Before you start reading this post, know that I have seen all the Christmas wishes 2024 and I really enjoyed reading all the New Year messages. Yassss, I love the energy, you all are amazing! Happy New Year everyone and thank you very much. “2025; let's go.
I visit a lot of blogs and it turns out that I have a very good memory when it comes to recognizing the blogs I have visited. When I visit a blog, my goal is to understand the writer. I take the time to read the article or post and comment accordingly. However, I have noticed that some bloggers and readers leave comments without even reading the post. Comments like “Good”, “Interesting post”, “Nice post” or “Like” do not make any meaningful contribution to the conversation.
Additionally, I have noticed that people who leave off-topic comments often repeat the same words or phrases across multiple blogs. This practice not only damages your blog's reputation but also negatively affects your traffic as Google starts marking such comments as spam. On top of that, others might return the favor by commenting in the same way on your blog without actually participating, making the article seem irrelevant. Blogs enabled for moderation are likely to flag these repetitive comments as spam. This happens because the person does not interact in a meaningful way, but rather leaves comments solely for self-promotion.
I understand that finding the right words isn't always easy, but when every comment a website receives is simply “Good post,” it's clear that your commitment isn't genuine. Do you know that it is better not to comment at all than not to contribute in a meaningful way?
For those wondering, “Is a blog a website?”, here is a quick clarification for further knowledge. A blog is a specific type of website that primarily presents content in the form of posts, often displayed in reverse chronological order (most recent first). So yes, a blog is a website!
There are numerous Benefits of reading other blogs. that go beyond simply gaining commitment. The knowledge you gain from reading blogs often comes from first-hand experiences, broken down step by step, making it relatable and personal. This knowledge is valuable and worthwhile.
Of course, mistakes are allowed; Everyone makes a mistake from time to time when contributing to an online conversation. However, in my opinion, it is wrong to get into the habit of leaving the same repetitive or off-topic comments on every site you visit, or comments that do not contribute to the discussion.
Did you know that your blog receives visits from more than just other bloggers? As you look at your monthly blog traffic, you'll notice a gradual increase in your overall traffic, which builds up over time due to these interactions. This reinforces the importance of meaningful contributions.
Personally, if I publish an article and a visitor leaves an off-topic comment or something like “Cool,” I don't publish those comments. It is better to remain silent than to make superficial comments that add no value.
Whenever I publish an article and seek feedback from readers, I strive to express myself clearly, using simple language and keeping the article concise. However, I've noticed an intriguing pattern: the tone and length of the first and second comments often set the stage for the rest.
Here's what I mean: If the first commenter leaves a short, generic comment like “Interesting blog post,” others tend to do the same with equally short comments. On the other hand, when the initial comment is thoughtful and detailed, subsequent comments tend to be more interesting and substantial.
I don't think you should post a short, meaningless first comment on your article. Instead, focus on approving comments that enrich the discussion, whether they agree or disagree with your perspective. Thoughtful comments not only add value to your article, but also encourage others to participate more meaningfully.
Websites that allow superficial comments or spam may appear unprofessional or poorly moderated, leading visitors to question the quality of the content and the credibility of the site.
Repeated use of generic or empty comments on multiple blogs can trigger Google's spam filters. This can lower the site's SEO ranking, making it difficult for new readers to discover the blog.
- Loss of audience participation:
Meaningful engagement fosters a sense of community. Generic comments fail to make connections or generate meaningful discussions, which can lead to a decrease in returning visitors.
- Increased moderation workload:
Website owners or moderators spend more time filtering out low-quality comments, which is a waste of resources, especially for high-traffic websites.
Genuine readers may be discouraged from participating if they see a flood of uncollaborative comments, reducing the overall quality of interaction or product features on your website.
- Loss of Opportunities and Reduced profitability.
For website owners who collaborate with businesses to share articles intended to improve brand awareness, such as through link building, guest posting, or general partnerships, off-topic comments can negatively impact your website. When readers leave irrelevant comments that do not meaningfully contribute to the shared article, it damages the credibility of the website. This lack of meaningful engagement with content can lead to decreased traffic, lower trust, and ultimately reduced profitability.
1. Loss of credibility:
Repeatedly leaving generic or irrelevant comments can damage the commenter's reputation. Other readers and bloggers may perceive them as spammy, lazy, or uninterested in genuine participation and stop posting their comments.
2. Reduced networking opportunities:
Meaningful comments often provide networking opportunities with bloggers and other readers. Generic feedback fails to make connections, limiting opportunities to build relationships or collaborations.
3. Risk of being marked as spam:
Search engines and blog moderation tools may flag commenters who leave repetitive or low-value comments as spammers. This can cause comments to be automatically blocked on multiple platforms.
4. Lost traffic opportunities:
A thoughtful comment that adds value can entice other readers to click on the commenter's profile or website link. Off-topic comments rarely foster that interest, which reduces referral traffic.
5. Negative impact on SEO:
If the comment includes a link to the commenter's website and is flagged as spam, it may result in penalties for your website, including a lower search engine ranking.
6. Limited personal growth:
Engaging meaningfully in debates can be a learning experience. Leaving superficial comments denies the commenter the opportunity to gain knowledge and grow intellectually or professionally.
7. Damaged relationships with website owners, especially bloggers:
Website owners value authentic engagement. Repeatedly leaving empty or superficial comments can frustrate them and strain your relationship with the commenter, which could lead to your profile being blocked.
- Read the article carefully:
Please take the time to understand the content before commenting. Highlight specific points you found valuable or ask clarifying questions.
Share personal ideas, experiences or constructive comments. For example: Instead of “Good post,” say: “I liked the section about [specific topic]. It reminded me of [your experience].”
Encourage a conversation by asking thoughtful, topic-relevant questions. For example, what inspired you to take this perspective on this topic?
While it's okay to link to your website when appropriate, avoid turning your comment into an advertisement. Focus on contributing to the discussion.
- Use proper grammar and spelling:
Well-written comments are taken more seriously. Please review your comment before posting to ensure clarity and professionalism.
- Interact with other commenters:
Respond to other readers' comments to create a sense of community. This can help build relationships and encourage others to visit your blog.
Make sure your comment is relevant to the content of the article. Off-topic comments are often ignored or deleted.
- Be courteous and respectful:
Even when you disagree, maintain a respectful tone. Constructive debates can improve your credibility.
Many blogs have specific rules for commenting. Please follow these guidelines to ensure your comments are welcomed and published.
My draft before the New Year included this topic, so I thought it would be useful to share it at the beginning of the year. I hope you enjoyed reading and I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments. What are your general thoughts on this? Have you ever had problems with spam comments or experienced someone leaving the same comment multiple times? Let's hear your experiences in the comments section below!
Photo by Edward Jenner from Pexels
Recent Comments