Commentluv, in my honest opinion, is one of the most misunderstood and abused plugins in WordPress. Even with over Commentluv having over 900,000 downloads (as of October 2015), some of the users can’t really understand what it’s for.
When Andy Bailey created Commentluv, back in 2009, it was during the time in the blogosphere where people were trying to emphasize the “I return comments” movement. This “I return comments” movement was to encourage bloggers to return comments on other bloggers websites. Andy found a need to encourage this by creating Commentluv, and labeling it as a way to reward bloggers for leaving a comment. It was also to help grow your traffic because your website was encouraging meangingful engagement.
The reward was leaving a link to a most recent post from the commentators blog.
This reward worked in 2 ways:
- Easily allowed the blog owner to click on the link to the commentator’s most recent post.
- Easily allowed other commentators to click on the link left by other bloggers
In returning the comment, it not only added to the commentator’s blog, but also built a relationship between yourself and your readers.
Here’s a example of how Commentluv looks on Blondish.net (you can click on it, and it will open in a lightbox so you can see the image better):
This idea and plugin caught on, and was something that bloggers loved. The idea worked. I still have the premium version of Commentluv on my own website, which contains extra features like combatting comment spam, leaving a twitter link, social sharing, moderating who is rewarded, and a notification for when someone replies to your comment.
The original idea of the plugin worked for a time. Then, the greed and confusion set in. Some commentators were finding out that Search Engines were rewarding link juice to Commentluv enabled websites. It wasn’t much, but for the really greedy, that’s where they would mass comment spam across the blogosphere. Of course, a lot of those people ended up penalized later on.
However, today, even some people call it some comment system like it’s Disqus or LiveFyre. (It’s not.) Some peopler are still hopped up on the idea that the plugin will give them major link juice. Others… well they’re just installing it because leading bloggers in the blogosphere and WordPress community tell them that they should.
If you’re using Commentluv, and didn’t know about the real intention of the plugin… now you know. It’s important to bring back the true message of this plugin, and really, if time allows, try getting into the return comments to build a meaningful relationship with your blog peers.
Do you use Commentluv? Were you aware of what it’s purpose was intended for?
I agree so much with “a meaningful relationship with your blog peers.” The key to me is building a meaningful relationship. You can see a huge difference between sites where comments are thoughtful exchanges of ideas between readers and the blog author and those where “drive by comments” are made that create no meaningful relationship.
One of the neat things about comment luv is seeing the title of other commenters posts and having the chance to click on them if they seem interesting. And this allows the relationship to grow not just between commenters and the blog author but commenters and other commenters.
I’m glad you agree, John!
I like to peruse the comments for the blog titles too… like shopping for a book. Usually there are some interesting ones. It also can sometimes clue you in whether they’re a spammer or not.
Nice insights Nile. Yes, Commentluv was a big hit around in around 2010 when I first started blogging. Blogs with Commentluv had higher user engagements, but then SEO companies started ruining it. Later, people moved to disqus and livefyre for social login options and then Google comments came and lasted certain time and Facebook comments were always the hit but cause too much load time.
Nowadays I see people switching back to default WordPress comments. Spam filtering has improved a lot. I get more spam in my disqus enabled site than on the site with default comment system.
Glad to know that my observations are similar to yours. I was an early adopter, so I have the premium version so I don’t have to install GASP, Twitterlink, or Reply-Me features.
I’ve not found a reason to remove it yet. I still recommend it for those who want to try establishing a habit of the old “I return comments” movement.
I used CommentLuv for awhile then disabled it at someone’s advice, being that I was newer to blogging and wasn’t really sure what it was for at the time. I was just thinking of reinstalling it when I came across your post, so perhaps I will!
It’s all up to you. Some people benefit from it. Sometimes it makes it easier to build a solid circle of bloggers off returning their comments because you followed the Commentluv link. 🙂
Great post Nile! Awesome collection…Really amazing actually i don’t no this feature comment luv.Thanks for sharing and many of the people don’t why it is using.I think every blogger has to need this useful information…Thanks for updating us.
Absolutely correct! I was an early adopter of CommentLuv and have always loved it; that kind of makes sense. Yet, people go back and forth in trying to decide whether to use it or not, believing it’s like the other systems you mentioned. Sure, it’s not always compatible with those systems, but I’d rather have CL than those suckers any day of the week. What’s best for me is when people leave comments and I get to see the types of things they’re writing about. That was its intention, and that’s why I love it so much.
I’m a big fan of both versions of CL Nile!
I stared out using the free version, but quickly upgraded to
the more robust premium version, like you did.
Andy Bailey created a terrific plugin and I’m so glad I got exposed to it.
Thanks for setting the record straight, because I really had no idea!
Hi Nile,
This is my first visit to your blog I believe and Sherryl Perry and I were just talking about you yesterday. I saw this post and had to comment.
I was a beta tester for CommentLuv Premium and still use it to this day. I stand behind it 100% but you’re absolutely right that the reasons Andy created this plugin well, most people aren’t truly benefiting from how it was intended.
I too enjoy the links that lead me to other people’s blogs and I think it helps others find great content as well. What I do love about it though is how no one slips by me anymore. Oh and I rarely have any spam at all. I get to pick and choose who I’m giving link love so those are just a few of the added features the fabulous premium addition has.
It still upsets me though when people refer to it as a commenting system. Those are the ones that have no idea what this plugin really does.
I think everyone has to do what’s best for them but I hope to always use CommentLuv Premium unless Andy stops supporting it some day. That would be the only reason I can see.
Appreciate this post and hope you have a wonderful day and a terrific week.
~Adrienne
Thank you for this article, Nile!
Hi Nile sister,
I found this blog through my regular reading friend’s blog. As a newbie blogger i started to follow your lead by installing the comment luv free version plugin to my blog. And looking forward for your next article about blogging and stuffs related to wordpress.
Keep posting.. I am on your lead for my blogging success..
Thanks You for this post..