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The Power of Commenting On Other Blogs [VIDEO]

Posted By Darren Rowse 5th of June 2008 Video Posts 0 Comments

You’ve probably heard the age old ‘how to find readers for your blog’ advice that goes:

Leave Comments on Other Blogs”

It was one of the first tips that I was given on how to find new readers for my blog five years ago and it’s one of the first pieces of advice that I hear most people giving still today. It’s so common in fact that I think that many of us gloss over it looking for a ‘sexier’ way to drive readers to our blogs.

But today as I analyzed the post featured in this video I saw something that drummed home to me the power of leaving relevant comments on blogs as a way of driving traffic.

The tool I’m using in this screencast video is CrazyEgg – a click tracking tool that creates a heatmap of where readers click when on your blog.

I do want to emphasize again – that the strategy of building traffic to your blog by leaving comments on other blogs only works when your comments ad value and are relevant to the post. If you don’t adhere to this you’ll just end up hurting your reputation.

See the Full Sized Video at YouTube, MySpace, Blip.tv and Viddler.

About Darren Rowse
Darren Rowse is the founder and editor of ProBlogger Blog Tips and Digital Photography School. Learn more about him here and connect with him on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Comments
  1. Yes i agree a comment is actually a form of free advertising for our blogs, i encourage my readers to give a comment when visiting other blogs , can i use your video at my blogs ? i have related post about comment

  2. ccwenmi–i m not sure why you are using my word-to-wor comment….

    Anyways–
    Oh–congrats Daren. Yes it does take some time.
    I also have 2 kids and I do lots of videos as well and it is time consuming.
    Good Luck..

  3. Thanks. Commenting ….releveant commenting can drive traffic to our sites/blogs. And through commenting inbound links can be made, whic are important in terms of SEO.

  4. Why do you have this video blog post in the middle of the page? I see this and goto next blog thinking there is no new update since 5th jun. I know now the new updates are on left hand side … wish I observed them closely sooner.

  5. Thanks for posting this one! I learned something from it. Hopefully I could learn how to use it, and also how to make money from posting in my blog. Nice post!

  6. Like someone said it is not helpful – “great post”. Thorough helpful comments add purpose to the post and if you add something that helps someone or they learn something its always a good thing.

  7. Oh my gosh – that Crazy Egg is amazing! I just watched the video on a href=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glqCf7f_JrA”>You Tube (just so you know the video above says it isn’t available but I clicked on the You Tube link to view it) and I was absolutely amazed. I have been using technology for a long time – Al Gore and I invented the Internet you see :) – and new technology still leaves me with my jaw dropping to the desk sometimes.

    I will definitely be imbedding that video on my blog as I teach my customers how a business blog can help them promote their website. And, I will also be checking out Crazy Egg for sure.

    I have also learned a lot from the Comments here. I am new to blogging so this is very helpful.

    Thanks so much! I think I will subscribe to your feed now :)

    ~ Wendy
    http://limaugeboutique.blogspot.com

  8. Comments make a good start in driving traffic to our site, I have seen an improvement in traffic to my blog in subscribers at least!

    Just trying to get to grips with comment spam and ridding the links off my blogs…..hair loss, ….viagra…..what is this balls that they always loafer???!

  9. Leaving a comment on other blogs can cause bad and good effects.

    On the good side, it might increase the traffic on your site. Why? people tend to like you when you are someone who post good comments and a good critic.

    On the bad side, when leaving comments is misused. Traffic on your site might decline or increase. Those who have been here for many times will tend to neglect your comments.

    But for now, ill have to apply the good side.

    Try checking out my blog (a blog for bloggers and non-bloggers who wants to earn extra money).

    Here it is:

    http://www.resourcesandmoney.blogspot.com

  10. I really like this blog, but unfortunately some of the methods described here don’t always work on the hungarian blogosphere too, but “giving comments to get comments” works worldwide. At least I think so… :)

  11. Wow, 200+++ comments. I just came in to see what the fuss was about…

  12. I totally agree with this. It will also get people commenting back on your blogs at the same, obviously.

  13. over 200 hundred comments, is there a tool where u can bring upp the comments that are good?

  14. This is great information. building quality always pay of in the long run, thanks!

  15. My blog is officially three weeks old. I have been checking my stats pretty frequently and I can say that 65% of my blog traffic comes from comments that I have left at other people’s sites.

    It works!

    Giyen

  16. I’ve always believed in the power of contribution. The more we contribute to someone’s life – whether that’s though a conversation, a blog post / comment, or a video — the more exposure I’ll receive and the more business I will generate.

    Great Post.

    Seth Daley

  17. So true. I haven’t linked to a single directory yet and 2 days of commenting later, I have 8 backlinks. Any idea when Google’s next PR update would be?

  18. You always seem to know where I want to be heading next with my own blogging. I have been using Google analytics and woopra for a while now, but have felt I was lacking. I had actually planned on looking into crazy eggs this week.

