Here’s a question for discussion this weekend:
Do you use your real name when leaving comments on a blog or do you use ‘keywords’?
I was moderating comments last night here on ProBlogger and noticed almost a 60/40 split between these approaches (with 60% using ‘real’ names).
My personal preference is to leave my real name – that’s partly because I feel it is more personal and also because I guess inadvertently over the years my name has become a brand of sorts – so it makes sense.
My personal preference for people leaving comments on my blog is also for ‘real names’ – although I’ve not moderated comments based upon people using keywords.
A Spectrum of Approaches
There is a spectrum of approaches that I see people using when it comes to what ‘name’ they leave on comments:
1. Key Words Only – For example some people are obviously just using words that they are attempting to rank for in Google. In my mind when you leave a comment under the name of something like ‘Bad Credit‘ or ‘Interior and Exterior Painting‘ or ‘Steel garages sheds‘ or ‘revenue‘ (all names used here on ProBlogger in the last 48 hours) you’re coming close to looking like you are spamming and doing it purely for SEO, even when your comments are on topic and genuine. I don’t honestly see the point in doing this. Most blogs (including ProBlogger) have nofollow tags in their comments so your links and the words you use have no SEO benefits what so ever. I doubt you’d get many people clicking on words like those either.
2. Brands/Site Names – Also on the spectrum but more acceptable in my mind are people who use keywords in more subtle and in ways that help brand themselves or their blogs. For example ‘Your Friendly Neighborhood Computer Guy‘ who is a commenter on ProBlogger. I don’t mind this type of approach because it is more personal and is tied to his brand (rather than just being an attempt to rank well for certain keywords).
3. Brands and Personal Names – The next step along the spectrum is people who use their name AND a keyword of blog name. Examples including ‘Vered – MomGrind‘ and ‘John Hoff – eVentureBiz‘ and ‘Janice (5 Minutes for Mom)‘. To me this works reasonably well as it gives a personal touch as well as some branding benefits.
4. Personal Names – The lastly there are those who leave just their name. This is my personal favorite and I find myself much more drawn to reading and interacting with these comments. I can understand that some don’t like to use their name as they want some level of anonymity – but for me a name actually makes me feel like I’m interacting with a human being.
Of course there are other approaches. Some use pseudonyms or nick names – I’m sure others will tell us about other options that they use too.
The above spectrum and ordering are based upon my own personal preferences and approaches – but I don’t have a monopoly on the truth and am interested in your personal approach.
What name do you leave comments by and why?
I always use my real name on professional blogs such as this one, but often I go through the keyword route on related blogs and their comments boxes that are new or the ones that seem like they aren’t sure what they are doing, so I can get a few quality backlinks in there (even though they may not update their blogs enough!).
I mix up this approach with writing good comments or my opinion on professional types of blogs and the amateur looking blogs too, because there are some good blog starters out there who may not know how to drive traffic or other things but they still have a good content base and a growing community of sorts.
Plus when I need to plan a promotion I also go through the keyword route for my blog comment name about a month or two before the promotion ends, so I can sort of leverage some extra windows for my affiliate promotions (halloween mainly!)
Darren, on the few occasions I’ve commented here at ProBlogger I’ve used my real name, a bit like Ryan McLean does, except I don’t then go on to say “in my financial blog…” every time. Although I note it’s an entrepreneur’s blog now! Only kidding Ryan… Actually…., it annoys me just a bit, but I don’t hate you for it and I can hardly blame you, you’re just doing your thing. :)
I might start leaving my blog title though because I’m convinced so few people read ALL the comments from the popular sites as there are so many, but I do think they pick up on a blog or site name as they scan down – and if it stands out, people are more likely to follow through with a click IMHO. And that’s what we want isn’t it??
Hey Ryan, we can still be friends can’t we? ;)
Dave.
I have used this nom de screen for years now. It links to my web site and turns up in Google searches. I have also been active online since 1983 with my full real name. So for me, both approaches work.
