Some of you probably spend minutes (or hours) commenting on other blogs either to connect with the blog’s owner, for a link back, or hoping for a free traffic to your blog/site.
Here are my tips on how to be a good commentator from my personal experience.
PS: There’s also a debate on the web whether to call someone who comments on a blog a “commenter” or a “commentator” 
Basically, to be a good commentator is to comment genuinely. If you really want to have a good connection with the blog’s owner, you must be genuine when you write your comments. The blog’s owner is not stupid. If your comments are not genuine, one day he/she’ll find out. You wouldn’t want that to happen, would you?
How to comment genuinely
- Be truthful to your words and show it.
If you say in a comment that you are going to follow the tips on a blog’s post, it’s always a good idea to come back again and leave a comment on how it went. If you keep on saying how good the tips are without actually trying it yourself, you will never impress the blog’s owner. - Don’t say things just to please the blog’s owner.
Often when you are trying to make an impression to the blog’s owner, you say things. Things that are nice to be heard but it simply comes too often that makes the blog’s owner wonders. If you really appreciate the posts, say more than just a “Thank you” short sentence. Explain why the post helps you or your site/blog personally. If the post doesn’t interest you, don’t say “Thank you for the news” because you know that you don’t care about it. - Stop being a “Yes” man.
If you agree with the blog’s owner on the post, say so. If you disagree, say so too, in nice words, of course. Using an abusive and non-constructive language is a one way ticket to go under. You may be remembered by the blog’s owner, but not in a good way. I don’t mind if you disagree with my opinion but I’d certainly want to know why you disagree with it.If you think that you won’t have the time to try whatever the blog’s owner is suggesting on the post, then say so. It’s better than lying to the blog’s owner that you are going to do it. It questions your integrity as a commenter. - Don’t abuse the “Top Commentators” widget.
Whenever I go to a blog and see the Top Commentator’s widget, my eyes go wider. I admit that sometimes I abuse it and start commenting like crazy so that I can be on the widget to get free back links. Afterwards, I stop commenting and never return to the blog (I know, it’s bad). To give a good impression to the blog’s owner, don’t stop commenting. Come back once a while and comment on the new posts. And don’t write short comments to trick the blog’s owner thinking that you are being genuine. I don’t mind if you are abusing it (that’s why I put the widget for anyway), but try not to be so obvious
- Don’t put a link to your blog posts too often on your comments.
I appreciate if a commenter shares his/her blog post if it’s related to the post he/she is commenting. However, if you put your links on every single comment that you write, it’ll trigger a red flag. It’ll be pretty obvious that you are only aiming for traffic rather than a connection with the blog’s owner. - Quality vs Quantity
Writing 1 quality comment is better than writing 5 non-quality comments. But quantity matters too. The more your name appears, the more the blog owner remembers you. Maintain the balance. Try to put quality comments in quantity, whenever possible. - Check your questions in the comment
There is nothing more embarassing than asking something that’s already been answered on the post. It shows that you didn’t actually read the post or maybe not thoroughly. Why you even asked the question is questionable by the blog’s owner.
I have to admit that I haven’t been a good commentator myself at times and I’m not attacking any of you personally with this post I know there are a lot of Dos and Don’ts here but the point is: if you are really genuine in what you are saying, these lists don’t really matter to me.
{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
I guess most of us would be “Yes” men to this post Michael
Having experienced your comments first hand I could genuinely say that you practice what you preach.
Hah. I was actually going to make a similar comment. Like not to be a yes man, but I agree with what you said.
Often times, I like to reiterate the major points of the post in order to help other commenters follow what was being said, and also to make sure I understand it fully.
Thanks Nadeesha. I can imagine how hard it is for a pastor to preach at church especially if he/she hasn’t practiced on what he/she is preaching *ugh*
Good post….
I agree with you. Even my eyes go wider when i see the widget.
Now a days i am getting lot of comments saying “nice post” / nice blog
only short comments. I usually see the comment and decide to delete the comment or approve it.
How about you?
Hm.. well since I installed my spam bee plug-in, I can be certain that those comments are genuine. I usually approve it unless if it’s only saying “nice post” and I can see his/her blog’s keywords being put in the name field.
So I guess I filter, but not that heavily
I find the best way to make all comments great is to only comment on blogs in your niche or blogs that you have an interest in.
I mean take me for example! I don’t comment on your blog much Michael but ti’s because your topics are all over the place!
Your blog is very unique to multiple amount of un-related content.
