Comments: Long Comments Should Be Posts

By on June 6, 2006 in Conversations with 5 Comments

Here’s a practice I try to keep in mind when commenting on other blogs:

  1. Two quick paragraphs, leave the comment on the author’s blog.
  2. Longer than two paragraphs, post it on your blog with a link (or trackback) to the author’s post.
  3. Yes, I believe there is value in trackbacks. Many don’t, but if used properly – it adds to the discussion. A great example of this is how Maria Palma at CustomersAreAlways elaborated on a previous post of mine.

Think of the format of the radio talk show format. The host gets to talk the most – it’s their show. In addition, it’s my belief that most people scan the comments – many times looking for recognizable names (no scientific data on that – just a gut feeling).

If your comment is longer than the original post, you definitely want to post that comment on your blog and link back.

Do you have a commenting practice you’d like to share? If so, where and how will you share?

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  • http://blog.marketingprofs.com Ann Handley

    I agree, Mike. Short and sweet, but at the same time: be sure to add something to the conversation. The radio show analogy is a good one — you wouldn’t call in with nothing new to add, right? As in: “Well, Mike, I just wanted to say that…uh…what you said!”

  • http://www.converstations.com Mike Sansone

    Good point, Ann. If it doesn’t add to the conversation, it’s just a link placement and a selfish move, true? Thanks for adding that:-)

  • http://www.businessblogwire.com Easton Ellsworth

    Mike, I follow the same basic rules as you do. I try to always share a sincere thought or two that add to, but don’t take over, the conversation at a given post.
    Another reason to take a long comment and simply turn it into a post at your own blog is that it’ll be better for your traffic, and for communicating with your readership something you’ve got a lot to say about.
    Incidentally, I’m “stalking” you (I mean it in the most harmless way possible) by subscribing to your coComment feed! It’s great because I often find useful, interesting posts via your comments and also I learn from what you have to say through those comments. You’ve thus created a mini-blog of sorts of just your comments using coComment. Interesting eh?

  • http://www.converstations.com Mike Sansone

    I agree Easton. Not only does it communicate to your audience, but it introduces your audience to new voices.
    Really, the same goes for following each others comments (I do the same with you:-)) – I often find sites I wouldn’t have otherwise known about.

  • http://www.bloggertone.com Niall Devitt

    That’s a super tip, thanks for sharing.

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