Several months back Adrienne wrote a blog post on comments and what her rules were for people commenting on her blog.
At the time I thought that it was a good idea but really did not see that I was having much of a problem on my blog. Every now and then I would get someone leaving a comment and they did not have a gravatar or the page they linked to was a sales page.
Over time however as more and more people have started to come to my blog I have an idea of why Adrienne wrote her post on comment rules.
I think as bloggers we all love comments on our posts. It is great to see what other people think about what we write even if we disagree. I know personally I love comments of any sort, well almost.
If you do not have a blog or website and just stumbled onto my blog from a search engine, this post is really is not aimed at you. I would love to have your comment.
Sooooooo I love comments but…..
Here are My Pet Peeves…..
I would like to see comments have a gravatar.
The gravatar is the little picture that accompanies your comment.
Most people have a picture of themselves however I am not opposed to people who have other gravatars either.
I just really do not like seeing those weird looking creators that I choose to be your gravatar if you do not have one.
If you do not have a gravatar one is very easy to get at Gravatar.com. It is free. Just go to their website and sign up for an account. Make sure you use the email address that you intend to use when you leave a comment.
I go to everyones blog or website and look at it before I approve a comment.
When ever someone comments on my blog I go and leave a comment back on the commenters blog.
I know that some bloggers will link to a product that they are selling sometimes and this does not bother me. I can go to their blog and leave a comment there. Most of the time these are frequent commenters on my blog so I know them and know they have a blog that I can comment on.
I do not like it thought when someone comments for the first time and leaves a link to a sales page. Especially if that is all they appear to have. If you are going to comment on blogs at least have a blog that I can comment on.
If you are a spammer I am sure you are not reading this post so this is kind of fruitless to say, but I am going to say it anyway.
Leaving a generic comment that could go on any post no matter what the post was about, anything from cooking to internet marketing, is an automatic delete for me.
I figure that these are probably bots posting to as many different posts as they can.
To my Blogging Buddies and any new Blogging Buddies that I do not know yet, I Love Your Comments.
I always look forward to hearing what everyone has to say about my posts.
Please leave me a comment. Do you agree or disagree with My Pet Peeves? I would love to hear your opinion.
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{ 35 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Dee Ann,
I agree with your pet peeves but you probably knew I would.
The more visitors that come to your blog, the more comments you will start to receive. If everyone really left comments because they enjoyed the post, our blogging experience would be so fabulous. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.
I can understand the gravatar issues, to have one or not to have one. I know some people who are regular commenters to my blog that refuse to put one up for them. They don’t like the way they look, can you imagine that! That’s okay, I like them anyway.
I say that it’s your blog and you have the right to do whatever you want. If others don’t agree, don’t visit. It’s really that simple. Abide by your rules or get your comment deleted. You can’t be more clear than that.
Adrienne recently posted…How To Get More Views On Your YouTube Videos
Adrienne,
I did know you would agree and am sure that others will not.
As far as the gravatar goes I do not mind the ones that are not a picture of the person. I have several people that are regulars that do not have pictures of themselves but they have something. It just seems that if you can take the time to install commentluv you can put something up for a gravatar. Of course that is only my opinion.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Have a great week.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…My 7 Links – It’s A Challenge
Hey Dee Ann,
I have to say I agree completely with your pet peeves about comments!
Can’t really say that I “hate it” when people leave a comment and there’s no avatar because negativity brings more negativity!
But (and it’s a big one) I would certainly prefer a thousand times a comment WITH a gravatar picture than just a cartoonish image or the gray figure (even if it is a customized logo of the blog).
About commenters that just write some nonsense in order to get a backlink, I either remove the backlink or don’t approve the comment in the first place.
I rather have a few valuable comments on my posts than having hundreds of spam comments everywhere.
And last but not least, those that use their backlinks to point them at a sales page, I think it’s their loss.
Personally I haven’t had a single comment of those (yet) but I know I would be bothered if they did not use at least a backlink where I can pay some retribution for their comment.
After all, the commenting systems were built to entice more communication, not hard cold selling, right?
Take care and have a great day (or night!)
Sergio
Sergio Felix recently posted…Overcoming Fear Of Video Creation: 7-Day Challenge Summary
Sergio,
I think you hit it when you said that the commenting systems were built to entice more communication and not hard cold selling.
I don’t know why some people think that leaving comments will make a sale. Like I said before I have several people who regularly leave comments and sometimes leave a link to a product they are selling but that is completely different from the person who only has a sales page, leaves their sales page every time and does not provide anywhere for me to go and communicate back with them on their own blog.
I would also not say “I hate it when there is no Avatar” but, it is nice to see an avatar of some sort even if it is not the persons face.
Thanks for stopping by and have a good week.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…My 7 Links – It’s A Challenge
Hey Dee Ann,
Thanks for your reply!
