If you want to build a great reputation in the blogosphere then you want to know some blog commenting rules that’s going to spruce it up.
Some of you are getting genuine traffic that gets engaged right at the start when they come to your blog. But other’s of you, not so much. You can see some of your fellow peers just getting comments out the woodwork!
And you’re wondering if you’re doing the same thing, why aren’t you getting the same results as they are? What’s so special about them?
Well of course they’re doing something that you’re not. As a matter of fact, they’ll tell you some of what you’re doing, and as usual, it just doesn’t help you, right?
So what gives?
Well it all starts off with how you comment.
Why?
Well this is how I started off, and I got to the point of attracting better results and the opportunities that I had a fear of going after. When it comes down to it, it boils down to how you put yourself out there to your audience.
In this post, I will give you my own commenting rules that helped me to get more recognized and how it’s helping me to build a great reputation among my blogging peers.
“Your brand is a gateway to your true work. You know you are here to do something – to create something or help others in some way. The question is, how can you set up your life and work so that you can do it? The answer lies in your brand. When you create a compelling brand you attract people who want the promise of your brand – which you deliver.” ~ Dave Buck
We all love to be acknowledged don’t we?
It’s nothing like when our peers really acknowledge who we are and what we have done for them.
We love it when people acknowledge the things we do for them, especially when we ourselves didn’t take notice of it.
What’s better is when this happens with our blog posts!
We love those genuine comments!
When I go out salsa dancing with my partner in crime, we love it when people come up and give us compliments on our dancing style.
Although we love salsa dancing, it’s those genuine compliments that give us another reason to keep shining like we do on the dance floor.
But don’t you love it when people comment!
It’s that extra energy from other people that fuels you to keep going.
That is, the genuine comments that you can feel it meant something to your readers!
Many of you came across some comments that weren’t so meaningful. It’s as though the commenter was only trying to make a quota for that day.
Especially when we get the really short 2 word comments like “Great Post!”
Now because I’ve been surrounding myself with great people who leave insightful comments, I don’t get as many of the the “2 word” comments like I use to.
Yes, it all boils down to who you hang around with. Like the old saying goes “Birds of a feather flock together”!
But this post isn’t about connecting with the right people.
The main subject is really about you and how you can improve your commenting.
so let’s get into the blog commenting rules that can brand you like a boss!
The Right Mindset Make These Blog Commenting Rules Work For You
Yes, the right mindset will get you into the vibe of the blog commenting rules that I’m going to share.
You’ll see that a certain mindset will determine:
- If you get a reply
- What type of reply you’ll get
- If other commenters will come to your blog or not
- What type of comments you’ll get if other commenters go to your blog
Some of you may read a blog post word for word, while others of you like to skim. Either way it goes, you want your mindset to be aligned with the blog post itself.
When your mind is aligned with the blog post, that’s when you come up with unique, genuine comments that will definitely tickle the author’s fancy.
And here’s the goal:
If you show how interested you were in the authors blog post, they will recognize it and the the energy they put into their reply will show!
Check out this excerpt of Shamsudeen’s comment and my reply to him
As you can see, this is a great way to build relationship between you and the author start to blossom.
But does your comments need to be as long as this? No… here’s another great comment by David Hartshorne and my reply to him
So what are some of the Do’s and Don’ts when it comes to leaving a comment to a blog?
Well let’s take a look at them to see if you’re either consistent with your comments or maybe there are some improvements you can make.
Address The Author By Name
In Dale Carnegie’s How To Win Friends And Influence People he mentioned that a person’s name is the sweetest sound that they hear.
And if you want to brand yourself well, whenever you leave a comment, you want to make sure that you address the author by name.
This makes you look respectful and intriguing towards who they are.
In return the author has a great reason to return the respect by replying to your comment
Here are 5 great bloggers who practice this!
Although these bloggers comment on a lot of blogs, the fact that the first thing they do is greet the author by their first name makes them memorable.
Don’t you want to be memorable?
Then this would be a great habit to develop!
Make Sure You Have A Picture Of Yourself
Here’s a good thing to think of…
It’s not Halloween 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
So why would you put a picture of a logo or someone else besides your comment?
If you really want to brand yourself like a boss, then the best thing you can do is set up a picture of yourself so that it shows up on each comment you leave.
You also want to remember that your audience is watching too. And if they can’t put your comment with an image of you, then I can honestly tell you that this is a bad Branding practice.
So how do you set this up?
Go to http://en.gravatar.com to upload a photo. They will associate your email address with the photo so when you leave a comment, use that same email address.
When you leave a comment, then your image will show up.
FYI: Choose an email address you also use for your business and blog.
Try To Avoid Adding Links
When I was in network marketing, I was horrible.
As a matter of fact, I would go to a social gathering (not for business) and try to leave my business card with some of the people there.
Yes I was desperate!
And I did make some enemies, but yet, I kept on trying because I thought it was ok and these people were just blind.
But I was blind to the fact that these people were just interested in having fun and socializing, as oppose to me, I was more focus on growing my home business.
Well this is a no, no and it’s a no, no when you leave your links just for that purpose.
Unless the author or a commenter is asking a question where you can leave a link for a genuine answer, or you’re leaving a link to something that contributes to the Blog post, I would suggest that you keep your links to yourself.
The goal is to Brand yourself like a boss so you can attract the right people to you.
Read The Whole Entire Post
I know, some of you are skimmers, and that’s ok if you make a valid point related to a point that was made on the post.
But you know what?
Sometimes when you make a point without reading the entire post, it can backfire!
For example, if you give an opinion based solely on one point that relates to other points that you overlooked then that can make your opinion very much irrelevant and shows how disinterested you were in the first place.
How many times has this happened to you?
It has happen to me a couple of times in the past, and I felt pretty bad. What’s worse is that this doesn’t help your reputation with the author and among other commenters either.
What’s even more worser (if that’s a word) is that you may be looked upon as a spammer
And we can’t have that!
So make sure you read each blog post thoroughly enough that you get a good understanding of what the author was trying to get across.
Sometimes you can catch the author and other commenters off guard by giving a different perspective in which none of them even thought up.
This would be more brownie points for you which will give them a great reason to visit your blog!
