You’re only as Good as Your Comments

June 30, 2010 - Last Modified: June 30, 2010 by Gautam 4,537

Bloggers always like feedback in the form of comments to satisfy their constant need for attention. It gives them a feeling of being noticed and having an online presence. It shows that their hard work is really paying off and they are finally getting appreciation for their work.

All this happens when readers leave quality comments. Some readers have forgotten the art of commenting. They forget that bloggers want true, straight from the heart feedback and not some manipulated or super quick comment. The goal of comment should be either to give a suggestion to the author, appreciate their work or maybe even correct him or to ask a question that the reader might want to ask.

In all comment can be treated as a forum to discuss between like minded people and people who want to learn something new.

As I said, there are good comments and there are bad ones. I think comments are a true reflection of a person’s personality and attitude. What you comment gives us bloggers a preview of what you are as a person.

I would like to share some comments that are quite frequently seen in your comments folder:

Thanks for the Post

Comments like “Thanks a Lot”, “Very Helpful”, “I’m very grateful” all come under this category.

These are the most popular comments on the blogosphere. They are popular among commentators because they are easy and they apply for every blog (not dependent on the kind of article) and they are usually not caught by spam assistants like Akismet.

What commenters think that these comments will show the bloggers that they like really liked the article and they are grateful for it. But, Bloggers on the other hand, think of it as the commenter is saying “Hey I am a very busy person or I don’t think your blog is very important or interesting, so I saved my time and I wrote this quick and lousy comment”.

So, you see, the whole motive of impressing bloggers with a quick and appreciative comment has completely backfired.

Rarely, these type of comments can work, but, the people who are in a habit of commenting like this are the ones who are really lazy or don’t care a damn about your blog.

Just for links

There are commenters who comment just for the link love. They write comments to get seo benefits (either for their website or for link building or for their link building services) and they don’t add value to the commenting stream. All they care about is their business and this shows that there are really selfish people.

I am happy to give people links if they try to add value to the comment stream, but these people are only there to grab some link love for our site and escape.

Thankfully, we can get rid of these people by using comment spam control plugins.

Negative Comments

Negative comments are bad but I think it is still better than the comments I mentioned above, because at least they read the article and gave their feedback. The only problem with negative comments is that they can get pretty murky and hence, it might lead to verbal fights and spread hatred.

I think that these type of commenters forget that building an online presence requires you to handle each of type of situation properly. If you think that you didn’t like the article. You write your opinion and that’s it. If you see a fight in the making, you should leave the place for good.

Good Comments

Save the best for the last. Every blogger loves comments. It is not about the words but the thought that counts. A good comment can be two lines long or it can be a paragraph long or be equivalent to an article. But good comments have two benefits:

1. They boost the blogger’s ego
2. These type of gets maximum and they can put you in a spotlight.
3. Good comments can teach bloggers something useful

The blog-o-sphere has changed dramatically in the past decade but one thing has not changed: Blogger’s love comments – comments are which are frank, comments which are real and are straight from the heart.

The impact of a good and informative comment can be huge. This is regarding #3 point I had mentioned. I had submitted an article about google wave that why it has failed and I had received an informative comment which was against the whole idea. The comment changed my opinion and after that I did an article named “Google Wave – Is there any future” that showed his personal experience with google wave and how he and his band were able to collaborate easily via google wave.

So, you see, comments can lead to building up of a collaboration or an article or maybe an awesome relationship and that is the whole point of it.

Now is the time to share your experiences as a reader.

What type of comments do you love to hate? What type of comments make you happy?

Share with us your unique experience with unusual comments too!

This post is part of our amazing Blogging Contest, plz add a comment and tweet it to support the author.

About Gautam

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Gautam Hans is a passionate blogger. He is the owner of the Blog Godown which is a blog on Blog Tips and Social Media. He is a social media enthusiast and loves to write about internet and technology.

{ 169 Responses }

Ruth Anitha says:

Blogs are now an extremely popular and important part of the internet. Millions of people blog every day. As blogs have evolved over the years, so has the commenting system. Now anyone can make comment on a particular blog posting. As blog commenting has grown more popular, so has spam commenting. In this article, I am going to well go over why comments are a great form of feedback for your blog, how they help the credibility of your content.
Jamie Northrup says:

Thanks a Lot, Very Helpful Post! Just kidding lol This is as true today as it was almost 2 years ago, I never saw this post until I came across it today on Blog Engage, I comment mostly to discuss and network, but I also enjoy the backlink. I never leave a post (or rarely) with only 2-3 words, or that has no point at all. I will also rarely accept those types of posts on my blog, but I will accept negative ones, as long as it's not vulgar and the person uses a "real" name. I always answer all of them including my guest posting comments (although I'm sure of missed some).
Mike Pedersen says:

I try to take the time to provide some value, or my opinion to the post specifically. Like you mention, it's almost a waste of time when someone says, "nice comment", "like your blog". There is no value in that type of comment. I like what someone said, that a comment is the second half of the post. That's a great definition of an excellent comment. Add more content onto the end of the post via comments, but unfortunately, I don't think many people will. They will continue to say the basic ones I mentioned above and move on.
MKR says:

It's good to know my occasional hundred word comments aren't as annoying as I thought they might be. :)
mark says:

Hi Gautam, Comments, to me, are the other half of a post. So, I rather like that you say that negative comments are better than just saying "nice post" or something similar. Plus, there are times when negative comments push the conversation in a way that makes the post more valuable. And that is, in my opinion, the best reason to comment - to add value to the post. Nice post ;) Have a great day!
- Gautam says:
  
  Mark, your words make a mark on me. It is the right thing to have an opinion even if it opposes, as long as you are open to other people's ideas. and, in that i would prefer to have a negative comment than comment which is just written for the sake of getting traffic
  - Codrut says:
    
    I totally agree with you on that. However, I guess Seth Godin would laugh out loud of your first post paragraph affirmation. :)
Chris Luzader says:

You've hit the nail on the head on this one Gautam! Only those that are truly in love with what you wrote will comment (like me) ;). The silent ones, most of your readers, are in love with your content, but are too lazy to speak their thoughts. So, you win either way. :-)
- Gautam says:
  
  Chris, Thanks for commenting, I believe comments are a tyoe of text disxussion channe where like minded people can interact and share knowledge and have fun with it.
Earl says:

I also think that the "art of commenting" is now slowly being replaced by "liking" with FB's like button. I don't know, probably it's sheer laziness or maybe it's a more casual way of saying, "I like your post!" Don't get me wrong, I like the FB like button, it tells me that there are really readers out there but sometimes you just need to push down hard on an article to really get readers to engage. On one hand it's kind of annoying but on the other it's also a challenge for us bloggers to really improve our writing. My two cents.
- Gautam says:
  
  Earl, the situation of commenting is really challenging and it is a known problem. If you are a person that uses social media along with commenting, then you are bound to lose some time on it. And, to save time, writer of the new generation prefer social media votes which are far easier to do than others.
Eleanor Edwards says:

I personally love comments. They are the life blood of my soul, especially on my personal blog where I'm share the stuff that falls out of my head. I know of friends who read my blog but never leave a comment. It's lovely to know they read but I would love the comment all the same ;) Maybe that's because I'm shallow and seek validation from others. Who knows? But comments are fun and I wouldn't be without them. As for spam, Akismet is my saviour ;)
- Gautam says:
  
