That Award Winning Comment Trail
Writing a good comment can be taken to the level of an art form, in order to attain that level it takes a fair number to hit your comment writing stride.
I had to have a chuckle, someone chided me as to my comment quality, I thought as you do
" what the heck bro "
" great post "
I have to admit, not such a good comment but hey in my defense it was two and a half years ago and hey everyone has an off day.
There is something to be said about that saying;
The marketer we are today is not the marketer we were yesterday or for that matter the marketer we are going to be tomorrow.
As we move along the affiliate marketing trail we all pick up skills and as we all know, we seem to be in a constant state of transition.
Some growing pains
Recently there have been some growing pains with relation to the site comment platform, which I must say is a wonderful tool to have in your promotional arsenal, many folks are out in the wilderness struggling, and at the captain's table the folks like Neil Patel and et al.' can create content that languishes in that " commentless under zone ".
As we know that content with no comments and no engagement looks so lonely and unloved, that human connection is what creates so much of what we hold dear and I guess that is why Google gives them weight in their legendary 200 aspect ranking formulas.
I think when you are becoming one with your comment stream, you will notice other folks chiming in or liking what you have said, there is something to be said about peer review for sure.
With that said, I happened across some websites of fellow members while doing organic searches. The give away that side widget promoting WA.
Oh my goodness, me.
Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Comments can add value or they can make things look overly plastic.
There was no easy way to say that.
" This is just my take on things and I am renowned for digging holes and you guessed it, I then proceed to break my shovel handle at the bottom on the day I forget to take my ladder with me ".
For folks requesting comments, you want a comment that reflects the tone and topic of your content, something that if you wish to, you can create a conversation around that is the most natural flow.
We, humans, love to yak some more than others for sure, it is hardwired into all of us.
Natural is best.
When placing comments do you from time to time suffer from;
" I think I need to write what they want to hear syndrome ".
That is a massive, skating on thin ice with the hot sun bearing down territory, it is a sure way to freeze that natural flow.
When reading comments they either do or they don't there doesn't seem to be an in-between space.
They have a natural flow or they are robotic, the thing is that we are all operating with a sense of understanding these days.
Swing commenting is another trap to fall into, where one swings between commenting and feedback.
The commenter says;
" I write good comments, but really the spelling, grammar, it's a wonder anyone reads content like that".
Comment, commenting is another trap, some texts seem to have a pile of comments that are congruent with the other comments, and not with the text at all, you may think that this is a limited event I can assure it is something that occurs across all the internet;
A classic would be YouTube when folks start trolling, crazy situations develop, far removed from the context conveyed in the visual content.
The Best Comments
The best comments come from folks that can read between the lines, with practice, we can see what the person is trying to convey, and then chime in with value, even if the post is only one sentence long as can happen here inside WA.
In our cases, whether on websites or even in the learning environment of WA, it is about placing that comment that not only elevates the content but also elevates the person.
A good comment lets authority shine through.
In the beginning, folks are quite fragile, it takes a few miles on the clock for you get to that point where you crack the code and are unfazed by the reception of your content creating efforts. Until that time arrives it can be so easy to get tipped out of your boat in the middle of the ocean without a life jacket on..........there is only one outcome.
Without over thinking it, what folks want is you to engage with their content in a natural way, they want you to give them your thoughts, your natural flow, not the made-up robotic version of yourself.
I guess the name of the game is to pay it forward, here in WA we have a wonderful opportunity to create real value, as always WA carries sublime subtleties, which can elevate us all to another level.
So when you arrive at contents door the key thing to remember we need to approach with the mindset that we have found it organically,
Nothing sticks out like a sore thumb than that comment thread
where the comments flow goes something like this,
oh, I am from Wealthy Affiliate too...........
And so it goes
Remember natural, let the content stand on it's own feet and just give the creator a piece of you because believe me, folks, we can all spot fakeness at 100 yards and in closing if we ignore the sophistication of our audiences we do so at our peril. Think with the mindset that you have arrived organically,
It is just you and the content and the content is asking you to have a hand shake and become friends.
Thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts and I would love to hear your natural thoughts on the subject.
Oh and one last thing don't forget to read the content, it kind of helps a lot.
Alex Evans
Recent Comments
29
Alex,
You made some good points. Not always easy to read points because I am probably guilty of committing some instances of poor comments. Sometimes it's laziness, sometimes I am just tired. Sometimes I read the whole thing and just don't know what to say...
