Welcome back to day three of our Content Syndication Strategy Series. Last post was all about the Gravatar and how important it is to have your smiling profile plastered all over the net. Especially when you leave good quality blog comments.
(hint..see below where you can participate.)
Now we all know that blog comments are vital to a blog’s growth, energy and social proof.
However there are some responsibilities that come with the territory. Ohhh he said the “R” word.Yes I did!
I’m talking about the responsibilities towards your brand, your image, your position online. if you are not worried about this then by all means skip the video and leave a comment below.
But…and I do mean this with the deepest respect…if you value a position of leadership and authority online AND you are using attraction marketing to gain followers, then pay attention because…
THE INTERNET NEVER FORGETS!!
Today’s video is going to point out the two most important aspects of blog commenting. you might want to pay attention around the 7 minute mark where I give you a little juicy nugget on how you can pick up some traffic on a popular blog if you are running late to the comment party.
I’ll be back with a couple of blog commenting gold nuggets in a quick 10 minutes…
Welcome back…now lets go through a couple quick hot tips for you when you lay out your blog commenting strategy.
Blog Commenting Best Practices.
- When starting out blogging or moving up to the next level you should comment on 5-10 blogs for every post you publish. Unless you are a blogging rock star with hundreds of comments flooding in you just might want to bring your “A” game.
- Now before you head down to the comments and start loving on me with your hate mail, I want you to think of your hustle factor and how many times you want your latest blog title out there for others to see. This is how I built a page rank of 3 with only 30 blog posts…massive exposure wins every time!
Create a Blog comment Love Fest on Your Blog.
- By saying “Thank You” to your top blog commentators you will have bloggers falling all over themselves to leave you the best blog comments as often as possible.
- On the right side of this blog you will see a “Top Commentators” position. Everyone of these bloggers gets traffic to their site every day! things that make you go hmm… My plugin of choice is Top Commentators Widget.
Treat Blog Comments as Conversation.
- Engage with your community by replying to all blog comments. Your readers took the time to leave you a comment, you should take the time to reply. This also gives you a ton of extra space to build deeper relations, spread your message and reply with more golden nuggets to foster the opinion you posted about.
- A lot of readers are creepers and will read others comments…including yours. Give them something more to read about. You just might be surprised to see readers leave more than one comment. Shocking I know!
- Add cool tools like Comment Luv. This gives valuable visual aspects to your readers comments as it allows their last post to be seen right below their comment. If their post title is a good hook they can get some love to their blog. There is a free version and a premium version of this plugin.
Fellow Bloggers weigh in when it comes to blog comments as a strategy and practice.
In addition to what Pro blogger and Social Media Explorer have to say about blog commenting as a powerful and affective strategy, I’ve asked a few of my blogging friends to give you their take on blog comments.
Adrienne Smith Gives it to straight in “My New Commenting Rules” I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately and I believe that now is the time to implement some rules for commenting on my blog. When I started my blog commenting journey I took a little advice from other people who were having great success with this. That advice to me was to visit everyone’s… Continue Reading New Blog Commenting Rules
Mary Lou Kayser Shares “How Your Blog’s Comments Can Hurt Your Personal Brand” I subscribe to several professional blogs and as such, receive notifications about posts that may be of interest to me. This morning I followed one of the links that intrigued me, and was led to a video about a young entrepreneur from Silicon Valley who is doing business in an unusual way. Great interview — short and…. Continue Reading How Some Blog Comments Can Hurt Your Brand
VaNessa Duplessie Shares her “Blog Commenting Best Practices” I love my blog. When I started her in 2009 (See My First Post EVER Here) I didn’t know what I didn’t know other than blogging was important. Well, since then I’ve learned a tremendous amount about blogging and know there is always more to learn. Just as with Search Engine Optimization or the layout of a Blog, there are some best practices for sharing your… Continue Reading Best Practices for Blog Comments
Sonia Winland Has some “Common Sense Tips for Blog Commenting” A fellow blogger I know asked a question about blog comment strategy and if having one matters? Do you have a method of how you get traffic to your blog that might be different from most? Did you find something that helped garner a significant amount of traffic to your blog? There are many right ways to comment on other blogs and… Continue Reading Common Sense for Blog Comments
Dr. Bob Clark Dishes on the Spammer and gamers in “Top Blog Commenter Awards: Why I Stopped Them and What You Can Do Instead” I’ve been a huge supporter of giving Top Blog Commenter Awards each month to those people who commented the most on my blog. It seemed like a great idea and went over very well with the readers of my blog. They received some well deserved recognition and a back link to their own… Continue Reading Top Blog Commenters Awards
Give these guys some blog commenting love and they will thank you for it!