  Eleanor, I think many bloggers are shallow including me when it comes to comments. I just love them and they are a great validation of my effort. But, on the other hand spam comments are a buzz kill and prefer to delete them. What if your comment is spam and it still passes akismet, then what would you do?
Geno Prussakov says:

Simple but good classification of the types of comments, Gautam. Would love to hear more on how you personally handle the negative ones. In my opinion, at times it is the negative comment that gives the blogger most room to really shine in standing for his/her viewpoint. On a separate level, would love to hear your thoughts on the question of censorship (to censor or not to censor a negative comment, and if yes, when exactly?)
- Gautam says:
  
  I usually get less negative comments because i am not that controversial. But, like any other blogger, negative comments have come my way and i have handled them either by discussing and if thing goes out of hand, then i usually delete the comments. It totally depends on the degree of negative comment for me. what about you?
Manikandan says:

Very useful info..But Gautam we don't know about the commenters at first instant..bcoz if you write g8 content in your blog, then some busy peoples who reading your post first time have a chance to read and give short comments at instant...thats what I did if suppose I have a chance to read a new blog..Also if the blog is so good in content, then I might bookmarked it....Anyway we bloggers have a mutual friendship to help others...
- Gautam says:
  
  Exactly, it becomes really difficult for me to figure out that this "Thanks" comment is genuine or is it straight out spam. I hope you might get what i was saying. I love the thanks comment if it is genuine and i measure that thru the email and the gravatar. Usually spammers don't have a valid gravatar or email
arkimz says:

I have been blogging for 4 years and I found that comments make me really happy.When I got new comments,I will become very excited and I don't know why. This show that comments is need thing and I agree with you.And I receive a lot of " Thanks For The Post Comment" and I don't know what to reply to them.Cause many people say that we need to reply our readers comment.
- Gautam says:
  
  Arkimz, it is totally a beautiful feeling. Seeing comments and more comments just feels awesome. And comments are really pleasing to see. Even if they are less, the feeling matters Arkimz have you had problems with deciding whether the comment of "Thanks" is genuine or not?
Melissa says:

I just started by blog so right now any comment is a good comment. Wait, I have always thought every comment is a good comment. I realize a simple "thank you" doesn't contribute to the forum-like conversation some comment threads take on. However, I don't think, however, that those comments are less valuable then long comments. It could simply mean that people are too busy to join the conversation, or they aren't interested in doing so. Just the fact that someone took enough time to comment is good enough for me, as it means they at least took something valuable away from the post. It is, after all, a blogger's job to engage the audience and add value to the blogosphere, and not postings for postings sake or get an ego boost.
- Gautam says:
  
  Melissa, what i have noticed from my experience that comments like "Thank you" can be real as well as spam. And nowadays the trend ismore towards spam. I was talking about those comments that actually contribute to this spamming. As anew blogger, every comment seems really special. I've been in the same situation and a new comments is so satisfying. Isn't it. Keep up the good work and you will see more comments coming your way
Daniel Sharkov says:

Although I'm getting good comments on by blog, getting rid of the spammers, who are just saying "thanks for sharing" or something like that proves to be quite frustrating. On the other hand, getting more comments is sure to bring in even more comments, since when people see that an article has let's say 30 comments, they would prefer commenting there, instead of going for a blog with 1 or 2 comments per post.
- Gautam says:
  
  Daniel, I agree with you on the frustation on the commenting the spam. I deal with it everyday and it gets me irritated. But I think if you keep spam comments, others will respond it. I had mistakenly approved a spam content which got a lot of comments on why I approved it. So, though you get more comments which can inturn get more comments but you still have to remove spam comments, so that you don't put off your readers. Btw, have you got any negative comments? What has been your reaction to that?
ashok says:

I just want to share my experience with comments: I think it might expand on your category "good comments." My commentators will often share serious links that expand on what I've written. By "serious," I mean this - anyone interested in further reading on the topic would be wise to click the links. My commentators, in other words, give my site the credibility I desire. On my own, I can only do so much. But it's the community surrounding the blog, to a degree, that tells you the quality of the blog.
- Gautam says:
  
  ashok, definitely - people that are so engaged that they read other people's comments show that they are ready to engage and take part in discussion. This also shows the community that is surrounding the blog. And hence, a quality blog will have a really engaged community around you. But with positive comments, there are some negative comments as well. What do you think of those?
  - ashok says:
    
    I've rarely had negative comments that were constructive - for some reason, I've gotten a lot that made solid points, sure, but had a tone so vile they were clearly trying to bully me. I've got no problem with comments that criticize mildly or suggest things. But I'm ruthless against comments that seem to say I have no right to blog, and given that my blog is my property, I have zero tolerance.
    - Gautam says:
      
      Ashok I see that you have got really bad comments. In the past and I will do the same if I get similar type of comments. And yes, comments that have constructive criticism are liked, because they are providing you the gift of knowledge. Have you ever differed with somebody and you saw the discussion helping you gain more knowledge of a topic? That is the role of these type of comments
Stephanie Smith says:

I guess I view even bad comments the same way I view junk mail -- it is proof someone knows you exist. I would prefer good comments, of course, and I delete the spam, but at least I got some evidence people found my blog.
- Gautam says:
  
  Stephanie, problem with spam comments is that they find you even if you have a new blog. I had just migrated from blogger to wordpress and I saw around100 spam comments - although I hadn't started promoting yet. But good comments are a proof that your blog is growing. That is what I've started believing. What do you think about that?
  - Stephanie Smith says:
    
    I agree that good comments are evidence that your blog is growing. When you have this kind of back and forth conversation, you are growing more than just your blog -- you are growing a community.
    - Gautam says:
      
      Stephanie, I have seen my community to grow by manyfolds, when I started interacting with them and giving them advice. Once you can build an engaging community - you can convert them into loyal readers and that is whole point behind blogging, isn't it?
Anita Nelson says:

I can relate to what @ShellyKramer was were saying about being possibly naive. It never occurred to me to just go around and comment on blogs just for the SEO value alone. I think partly because it's probably spammy-type behavior and neither of us thinks that way. Of course, gaining those benefits from making meaningful comments is another thing and I'm happy to enjoy those benefits =) Anita @ModelSupplies
- Gautam says:
  
  Actually at start people don't use comments for seo at all. But once they learn that comments can help in building seo, then they start using seo keywords in their names and start comment spamming. But they lose out on actual engagement and conversation that could have proven benficial for the website he would have been promoting
evelester says:

Great post! A much more serious take on the subject of blog commenting than I took with my contest entry- I love comments, we all do- but like you said- it is the quality that counts. My favorite types of comments are those that get me thinking, may even change my mind on a subject, without being mean or hateful- those commenters took time to read it and cared enough to share an opinion- even if it wasn't the same as mine. ((Good luck in the contest!))
- Gautam says:
  
  Eve, Actually it was more of a rant that took shape into a post. I was juts thinking of any idea and it just struck me - what type of comments do I get, how many are actually genuine? Actually, Many commenters here believe that comments can share an opinion opposite to the one in the article, only if they don't use personal attacks. Have you got a comment that was attacking you or your character? A comment shows you care and you have taken your precious time to write something valuable
Andrew says:

Any comments I receive like 'nice post' I delete. There is no point in having them published on my blog as far as I am concerned. I like it when someone adds their experience or perhaps disagrees with what the blog post is about. Plus when someone takes the time to respond to another commenter - that's the stage we should all be aiming for - when we comment on each other's comments. Andrew
- Anita Nelson says:
  
