This post is an excerpt from the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog Workbook
“Leave comments on other blogs.”
If there’s one piece of advice for building traffic to a blog that is given to new bloggers more than any other it is about leaving comments on other blogs.
Today your task in the 31 Days to Build a Better blog is to do just that – spend 10-15 minutes reading and interacting on other blogs on your topic (or surrounding topics).
The benefits of commenting on others blogs:
- You’ll be getting to know what other bloggers in your niche are doing
- You’ll hopefully read some great content that could spark ideas for your own blog
- You’ll be reaching out to another blogger in your niche (often comments are the start of fruitful relationships
- You’ll be creating a small doorway back to your own blog for the readers of that blog
- You’ll be building your own profile in your niche – it’s a chance to show your expertise, knowledge and understanding of the topic.
Warning!
It should go without saying but just having moderated the comments on my own blogs I suspect it needs to be said a day – DON’T BE A COMMENT SPAMMER!
More than that – DON’T LOOK LIKE A COMMENT SPAMMER!
I add that second warning because I come across a lot of bloggers who try to leave comments on other blogs in a way that they think is genuine – but that looks very spammy. Their comments more often than not get them on blacklists of comment spam filters.
The rule of thumb that I advise when leaving comments on other people’s blogs is simple – add value.
A comment that simply says ‘great post’ and that then has a link signature back to your own blog adds little if any value to the blog. It looks spammy. The only visitors you’ll get back to your blog are people wanting to know who the spammer is!
- Keep comments on topic
- Let your comment show that you’ve read the post
- Say what you like or don’t like about the post
- Add an example or another point that the blogger might have missed
- If you put a link back to your own blog in the comment try to make it a relevant one that adds to the post and will be useful to those who follow it.
- Ask a relevant and insightful question
Comments are Mini Resumes – Every comment you leave is like a mini resume for you and your blog (read more about that in the last point of Lorelle’s post on comments here).
Comments can Hurt Your Brand – On the flip side – every comment you write can potentially hurt your reputation and brand as a blogger. Here are 10 Ways that comments can actually do more harm than good to the brand of your blog.
Further Reading: I wrote a comment back in 2007 (which I think is still relevant today) with 11 Tips for Getting Your Comments Noticed on a Popular Blog.
Your task today is to find blogs on a similar or related topic to yours and to spend 10-15 minutes interacting on them in a genuine and useful way. Let us know how you go below (with a comment of course)!
Want More?This task is a sample of one of the tasks in the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog Workbook – a downloadable resource designed to reinvigorate and revitalize blogs. Join over 14,000 other bloggers and Get your Copy Today. |
I find commenting on other blogs very rewarding, especially for building relationships with other bloggers. But is it better to say nothing rather than to say ‘great post’ if that sums up your opinion?
I enjoy leaving comments. I find it a little difficult to use as an approach for building traffic, because I really do believe you should only comment if you have something to add to the conversation.
This means that you have to read and then think about the blog post.
As a blogger, I love to see comments that add something of value and challenge me to think in new directions about what I wrote.
I am wondering if there is a good ratio of reading articles vs. posting on them. I may post on 1 in 40 articles that I read. I could do better, but at some point, if you are commenting on everything, do you really have that much of value to say?
Great advice!
I comment on many blogs but never just for the sake of it. I always try to add something to the discussion. I’m always interested in new blogs (predominantly in the personal development or relationships niche so please let me know if you have or know good blogs in those niche areas so I can check them out). :)
I always visit the websites of the people who comment on my blog too and thoroughly read their posts and try to add value to them as a thankyou. Commenting is definitely a great way to build relationships. :)
To make sure I am not viewed as a ‘spammer’ what I actually do is make a note of the blog-posts I’ve enjoyed throughout the day and then come back to them later all in one go when I’ve had time to think of my own ideas that can really add value to their post. :)
I’ve started omitting my last name from my comments though as for some reason they started dominating google search results! Not sure if anyone else has experienced that. :)
Cheers,
Sam
I’ve done this already and I have to say that I have backlinks because of this. This method really works!
Bradford, you can still add value to the post by giving your personal experience and your feelings about the post.
Cheers,
Miracel
I am one who comments only if I can add to a conversation or if I have a question, now on occasion on my first find of a new blog I will comment and tell them what I enjoy about the topic or the design. I hate spammers and it seems us as bloggers have been getting alot more of them, is that why you went to moderating?
A quick observation. I agree that leaving quality comments is one of the best ways to spread your brand around and to get links back to the site. With that in mind, when I first set out as a blogger, I used to set aside 15 minutes each day to do just that. The problem is, you’re then forcing comments and that’s when it can go horribly wrong.
My strategy now is to have a lot of feeds in my reader, and to simply comment when I really want to, or have something to add. It does mean some days I don’t comment at all, but on others I spend ages doing it. The bottom line is that (hopefully) whenever I comment, it’s a decent one.
