Should you fake comment on your blog?
Fake commenting is a habit that I see a lot of bloggers get into. Whether it is intentional or not. I don’t know. But I know that I have seen quite a few bloggers do it. I will not name anyone just so I don’t start a war of words.
What is Fake Commenting?
Spam commenting that authors often do. When they reply to each comment in a hope to start a long conversation. Or sometimes they comment with two different names.
My Question is be honest. How many of you have done that? Was it Intentional? When did you realize it?
Why Do people Fake Comment?
Often times when bloggers start their blog. They don’t receive a lot of comments. I mean I have some awesome posts that I have written in the past. Which receive excellent SE traffic, but still doesn’t have half as much comments as some of my popular posts. Often times bloggers feel discouraged. So they start running up their comment count.
Another Reason why bloggers fake comment is because they think it will make a good impression on readers. And it will make the reader comment. Which will increase the comment count even more. Your blog will look more lively.
Balkhis Answer
I will be honest and say yeah I did it. It was never intentional because I never commented from another person’s name. I would just reply to each comment even when I don’t really needed to. But I realized it when I first installed top commentator’s plugin. And saw that I was ranked at #1 and I had twice as high comments as my reader. I removed myself from the top commentator’s list. Then I realized. I don’t need to reply to each of my reader’s comment. Just reply to the one that I find necessary. Even though it is tempting. But you have to make a choice.
Alternatives to Fake Comment?
I mean fake commenting takes time. So what can you do in that time if you stop fake commenting. OO yea why don’t you use that time for something else.
- Write more posts. So for instance writing 7 posts a week. Make it 8 posts a week.
- Comment on other blogs. Get in their top commentator and take advantage.
- Join Forums, and be active there. Derive traffic from there.
Now tell me have you fake commented on your blog. Share your ideas. What did you do to avoid it?
Hey, I am Syed Balkhi, The guy who is behind Balkhis Inc. I entered the industry back in 2002 not knowing a single thing. I barely spoke English at that time. In the past six years, my language barrier has been eliminated. Aside from English, now I also speak html, and php. Along with the languages I have also managed to master a few arts. Art of web-designing started when I first entered. Messing around with photoshop, I learned how to create my first web design. Now I founded a web designing firm Uzzz Productions. After running numerous amount of websites in various niche, I have mastered the art of web-development. Now I am compiling a resource of what I already know, and what I am learning on this blog. This resource is to help me if I ever need a guide to look back to, and it is help my fellow webmasters.
Do bloggers really comment on their posts pretending to be other people? I always wondered about that and I can imagine how it can be quite tempting to start off a discussion or to boost the number of comments.
Some ppl really do. Atleast Ive heard that way. No examples.
Balkhis I am really proud to be the part of these blog bcoz i never saw any person open up like u did its really good thing and even forum admins will do the same it will helps them to increase the conversation Between members to make it live Dummy of admin will come into picture
Good efforts
Zk
It is true. Many other blogger do that. I have never commented on my own blog pretending to be some one else. My case was when I would reply to my user’s comment even when it wasn’t necessary. Like saying hey nice to see you here. It doesn’t add value to the post.
I would never do this. I reply to my readers comments but you can clearly see that it is me writing it. Spamming your own blog seems a little bit pointless..you will probably end up having a conversation with yourself
Yes but at what limit do you stop replying to your users. I have seen blogs where the blog owner reply to almost all of their user’s comments. Even though when their comment is not required.
I would never reply as a different username
But I have one huge argument here - why can’t blog owners reply to comments? Blog’s are all about communities right? And communities are built by interaction with visitors.
I am not saying that bloggers should stop replying to comments. But when you start replying to every comment that was posted. Then it is a problem. I know that not all comment require a reply.
Now I know why I don’t have that many comments on my blog. Well actually it is a new blog and I need to be more consistent in blogging. My day job just gets in the way. I don’t or have not commented on my blog.
What plug in do you use to “reply to comments” I think that’s a great way to have a conversation with your readers.
Great post keep it up.
Now I should stop reading blogs and wrute on my own.
The plugin is called Threaded Comments
I don’t do fake commentating on my blog. I once read at John Chow that he suggests fake commentating just to cause some buzz. Its better to comment on other blogs as they will return the favor and come back an comment on yours.
