A signature file, also known as a resource box, is a small caption that is left at the end of every comment you make on a blog. This small box is designed to give readers of your comment information about you as a commenter and about what you do. In effect, it is there so the reader may make a judgement on how valid the comment is by looking at the comments source. Within a standard signature file, you are generally allowed 3 lines of text and 2 URLs maximum. Almost all blogs will allow you a signature file when you comment because nowadays that is just standard practice.

Of course, as many people are starting to see, commenting on blogs with a signature file is a huge opportunity to advertise your website, mailing list or affiliate links to a targeted audience for absolutely no price. However, no matter how many blogs your resource box appears on, it has to be effective and entice people to click through and visit your website. While a marketing campaign focused on commenting on blogs with an effective resource box will do wonders for your website traffic, a similar marketing campaign with a useless resource box will be a complete waste of time. Here are some tips to maximise the effectiveness of your signature file.

- Use the layout of your resource box to its maximum effect. Signature files are more effective when the information within is broken down into small points rather than a block of ugly text. In short, when the text in your resource box is spaced out, it gives the message to the reader that it is easy reading whereas a block of text sends the opposite message and people will always read what looks easier. For example:

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500 amazing weight loss secrets
Visit http://www.somesite.com
Or check out this free weight loss ebook
Visit http://www.somesite2.com
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This resource box is split up using "-", which clearly shows the information that is being displayed. It gets the information across in a way that is easy to understand and the fact that the website links are also on their own separate lines make them stand out more and encourages click throughs. Notice also the use of the "=" sign which gives the whole signature file emphasis and will catch any readers eye who is skimming over your comment.

Within the resource box, always tell the reader exactly where they are clicking. And hype it up too. Make sure that you use positive and enticing words to grab the readers attention such as breakthrough, incredible and instantly. Just make sure that the reader knows where they are going because without this information they are unlikely to waste their time and take a gamble as to whether you have something useful to offer them.

Finally, just remember that the ultimate way to get banned from posting on blogs is to post useless comments. Sorry, but no matter how good your resource box is, if you post a comment that doesnt add any positive value to that blog then even a good resource box wont be able to save you. Just make sure that before you publish your post you make sure that what you are saying is intelligent and is adding some positive influence to that blog.