Miracel – what a lovely name!
this is my favourite activity – engaging thru comments.
something I hope for on my blogs :-)
but I really enjoy to do in as many places as possible – even out of my niche :-)
however I don’t advocate that every comment has to be perfect or meaningful – sometimes a word of encouragement, affirmation, or even disagreement will suffice. Although comments that provide for further engaging are best.
Commenting is something I try to do, but often feel silly just saying “good post” or whatever. Oh well, I don’t think I’m the only one.
Many bloggers leave comments just for links without even thinking of adding value to the post. It has become very difficult for me to moderate the comments though I have installed a Akismet spam checker wordpress plugin. Another, bad thing I have observed among bloggers is, instead of specifying their real names in the name section of the comment, many bloggers try to get benefit from search engines by making use of keywords. I am searching for a way to avoid blacklist these type of commentors. Any help in this regard will be highly appreciated.
I appreciate your simple yet insightful views on commenting. I would say I come under the category of “rarely” comments, but when I do I like to go FULL ON!
The drawback of this method is that from time to time you write a lengthy and, in your opinion, insightful comment- only to have your computer malfunction or have some kind of posting issue. Whereafter you swear off commenting for a time… until it happens again. Maybe this is just bad luckon my part?
Truth be told, I wrote a semi-essay in response to a very political blog post and for some unknown reason it just cut out! Very frustrating as you can imagine.
I do, however, really appreciate value-adding posts. If anyone has ever heard of the “love-languages” series by Coleman, value-adding posts is mine :)
Dave
Very true Darren, Comment always help to brand yourself.
Apart from all these there are many other benefits of comments which include
# Backlinks
#Traffic
# Get noticed by many people
One thing very important here
Always use your name and same avatar/Gravatar to comment
To get more out of comments
Comment on blogs which are/use
#commentlub plugins
# Dofollow blogs
and as mentioned By Darren
Always try be the first one to comment.
Finally there’s a task that I regularly do already! I was begining to think I was a blog failure in terms of these tasks because there were so many that are going to be a huge deal and take a lot of time. I’ve put them aside to tackle when I don’t have influenza and an impending hospital visit, but it’s very reassuring to see there’s something I’m already doing right :)
Comments are free but facts are sacred.
In this spirit….
I love to comment on other people’s blogs. One of the biggest problem newbies to online marketing face is always asking how to link to people, etc… everything that relates to having and making connection, how to contact a site owner.
I feel that commenting on other people’s blogs do just that. it’s an excellent ice-breaker and way to meet a lot of new people in the genuine and useful way for both parties.
Often I have seen my comments leading to an invitation to write a guest post!
Write constructive comments, and people will take notice!
Before I wrote my first blog, I started out commenting on other members blogs in social networks. This helped me a great deal in building confidence to writing my first blog and I met some excellent people online.
This is a very useful blog for me because I actually brought it up in one of our online weekly chats and asked if it would be helpful to our members. Now I know it will be. Thanks
Romany Thresher
Comments that match with the topic of discussion will be more valuable for the author.
Thank for your info
I know how much I value the comments left on my blog, so I really appreciate this suggestion.
When I do leave comments (which may not be often enough according to your advice) I try to read as many of the previous comments as is practical so that I don’t say exactly the same thing that a previous commenter has said. Of course, that means that sometimes there may not be much left for me to say. In that case, knowing when not to comment may be as important as knowing when to comment.
I love the image I have in my mind of all of these comments interweaving in a giant web. They keep us all connected,.
Thanks, once again, for a great homework assignment!
Impressive!
As many readers have pointed out, I feel just commenting is a complete waste. Agreed, any blogger would be glad to see a huge number of comments, but it’s short lived if the comments don’t add anything to the topic.
I feel keeping time for commenting is a wrong practice, instead one should keep time to read blogs. Commenting or not commenting should only depend upon what you’re reading and not just on whether you’re allotted time to comment is over or not.
So I guess one should leave a comment, only when it adds to the convo!
(Another reason, why this is one of the few comments I posted on 31DBBB!)
i did the mistake of becoming a spamer comment when i started blogging a couple months ago. Hey i didnt know the rule yet.
and personally myself i hate to see people leaving spam comments on my blog. Its like going to someone’s house leaving an invitation without even saying hi in the first place.
In a recent Google search, I was surprised to learn some of my blog comments are actually recorded on Google. I don’t know how that happens, but it did give me pause. No quick comments. Better make the responses damn good if they are on my permanent record.
I like commenting on other blogs because it helps me interact with other bloggers. Before the blog, i always want the chatroom and the forum because of interactivity.
Yes, you are correct. Commenting other blogs with relevant message will be rewarding.
Very helpful advice. Appreciate the tips.