Don’t Make Your Comments Longer Than The Post Itself
Now there are some commenters who are “Long Winded”. They can write the longest comments, hitting on every point that you made.
But what’s worse for many bloggers is that they may get over 100 comments in one sitting.
On top of that, maybe half of them could be long comments.
Now I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with being “Long Winded”, but you do want to write your comments in moderation.
Think of the author of the post and how they have to go through each comment, despite the other tasks they need to do.
I like reading long comments on my blog posts and it tells me how valuable and how much they enjoyed the post, but there are days where I just don’t have enough time.
besides that, on a positive note it shows great social proof to others that come to my blog.
Really Short Comments Will Never Work
This has got to be the most popular blog commenting rule there is
And yes, I’m going to regurgitate this!
If you want to brand yourself like a boss, don’t leave really short, two word comments.
I’m a man of small words when it comes to commenting, but not that small.
This really shows how uninterested you were in the blog post, and when I get these types of comments, I have to ask myself why did they waste their time?
Sorry if anyone gets offended, but I know of quite a few bloggers who would just simply delete these “two word” comments.
If you think you’re going to get a backlink to your site, then think again.
If you want to at least get some respect and a reply back from a serious blogger, then make sure you write a genuine, engaging comment whether it be a couple of lines or more.
Add Value To The Post
And speaking of genuine, engaging comments, make sure that you make an effort to add value to the post.
Again, this isn’t about making a quota or getting backlinks
This is about gaining value and building your reputation!
We all want to brand ourselves enough to where our comments pique enough interest from other commenters and readers for them to come to our blog.
This is attraction marketing if you think about it.
You’re putting yourself out there in order to bring people back to your blog and even find you on social media.
Why?
Because they love the value that you give. You are an information magnet, and the stronger your magnet is, the more you’ll attract your perfect audience to you.
Don’t Repeat Word For Word What An Author Or Commenter Said
Ok for me and for many other bloggers this is a red flag!
I just notice this when I read Glenn Shephard’s post How To Know When To Ditch Your Teacher a month and half ago
In the post he goes into why people use auto-posting software to leave comments by copying excerpts of what other commenters said and why it’s not good to do so. And I do have to say that I agree with his opinion.
But repeating a post word for word shows disinterest and can get you called out.
It’s one thing if you paraphrase to show why you agree or disagree but it’s another thing when you write down word for word. This looks quite suspicious to a lot of bloggers.
Another great thing you can do is “copy and paste” a snippet of the post to show what was your favorite part or even to prove a point. That’s considered engaging and really getting involved with what the author had to say.
But again don’t expect to get shown love once the author or commenter realize that you’re putting up a front.
Write In Conversational Mode
One thing I make an effort not to do is to be sooo serious all the time!
Yes we are in business, but when it comes to commenting you want to make it enjoyable for the author, you and the rest of the commenters.
Yes, there are times you want to be “professional” but at the same time you want to add a little of your own personality to your comment. I mean, that’s a part of personal branding, right?
Sometimes you want to make it seem like you’re doing “slapstick comedy” in a professional way. Yes, this sounds like an oxymoron but it’s a great way to draw attention.
Here’s a great example between Kevin Duncan and Henneke Duistermaat. And FYI, By no means I’m trying to promote Commentluv Premium over Disqus.
Yes, I know, we all don’t have the same personality, but there’s a little of Kevin and Henneke in all of us.
With that said, this shows how connected we are together.
I mean it’s all about connecting with great people right? Especially in our blogosphere.
When we can build synergy like this, it makes a better experience for all of us. Exchanging energy like this can give other commenters and the author a reason to come to your site.
In Conclusion
If you’re in some type of home business, whether it be network marketing or some other business model, the ultimate goal is to live the life you want right?
But along your journey you have to make a plan. A plan that’s going to brand yourself like a boss.
You want to build some type of authority in order to have an influence over your target marketing that makes it a win-win for you and them.
With all the different strategies out there to do this, commenting is one of the easiest and yet powerful things you can do.
Although it may be tedious to some, it doesn’t have to be.
You can make it an enjoyable experience as well as gain a lot from it!
Now It’s Your Turn!
These are great blog commenting rules which I follow, but these aren’t the only rules that everyone should follow. This is a great start when it comes to commenting, but I know there are some other rules that many other bloggers follow.
So do you apply these rules yourself?
If you do, what are the results of applying them? How consistent are you?
Are there any other rules you would add?
Is there anything within this list you feel that needs to be added to your commenting routine?
If so, what are they?
Please share this post with your friends and leave me your comments below. I look forward to reading them! Thanks for stopping by!
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Hi Sherman !
I agree on most of your points, but regarding skimming. I would like to say that most of the blogs now a days share almost same content.
For example you read about “Best way of link building”, now when you read the same or similar post on other blog you will see many same points (and this happens. Because link building is very important topic, but this happens with alot of other things as well.
Anyhow, have a good day.
Regards
Hey Usman,
Yes most blogs share the same content, but what makes each blog post unique would be how you can come from a different angle or how well you connect with the audience. This tends to spring about great comments.
As far as skimming, just as I was saying to Digokgwe there are a still a lot of people who are skimmers, like speed readers. You want to cater your content to them but at the same they want to be careful about what information they focus and comment on at the same time. They want to make sure that it doesn’t reference to another point made in the post or it would look like they haven’t read the post.
Thanks for stopping by Usman and I hope you’re enjoying your weekend!
Sherman Smith recently posted…9 Blog Commenting Rules That Brands You Like A Boss
Fabulous Sherman…
it is always a frission of pleasure when one receives a compliment, and a comment on a blog post often produces that same feeling of delight.
Often especially so, because the time and effort in producing a blog post of real value can be high, and it is good to feel appreciated 🙂
Following on from your last post, it is true that the quality of the comments you receive often depends on the quality of the blogger leaving them, and I agree it is important to surround yourself with friends that enjoy and reciprocate your work.
One of your rules above really stood out for me…
I always have to align my mind with the blog post I am reading, and try to leave a comment about my understanding of the post, the value I have received, and my thanks for the help / pleasure / emotion it has brought to me (and wouldn’t even know how to set up auto-posting of comments!)
I am a conscientious commenter 😉
I enjoy reading the other comments on a blog too, and often mention these authors, and see others doing that. Blog comments are a lovely way to engage with, and learn from, and add to the discussion with the whole comment thread, and as you say, sharing information is reputation building.