  Wow - I am not sure why, but I feel slightly offended. I feel less inclined to ever attempt to comment on your blog. Sometimes you either do not have time or may be at a loss for words. After all, they are your readers, not your writers... right? Anita @ModelSupplies
  - Andrew says:
    
    Anita, You don't mind the 'nice post' comments then? Do you reply to them - what do you say? Andrew
    - Gautam says:
      
      Andrew, What Anita is trying to say that comments like nice post are sometimes used when they don't have time to write or they are just out of words. I do not completely agree, but I do approve some thanks for post comments, but I rarely reply to them
  - Gautam says:
    
    Woah, Anita, Actually I have seen a lot no of people arguing over the fact of nice comments and it seems that they seem to work if they are genuine and not spammy.
- Gautam says:
  
  Yeah, Nice post are airritating if they don't mean anything, but as I have gathered here , people like nice post comments - but they want it to be genuine. I have seen people not agreeing with deleting the nice post comments because they think these comments are appreciative and not bad.
  - Anita Nelson says:
    
    Right! I don't mean the ones that literally say, "nice post" then link to a drug company or something. I am talking more about what Diana said, when readers you know or hope to get to know better have only time and words to say, "Great post, Gautam! I'll have to check that out!" I think it would be damaging to your relationship with readers to delete those types of posts. Andrew, when I get a comment like that, I try to draw them out usually. I will thank them and hope they come back to comment again. A lot of times people are shy when they comment and I like to take the pressure off them. Next time they usually leave a better comment. Some people need encouragement to get involved. Just my warm, fuzzy opinion ;-) lol Anita @ModelSupplies
    - Anita Nelson' says:
      
      Oops~! I said Diana (Adams) from BitRebels.com and I meant Shelly Kramer =) lol Now I've mixed up my comments on a blog about commenting and have to leave this comment to clear things up! Seinfeld would have a field day with me! -Anita @ModelSupplies
      - Gautam says:
        
        Anita, these type of mistakes happen, After all you are commenting not writing an article and humans make mistakes :) And Diana made a really good point. she disagreed with me but I liked her point
Kevin L. Deeb says:

Guanam, as a newbie blogger, I'm learning new things everyday that help me become a better writer on the blogosphere. When I have something to say in response to a post, I'll start writing a comment only to find that it has become too lengthy and start questioning it's value to the post. I end by deleting the whole thing and saying "great post!". I'm getting better at contributing, as you can see. I have a question, though. You can always delete comments that are self-promoting or malicious. But what do you do when they are off-point or have terrible grammar or spelling?
- Gautam says:
  
  Being off point is not a problems if it is a question or a genuine comment. About the grammar, I don't think that you should care about the grammar. After all, they are writing a comment and not an article. Grammar may be bad sue to many reasons and so we should not penalize our commenters for that. Grammar does not matter if the comment is a genuine one. It's the thought that counts.
Kathy Meyer says:

I've always admired people who can write meaningful and useful posts on a consistent basis. Gautam, you are no exception...always engaging and succinct! Admittedly, I usually don't 'comment' if an e-mail is required, but I know all bloggers love feedback...good or bad. Kudos to you on another fine post! I look forward to reading an update! ;D
- Gautam says:
  
  Kathy, I love your feedback and that is what I say the feeling of the comment counts. Kathy, what comments do you get as a blogger? Do you get any irritating comments, the ones that you dislike the most? Kathy, actually I would recommend u to have an easycomment firefox plugin, no need to add your email - each and every time. I use it and I don't have to add my email again and agin
Geoff Crane says:

ZOMG Thanks for the post! hehe Actually, Gautam, I think you've hit it spot on. It really comes down to furthering dialogue and conversation. Not just for the commenter, but for the blogger, and the silent audience as well!
- Gautam says:
  
  ZOMG, thanks for the comments I don't see so may ZOMG comments. Do you comment like this? I think these type of comments are an instant attraction for me. I love communicating through comments and love the discussion that follows and this gets me more comments to my blog
Chris Munch says:

One important aspect of comments is they provide social proof to other readers. More people comment when they see others comment, and people feel what you are saying is more read-worthy if they see so many other comments. Social proof is also a very important factor in building a community.
- Gautam says:
  
  Chris, I think it's a chain reaction if you get say 25 comments, then you see 5 more comments because they want to take part in the discussion. So, comments act as a social proof. But it is not always true. Sometimes, you don't get comments even if you have social proof
Jennifer says:

Interesting article. I think the medium works against commenting on blogs. Unless you are a writer or doing research and have devoted a good part of your day to trawling through on-line content, most people need to scan and consume quickly and unless something catches their attention and is relevant to their needs in that moment, are unlikely to provide feedback. We simply don't have the time. It usually has to be something exceptional to go the extra mile and provide a comment, which takes up even more time. So, I don't think the quality of content can be judged by the number of comments - I have to say that, don't I? I think I have been providing good quality content now for a number of months (for a specific audience - my students) and have failed to establish any comments whatsoever apart from spam. But there again, maybe you can give me some advice!
- Gautam says:
  
  Jennifer, In order to attract comments you sometimes have to be controversial, like I did here You have to market your articles even if you have the finest content. Once you get more eyeballs to your content, you will definitely get more comments. Also try to reply to comments - It shows that you are reachable and you take part in the discussion. More tips can be found here: http://www.bloggodown.com/2009/10/tips-to-increase-comments-on-your-blog.html
Ching Ya says:

Quality or quantity, as much we adore both but when it comes to commenting, quality has the higher value for sure. It's getting harder these days when approving comments, do-follow blogs are suffering from link droppers/spammers. It's a good post to remind us to think before we write. Appreciate those who're willing to spend time and connect, that's the true value of having a comment form.
- Gautam says:
  
  The main problem I face each day is to determine if a comment is legit or not. even though we have akismet, but still some comments pass through this hurdle and get into your comment box. Finding these comments wastes our time. These commenteres should learn the value of quality comment and how it can change their reputation as a blogger and commenter. And I as a blogger, reply to comments and appreciate people who have taken to read and also comment on my article .
Pramit J Nathan says:

As is usual, you have delivered another post that is interesting, informative and insightful. As you correctly mentioned during our discussion if the content is good comments are assured, and that is pretty evident from the comments this post has received. Keep up the good work my friend!!
- Gautam says:
  
  Pramit, I think it is because of commenters like you that I like blogging so much. Yes content can get more comments and I am happy to get so many. but you have to market in a way that people see it and thus, you get more comments What is your strategy to get more comments?
Shelly Kramer says:

Funny thing - it never occurred to me to leave a comment only for the backlinks. Incredibly naive, I suppose. I know that writing is either an act of love or a commitment to business building - or both, and have so much respect for the people who write. A comment is a gift to them - to thank them for their insight, their contribution, their willingness to step out on the limb and show a part of themselves where others would never dare. I believe that you get what you give. If you leave crappy comments for backlinks, it will become obvious in no time and you will earn the reputation you deserve. If instead you make genuine contributions, care about what others write, leave insightful comments, share their messages, that will come back to you a hundredfold. This is a great post - and the comments here show how well respected you are!!! Shelly
- Gautam says:
  