First of all Darren, I love your teaching!!!
Commenting is not an easy thing to do, I think.
I am always too afraid that I make mistakes [also when I write in my own language – writing in english is far more difficult: I am not a native english speaker].
If I have written a post, I can update it time after time, however if I leave a comment, there is no way to go back. I don’t like the feeling when I see the mistakes that I have made and I feel that others will judge me for that – that’s bad publicity.
At the other hand I like getting comments a lot.
Not the spammish things, like ‘good writing’ on my Dutch blog – although if they say ‘Irèn, good writing’ on my English blog, it is okay. It is a sign that some one read my post – and remembered my name. Cool!
It makes me very happy if some one leaves a GOOD remark; some one took the time to read my post, thought about it and took the effort to write a comment. That’s great!
Gosh and now I have to press the submit-button
This article should receive a lot of comments. After all that is what you’re telling us to do.
Everything we do should have a purpose behind it. Our hidden motivations can be brought to light easily.
If we purpose to add value to someone else blog, we’ll reap the benefits and rewards of these actions.
I’ve commented on your blog and results have been rewarding… I am sure this is a wonderful tool.
It will make the entire exercise much more rewarding when blogger leave comments on do follow blogs with authority and page rank.
OK here we go, commenting on a blog about commenting, mmm
I normally do comment on blogs, but only if I feel it will ad value. I have also in the past not made it a habit to read other blogs and then comment on them. I realise that interacting with other bloggers is an important part of my own blogging.
Even partaking in this challenge has forced me to comment on other blogs where needed. As a result I have in turn received traffic and comments as well.
SO what am I saying, well simply put, reading and commenting on other blogs is part and parcel of blogging. Blogging is not just about your blog, but about the blogsphere in genereal
I have found commenting to be very rewarding. I enjoy it not only because of the traffic that it brings to my site, but also, because it encouraged me to take the time to read other blogs in my niche. Prior to beginning my link building campaign I didn’t read anywhere near this many blogs, but now I find that I quite enjoy following all of them.
Don’t expect commenting to bring you digg-like traffic lol. But I guess everyone has to start from the bottom up to get serious traffic.
The reason why I leave comments to other blog is to train my guts, I’m kinda introvert person and I prefer to listen or watch other people better than to give my own comment, beside that my English is not too good, so I’m still afraid if someone else will laugh at me :D
But then I realize that I have to try it first, it doesn’t matter if the blog owner will delete or put my comment, but for real I never become a spammer, even if I only write few words, I try to write something that connected with the post and not just say ‘good post’ etc.
I do like to leave comments on blogs, but the problem sometimes becomes time. I love reading the blogs, but either intend to go back and comment or just forget.
Going forward, I’ll put more effort into commenting, adding to the conversation and such.
I’m going to go back through the assignments and commenting. Being at the very end of some of the other posts – may get my comment “lost” but nonetheless, I’m heading back!
Yes Ian, I get a lot of comments with “great post” or similar messages. They are all destined for the spam filter, unless they don’t have a URL with it. Without you can take the comment for face value.
I use CommentLuv and I reckon that is one reason people think it’s easy pickings on my site.
Michael
Oh Darren! You’ve beaten me to it. I had this topic earmarked to write up for my own blog. Now if I do it, I’m going to feel as if I’ve pinched the idea from you. Or at least that others will think I have. What to do? What to do?
Seriously, I used to post comments on Huff Post, the DT, NY Times etc.and now I’m doing less due to lack of time, my google ranking has dropped. You gotta get out there with those comments. BUT you gotta be commenting because you’ve got something to say and want to help others. That’s my feeling, anyway. Not self-serving. But other-serving.
I was hoping this would be included! I try to comment on almost everything I read if I feel I have an opinion, thinking that in real life, I would say something. This has often brought people to my blog, and more than that, I’ve met people and made friends and contacts!
I think that blogging is a community thing — you really can’t just throw posts out into the blogosphere.
Very well said.
I’ve been to a blog buddy’s site. He wrote a topic saying that replying to every blog comment is silly.
Of course, I disagreed with him. Maybe he said that because he’s far more seasoned blogger than I am, and maybe experiencing lots of spam comments.
I found myself presenting my contrary views and discussing them at length. I was so hyped up I told him I had better write a post myself to bounce off what he has written.
This is what I wrote, an offshoot of the longish comment I left on my blog buddy’s blog: The Lost Art of Being Silly. Here it is – http://salabasngmandaluyong.blogspot.com/2009/04/lost-art-of-being-silly.html
I hope I’m not being spammy here. I don’t mind – goes with the learning process.
This is great advice. I made my first comment on Problogger. Now I am a regular commenter on other blogs that I read. Not only have I seen some increases in my traffic, but I have found other blogs of interest to me from other comments.
