Blog comments are one of the most underrated tools in a content marketer‘s toolkit. When done right, blog comments allow you to:
- Engage with influential bloggers and their audiences
- Demonstrate your expertise by sharing valuable insights
- Generate backlinks and referral traffic to your own site
- Build relationships with potential customers and collaborators
But there‘s a problem – most blog comments are pure spam. In fact, statistics show that up to 80% of all blog comments are spam. No wonder most WordPress blogs now keep comments locked down tight behind anti-spam filters and manual approval.
So how can you write blog comments that bypass spam filters and actually get noticed? As a WordPress consultant who has managed comment sections for dozens of high-traffic blogs, here‘s my proven advice:
Focus on Adding Value First
The #1 rule of blog commenting is that you must add value to the conversation. Every comment you write should aim to enhance the original post in some way, either by:
- Sharing a relevant tip or resource
- Asking an insightful question
- Politely offering a different perspective
- Providing a specific example or case study
- Pointing out an error or additional consideration
Remember, blog commenting is not primarily for self-promotion. Research has found that over 50% of bloggers feel the most important factor in approving a comment is that it contributes to the discussion.
Generic comments like "Great post!" or "Thanks for sharing!" are more likely to be marked as spam. Instead, make every comment you write hyper-relevant and valuable to that specific post. Aim for at least 3-4 sentences that clearly demonstrate you read and understood the content.
Here‘s an example of a high-value blog comment:
Insightful post on the impact of AI on content creation! I particularly agree with your point that AI writing tools are best used to assist human writers rather than replace them.
One additional case study that came to mind is how the Associated Press is using AI to automatically generate earnings reports, which frees up journalists to focus on more complex stories. You can read more about it here: [link]
I‘m curious to hear your thoughts on AI‘s potential impact on other types of writing like ad copy and email subject lines. Do you think human creativity will always be needed there? Or will AI eventually master the art of attention-grabbing hooks?
See how this comment demonstrates genuine engagement with the post and expands the discussion with a relevant example and follow-up question? That‘s the type of comment that will catch a blogger‘s attention.
Write Like a Real Person
When a blogger reviews comments for approval, the first thing they look for is any signs of spam. Many automated spam comments have a few telltale characteristics:
- Lack of personalization (e.g. "Dear webmaster")
- Stuffed with irrelevant backlinks
- Generic, reused text (e.g. "Nice blog, check mine out too!")
- Poor grammar and readability
To make sure your legitimate comment doesn‘t get unfairly lumped in with spam, always write in a natural, human way. Address the blogger by name if you know it. Reference specific parts of their post. Share your authentic opinion. Use clear paragraph breaks.
Here‘s a comparison of a spammy vs human comment:
| Spam Comment | Human Comment |
|---|---|
| Nice post. Come visit my blog at [link] to learn more about this topic. I write about this all the time and think you‘d enjoy it. | Hey Sarah, I really enjoyed your detailed post on email list building! I especially liked your tip about offering a free mini course as a signup incentive. I‘m going to try that out on my own blog. One question – what email marketing provider would you recommend for bloggers just starting out? I‘ve heard good things about ConvertKit but it‘s a bit pricey. Looking forward to your next post! |
Feel the difference? By sounding like a real person genuinely interested in the topic, your comment is far more likely to get approved.
Limit Links
One of the most common reasons WordPress automatically sends comments to spam is too many links. Bloggers know that spam commenters are just trying to drop their links anywhere they can for SEO purposes.
Unless you have a truly relevant and useful link to share (and the blog allows it), it‘s best to avoid including links in your blog comments, especially to your own content. Instead, focus on making your comment valuable enough that the blogger may check out your site on their own.
Here‘s a table showing the ideal number of links in a blog comment:
| Number of Links | Spam Risk |
|---|---|
| 0 | Low |
| 1-2 | Medium |
| 3+ | High |
If you do include a link, use descriptive anchor text rather than something spammy like "Click here!" And make sure any links are directly relevant to the post topic. Irrelevant links are a quick ticket to the spam folder.
Follow Comment Guidelines
Most blogs have specific guidelines for comments outlined somewhere on their site. Common guidelines include:
- Keep it civil (no personal attacks or hate speech)
- Don‘t promote your own products/services
- Use your real name and email
- Stay on-topic
Before submitting a comment, do a quick scan of the blog to see if they have any rules you need to follow. You can usually find them on the comment form itself, at the end of blog posts, or on a dedicated page like "/comment-guidelines".
Following a blog‘s commenting rules shows respect for the blogger and will keep you on their good side. It also prevents accidental spam flagging. For example, if a blog clearly states no self-promotion, and you submit a comment bragging about your accomplishments, they are well within their right to delete it.
Engage in the Discussion
A thoughtful comment is a great way to start a relationship with a blogger. But don‘t stop there – look for opportunities to keep the conversation going. Maybe the blogger responded to your comment with a follow-up question. Maybe another reader chimed in on the thread with an interesting point you can bounce off of.
Set aside a bit of time to check back on posts you‘ve commented on and re-engage where it makes sense. This shows you‘re truly interested in the community, not just dropping links and moving on.
You can even take the conversation to other channels. For example, if a blogger responded positively to your comment, look them up on social media and send a friendly DM mentioning how much you enjoyed the post. Or if you wrote a post of your own expanding on the topic, let them know in case they want to link to it.
By continuing to provide value after that first comment, you‘ll stay top of mind and may even turn into a go-to resource for that blogger. That‘s the type of relationship that leads to real business results, not just one-off spam comments.
The Secret to Blog Comments that Convert
When you apply this advice to write truly valuable, spam-free blog comments, you won‘t just get more comments approved. You‘ll also start generating real results for your business, like:
- Increased visibility and credibility in your niche
- Targeted referral traffic from blogs in your industry
- Backlinks from authoritative, relevant websites
- New leads and customers who discovered you through blog discussions
In fact, a study by Rocket Fuel found that:
- Users exposed to blog comments were 64% more likely to have brand awareness
- Blog comments drove a 69% increase in consideration of a product/service
- Website visitors were 40% more likely to make a purchase if they came from a blog comment thread
That‘s because when done right, blog commenting allows you to demonstrate expertise, build trust, and form genuine connections – all critical steps in moving prospects down the customer journey.
Of course, this only works if you approach blog commenting with the right mindset. Trying to sneakily insert links or drop generic remarks will get you nowhere. The key is to always focus on adding value to the conversation FIRST. The rest – the traffic, the links, the leads – will follow naturally from there.
Take Your Blog Comment Strategy to the Next Level
Blog commenting is a powerful but often overlooked tactic for content marketers and business owners. With the right approach, you can bypass spam filters and start using comments to grow your online presence.
Remember:
- Always aim to add unique value to the discussion
- Write like a real, relevant person (not a spam bot)
- Use links sparingly and only when highly relevant
- Follow any blog-specific comment guidelines
- Continue to engage after the initial comment
Now go find some blogs in your niche and start contributing to the conversation. If you consistently share helpful, insightful remarks (like the ones outlined in this post!), you‘ll be well on your way to becoming a welcome presence in your online communities.
And if you‘re a WordPress blog owner looking to encourage more high-quality comments on your posts, make sure to clearly outline your comment policy and manually approve any that follow the guidelines. Reward your best commenters and they‘ll keep coming back, helping to grow an engaged community around your site.
With a solid blog commenting strategy in place, you open up a whole new channel for connecting with your target audience and driving real business results. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start leaving some genuinely valuable blog comments! Your efforts will pay off in spades.
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