Such a wonderful post 😀
~Jacs
Hey Jacs,
It’s a great feeling when you get a genuine comment from your audience. Especially if they have some influence within your niche.
It shows that your hard work is much appreciated! And when they share and mention your name, that’s even better!
This post reinforces the last post I did! You’re right, the comments that you receive depends on the quality of the blogger and people you surround yourself with. When you surround yourself with genuine people who are similar to you that like to comment, then this is a beneficial factor.
It’s very important to align your mind with the idea and understanding of the blog post. When you’re able to do this, then what comes out is a genuine, insightful comment that’s sincere to the topic whether it be a long or short comment.
Commenting is not only a way to be noticed, brand yourself, and generate traffic back to your site, but is also a way to be an enjoyable experience. That may sound like an old cliche from the 1950’s, but it stands very much true!
Thanks Jacs for stopping by and leaving a great comment! I hope you’re enjoying your weekend!
Sherman Smith recently posted…9 Blog Commenting Rules That Brands You Like A Boss
Thanks for sharing. I respect your ideas of how people should approach blogs and then comment. However I have certain different views to some extent. I agree the reader should try and bring value to the blog. I do not agree with no skimming, some blog topics are so long! I like brief constructive comments and also make room to long ones. I hope I contributed positively.
Hey Digokgwe,
I’m glad that you respect these ideas about how to approach commenting. Yes the reader should bring value and if it really catches their interest, they should read the blog thoroughly. But one thing that much be considered is that a lot of great blogs are crafted to be skimmed. There are people who read like this (like speed readers), but they must be careful when commenting. Some points may have been said in another section which they may have overlooked.
Thanks for stopping by Digokgwe! I hope you’re enjoying the weekend!
Sherman Smith recently posted…9 Blog Commenting Rules That Brands You Like A Boss
Hi Sherman,
I enjoy blog commenting, but sometimes I have a problem with reciprocity 🙂
As a comment giver, there are times when I don’t FEEL I can contribute anything other than “Wow great post, I didn’t know that” because some posts are so outside my level of experience – e.g. phones and other technical stuff. I try to do better, but the honest thing to do would be just pass by, saying nothing – which would leave me feeling I’d let down the group.
As a comment receiver, it’s awful just going through replying to a list of comments that just say “I agree with you”, and trying so hard to say more than “thanks for agreeing”. LOL
I’m getting much tougher with spam!
I try not to be too precious about my name but it does rather annoy me if people call me Joe, when my name is quite clearly Joy. I go in and edit it 🙂
Liked your novel approach to this blog commenting rules by showing some examples of good engagement.
Joy
Hey Joy,
I hear you on trying to come up with something to say for a comment. Actually I was thinking about writing a post on this as I was writing this post LOL
But yes, I can sometimes be stumped for words when it comes to a topic I really don’t know anything about. When this happens, I’ll try to find a point within the blog post that I like, paraphrase it, and talk about why I like it. Other than that, I usually just share it as well as mentioning the author who wrote it with the share.
When you’re going through comments and find a short comment that says “I agree with you”, I’ll either delete it or I’ll ask which points did you agree with and why. 9 times out of 10 the commenter usually doesn’t return my reply.
I can understand why you feel annoyed when someone misspells your name. I do admit, I’ve done this a couple of times, but at least the authors let me know.
I’m glad that you like my approach on my version of blog commenting rules! I hope you’re enjoying the weekend as much as I am! Take Care!
Sherman Smith recently posted…9 Blog Commenting Rules That Brands You Like A Boss
Hi Sherman
Another valuable post – thanks again!
Actually I was hooked from the opening sentence of the quote you included first up:
“Your brand is a gateway to your true work.” Says it all really.
All of your suggestions are on the money – even small ones like, address the author by name.
And of course your point about links is right on the money. There’s a time and a place for sharing our links, and doing it when making a value added comment is not the time or the place!
You gave the example of going to networking events when you were a network marketer. Pitching and stitching doesn’t work in the offline world yet many online marketers think the online world is different. It ain’t. (I know that now, but crazily until recently I had done very little online networking – inc blog commenting.)
I’ve learned that online networking is exactly the same as offline – cultivate people (farmer not hunter), uncover problems and offer solutions when appropriate.
The goal is to get people to the point where they are ‘leaning forward’ (I got that term from an old mentor of mine). Only then, should we give our link, or promote a product/service.
Finally, I’ll finish with a simple phrase: ‘the more things change, the more they stay the same’. Online networking is just like offline networking – build relationships one person at a time.
Thanks again Sherman
Kim
s
Kim Willis recently posted…Persuasion Psychology – Theory and Practice
Hey Kim,
Commenting and Branding goes hand in hand.
It’s funny how a lot of us that did offline marketing with going to events, tend to think that online marketing is much different. The only difference is that with online marketing you can connect with people all over the world from the comfort of your home, as oppose to offline marketing.
But yes, your mentor is right. The goal is to get people to “lean forward”. You do this by being genuinely interested in them, their problems, and suggest some solutions. This is a great way to brand yourself!
There’s no need to be in a rush when it comes to building your business. You build relationships one person at a time. Some of the people that you connect with may have a big list of their own, and their list may also be interested in what you promote. This goes with the saying in my modified way you can kill an email list of people with one stone 😉
Thanks for stopping by Kim! Have a good one!
Sherman Smith recently posted…9 Blog Commenting Rules That Brands You Like A Boss
I love “Don’t make the comments longer than the post” and yes, I’ve seen that happen. Perhaps someone is angling for a guest post but, almost always the copy is boring and TL;DR
Bottom-line is to make it longer than 2 words but short enough to read in less than 2 minutes 😉
Perhaps blog commenters should be required to tick a box suggesting they’ve read these guidelines, even if jokingly 😉
It’s the first time I’ve seen someone lay these guidelines out, nice job.
Hey DIYBlogGuy,
They might be hinting to something with a long comment. Some people are long winded while other’s there’s an agenda.
But yes, you want to make it much longer than two words and less than 2 minutes to read. That’s a great way to put it, especially if the author have other comments and blogs he wants to read.
