Do Not Give Up on Site Comments
Please. Do not give up on the WA site comment feature. I know there are a lot of people here that are frustrated with Site Comments. In case you are not interested in another site comment discussion, let me add: Please, don't give up on working on creating awesome content for your website either. Quitters never win. What follows below is about site comments...
I've read so many complaints, that I've almost been scared to request more myself. Thinking maybe my good luck is about to run out. After all, I have been able to approve every single comment that I've ever gotten. Out of all of them, I have deleted one sentence that contained site feedback. I've changed the spelling of 2 words.
Despite my fears, I went ahead and requested comments this morning. Knowing the number of complaints that I have read lately, I almost feel guilty to say that this. I got 9 great comments this morning. Every single one of them was awesome.
To everyone that has ever commented when I requested comments. Thank you!!!!
From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate your comments. I know that I have obtained way more value from your time and comment. Thank you.
Yes, you may have earned one credit or 50 cents. Anyone that thinks that people are commenting as a way of making a living off of comments is a little confused. The number of hours it takes to comment on enough posts to be eligible for that fifty cents offset the value of the fifty cents.
I took weeks of commenting before I was able become a certified commenter. I look back and think that was a LOT of work. I am not sure that I would do it again.
Before you request comments, ask yourself is this:
Is this a post that the average WA will be able to write a semi-intelligent comment on?
For example:
- Last night, I posted an article that was targeted for a female audience. I did not request comments on it because males would have more problems responding to it.
- I do not request comments on my Colorado lifestyle website posts that talk about home sales in Calhan, Colorado. WA members will never understand this part of my niche well enough to be able to provide a decent comment. So, I am not going to ask expect them to do so.
Again - if you have been taking the time to write comments via the site comment feature, thank you. I know that your time might be better spent working on your website or even just relaxing.
I sincerely hope that you will be able to get some great comments back on your website when you put in a request.
--Sondra
Recent Comments
138
I agree, Sondra that we shouldn't give up on Site Comments, the feature is important and it does help us so much.
I can see it in my websites improving radically in the SERPS.
I also do see that there could be some improvements be made to the Site Comment which, in time, I might address to right authority, so to speak. :)
That is great that you are seeing the improvements in the SERPS.
I am very happy to be a member at WA. Kyle and Carson are always working on things, behind the scenes, to make the entire WA experience better. It is my understanding that there are a few changes for Site Comments in the plans.
Keep up the great work that you are doing on your website!
I think Site Comments is great, and the only difference that I've seen since they created the cash incentive is that I actually get comments now. Before my request would sit there for days because nobody was doing it.
A couple of days ago I requested 3 comments over the course of a day and got 28 in total! They're all valuable to me (warts and all!), and I'm grateful for every one of them.
During the weeks that I'm working 12 hours a day, I use Site Comments as a way to show my site is active even when I can't write more than one post. I believe it's working because my traffic is still climbing, and I'm still seeing results even though I haven't been producing the same amount of content as before.
As far as making money off of comments, I think it's wonderful! If anyone is willing to put that kind of time into making comments because they need or want that small amount of money that badly, more power to them!
Thanks, Sondra, for a great post!
Janelle
Well said Janelle. I like how you said, "They're all valuable to me (warts and all!) , and I'm grateful for every one of them. Me too!
I really like your suggestion of using Site Comments as a way to show that your site is still active even when you can't write more than one post. I need to try that out.
Best wishes!
I publish posts daily and use sitecomments all the time. I have problems a minority of the time and I disapprove the comments that are problematic. Nothing is going to be perfect, and I appreciate how we can disapprove. It influences the commenters ability to continue giving comments if they don't have a good approval rating. More people need to disapprove rather than editting comments and the problem should correct itself.
I agree if we disapprove the comments rather than editing them, the money will dry up and the problem should fix itself.
After reading people's comments, I do agree that awful comments should not be accepted.
My guess is that the people making the awful comments are trying to reach certified commentor status, so they can get paid. It take a LOT of approved comments to get to that point.
I just check my commentor status and saw that I need to make 30 more comments if I want to re-gain my certified status. That is a lot of comments to make. I'll probably focus on my website content instead.
So, if people that make completely awful comments are disapproved, they will either learn to write good comments or do something more productive like working on their websites.
Best wishes!
If the comments are that bad, they have probably never made it to the money. It takes a lot of approved comments to get to that status. As I mentioned to Tiffany, I cut back on commenting in the last month.
To regain my certified commentor status, which is what would allow me to get paid, I write another 30 comments that are approved. Then, I would get paid for every other comment.
Keep on disapproving the awful ones.