Just wanted to tell you OMG somebody just left a comment with a backling to a sales page hahaha
Guess I shouldn’t have mentioned it!
Sergio
Sergio Felix recently posted…How To Password-Protect Your Videos Using Vimeo
Sergio,
I am surprised that you just got your first one. I get them all of the time. I always look for a blog so I can go and comment but most of them are not associated with any blog at all. They are just sales pages.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…All The Better To Hear You
Hi De Ann.
Will be back at your page soon. Look forward to more!
I agree with all your pet peeves, I hate not seeing a gravatar. I like putting a face to the comment.
Also- another pet peeve I have, is having to login with Facebook/Twitter to comment. I don’t want to share my personal details[number etc] on a blog.
I love comments too
Have a good day. Rochelle.
Rochelle,
I agree with you I like putting a face with a comment but there are those who do not think they look good or something and do not want their face there. For those I would rather see something that represents them then just the default avatar. Personally I love seeing faces though. The comments with faces really stand out in my mind.
I have not come across blogs that make you sign into Facebook/Twitter to comment but I don’t think I would leave a comment in that case. I agree with you I don’t want to share all of my personal details on a blog.
Thanks for stopping by and have a good week.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…All The Better To Hear You
we all love comments and i love it more when i have a comment that starts a discussion or includes a question, ammm and I don’t really care much about the avatar as long as the comment is not out of topic.
I must admit that Adrienne is the best blogger that do commenting the the way to bring traffic to her blog and building relationships I’m one of the bloggers that fall in love with her blog because of one of her comments.
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Faissal,
Yes, Adrienne is a pretty amazing blogger. I love her blog and her comments also.
While I love to put a face with a comment or at least see something other than the default avatar, I am willing to let a comment go if it has content that is on the topic or is a good comment that starts a conversation.
I know I put the Avatar Pet Peeve 1st on my list but my list really did not have any order. The no avatar is the one that I am most willing to let go. I do want content that is relative to the conversation though.
Thanks for your comments and have a great day.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…I Am Thankful For…
Hi Dee Ann
I totally agree with you, and maybe I should do something like this for my blog! The amount of comments I delete and that don’t get through to my blog has definitely increased!
I think they should have a Gravitar; it’s always nice to see an image of the person who left the message.
One of my pet peeves is definitely the one that points me back to a static sales page that really gets me, especially if it’s the first time they have left a comment.
I do agree with Adrienne when she say’s” It’s your blog Dee Ann you set the rules” it’s that simple.
Great post Dee Ann one which I’m sure will get a lot of support.
I go off on my vacation tonight Dee Ann, so if we don’t catch up before; “Have a great Christmas and here’s to a Wonderful and prosperous New Year for All”
Take care, catch up soon
Ian
Ian Ieba recently posted…Take The Road Not Taken – Try Something New!
Ian,
I think people do not get a gravatar when they are just leaving comments to get traffic and back links to their website that is many times a sales page. They are always able to get commentluv installed. I think those are the ones that bother me the most.
I know some people don’t want their face out there. I think it is a great way to brand yourself, but if that is the case at least go to the trouble to get some sort of avatar.
I really do not like the static sales page, especially if they do not have a blog at all. I do have some regular commenters that will point their commentluv to a sales page sometimes but that is different. They have a blog and they just point their commentluv to different places. That is great.
Commenting is a way of interacting with other people. Some of these people do not get it.
Have a great vacation, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Thanks for stopping by.
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…All The Better To Hear You
Hi DeeAnn
I totally agree with all your pet peeves especially the one about not having a gravatar image.
I don’t really understand that one to be honest because the whole purpose of commenting on someones blog is to build a relationship with the blog owner.
Also, another one of mine is when someone leaves a comment but adds their website link in the comment box…
That really peeves me off lol
Take care misses and have a fab day
Dawn
Dawn,
The gravatar image seems to be the major complaint about comments. I think everyone says they would like people to have a gravatar. It is so easy to get. If you can get commentluv you can get a gravatar.
I have not gotten to many comments with links in them but I do not put them up unless it really contributes to the post. Then I will think twice if I do not know the person. I will definitively not put up a comment with a link if it links to something the person is selling.
I almost put a link in a comment a while ago because it contributed to the post and had nothing to do with me but instead I think I emailed it to the person who wrote the post. You are right links really have no place in comments most of the time.
Thanks for dropping by.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…All The Better To Hear You
Hi DeeAnn
I have read Adrienne’s commenting rules and guidelines and I loved it the way she has put forth.
Also your commenting pet peeves are all valid and I would always go by them.
Praveen Rajarao recently posted…DMC’s First GiveAway: 2 Premium themes from SoloStream Worth $118 !!!!!
Praveen,
Adrienne did a great job on her commenting rules.