It would be great to click on a box suggesting that they read the guidelines, but for me, I don’t want to anal like that LOL
I’m glad that you like these rules for commenting and I’m glad you stopped by! Have a good one!
Sherman Smith recently posted…9 Blog Commenting Rules That Brands You Like A Boss
Hey Sherman,
Well I was nodding my head all the way through your post.
The biggest complaint I get with blog commenting is that it takes too much time. Granted, if you really read the post and leave a genuine comment then that is going to take you some time. You do several of those a day and we’re probably talking maybe an hour, hour and a half tops. Gosh, I think that is great time invested in your future don’t you! The future of your blog that is.
I rarely see two word comments on people’s blogs anymore. Of course if they have CommentLuv Premium you can set it so that they have to leave a certain amount of words in order to comment. That definitely helps but of course I still get at least a sentence or two but I have had them reiterate what I just said and paste that into a comment which of course never gets approved.
I’ve also had them copy comments from others like Glenn mentioned in his post. I rarely see that anymore but it’s happened and like him I get so upset when people are so deceiving like that.
If only people understood the value that comments can bring then I think they would think differently about them. Of course they have to follow the rules of what you’re sharing here too but I think if you’ve read a post that you find interesting and you genuinely have something to add then it’s not difficult at all. Heck, you’ll probably learn something along the way which is an added bonus plus you get to make a really awesome connection. How many wins is that!
What I don’t like is when people don’t address us by name or when they do they misspell it. In my case you can’t not see my name all over my blog and then to misspell it, well that is someone being hurried. I usually won’t approve those comments either so that is important for them to remember.
I really appreciate what you shared here and sorry for my late visit. I took a three day weekend and visited with family but finally got by here and glad I did. I’m off to share it now.
Thanks Sherman and you have a wonderful week.
~Adrienne
Adrienne recently posted…Who Should You Really Connect With In The Blogosphere?
Hey Adrienne,
You know that I don’t have a lot of time myself. But I tell you that it’s worth every minute to go to a blog, read, learn something, share, mention, and of course comment. This year i started put my mobile phone to use and started reading blog posts each time I walk from site to site at my job as well as during my lunchtime.
I think it’s great that we don’t see too many two word comments anymore. It’s a good indicator that we are connecting with the right people. I actually haven’t set that feature up in commentluv premium and I’ll have to do this.
Yes it’s sad that people still use those auto posting/comment programs as Glenn mentioned. As soon as he mentioned that person’s name i rang a bell. I had the same person use this auto comment program on my blog and went ahead a deleted them.
There are so many people who don’t see the value of commenting, although they still try to connect. Not saying that commenting is the only way, but it’s a great start when you think about it. If you’re commenting on a post, you’re directly connecting with the author and in a way indirectly connecting with other commenters and readers. And if it’s a valuable comment, then you’re more likely to attract others who come to the post.
It’s shows good blogging etiquette when you address the author by name. Especially when you spell their names’ right. I do have to admit, I spelled a couple of names wrong, but some of the authors were good sports about it. I can say I was lucky!!!
I’m glad that you like the post. That’s ok if you were late since I was late coming to your blog as well as others. I know that you enjoyed being with your family and it was worth every minute!
You have a great week also Adrienne! Take Care!
Sherman Smith recently posted…9 Blog Commenting Rules That Brands You Like A Boss
Hello Sherman,
Great write up!
Every point is bang on the target. I get so many comments in which people saying the same word which I have said in the content. That is ridiculous.
Addressing the writer with his/her name is very important because it shows that you are known to the author at least. I get many comments in which people say “Hi Admin”. I trash those comments immediately.
Overall, very nice post with real issues discussed. Thanks Sherman.
Hey Atish,
That’s sad that people repeat every word you say in your blog. It goes to show that they really didn’t read the blog.
It’s vital that you address the person by their name. I even look hard to find the authors name, even from other commenters. This makes you look good and shows how much commenting etiquette you have.
But that’s funny that there are some people that say “Hi Admin”… smh
Thanks for stopping by Atish! Have a good one!
Sherman Smith recently posted…9 Blog Commenting Rules That Brands You Like A Boss
Hi Sherman
I am so much in agreement with this post.
So many people complain that they are not gaining so much attention, however they never the the time to engage and build strong relationships.
As you mentioned, conversation is a two way communication and not one sided. So it is true that our comments have to be so unique, warming and interesting.
Thanks for sharing.
Hey Ikechi,
That is the key Ikechi and I’m glad that you brought that up!
You must make time to engage and build the relationships. But one other thing that must be consider is that you want to engage with those that will also engage back. I mentioned this in my last post on marketing reciprocation.
It takes two to create dialogue and it can definitely not be one sided. How anyone comments shows the level of sincerity about the topic on the blog post, and the more genuine your comment is, the better response you’ll get.
Thanks for stopping by Ikechi and I hope you’re enjoying the week!
Sherman Smith recently posted…9 Blog Commenting Rules That Brands You Like A Boss
Hi Sherman,
I hope you have an awesome Labor Day weekend!!!!
As I read through your post all I could think was; “Sherman is on fire!!!!”
You nailed it so well.
I kept thinking a couple of things as I was reading all the way through your article:
1. As bloggers we set and create the tone by who we network with and how they leave comments reflects the type and quality of comments we will receive. That’s why I’m picky about where I comment.
2. I can always tell when someone hasn’t read the article by their comment. As you said, read the whole thing so that you don’t risk looking foolish. Sometimes if it is blatantly obvious I may call them out gently for it on my blog.
3. Acknowledge them by name…. that’s a powerful one for more than one reason. When you don’t acknowledge someone it can be considered rude or even arrogant depending upon the content of the comment. Like you said; we all want to be recognized!
4. Value of comment over length is what we are after. It the comment is a little longer because of the value then YEA! I love it. But, if you’re just going to tell me what I already said… blah…
I really believe that the majority of people are missing the concept and idea of how to network effectively online and comments are a fabulous way to do that. But, if I’m going to be attracted to someone’s site they better have showed me through their thoughtful comment that is worth my time.
Wonderful post Sherman. I LOVE this article. Well done my friend.
Have an awesome second half to your week!
~ Don Purdum
Don Purdum recently posted…Are You Creating Opportunities for Your Audience to Discover Your Business?
