#SMMsmarts: You Don’t Have To Comment On Everything!
Are you a comment crasher?
Do you feel the need to comment on nearly every post in your stream or feed, even if you have absolutely nothing to add to the conversation?
If you answered yes, you probably deserve the comment crasher label!
Sometimes silence is simply smarter!
I get it. Really, I do!
You’re trying to get ahead. Trying to make a name for yourself. Trying to showcase your smarts and savvy.
I’m guilty of the same (though, honestly, there’s no reason to feel guilty about aspiring to what I’ve listed above). But crashing a conversation without adding value isn’t the smart way to go about it!
Comment Crasher #411
There are many categories of comment crasher. I thought it might be helpful to share some of the most
The Commiserator:
Always sorry about whatever you’re going through. Always hopes it will get better. NEVER actually offers any actual tips or how-to options on how to solve the problem or issue. Ever empathetic, never effectual.
The “Everything” Expert:
This individual has never found a topic upon which he/she could add much needed expertise. From neuroscience to natural history, this guy or gal believes themselves to be the go-to resource, despite lack of experience and actual expertise. Hey, they read an article about it on Huffington Post, ding-dang it!
The Link Litterer:
It’s not enough to land a less than stellar comment on your feed. This comment crasher wants to generate traffic when they can’t generate much else. So they litter these discussions with links to their less-than-on-topic articles, hoping to generate traffic as they bolster their bid for influence and expertise.
The Takeover Tactician:
I see this most often in Twitter chats, but it can happen anywhere, sadly. This happens when you get a my way or the highway tool who tries to take over the discussion by repeatedly positing that their way is the only correct way. At the same time these twits alienate all participants and aren’t smart enough to figure out when it’s time to shut up.
The Hesitant & Helpful:
These comment crashers might seem innocent and relatively harmless, but I dare say they might be the most sinister. They prevaricate and pussyfoot around the sharing of their chosen advice, but that advice is shared all the same.
However, it’s hard to get behind their help when they can’t state, with any alacrity, that their course of action actually works. When you try to pin them down on their own successes, they continue to hem and haw, but still hold on to their “helpful” hint by the skin of their teeth.
If it ain’t helpful …
I don’t want to hear it. Simple enough, right?
How do you know if what you’re sharing is actually helpful? Did you actually try the course of actions you’re recommending? Did they, indeed, help you. If so, consider sharing.
But if you’re sharing random solicitous snippets gleaned from skimming the articles of the influencers with whom you are trying to connect, and you haven’t actively tested the tip? Sit on your hands! Walk away from the computer! Do whatever is necessary to STOP yourself from commenting without cause!
Instead Of Inane Comments …
If you’re not really sure about the topic, ask a simple question. Still unsure if you can provide anything of value to the discussion, you have two options:
1. Research the topic or issue. A lot. Not one quick read on an entertainment news site. I’m talking some deep searching on Google, seeking out articles, discussion forums, Q&A sessions, webinar recordings, podcasts and more.
But that’s a LOT of work. Requiring hours of time. By that time the thread might not be popular anymore, your peers having moved on to a new discussion.
Better hop in and say SOMETHING, right? WRONG!
2. Enjoy The Silence! Silence, in these instances is smarter and infinitely more social. Social isn’t always about being seen. It’s smarter social to stay silent when you have nothing to add to the conversation. Save your shares and your smarts for the topics and discussions where you can add real value.
What do you think?
Should social media marketers comment on any post that piques their interest? Are they adding value even when they’re not particularly familiar with the topic? I’d love to know what you think!
Are You Lovin’ This Blog?
Also, as part of my summer launch of a new visibility plan, I’m working to increase the visibility of the articles I publish. I’m testing several new techniques and setting up systems.
I’ve seen that a lot of branding and design blogs, and even some savvy social media marketers are adding their sites to Bloglovin. I thought I’d test it out and see if it’s a good fit. If you’re there, won’t you follow along and see if I’m on the right track?
You forgot one – the Comments Just to Deliberately Piss Off Your Friends.
I’ve culled a whole bunch of Facebook “friends” recently, for arguing with my actual friends’ point of view, and continuing to do so, even when they’re clearly wrong and looking like an idiot.
Some people really do have too much time on their hands.
That’s always a difficult one, Danny. Especially when we’re very passionate about our beliefs and in our hopes that we can make the world a better place. You do that, sir.
Opinions are rough. And sometimes very hard to reconcile. I, too, have found myself biting my tongue on occasion. Usually it is on Google+, where a handful of “gentlemen” feel the need to tell me, not with these exact words – of course – that I’m but a silly woman, spouting nonsense.
It’s enough to make you consider connecting, as you have, or even blocking individuals. I’ve been forced to do so in the past and it’s never a good feeling.
Wait, women can have opinions without appearing silly? #FML…
Yeah, it gets tiring. There’s only so much energy you can expand on countering ignorance, sometimes it’s far easier just to close that door down altogether.
This is incredibly helpful! I had to block a family member for a while because she was posting “wow” on pretty much every thing I wrote for my business page.
But I never thought about assessing what I was saying. As an extrovert, I tend to always want to contribute. This helped me realize I should *really* pay more attention to what I’m writing (and really — saying in person) as to whether or not it adds to full conversation.
Thank you!
You nailed it, Gina! Just spending two seconds assessing and determining will stop the comments by rote and add more value to the conversation. I think, sadly, that there’s a comment first, think about the comment second mentality taking a foothold of late!
The post is very entertaining, though I will say I do disagree with the first point! 🙂
Giving unsolicited advice (to anyone, especially strangers) can actually be very annoying. Also, we should always be aware that we are getting just a tiny fraction of a story on a blog, and have no idea what the person tried or hasn’t tried, what are her unique circumstances and whether what we think is a good idea to try is actually useful or not.
Unless the person specifically asks for tips & advice, I’d recommend to keep it empathetic.
A little confused, because nowhere in the post do I state you should offer unsolicited advice. My first point says you should do your research before you take part in a discussion. Nothing about acting as an adviser or “coach.” As in, do the research before you offer an opinion. Opinions are not advice, solicited or otherwise. They’re simply opinions.
As a matter of fact I’ve written about that, too, on more than one occasion:
http://gocreativego.com/stop-assuming-connections-need-your-help/
http://gocreativego.com/sassy-pants-unsolicited-advice/
Glad you liked it, though.