Don’t get me wrong this isn’t a bad thing but for me it’s hard to consistently comment seeing you change the topic so much
Heck this might be the main reason you have been doing so well with your blog.
Great article Michael!
Engaged too!
Haha I know, man. I honestly feel wrong sometimes and thinking whether to split the topics to separate blogs
Not sure if having topics all over the place is the reason of doing so well, though. Hopefully you’re right!
Yea,its a sad truth that the dofollow,commentluv,top commentators widgets are very much abused.
I had seen a post of very high PR brought down to PR 1,with hundreds of spammy comments.Even though,I comment to get traffic and back link,I always try my level best to add something to the post which would be worth it.
And btw,some blog owners do not like/approve comments where ‘key words’ are used as names.What is your view/take/opinion on this?
Ouch.. I guess that’s why I don’t want to join those “U comment I follow” movement. I don’t mind with the keywords being used as names as long as the comments are not spamming (advertising their product or service UNLESS if it’s really related to the post)
its NOT commentator its commenter!
Com´ment`er
n.1.One who makes or writes comments; a commentator; an annotator.
commentator
Noun
1. a person who provides a spoken commentary for a broadcast, esp. of a sporting event
2. an expert who reports on and analyses a particular subject
So if I was to write/speak ABOUT this post I would be a ‘tor but if I were to LEAVE a comment…I would be a ‘ter.
Key difference is location location location…!
I remember having a discussing about ‘top commenter’s’ v ‘top commentators’…I know mine says ‘ors as well…but i’m lazy!
Back to the post…yes as with anything there is an etiquette and complying with it has more benefits then not.
Yeah I think I read your comments when I googled around. Another theory said that they mean the same thing, except that they are being used in different era. Commenter was used before 1931 or something and commentator afterwards. Whichever it is, don’t really care lol
As simple as this :
A good commentator is one who add values to your post..if his comment is like “Nice post” “very useful” Its never a comment its nothing more then showing your presence.
I guess, although sometimes they really mean it (especially on those guide or how-to posts)
I’m always at a fix about giving comments. Don’t ask me why but my mind will just go blank the moment I’m at the comment section. As a result of which, I tend to ramble on and on… like now.
That said, I find it real difficult to ‘follow up’ with the comment that I made earlier. It’s again the quantity vs quality issue.
Well practice makes perfect, I guess
Just think of it the same as your daily life conversation. What will you reply back when someone says ….. (whatever the blog post was talking about)
Good points, especially no.4. I actually think that one should only comment on blogs that one at least enjoys reading, so that you can enter into the discussion naturally and the comment does not seem forced.
True. It will flow naturally and it doesn’t take much effort in doing so.
I hate people who goes like please refer to my blog for more info..
I wish more blog owners were like you – actually having some kind of leniency instead of only allowing peoples real names :/
-Jack
Well as long as the comment is not spammy, I’m fine with whatever name you want to put
A lot to learn from You – I’m Still learning art of Commenting -
These are some good rules to follow. Personally, my rule of thumb is that a comment should forward the discussion and be personal. Good Jobs, etc. mean nothing essentially. Also, as a moderator of comments on my own blog, you shouldn’t be afraid to decline comments that don’t add anything to your own posts. I think too often people are concerned about the promotion, or links, etc. regarding comments when the truth of the matter is that an intellegent statement is the best ad for the blog owner and vistor alike.
haha thats some useful advice. i do some of those same things you listed, except not so obviously =P I agree with #5, i hate it when people link their own post in my comments just for traffic.
Meh, your said widget is too crowded to be abused anyway. -_-
One thing that I’m still not so religious about is read all comments on a post before I post mine. Sometimes it can be a little challenging to read 100 comments of all others before you to just to follow the conversation.
Peter Lee
commentator hehe.. thats a term I’ve never heard before, but hey, whatever. I see that other posters, or commentators if you will, already corrected you on this one.
When I saw the post headline, I actually thought that you meant commenter, but I had to visit the post to make sure!
It’s a unique marketing scheme you got there!
At this point, I would be happy if someone decided to make tons of short cruddy comments on my blog. I have low standards =). Today, it seems hard to get commentators on your blog.
Megaphase.info´s last blog post..Just activated akismet
A commentator is someone that tells you details about an ongoing event, such as a sports game, national ceremony, etc, because they can see things that you can’t.A commenter, on the other hand, is different depending on the context.A commenter is someone who comments on past events , such as a news event, sports event, blog posting, etc.
Ah..thanks for the clear explanation
Sounds like a lot more effort in you as a commenter, but I wish that every commenter (including myself) does the same!