Hey Don,
Labor Day was great. Our County Fair just started so I walked over there a couple of times
Thanks for the compliment. I owe it to you and quite a few other bloggers.
1. I have to agree with you on this one. In the case of commenting you have to be picky on where you comment and who you want to engage with. This will definitely reflect on the type of comment will receive
2. I’ve seen quite a few people get called out on not reading a blog thoroughly. I would tell myself “wow, that must be embarrassing”! But it shows how serious and sincere they are and why they shouldn’t comment. Best thing to do is to share the post.
3. As I said about “How To Win Friends And Influence People”, Carnegie said a persons name is the sweetest sound they hear. As you said when you don’t mention their names it can come across as being rude and arrogant. This is no way going to help you build good rapport with them.
4. Genuine comments are a great way to brand yourself. For this to happen, there must be a certain length and this doesn’t count for regurgitating what you just said in your post unless you’re trying to make a point from the post.
Networking online isn’t that much different than offline and this was what I didn’t comprehend in the beginning. Now I’m finding more and more that aren’t either. But I do understand how you would be attracted to someone site and at the same time turned off by going to their site with a bogus comment. I would do the same.
Thanks Don for stopping by and Im glad you love this post!
You have a great rest of the week too!
Sherman Smith recently posted…9 Blog Commenting Rules That Brands You Like A Boss
Hi Sherman!!
I haven’t been around your blog in a while. Been busy with many new projects of my own. But now I have more time! 🙂
These are great tips on Blog Commenting!
I agree with everything you have said here.
One thing I have to be accused for, is leaving very very long comments! haha
Sometimes, I get too passionate about the topic, and I end up sharing a mini article. lol
Heey… it happens! … right right!
But yeah, I think it is good to make sure you are not leaving such a very very long comment. Everything is great with the right balance, right!
You know, I don’t really follow any “rules” for blog commenting. I have been just following what works best for me (as I track everything and analyze everything).
Now that I’m reading your advice here – I can see that I am following something very similar. 🙂
I think, being genuine, and just keeping it real in your comments – also adding some value – can go a long way.
I always say this; if you leave an amazing comment, that will tell a lot about you and people reading your comment might get very curious about you and click on your name (which leads to your blog right).
I get good traffic to my internet marketing blog – from just blog commenting. So, it definitely works, but only when you work it right! 😉
Valuable post, Sherman!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
Keep up the great work and have a fantastic week! 😀
See you around! …
Freddy Gandarilla recently posted…EPISODE 4: This is the Best Way to Build a Blog and Accomplish Your Dreams in Life! [Podcast]
Hey Freddy,
I haven’t seen you on kingged.com in a while, but I’m glad you set aside some time to stop by here.
Yes, very long comments can be great and I know you get really passionate about different topics 😉
I like it when I get long comments, but also I also would like my readers to comment in moderation too. We do have to respect that the fact that the authors also have to read other comments as well.
I don’t think you need rules, but there are many others who don’t have the commenting etiquette. Especially with some newbies.
But it all comes down to being genuine and keeping it real with the author, readers and commenters. When you’re like this, it shows how engage you are and how engaging you are with others. This is a big plus!
I like your way of thinking! Being transparent and showing your passion will intrigue others and give them a reason to get to know you better. They’ll definitely want to follow you back to your blog.
Thanks for your insight Freddy! I hope all is well with you!
Sherman Smith recently posted…9 Blog Commenting Rules That Brands You Like A Boss
Hey Sherman,
“What’s even more worser (if that’s a word)”…
I am laughing – only because while I don’t know if that actually IS a word, as far as I’m concerned, you can get away with it and have it fit in just right 😉
I happen to love the entire commenting process. I read posts from time to time on other websites and I often scroll to see if anyone has shared their thoughts about the article and find myself disappointed that no one had anything to say (although certain sites seem to attract some pretty nasty comments as well).
My first experience in regard to comments involved Adrienne on one of the health and fitness blogs I had written for several years ago. I would have to say that she, along with Martin (from Geek and Jock) were the two who stood out to me because of their genuine input into the topic.
I followed Adrienne’s blog shortly thereafter because of her authentic communication style. It has led me to others who practice this way of self-expression (like you) who add value to the conversation and really seem to care about the discussion.
I will admit that I don’t always leave comments or visit as many blogs as I’d like to simply because I don’t relate to the subject matter, or feel that I can add anything of value. However, sometimes I can identify the human in the post itself and that gives me a sense of connection that warrants sharing a perspective that the writer may be able to relate to.
I could write more, as this topic interests me and you had several other great points – but to avoid making this into a book, I’ll stop here.
Awesome writing Sherman.
Dana recently posted…I Was Over 200 Poundsâ¦My Personal Weight Loss Story
Hey Dana,
That’s for letting get away with the word worser or even saying more worser LOL Sometimes you have to mix it up 😉
You know sometimes, usually on youtube, I’ll look at the title of the blog or video, and go straight to the comments before I read the body of post or watch the video. I find some of the comments interesting and entertaining.
Adrienne does give very genuine comments. This is why she’s coined as the Engagement Superstar. I learned quite a few things from her when it comes to building relationship through the commenting process. I was pretty bad at it at first LOL, but have grew from it.
I did the same as you. I subscribed to Adrienne’s blog and this led me to you and other great bloggers who had their own communication style. It’s great to have well-rounded people within your inner circle!
You’re not along when it comes to not leaving comments. From time to time I don’t leave comments if I don’t understand what the author is saying or if I can’t relate to it. I usually would just share it. My thinking is if I can’t get something out of it, someone else will. For me, even if I identify the author, if I can’t understand where they’re coming from i’ll still only share their posts.
But I’m glad that you stop by. It would be great if you can write a blog post on this subject and give our own opinion about blog commenting. I’ll definitely read it!
Have a great weekend Dana!
Sherman Smith recently posted…9 Blog Commenting Rules That Brands You Like A Boss
Hi Sherman,
Though you posted it five days back, i really missed to look into it!
Nice that i found it and ha, first let me express my thanks for the kind mention of my comment and for the screenshot.
Yes, when I talk about comments and commenting on fellow bloggers pages there is no limit to the words, as here we all know freddy the long comment author as he mentioned it too I can relate a bit with him! If it’s an interesting topic, things come out and flows without any stop!! LOL, though you mentioned a bit harsh about the “long winded comments” I fully agree with Freddy!