I love that WA gives us these unique opportunities to help one another and offer value to each other and our sites!
Thanks for the reminder of the importance of what we do!
Best wishes,
Karin :)
Hi Karin, thank you for your thoughtful response, I am sure many will relate.
Such valid points, especially the one about reading when tired, sometimes it can be hard enough to cotton onto what is being expressed in the content, let alone come up with a relevant comment.
Everything we do is about building.
Enjoy the coming week.
Alex.
Hi Alex,
Excellent points you've made here! I agree, we sure can spot comments that are made just to make a comment, and don't truly engage in the "conversation."
I do try my best to get the feel of the post and the author's attitude when writing a comment...and try to write it as if I'm actually talking to them rather than just talking to talk.
Anyways, I've received some wonderful comments using the Site Comments feature here lately, and they did a good job of being natural as you said, which is awesome! Of course there are some that appeared to be a bit in a hurry, but still at least appeared to have read most of the post.
Gotta love that familiar side widget promoting WA though! Definite way of knowing what they recommend when finding sites in organic searches :)
Thanks for sharing Alex! Hope others will read this and remember to comment naturally....it does help to read the post first too, lol!
Best wishes :) ~Sherry
Hi Sherry, thank you for stopping by, the site comment platform, is a wonderful opportunity for us to create engagement on content.
I agree it can be easy to rush things and when we do, it can look contrived.
This is probably most evident with WA review posts, you get a whole bunch of folks saying this is great this is awesome, it can actually create the opposite flow.
People looking at reviews can be discerning.
Maybe just me, but we are taught to be conversational with our content creation, the same should apply to our comment creation.
Natural flow is best.
Alex
Hi Cora, you are most welcome, glad that you enjoyed this post and got some value from it.
Best wishes how is your online journey going?
Alex
I offer my input that can help the site. I feel happy if I can add more quality that can help the site.
Hi Anusuya,
That is an excellent stance to take if we can add value by leaving a comment and if it creates value for the site it is all the better.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts much appreciated.
Alex
I liked your take on comments. I reserve mine if I can add value as if it was content on my website. That way I am not commenting just to comment.
Hi William,
Thank you for chiming in, and sharing your thoughts. I think it was one of my first mentors that said;
" We do not have to comment on everything we see and hear "
My add on is that we do not have to win every debate as well
Both have served me very well over the ensuing years when it comes to business that point of view can be extremely helpful.
I guess that it sits well with your point of view, creating comments as if it were content on our sites will produce that natural feeling comment.
Definitely, a way to sidestep the need to comment for that sake of it.
Alex.
Thanks Alex
I always, if I intend on commenting read the site thoroughly.
A lot of the websites offer good information and being an affiliate I like to look at the Layout etc. how they have done this, does it look good, professional, etc.
Sometimes I struggle through and that's when I just have to pass.
Yes we need the Comments coming in, a most important addition to our website presence and yes a fabulous tool and great promotional pull.
We are all learning and I have so much to learn and grow here and really I just hope I can do it!
Hi Michele,
Thank you for reading and stopping to share your thoughts with us. We can learn so much from our interaction, that can at the end of the day make all the difference.
You have expressed a really valid point sometimes our energy is incompatible with the content, at times like this that best course of action can be to pass on by.
Site comments are an excellent resource for us to use to create that added engagement, and the thing about commenting it is something that we can get better out with practice just the same a creating content.
Exciting times.
Alex
Hi Alex, I think this by far the best I read lately regarding comments. Love it! And I can find myself in what you wrote about giving comments.
Thanks for this blog on my free relaxing Sunday afternoon what was a pleasure to read
Have a great day
Tommy
Hi Tommy,
Glad that you enjoyed this post, and thank you for your kind words. I think if we are all honest, we can find ourselves in that commenting bind. Recognizing where we are can make a huge difference.
Comments are content, they take practice on thought to create good ones.
Have a relaxing Sunday and hit the new week with enthusiasm.
Alex
Hi Jason,
Thank you for your comment, that can be one of the keys to creating that relationship between the content and the comment.
As you say it is a simple process, and one that we can all muster the ability to achieve.
The reality is that comments do add value if they are relative to the content.
A work in progress for many of us, one that is worthwhile putting some energy into.
