Seven Reasons to Invest Your Time in Online Comments

What am I missing by not commenting often on the online articles I read?

We all read online articles. But not everyone comments. After reading the comments from yesterday’s LinkedIn Article “Online Comments – The Debate Rages On” by Lucy Markus I got to thinking about what those comments meant. Thank you to everyone who commented, I appreciated your thoughts.

Here are SEVEN reasons to consider adding your comments to articles that you read.

1. Take a Break, Enjoy, and Learn Something New. Read a few articles and add your comments. You may enjoy it! The change of scenery may reinvigorate your mind. You will learn additional new information by reading comments of others.
2. Communicate Your Expertise and Serve Others. If the article content covers an area where you have expertise your comment may add valuable insight, expanding the scope and value of the article.
3. Meet Like Minded Readers and Grow Your Network. As you read comments and other readers take your comments into account you will have the opportunity in some cases to connect to people who share your interests and viewpoints. When you comment you become visible to other readers, making yourself available for connection. You may even comment several times, discussing the article and making a connection.
4. Sharing Your Opinions Makes the Post More Interesting. Everyone has opinions, and some differ from the writers opinions. You comments may pose questions others have not considered. It’s OK to write comments that disagree with the author, as long as they offer an alternative point of view and state why.
5. Makes For A More Interesting You. When discussing the article with your work associates, partners, or family it will make for better conversation if you have thought about the article enough to have submitted your own comment.
6. Helps to Correct Errors. If the author makes an error in an area of your expertise, you can add information in the form of a comment so that other readers are aware of the error.
7. Engage Directly with the Author. Most authors read comments. I personally participate in the comment thread if there is one.

Hesitant to comment? Thinking there is a potential to be misunderstood or misinterpreted? This may be a valid reason to think carefully about your comment and make sure it is constructive and clearly written.

Some readers are really turned off by negative comments or “trolls”. Others see these comments as adding to the discourse in their own unique way! One approach is to take what makes sense, and leave the rest behind.

Please do write comments! I am very interested in your thoughts and, as Lucy says “I promise to read every word.”