What makes blogging so different about traditional publishing platforms is that it allows visitor interaction - interaction between the blog owner and the visitors as well as interaction amongst visitors.
As a blog owner, you can exert a specific amount of influence on the conversation but you can't control it entirely. Visitors are free to post their feedback and opinions - good or bad.
While you hope everyone agrees with your content, very often visitors will use your blog as a platform for venting their frustration. This can sometimes be a distinct disadvantage to you as a blogger.
Creating original and interesting content is hard enough. Dealing with the responses to that content is another matter altogether.
Knowing that bad, and good, comments can and will be posted is important. Important enough that you should work out a plan to deal with all types of comments before you make your first post.
As a blog owner, there are three typical ways that you can choose to deal with blog comments. You can choose to reply to comment, block certain visitors from posting future comments, or delete comments.
Replying to Comments on Your Blog
Under normal circumstances it is more advantageous to reply to comments on your blog. Why? Because that's the point of the blog, to interact with and respond to visitors. Having open communication is a good thing.
You should always reply to a positive comment, thanking the visitor. Sometimes people just want to know you pay attention.
Negative comments are a little trickier. There are two types of negative comments. There are those which I call dialog starters and those that are rude, vulgar, or downright not very nice.
Someone who posts a dialog starter may disagree with what you say, add important points that you may have missed, or state that you're completely wrong. These types of comments are great. No mud slinging involved. You can choose to debate the comments, point by point, or make a small rebuttal and take the conversation offline.
While some bloggers seem to enjoy nasty, negative comments, I believe otherwise. Here's why. If you have great content and you've managed to connect with your visitors, one bad comment can ruin the whole party, especially if the comments are vulgar. You're better off deleting these comments.
Blocking Adverse Comments from Visitors
Negative comments, if made in the right spirit can be used as a basis for improvement. However, when negative comments get out of hand, it's better to ban that visitor from posting comments on your blog altogether.
I always like to give visitors the benefit of the doubt. Give them fair warning and then shut them down. There's good, healthy interaction and then there's nonsense. You don't have to put up with the nonsense, even as a blogger.
Deleting Posts
All blog software, free and paid, gives you the ability to delete comments. If you're paranoid about comments, make visitors register before they can post. Then, don't allow posts to appear until you've moderated them. This method is a little more time-consuming but should remove your "comment" fears.
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