It’s all the rage! Post your comments on others’ Blogs and get links to your site! Easy! There is even software to plaster your “posts” on Blogs across the Web with minimal effort. Well, as we say in Chicago — when it comes to my Blogs — foe-ged-aboud-it!

What many seem to not understand is that Blogs are about opinions and conversations not about one-sided desires for self-promotion. In the almost rabid quest to attain incoming one-way links to their Web sites, Blogs are being hit with generic dribble from marketers that serve no purpose other than reflecting the commenter’s desire (and lack of tech savvy) to gain a coveted one-way inbound link.

I have a handful of Blogs and each and everyone is moderated. By being moderated this means that any comments submitted need to be approved by me before being added to my Blogs for public viewing. My Blogs — my call — and I am very persnickety about what gets added to my Blogs by those I don’t know. It’s called quality control.

A site visitor’s comments do not see the light of day on my Blogs unless they meet the following criteria:

• The comment must include your name; at the very least your first name — typed properly is a plus. Put your keywords in this field and I hit delete.
• Type like a grade schooler with poor grammar, typos and incomplete sentences and chances are your message is lost in your inability to communicate properly. Delete.
• The comment must be specific to the post you are commenting on — and I mean specific. General blah-blah-blah doesn’t cut it — comments must include detailed verbiage clearly about the post in question or it gets marked as spam. Comments like “I see your point of view but don’t agree…” without telling me specifically why you disagree, tells me you are just link baiting. If you disagree with my commentary, please do give me your POV in a professional and coherent manner. I will respond back with the same courtesy and clarity.
• Compliments are futile. Yes, we all love to hear how great our site is and having our egos stroked by site visitors. But my ego does not fall prey to those who try to compliment their way into gaining a link to their site from my Blogs with empty praise. Only those compliments combined with thoughtful specific commentary will have a chance of being approved for viewing by my site visitors. It’s all about the conversation!

Between all my Blogs, minimally 200 “comments” each day are marked as spam because they do not meet the basic criteria above. All of which are common sense with a dash of courtesy combined with an understanding of the venue in which you are participating.

News Flash to Blog Owners — Moderate your Blog and integrate the above standards as well. Doing so will help to increase the value and integrity of your Blog in the process. Otherwise you risk your Blog’s overall worth being affected negatively by “comments” that are of no value to anyone.

News Flash to Blog Commenters — Commenting on Blogs is certainly a great way to gain exposure. When you contribute your comments, it is an opportunity to show your personality, expertise and gain exposure for your Web site. But only when done properly and for all the right reasons integrating courtesy and common sense when doing so.

If you don’t have anything of definitive value to contribute and don’t want to make the efforts mentioned above — then don’t waste your time or that of Blog owners.

Some More Info for You:

1. Professionals Do Not Forward E-mails Without Comment
2. Technology, E-mail Etiquette and New Friends
3. 3 Rules for Posting Your Business Links
4. Copyright Refresher
5. Web Site Etiquette