How To Write Great Comments On Posts

byMizEllie

208 followers

7 years ago

I like to compare writing comments on blog posts and websites to going on a date. You want to make a good first impression. You don't want to overwhelm with information. Even worse, you don't want to offer stock comments like "Great post!" "Loved what you said." "How true!" because these are the equivalents to saying, "Isn't the weather great today?"

To offer comments that are valuable to the publisher (that's you), follow these rules.

Personalize your comment. It doesn't take much extra time or effort to add the person's name. Just go to the top of the post and copy it, then paste right after the opening, like this Hi Name,

Compliment sincerely. Everyone wants to be acknowledged for their effort, whether that is wearing new earrings/tie or writing a clear and informative post. So tell the publisher (you) something positive about their post or website. But remember to be sincere. You don't want to do the commenting equivalent of telling a new mother with an ugly baby--"A baby! You must be so proud and happy."

Add something valuable to the discussion. This can be done in several ways.

1. By sharing a personal story or insight that is relevant to the post contents
   
2. By asking a pertinent question about what you just read
   
3. By contributing to the discussion through posting something that will receive a reply from the publisher (you) and perhaps even more commenters
   
4. By offering constructive, and short, criticism. Keep it positive and offer something the author didn't think of originally (I added this last point after receiving constructive criticism.)

Replying on a website is different than a personal message. If you believe the post needs extensive changing, do this privately in a personal message.

Saying you like the content so much that you will Tweet it or even repost on your blog is a great way to close your comment--if you mean it and will follow through, that is. Never say you are going to do something with someone else's content and then let it lie there unfinished and incomplete.

Another great way to close out your comment is by saying you will be following any links the publisher (you again) post in the content, or that you will follow them on WA and/or in the outside world of eCommerce. Following through on your promise is vital here, too. The publisher (yes, you) will be checking to see if this is true.

Finally, don't post a link to your site unless it is extremely pertinent to the discussion. For example, if you posted on a similar subject and you think the publisher would gain from reading it, then add the link. Otherwise, it could be seen a blatant self-promotion. FYI--WA has rules against this type of thing.

Please note this is NOT a post about the comments I received from fellow WA members. However, I have seen, and done, all these comment no-noes. I just hope to save you from the embarrassment I felt after I realized what a great comment could do for my blog.

So now that you have a blueprint, go forth and comment!