Should You Comment on Your Clients' Blogs?

If your clients/customers are blogging, is it a good idea to post comments on their blog? Simple question, complicated answer. Here are some of the pros and cons:

Pros

Build/nurture the relationship
Demonstrate an interest in your client and his business
Become more connected with your client’s community
Gain insights to better serve your client
Client (and his community) may add to your community
Posts on your blog referring back to client’s blog will create link juice, boost client’s ranking in search results
Client’s readers admire your expertise, become new clients

Cons

Differences of opinion could lead to unhealthy tension with client
Lose potential clients who disagree with your comments
Perception of better service to some clients, but not all
Raises expectations of relationship/potential for letdown if you stop commenting
Does it add value?

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What am I missing? Thoughts?

http://blog.telesian.com sharilee

To consider the question depends on whether you're part of your client's target market. If not, stay away. If you are, proceed with extreme caution. I think the cons outweigh the benefits. You're there for your clients, not for you. So keep the client's needs front and center.
http://www.deandrealaub.com DeAndrea

I absolutely agree with sharilee You must always keep your clients needs front and center. This could mean it IS appropriate to comment on some blog entries, and not on others. I think it is definitely appropriate to comment on a blog entry that demonstrates your customer does not know something about your product, or that is relevant to a customer/client relationship. If the conversation is not relevant, then stay out!
http://triunedesigns.com/blog leoschmidt08

You probably run the same amount of risk of losing potential clients based on your own blog posts as you do by commenting on other people's blogs. That tells me that you are not risking more than you are by operating your own blog.

I do agree with you that possible differences of opinion could lead to unhealthy tensions with clients, especially if they are sensitive. I guess it could be like any other relationship: tread softly at first until the relationship solidifies and then proceed a little farther.

Great question about setting up commenting expectations! I am stumped, but that is a good risk. Will there be a sense of rejection as a part of the relationship slows down? I do know a few of my clients geek out about my commenting, especially when their blog is new and no comments come forth. It is encouraging to them.
http://blog.telesian.com sharilee

To consider the question depends on whether you're part of your client's target market. If not, stay away. If you are, proceed with extreme caution. I think the cons outweigh the benefits. You're there for your clients, not for you. So keep the client's needs front and center.
http://www.deandrealaub.com DeAndrea

I absolutely agree with sharilee You must always keep your clients needs front and center. This could mean it IS appropriate to comment on some blog entries, and not on others. I think it is definitely appropriate to comment on a blog entry that demonstrates your customer does not know something about your product, or that is relevant to a customer/client relationship. If the conversation is not relevant, then stay out!
http://triunedesigns.com/blog leoschmidt08

You probably run the same amount of risk of losing potential clients based on your own blog posts as you do by commenting on other people's blogs. That tells me that you are not risking more than you are by operating your own blog.

I do agree with you that possible differences of opinion could lead to unhealthy tensions with clients, especially if they are sensitive. I guess it could be like any other relationship: tread softly at first until the relationship solidifies and then proceed a little farther.

Great question about setting up commenting expectations! I am stumped, but that is a good risk. Will there be a sense of rejection as a part of the relationship slows down? I do know a few of my clients geek out about my commenting, especially when their blog is new and no comments come forth. It is encouraging to them.
KatFrench

I'd add to the Cons “Potential to look like you're astroturfing.”

If you're completely transparent about the fact that they're you're client, the sincerity of your positive comments and the motivation behind your negative ones is automatically suspect.

If you don't explicitly disclose the relationship, you run the risk of looking like you're trying to play “innocent bystander.”

There are some conversations you don't belong in, online and in real life. Even though you might have a great thought to add. If that's the case, I'd think a better strategy would be to write a post on your own blog that links back, with full disclosure.
KatFrench

I'd add to the Cons “Potential to look like you're astroturfing.”

If you're completely transparent about the fact that they're you're client, the sincerity of your positive comments and the motivation behind your negative ones is automatically suspect.

If you don't explicitly disclose the relationship, you run the risk of looking like you're trying to play “innocent bystander.”

There are some conversations you don't belong in, online and in real life. Even though you might have a great thought to add. If that's the case, I'd think a better strategy would be to write a post on your own blog that links back, with full disclosure.
http://www.internet-bard.com KatFrench

I'd add to the Cons “Potential to look like you're astroturfing.”

If you're completely transparent about the fact that they're you're client, the sincerity of your positive comments and the motivation behind your negative ones is automatically suspect.

If you don't explicitly disclose the relationship, you run the risk of looking like you're trying to play “innocent bystander.”

There are some conversations you don't belong in, online and in real life. Even though you might have a great thought to add. If that's the case, I'd think a better strategy would be to write a post on your own blog that links back, with full disclosure.