One Commenting Habit Destroying Your Website's Reputation

Before you begin reading this post, please know that I have seen all the Christmas wishes from 2024, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading all the New Year's messages. Yasssss, I love the energy—you all are amazing! Happy New Year to everyone, and thank you so much. "2025; let's go.

I visit a lot of blogs, and I happen to have a really good memory when it comes to recognizing blogs I’ve visited. When I visit a blog, I aim to understand the writer. I take the time to read the article or post and comment accordingly. However, I’ve noticed that some bloggers and readers leave comments without even reading the post. Comments like “Nice one,” “Cool post,” “Good post,” or “I like this” don’t add any meaningful contribution to the conversation.

Additionally, I’ve observed that people who leave such off-topic comments often repeat the same words or phrases across multiple blogs. This practice not only damages the reputation of their blog but also negatively affects their traffic, as Google begins to flag such comments as spam. On top of that, others might return the favor by commenting the same way on their blog without truly engaging, making the article feel irrelevant. Moderation-enabled blogs are likely to flag these repetitive comments as spam. This happens because the person isn’t engaging meaningfully but is instead leaving comments purely for self-promotion.

In my opinion, such behavior shows a lack of understanding of what it means to build a blogging and reading community, gain organic readers, or contribute thoughtfully to a conversation. Website owners will not publish every comment you make, especially if they notice that you are consistently leaving superficial comments on their articles, which they've meticulously crafted for others to read, learn, engage with, or enjoy.

I understand that finding the right words isn’t always easy, but when every comment a website gets from you is simply “Good post,” it becomes clear that your engagement isn’t genuine. Do you know it’s better not to comment at all than to fail to contribute meaningfully?

People write in different languages, which makes us all unique. Personally, I enjoy reading articles in various languages, not just those written in English. I understand that if English is not your first language and you read an article in English (perhaps by translating it), you might find it difficult to express your thoughts when commenting. As a result, people often leave very short comments, such as "Good article."

Here’s my suggestion: instead of leaving a short or generic comment, consider commenting in the language you are most comfortable with. The writer can translate your comment and reply accordingly. This approach highlights our diversity while ensuring that everyone can express themselves fully.

Translating articles allows readers to understand the content and engage by commenting in their own language. In turn, the writer can translate these comments and respond thoughtfully.

Never stop expressing yourself—always share your thoughts, no matter where you’re from, who you are, or what language you speak. We don’t have to speak the same language, as translation tools can bridge the gap.

For website owners, I recommend adding a translation feature to your site to help readers. If you’re using Blogger, a translation widget is already available, but you need to add it manually to your blog.

Here’s how to add the "Offer Translator" widget:

1. Log in to your Blogger account.
2. Go to the Layout section.
3. Click Add a Gadget where you want the translator to appear.
4. Search for the Google Translate widget or a similar tool.
5. Select it, configure the settings, and click Save.
6. Refresh your blog to ensure the widget is visible and working properly.

Adding this feature will make your blog more inclusive and accessible to readers from all over the world.

Pro Tip: Enable your browser's translation feature to automatically translate websites into your preferred language. This way, whenever you visit a site in another language, it will be instantly translated into a language you understand.

For those wondering, "Is a blog a website?"—here’s a quick clarification for knowledge’s sake. A blog is a specific type of website that primarily features content in the form of posts, often displayed in reverse chronological order (newest first). So yes, a blog is a website!

There are numerous benefits to reading other blogs that go beyond simply gaining engagement. The knowledge you gain from reading blogs often comes from firsthand experiences, broken down step-by-step, making it relatable and personal. Such insights are valuable and worth your time.

Of course, mistakes are allowed; everyone slips up now and then when contributing to an online conversation. However, making it a habit to leave the same repetitive or off-topic comments on every site you visit—or comments that don’t contribute to the discussion—is, in my opinion, wrong.

Did you know that your blog receives visits from more than just fellow bloggers? Upon examining your blog's monthly traffic, you'll observe a gradual increase in your overall traffic, which accumulates over time due to these interactions. This reinforces the importance of meaningful contributions.

Personally, if I publish an article and a visitor leaves an off-topic comment or something like “Cool,” I don’t publish such comments. It’s better to stay silent than to offer shallow remarks that add no value.

Whenever I publish an article and seek feedback from readers, I strive to express myself clearly, using simple language and keeping the article concise. However, I’ve noticed an intriguing pattern: the tone and length of the first and second comments often set the stage for the rest.

Here’s what I mean: if the first commenter leaves a short, generic comment like “Cool blog post,” others tend to follow suit with similarly brief remarks. On the other hand, when the initial comment is thoughtful and detailed, subsequent comments are often more engaging and substantive.