I intend to start going by my pet peeves. Just wanted to tell people before I really did it.
So far the only comments on this post follow the rules.
Thanks for dropping by,
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…I Am Thankful For…
Dee Ann I agree with you entirely. In fact I have written a blog post about getting an avatar. It’s a great way to get your face or brand out there and be recognized.
I have also written a post about my rules for blog comments. I refuse to publish the generic “Great post, keep up the good work” comments. It’s about time they learned the ropes.
I sometimes allow links if the comment really adds something to the post.
Sandy Halliday recently posted…Setting My Goals For Making Money Online In 2012
Sandy,
I automatically delete anything that sounds remotely like “Great post, keep up the good work”. I figure they are just spamming as many blogs as they can.
I agree with you about links. I will allow them if they contribute to the post.
I am putting a link to your post on getting an avatar here. If anyone wants to find out how to get one.
Get Your Avatar If You Want To Get Noticed is the post Sandy wrote about getting an avatar.
Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…CommentLuv Premium Goes Live
Dee Ann, thanks so much for linking to my post. I really appreciate it. I just found “your comment has a reply” email in my junk box! Just shows it pays to check from time to time.
Sandy
Sandy Halliday recently posted…Setting My Goals For Making Money Online In 2012
Sandy,
No problem.
I figure if someone needs to know how to get an avatar they could go to your post. You mentioned that you had written on so thought I would make it easy for people to go and find it.
Thanks for your input.
Have a great week.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…All The Better To Hear You
Hi Dee Ann,
I can understand you feeling that way totally. I also have rules but i don’t tell anyone what they are, until now and just for you Dee Ann
Some newer bloggers haven’t set up their Gravatars yet,it took me about 9-12 months before I set mine up so i give people a squeeze on that one. But i have created a video showing people how to set up and add gravatars to their sites.
I also check the person’s site before approving their comments and if I find a sales page, hug page, advertising page or any form of blog that has no recent comments and hasn’t been updated for ages I spam the comment.
If the comment can be applied to any post on any blog I spam the comment.
If the URL field is empty but they have a comment luv link I spam the comment.
If the URL field and commentluv link do not match sites I spam the comment UNLESS i know the person and only then if the URL field isn’t a sales page.
If the comment contains a link (within the comment) and none has been asked for I spam the comment UNLESS I know the person, but even then I’ll visit the site and if it inappropriate I’ll spam the comment.
If the comment is for a really old post and i don’t know the person 9 times out of 10 I spam the comment. (Spammers target older posts that are already indexed).
If the comment is just a “great post” or “love your blog” BS comment I’ll trash it or spam it.
On my old theme I set up comment rules for everyone to see but since changing themes i haven’t added the rules because i now think that people commenting will know what is and what isn’t acceptable.
I now feel that these spammers, who are often from SEO companies, will work around your rules and try to be clever. For that reason alone I keep my rules in my head but apply them for every comment.
As you know Dee Ann, I check my spam folder every day and I will un-spam people that land there, IF THEY MEET MY RULES, or I know them
You know that I’ve recently had some issues with my blog and through those issues i found loads of spam comments that i had allowed in my earlier days (being new to blogging and not knowing better). I then spent a whole weekend going through my blog and removing them all, even if it looked a little suss it was spammed.
The alarming thing is that i see these people on other blogs and really want to shout out to the blog owner “Oi so and so is spamming your site, get on it” but I’d be there all day sometimes.
There’s an old saying I have used for years now: My house my rules and when it comes to my blog I apply the same thing: My blog my rules! Don’t like them, don’t come!
Sharing is caring.
Take care Dee Ann,
Barry
If I don’t catch you before have a fantastic Christmas and A Happy New Year
Barry,
After reading your rules I am thinking I should go back and clean up my blog comments some. I think I have allowed some comments that I should not.
I am not as worried about the avatar, however it is nice to see who is commenting. It is mostly when there is no avatar and a sales page is attached with commentluv that it really bothers me.
I love all of your rules and am going to go over them again. I have really struggled with just what comments to keep and what ones to put as spam.
Some are clear but others are not.
I do realize some spammers are very cleaver and actually read the posts and write something that has to do with the post but the page attached is a sales page or an inappropriate webpage. I have been spamming them but sometimes I feel bad because they took the time to read my post.
I like your last bit of advice “My blog, my rules”. That is pretty much what I have been doing. If the people don’t like it I guess they don’t need to comment and they really don’t need any link love from me.
Thanks so much for you list of rules. This has really helped me.
I have found that the spammers are not commenting on this post. Interesting!!
I had been getting several on every post and I did notice that they like old posts.