Yes, if it’s an interesting topic without pointing out some relevant things in the comment it won’t give the real satisfaction to the comment author!!
And when I think of myself, my blogging journey started by commenting on other’s pages, some days i made almost about 50 comments a day, this was when i just entered into the internet arena, that was the days when I am a member of Google’s Knol pages, It was indeed a great spirit at that time to comment on others pages and getting replies to it and making a conversation there in the comment column itself. It was not a one word or one line comment, instead it was with a few paragraphs!!! As you said in the beginning at the end of my comments along with my name i used to share my links too! That becomes a big controversy among the knol authors, in support of me and against, later i found that sharing link along with the comments is not a good idea. Those times there were no CommuntLuv plugin or any such things. Of course, when there is a connected and very relevant post link we need to mention the url there along with the comment, there is no harm in it! But always sharing along with the comment its not a good trend, later i apologized for that act.
I am sure when we look into the blogging arena there are few famous bloggers who use this style when they comment, I really appreciate their act, I am sure the recipient of that comment will surely like it too! Of course for that matter any other blogger likes that, in my opinion when a reader takes his time to write such a long comment, it is the bounden duty of the blogger to read that comment fully and say something about it, there you or I can’t escape by just saying due to time constraint I could not read your feedback, if that is the case surely you will miss a wonderful comment author! LOL
What an idea Sirji!!
You brought out a lot of relevant and wonderful ideas in relation to commenting.
A well written page with lot of screen shots and pics etc
Hey Sher, though I want to touch some more area in relation to this post, but I am afraid, i may be branded as a “longwinded” comment author!!!
So I am stopping here!
Oh my I am already one with this comment itself!! LOL
Keep up the good work
Have a good day
Best
~ Phil
PS: Hey Sherman, In this post there is a small note with click to tweet I tried that but the text is more than the limit of 140 characters and cab’t post it so i shortened the link by using bit.ly page and even then the full text with link exceeds the 140 limit. Please fix this otherwise it cannot be posted! Anyways I posted it by cutting short some words in the beginning
Please check and fix it thanks
Best
~ Philip
PPS: Hey I found this post on the pages of Kingged dot com and i up-voted it and posted this comment too!
Thanks
~ Phil
Philip Verghese Ariel recently posted…Top Comment Authors On Philipscom In The Month Of August 2015
Hey Philip,
I know what you mean about how passionate someone can be when it comes to commenting. When you read about a topic you have a lot of passion for, you tend to become long winded LOL.. Yes, although I’m a person of small words, I had caught myself writing a long comment. I had to stop myself before my comment became longer than the post itself. You also must be careful when sharing links. Yes, if you’re pointing someone to a website to help them whether it’s your own or another then that’s ok. But some use it to get brownie points from Search Engines and not only this is looked down upon, it can have a negative effect on your reputation. The best thing you can do is guest blogging instead of leaving links to direct readers and commenters back to your site.
But when it comes to really long time, you also have to think about the author. Some people have time to read all the comments while others don’t. I definitely appreciate long comments, but at the same time I have a busy schedule as far as work and other responsibilities and fun activities. You also have to consider the time it will take for the author to come back to read the comment. There have been times where I, myself, took a couple of weeks before reading through comments.
I’m glad that you like this post here Philip!
Glad that you stop by!
Have a great weekend!
I’m amaze to read that you commented on 50 posts in one day! Now that’s serious, but yet you are serious blogger and I know how sincere you become when it comes to commenting. Especially when it comes to an interesting topic or if you meet some interesting people.
Sherman Smith recently posted…9 Blog Commenting Rules That Brands You Like A Boss
Hi Sherman,
Great title, drew me in like a magnet draws iron filings to it. The Blog post was terrific I so glad I spent the time reading, understanding and digesting it.
Your approach of creating a simple set of commenting rules that would add value to you while you added value to a Blogger via you comment is brilliant. I’m going to take the essence of this Blog post, add my own commenting approach rules and craft one for myself.
I love it when people comment, and reply to the reply I gave. I grab the opportunity to engage and make new friends.
Reciprocity, I love the word. Tough to live without it tough to live with it. Without commenting on multiple blog posts first I doubt you’ll get a comment on yours. In my world – giving – comes much before reciprocity. I believe that giving a ton of value first is the strongest trigger of reciprocity.
Leaving a comment without greeting a fellow Blogger – by name – is pretty cold.
I doubt that will win you a great deal of friends and followers. Everyone loves to be called by their name, that’s when they know they are being addressed personally.
Using an icon based Gravatar, instead of a nice image of you, is definitely not on. People love to connect to other people. A Blogger loves to notice and identify with a commenter by their Gravatar. I’ve found friendly looking Gravatar pictures really work.
Loading a comment down with backlinks to various Blog posts/pages on your site is definitely irritating. Especially with Google becoming very picky about the quality of backlinks.
Commenters who add just one link of related content within the comment and perhaps another in their signature are usually accepted pretty quickly as valuable people in the Blogosphere.
There are times when I think commenters take – Add value to the Blog post in your comment – a bit too seriously. Often not commenting because they are floored by what they’ve read.
I simple – Thank you for such a well-structured, educative Blog post. Although some of its content was beyond my skills to grasp – would be so very helpful to the Blogger. Even such a comment can lift a Bloggers spirits. Such a comment would be able to give the Blogger a few hints as to why their engagement is not as high as expected.
I always get a great tip (or three) when I spend time reading your Blog posts Sherman. Thanks for sharing this one on Kingged.
Ivan Bayross recently posted…How To Be A Blogger People Pay Attention To
Hey Ivan,
I’m glad that this post gave you some ideas of adding some commenting rules to your blog. It also be great if you had a page of blog etiquette for those that want to comment on your blog posts.
We all love getting comments, and the goal for all of us is reciprocity. It’s when this happens we start to develop those genuine connections with other bloggers and people in general. But I also believe that we should think about giving first before thinking about the reciprocity behind it. It shows the type of person you are.
We should always greet the person by name. Sometimes the author doesn’t leave the name and I make an effort to see if I can find it within the other comments. This shows how interested you are in the individual who wrote the post.
