Blog comment etiquette.
Is there such a thing? We all love comments on our blogs and if we are team players, we leave comments on other blogs as well.
There's plenty of reasons to want to do that.
Drive more traffic to your own blog and have your links in more places are two that come to mind, but I'm not talking about the whys of leaving comments.
I'm talking about the hows.
That would be the how to and how not to.
Who knew? There's an etiquette to making comments on blogs? Yes! Just like everything else you do, there's some definite do's and don'ts.
Do..
...

• Add something of value.
  When you leave a comment, add to the discussion of what the person is blogging about.
  Pick out something you particularly liked, agreed with, or even disagreed with.
  In your comment, tell why.
  That adds value! Yes, it's alright to leave a resounding "Way to go" or "Absolutely, positively LOVED your post," but try to add why you think it was so good.
  
• Be pleasant.
  OK.
  This should be a no-brainer.
  There is always a tactful way to say something, even if you don't agree.
  You know you learned that at an early age!
• Keep the comment conversation going.
  Yes, you've read the blog and want to comment, however, you go to the comments and find others have a conversation going in the comment thread.
  Join in! It's a way to take the blog post to a whole new level.
  Bloggers always like to see their readers conversing with one another in the comments!
• If you learned something, say so.
  This is the highest compliment.
  If I have given the ins and outs of a subject and the reader walks away with new knowledge or better understanding, this blogger is one happy camper!

Don't..
..

• Blatantly promote yourself.
  Just in case anybody needs the definition of blatant it's "brazenly obvious.
  " Another one is "offensively noisy and loud.
  " (from the dictionary dot com.
  ) You know you don't want to be THAT! If you say something noteworthy or clever, people can click on your name and your site will come up.
  Seriously, that's enough of a promotion for you.
  
• Leave links to your own products.
  That goes for your blog posts, your affiliate links and anything else of that nature in your comment.
  If you do this, you are not a team player.
  You're trying to get people over to your own pages.
  It's just not cool.
  There's actually a name for it.
  It's called Hijacking.
  And, think about it.
  It's somewhat rude.
  Your getting a link back to your site.
  Don't be greedy!
• Personally attack the blogger.
  Come on.
  This is childish and has no place.
  Plus, you know who it hurts in the long run.
  

I love to comment on other blogs and I know you do too.
There's an advantage to be had by doing it, plus, I naturally like going around the net checking out blogs, reading, and commenting.
I'm sure you'll agree that some common-sense etiquette is in order when leaving comments on blogs!