  Shelly, you have given me the secret to your reputation. Be a person of value. you reap what you sow is what you are trying to say here. You might find the idea of comments for backlinks irrational, but some find it useful and that is why their comments are crappy and spammy. Comments should show recognition to the author and you have done that by commenting here and sharing your thoughts with us :).
Peter Paul says:

Hi Gautam! Now this is a pretty interesting article. Is it very unique too. Its really true that some visitor just put a comment to get seo advantage or get backlinks. I like comments that are honest and contributes or encourage discussion about the topic I post. I don't like comments which are sarcastic or plastic. and they do that just for the sake of leaving a comment. Maybe because their teacher in blogging or affiliate marketing told them to comment on different blog to get noticed, get more traffic and the likes. The essence of discussion and the sharing thoughts are already gone...
- Gautam says:
  
  Sarcasm is easily detected, so it is an easy way to irritate the blogger (should not do this). Plastic comments are just copy paste comments, so they have no intrinsic value. Peter, Some commenters are misguided by a few money making bloggers that just think of comments as links and getting ahead in seo. That is where the discussion ends
Aery says:

Absolutely. Most people comment coz they want back-links. I have heard from certain amateur bloggers that they always wait for new post from top blogger and as soon as it it out they comment on this without even reading. they just do it for getting backlinks nad clicks from readers.
- Gautam says:
  
  yes, Aery, when you started becoming competitive about it, you are going to lose interest in commenting something valuable. You will comment just for the sake of it and that is where your comments will completely fail, they will fail to make a mark. Take time, and add value - is the mantra of good commenting :)
Aswani says:

Excellent post. I completely agree with Gautam. Being an avid blogger myself, I can understand the value of comments. Everyone loves them. To me, comments are the best form of motivation for any blogger. It is like a tonic which keeps you alive in this blogosphere. One thing, I don't understand people saying - I don't get comments! Believe me... you will. You need to learn to comment first before expecting comments. There is nothing wrong with it. Also, you need to follow some basic rules that will surely make people leave their comments- 1 - Your article should be compelling enough for others to leave their comments. End up your article with a question for your readers. 2 - Make sure that your commenting box or commenting link is easily visible to your readers. 3 - Avoid using image verification or anything like it. Make it as easy as possible for others to comment. 4 - Take out some of your time to visit related blogs or related posts and do leave your comments there. Also, include a polite request to make them visit your blog. 5 - Avoid cluttering your blogs with too many ads. Make your design look neat and clean. Design also makes a difference, to me at least. These simple tips will certainly make people to leave their comments. And as pointed out by Gautam, commenting equities must be followed strictly.
- Gautam says:
  
  Aswani, that is one hell of a comment. And I agree with you throughout on all points. People seem to forget that if their blog is new, they need to market it before they can think of getting any comments . Also, they have to give good comments in order to get one. The tips you mentioned are required to show the readers that you are open to comments and replying to them shows that your feedback matters. Keeping all those points in mind, you will get more comments to your blog, no matter what the situation is. The only people that don't get it are the people that are sticking to seo strategies.
Tek3D says:

That's why we need to learn the art of commenting. My blog just has a few comments for a new post, so I really appreciate all of them although I know that many commentators just want to get a follow link to their blogs. After that, I realize that they never return. That is sad and maybe I need a better solution to encourage quality and consistent comments, how come some posts with thousands of visits but have only 2-3 comments. Thanks a lot for the very helpful post :D I will absolutely support you in the contest.
- Gautam says:
  
  @Tek3d try to promote comments by adding controversy, market it by social media, reply to comments and you might see an increase the no of comments. you get regualer commenters when you get more subscribers - so you have to work to get more subscribers. Sometimes people don't comment because they don't want or the community is such that does not engage in conversations, so you have to try to build a community that has regular conversations.
Anita Nelson says:

I feel like I'm on an episode of "Seinfeld": I'm writing a comment about a blog on commenting =) I like to think that if people knew how valued their comments truly are, they would make more of them and pay more attention to what they say. Really hate the spam comments from drug companies pushing their wares on my blog. Thankfully, Askismet plug-in takes care of most of them. x0x Anita @ModelSupplies
- Gautam says:
  
  Thanks to Akismet, it really saves us lot of time on filtering spam comments. Lol, Seinfield show was one of my favourites. See how comments increase on a blog about commenting :). People could learn a lot if they read some of these articles. They will understand the importance of commenting - a little bit more ;)
Tor Lowry says:

Hey Gautam, Great post! I am good to RT a blog post, particularly of blog posts I really think are useful. What I am guilty of though, is bookmarking the blog, intending to come back to make a comment, only to forget! (oops, my bad) Your posts have been extremely helpful and insightful to me, and I've appreciated your answers in DM to some of my questions, especially when I first opened my Twitter account and was new to the blogging world. It's awesome to see so many people commenting on this post, and I agree with others that well-written comments can enhance and add value to the original post. The comments to this post certainly add a great deal! I take the time to read any blog post that catches my attention in the Twitter stream. If I find it to be of value, I RT it. One thing I didn't do, and actually never thought to do until I read comments to this post was double check the link! (Thanks @adamsconsulting) : ) I will now, thanks to that useful tip! My favorite thing about your post is that you are open about your feelings and the feelings of bloggers in general! It helps a guy like me think twice about forgetting to come back to comment on a great post because I'm in the middle of a tweeting frenzy! Imagine if we all did that! HA! None of us would have any comments and then everybody would suffer for not having great content to fill their streams! Thanks Gautam for yet another great post! : )
- Gautam says:
  
  Tor Lowry, I think you comment less because your comments are very detailed and informative in their own right. Yes, you should check the links, sometime there can be malware and other problems which might transfer to your followers. You should do the same with the articles. Comment only if you have read the article. Or else don't comment at all. I am happy that u like my articles. I like to be transparent about my feelings and sometimes it creates lots of controversy and hence I get so many comments on it
sebsn says:

I'm with Hille Fuld basically. I don't think the typical "nice post" comments are bad. And I don't think they are unappreciative. Why would anyone write nice post if he didn't read it. (Backlink aside) If I read a post that does not interest me I just close the tab and go on... The lack of commenting is a big problem though... You're right there. It basically turns from collaboration media to consumption media (Devices like the iPad strengthen that trend) We have to remind ourselves that a blog without collaboration doesn't really work. I think every bloggers knows it but how do we get the word out to the people who are strictly consumption only?
- Gautam says:
  
  I would like to clarify that I'm with u on this. Usually some thanks for post are just intended for advertisement because they use seo keywords which I don't like. It is a mix of the both types of media u have mentioned. Some people comment and some don't and some are willing to, but need encouragement. :) Collaboration is need of the hour. Without that, it is difficult to get your point across :) Thanks for the comment :)
Gurl says:

Hi Guatam. Excellent points. I really, really dislike "great post" comments. While I am thankful they took the time to respond to my post, it would be even better if they added something they liked about it. It means a lot to get a good comment, even if it is negative feedback. When done right, negative feedback can lead to an interesting discussion at times.
- Gautam says:
  
  Gurl, Same here, I totally agree with u on that. I like negative comments (not personal attacks) because they always have scope for learning a new aspect of the same concept. It's like having a very different viewpoint that you already have
Hillel Fuld says:

