Social Networking, Comments, Images and Links

Many people do not know how to post images and links. The end result is a bunch of raw HTML code filling up comment boxes everywhere.

If this is a challenge for you, please read on.

First things first... not everyone wants HTML posted to their profile pages, either in the form of images, or links to other sites. Some social networks allow users to block HTML posts, while others do not. Either way, not knowing how to post, or paying attention to whether or not a profile permits HTML, is a major faux pas in my book.

When posting a comment to someone's page, you should at the very least, take the time to see that it posted correctly. If you hit submit and see raw code in the result, you did it wrong. This is not a positive reflection on you, for two reasons. One, it makes it obvious that you don't know how to properly post an HTML comment, and two, your objective screams SPAM.

Remember the children's game, Doorbell Ditch? You sneak up to someone's front door, ring the bell and run. Well, posting comments and not paying attention to the end result is reminiscent of that. Drive-by comment spamming is what it amounts to.

I find it quite irritating, to put it mildly. It takes a lot of time to individually delete all those comments. I certainly don't want my profile filled with raw code that the submitter didn't take the time to preview. If they don't want to look at it, why should I?

So, this is how you do it:
If the comment submission box doesn't display an HTML toolbar, then it is likely that the profile owner does not allow HTML posts, so don't put any on their page. Makes sense, right?

Second, if the submission box does provide an HTML toolbar, look for the button that says, HTML. Click on it and then paste your code in, or use the toolbar to convert your URLs into clickable links, bold your text, or whatever.

Next, look at what you've posted to see if it shows up the way you intended. If you see raw code on the page, fix it or delete it and move on.

The person you've left the comment for will appreciate not having to go back and delete your stuff. And, they may actually click your links.