A good and honest post!
Hmmm, I didn’t realize people actually commented as others on their own blog lol.
But I guess “fake” commenting how you detailed it could fall under many categories.
I for one, try to respond to every comment, that needs one. Sometimes comments are directed at other commentators and there is no need for me to get involved.
I’ve done my own little “tests” and replying individually to each of my commentators has proven to be the best for my blog and the folks that read it…they’ve told me they feel more ” part of the crew” because of it.
Though, I’ve never done it intentionally to rank up the comments, Just like I don’t comment on anyone else’s blog with nonsense, I won’t do it on my own.
Great post Syed! Very interesting.
Ummm no, replying to each comment (as the author) in a hope to start a long conversation is what comments are all about.
Those that don’t reply, don’t get my patronage.
Faking names is wrong, that’s true.
True talk man….I guess I took it as he’s talking about making nonsense comments for no reason. Though for me, it really don’t matter…. if I want to say “thanks” for a comment I will lol….
But it’s pretty clear I don’t follow a lot of the “blogger rules” anyway lol. I just do what’s best for me and my readers man…they like getting replied to, it’s helped my blog grow…so that’s what I’ll continue to do
While comments are for to start a discussion, but sometimes it turns out when you reply to each comment. You are taking the comments out of control. And when I mean out of control, I mean irrelevant to the post. Therefore I think we as bloggers should only reply to comments that needs to be replied. Not just to make the user feel like they are part of a community. Many people do it, heck I even admitted I did it at one time also. But I caught it. And I am just bring awareness to this topic.
Yeah…I hear you man…honestly….I roll wit my readers…they determine what they like on my blog. And so far, they like when I respond…I think it’s only courteous and also keeps you from being in a blogger/reader relation ship and turns it into more of a community.
I hate blogs where I feel talked at instead of too, and so do most people…
It’s sorta like asking questions, what is a dumb question? The one that hasn’t been asked! I don’t agree with letting things get out of control, but really…what is in control?
I know I’m against the grain man, but that’s how I like it….I never want to turn into one of those bloggers that doesn’t respond to comments, no matter how small it is. I guess for me, it’s not really about having a bunch of people following me….it’s more about the quality of the people that stay.10,000 subs means nothin if I can’t interact with them.
Still a good post, good to bring awareness Syed! But…for me, I’ll continue to respond to each comment that needs it.
I remember a similar argument about how responding to each comment makes more mail for your users, and you should reply to comments in bulk…I tried it, but it just lost that personal touch. Plus, I’m all for the randomness lol….as you can tell
Just make your blog “dofollow”, and you would never need to fake comment instead need to control them.
Lol I made my friends do that on my blog at times
I have done it just once when I just started blogging. It was a case that I kept on waiting for someone to comment, but the comment never appeared. So just to have a feeling of content, I commented on a few of my posts, but i never used someone Else’s name. I did it by my own name.
When you get a chance, y’all may want to gander at my current #1 most popular post, “blog comment tip”.
I thinks make some friends and ask them to comment on your blog is much better that make comments by yourself. So spend time on networking is much better than make comments for yourself.
I have never even thought about signing onto my blog as someone else and commenting; first time I’ve ever heard of it, to tell you the truth. I do try to respond to every legitimate post that shows up on my blog, though, so I don’t consider that as being fake, but curious. But one has to know when it’s time to stop and let someone else have the last word.
Very nice point made indeed Mitch. Perhaps the line b/w the reader/blogger relationship and fake comment is to know when you have to stop. Because sometimes people just reply to have the last word even though sometimes it goes out of proportion.
Faking comments will only leave a bad impression of the blog and its owner. If a person spent a little time building a small network with other blog owners, you would at least get some comments.
My blog is growing good for the amount of time and work that I have put into it. I would rather have dedicated blogger friends and less comments, than a bunch of fake comments. Building on a good foundation, is one of the best rules when you want something to last for the long term.
I don’t fake comment on my blog. I respond to comments that have questions or I have some input to.
If there are no questions of comments, I do respond to a few people just to let people know that I am looking at them and active on the blog.
Yeah, I totally agree that it is not pleasant to see your name as the top commentator. I reward my commentators through comment luv plugin.