It is a lot of work to get the commentor status. Hopefully, people receiving comments will stop being so nice, and only accept quality comments. We have to enforce the rules when we're receiving comments otherwise, people will continue to try gaming the system.
I agree. I am not giving up on Site Comments. I know people are making money off of it however. The people doing this are in Nigeria. 1 U.S. dollar equals 361.5 Naira (their currency) right now. Over there the amount made from doing Site Comments all day is probably worth it! I know it is not worth it here in the U.S. or in Europe. I post a comment and go to Google Analytics and see a bunch of users all from Nigeria instantly on my post. This happens more at night here (day over there).
I am sure it will all get worked out eventually and we will still be happy WA members and be using Site Comments when the dust settles.
Wow ! Who would have thought ! Its a shame, because the comments are not even in decent english. I end up disapproving them. But they still get paid.
Great observation, Jessica. There are indeed people using Site Comments for income, and the results haven't been positive.
I do not think they get paid if the comment is disapproved...not sure though. If they get disapproved enough times they will get booted though.
I feel a little bad since I know these people are probably just trying to make a living too so I try to be as lenient as possible.
The more I think about it, I wonder if they (the people that are writing horrible comments that make zero sense and are in poor English) have even gotten to the point that are able to be paid.
To get paid, you have to be certified. That means that you have to write 50 comments first, that are actually approved.
From all of the complaints that I've read, I would like to think that there is enough people out their disapproving the terrible comments, that they stop trying. Either that or get better at writing.
Well, I am counting my blessings that I've had great comments.
Yet, you all have made a great case for disapproving. If they are truly trying to make money - they have to write a bunch of good comments first. If they are only in it for the money, they will go away.
They don't get paid for disapproved comments.
I've only had one disapproved because the girl got too many and she was scared that she was going to get charged for them. I noticed I didn't get paid. No big deal....
I am pretty sure they don't get paid if it is disapproved.
Plus, I do know that you don't even start getting paid until you have had 50 comments approved. Then, you only get paid for every other comment.
You also have to have 50 approved comments within a 30 day period. I just noticed this evening that I lost my certified commentor status because I only took the time to write 20 comments in the last 30 days. So, I am 30 comments short.
Hi Laurie,
Thanks for stopping by. On a separate note, you've being doing an excellent job letting people know that SPAM is not allowed here. Way to go!
Thanks for stopping by and contributing to a conversation that made me stop and think a bit more.
I’ve given site comments another go this morning after reading about our Nigerian commenters who frankly have been my main problem. After checking the world clock I reckon they are all asleep. Got some decent comments this morning. So it seems in my case, timing is everything!!
Hey, Sondra. I have to agree. We should NOT give up on site comments. Most of the comments are given by thoughtful people and the rest may be a bit confused as to what to write.
For them, I would recommend that they read up on what the purpose of "Site Comments" is and learn the difference between Comments and Feedback.
And you're totally right about the work that goes into becoming "Certified". It took me about 6 weeks to obtain that designation and I am pleased to say that it has finally happened today. WooHoo!
I will admit that the cash incentive was part of the reason I committed to that but, I also understand the part about giving quality comments as well. Not to brag but, I have written over 100 comments in the last year or so and I am 100% approved, (so far).
WA members work hard producing content for there websites and they deserve Quality comments for their efforts.
Thanks for this post. You have given us something to think about and I appreciate that about you and this community.
All the best as you Move Forward,
Wayne
PS. Sorry if this was too long :)
Hi Wayne,
No apologies about long comments. lol People will love your comments on their websites.
Congrats on finally getting certified. I discovered today that I lost my certification because I didn't make enough comments last month. Like 30 short... I needed to spend more time on my websites.
So, if you want to keep the certification, be sure to stay in the habit of doing a few comments each day to that keep 50 total comments within a 30 day period. It's a rolling thing....
Best wishes!
I use the Site Comments platform daily, and I find it to be the most time-consuming and frustrating part of my business and of this platform. I think it's ridiculous that a website doesn't just pop up when you want to comment. Are you telling me there aren't any sites I can comment on? Why they don't just pull up the most recent request and give it to me is beyond my comprehension.
The people who designed this entire website are genius, let's face it. It's the most amazing site I've ever been a part of. You're telling me they can't "loosen" up the comments area to pull through more websites so when you want to leave a comment and earn credit you can?
I sit there, sometimes, just wanting to go to bed or having to run out, and I just want to get my new post into the system, but I can't get the two sites up to leave comments on to qualify. I'll be darned if I'm going to pay more money to buy the stupid credits. I'd rather earn them, but oh, wait, I CAN'T because a stupid site doesn't come through. It just keeps telling me no sites available everyone has gotten comments. Super frustrating!