As far as the gravatar we always like to connect with people by face. Having a gravatar will give you some brownie points by the author as well as their readers. This is a great way to brand yourself and build your reputation.
Sharing Links should always be a no no unless you’re intension is to give genuine value as to answering a question or something similar. Just to leave a link to an opportunity, products service to get traffic and conversions is definitely uncouth and can damage your image.
Some commenters appear to be skeptical to me as well. To me they’re just trying to get some type of link juice or trying to meet a quota not because they gained something from the blog post itself.
I’m glad that you like the post and you found that it gave you some ideas of how you can make commenting work for your own blog. Commenting can definitely life a bloggers spirits as well as be an enjoyable experience for all of us who are on the entrepreneur journey. It helps to be support by others with the same mentality!
Thanks Ivan for the compliment and I hope you have a great weekend!
Sherman Smith recently posted…9 Blog Commenting Rules That Brands You Like A Boss
Hi Sherman,
You’ve given me a great idea to work on. A comment etiquette page. I’m going to create one (carefully worded of course) that engages with my site visitors.
I certainly do not want to sound pompous (what a turn off that will be) but to try and get the best comments for my Blog posts.
Oh! I agree, In today’s commercial world its a ton better to give rather than just to receive. Receiving only always seems a tad selfish to me.
BTW, my wife Cynthia, daughter Chriselle and I are off on a 8 day holiday to Prague and Budapest on Tuesday 15th Sept.
I’m really looking forward to this holiday because its the very first family vacation I’ve taken in about 32 years.
I’ve put the etiquette page in my Google Doc – ToDo – list.
Have a great weekend Sherman. Will catch up with you soon. Bye for now.
Ivan Bayross recently posted…Even Scepticâs Can Get Targeted Traffic from Google+
BTW, if ever you visit Mumbai/India I can take you to a few great Salsa groups that meet one a week just for the fun of dancing.
Think about that?
Ivan Bayross
Ivan Bayross recently posted…Even Scepticâs Can Get Targeted Traffic from Google+
Hey Ivan I will definitely think about it… You know that’s my hobby. And if you want to learn, let me know 😉
Sherman Smith recently posted…9 Blog Commenting Rules That Brands You Like A Boss
Hey Ivan,
Yes, the one message that would make you sound less pompous is that you want everyone to respect and enjoy the experience of interacting with you and with each other.
I think people would be more open to this and gives them more reason to comment and share your posts.
It’s great to give to receive, but one thing I found out about myself as well as other people is that everyone is selfish which is a good thing. Why? Because selfishness has to do with making each situation a win-win. I learned this just from listening to Abraham Hicks, but I believe it’s taught in every religious doctrine. It’s just not talked about a lot.
It’s when people are more “self-absorbed” when it becomes a win-lose situation.
That’s sounds like you’re going to have a great trip with your wife and daughter. I know you’ll have a lot of fun. What holiday are you celebrating?
Sherman Smith recently posted…9 Blog Commenting Rules That Brands You Like A Boss
Hi Sherman,
What a lovely appropriate lead in sentence for my comment etiquette page.
It’s come at a time when I was pondering on what to write and its beautifully apt. Thanks heaps.
You do have an interestingly different POV about selfishness. I guess this is how I learn new things. Thousands of miles apart and you’ve triggered something in me.
I totally agree with what you’ve said. A touch a selfishness does makes each such transaction a win:win for both.
Fascinating. I’ve never look at it that way.
I’m Roman catholic, I’ve never encountered this interpretation (or even something close) in my religious teaching. I believe that this kind of thoughts come only to an evolved human being like Abraham Hicks. I shall Google him after I’ve finished commenting here.
I’m sure I could be educated doing reading some of his material.
We are celebrating no specific holiday really. Our daughter has got a few days free, the three of us decided to visit Prague and Budapest.
We’ve been seeing a lot of these two countries on various travel channels on TV and decided to take a quick trip.
What I rad about the Taxi drivers in Prague and Budapest has me a tad worried. All taxis in India are metered and they display complete driver information in the Taxi. At least this is true of all metro and tier II cities here. Pretty safe.
Apparently not so Prague, with Budapest supposedly a tad worse.
Anyway, will figure it out as we’ve really made out minds up to enjoy the next couple of days.
I have been warned – No carrying any laptop – hence I’ll be off the grid for a few days.
Have a really great week ahead Sherman. Stay safe and happy always.
Ivan Bayross recently posted…Even Scepticâs Can Get Targeted Traffic from Google+
What an awesome and extremely helpful post Sherman!
I found myself constantly nodding my head as I was reading it,
trying to take it all in!
Then my eyes blinked when I saw that you were
kind enough to mention my comment in one of your examples!
Thanks so much, I definitely appreciate it!
And BTW, from the sound of things, you and your partner should probably be teaching “Salsa lessons!”LOL!
I say the two of you definitely need to get those beginning to advanced DVD’s on the market asap!
As well as start teaching your offline classes as well!LOL! Because it sounds like you two of you are definitely getting it done!LOL!
Great job as usual!
Mark recently posted…How Do Extremely Low Prices Springboard You Into More Business And Even Bigger Profits?Part Two
Hey Mark,
I’m glad that you liked the post and I was speaking from reading genuine comments like yours compared to others that weren’t so genuine at all.
Yes, I had to use one of your genuine greetings as a prime example of blog commenting etiquette and you are very welcome.
But yes we do love going out salsa dancing. We had taught at a couple of studios in the past, but as all things we went off on our own and started giving privates.
I asked her about the DVDs but she wasn’t up to it. It is what it is!
Thanks for stopping by! Have a great weekend!
Sherman Smith recently posted…9 Blog Commenting Rules That Brands You Like A Boss
Hi Sherman,
(See how I did that? I addressed you by name, just like you suggested!)
Nice post, and a refreshing alternative for the folks prone to leaving 2-word comments…
(I mean, if you put 10+ hours into crafting a blog post… the least I can do is leave you a few words, right?)
I also like the mention of salsa dancing. I always forget that you’re a dancer. Any of your sweet moves on YouTube?
Chat soon,
Brent
Hey Brent,
That’s what I’m talking about lol… it means a lot to me as well as to many others.
