Usually I don't blog about this, but this has got to be said.
So, I've been utilizing the "give and take" comments thread. I prefer this thread than commenting on 2 sites and getting 1 credit to ask for comments from people. I'm sorry but, I don't have time to really do that, and I always give a person comments when I find out they commented on my blog.
Here's the problem. When I have asked for comments in the past, most of the comments were well thought out and very engaging, and of course I would comment back with answers to
whatever questions the commentor had for me.
When I give comments I really try my best to make them thoughtful. Sometimes I will ask questions, sometimes I'll say I really learned something here, but I try to be as engaging and to the topic on whatever it is I comment on.
Well, the last time I asked for comments, when I went into my Wordpress Platform, I saw that I had 2 comments, and I'm sorry but these comments were very short. The only difference is, one comment had one sentence and the other comment had 2 sentences. I'm sorry but that's not really right.
Look I get it, some people don't have the time to type out a well-thought out comment. I get that, and I understand that time is money. I GET IT! But, in saying that, if you can't type out a well-thought out comment or at least be detailed in what it is you say, you probably shouldn't be commenting period.
Now, I'm not a horrible person and I left thought-provoking comments on their respective blogs. It was only fair, because they did leave me comments on my site, so I returned the favor, but the comments I had on my site were so bad that I trashed both of the comments. There was one comment that I kept that was short, but that one was a little well thought out than the 2 I deleted.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, if you leave a comment for someone, don't give one-two sentence answers. Try to be engaging and actually have a conversation when you put comments on my blog. Cause, what's going to start happening for now on, is, if I get comments that are one-two sentences and not well-thought out at all, then I'm going to return the favor and leave non-well thought out comments on your blog too.
I'm sorry but we're supposed to be helping one another, not write off eachother as just another website to comment on.
Normally I would never blog about this, but I feel like something has to be said. I would probably be given more well-thought out comments if I was to comment on 2 posts and receive a credit, but I really don't have the time to do that.
We're here to help one another, so let's keep that in mind.
Sorry for the rant. Thank you,
-Jake
Recent Comments
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I'll just say one thing, Jake. You can always edit the comments to make them more thought provoking. It's not the best procedure - but, it's one way to keep it from being trashed.
That being said, I would PM the person making the unacceptable comment and explain how and why you edited them. Maybe, they will take the initiative to do it right - next time.
Jim
I have done this on one comment I received through the Site Comments system. It felt better to do this than to disapprove the comment entirely, but I must say I felt kinda strange doing it lol.
Nothing to feel strange about, Heidi.
You are offering a fellow WA member a chance to improve their comment without retribution. I feel good about doing that - not strange.
Jim
Felt somehow like cheating. I altered it quite a bit because it basically said I know nothing about horses but your site looks nice!
I can totally relate Jake. It's really disappointing to get one-sentence comments when I always try my best to give relevant comments on other people's sites.
There were even times when the topic I was asked to comment on in return for the comments I received were those that I know nothing about and so I had to do some research in order for me to write better engaging comments.
There have been times also when I commented on people's sites on the give and take comment thread and they did not return the favor. That's why I only comment on people's posts after they have commented on mine.
Very well said Jake. You are so right, it does take time but if anything is worth doing it is worth doing well otherwise do not do at all.
It took some courage for you to respond like you did so well done on that.
This site as you say should be about giving and taking but probably reaping and sowing would describe it better. You reap what you sow. If we give our best then we can expect to receive an equal measure or more.
With that I hope I am not guilty of short cutting on anyone at all.
You have done us all a favor by calling us to attention on this issue.
Cheers
Judy
I think this is very well said, as everyone should be leaving very well thought out posts on your site. If someone does not want to take the time to post something and actually make it relevant to the site they should pass on by. As I am reading someone's post I generally jot down key notes that I want to talk about in the comment. Hope this gets better for you.
I agree with this post completely. It wasn't until I read it that I realized that I would really like it if more of my comments were more than a sentence or two. I like to get more feedback as well and have often felt that the comments platform, two for one credit, also takes up my time for what I might receive in return. I wasn't getting worked up about it or anything, I still think it's a great platform. But I know I would like it if comments were a little longer and more engaging instead of, I like this article, thanks for writing it or something along those lines, lol.
Nikki :)
Hi Jake
No need to apologize. I also put a lot of thought and effort into commenting and would be really peeved if I receive useless comments.
I understand what you say about not having time to use the comment platform, but I was wondering whether the comments on there are any better, seeing that people know their comments need to be approved and that they can get banned for rejected comments? (I haven't used that platform yet.)
Do you (or anybody else) have experience with this? I was just wondering about this.
