Check Your ATTITUDE at the Door.

For the past week or two there’s been a lot of mud-slinging and name-calling going on at some popular Search/Marketing related blogs (no - I won’t link to them) - most of it fairly harmless, but at least one I’ve seen recently was blatantly illegal.  If some of these comments had been verbal face-to-face exchanges - arrests would be made for abuse, hate-crimes, maybe even terrorism.

Is all this negativity a new Marketing tactic? Good God I hope not.  I’m hoping that the majority of this meanspiritedness is simply misunderstandings and overzealous knee-jerk reactions.  In some instances I noted that a little ‘punctuation’ would have avoided a problem - ie: if one is going to post something in jest - make darn sure you let that be known (smilies go a long way).

Don’t get me wrong - I’m all for the sharing of ideas, discussing opposing views, etc.  But when it degenerates into the virtual brawling I’ve seen of late - we’ve lost our way.   Being able to post comments on others blogs is a PRIVILEGE - not a RIGHT. And it absolutely positively does NOT entitle one to toss basic manners and civility out the window.

If one cannot comment without being a nit -JUST DON’T COMMENT. One certainly does not have to agree with any given post at any given time, but one CAN disagree and express views and opinions without cursing, name-calling, slander, perversion, alienating the viewing audience, or inciting a virtual riot.

DailyCoyote twittered this earlier:

One of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen. http://www.vimeo.com/1211060 Go watch it, trust me.

I trusted her, I went and watched, and I’m still all a-tingle from the experience.

If you’re not moved by this is some way - call 911  

We’ve all seen blog and forum comments that were obviously done to promote a website, a product, another blog, etc.  When done thoughtfully, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.

But in my experience, the majority of these ‘comments’ seem to ignore what I consider to be the

#1 Rule of ‘Commenting’: Check The Original Post Date

It sounds like a no-brainer, I agree.  However, it seems that in the fervor to get the word out; generate traffic; and traffic links, as much and as quickly as possible - this one vital task is being ignored, perhaps strategically.  As a result, I continually see comments being posted to some really ‘ancient’ stuff.  I’ll not name names, but I’m talking years here folks.

Maybe this is viewed as acceptable.  After all - it’s a known fact that in-bound links are of some importance to Search and Social Marketing.  The more the merrier, right?  Perhaps… if the goal is link quantity rather than link quality.  Of course ‘nofollowed’ links will offer no link ‘juice’, but it is still a ‘traffic link’.

I believe that if you are serious about long-term online success - indiscriminate commenting is poor strategy, most importantly because…

• It’s all about the numbers - not about the customers. As a rule, these ‘generic’ comments  offer little of added value for the viewer.  But it’s the viewer that pays the bills though, right?
• And of no less importance to successful online business, there’s Perceived Reputation - No matter how original, well-written and relevant your comment may be,  if the original post is woefully out-of-date - your reputation is at risk.  At best you may be perceived as careless, lazy, or ‘dated’, at worst - a short-term, fly-by-night scam.

There are exceptions to every rule, and this rule is no exception. ;)  But instead of making a potentially risky comment on an aged blog post - isn’t it better to simply write a new article or post yourself, and include a reference to the older information if needed?

You’ve heard it before, and I’ll say it again - do it for the viewers, customers, and searchers - NOT the search engines, bots and spiders.

And please, please, please…check the date before you comment.