IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The 2024 OFFICIAL MASTER LIST: https://tinyurl.com/w54yupwe

Friday, March 24, 2017

Why We Love Comment Signatures (And You Should, Too!)

Those who participate in a blog hop are looking to connect with others. A link in your signature makes that faster and easier. It helps the blogger connect with you by making it easier to find your blog. This strategy increases social relationships with other A to Z bloggers. In addition to your (hopefully hyperlinked) name, consider adding a few words to identify yourself. (The hashtag #insixwords is a good source of inspiration.) Here’s my example:

J -- Co-host for the #AtoZchallenge, Debut Author Interviewer, Reference and Speculative Fiction Writer http://jlennidornerblog.what-are-they.com

Based just on the signature, you now know five facts about me.
  • You know I go by the name J.
  • You know who I am in relation to you. (We are both in the challenge.)
  • You know something I enjoy doing — interviewing debut authors. (If you know one, this would spark a conversation.)
  • You know what I do for a living. This too might spark a conversation.
  • You know how to reach me because you have a link to my blog.


Now I’m not just another commenter. I’m the writer who interviews debut authors and volunteers for the blogging challenge we’re both into.

Signature mindmap for @JLENNIDORNER
Brains like lists. It’s natural for memories to form based on information gathered about a person. “Someone left a comment,” isn’t as memorable as, “someone with a common interest left a comment,” or, “someone with a unique job left a comment.”

Your comment (when it’s meaningful, adds to the conversation, is thought provoking, or is funny) is your first opportunity to be memorable. Your signature is the second.

A to Z bloggers have come to expect a hyperlink signature in comments. There are at least four instructional posts on the blog:
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/2012/02/how-to-make-hyperlink-signature-guest.html
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/2013/01/blogging-basics-hyperlink-signature.html
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/2014/03/get-more-visits-by-hyperlinking-your.html
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/2016/03/a-to-z-tips-creating-signature-for.html

The purpose of the challenge is not only to promote your blog, but also to increase your social network. Someone who leaves a link in their signature is someone who is ready to communicate and engage. It’s easier to find someone who left an engaging comment or thought provoking question if the person dropped a breadcrumb trail. There isn’t always time to do a websearch for people. A hyperlinked signature is a calling card or business card in the blogging world. A hyperlinked signature is an invitation to form a relationship. This is why it’s a good way to concluded your comment.

What about comment boxes with a separate area for links?
Comment Sample image
In this case, leaving your link there instead of in the comment itself is acceptable.

Cultivate relationships online by including a signature with brief details about yourself and a link to you following your meaningful, valuable comment.

Plant the seed of social networking growth by including your hyperlinked signature.



by J Lenni Dorner
Reference and Speculative Fiction Author
A to Z Challenge Co-Host
Operation Awesome Debut Author Spotlight Organizer
Please visit the blog of @JLenniDorner Operation Awesome Debut Author Spotlight Organizer @JLenniDornerFollow @JLenniDorner on Twitter please WhatAreThey on Facebook pages

26 comments:

Shailaja V said...

I JUST saw this link after I'd posted the URL tip on Twitter! Talk about coincidence. What a lovely, instructional post with clear details, J! I've also created an excel sheet on Google Drive where I am updating the names of all the participating blogs. It's a public-access sheet so I am hoping more people will be able to use it :) All the best for the challenge!

JazzFeathers said...

I don't normally leave links in comments, because I know many bloggers don't like it. But during the challenge is different. As you said, people want to get in touch in a blog hop and the easier the better.
I do have a signature, but after reading your post I think I'll fine-tune it ;-)

Wendy said...

Will be revising mine. Thanks for the suggestions

Denise said...

I've really liked those leaving hyperlinked signatures in their comments. While I can click on a highlighted name, I then have to find their blog through their page that shows up if its a Google blog.
Denise at My Life in Retirement

Arlee Bird said...

Great advice well presented. This is what I've been doing for years and it's served me well.

Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out

Suddenly Susan said...

Let me see if I have this right.
Susan -- fellow blogger #AtoZchallenge
Blogger With an Emphasis on Photography
Freezerburned

Hope you'll stop by my blog!

Unknown said...