I am headed over to your blog to comment but I will say it here also have a great Christmas.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…My Pet Peeves About Commenting
Hi Dee Ann,
Here’s a nice little trick to play on the spammers that take the time to read your posts and leave a real comment with their bad links:
Remove the commentluv link and use you own URL in the URL field. That way you have fresh content being added but linking back to you
I hope that helps Dee Ann
Barry
Barry,
That is great. I like that idea.
I am going to do that.
Thanks for the idea.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…Competitions — To Participate Or Not?
Dee Ann,
Totally agreed with you especially about spams. Good thing is most of them get weeded out but still annoying. Are you using Akismet? Hope you don’t dislike my comment!
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Sean,
It is good most of them are weeded out. I don’t get any bots leaving spam comments. It is all real people at this point.
No, I do not use Akismet. I am using GASP and it has taken care of all of the bot spam. It is included in the commmentluv premium plugin so that works out well.
Thanks for stopping by and have a very Merry Christmas.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…CommentLuv Premium Goes Live
Oh dear, I think my comments would have been culled judging by some of the feedback you have received. I often leave short ‘Love your blog’ comments especially when I am using my phone & it’s tricky to do anything longer. I’m not sure if I have a gravatar yet, to be honest I’m not sure what that is! My blog is hosted by blogger so my picture comes up if I leave comments on blogger but I don’t know if it does with Word Press… So many rules!
Oh well.
Bailey,
You do have a gravatar. It shows up on my blog and it is great to see who I am writing to.
I understand what you are saying about leaving a comment like “Love your blog” when you are doing it from a phone. I may not get even that much written.
I think commenting is really about getting to know people and building a relationship. If you can get to know people and build relationships while leaving some comments that are short from your phone that probably is not a problem. When people know you and that you sometimes leave comments from your phone that is different than someone that has never commented on your blog before leaving that same comment.
Thank you for coming to my blog and commenting. I hope you will visit again and will leave more comments.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…Merry Christmas
Hello Dee Ann – Yes I went to Gravatar.com to get one sorted as it definitely looks nicer when you can put a face to a comment!
It was lovely to look through your blog & I’ll definitely be back. Have a lovely Christmas!
x
Bailey,
I am glad that you like my blog.
It is nice to see the face of the person I am responding to.
Good job getting a gravatar.
Thanks for stopping by.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…Goals For 2012
I still seem to have problems – some don’t have blogs, but they have gravatars or others don’t have a gravatar and it goes to a blog. Then you have some that have a blog, but you never see any comments approved and most of the time they are not something you would want your readers to see, in my opinion. Links should go both ways, it’s not just a one way street
I guess I shouldn’t be so picky, but I am. I have some sitting there that I have been debating about, but it is getting to be quite awhile now, so guess I will just delete them…lol.
Hope your spamming comments have slowed down due to your post!
Take care!
Linda
Linda,
I can really relate to what you are saying.
The ones that I had sitting there for a while and was debating on I deleted. I figured it I needed to think about it so long then they should not be on my blog.
I think Barry and Adrienne and maybe others as well said it best when they said “it is your blog do what you want if others do not like it they do not need to come” (not a direct quote but close).
I really agree with them. It is your blog so do what you want. You have the right to be picky on your blog.
I really feel that the person leaving the post should have a blog though and not just a sales page or something that looks like a blog post but is in reality a sales page masquerading as a post.
My spammy comments have greatly decreased on this post. However on the rest of my posts I am still getting them.
I did have a few people go and get a gravatar though which was nice.
Thanks for stopping by and have a Happy New Year.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…My 7 Links – It’s A Challenge
I’m new here Dee Ann, but it’s great to see some familiar faces (Hi Adrienne!)
I love your take on commenting, and I’ve written a very in-depth post with the aim of Educating Potential Commenters. It’s the most popular post on Sonia Winland’s Logallot.com, and I can link it if you’d like
Personally I think it should be required reading for anyone commenting on a blog, but y’know
Jason “J-Ryze” Fonceca recently posted…I Just Wanna Be F-ckin’ Happy
Welcome to my blog Jason,
Glad you like my take on commenting. When I wrote this post I had gotten really tired of all of these people trying to use my blog as an advertising platform for whatever they were promoting.
Not sure it has gotten any better but I now feel better about deleting those comments. I find I delete a lot. I think everyone does though.
If you would like to link to your post that would be fine. I tried to find it but couldn’t. I did not look for long though.
Sorry I did not get to this comment right away I have been really busy lately and have not done my commenting and care for my comments like I should have.
Dee Ann
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Thanks Dee Ann!
I’m happy to report that so far, I’ve attracted a very high caliber of commenter + discussion on my blog, and I’d love to see that grow.
My guest post on commenting is here: http://www.logallot.com/holy-grail-praise-worthy-comments-1/
I know the feeling, and any time’s the right time — follow your heart on that
Thanks again.
Jason “J-Ryze” Fonceca recently posted…Vanilla Or Kinky – A Look At Joint Ventures