Comments Anyone?
60Comments - Comments everywhere
Hi:
Lately I have been getting a lot of questions about the "comment box" on forums, Hubs and other style social communities.
There are two sides to this quandrey:
1 What is the proper way to do comments?
2.Can you respond to any comments made on your own blog etc.?
First off lets get a better understanding of "comment" boxes. Personally I wish they would do away with the word "comment"! To me a better Wording would be "input", now there is a good wording.
Comment boxes were designed to give feedback to what another person was saying and in fact here is a piece of trivia for you - In 1998 "Open Diary" innovated the reader comment, becoming the first blog community where readers could add comments to other writers' blog entries." Wikipedia.
1. Guidlines to posting comments
So what are a couple of guidlines you should follow when using these ways to communicate what you think of what someone is writing?
a). If you are disagreeing with what a person has to say, make sure you back up your statements with facts. Honest critique is on thing, insulting a person is not required.
b). Just like any conversation, are you speaking to what the person is saying in their post (relevancy) or are you off on another tangent altogether?
c). By engaging the author in a good dialogue, they may like what you are saying so much, they will want to visit your blog. This is called creating a relationship not to mention a way to create traffic through linking.
2. Can you answer the comments made by others on your own blog?
I have heard this same thought over and over again. We cant respond to comments made! That is not ethical or We cant do that, it is spamming!
what many do in these situations is either ignore what has been said or worse they delete the comment.
Fact! The comment box is designed to get feedback on your writings. Why would you not speak to that person? Unless of course they are indeed just posting a link for their business!
When you are replying to a person -You are not spamming...write this down 100 times. You are talking to that person. You are creating a relationship with that person. I will qualify that...the only way you would be spamming is if you did not answer their thoughts...back to relevancy AND just posted a business link!
Can you ever post a link on a reply you make? Yes! If you are citing a source when replying, then yes putting in that link is common sence as you are proving your facts, thus making yourself more credible.
There is another reason to actually answer a person. By doing so you are actually creating unique content, the search engines give you a vote of confidence and your rankings will rise.
Should you answer every person? Personally I wouldnt. But sometimes a person will say something or ask something that reaches a cord in you that begs to say something. Those are the people I talk to and because of that I have developed relationships that have been both positive and fruitful.
I hope that I have helped people in understanding a little bit more about "comment boxes". I am very sure there are a lot more reasons on how to comment and maybe differing viewpoints on replying to comments. I for one will enjoy hearing yours :-)
To Your Success,
Diane
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G'day Diane,
You have made some very valid points here.Your advise and writings get better each time I read your stuff Success Patrol must work.
Have fun
Bryan
HERE, HERE and right on my friend. That's right, I'm still here and I still find agreement with what you say. Spammers? They get power by our recognition of them. If they spam - I delete them. If they promote through meaningful and creative comment - I commend them on their creativity.
As to the rules of commenting. Hillbilly's never were good at following instructions. If they tweak my interest - I write - plain and simple. Point, counterpoint, etc. Just that simple. If a person does not wish a meaningful dialogue, whether pro or con, why are you posting in a public forum anyway? Commend where appropriate and offer alternatives if needed.
Always attempt to view things from the other persons perspective when possible before commenting. Then formulate a reply. It's not always easy to build freindships, but the alternative is to add to the ugliness prevalent in the world today. The choice is yours to make. Will you be an agent of change or just one more adding to all the things you dislike in the world today.
Diane, you are my friend both now and forever and though I may not always be visible, I'm always watching and I'm proud to make your friendship with you known to the world in your hub. I count it a privilege to comment. You keep writing and I'll keep reading.
the "Hillbilly Gardener"Lyndell (Jerry) Miller(417) 777-2285plantman.ozarks@yahoo.comwww.jerrysplantsonline.comwww.icelebrateholidays.comThe "Garden of Weedin" newsletter
Hi Dianne, you are so good at explaining the point at hand, and this post has been no different. Your advise is always accurate and you always do your due diligence in research.Just hope that you get many readers and many comments on this very important subject.
Excellent Diane! Great posting guidelines!
I personally am glad to see people like you starting to care enough about the content on the web to educate people on how to post comments. The Internet is filling up fast with worthless crap making it harder to find the information you want.
I would think people would want to at least try to show of their intelligence when they post comments, but I guess they just don't think. I know everyone has a different opinion, can't they post that instead of junk and Spam?
Excellent and well said Diane.
Yes Success Patrol certainly is achieving its goal towards helping people to attain excellent.
Well done and thank you for sharing your comments. Diana
Um... I like your post but you said something about posting a link to your business site. what is that? How do you post a link in your comment?http://www.google.com
does that work?
Hi John(?)
Thanks for your comment and yes perfect. The idea is not to spam, advertise or anything of that nature, but when you post comments and put in your signature, your business link, it is just like on any forum, you are saying who you are and i liken it to leaving your business card. I think many people get a bit confused on the whole issue. As long as you are answering a persons post with related content..translate, you are answering to what a person is saying then there is not an issue with leaving your "business card" or "footprint". You are creating a link and lets face it the search engines do love this :-)
Does this make sence to you?
It is a pleasure to meet you and...
To Your Success,
Diane
Great hub Alexes!
Personally, I really like it when someone comments on one of my hubs and includes a link to something they wrote. I like the sharing.
I agree with what you said about engaging the author in an intelligent exchange. I enjoy comments of varying view points, especially ones that are different than mine.
Comments I do not approve, however, are the ones like you said that engage in name calling and immaturity. I had one comment from a guy that bashed America in a hub I wrote about tipping. Consequently, that drew more comments fueling the fight. I say, go elsewhere haters. Not on my hub. I deleted them all.
I also don't approve comments posted by people that didn't read the article and ask, 'but what about this point,' which was answered and addressed in the hub. Or, who've made a nonsensical statement such as accusing me of not being objective on my own hub about my own opinion. I'm not a journalist, I'm a writer. This isn't CNN, it's Hubpages.
I've had hundreds of comments on my hubpages, very very few fell into the delete category for me.
One last thought to hubbers: it is YOUR hub. It is your space. You work hard to create a certain level of maturity, or to create a certain atmosphere. You do not owe anything to anybody. If someone posts a comment that makes you feel uncomfortable for whatever reason, delete it. You are allowed to maintain the quality of your hub. Those people can create their own hubs. You have no obligation to provide everyone with a forum, especially when it takes away from the one you've created. Hubpages is supposed to be fun. Don't let anyone take away your enjoyment of your own articles.
Best to you, Diane!
Steven-G 4 years ago
Hay there Diane,
write down 100 times huh..... Might work. LOL, Now if we can get spammers to stop there wouldn't be any worry right? Many good points here and a lot of food for thought. What say we give them what they're looking for online. "Recognition and Success.
Steven G Reid