Now it’s your turn to weigh in. What is your experience with blog comments? Share you thoughts and best practices with the community and as soon as i get comment luv working on my blog your links with shine bright!
Ken Pickard
The Network Dad
P.S. make sure you have your Gravatar… I want to see those smiling faces next to your rock star comments!
P.S.S. I created a secret group on Facebook that designed just for bloggers who leave good quality comments on other blogs as full time blog growth strategy and I have 10 spots open as I’m keeping this group tight. For qualification details send me a message on Facebook
Update…The Network Dad is now powered by Comment luv.. So Enjoy the luv when you leave your awesome comment!
Hi Ken,
Excellent post and very sage advice on how to build your brand and increase your position in your community as a leader and expert.
It is time consuming, so you have to have a game plan in place, be focused and disciplined to make the time invested REALLY pay off.
As you have said many times over the years, it is all about adding value to people’s lives; givers definitely gain.
Going to have to get back into blogging soon (my bad!), I’ll be in touch.
All the best,
Joe
PS I just recently got Comment Luv Premium. Is it difficult to install and set up?
Joe…there it is! Value first and always. I would only add that we need to lead by example and then we can show others what colors are on the fruits of our labor.
Yes it is time consuming but we know success isn’t about doing the minimum. Now the comment love premium is not hard to set up i just have an issue i need to fix first.
Ken
Thanks Ken for adding my post from my other blog. You bring up some great points because, “once you say it online, it’s there forever”. When I leave comments on other blogs, I really sit back and think about what I got out of that post. I won’t leave a post for the sake of leaving it because most times I have too much to say anyway! Ha! Ha!
When a post is published, I try and envision what that author went through or what inspired them to create that post. So when I comment, I have to give it my all and if I don’t, I am the first to apologize for my lack of because I tend to write allot. I want the author to know what they wrote taught me something and that ultimately leaves my mark on that blog. My face, my comment, my brand, my image…everything.
You either give 100% or don’t bother. That’s my expectation for myself and that is how I show respect to posts I admire. Thanks for pointing this out Ken and again for including my post in this article! You Rock!
You give great comments and feedback, Sonia – as worth reading and replying to as much as the original blog posts you comment on. You are also very supportive and encouraging of others in what you say – in every comment of yours I have read. As such, your “Gravatar” face on a post is often enough to get me to read both the original blog and your comment(s).
Thank You Oren for your kind words. I really appreciate your support and friendship.
Sonia, live by that 100% expectation and you will attract it back to you in droves! You will be admired by that as well as criticized by it. I don’t want to paint a negative picture, but to empower you and anyone else to stay the course that they desire no matter what the masses say. Note that the masses are broke anyway, and success is not easy. It takes work, dedication and a plan. Work that plan to the best of your ability and the rest will take care of itself.
Ken
Thanks Ken for the kind words. That is words to live by!
Sonia recently posted..The biggest mistake I’ve made as a blogger was….
Sonia…Anytime! I know you have a lot to offer. I can’t wait to see more of it!
Ken
Thanks Ken for bringing this subject up. Well, I must say I learned this from you a few years back and it became a rule of thumb for me. A good comment does bring a blogger back to your site. When the Empowered Tribe started, we learned to be go-givers and I was commenting on 15 Blogs per week. I still do!
