Looking for a Way to Engage Your Audience? Master the Art of Good Commenting
Virtual interactions have become a common practice for individuals and businesses alike. People communicate on social platforms by commenting on posts, news articles, press releases, and many other forms of digital content. Individuals, modern-day influencers, entrepreneurs, and businesses of all sizes should be vigilant about how their comments can shape their virtual identity.
Many people who aim to start their own business, and even those who aim to strengthen the presence of an existing business, underestimate the importance of providing quality comments. Some might erroneously assume that developing a virtual presence is all about batching and releasing as many relevant posts as possible, but it involves much more. For businesses, commenting and engaging with other people’s content can be just as important as creating good content.
Habitual engagement through virtual commenting can demonstrate company values, improve visibility, help develop working relationships with peers, and possibly increase the reach of target audiences too. It is likely that large companies will have a dedicated marketing team to handle their virtual presence, but smaller companies and entrepreneurs may not have the financial capacity to employ a marketing team. With that being said, here are a few tips on how to practice good commenting for individual business owners and those without a designated marketing team!
Tip #1: Do more than a “Lazy Like”
In a world where sites are overly saturated with content every single day, it can be tempting to click the “like” button and keep scrolling through your timeline. But simply liking something won't start the conversation. Take your “like” a step forward — provide some engagement with a genuine comment.
Believe it or not, people appreciate when companies take the time to comment on their posts. It shows that someone is truly listening. To put it simply, feeling heard can equate to feeling valued. So take the time to leave a comment. Comments can be simple, but they can also be a way to provide visual feedback to others who might question if they're on the right track with how they engage audiences with their own content.
Granted, not every single piece of content that is posted online needs a thought-provoking comment (e.g., a caption-less picture of an adorable animal). But you should really take a moment to consider whether to leave a comment.
Tip #2: Write comments that are honest, thought-provoking, and relevant
If you want target audiences to put their faith and trust in you, it’s important that you write honest, thought-provoking, and relevant comments to engage with your followers. It's also important to understand the tone of virtual writing. At times, it might be necessary to provide comic relief, engage in good-humor banter, or provide interesting anecdotes.
Let’s say you come across an in-depth article on LinkedIn about a topic that resonates with you. It’s one thing to comment, “Great article!” or “Cool!”, but it’s another to elaborate on why you agree with the article. Other readers, who could potentially join your audience, might also be able to relate to how you demonstrated the article’s value.
On the other hand, you can disagree with the sentiment expressed in an article and explain your reasoning through the comment — the caveat being that you frame your comment in a way that is both positive and honest, while eloquently expressing your disagreement.
If you disagree with what the author said, you could lead with, “I see what you’re saying…” and offer an alternative point of view on the subject. This way, you can adapt to a multitude of situations and stay true to your own brand or vision while still engaging with others on topics you find important.
With this method, it’s easier for others to recognize you as a trusted source of information or an expert in your industry.
Tip #3: Make sure that your comments are short, sweet, and to-the-point
Nobody wants to read an essay in the comment section. Not only can long-winded and extended comments (when unwarranted) be viewed as a bit out of touch, they can put some readers off.
Regardless of who wrote the article or post you are commenting on, be sure that your comments are well-written, easy to read, and easy to follow. Otherwise, the people reading your comments may find them difficult to follow and dismiss your comments as opportunistic attempts to enter a conversation you know nothing about.
Do us all a favor — Don’t try to upstage the writer with a long comment that has no merit. State your point concisely to help keep the conversation going. And remember, lengthy comments that are poorly written will certainly be counter-productive!
So In Review:
Do more than a “Lazy Like”
Be honest, thought-provoking, and relevant
Keep your comments short, sweet, and to-the-point
Can you think of any other tips to follow when it comes to commenting? Has commenting helped you grow your audience?
Let us know in the comments below!