    This post also hits on another idea that I have been talking about this week on my own blogging blogs. Commenting with relevant information. I can’t wait to sit down and write follow ups to those posts and say here look Darren is saying too…

    Really great video!

  19. Wow! Good that more people realize the power of commenting on others blog. And most of my traffic now is from comments and links in network groups.

    Charles

    http://www.resourcesandmoney.blogspot.com
    Check more of the details here

  20. Ellin Drasser says: 07/22/2008 at 10:41 am

    When I first learned that you should leave comments on other similar blogs in order to drive traffic to your blog, I found an appropriate webstie for a comment. I left my blog URL as part of my signature. Guess what – I was banned from that website. Can’t quite recall the stated reason but it had to do with the fact that I left my URL. How do I know when it is okay to leave a URL? If you don’t leave a URL, how do you drive traffic to your blog???

    Thanks

    Ellin

  21. Great reminder….I was doing this for awhile and then stopped for some reason. And I notice the difference. All it takes is for an awesome blog such as https://problogger.com to suggest a tool like this and if people don’t follow it, they have nobody to blame but themselves.

    Thanks again….

  22. very nice post, I can see I wasnt the first one to stumble it but I still left a great review. I love your site and have you on my igoogle homepage so I know when a new post drops. If u like funny t shirts check me out at

    http://www.wizeguyztees.com/blog

  23. WOW! Great website. I recently just got into blogging and your site is very hepful! I applied the application of leaving comments to current websites I’ve been too. You have a lot of info. on here but I’ll be back from time to time. I appreciate the fact you take the time to share some “golden nuggets” with newbies.

    I’mperfect

  24. I do agree with you.

    If your going to comment on other blogs always make sure that your comments must provide enough value to the blogging community.

  25. Hi Darren,

    I am eagerly waiting for your next Video post… Its been a long time since you had one!

    This isn’t “weekly”!!

  26. Thank you so much for the tips. I will definitely be back for more. Starting a blog is easy, but then it becomes daunting when you want to take it to the next level. Your info certainly helps me know where to get started.

    check out: http://butterontheendive.ca

  27. Ellin Drasser,

    Were you given any reason why you were banned.

    This website is a good example of what this post is talking about.

    I am really taken aback.

  28. Tmosley,

    I wonder how accommodating we will be with a comment that is not necessarily positive.

  29. Wow… 230 comments, looks like people really want to reap the benefits of your post. LOL :)

  30. good review man thank

  31. nedyasafira putting your link in my blog

  32. Agreed – comments need to contribute value to be effective (and not annoying). I like to think of it as blogging karma – contribute to the discussion on someone else’s blog, get some good energy flowing in your blog’s direction.

  33. Great video! But, it seems that this strategy works best when you are allowed to post your link in the body of the comment. I have run across many blogs that only want you to link back to your site through your name. Is there a specific strategy for that? Anyone have suggestions?

    http://www.deepquestions.net

  34. this commenting idea is amazing

    i just recently started commenting and now my “viewership” has jumped nearly 1%

    thanks a bunch
    http://illtouchthem.blogspot.com

  35. Great blog. Now I know how important a comment on a blog really is.

    thanks a lot
    http://www.peacepipe.co.cc

  36. Excellent advice. I just started blogging and never really got a lot of traffic. I’ve heard that commenting could increase traffic but never really thought it would be useful until the video showed the numerous amount of times that a link is clicked on.

    Thanks
    Ernie H
    http://www.carflash.net

  37. I agree that we must be different instead of doing the norm, but of course do it in a way that Google will reward you because you are acting according to their guidelines.

    By the way, love the new gadget you have there. Hope it sells in Singapore. I will keep a look out for “Crazy Egg”.

  38. Good video indeed. My problem is mostly getting people to comment – I am getting good amount of visitors – yet only few leave a comment. I myself tend to leave comments on topics that I found interest as often this helps to learn more about the topic in question.

    Have a lot more to learn – and your blog seems like a good place to do just that .
    Thank you.

  39. That is a very good tip. I found this week that I was able to get an affiliate link and click by leaving a comment on another blog describing part of my review of TurboTax, with a note that if they wanted additional information.

    That being said, I’m not sure if commenting is as good as it used to be with nofollow getting so much use these days…

  40. I think comments are great, and I don’t always feel the author needs to reply, especially to negative comments — unless you have a rebuttal that’ll further the conversation and not make you sound petty or overly defensive. If you’re continuing the conversation, by all means, respond.
    Comments on other blogs is great way to generate targeted traffic to your blogs.Never try to spam it by “blatantly” comments on the others blogs for the sake of traffic. It’ll spoil your credibility.
    I will comments on the blogs that related to the niche i promoted by searching the blogs related to my niche through Google and type “your niche+blogs”.
    5 times more people get the bi-weekly article emailed to them as an ezine than read it on the blog. But still, I’d love to get the collective wisdom of my colleagues flowing.

  41. I think it is great that we can leave comments. Helpful for others and of course us when we want review on something

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