If, however, I find I am commenting on someone’s blog in a group or mastermind and they don’t comment back, after a few times. I stop my commenting.
I like the idea you gave about “liking” top comments on the “big boys and gals” in the industry. I’ve tried that and had Katie “like” my Facebook Fan page! It works!
Thanks again for being the leader that you are,
Blessings,
Donna
Donna,
You are always an inspiration when it comes to giving first and it has paid off. the people we meet, the relationships we build are just the beginning. I’m glad to see that you practice the art of leaving lots of blog comments. Yes it’s true that some don’t always comment back. When a blogger gets popular and is receiving lots of traffic and comments it’s hard to get back to everyone. There is also the issue of commenting and syndicating people who are not related to your niche. I’ll be covering this is an upcoming post called the dark side of syndication.
Ken
As usual, very clear concise content! I always learn a lot from not just what you post, ken, but how. I particularly appreciate knowing in advance what part of your video presentation(s) to pay extra attention to.
While comments posted closer to the top of a page are often seen first, placement is not as important as relevance and value provided. The best comments contribute to the original post – and prompt (their own thread of) responses from others (thus creating a discussion not just with the original author but also including other readers). The exchange of ideas can sometimes be as worth reading as the original post inspiring that them. A comment with a thread of its own is more likely to be noticed and read regardless of how far down it may appear (if for no other reason than curiosity as to what generated others to respond).
A good blog comment is in some ways like a good testimonial – in at least two ways. It enhances the value of the blog, site, or author by highlighting something shared (and how it helped, benefited, or inspired the commentator). It also creates an opportunity for greater “exposure” – by creating curiosity and inviting others to find out about the person making the (hopefully supportive) comment – even though the focus is (or should be) on the original post or author.
Finally, I think it’s important to appreciate any and all comments readers may post – even those that do not endorse, expand, clarify, question, challenge, or say something new or unique about the original content. That someone posted at all is significant. Readers are often not sure what to say other than wanting to let others know that they read and liked what was posted. For every reader who comments, there are usually many more (“lurkers”) who do not.
I really like YOUR posts, Ken – even when I DON’T comment.
Oren, I love your analogy of how a blog comment can be seen as a testimony. I believe that goes both ways…a blog post should foster these comments and the commentator should leave good comments to show their leadership.
The exposure you talk about is absolutely huge. I believe a few other comments on this thread are speaking the same truth, but I’m not surprised as those who take the time to leave good quality comments understand exactly why they are doing it.
I also agree that placement is not always important. It’s good though if you want to be near the top and have potential eye balls clicking through to your posts. But like you, I have looked down many a comment thread for something to catch my eye. It’s either a well crafted blog title and or a quality comment.
Ken
Hi Ken,
I love this subject – I’ve been collecting my list of “do’s” & “don’ts” regarding commenting because I’ve definitely seen the good, the bad, & the ugly here!
I think a lot of what this boils down to is consideration. The internet is such a fantastic place filled with odds and ends of every variety and I think somehow we’ve gotten to a place where the general mass consensus is “gimme gimme” – versus making the digital experience more like a “real life” experience. I’m not entirely sure why that is, but I think that’s probably why so many choose to dump and run or leave subpar/unproductive types of comments. If you’re just in it for a link, it’s pretty obvious.
I think that your idea of creating a Love Fest is truly great. I’m going to check out that Top Commentators plugin for my own blog – I’ve also seen Adrienne Smith using that. I like this style, it resonates.
Thanks for sharing the blogs of the others who are giving their comment tips to the network marketing community. You’re living the example you talk about & I appreciate you so much for it!
Best regards always,
Cat Alexandra
Cat thanks for the awesome comment!
As usual you have a knack for pointing out the bigger picture. those who have that “gimme gimme” mentality are missing the boat when it comes to fostering a community on their blog. It’s the experience we want others to take away.
Think of why Apple or Nike or Coke are huge companies. When you think of them what comes to mind first…their products and slogans. You remember them well, one because they are pitched all over the place but also because they believe in the experience first.