First of all, let me say that I love Gautam. We regularly communicate on Twitter and help each other out with RTs. I also really enjoyed the article, but sorry to say, I disagree with a lot of it. As a blogger, if someone takes the time to leave a comment, even if it is "Great post" or "you are so full of crap", as long as it is genuinely their opinion, I appreciate it. I always try to reply to comments, no matter how much I disagree with the commenter. The only type of comment I delete is the spammer who wants a link. In any case, I hope this comment passes, in my book it does, because it is real. Great post though and I still love you man.
- Gautam says:
  
  Hillel, I am happy you liked tweeting with me and yes, engaging on twitter has always been fun with you. I have nothing against thanks for post comments if they are genuine. But as I have seen, many commenters talk about general issues in an article which is so focused. They talk about good blog and I will bookmark it and actually they are just spamming by advertising their own site. I appreciate the comments that are straight from the heart, even if they are "Thanks for post". I still approve comments by people that do that. But I send the other comments that are not genuine to the spam folder
Misty Belardo says:

Interesting article, a lot of people still do not realize that blogs are a form of social networking platform, and in social media commenting is our way of engaging to the community. I believe that one needs to comment constructively, meaning not just comment make sure that the author and the other readers will benefit from that comment made. I have written a lot of the benefits that a person gets from leaving comments and the best one really is to engage and be heard, we have a voice, through commenting that voice is heard. Thank you for sharing and allowing people to voice out their thoughts. :)
- Gautam says:
  
  Misty, What people forget - commenting is about voicing opinions, asking questions and in all joining in a discussion which benefits you, the author and the reader. In all you it becomes a platform for growth and learning. People get noticed in the eyes of bloggers if they comment and add value to it :) Thanks for commenting Misty :)
Diana Adams says:

When I first read this, another thing that came to mind was when people RT posts on Twitter, but in the original tweet, the link was broken. But.. since they never took the time to click on it, they just RT it, and that is like a dagger in the heart for a blogger since it sends the message that you don't even really care enough to click on it, you are just RT'ing because it's the right thing to do. I do agree about the commenting. I really don't mind if someone leaves a quick comment though. The thing is, quality comments are important; however, sometimes it's just nice to know that your friend stopped by that day. If we start making people feel like they have to leave a well thought out comment in order to be "right" then I know for me personally, I will just stop commenting most of the time because I read and comment on a lot of blogs, and I don't always have time for that. So, it's a double edged sword. I agree that good comment add a lot of value. However, I also believe that a "Hey, great post!" from a friend also has value, like a simple hello and a smile does. Also, just for the record, although I'm personally an attention seeker because I'm such a social media extrovert, not all bloggers are like that. Many people blog for private reasons, and they could care less if someone makes a comment on their posts. I know several people that fall into that category. It's like a therapy to them. Ok... now that I have just commented enough for a whole post of my own... hahahahaha I will say - hey - great post!!!! Lol :)
- Gautam says:
  
  I don't like comments for the same reason as yours. If they didn't see the post, then why bother commenting. Some of the thanks for post are automated or made by people who are in a hurry and have not read it all I have receieved many thanks for comment - some are genuine so i approve it and some are fake so they go to spam. See, Tutorials get a lot of thanks and I appreciate the love. I like these comments if these are genuine. If not, they irritate me. Comments that add value are my favorite and they have a 100% guaranteee, that they have been read (at least the first para) so it makes me feel special. Bloggers can do it for personal satisfaction and I agree with that. Sometimes you need an outlet of your opinions and blogs are good way to do that. It is like writing a diary. Thanks for the comment, Diana And yes it might be bigger than my article ;)
Rob Cubbon says:

Yes, I agree with all this Gautam. When you're leaving a comment on a blog you should act as though you're in someone else's house - you shouldn't be rude or spend the time advertising yourself. I've just put a sign in bold after Name: in the comment form – "No Keywords, please!"
- Gautam says:
  
  Rob... Something really interesting I got from your tips. Act as a guest- do people forget that- they might think of it as their own home. But being rude and advertising is not gonna work, if you are in somebody else's home. You have to maintain a decorum or else you will be kicked out
Farrhad A says:

Really nice post Gautam! I totally agree with all your pointers. My blog is averaging at 50 comments a post- Luckily for me most of my readers actually take interest and we often have debates and much more. And this interest always inspires me to write new posts.
- Gautam says:
  
  Farrhad, I believe that comments made with a motive to sell, usually fail. The ones that are intended to discuss usually sell. So, you don't have to use intrusive advertising, try using subtle ways of doing it and it will not harm anybody's sentiments. Getting around 50 comments as an average is just awesome. It just shows how influential your blog is. I think comments equals influence of a blog. Good that you are inspired to write more.
Chadrack says:

Many bloggers are mostly guilty of #2 "Just for links" especially on commentluv enabled blogs. They readily forget the purpose of blogs for interaction. I personally moderate every comment. This way I control what appears on the blog. I think it's high time that bloggers who still engage in this type of "link stealing" should desist. Contributing to the discussion makes things more exciting. There is another one which you did not mentioned but I've seen many a time of my blogs. Those who never say anything about the post but write an advertisement for their product or website. I pitty them for the waste of time because they all end up in the trash!
- Gautam says:
  
  Just of links guys are usually the people who are using black hat techniques for seo. I think seo works only if you give value to it. If everything could have been automated, then why would there a need to blog?. I think comments for advertsiements can be considered as spam comments. But, still it is a point which can be elaborated further
Simran says:

These days I'm getting lots of spam comments. I hardly approve such comments.
- Gautam says:
  
  I do the same. I think I got 170 spam comments yesterday which was almost 10 times more than the usual spam comments I get.
element321 says:

Great post Gautam. I agree with your break down of comment types. For me, I am not a big fan of those that just want the backlinks. I have no issues with this, if they work for it and help out the community in return. If I find someone is just trying to get a backlink and is not really reading the article or the comments, I may leave the comment and turn off DoFollow for that comment or just delete their comments if they keep doing this. I rarely see this type of commenter, but their out there. As for the short comments, such as thanks for the post or great article. I find these are okay on some sites. I comment on several sites like this and they are mostly resources and not much to comment on them. Most of these types of post take time to compile and they deserve a thanks. Generally I try and get 2 or 3 sentences in there if I can.
- Gautam says:
  
  I have some good blogger tutorials that get most of the comments as thanks. But I don't mind because they are genuine and because it is a tutorial/hack, therefore, I think that these comments can be valid if you use them appropriately. Thanks for post would not work for a rant :)
Dr Joe says:

Great post Gautam! Just look at the flood of excellent comments you've received. A proud moment for papa (or mama) when your newborn baby has been acknowledged as beautiful. That's what blog posts can feel like - our little babies launched out into the world. A great post, like this one, will expand upon the message of the post. Making it all the richer and deeper. I especially liked Tia's comments about probloggers vs. those struggling to get attention. Here's a thought... Why not become a pro at comments? I've been commenting over at Copyblogger on a regular basis lately. It's forced me to raise my game and I've discovered I enjoy writing comments more than writing blog posts. After all, the heavy lifting has already been done by the post writer. I get jump in afterward and sprinkle some sparkly stuff on top. What could be better than that? Yet, I wouldn't waste my time on any of it if there wasn't a link back to my site as a reward. I'm not building an online business here. I'm learning how to write better copy, post better blogs and gather links. Partly to serve my offline business, and partly to engage my creative nature.
- Gautam says:
  