My one bit of advice is that commenters only put ONE link in their signature, two max. The reason for this is because a lot of blog platforms (Wordpress, definitely) will mark your comment as spam if there's too many links in it. This is because a lot of spammers drop tons of links in their comments. On Wordpress I can personally set the number of links allowed in a comment before it screens as spam, and I usually increase that number during the challenge, but I'm not sure all blogging platforms give you that option.

In other words, don't link every single one of your posts in your comment! (Yes, I had someone trying to do this on my blog last year, it would screen as spam EVERY single time they commented.)

Megan Morgan

Anonymous said...

Hi, J. I think you already know I'm taking part again this year. Sue from Sue's Trifles

Sharon E. Cathcart said...

Looking forward to it!

Sharon E. Cathcart
Award-winning Author of Fiction Featuring Atypical Characters
#atozchallenge

Suddenly Susan said...

Interesting! Thank you. I learn so much when I do this challenge.

Melissa Sugar said...

I wrote this down last year and saved it in my phone but my phone was desotryed and apparently not backed up and so I lost all my data. I'm gonna give it a try now but I'm computer code illiterate and I remember it took me several attempts last year to get such a simple line down. Also, some ( very few) blog platforms would not accept HTML. Did anyone else run into that problem? Other than that, I'm with you and Lee on this, this is absolutely the very best idea, especially for the challenge. I cannot see a down side to it at all. I know that some people object to signatures because they view them as potienial spammers and WP blogger even set their comments to disallow comments with more than a certain number of signatures. However, it's still my opinion that if you only leave one or two (if you have more than one blog in the challenge) along with a genuine and authentic comment that shows you actually read the blog post, then it's the best way to connect with other bloggers and it saves an abundance of time wasted searching for bloggers. I don't see any of the cons that others have argued in the past. I'm all for it and I appreciate the post the tutorial and links. Here goes. Hope I can figure it out.
Melissa Sugar @ Sugar Crime Scene A to Z Challenge

Shari Elder said...

Thanks for the Post. I'm using it to experiment with mine.
Crafting Complex Villains
Life’s a Story, Write it Bold
Shari Elder Author

reflections said...

I'm looking forward to this! And I hope my signature works. Well, I cannot get it to work. Because I am on Wordpress? transcribingmemory.com

PT Dilloway said...

People with signatures advertising their blog instantly strike me as someone who's just visiting my blog so I'll go to their blog. If that's the impression you want to make then fine.

rads said...

Hey, my first time here and enrolling in the A to Z challenge. Let's see how I fare :)
Emailed you guys as well -

Rads from Tunneling Thru, A Fitness and Lifestyle blog

Sandra Williamson said...

This is my first time in the challenge, and my head is a whirl with everything that I'm learning. Thanks to the organizers for making it easier for newbies like me to learn.
----------

Sandra, Aspiring family historian, fellow participant #AtoZchallenge

Sandra’s Ancestral Research Journal

J Lenni Dorner said...

Good job!

J Lenni Dorner said...

That's a great tip!

J Lenni Dorner said...

Such reciprocation is considered socially acceptable during blog hops. It isn't for everyone, granted. But a majority of people in the challenge do wish to visit those who visit them, and having a link makes such a goal easier to achieve. If you're not into that, it's okay. No pressure either way.

J Lenni Dorner said...

Great signature! Happy A to Z to you.

Michelle aka Naila Moon said...

I used something last year so folks could find me. Here is the one for this year...
Great advice!

M.M.Hudson aka Naila Moon,
Book Review Blogger@Reading Authors, Author & VA,
Participant #AtoZChallenge

Suddenly Susan said...

That's what I'm here for ... to read other people's blogs and hopefully pick up a few readers to my blog.

Unknown said...

Trying out my Signature. Thanks for the tips!

Decadent Kane Visiting from the A-Z Challenge
Paranormal Romance Author

Shirley Corder said...

Thanks for some great thoughts. I is for Interesting Images. #AtoZchallenge.

Dr Genevive Angela said...

Thanks for the suggestion, never linked, will try it here now.. appreciate you for sharing:)http://livealifeofgratitude.blogspot.in/2018/04/april-blogging-z-2018-n.html

Debbie Stott said...

What a great idea - never would have thought about it myself. Can I try it out here?
Debs from Everyday Delights and fellow A to Z Challenge blogger