Nothing can make me more frustrated or pissed off than seeing a notification that I have a blog comment pending and find out it is SPAM. If you are just a casual visitor? Then you don’t need to worry. But if you have anything remotely related to a website or blog? Read this article or to the TRASH you’ll go!
The Issue - Desperate for Getting Found on the Web
I understand it. In today’s online world you want as many sites linking back to yours as possible. By having a large and diverse back link profile it will show a few things:
- Social Proof
- Better Alexa Rank
- Improved Google Page Rank
So one effective way is to post comments on other blogs, websites, forums, or anywhere else that could potentially link back to your site or blog. And although this is a good thing – this is also where the problems arise. Read below as to why your comment wasn’t approved – and probably never will be.
1. Lack of a Gravatar
If you run a website or a blog and plan on performing the above to try and build up your backlinks? You need to sign up for a Gravatar! And it needs to be your face I see in the comment. If I see a generic stock image it is a big red flag that your SPAM and your comment is going in the Garbage. Of course this ONLY applies to those who are running a site or blog.
If your just a Casual Visitor? Don’t Worry About It – Please feel free to leave your comment!
For the Rest of you Aspiring Writers, Bloggers, and Web Masters?
Please at the very least get a Gravatar. It takes about 2 minutes to sign up and setup and you don’t have to worry about it again. It will automatically populate your face in any and all comments you make (at least with WordPress blogs). Of course there are a ton of other commenting systems that require you to setup a different profile – but if you are even half way serious? Start with the Gravatar – Please!
2. You Are Kissing My Ass
OK, I love it when someone has genuinely read the article and found it useful. I pretty much live for those rare gems in comments. But when you are blatantly just doing some major ass kissing it is obvious to me you A) Haven’t read my post. and B) Are just trying to stroke my EGO to get your Comment approved.
I know this can be construed as me being judgmental but a blog isn’t a democracy. Although I try and be a nice guy as I want to see people succeed online. I will most likely trash your comment if I even smell the hint of poop in the air. (Sans my lil’ guy – were still working on his potty training.)
Gotta love Spammers!
3. You Haven’t Read the Article
Spam Bots are notoriously great at not reading the article. Or even better leaving a comment on an image instead of the article. Most of it gets tossed but it is still funny to see it in the SPAM folder.
The other one that drives me nuts is like the following example I received this morning:
A Really Poor Comment
This also applies to the one before this with the obvious brown nosing. But what else was wrong? This is an update for the PS3 for Call of Duty. Yes I know there is a version of the game for Apple and Android so it was kind of on topic (not really). But it was painfully obvious the person who commented didn’t take the time to actually read or understand what the article was about.
How to Fix It and Gain Visitors!
By this time I hope you have at least skimmed the first two points. So you have your Gravatar and you promise not to pucker up to the Tuchas – (TOO-khas) any more.
Don’t Miss: You should check out my Plugin Review on how to get your RSS Subscribers Back to Your Site!
If you are going to take the time to visit a website or blog with the sole intention of trying to get your DoFollow and run? Make sure to take the time and respect to read the ENTIRE article which for me takes about 45 seconds on avg (You guys with your 300 word articles – psh!).
Think of a comment that will:
- A) Enhance the article in a way that will either start or go along with the existing “conversation” of the Comments
- B) How you can relate to the material. For example – the recent Google Penguin algorithm change – how did it affect your site and your online business?
- C) STICK TO THE TOPIC
- D) Ask a Question. Get the Author engaged back in their own article. But make sure it is related to the content you have just read. Anything else should be directed to them through their Contact Me form.
If you do the above right? Not only will you make the author happy. You will get your back link. And if your comment draws real interest? You can end up getting visitors back to your site – possibly even the author yourself!
Another side benefit that I have been getting has been the opportunity to start building relationships with other blogs and finally start working on Guest Posting. Which if you can get a gig on a large blog? Can bring you a TON of traffic back to your own site!
Play By The Rules and We Both Win!
So even though I probably need to get another cup of coffee so I’m not quite so grumpy I hope you get the general idea. If you play by the rules above we both win in the end.
I’d love to hear what bugs you when people leave a “bad” comment and how do you deal with it? Leave a Comment Below (Make sure to follow the rules!)
