The best way to introduce the idea of a comment policy is to remind you that my favorite word is no.

I like to follow the rules.

If you’re in a position to set rules for any given situation, they can help you reach solutions to issues faster and avoid future headaches.

You have the ability to set rules for the online community you build with your website.

Setting rules for your digital home is a smart way to make sure you are successful on the internet.

It is possible to preserve your time for your most important work.

When you work as a writer, you want to spend more time on the projects that are important to you.

It is easy to get tied up doing other tasks.

The good news is, you can preserve a lot of your energy by establishing communication rules for your business and website.

It is worth your time to create a comment policy if you have just started a new website. It is possible to add a website if it has been around for a long time.

You have a standard that will help you review comments on your posts.

A comment that follows your rules will be approved. You can quickly remove it if it doesn't happen.

It is easy to put together a simple policy on your website.

If you want to expand the page later, don't worry, it can evolve over time, like your business's terms of service and payment policy.

The first draft of your comment policy can be difficult to write. It should be ready to publish on your website after a few edits.

The first part of your comments policy should be welcoming.

People are not meant to be turned off from engaging with you.

The introduction of Copybloggers explains something.

“We’re very glad you’re here and can’t wait to see what you’ve got to say about the content marketing strategies, principles, and practices we write about each week.

“Before you add your contribution in the comment section of our living room home on the web, please take a moment to look over the helpful guidelines below.”

You can use your writing voice to make this piece of content unforgettable. It is another way for site visitors to learn more about you.

I will continue to use the Comment Policy of Copyblogger as a framework for crafting my own text.

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2. The type of communication you encourage

Do you prefer the good news or the bad news first?

The section leads with the good news.

It says that.

“We welcome thoughtful and civilized discussion.”

Some examples of this type of relationship building can be found in the examples we give.

  • Add smart, relevant ideas that expand on an article’s premise — read the article before you comment
  • Drop funny references or jokes that carry the conversation forward
  • Offer useful, constructive (not stupid or ugly) criticism

The guidelines aren't just about the type of behavior that's forbidden.

3. The type of communication you won’t allow

The bad news needs to be dropped as well.

There are examples of what violations look like.

“The Copyblogger editorial team reserves the right to edit or delete comments as we see fit, without explanation.

“Here are some examples (not comprehensive, but you’ll get the idea) of types of comments that’ll ensure your failure to communicate, at least on Copyblogger.”

Specific behavior that is not acceptable is listed.

  • Comments that simply restate or repeat information from the article and don’t carry the conversation forward
  • Off-topic personal or professional rants
  • Threats to us or other visitors

If you want to give as much information as possible, this is the place to go.

You don't have to think twice about blocking someone from posting on your site if they break one of the rules.

4. Additional rules that protect your business and community

The comment policy explicitly states the following.

“Don’t contribute spam. If you’d like your comment to appear on Copyblogger, be respectful of our community and think before you post.”

There are more rules about the type of writing that is appropriate for your community in this final section.

It may have information about that.

  • Links: If you must include a link in your comment, please be aware that your comment may not be approved for posting. Be patient. Relevant links that contribute to the conversation need to be approved. Obvious attempts to promote your business, gain backlinks, traffic, or other types of self-promotion are not allowed.
  • Copyright: If we receive authentic notice that a comment is in violation of anyone’s copyrighted information, the comment will be deleted and the commenter may be blocked from posting comments in the future.
  • Privacy: Do not share private information within your comment. We will delete phone numbers, email addresses, or any other private or personal information to protect the affected party. This is not the place to exchange contact information with other visitors.

You know your business and niche better than anyone so this section is a great chance to prevent issues before they occur.

Ready to publish faster and with less stress?

If you like guidelines like these that take some of the guess work out of your content marketing, we can help you click Publish with confidence.

It is a framework that allows you to check off the most important elements of good content so you know you are making your best work.

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