Tracy Brady Cartoons

Commenting is a good way to get heard and to get known, by both site owners and your fellow readers. Did you know that commenting is a good way to promote your own site?

Website operators do, and sometimes they take exception to it, as we will discuss later.

In the meantime, if you are trying to promote your site through commenting, 2 ways to make sure your comments are not removed by moderators are to:
• Express yourself, constructively. No Cursing. No Trolling. No Spamming.
• Make your comment count. Use words that pique reader interest in you. Intrigued readers will usually click your link, or if links are not allowed, search for you. Well-crafted comments often add information, ask thoughtful questions, and/or use rational, respectful words to express disagreement.

Have you noticed these elements in comments you have read and enjoyed? Do your comments contain these attributes?

On the other side of the spectrum, do you allow visitors to leave comments on your site?

On the internet, comments have been effective ways of gauging viewer impressions of content as well as opportunities for readers to interact with the site owner and each other. Both purposes are beneficial and yet ‘commenting on websites’ is also considered a blurry topic among site owners. Some allow them, while others do not.

While some websites regard comments as gateways for spam, vehicles for diverting reader’ attention away from their site and even worse, channels for criticism, others welcome witty, insightful and/or amusing comments that compliment their content, enhance their readers’ site experience and demonstrate their page’s popularity. Which kind of site owner are you?

While you consider the above, it is important to note that most websites that disallow comments go on to provide their readers with alternative means of contact and interaction, either through personal emailing, contact forms, social networking and/or forums.

Furthermore, other sites that permit readers to leave comments on-site do not negate the arguments against spam. Wisely, these site owners employ effective spam guards and set conditions by which visitors may leave comments (Moderation).

If you decide to allow comments on your site, then this is a good model to follow.

Remember:
• Moderate comments
• Use a spam blocker
• Set (display) rules for commenting

Commenting is not an art, but like most things, its use can be optimized. Are you an optimal commenter?