Sharlee (Chocolate IceCream)
They are a little better, because it's causing you to work very hard to receive one comment so yeah that platform is better, but I'm not going to type really nice comments just to be sent a comment that's not well-thought out. I'm not going to go out of my way for 2 blogs if I'm not even guaranteed to get a nice comment on my own blog. That's why I do a ratio of 1:1. Someone comments on my website, and I comment on theirs. At least that way, if I was to get a crumby comment I didn't waste my time completely...
That's just how I look at it.
I hear you Jake. I commend you on always leaving quality comments.
I generally don't delete comments unless they are blatant spam because, in my mind, even weak comments and short comments indicate that people took the time to read the post and leave a comment.
The thing is, when you get an organic comment, not from WA, via social media or search engines, they are usually poor quality and often one-liners as most outsiders of WA have no idea how to give a quality comment.
My best friends have left me one-liners or just 2 words like"great post" because they are not bloggers and have no clue how to comment.
Heck, I've received one-liners from TOP Mom bloggers on round-up posts that have included them.
Not everyone has access to this awesome training.
True. I dunno, it just bugs me. I mean I guess in a way we ask for it, but if you're going to leave 1-2 sentences, at least have something quality to say. You don't have to write a paper, but don't do one liners lol.
I agree Lauren, organic comments are usually short and are of poor quality. But I have actually received comments that are very long, so long that I had to break them down into smaller paragraphs for easier reading, lol.
Hi Jake, don't apologize for that rant.
Let me tell you...I get the SAME! and more.
A few generic words that can be for any niche!
I PMd one of them and told them how I couldn't use their comment. It was obvious he didn't read my post because the questions he asked, were already answered.
The other 2 were a handful of useless generic words so I had to delete them. In the meantime, they all got well thought out comments from me.
I sit there with my pad of paper and note what I want to say. I read the whole thing like I am a real visitor.
I have read several times over the year I have been here to accept the comments but alter them? NO thanks. These lazy people need to learn.
Now, most of the time I comment on a post then PM them my link.
I do this because the ones who wrote those comments I mentioned are there, and I don't want them to leave me comments again. So it do it this way.
Many end up leaving similar comments as they get and I don't blame them. I don't blame you if you do that as well.
Thanks for writing this post, it's much needed!
I could not have said it better.
Read the instructions for the give and take thread. It's a 3:1 ratio there. If you don't have time to give out comments you will get back what you put forth.
Rather than complain you can address the people who were involved, a post like this sounds very whiny. Remember time is valuable for everyone this world isn't all about you!
Eric
Well but I always give well-thought out comments. Yeah I may not give the typical 3:1 ratio, but which is better? A well thought out comment, or doing the 3:1 ratio in hopes that the one comment you receive is well thought out when really it's just a one-sentence comment.
If I knew I was going to receive or had insurance that I was going to receive at least one well-thought out comment, I wouldn't mind doing the ratio of 3:1, but I'm not going to waste my time typing a nice comment out for others, and for me to only get back one comment that doesn't do anything for my blog.
I understand what you're saying, but I'm not going to be working head over heels if I receive something that only took 30 seconds to type. If I'm going to do the 3:1 ratio, I better get something good back. So seeing as though that's not the case, I'm going to stick to my 1:1 ratio. At least than it doesn't feel like a waste of time.
I did address the people that were involved. Yeah it sounds whiny but do you see why I'm upset?
I know what you're saying, if you look at some of my blogs you will know I don't get along with people and comments. But that being said there is a way around this problem.
Find people to work exclusively with that always give good comments. This way you only talk through PM's which isn't against any rules.
The bigger you build the list the better you will understand that every post is going to be full of great and useful comments.
What starts off with a simple group for comments can be very useful for other things, look at my comment in bogetters video 32 about mastermind groups.
Leaving things up to randomness will always give you the chance to receive junk, especially with newer members who haven't gone through the frustrations the rest of us have.
PM me if you would like any help with finding people to assist you with comments, I am sure you will find plenty of people just by this thread alone.
One other thing don't worry about the niches being different, Google will actually enjoy seeing returning commenters that are from all kinds of different niches.
Eric
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Being new, I wondered how so many of you had the time to answer with paragraphs, instead of sentences. Even just the short responses or questions I have in response to all the notifications I get, are taking as much or more time than I have for training and learning.
So from this, I guess I need to mainly focus on training and for the most part, ignore the notifications, if they all need to be long, and tboughtfully detailed like this one. Maybe I should just follow those who follow me, and not comment so much until I am actually earning income, maybe then having more time and experience to answer correctly?
yes, spend most of your efforts on your website and leave WA until last. That's the ticket.
Hi Jo
I see you are fairly new around here - welcome! ;-)
What Jake refers to is when people leave comments on one's website. (You will get to it in the training.) But, leaving comments on here, also helps to train us in leaving proper comments.
Great advice from Jim, concentrate on your training - that is what you are here for, as you progress through the training, you will automatically get more involved in the community. ;-)
Hope this helps!
Sharlee (Chocolate IceCream)