  Dr Joe, I see your comments and it makes me happy. Yes, blog comments can be seriously treated as a your child finally growing up, becoming a man or woman and living a good life. A pro commenter? Ya that would be a new thing bloggerville and I would have to see how it turns out. Let's hope that it works for the better. I love to give comments. Due to paucity of time, it has decreases, but i still love to come to a blog and give some feedback.
Bob Hays says:

I think a good comment is like a good evaluation of a Toastmasters speech - start with some positives, if you have suggestions make 1 - 3 of them, and then summarize. I find most comments are spam - I think its important to use a spam filter that's shared by other bloggers because together we can better identify spam sources I think. And I have to disagree on one thing - I don't like purely positive feedback; I'd prefer discussion and its hard to have that when you already have agreement. Nice post, thanks very much for taking the time to write your ideas down! - Bob
- Gautam says:
  
  You're different. I thought you would like positive feedback. But as I am gathering here, people prefer comments that either disagree or provide something useful, maybe a experience of their own. It just seems that comments are taken more of a value addition to the blog
- Bob Hays says:
  
  Of course positive feedback is good - it's best to lead with positive feedback and end on an upbeat note - it's in that middle area where discussion and critique are important if we're to do more than just write ideas. Great post! Keep writing and looking for more! - Bob
  - Gautam says:
    
    Bob, I think commenters do need to learn this. If you can get a comment like that, you will definitely be attracted to it. And that comment would be best comment that you can get. It will be a mix of thanks, constructive criticism and a little bit discussion
Mariam Cisse says:

Thumbs up Gautam! This is a very well written post. It looks like you have put some serious time and thoughts in it. I like that. The comments I love are those that inspire or motivate me and/or my readedrs. No matter whether they are negative or positive. As long as they cause a reaction and make one think, they add value and are much appreciated. I usually don't comment when the article doesn't "touch" me. Commenting just for the sake of leaving a comment is nothing I want to be known for.
- Gautam says:
  
  Mariam, I agree with u, commenting for the sake of commenting is a failed attempt and you should never try it. Comments should ideally inspire or move you in a way that changes you as a blogger in more than one way :) or motivate you to write a new article : which would be even more awesome :)
Milana says:

Hi Gautam, comment on a blog post is 1 of the 4 Biggest Sign That People Like Your Blog i agree with those points above, and i always hope that people commenting a post not just because they want a link back (on do follow comment) . i don't agree with the line "the people who are in a habit of commenting like this are the ones who are really lazy or don’t care a damn about your blog" for me, a short comment also a comment, whether they are really short and look "lazy" or "don't care" is always appreciated, at least they're giving some effort to let the writer know that they "see/read" the post (spams excluded). what i expect that comment will become a source of inspiration for another post, a sign of engaging (between readers and writers), a place to grow, to share knowledge between bloggers. cheers (^_^)
- Gautam says:
  
  Milana, I don't want to accuse anybody. And I said earlier that the length of the comment does not matter but the thought that counts, but It seems that thanks for post usually for articles like mine does not show that you are liking it. My articles are thought provoking (in a good and bad sense both). So, if a person comments then there are chances that he would either agree or disagree to the point. Thanks for post are usually spam comments in my blog and even if they are not, I still think that you can personalise your comment by maybe adding my name. Trying to talk to me. etc
Michael Sarles says:

Thank you Gautam for this great post! Your points are all very well made and definitely needed to be said. I love when people read a blog post of mine, but love it much more when they take the time to write a thought-out, relevant comment. Well done! :)
- Gautam says:
  
  Michael - we all love that. Who doesn't- maybe problogger- lol :) . That is a teeny tiny possibility, but I think he might also love comments. Michael, the ones who comment, show that they read the article and by giving a thoughtful comment shows that they have read it carefully and they have their opinions to share.
Sherri Gamer says:

I personally believe that Twitter is the best social media network music artists can get promotion. Many well-known celebrities/band members today began through Twitter. Much like Marie Digby and Arnel Pineda, the modern singer of the actual music group Journey. Some of them are having a tool like Twitter Band Promotion to achieve the real followers in a "dirty way".
Kimi says:

I do comment to other blogs for many reasons, love link, and also learning new stuff. About the "thank you for the post" this kind of comments i mostly receive, and i was thinking was it a bot or real person? lol. But as long as they don't put any bad link, i will approve..
- Gautam says:
  
  Kimi, sometimes I receive generic comments which are hard to tell, whether they are spam or not. But, usually you can rule out comments which don't have a link, whose email appears ok and the name is not a keyword. This 3 pointer can help you resolve the matter. But is you approve, I don't see a problem. I had made some tutorials and people seem to say thank you when the tutorial worked for them
JarrredT says:

I know what it's like to have some odd comments coming into a blog. I get some on there about Linux - when my blog has nothing to do with Linux. I have some people pop on there with really odd chinese lettering. I can't read that. I went from a no moderated comment system to a heavily moderated system. It's sad that I have to take that added time. I hope more people that leave these comments read this post.
- Gautam says:
  
  Actually, the comments you get from linux people and with the old chinese lettering are 99% times a spam comment. These comments are made by auto form fillers and bots, so i don't think you can do much about than just use a spam filter like Akismet. If there could be a training camp for these commenters, this place would have been the right place for them :)
Latief says:

I always appreciate every comments and try to reply them. Even I know the commenter just want to left their links by short comment :D I will approve their comments and I give their advantages because my blog is dofollow and using CommentLuv. Thanks for sharing Gautams.
- Gautam says:
  
  Latief, Give them love something we can do with these plugins, but I would give to all those people who write some constructive feedback or add a relevant comment. That's how it works for me
  - Latief says:
    
    Yes, Gautams. Maybe I'll change my policy about comments on my blog. Thanks bro.
    - Gautam says:
      
      Latief, If you are going to have a comment policy, then make sure that you tell your readers about it. I have seen some very popular blogs like techipidia that have a comment policy to have only your names as the name not any keywords. the Owner, Tamar, has also mentioned that she has the right to modify if she finds the comment unsuitable. I suppose by that way she is able to scare away people that come for seo purposes
      - Latief says:
        
        Wow! That is really cool Gautams. I'll check her blog right away, thanks bro.
        
        Gautam says:
        
        Latief, You should surely check it out and ya, I'm also considering a blog commenting policy. The problem is that I don't want it to be too restrictive because that will only decrease the comments I usually get. I think, sometimes, we should be a little liberal on our commenters
Rahul Jadhav says:

That's a wonderful post Gautam. You have explained the points beautifully. I agree that bloggers love comments. But there are some people who hardly comment and I hate those people who post comments just to promote their products and dont add any value to the comments. Also there are also some people who give some great information in their comments and that makes me check their blogs or their twitter stream. However I feel nice if someone says just "thanks" or "thank you" without the intention of promoting any product or similar thing. Its the genuine effort to write the comment that matters for me.
- Gautam says:
  
  Rahul, "thank You" comments are not usually actual comments, these are usually spam comments. Even if they are genuine, they don't hold much value. I am with you on good comments, makes me wanna thank them for their support and check out their blog
Colleen says:

As a general rule, we place emphasis on blogs we can learn from and who have a solid community of commentors. A side benefit are the links. I question at times if comment links are of any value anyway. Google has gotten so precise with their algorithm that they very well not be counting links from comments into their algo.
- Gautam says:
  
  what I've seen that google does not judge backlinks. Even if they are nofollow, they are still important and plus the first 100 links or 50 links only get attention, so you have to be the first commenter to get the link juice. But links that actually carry weight are usually links from guest articles or from bloggers who link to you. You also have to try social media seo
Tia says:

All bloggers love comments. Too bad not all bloggers leave comments. I'm in the process of writing a guest post for somebody on the subject, and a thought occurred to me today regarding the "major" bloggers out there - the ones that don't "need" to leave comments anymore... and those of us who leave comments all the time. We're very different types of bloggers, and the people who leave comments on our blogs expect different things. The one - the major blogger - receives comments from adoring fans (myself included) with zero expectation of any sort of reciprocity. It's like reaching out and touching a star. Or, in the blogging world, it's like reaching out and grabbing a high PR back link. That seems to be the only form of gratitude expected. I know that pro bloggers will never come visit my blog, never leave a comment, never retweet my stuff, and yet I still do it for them. But for the rest of us, leaving a comment is a very real thing and I honestly appreciate pretty much every comment, except SPAM - even the lackluster ones. It takes some time, some effort, and I know that they are choosing to participate in my discussions at the expense of participating in somebody else's because there's only so much time, and for that I am truly grateful!
- Colleen says:
  
  "All bloggers love comments. Too bad not all bloggers leave comments." So true Tia. We are a real estate company and comments are few and far between! Reading about some home for sale isn't exactly high on the reading list for folks! :)
  - Gautam says:
    
    Colleen .. comments that are treated as advertisements never go well with readers and we hate to read them as well. Comments that share real estate opinions or ask questions about it will be some good comments at your blog. And you want to thank them for the comment, like I'm doing for you. Thanks for the comment
- Gautam says:
  
  Tia, It's always like that. I compare it to twitter celebrities. It will take us years to get 10% of reputation they have. And we have to reply to them and give them full feedback in order to build a good reputation. on the other hand, twitter celebrities just have to tweet, their stuff and they always get retweeted
DiTesco says:

I don't worry too much about negative comments as some of them can actually spark a pretty good conversation and in certain occasions even exchange different views and opinions. I think it could be a healthy discussion. What I do not like is when they personally attack you or leave idiotic comments that are not relevant to the topic or discussion.
- Gautam says:
  
  I think that is a consensus at this place of discussion, idiotic comments and personal attacks are not welcome. Constructive feedback is allowed as it sets stage for learning and development.
Joe Boyle says:

Never EVER leave comments just for the SEO value. It not only will get your comment instantly deleted (9 times out of 10), but will cause all respect that the webmaster has in you. It's like meeting your boss for the first time and throwing a pie in his face, then writing "YOU FAIL" all over his office. What will he think of you?
- Gautam says:
  
  Joe,
  It’s like meeting your boss for the first time and throwing a pie in his face, then writing “YOU FAIL” all over his office
  Amazing way to explain seo comments. Ya SEO comments should now be a thing of the past, but a few old school seo people try to get more links by this technique. It is a sure way to piss away the blogger
Mick Morris says:

A great analysis of blog commenting habits. Pulling apart the different types and what they mean is useful not only for those running blogs but for those who do at least comment. I do try to comment as much as I can. I find that part of the problem is that I read SO many blogs daily that only a few grab my attention and compel me to leave a detailed comment. I am reluctant to leave a comment unless it has something to extend the point, or add additional value to the topic (like the great post comments you mention), but this means that I don't necessarily show appreciation for most of the content that I am regularly reading. This is a problem from the point of view that I recognise that a lot of people are probably doing exactly the same thing, and therefore sometimes the lack of comments is not the problem that it might seem.
- Gautam says:
  
  I think you can be selective about your comments, but value added comments should only be part of your commenting strategy and I think you believe in it. I think content that attracts huge comment is one that has something different to offer. Whether it is the content or the thought. I think bloggers are facing with the challenge of writing unique articles so that they get the readers attention. And many bloggers still seem to write the same articles. You can write bsomething new by just adding spice to some good old ideas
Mars Dorian says:

Thanks a lot, very helpful article....lol :) Now seriously, Gautam, and I can totally relate. I hate people who post useless comments only for self-benefits. I have gotten rid of commentluv for that reason, because it encourages that kind of behavior. The best comments I receive are actually the ones that criticize me in a constructive way. It's cool when you get compliments, but they don't really help you. I mean, you want to improve, and only good criticism will help you with that.
- Gautam says:
  
  Mars, We are all on a learning curve and all these contructive feedbacks can be really helpful. Yes, you do love positive comments like every other blogger, but you also see that it use of no use as a blogger other than the ego boost. I do not fully agree on the matter of commentluv. I have seen commentluv has helped me double the comments and not that these comments are useless like thanks for post, but they actually help get more comments. See, you gave a perfect example of a "Thanks a lot" comment which I like. It is filled with your opinion and it is a true reflection of you
Asad says:

I usually like the comments which add value to your article.Some people usually only read the heading and comment about the thing which has already been discussed in the article.It really pisses me off.
- Gautam says:
  
  Asad, that is why I defined the actual meaning of these type of comments “Hey I am a very busy person or I don’t think your blog is very important or interesting, so I saved my time and I wrote this quick and lousy comment”. Readers think that they can fool the bloggers by writing a small piece of comment and adding a link to get seo benefits, but they forget that bloggers are smarter and they can easily notice these type of comments from other comments
sheri strykowski says:

Comment stalking and attacking - pretty much completely unnecessary. I agree that allowing it can degrade the thread. When someone takes the time to offer a different viewpoint that's backed up with facts, stats and/or personal experience, it can really help create a more informative and thought-provoking conversation. Blogs and comments have influenced my decisions in a lot of areas. It takes real dedication to provide relevant content on a consistent basis - and I appreciate good bloggers. Excellent post, Gautam - lots of good points. TY ! ;)) sheri
- Gautam Hans says:
  
  Exactly, all this negativity is not needed. After all bloggers have to work so hard to get one article right and all they get is negative feedback, they will lose patience and they might not write the next time or they may be scared to do so.
James Pruitt says:

hi Gautum. great post thanks for sharing... Ok, i guess I will say a little more than that just for you. Personally, my favorite comments are ones that either ask a question relevant to the post, or that contradict what I said within the post. I am not out to start controversy or a debate, however, I like the ability to openly discuss our opinions with others. as long as the commentor comes back to reply, you can get a great conversation going. Sometimes I learn as much from doing this as my readers do. If it helps me to grow, as well as adding value to the post, it makes things even more awesome.
- Gautam Hans says:
  
  James, I have seen that if you have difference of opinion, you might learn something useful if you have an open mind to learn. sometimes you are too fixated with your ideas, that you forget that you can do much more and learn more if you try to listen to the othere person's opinion.
Gera says:

Excellent post Gautam! I've dealt with all the points from the first-three ones to the last, the sweet one :) One thing is quality and other is quantity. The ideal are both, but depending of the stage of the blog some bloggers are even satisfied with a "great post" instead of a "0 comments". Other cases are very strict excluding keywords in names and the extreme, they turned off comments like Leo of Zen Habits due to this problem. - My opinion for all the cases: if you want to restrict some type of comments and to guide to the commenter, the better is to write a blog comment policy, expressing clearly in your comment area, your view about the theme. Cheers, Gera
- Gautam Hans says:
  
  Gera, You are absolutely right. It's how we evolve as bloggers. When we are starting out, we may even like thanks for post because it is still better than 0 comments. But as we grow, we start to restrict comments depending on our choice. Usually bloggers do provide a comment policy if they want to restrict certain keywords in name or prevent any links in comments.
Sunil Jain says:

