A reader emailed me with some questions about blogging etiquette. I'll be answering her questions as part of a three part series this week and into next week.
Q: I read on someone's blog that if you post a comment on a site you should include your URL. I have tried that, but I feel a little self-promoting doing it and wondered in the blogging community how this was viewed.
A: Blogging etiquette is tricky, because it’s such a new medium and the rules are changing really quickly. Plus, the potential anonymity of online interactions means there’s a lack of accountability (some people leave comments that they would never say to the person's face, because they can get away with it online).
But most I think linking to your blog in a comment is a totally acceptable (and widespread) practice. Most blogging programs allow you to link to your blog automatically. In Blogger, your comment would link to your Blogger profile, which then leads to your blog or website. In WordPress, you would enter your blog URL as your website. Both of these options are commonly used and inconspicuous enough that you needn’t feel self-conscious using them, especially if your comments are genuine and somehow meaningful to the conversation.
Jennifer over at Catalyst Blogger wrote an interesting post about what she calls “comment whores.” For the purposes of this post, we’ll assume that your comment relates to the topic at hand, rather than shamelessly promoting your own blog, product, service, website, etc. Few people mind comments that are on-topic, even if they include a link to your blog or website. So, don’t be shy about leaving a link when you comment, because this is a great way to connect with other bloggers and (as an added benefit) encourage readers to visit your blog!
Do you have a question about blogging or freelance writing? Email me, and I'll try to answer it on this blog!