Blog comments can build your personal brand

If you subscribe to and read blogs what inspires you to make a comment?

I know as an author of several blogs and as a guest blogger on a number of blogs that it is great when readers post a comment. I look forward to reading their thoughts, ideas and feedback.

Even if you do not have a blog yourself, you can leave comments on someones blog post.

But had you considered that the comments you leave can enhance or de-value your reputation and personal brand?

Remember once posted, it is going to be difficult to change what you wrote as a blog comment.

Yes we can and should leave blog comments that say "thank you" for the resources or ideas shared in a blog post, or to say "well done" on an achievement of the blogger.

However when blogging for business, your blog comments should be enhancing your reputation as an expert in your chosen field.

So here are my quick tips for building your personal brand online through blog comments - yes you may find them controversial, but this is the "internal checklist" I have for blog comments that I leave:

• consider your motivation - if you are leaving a comment on a blog consider what is motivating you to do so. What is your intent? If you can not add to the dialogue and enhance the debate in a professional and positive manner, don't comment
• think before you write - consider carfully the tone of your comment and what you want to say. Remember whatever you write will elicit a feeling and reaction in who ever reads it - not just the blogger
• check your spelling - the care and attention with which you reply to a blog comment and checking the grammar is worth the time and effort. Why negatively impact your personal brand through rushing the comment?
• do not self promote - blog comments are not the place to self promote your experience, products or services. If you do, you may find the business blog owner deletes your comment
• think quality not quantity - posting a considered and well thought out comment on one or two blogs each week is far more likely to get you noticed and build a positive reputation and brand than crafting ten or more blog comments of just a sentance not adding richly to the conversation.

What are your "internal guidelines" for leaving blog comments?

How do you encourage people to leave comments on your business blog?

Comments

[Dan Schawbel]

Basically, comments run a dialog between the site creator and their readers. It keeps the topic alive, so for the people interested, it's very important to respond.

Me posting this proves how important this post is.

[Teresa Morrow]

I have also posted this on my blog as I found it was very useful information I thought my readers should know about so thank you for the simple and to the point tips.

[Krishna De]

@Teresa - you are most welcome and thank you for cross posting.

@Dan - absolutely - the comments create a dialogue which is critical in a Web 2.0 world - creating and nurturing community.

As the author of an article, I also find that the comments from my readers help move my thinking forward too - often illuminating a subject in a different way to my own perceptions.

Thank you both for taking the time to comment!

[Karen Bryan]

I started a blog for my UK based travel business in October 2006. I read a few travel blogs and leave comments quite often.

I try to only leave comments that are relevant to the article and not go ranting off topic. I don't want to be accused of just trying to push my own business (although that is part of the reason for commenting).

I don't have target number of comments, some comments are long, some are brief.

[Krishna De]

Karen - thank you for taking the time to post a comment here.

I agree that it is important not to go off topic unless it is relevant to the original post.

I personally look at commenting on other peoples blogs as hopefully adding to the rich conversation on the subject and also building new relatonships with people.

Now through your commenting we have got connected!

[Katie Konrath]

I also comment on blogs quite frequently. I've noticed that the more I comment, the more connections I make with other bloggers.

My guidelines are that my comments must be relevant to the post and should advance the discussion. It's ok to link to an article of mine if it's connected (I like it when people leave relevant articles in comments on my site), but writing a new post based off the other person's post is better (and then sending a trackback).

Sometimes I encounter posts that I want to comment on, but that don't fit my brand. For those, I usually use just my first name, and a different email address. That way I can still contribute to the conversation, but don't risk weird search results.

[Krishna De]

@Katie - thanks for sharing your strategies for ensuring that you comments remain on brand and don't heart your Google search results. Great idea.

[dinash mia]

Thank for the great article. I can learn something new today from your tips.