The only time I have a problem with people not really identifying themselves is when they use their feeling of anonymity to engage in the kind of jerk behavior that’d get them punched right down to the Mohorovicic Discontinuity if they tried it in person.
Marte, aka infmom
This is something I’ve been dealing with recently. I used to use the pseudonym “gsik” for the longest time but now moving towards using my real name everywhere.
I simply use my blog name-Debo Hobo- and sometimes I’ll either link to the home page or a particular post title.
i always comment by my name but the thing that i do change is the website that i put at various sites
I go back and forth between using my real name and my brand depending upon the content of a given post. Personally, I’m opposed to the use of keywords.
I have been leaving my actual name here, I forgot to change that, but on other sites I’m been using Graham’s Travel Blog which is the name of my site. I used to use just Graham but I’ve found that within my niche I get far more visits from comments if they know what kind of site I run.
I will consider Graham of Graham’s Travel Blog but that doesn’t quite sound right. I think that something of this approach would have been very useful for the Social Media Love-in so that you could see what kind of site people are running easily as opposed to clicking on the links one by one.
Graham
I like using my real name, but only because I can’t use a brandable one, such as: ProBlogger
I use my real name, and link it to my own blog. I wouldn’t use keywords and I certainly wouldn’t click on keywords. I quite often discover new blogs by clicking on interesting comments, and so I hope others do the same with my name.
First time commentor on your blog… but for everywhere else I always use my real name.
It’s not very unique at all, but I believe it to be more personal as you say.
I like to use my online name TheAndySan mainly because there are a ton of Andys out there and several AndySans, but to my knowledge, there’s only one TheAndySan.
It has my real name in it anyway so I don’t feel like I’m concealing my identity from my audience.
I also like to add my website’s URL underneath my name as well. That does wonders for increasing my site views, but I did get a nasty comment about it recently. What do you guys think about doing that? Is it too spammy or is it fair play?
TheAndySan
http://www.theandysan.com
My problem is my name (Alli) is also a keyword for a weight reduction drug. So my comments sometimes get sucked into spam because I use my real name. But I never have thought to do anything else, but you have given me something to ponder. I don’t think I would use a keyword because I don’t really work that way in my blogging. I could start using “Alli (Fuller’s Mom)” or something.
I use my name, but that’s also because I do have a personal brand, and it’s distinctive. I guess if my name was Jane Smith it would not work, but Elizabeth Potts Weinstein is pretty distinctive.
I have started signing comments with my twitter username, since that’s what I use on many social networks (where my full name is too long).
I think using keywords is strange, because it’s a comment by a human being, not a keyword. If we are having a conversation in real life, you don’t introduce yourself by saying “Hi, I’m digital photography.”
~ @ElizabethPW
Hard lines, Alli! I’m glad I’m a letter short… ;-)
However, since one of the blogs I run is a diet/health/weight-loss blog I do wonder whether people googling “Ali” and “Diet” get typoed weight loss drugs results…
Anyway, on topic; as you can see just to the left, I tend to use my real name plus the name of my blog (Alpha Student in this case, as it’s newly launched!) I’m more likely to click on someone’s name in a comment if there’s something unusual or intriguing in it, and I’ve tried to give my blogs vaguely interesting titles (The Office Diet & Alpha Student). As others have said, it’s about building up a brand, but also encouraging curiosity.
That said, I can see how it might seem spammy. That’s never been my intention!
I use my real name. Generally, Thomas. Sometimes I use my full first and last name, but only when commenting on a friends’ blog.
Of course, I have to include a link to my blog in my comment, either in the field marked website, or as part of my comment text; this I’ve found is what gets me the most traffic.
I dislike it when folks use “handles”, trade names, or website domain names as their names in comments. It makes it all seem too impersonal.
I almost always use the handle I chose for myself in 1995. I suppose it’s my brand, although I feel a little arrogant trying to claim I have a brand.
Great article!
I use my real name (with my last name as a letter for some small degree of security). I can’t stand people who use Real Estate as their name or some other annoying keyword. In rare circumstances, I don’t delete it, but most of the time, it’s out of there.