I don't think you should publish a short, meaningless first comment on your article. Instead, focus on approving comments that enrich the discussion—whether they agree or disagree with your perspective. Thoughtful comments not only add value to your article but also encourage others to engage more meaningfully.

 

How Empty Comments Affect a Website

• Reputation Damage:

Websites that allow shallow or spammy comments might appear unprofessional or poorly moderated, leading visitors to question the quality of the content and the site's credibility.

• Search Engine Penalties:

Repeated use of generic or empty comments across multiple blogs can trigger Google’s spam filters. This can lower the site's SEO ranking, making it harder for new readers to discover the blog.

• Loss of Audience Engagement:

Meaningful engagement fosters a sense of community. Generic comments fail to build connections or spark meaningful discussions, which can lead to a decline in returning visitors.

• Increased Moderation Workload:

Website owners or moderators spend extra time filtering out low-quality comments, which is a resource drain, especially for high-traffic websites.

• Lower Reader Trust:

Genuine readers might be discouraged from engaging if they see a flood of non-contributive comments, reducing overall interaction quality or product features on their website.

• Loss of Opportunities and Reduced profitability.

For website owners who collaborate with businesses to share articles aimed at improving brand awareness—such as through link building, guest posting, or general partnerships—off-topic comments can negatively impact your website. When readers leave irrelevant comments that fail to contribute meaningfully to the shared article, it harms the website’s credibility. This lack of meaningful engagement with the content can lead to decreased traffic, diminished trust, and ultimately, reduced profitability.

How Empty Comments Affect Commenters

1. Loss of Credibility:
Repeatedly leaving generic or irrelevant comments can harm a commenter’s reputation. Other readers and bloggers may perceive them as spammy, lazy, or uninterested in genuine engagement and stop publishing their comments.

2. Reduced Networking Opportunities:
Often, meaningful comments provide opportunities for networking with bloggers and other readers. Generic comments fail to establish connections, limiting opportunities to build relationships or collaborations.

3. Risk of Being Marked as Spam:
Search engines and blog moderation tools may flag commenters who leave repetitive or low-value comments as spammers. This can lead to comments being automatically blocked across multiple platforms.

4. Missed Traffic Opportunities:
A thoughtful comment that adds value can attract other readers to click on the commenter’s profile or website link. Off-topic comments rarely encourage such interest, reducing referral traffic.

5. Negative Impact on SEO:
If the comment includes a link to the commenter’s website and it’s flagged as spam, it can lead to penalties for their website, including lower rankings in search engines.

6. Limited Personal Growth:
Engaging meaningfully in discussions can be a learning experience. Leaving shallow comments denies the commenter the opportunity to gain insights and grow intellectually or professionally.

7. Damaged Relationships with Website Owners, Especially Bloggers:
Website owners value authentic engagement. Repeatedly leaving empty or superficial comments can frustrate them and strain the relationship with the commenter, potentially resulting in your profile being blocked.

How to Comment Effectively and Add Value

• Read the Article Thoroughly:

Take the time to understand the content before commenting. Highlight specific points you found valuable or ask clarifying questions.

• Add Value:

Share personal insights, experiences, or constructive feedback. For example:Instead of “Nice post,” say: “I enjoyed the section about [specific topic]. It reminded me of [your experience].”

• Ask Questions:

Encourage a conversation by asking thoughtful, topic-relevant questions. For instance, what inspired you to take this perspective on this topic?

• Be Unique:

Avoid copying and pasting the same comment on multiple blogs. Tailor your comment to the specific article and its audience.

• Avoid Self-Promotion:

While it’s fine to link to your website when appropriate, avoid turning your comment into an advertisement. Focus on contributing to the discussion.

• Use Proper Grammar and Spelling:

Well-written comments are taken more seriously. Proofread your comment before posting to ensure clarity and professionalism.

• Engage With Other Commenters:

Reply to other readers’ comments to create a sense of community. This can help build relationships and encourage others to check out your blog.

• Stay on Topic:

Ensure your comment is relevant to the article's content. Off-topic comments are often ignored or deleted.

• Be Polite and Respectful:

Even when disagreeing, maintain a respectful tone. Constructive debates can enhance your credibility.

• Follow Blog Guidelines:

Many blogs have specific rules for commenting. Adhere to these guidelines to ensure your comments are welcomed and published.

My draft before the New Year included this topic, so I thought it would be helpful to share it at the start of the year. I hope you enjoyed reading, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on commenting—what are your general thoughts on it? Have you ever had issues with spam comments or experienced someone leaving the same comment multiple times? Let’s hear your experiences in the comment section below!

Photo by Edward Jenner from Pexels