Hi Gautam :) I really appreciate your thoughts on commenting power and it's types. When it comes to negative commenting, We should never try to be harsh on the author like "Hey , I didn't like the article!!. This doesn't work with me" instead you can encourage him by telling "Hey buddy , this seems to be not working with me, Would yous please help me. Waiting for your reply :) ". [Note : I took an example of male v/s male]
- Gautam Hans says:
  
  Sunil, The way you say is determines whether your comment is negative or not. The example you gave here illustrates that the same thing can be said in a less offensive way and you can still put your point forward.
ToddySM says:

Gautam, Recently I read a blog post where the author was explaining why he critiques, and the only reason he does that is because he believes that providing constructive critique helps people/products/services to improve. Of course constructive critique doesn't mean being negative - one can always have different opinion but stay friendly and provide useful feedback. I found that the best way to write the comment is to use the "sandwitch" approach - start with praising the author and outlining the good points, then go into couple of points where you disagree or have different opinion (but stay friendly) or you just expand on the author's points, and wrap up on a positive note.
- Gautam Hans says:
  
  Sandwich technique seems reasonable to me. First you butter the author by writing some thing positive and then you add some salt with some points you disagree with. I think in this way you can have a different opinion and still you will not offend the author. If you make the author feel that you are critiquing positively, there are chances that you might get to work with him.
bbrian017 says:

It's funny how many people actually leave spam comment with links. It's so obvious they are simply trying to get some easy links backs and that's it. I see it all the time and you know what it's not going to stop. I'm just thankful it's easy to tell the difference between a legit and fake spam comment. many people don't see the work and effort that comes with blog commenting but it takes time and dedication. Many bloggers try to skip this and post something relevant. I know ti's wrong but it happens a lot. I also noticed that these spam comments ruins it for all of us. Sometimes I really don't have anything to say and I just want to say this was a great read or nice write up. I can't even do that anymore because it's considered spam and that's sad.
- Gautam Hans says:
  
  I can feel you. Now, even if you have a valid cause for saying a simple thank you, then also it cannot work. The only solution to this is, that you write your feelings in detail. Explain why you are thankful. I know it will take some of your precious time, but your comment will be noticed.
A.R.Karthick says:

First of all, let me congratulate you for the neat writeup Gautam. It’s not that strange to see many of the people who comment on blogs are also bloggers. They simply have more inspiration to take the time to comment. Beyond great content for any blogger, the secret for winning formula is the blog comments itself (on other blogs) that eventually lead to traffic establishment and relationships as well. When you intentionally engage in the community aspect of a blog, you’re creating meaningful relationships with people who can send you significant traffic—bloggers & other active SM users. So without doubt, We are only as good as we comment.
- Gautam says:
  
  Blog comments = engagement = relationship = subscriber = money. This is how you create a six figure blogger. All these things, if taken seriously can help you succeed as a blogger. ya, most of the commenters are usually bloggers, but I have seen some great comments from newbie bloggers, because they are ready to learn from you
John Soares says:

Gautam, I've gotten some great comments that were actually longer than my posts. Amazing to think that someone would take that much time to respond.
- Gautam says:
  
  John, I think sometimes you comment like that if you strongly feel about the subject or you have researched a lot about it. I got a huge comment when someone disagreed with what I said and he gave a long explanation in his comment
Agent Deepak says:

Hey Gautam nice post and truly educating. I agree with your point that comment can teach you good things. I have got good advices from some of the comments I received. One of the advice in a comment was so good that I ended up writing a post on it and even thanked the commentator. I love those commentators who try to get involved and are to the point. I love commentators who try debating and put their points properly.
- Gautam says:
  
  Deepak, Your case is similar to mine. A got a great comment as I mentioned and it provoked me to write a new article. Comments should be part of a great discussion. Discussion can healthy and lengthy. You can many comments discussing very small but important toopics. The result would be the overall development of the blogger and the commenter
CJ says:

Great stuff man, The world of blog commenting is a complicated one. Haha. The problem is those who are new to making money on the internet. I used to be one of them so there are no hard feelings but they definitely don't know what they're doing and only see comments as a way to promote themselves, which in most cases, they do poorly haha. CJ CJ's last blog ..What a Six Year Old Boy Can Teach You About Marketing
- Gautam says:
  
  Yes, amateur bloggers are more prone to this problem of self promotion comments. the only way to rectify this problem is to tell your readers about valuable and quality comments. Once they are aware of this fact, they will respond in a better fashion and you will not see useless comments in your dashboard
Nabeel says:

Wow I never realized that 'Bloggers on the other hand, think of it as the commenter is saying “Hey I am a very busy person or I don’t think your blog is very important or interesting, so I saved my time and I wrote this quick and lousy comment”.' Now that I think about it, it actually makes complete sense! But the commenter may think that he is appreciating the blogger, when in reality, it is doing the opposite of appreciation! Although I do not say 'Thanks a lot', but I have seen many comments like that. You provide an insightful post on comments. I agree with what you say. It is important to provide comments that add value to the post. Or you can just post your thoughts, ideas etc. It is not hard to do! Nabeel
- Gautam says:
  
  adding your feedback with "thanks a lot" is more important. Lot of amateur bloggers do use these type of comments. Mostly, because they are unaware of the fact that their comments do not hold any intrinsic value. Bloggers loved these comments at the times when there were very few bloggers, but now the scene has completely changed
Murlu says:

Agreed - I would trade traffic and subscribers any day when compared to comments which actually keep it all going. You know the ones I'm talking about; it goes deeply into the topic you wrote about and shares their own experience. I think we all have a duty as bloggers to deter the "great post" comments - click delete. Yeah, you're not going to get that +1 to your comments but it's a vapid comment regardless, doesn't do anything for your readers and shows no value. Help deter this by removing it from your blog :)
- Gautam says:
  
  Murray, I believe that bloggers love comments and they give it a lot of importance. they even try to reply to people in order to get more comments. "Thanks" etc. get very irritating and they add no value, they only occupy space at your blog. Deleting it is the best available option
Kristi Hines says:

I don't mind negative comments if they are to the effect of "I don't agree with your post" or "I think that you could do this instead." The kind of negative comments I never approve are ones that are personally malicious, such as attacks on other commenters. I had one a few months back where someone was basically stalking one commenter and going off on them everywhere they commented. That kind of thing really needs to be done on email, not on a public platform. I try keep my comments as on topic as possible, and keep the environment friendly so people will want to return again without worrying about a drama-filled environment.
- Gautam says:
  
  I have the same technique. I got a comment months back and it was attacking me, so I deleted it. Because, if had not done that, it would have deteoriate the environment with hate comments and I don't want that. What you do is exactly how bloggers should handle negative comments. Comment stalking is a really new thing. I didn't know that people are so crazy to stalk people and write negative comments about them
Melinda says:

Well said. What blogger doesn't love comments? It's the nature of blogging... a 2-way communication with the readers. Without comments, a post is just a static article in 2D. Comments bring the article to life in 3D . My favorite comments are ones that add another viewpoint or give additional information/resources about the subject.
- Gautam says:
  
  Melinda, 2D to 3D transformation is an interesting way to put it. I personally weigh comments more than anything. If I get more comments on an article, then I think the article is good. People comment only when they think they have learned something good or they want to bring something to the table.

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