing your tasks =-.
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:52 AM
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October 22nd, 2009 at 10:30 AM
NOOOO! Must stick to metric system! Base 10 for life.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:32 AM
I’m kind of torn about linking to my own articles as well. I don’t particularly see anything wrong with it if someone does it on my blog, but I don’t know if all bloggers have the same view as me about it.
I have a much greater tendency to post links to other blogs instead of my own. I don’t feel as spammy doing that.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:07 AM
Haha, how about adding this one:
XI Do not comment until you have read the post from the beginning to the end.
October 22nd, 2009 at 12:14 PM
OMG!!!! That is such a good one. I’m editing my post right now! PROPS!
October 24th, 2009 at 1:20 AM
Thou shall proofread your own comments. That’s true. I always regret the times I hit the submit button all too quickly. Gasp! – errors. Yuck. And for the author? Add a plugin to help readers edit their comments if these are already submitted. Just a suggestion, this. :)
October 24th, 2009 at 9:01 AM
I can’t count the times I’ve wished every blog had an edit button. The other day I commented “hearing impaired” instead of “visually impaired.” In context I felt like a complete dolt.
October 27th, 2009 at 12:04 AM
[...] The Ten Commandments of Comment Etiquette Archives [...]
October 28th, 2009 at 4:09 PM
Are there any rules for reading other people’s comments before commenting?
October 28th, 2009 at 4:24 PM
That’s a good idea too!
Do you think part of commandments 2 and 3 includes reading the other comments? When I wrote it, I was thinking that you have to read others comments to interact, but I guess a lot of people just interact with the author only (which probably hurts their reputation in the long run).
If there are only 5 or 10 comments I’ll usually read them all, but once you start hitting 40+ comments, it is hard to read them all.
At that point, I often look for people who I know or look to see if people are specifically replying to someone. I figure if they got other readers’ attention, they probably said something worth taking a look at.
October 28th, 2009 at 4:33 PM
Sorry, that’s what I meant, I probably should have been more specific. A lot of times people use the comment sections of blogs as their own personal soapbox. They don’t engage the author, or they only argue with other commenters, not so much as converse with them.
October 28th, 2009 at 4:49 PM
Get off your soapbox man! jk ;-)
I agree. You’ve obviously seen when people try to use the comment section to sound smarter than the author (which is usually true on this blog), but end up looking silly.
I can think of 2 or 3 people that regularly read some of my favorite blogs that I wish I could just block. I read their comments and get so annoyed.
Good stuff Mr. T :)
October 28th, 2009 at 5:00 PM
HAHA! I’ve got another commandment for you: don’t try to comment if you’re distracted!
But really, this is an excellent post, and you should link to it whenever you comment on posts, the relevance speaks for itself ;)
October 29th, 2009 at 8:59 AM
Sigh…I hate more rules. Kidding. Thanks.
October 30th, 2009 at 6:52 PM
Hey usually I don’t post on many blogs these days, but I would like to let you know that this post really forced me to do so! Keep up the good work my friend, I love your blog & your style of writing!
October 30th, 2009 at 7:01 PM
Hey there my friend usually I don’t post on many blogs these days, but I would like to let you know that this post really forced me to do so! Keep up the good work my friend, I love your blog & your style of writing!