The headline, Tumblr Changes Reblogs either excited you or frustrated you this past September. As Mashable noted then, Tumblr has a large base of devoted users (as much all other social media sites), and sudden changes can sometimes set people into a frenzy. The reaction to Tumblr changing how comments get organized at the end of each reblogged post seems to have had a divided response immediately.
Just like on Twitter and Facebook, design changes set people off easily. It's no surprise when social media is so intertwined in our daily lives. In that regard, those who use Tumblr will likely get acclimated to the reblog changes soon rather than the site having a mass exodus.
Many agree the better organization of comments at the bottom of reblogs looks more visually appealing. Previously, reblogs had comments set up in a long, confusing chain that made it impossible to read what readers were saying in any logical order.
The new changes move the comments into a neatly organized column so you can read those comments in a better context. However, it brings a larger thought to the forefront: How do you manage comments on your blogs?
Image, Tumblr
You may not even use Tumblr to post your blogs, though no matter where you post them, positive and negative comments are inevitable. Even spam on those comments are perpetual, which can make comment sections disconcerting.
Let's take a look at how comments on blogs evolved and how you can better deal with comments if you have to read or reply to them as part of your content marketing campaign.
The Timeline Of Comment Sections
If you've ever spent time in comment sections, you may immediately think of them as slowly devolving since the early days of the Internet. Many of them began in the 1990s when blogging became a phenomenon and the media moved online. By the 2000s, we all started to notice how comment sections could also bring out the worst behavior in people.
It's quite a contrast from over 20 years ago when most of the earliest comments were from first-time online users who had better posting manners. Since then, we've seen comment sections abused by those who think they can say anything and get away with it. The same goes for spammers who think posting links (or phishing links) will get them noticed.
No doubt you have to deal with at least some negative comments on your marketing blogs. How do you deal with them, and what might happen in the future to let more constructive commenters give better feedback?
The Psychology Of Negative Comments
While the worst negative comments out there are usually on entertainment and news articles, you'll likely run into negative comments of your own. No matter what industry you're in, someone may instigate fights in your comment section or try to ruin your reputation into the ground. Even if you already see this on places like Yelp, your best course of action is to ignore the least constructive comments.
For those that leave at least an intelligent negative comment, it's always worth starting a conversation. When you can make an intelligently perfect point as a form of rebuttal to stand up for your business, don't hesitate. It's also possible to network with customers in your comment sections to gauge how they feel about what you're doing.
Making Comment Sections Work Better
Some large media sites have turned off comment sections because of uncontrollable despicable behavior there. It pays to monitor your comments, though it's also worth looking into having policies where people use their real names. Once more comment sections start forcing users to use real names, you won't see the worst commenters around as much due to the lack of anonymity.
This is worth considering on your part so you can get true positive feedback. If you reblog on Tumblr, at least you'll be able to read comments in a more organized way so your business supporters stay up front.