Nicknames, on the other hand, are fine.
wow,
I see almost nobody uses keywords as a name for this topic comments,
what a lucky day! :)
Brand. Not necessarily a reason. I also use my real name from time to time. Some people just know “me” by it, just as I’m sure more people know Darren Rowse by “ProBlogger”.
I use my name.
Usually I use my handle “redwall_hp.” Most of the people who follow my blogs recognize it as me, it’s unique (really, it’s an older gamer tag that kind of stuck…), and it’s kind of a personal name *and* a brand.
I use pseudonym. dandellion is name I use on web since 1996 and it’s (in cyberspace) more personal and more me than my given name, especially because my given name is a bit hard to pronounce if you’re not Slavic. And Kimban is my last name from second Life, which I happen to like and it makes me a nice brand :)
When I first saw this question I thought it was odd, then realized that people do indeed leave some strange names on their comments. I was talking with a guy a few days ago who said every blog he ever makes a post on gets shunted into the spam filter first. I told him his name looked like spam initially, and he changed it, and suddenly wasn’t in spam filters anymore. Great post.
Real name. I also use it on my blog. I feel that, for some, you come across as more authentic if you’re not “hiding” behind some made up name.
I use my pen/blogger name when I post a comment and when I write. I prefer to use a pen name to keep aninimity on the internet and I use my pen name to stay consistant so people will recognize me when they visit my blog.
I do the “Vered – MomGrind” thing because in the blogosphere, I’m not “just” Vered. I’m Vered of MomGrind.
There’s definitely a branding benefit here and I also see it as a way of encouraging people to check out my blog. My assumption is that “Vered” will not cause too many people to be curious about my blog and click over, while “Vered – MomGrind” just might.
Real name – more personal, I think author of blog, where I live comment be glad to see a real name. Keywords looks like spam and comments looks like from robots.
I like using my own name. I think, one, it’s more personal. Two, it has more of an element of mystery and intrigue. If I see “Mark Theodore Smith” (I made that name up), I would wonder who that is and what the blog is about. If I see instead “custom steel bed frames”, I think “oh okay, I don’t care.”
Since many blogs use nofollow, it doesn’t help with SEO. But even with blogs that use dofollow, I still would like to use my real name. My blog name is already the first search result on Google for the phrase, but my name isn’t. So even on the SEO point of view, using my real name is a good thing.
Real Name only though I do alternate between http://www.macewan.org and my http://www.macewan.tv domains.
Its an interesting topic, although the answer to the question itself is actually 95% obvious. The real grit to this lies in the way the blog owner interacts with the comments based on the name used, and the way other visitors to the site interact with the commentator based on the name used.
As you can see, I use a combination of my real name (pretty common first and last names) and (one of) my website names. Why do I do this? Well, its probably easier to explain how I read the comments on blogs such as Problogger.
If the post is one of interest to me, and it has upwards of 80+ comments, I tend to want to read other peoples views on the topic – after all I might be in the dark about it, have a pre/misconception about it, or just want to see who agrees with my (right) opinion.
So I scan down the comments. Comments with no website link tend to be ignored – the author is either afraid to voice their opinion and back it up with their web location, or have some other reason to remain anonymous. Is this person going to contribute greatly to the debate? Probably not.
Any comments left that are only a line or two in length, probably skipped over – I don’t need to read ‘great post’ with no other expansion on the topic.
Longer comments indicate the author has (possibly) spent some time considering their repsonse, so its more likely to have something of interest to say. Before reading however, I then look at the name of the person who has posted – do I recognise the author? Is it a real name? Is there a website name in there as well? Yes – I’ll read the comment more thoroughly. If there is a website name there as well as the author name, I’m likely to click the link and check out the website, especially if I like what the person has said.
If there isn’t a real name, or the name is obviosuly keyword led, then I might read the comment, but I’m very unlikely to click the link and visit the site, regardless of how thoughtful, insightful or troll like the comment.