Alex
completely agree and if more articles are written like the writer is talking to you it's much easier to interact with the article written, give and take. most of the articles I read now are a lot of college essays, you need to relate to the people reading your article tell them a story. I, unfortunately, write like I talk and most people can't stand that *&&(.
Jason
Learning how to connect with the audience that we are targeting, can take time every one of them has their own language and success can be dependant on our ability to be able to converse in the language that they understand.
There is something refreshing about reading that what you see is what you get, and if the folks that we are reaching out to can understand and relate the job becomes that much easier and should dare to say rewarding.
Our readers can take the lead in that, and relevant comments can be a very good yardstick.
Alex
Amen:). Couldnt agree more on that. Just tonight I asked for some comments in the site comments and boy....
Not sure if requesting comments there is so great all the Time. There are way to many people who still have a long way to go in their comments. Once in a while I get a good commenter. But really, fake and plasticky comments don’t add value to my post. And I get lots of those. Edited some of them, because I don’t want that on my site.
I like to add and make it personal when I comment. I usually go back to check the reply I get and often reply again to show that I’m engaged.
Can I learn? Yes! I need to improve, but I’m trying to do my best and give my heart into every comment.
I wish others would do it too:-). Would make it easier.
The comments I got tonight were around 3 sentences long, each. Only from one commenter did I see that he/she had taken the time to read at least part of the article. The others merely skimmed the headings. And that is disturbing.
After writing 8,000 words over 2 weeks, hours of research, optimizing content, and making content as good as possible etc, you get 30 words and something like: Very educational. Keep it up. Learned a lot.. :/(.
Ok, I’ll stop whining:-). Love this Site and kudos to all of you awesome commenters that take time to read my articles and lead value.
Loved to read your thoughts on this issue as well. There is hope, so let’s be positive ;-)
Oscar
Hi Oscar,
Thank you for your thoughtful response, we can learn so much from the interaction that takes place on the platform.
I think that you have touched on a very good aspect, we are all learning and commenting falls into that category, we can all work at improving our ability to not only read understand the content but also place a relative comment.
Quality content derserves a quality comment.
There seems to be a scenario where we are developing into scan readers and it is not isolated, you can see it in the " comment commenting situation ". that is disturbing and at this stage, I am not sure what can be done about that one, it definitely impacts on content creators.
Like all things, it is not how situations arise it is how we manage and adapt to them that counts, what seems to be emerging is that we perhaps need to develop a comment management strategy.
Open discussion is a good way to set things in motion.
Valuable comments definitely do add something to content, it gives that point of reference where audiences can set those connection points.
Alex
Alex,
That is exactly right. We need to learn to add value and not only be the scan readers.
A common excuse is to not have enough time, but it will not make our website better when we are not willing to invest in others.
Affiliate marketing is about helping, and not so much about getting. That takes a lot of time to understand and believe.
Hope we can all take away the best out of this.
Oscar
Very thoughtful Oscar,
The online world is different from the offline world, some folks would debate that.
The currency of the online world is the creation of value and that starts with the mindset that we have every time we fire up our devices.
It can be all about creating and sharing our energy, be it words or visuals, at the end of the day our footprint and words will speak for us in our absence.
Alex
See more comments
Thanks Alex for your post. I am just starting into the comments platform and sometimes I get so annoyed reading spelling mistakes, I want to tell the poster to fix there site, and then go back and reread my comments before posting my comments. I have to realize I am commenting not reviewing.
Always review your own comment before posting a comment to help your fellow WA member.
Murray
Hi Murray,
Thank you for joining the conversation and sharing your insights.
I think that a lot of folks are challenged when it comes to placing comments, and that swing commenting can be something that we need to get a handle on.
Depending on how far we want to go, it can be at times helpful to reach out to folks via PM if they are having issues with spelling and grammar there are apps that can be very helpful.
Some times that help cannot be that well received, I think that it is a phase thing, in my family, it can be good for the big kids to look out for the little kids from time to time.
I guess the key is to be impartial it is just us and the content, and that is what we are commenting on.
I really like your advice about reviewing the comment before placing, you see some real blinders at times I think that is because folks are engaging more on mobile these days until you become aware or make that adaptation it can cause some issues.
Appreciate your comment Murray./
Alex
Thanks Alex I had not considered folks commenting from their cell phone. That really makes sense. My phone thinks it knows better and I don't always catch the wierd spelling when texting :-) LOL