Over the New Year I’ve been so busy with the Income Blogging Guide Membership Course launch I’ve not written any ‘reflecting’ or ‘looking forward’ type blog posts.
You know the sort of ones where you talk about your mistakes and success in 2009 and what you hope to achieve in 2010.
I will get around to writing such blog posts because 2009 was a life changing year for me and I am hoping for a great 2010.
But today I want to discuss ‘comments’.
This blog is a ‘DoFollow’ blog, which means every time you comment, you get a back-link from my blog to your site and Google loves back-links. The more you have the more Google loves your site.
And before we get into the conversation of quality back-links etc, and poor quality backlinks…let’s just agree Google loves back-links and it loves some more than others.
Now back to my views on comments.
I get quite a few comments like “Nice post”, “Thanks”, “Agree with you” and over the past few months I have been deleting them.
If you want to comment, please say more than “Nice post”.
Add your experiences, feelings, views, thoughts, arguments, advice…and so on.
Commenting is a good way to get traffic back to your site not only with the backlink but also with what you say. If you say something worthwhile, then other people who see your comment will want to visit your site. The more value you add, the more visitors you’ll get.
The Commenter Name
As I said, when you comment here you get a backlink but please use your real name as part of your “commenting name”. Don’t just use “SEO Guru” or “Product launches”. If you want to use “Fred @ SEO Guru” that’s fine but have your real name in there as well, please. Plus see the new plugin I have installed which helps even more with back-links (see below).
More Traffic For You
I’ve also re-installed the CommentLuv plugin. I had a few problems with it a few weeks ago. It simply stopped working. Now I’ve upgrade to WordPress 2.9.1, I thought I’d give it another go and it seems to be working so far.
With CommentLuv, the title of your previous post is displayed. If you sign up with CommentLuv you can choose which of your blog posts titles is displayed.
Depending upon the title, other visitors may be drawn to it and click through to your site. But of course, you have to comment first!
Extra Back-Links
I’ve also installed the WordPress plugin KeyWordLuv.
If you enter “YourName@YourKeyWords” in the Comment Name field you’ll get a link-back to your site using the “YourKeyWords” you use.
For instance, add “Andrew @ Blogging Guide” in the Comment Name field and you’ll get a link back to your URL using the text “Blogging Guide”.
That’s another reason to add an insightful comment.
In Summary
Basically I am trying to encourage you to add insightful comments, right here and in return I’ll give you some link-back juice for your time.
What’s your view? Have I done the right thing in deleting such comments like “Nice post”, etc. Share your INSIGHTFUL comments below and get some link-back juice in return.
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I get those “nice post thanks for sharing” blog comments on a daily basis as well, and I do not approve them.It´s funny how people don´t understand the meaning of blog commenting, sharing information with others.If you have something useful to say, people are going to click over to your site to learn more.
Tom,
Totally agree, Tom.
Adding something of interest can bring in quite a lot of traffic. It’s worth spending those extra couple of minutes!
Andrew
I know exactly what you mean. Having only started my blog late last week, already I have received quite a few SPAM email because I decided to make my comments do-follow.
The tricky thing is, that some SPAM is getting pretty sneaky and they are starting to look like real comments.
.-= Tom@Build That List´s last blog ..Squeeze Page Tips For Better Conversion =-.
Tom,
Us bloggers are always going to have to deal with spam. I installed this plugin recently and 99% of my spam went overnight: http://www.hybrid6.com/webgeek/plugins/wp-spamfree
Might be worth a try, if you don’t already have it.
Andrew
This is a great post! (lol! Don’t I add something more than just “Nice post”?) hehe! Just kidding.
Andrew, you’re taking the right step to delete comments like this, that’s what I’m doing too. You know after I switch my blog to a dofollow one, I received many comments like this and I just pointed my mouse to “Delete” button. Really, we really want something valuable and more than just “nice post!”.
I love this post, you speak my word.
Cheers,
Lee
Thanks, Lee. I just hope people will realize for their great comment they get some ‘love’ back.
Andrew
That’s true what ever you have told. Sometime when reader read your blog & appreciates your blog, he wants to give his own remark but he fails to express his thought that he uses such type of word. Another matter is few spammers blogger want only back link, they use such type of word instead of details going through blog.
Any indirectly you have mention how to control spamming comment.
I think this problem face by each blogger even the no follow blog. And we as blogger only can educate the commentators (like this article) while deleted the spam like comment.
.-= Dana @ Blogging Update´s last blog ..Having Killer Content for Blog Easily =-.
Agree with Tom opinion. Many people don’t know the meaning of ‘comments’ in blog, even myself also make the same mistake 😛
Blogging is not only about to complete a post and push the button to publish, blogging involve communication between blogger and reader.
And comments play a big part..
Siau
What you say is spot on. So many bloggers wait months to get comments to appear on their own blog. You have to give before you receive.
Andrew
Andrew, here I’m showing you the living proof of the effectiveness of ‘quality commenting’ — I was directed here from Famous Blogger site where you commented on Kristi’s post earlier. 🙂 I did a post about the similar issue and I just can’t see why one would waste a golden chance to build relationship with the author (hopefully other commenters too) with a spammy looking comment, not worth the time for it. So although I’m still going to write you a ‘nice post’ here, but you know I meant it with all my heart. 🙂 Good job.
@wchingya
Social/Blogging Tracker
.-= Ching Ya´s last blog ..How To Autopost from Multiple Blogs To Your Facebook Fan Page =-.
Ching Ya,
Nice to see you here. I came across Famous Blogger only recently and now I’m sponsoring his latest contest. Relationships are key if you want to make it a blogger.
Thanks for writing.