Anyway, that's my take. I love it but hate when it causes me such anxiety.
You do sound frustrated. I'm sorry that it is causing so much anxiety. Around the holidays, I was busy with my shop. So, I didn't have time to really focus on writing posts for my website. Instead, I used the spare time that I did have to work on trying to do as many comments as possible.
I was eventually able to get certified. Then I did a bunch more so that way I would always have a reserve sum available in the event that I was short on money. That way my WA monthly membership could still be paid. (Since I opened a brick and mortar retail shop, many of my expenses shot through the roof.)
Anyway, I was able to do enough commenting that I have a nice supply of credits available to be used for requesting site comments. Like you, I'm not willing to pay cash.
So maybe at some point in the future, when you are in a writing slump, try focusing on writing site comments and building up a reserve of credits. It does get nice to have a nice supply of credits that I can use if necessary.
And yes, I hear you about being frustrated when there are no sites available to be commented on.
That is part of why I wanted to share my positive experiences with the feature. That will help encourage people to submit their websites post for comment. If everyone only talks about how awful the comments are, fewer people will want to use that feature.
I hope that your website's traffic takes off soon. When it does, you will have zero concern about you have enough credits available to request comments from WA members.
Hi Sondra,
I've been reading all the posts complaining about comments. It really hasn't affected me to this point and when I go on and leave comments I am legitimately interested in the post or website I am commenting about.
$$$ doesn't enter my mind when I leave a comment and I haven't requested any comments yet. I think it's a good system and it CAN make us all better at what we do.
Thanks for posting!
Cal
You are welcome Cal. I agree with what you said. Like you, I wasn't requesting comments for the longest. I suppose because I was spending so much time commenting on other people's posts; I was neglecting my own.
Yet, the credits accrued. So, you will be much like me. When you decide you want comments - you have so many credits saved that you can request away.
Take care.
I absolutely do believe that some folks are leaving comments as a way to make money. There has been a significant deterioration of comment quality since it was monetized.
That said, I'm not encouraging anyone to give up on the system, but I do believe the previous (credits for comments) system was more effective.
-Laurie
Hi Laurie,
I'm sorry that I'm just now seeing this comment. I have a new theory tonight. I think the possible financial incentive available for certified commentors has encouraged more people to try to comment that would not have done so otherwise.
Yet, no one is eligible to get paid until 50 comments have been approved. Then you don't earn your first 50 cents until comment 51.
So, if you all are refusing to approve the bad comments, the people that are causing the problems should go away. Not only would they have the "disapprovals" dragging down their rating; they would see it isn't as easy to get paid as they thought.
I would love to be able to see some of the data to see if it supports my theory.
Regardless, keep disapproving the terrible, awful comments. Keep your SPAM patrol up also. lol
It takes all of us working together to keep WA a great community.
Good article... not everybody is going to stop to think that in order to get comments need to present material of interest to your audience. But if you really want lots of comments make your article so anybody can at least get an idea of what you are talking about.
Barry
That is very true Barry.
After all, WA members are real people. They are not machines.
I hope you have a wonderful afternoon.
Site comment is awesome. My website has more than 1,000 comments from this source. I don't understand from where those complaints come from.
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Looks to me like the Site Comments platform is a victim of its own success. Lately I've wanted to make some comments to earn the points to get comments on one or more of my own posts, but usually there aren't any posts available for comment. They've all already been commented on.
Maybe there is a certain time of day when more posts are available. I dunno. I hope that the platform eventually irons out the bugs.
I also know you can purchase comments, but I'm not going there!
I've not disapproved a comment yet. A couple of days ago I got one that was barely understandable, because I'm sure the commenter did not have a good grasp of English. I went ahead and approved it, and responded to it. To me it gives the comments section of that post some authenticity.
Grant
I sure know about the lack of available posts to comment on. 90% of the ones I am notified about get to Tasmania between midnight and 0200. Guess what, when I get up all have been commented on.
Grant, that was nice of you to go ahead and approve that person's post. I agree, it does give some authenticity.
In the last couple of weeks, I have not been commenting that much. In some ways, you almost have to look at it as a game - trying to find ones to comment on. Or at least that is what I did. I would try periodically though out the day at intervals. Since I work for myself, I can walk back and forth to the computer to check even if I'm doing other things. I guess I was determined. lol
I would never wait for the request to show up in my email box.
If someone comes into the shop, I would just leave the web page open so I could comment after they left. If you close it, it will be gone.
Good luck! You live in a pretty area..
Yeah, I think a new post gets its comments in about a minute.