"What is Comment Junk Mail?" - Blog Tips for Rain Drips

Okay, so I went out to our mailbox the other day...

<----This is what I found....

I tell ya, it gets SO annoying! I mean, seriously, do the postal workers have some kind of sick contest going to see who can stuff the most junk mail into residential mailboxes?

Maybe in addition to the National "DO NOT CALL" registry, we should have a "DO NOT MAIL" registry?                           

This is the real mail I had! --->

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Today's Blog Tip for Rain Drips topic is "Comment Junk Mail"

In our last time together, we discussed how many newbie AR bloggers 'booby trap' their blog articles by stuffing them full of annoying and distracting self-promotional links, banners, and graphics. Instead of generating valuable consumer-oriented content, their blog reads like a cluttered billboard. It creates unwanted distractions that derail us from having meaningful dialogue.

The same can be said of the 'Comments' section of posts here on ActiveRain.

I called Bob Stewart the other day (You all know Bob, our newly appointed Rain god and all-around good guy?). Well, I asked him how things were going in his new role. He replied, "I'm up to my armpits with trying to diplomatically clean-up comment SPAM." Wow, does that sound exciting, or what? (relax, Bob, we're going razor clammin' Friday!)

And so, in support of Mr. Stewart's efforts, I thought I would touch on the subject here as well.

• What exactly is "Comment SPAM?"

Well, before we define comment spam, let's look first at the purpose of 'Comments.' Keep in mind that this is 'conversational' blogging we're dealing with here. And as such, one of the primary purposes in publishing your articles is to 'engage' your readers, to stimulate two-way communication; to evoke a response as you educate and inform.

As the Reader, your comments are in response to what the blog writer has conveyed. The views (comments) that you express should serve to further the dialogue; they should 'support' the topic being discussed. As a reader, 'commenting' is your opportunity to add or provide a valued opinion/view/perspective to the conversation.

Conversely, anything inserted within the confines of your 'comment' that doesn't lend itself to the topic at hand, or doesn't serve to further the discussion, is counterproductive to the purposes of conversational blogging.

It's SPAM!     

Now, unless you have a really ultra sophisticated filter on your e-mail system, you invariably receive varying amounts of SPAM every time you access your e-mail. SPAM began as annoying, unsolicited advertisements in our e-mail. Nowadays, the term 'SPAM' is applied to any form of unsolicited advertising or promotional marketing - whether it be IM spam, chat spam, cell phone spam, and blog spam.

Once again, many times, we simply play "Follow the Leader" as we blog-a-long in the Rain. We assume that since someone else is 'doing' it, then it must be okay. We're creatures of habit. We're used to branding everything and anything with our contact info. We've got our websites on shopping carts, ink pens, refrigerator magnets, coffee cups, key chains, bumper stickers, and the list goes on and on.

And so, whenever we leave a comment, we quickly add-in a link to our website, all of our pertinent contact information, and some quick & creative little 'motto' or 'logo.'

Maybe the SEO Fairy spoke to you in your sleep and instructed you to pass on the "Link Love" to your fellow Rainers!

Well, guess what? It's SPAM. Unwanted, unsolicited, and unnecessary.

One other thing to keep in mind: When you're commenting on someone else's article, remember it's THEIR blog, not yours. If you really feel it necessary to promote your business, services, website, etc., then do it on YOUR own blog!

If you really want to achieve greater success in your blogging, and attract more valued readership to your blog, then comment on other's articles with integrity and substance. Add to the conversation, don't' derail or distract it!

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My primary point in this post is not to criticize the 'length' or brevity of one's comments, but more the 'content' of one's comments. Comment SPAM is blatant self-promotional advertising within another person's post. It would be like standing out in front of your competitor's office, handing out flyers to people who are walking in.

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Rich Jacobson is a licensed real estate professional providing knowledgeable empowerment and relentless representation for his clients of residential properties and vacant land throughout all of Kitsap County WA and portions of Pierce, Mason, and Jefferson Counties. You can also find him at KitsapLife.com, SOUNDBITEBLOG and Crabbing in the Hood, or e-mail:  kitsapagent@gmail.com