Do you delete hub comments that are very generic if it appears the commenter hasn't read the hub?
I notice my more popular hubs will get comments left that are just generic like "this was great thanks". I have started deleting these comments because they don't add anything meaningful and I think they are just others trying to get backlinks etc. How do you handle generic comments that don't add anything to the conversation etc?
No I do not delete those, and the reason is that you can easily use that as a platform to reply something superior - which can ONLY make you look better to everyone.
By "superior" I also meant FRIENDLY, or ENCOURAGING. You realize, of course, that emails go out stating "so and so just commented on the hub_______"
That brings in more page views and impressions right there.
That's a tough call. Comments drive traffic to your hubs, as those following the hubs will view them again to see the new comments. But to keep the comments relevant and of high quality, a case could be made for deleting ones that are just people trying to get their Hubscore up by leaving as many comments as possible.
I probably would not delete a comment such as "this was great thanks", since it is complimentary and can easily be passed over since it's so short. I would delete comments that are obviously off-topic and indicate the reader did not read the Hub.
Generic comments are harmless to hubs. In fact, it can bring some more traffic. But comments unrelated to hub topic don't look great. I have deleted a few unrelated comments but leave generic ones.
I keep all comments that appear on my Hubs. I like to save them and it is easy to keep track of in the "Comments" section on the Hubs. (Perhaps this is my ego talking.)
Here’s my take on this issue, Christin. I just made a comment on the Hub, Open G Guitar by Jon Green. I merely said, “Great Hub, Jon.” As a comment from one guitarist to another, I didn’t think it was necessary to go into detail. In addition, Hubbing is not all I do, so there are times when I’m in a hurry, but I want the Hubber to know I was present. It’s true there’re those that just browse a page, but to me, it doesn.t matter, because at least they’re looking; if they like the page and stay to read, that’s great.
"Generic comments" on your "more popular hubs" would suggest a previous commenter had already said what the writer of "this was great thanks" intended to say and therefore felt repeating it was unnecessary.
So NO, I would NEVER delete a "generic comment". Such a comment DOES NOT indicate the person didn't read the hub, only that for reasons unknown to you, he/she didn't feel the need to (or didn't want to) leave a longer...i.e. "meaningful"...comment.
Perhaps you should revise your definition of "meaningful"....
Ok for clarity - I should have said "not approved" comments that are very general and you know it's not from someone who follows you or normally reads your hubs. Also if it's a short comment from someone who is a higher level I keep them. I meant more in the lines of someone who you can just tell is only there saying something random to boost their hub score etc.
Obviously I am not going to disallow short comments from hubbers I recognize etc.
I would also add that this has only happened a couple of times where I didn't approve a comment for this reason so thanks for your answers everyone.
I personally think it's rude to delete someone's comments; they took the time to comment on Your hub, generic or not. I also don't delete generic FanMail, because if I did, there would only be a few left (LOL!)
Yes I do. Like you, I suspect at least some of those "great Hub" commenters are just after the backlink. Besides, those comments just clutter up the comments area and make it harder for people to follow any meaningful conversations.
To me it sounds too much like showing off if I keep a lot of "great work" type comments anyway,.
I don't think it is good manners to delete someone's comment, unless it is pretty ugly and I haven't had any of those yet. People that take time to respond to a hub even if they are not positive comments, still show an interest in your subject matter and that is better than indifference.
So far I have not denied any comment on my hubs. I am not too concerned about people's motivations, if they have visited my hub and commented, that is good enough for me. If they get some kind of benefit from it, that's OK too.
No, I would not. I think it is great that someone took the time to even stop by for a look. Even if they just skimmed through today, they may notice something worth taking a deeper look into tomorrow.
No, I don't. This reader has clicked and paid a visit so that's good for me.
I'v personally never deleted a comment however generic it may have sounded. Some people can actually only read a certain length before they switch off believe it or not especially the people who are on hub pages literally all day.
For many people they actually find few people comment so when i do get a comment generic or not i keep it.
I'm lucky enough to have a small group of followers so comments i get are generally from them but always welcome the new ones.
Generic comments won't harm your hub, i personally don't read all of other peoples comments all the time especially if they are long so 'short but sweet' may actually go in your favour as well as everybody else's points mentioned here
No only Hubs but anywhere I post.
Generic tells me nothing about the content of posts, articles, reviews or anything else I write.
I try not to post generic comments. I try to add something for anyone that reds the comments or follows a post and the subsequent comments.
No, I leave them anyway. I don't really moderate the comments because I really want to give readers free speech. Someone will probably point it out in another comment.
Hub commentary is fuel for our self esteem and creativity. How you react to comments effects your relationship with other Hubbers and hence your HubPages happiness. read more
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