Just my opinion of course, and I may be missing out on valuable content, but when time is precious, you have to be selective.
I use my name. Occasionally I’m quasi-Hayley as that’s my livejournal name or Niuserre which is my Internet nickname from back in the day.
I much prefer actual names – a blog is like a conversation and if you were talking to someone you’d include your name even if you said your brand as well.
I leave my first name only. I feel it’s more personal that way and I only comment on posts I really appreciate or find interesting.
I also use my nickname/brand, as they are one and the same and exclusive to me.
I feel uncomfortable putting my full real name, but just a first name can be confusing, especially on a blog like this with a lot of comments – after all, there are a lot of Amys and Johns out there! Maybe a first name and an initial is a good compromise, like mine (Suzanne B –> SuzieBee). However, I can well understand those that like to use their blog/writing name. I’m always known as Suziebee on the internet (and that’s what my blog was called), and people like The Masked Millionaire seem to have the same thing going on.
I usually use a pseudonym. My first name is the same as my real name but I’ve changed my last name. I use Thomas Flight all over the internet and sometimes Netager.com
Real name…though, in a sense, my real name is part of the “brand” as well (my site is titled Nancy’s Baby Names). So maybe this is more of #3 than #4? Not sure…
I leave comments as “PlasticPilot”, because this is part of my branding. It’s the name of my blog, and domain name, and e-mail as well.
My name (Vincent) is public on my blog, but not my surname, for privacy reasons. Leaving comments as “Vincent” would be much less noticeable than as “PlasticPilot”. A variant like “Vincent @ PlasticPilot” is also meaningless, as I’m the sole author.
I have never thought about SEO aspects when posting here.
Its very clear most postings on blogs have a “NOFOLLOW ” tag. That is fine. I come here because I enjoy reading and interacting and mixing with others and the posts are great.
On my blog everyone is welcome to leave ” Keyword enriched” link. It also has ” FOLLOW ” TAGS which may increase your search engine rankings. If you did not do that I may beat you with a stick for being so naive.
http://www.indexoptionstrading.alliancemtg.com
I am for the free world where we help each other and improve each other and if you can benifit from our blog in some way even just by visiting or getting a ” FOLLOW” link back to you -that is awesome.
I think if everyone did the same and (you can take a survey) it will be a vastly improved system in my humble opinion.
hi, I use Tressa, I still get the person touch with my name, but I am not fully identified. You make some excellent points, I did notice the long in names, and you have helped keep my reference of using my first name.
Thanks
T
Hey Rajaie AlKorani you are a brand It all how you market yourself
i use my name, just my first name, because that what people always calls me, they call izzat not izzat aziz, but my blog name is izzataziz.com not izzat.com :D
Without fail I use my own name. Consistency of online identity and branding.
I use my real name which is Jay and the name of my blog “Wealthy Affiliate Insider” which could also be descriptive or branding of myself.
If you visit my blog, I also post as Jay but I’m looking at using my entire name for personal branding reasons.
I use my first name because it is a particularly unusual first name (Adrianos) and for branding purposes. How many people do you know with my name? It also fits with my lawyering style, which is relaxed and personable. I do include my last name sometimes, however.
@Plastic Pilot: I might add that your method would appear to work. I saw your name and clicked through because I love flying (pilot being the obvious connection of course) – but I probably wouldn’t have done so based solely on your comment (relevant and logical as it was). I’m happy because I’ve got a new site to read.
:)
I also use my own name, but like some other people commenting here I do it because if it promotes me as a person/professional, it’s a bonus. In addition, I agree with you that using keywords doesn’t get people to click on them (I wouldn’t), and in my line of business I wouldn’t mind a few extra visitors to my site. Sometimes I could use a site name, or work title, depending on whether it is relevant.
I use my real name. I guess I just lack imagination. ;)
That’s a smart question and I think I’ve tried them all to be honest.
I’ve often wondered which is best.
I like my real name. I use my real name. Blogging wouldn’t feel authentic otherwise. I’d feel like I was keeping some kind of secret and that would alter my voice and the message.