It does mean a lot to the author when they put so many hours on a blog post and the visitors leave a meaningful sincere comment. It not only gives the author social proof but it also builds the commenters reputation up.
Yes salsa is my thing. I just have a couple of videos of us on Youtube. You can look up L.A. County Fair Salsa Sherman. It should pop up.
Thanks for stopping by Brent! Have a good one!
Sherman Smith recently posted…9 Blog Commenting Rules That Brands You Like A Boss
Is this you, Sherman?
youtube(dot)com/watch?v=3sLJH8mT7uM
Nice moves!
Yup that’s me 😉 Thanks!
Sherman Smith recently posted…9 Blog Commenting Rules That Brands You Like A Boss
Hi Sherman,
It’s been sometime since I was last here…how are you?
The tips you shared here are spot on – especially the point on avoiding extra long comments. Personally, while I appreciate them, I would rather reply scaled down summaries (time is more valuable than money).
One point I’ll love to add is that when leaving a comment on a blog, bloggers should avoid linking to sales pages or company websites. Personally, all such comments ring like spam to me and I trash them accordingly. If I’m doing so, I’m certain I’m not alone 🙂
Do enjoy the day – and make the Sunday great.
Always,
Akaahan Terungwa
Hey Akaahan,
Yes, it’s been a good minute since you’ve been here. Everything is great? How’s everything with you?
I really like the long comments too, but at times I really have to squeeze in my time to reply to them since time is limited to me. I’m quite sure the bloggers that get over 100 each time they publish a post are on a time strain too, and sometimes they can’t answer all of them. Having really extra long comments isn’t going to help.
Yes, I’ll have to agree with avoiding leaving links to a sales page or company website. The only reason to do this is if the author or some other commenter asks for a link to it. Besides that, avoid it like the plague 😉 You can definitely be looked upon as a spammer.
Thanks for taking the time to stop by Akaahan! You have a great Sunday as well!
Sherman Smith recently posted…9 Blog Commenting Rules That Brands You Like A Boss
Hey Sherman, thanks for the great post! Some really useable advice here.
I see you’re using CommentLuv – can you tell me why you went with that and not Disqus for example?
Trying to decide on a plugin for a new blog.
Cheers,
Damien.
Hey Damien,
The main reason why I use CommentLuv Premium is because of the incentive for others to comment on my blog. I can control which commenters gets link juice. So in this case, some commenters can choose which blog post to show with their comments.
Here’s a blog post I did on commentluv if you’re interested: http://www.shermansmithblog.com/commentluv-premium/
Thanks for stopping by Damien! Have a great week ahead!
Sherman Smith recently posted…9 Ways To Not Waste Your Time Blogging
Hi Sherman,
What a wonderful post on blog commenting rules and having the right mindset in place.
I also like to read the comments too. I like to see what everyone is saying.
I think it is rude to leave links within the comment unless it offers value to what is being shared. I would never leave a link within a comment.
We must always take our time to read the post all the way through not to make ourselves look ridiculous in the end.
The spammers are getting smarter now. They are using CommentLuv and some of the comments are getting through. You can tell by the comment itself or their contact information.
The bottom line is we are people meeting people and we build one relationship at a time. Some people we learn to love and some we don’t and it goes both ways.
All we need to do is follow the golden rule when it comes to others and building relationships.
Thank you for sharing, Sherman and you have an awesome weekend!
Linda
I have also shared this on Kingged.
Linda Schrier recently posted…Top 10 Internet Marketing Strategies
Hey Linda,
Sometimes I don’t read all of the comments, but when I get a chance, I go ahead and read them.
It is read just to leave links to your opportunities. It’s bad etiquette and what’s worse it’s bad branding. You want to at least leave some type of value and if it fits within the value you give then yes, it would be ok to leave your link.
Reading thoroughly for understanding a post is also vital. Yes we’re taught to make a post “scannable” whenever we write, but at the same time you do want to leave a valid comment that pertains to a section in a post. You definitely don’t want to get called out on it lol
Yes spammers have a lot of times on their hands when it comes to leaving comments. Especially using great tools like Commentluv to get themselves on the post to leave a bogus comment. You definitely want to be careful of this!
But yes I love your bottom line. Commenting helps to brand ourselves and also to build relationships with like minded people. This is cliche to say but it’s a powerful cliche that’s evergreen.
Thanks for stopping by Linda and leaving a great comment! I hope you’re enjoying your weekend!
Sherman Smith recently posted…9 Ways To Not Waste Your Time Blogging
Hi Sherman
Following on from what you say about adding value with your comments, I read way more blog posts than I actually comment on or share.
That’s because I only comment when I believe I can actually add that value. For instance, I’ve read a fair few of your own posts where I haven’t commented. Often I’ll agree with everthing you say and don’t feel the need to add any more.
As far as sharing’s concerned, I’ve read many a fantastic post which I haven’t shared with my followers. As they’re largely people into copywriting, SEO and content marketing, I like to keep what I share with them closely related.
BTW I loved the headline on this one.
Hey Kevin,
This is a another perspective which I love to hear about. If you don’t feel the need to add any more value then there’s nothing wrong with that. There are quite a few posts I’ve read which I haven’t shared with my list. I usually just share them on social media and if someone from my list happens to run into them, then it’s all good.
Thanks for stopping by and for the compliment on the headline! Have a great day!
Sherman Smith recently posted…My Top 6 Posts For The Month Of September
Hey Sherman,
I guess I’m like 3/4 of a year late for this discussion. Hehe
Great post, though.
Your commenting tips are still relevant. Don’t you think?
I try to comment on at least 10 blog’s per week.
I used to do it everyday but I’ve been getting pretty busy. And there isn’t really a “shortcut” around leaving a nice comment. Right?
Well, I enjoyed the post. Awesome tips, Sherman.
You da man!
Cheers,
Julian
Hey Julian,
These commenting rules are still relevant today, so it’s all good if you’re late to the discussion.
That’s great that you comment on at least 10 blog’s per week.
I was commenting on 6 per days/5 days a week, but it became overkill for me. So now I’m doing about as much as you and still getting the same amount of traffic.
So there’s always a way to work smart and still get great results.
Thanks for stopping by Julian! Have a good one!
Sherman Smith recently posted…Conquering The Fear Of Publishing Your New Blog Post