In the world of blogging, comments are essential, and indeed, can make or break a blog. As anti-spamming is prevalent in Wordpress, it is a good idea to set out in the blog, what the policy is when it comes to comments.
There are numerous advantages to doing this, one of which is that it shows the reader exactly what is acceptable from the start, and so can avoid confusion, when a well crafted comment does not make it past the anti-spam tools.
One essential tip for a Wordpress comment policy, is that you should check the out bound links, that are left on a comment. It may seem a little extreme, but you simply do not know what your readership’s sensibilities are, and if one takes offence at what the associated link in a comment leads too, well that could be one less reader of your blog. So check the links to make sure they are not inappropriate either to the content of your blog, or indeed, morally inappropriate.
If you are leaving a comment check the comment policy of the blog. You do not want that well crafted, amazing post that you have just typed not to make it past the spam filters, so ensure that it has every chance in life, by giving the policy a quick scan before posting, could be disappointing if you do not.
It is a good idea to make sure that your policy is on display, so your readers do not have the problem. It does not have to be too comprehensive, but it should be clear as to what is acceptable, and arguably more importantly, what is unacceptable. The policy should incorporate the ethos of the blog.
Try to keep a policy relevant to your readership, and the simpler the better. It is not a good idea to have an overly complex policy, as this will confuse people, and annoy people if you pull a comment because it violates the policy, for reasons that are not altogether clear to your reader.
Another good tip for a Wordpress comment policy, is to ask the readers to take a look at the policy before they do anything else, by making a side post saying exactly this. This will engage the reader from the start, and it will show them what is acceptable, and unacceptable from the beginning. Think of it as starting a new job, and someone shows you what to do in the event of a fire. This is the same thing, but without smoke and noisy alarms.
It is important to remember though, that like everybody on the planet, life is not about policies, and though you should encourage your readers to take note of your comment policy, your blog is not about it. In fact, it is only a small fragment in the grand scheme of things, so you should not over emphasise it, but just recommend it as a guide.
A good comment policy will be a valuable edition to your blog, and make it seem professional, so not only is it useful, it also adds value to your blog by making it feel more like the real deal. This will encourage readers to leave comments, and as they have read your policy, these comments will most likely to appear on the blog, which makes it a more interesting read.
As a rule, all these tips for a good Wordpress comment policy, are well worth following, and ultimately, make the blog more easily readable, and enjoyable. This is well worth striving for in the blogsphere, and we hope that your future comment policies, encapsulate all that we have discussed here.
