Feedback and comment: know the difference
Since starting working on WA for over a year, every so often I have come across blogs explaining the vital difference between feedback and comments. And I must admit, this is probably been the one concept that, I believe, I grasped from the beginning.
Yet sometimes, when asking for comments, I still receive feedback and vice-versa, which is not good for our website. So, I thought this time it's my turn to explain the difference. At the end of the day, if I could get it, I am sure so can everybody else out there!
Feedback
Feedback is given to outline your piece of writing has spelling or grammar mistakes, or to advise you could have added pictures or more bullet point to make it more appealling to the reading crowd. This is that report that we can give each other on WA threads, or even through DM - but it is not such report that we want our readers to see, as fundamentally it is aimed to outline mistakes. You will offer your feedback as a fellow writer / blogger / entrepreneur.
Comment
Comments are given by readers. Somebody viewing your piece of writing when they accessed your website through a SEO search engine, will not tell you that your page looks untidy as full of spelling mistakes. They might do, but essentially your viewers are interested in the concept you bring forward - like for instance the review to a product. So their comments ma be along the lines of: 'Can I find this in UK' or ' I really like your idea as I have experience the same problem', or again 'Can you please explain more in details how Wealthy Affiliate membership works'.
Still confused?
Another way of seeing it is by imagining that you were still at school. Sir or Miss ask you to write an essay on World War II. Sir or Miss will mark for grammatical or spelling mistakes, or might advise that you could have spoken more at length about a specific strategic plan by the Anglo-American forces. That is feedback. But when Sir or Miss invite the whole class to discuss World War II in class, each of your school mates will give a comment by sharing their opinion on how you saw the matter in your essay - and their opinion may be in agreement or not with yours, but the fact that a discussion takes place, even with questions being fired at you, prompts comments.
Turn feedback to positive comments
So, here's the million dollar question: what if you receive feedback in the comment section at the bottom of your posts or reviews?
Kyle advises that feedback is not good when left in place of a comment. As it happens I have received a few, and yes, it is annoying that people may not yet have got the difference.
Yet, sometimes taking things in your stride is also not too bad. So, next time you receive a comment sounding like this: 'Great post, albeit with too many pictures' or 'Thank you for your post. Watch out for those grammatical errors though', again take it on your chin and you can politely answer: 'I am glad you enjoyed my post / review, and thanks for the advice. I shall definitely look into this'.
I hope my take on comments and feedback is of help to those of you who are still a little muddled up discerning the difference. If still not clear, or if you want to share your experience with receiving feedback in place of comments, do leave your comment below.
Till the next one
Recent Comments
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Thanks Giulia for this explanation. I think more clearly the difference can't be shown.
Thanks for sharing!
Great post! And, as WA continues to enroll new members, we'll need to keep educating! At first, I would accept the "comment" that read like feedback. But after a while, I rejected the comments and took the time to educate each WA member who accidentally gave feedback in the comment tool. I even created a template response to cut down on my time spent explaining why the comment was rejected. At the end of the day, I'd don't mind investing some time one-to-one immediately and pointing out the difference between the two.
Good lesson here Giulia. In the beginning I had this all wrong. I wish I'd had more info back then like you offer here.
Thank you!!!
Can't be repeated enough, I wonder when Kyle is adding this to the feedback and comment section, so people HAVE to read this first before they can use the thread
I may not have explained it clear enough here, but you are right Loes, Kyle has. And yet people keep getting confused!!
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Good explanation of the difference thanks, Giulia :)