Andrew
I am trying to get more strict on my comments too – I did install that spam plugin you mentioned before and I’ve also found it’s cleared up a lot of my spam comments. About the ‘name’ issue, I think it helps if people use a name that doesn’t sound like keywords. I keep deleting comments because I find it hard to tell if they are legitimate when all they use is keywords linked to a random niche site.
.-= Ruth – Web Career Girl´s last blog ..Small Weekly Tasks Can Really Add Up When It Comes to Passive Income =-.
Hello again, Ruth!
I’m glad the spam plugin helped. It reall made a difference to mine as well.
If all they use is keywords linked to a random niche site I think it’s spam and delete them.
See you again?
Andrew
Andrew — thanks for the links. I already had the CommentLuv installed, but didn’t noticed that it wasn’t working until you said yours wasn’t. LOL. Upgraded to 2.9.1 which I was hesitant to do since I upgrade to 2.9 and that seemed to break a few things. I was being cautious, silly me picking the wrong time to do that 😉
Just curious, but why bother with deleting the Nice Post comments?
I have a lot on my plate and while I will reply to those that leave good comments, not sure I’d take my spare few minutes of down time deleting comments that were not obviously SPAM. Speaking of which, I’m on my way to check out your suggested spam link plugin.
.-= CJ Spurr´s last blog ..So You Think You’re a Comedian? =-.
CJ,
I just want to see comments that add a bit of value. If visitors come here and only see ‘nice post’ type comments – they won’t be tempted to add a comment themselves. Visitors like to see/read comments that are insightful and then reply to them or add their own comment. Hence why I delete them. Takes me just a few minutes per day.
Andrew
Awesome post! (Much better then “nice” 😉 )
Anyhoo, good job man, and yahoo for commentluv! LOL
I’ll be redoing my policy on the new blog as well, I think some may be surprised, stunned and bewildered. 🙂
.-= Dennis Edell´s last blog ..7 DAYS ONLY – ProBloggers-31 Days To Build A Better Blog- + 3 Awesome Bonuses! =-.
“surprised, stunned and bewildered”
You keep teasing us, Dennis.
WE WANT TO SEE IT!
Andrew
Nice post… – just kidding!!!
It really annoys me when people do this – in fact I find that my blogs get littered with them so I assume it must be some kind of automated bot that does it.
It is nice to value someone who reads your blog and takes the time to comment good on you!
Thanks Olly.
It is annoying and that’s why I decided to ‘speak out’ and start deleting them.
Andrew
I love this post! I have often talked to clients about commenting on blogs as a way to build back links, but I always stress “do not spam!” I tell them to comment honestly on blogs they would truly read and find interesting. I’m all for gaining those links, but I think it’s rude for people to try to grab them with a simple “this is great!” phrase. You’ve explained it so well here, I’m going to share this post in my next conversation about it — then they’ll know I’m not just saying it because it sounds good. Thanks!
.-= Bonnie Landau´s last blog ..High Profile Sites Show How Well Joomla Performs =-.
Bonnie,
Thanks for dropping-by and making a valuable comment.
It makes so much difference when someone comments and add’s value.
Hopt to see you again, some time.
Andrew
It is annoying but I’m not sure if I’d rather have those than those totally off the wall comments that make no sense but are related to the post title.
Sometimes I’ll leave spam comments up for a few days just because I get so entertained by the strange things that get said.
I think for me the worst comments are the ones that just talk about their own blog or website. Guys it’s about ME here not you deal with it. LOL
Dwippy,
You are right – there is a fine balance between offering advice and promoting your own site. If people like your advice, they will click on your link.
Andrew
Hi,
Andrew. It’s been a while!
I agree with you and the saying “If you don’t have value to add, then don’t say nothing”.
The growth of the blogosphere is dependent of helping other bloggers grow. we should be more of givers than takers and I have to say here that you have been a great giver to me with so many private emails to proof it.
Thanks for adding value to me.
I will add value to others to and contribute to the growth.
I love you and your blog!
Olusegun
Thank you for those kind words.
I was told once, give away as much as you can for free. I love helping people.
Andrew
Its always good to leave quality comments. Quality comment is pretty, when the article is read and a good response will be given. In fact a response can be directed not only to the blog author, but also to other commenter on that post.
Biodun
That’s the next stage I think – getting others to ‘reply’ /comment on other peoples comments.
Andrew
It works quite well.
.-= Dennis Edell´s last blog ..UPDATED – $100 – 10 Winners – Comment Contest! ‘Till Months End… =-.
Here is my first spam comment on your blog :)Well this is part and partial of blogging. People are going crazy behind high PR and other stuff. Few days back I asked an SEO company for the quotation and they have included commenting in the package???? This shows how professionals are spamming other blogs.Ironically, It is one of the best SEO company in blogosphere.
.-= Ricky@wordpress theme´s last blog ..Simplegant 1.1 WordPress Theme Is Coming Soon-Need Beta Testers =-.
Interesting to hear SEO companies are also into commenting!
Andrew
It’s done for now.
.-= Dennis Edell´s last blog ..How Contextual Links will Open On DEDC – My Setup FINALIZED! =-.
This was supposed to go under your comment policy reply. lol
.-= Dennis Edell´s last blog ..How Contextual Links will Open On DEDC – My Setup FINALIZED! =-.
I think a lot of people are abusing the comment options in wordpress blogs and as such see it as a means to get cheap comments backlinks. Well most useless comments on my end up in the trash.
Richard,
And mine!
Andrew
I get that all the time as well. “Keep up the good work”, “Good job!” kind of comments. There are actually certain rules to live by whenever you leave a comment. You can still pursue your link-building campaign without hurting your online reputation or that of your brand.