This works well with a few of the other task from 31DBBB. I added this task to my editorial calendar. I try to spend a few minutes each morning reading blogs, both in and out of my niche. Also, now that I am getting Google alerts about other blogs in my niche, I know when they have posted, which makes it easier to comment on a regular basis.
Another benefit of leaving comments is that you build a relationship with the blogger. They will follow you on Twitter and friend you on LinkedIn and Facebook.
PS: I meant to say I don’t mind if my comment with a link to what I wrote gets deleted. Since it goes with the learning process – learning how not to spam in leaving comments.
Well, you published it in your comment section.
Thank you, sir.
I started as a blogger on active rain as I am a loan officer and active rain is a real estate blog network. Commenting in this community was very easy as we are all very opinionated. Huge debates would surface and it was fun but it appeared to get real political. I missed active blogging so I found wordpress and launched my new blog. I have found the bogosphere to be huge and overwhelming. There are so many tools, advice, stumble upon, reddit I don’t know where to start. I like to comment and believe in the relevance but just not sure where to start. I have sought out blogs in my niche but many of them try to prove their expertise and I write with a voice to educate a consumer from the I’d perspective while offering explanation of what is going on on ours.
I’m rambling my point is commenting is very important and I am not quite sure how to approach it in my niche yet but this post gave me many ideas. Thank you problogger for the education.
Do not underestimate this! I once was contacted by the New York Times because of a comment I wrote. I didn’t think anyone was even going to read it, but look at the contact I made because of it….
I love blog hopping. I end up learning a lot, and of course, it gives all the benefits for my own blog that you listed. Also, for the most part, I comment back to those who left a comment on my blog if possible.
Good advice.
I already try to comment on other blogs at least a few times a day.
I’ll look into those other readings you suggested. Perhaps I can learn how to comment better, since I already know to comment.
Great post! Come check out my blog!
LOL…just kidding. My real comment follows:
Thanks for the link to the “Comments are Mini Resumes” post. Although I already practice those things I never quite thought about it in that way. I also appreciate the comment above from Darya. It just goes to show that you never know who is reading you and that you should always be mindful of that fact!
I have always enjoyed leaving comments when I have something to add.
I tend to read 1 post, see an interesting comment, follow it, see another, follow it…until I have spent hours reading and following the trail of links.
I would suggest a 1st time commenter not leave links in the comment area or keyword names (Many bloggers I know will delete them). I feel that leaving comments is like visiting someone else’s house, follow their rules and never track in mud. ;)
couple of questions:
1) is it necessary to first read all the other comments before leaving a comment?
2) should it be the comment leaver’s intent that the blog host read the comment or that the blog readers read the comment? If it’s the reader’s we seek, then does it make more sense to only leave comments on sites with fewer comments already posted?
Thanks.
I have found that it’s important to “add value” when it is the first few times you comment, but less important the longer you’ve had a relationship. Let me explain…When a long time reader/friend leaves a comment like “LOL” (and that’s it) I get it-they want to let me know that they’ve been there, like my post, but don’t have anything to add. That’s ok! Of course, my blog is a personal blog so that may make a difference. When reading professional/niche blogs there is certainly much more weight on “adding value” so it doesn’t look like you are being a spammer. I think that there is, and should be, a distinction.
Darren, do you think that there is a distinction between personal/niche comments?
This is a valuable lesson…
I always try to make comments that have a value..
Sometimes I just write “Great Post!” because I DO think it’s a great post, and at the moment, ot’s all I can say…
But now I know I have to take care, i don’t “look” like a spammer doing that! Because that I am not!
And I really love when people comment on my blog. I have had some spammers though, but I have installed a spam filter, and it catches most of them!!
C ya!!
Claus D Jensen
One might notice that these days, commenting is more of spamming and less of value add. Most of the comments that I encounter everyday is spam and nothing else. We might attribute this to the growing number of blogs and bloggers.
Commenting is a good way of building traffic to your blog. The first traffic that I got to all my blogs were from comments that I made on other blogs. I spend some time everyday reading blogs in my niche and I come across some points that can be elaborated or, added upon and I then use these points to comment. Though the traffic initially is a trickle, it would slowly build up to loyal and interested readers of my blogs.
I would add that you need a systematic way of finding blogs to comment on. Not all backlinks are of equal value, and even PageRank is not the best indicator. My method is what I call Google Alerts reinforcement. I set up Google Alerts for blogs on the keywords where I want to build up my Google rank. Google Alerts don’t come in for every mention of the keywords. When I do get one, it means that Google values this site highly for that search term, even if the site has a low PageRank overall.
If I think I can add something useful, I then comment on that blog. I also include the keywords that got me there within the comment. If Google sends me an alert on my comment, then I know that this is a good site, and I’ll subscribe to it in Google Reader, so i can be ready to comment again. Over time I’ve built up a regular commenting route that I try to pass through every couple of days.