Design3 min read
How to Write Comments That Improve an Article
Published by Samsiani
Comments
Comments are one of the best-known, simplest link-building approaches.
Why?
The basic idea requires little explanation: find a relevant website where you can contribute a comment and, where appropriate, a link.
Many people use this approach poorly because they overlook what a well-written comment can contribute.
What does using it well mean?
Marketers sometimes focus only on getting a comment approved on someone else's website. That is the wrong goal.
A useful comment can help an author improve the article and consider your suggested resource, including a relevant link where it adds value.
That sounds appealing, doesn't it?
A helpful contribution may lead to a quality backlink with relatively little work.
But it is not quite that simple.
You need a considered approach to writing the comment rather than expecting an automatic result.
The principle behind a useful comment
Spam and the growth of social networks have reduced the role of comments on many blogs.
That is a loss for authors, who may make grammatical mistakes or overlook important aspects of a subject.
Comments can be a useful place for readers to point out an error or raise something the article missed.
Many bloggers would welcome thoughtful help improving and correcting their work.
That is the principle. Here is how it can work in practice.
An example of a thoughtful comment
To illustrate the approach, the original article used an example from a recently created Web 2.0 site.
- The commenter addresses the author by name, suggesting familiarity with the website.
- They provide a link early in the comment.
- They explain why adding the information would benefit Smart SEO.
- They say they are a regular reader and care about the website's future.
- Signing with their own name makes the comment more personal.
What should you consider when writing a comment?
What matters when contributing comments as part of a link-building approach?
Do not turn a comment into a novel
A long comment can work when an article inspires you to share a detailed, well-supported opinion.
But authors do not always have time for that. It is usually better to make your point concisely.
Offer the relevant resource and explain why it would be useful.
Stay on topic
A generic comment is a common mistake. It can suggest that you have not read the article and only want a link.
Take time to read the article, understand the author's point and identify a specific part you can contribute to.
Focus on details
General remarks rarely add much value.
Choose a particular section, explain your reasoning and suggest quality resources. Your own website may be one of them if it is genuinely relevant.
Write a comment that deserves attention because of its substance.
Acknowledge the article's strengths
Tell the author what you found useful and why you appreciated their work.
Insults such as ‘Your article is useless’, ‘How could you write this?’ or ‘Anyone could have written that’ are unlikely to help.
A better approach is: ‘I enjoyed your article and think readers will find it useful. This resource might add another helpful detail if you choose to include it.’
Agree, then add your perspective
You can explain that you ‘agree, but would add…’. Nobody enjoys a dismissive comment saying that their article is poor and another website does it better.
Authors may react defensively to blunt disagreement, so avoid a hostile tone and respect the discussion on their website.
Be considerate and polite. Explain clearly how your suggestion could improve the article.
Bloggers may not have time to examine every other article in detail, so omissions or unclear explanations can occur.
Use the opportunity to contribute something helpful and build your visibility through that contribution.