Here’s a tip that has helped me in everything I’ve done online. I identified a need I had and then I turned it around and found a way to give it away to others first. then I knew it would come back to me. Tribe Syndication, blog comment group, blog creation, sharing tips and marketing concepts, mastermind groups. All these and more I gave away first and then received later.
Ken
Hi Ken,
I just wanted to start with saying this entire series has been awesome and you’re obviously not about to leave any stone unturned.
Commenting happens to be a fav topic of mine when it comes to leveraging your brand and generating more traffic. The points you’ve covered on leadership aren’t just for newbies either, as for whatever reason even many established marketers totally miss the mark when they leave comments.
One of the things you’ve done a great job of in this post is motivate people in your call to action. Not only have you invited people to share their experience, but you’ve also asked them to share their thoughts on best practices. Essentially this is an open invitation for your commenters to stand out by contributing to the post. So one of the great takeaways here, is for bloggers to also take responsibility by encouraging open discussion. Whilst ending a post with ‘please share my post’ is a great call to action in terms of having your content syndicated, it does nothing to build community or give your commenters an opportunity to shine.
When your post goes live, you’ve already established that you’re passionate and knowledgeable about your topic, from there, it’s time to hand the limelight over to your loyal readers and of course reply to any questions.
I loved the tip you shared at the 7 minute mark in your video and also thank you for showcasing my post.
Michaelé
Michaele,
You are so right about the call to action. Some bloggers just don’t use that at all and are leaving tons of opportunities: to connect, build relationships and foster a community, on their blog. And like you mentioned the call to action should be one that not only pushes for comments but for specific comments that builds them. It’s a give first situation, and the bloggers that get this are the ones that will be visited the most when new posts come out.
All that other stuff like syndication will be taken care of…IF you take care of your visitors first. My hope is that more people like yourself get this and take advantage of this concept.Thanks for highlighting this point as well as offering a great comment!
Ken
Hi Ken. Great post, over a really important area. It amazes me the number of ‘bloggers’ that don’t realize the importance of either networking or of commenting. To me, in my early days, it was networking through a facebook group that got me my first real traffic and my first comments. We all love getting comments on our own posts, so it makes sense for us to visit other blogs and comment there to. Many of my best blogging friends now, came from people whose blogs i initially visited and commented. When you get to be busy and receiving lots of comments you have to learn to put aside at least half an hour a day to responding to them. And thats what im off to do now.
Larry,
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. This is how I found my blogging friends and built my tribe is seeing their blog and their comments.It’s amazing how we can find go givers so easily. it sounds like you have a great plan for building your tribe as well. I also have a facebook group if you’re looking to meet other bloggers. http://www.facebook.com/groups/EmpoweredTribe
Ken
P.S. Make sure you get a Gravatar set up so we can see your smiling face.
Ken, aloha. Terrific job on a topic very near and dear to my heart. Far too often bloggers do not realize the importance of commenting–both responses on their blogs and comments on the blogs of others.
My dear friend, Adrienne, as you so appropriately highlighted, is an absolute genius at building community. There most always is a party going on in her comments section and it does continue for days. Aside from the fact that she is warm and engaging, her responses to comments are as thoughtful as her posts.
Be it commenting or responding to comments, bloggers need to appreciate the fact that how they comment is a reflection on them. In scrolling through to comment, people read the comments of others and make the decision to remember that person, to click on the link or they wonder “what on earth is this person doing?” Like you, Ken, I have received much traffic to my blog as a result of commenting.
Two other quick points. Taking the time to leave a quality comment, especially on a topic that may not be your “norm,” is a great way to stretch yourself. No doubt about it, my writing skills have improved because of my commenting.
The other point I want to make is on the benefits of building an active commenting community on your blog. Unlike you, my knowledge of SEO is what the initial stand for and that I have a plugin that does it. That being said, my blog which I started mid-March of this year now has an Alexa ranking of 62,254, primarily as a result of the traffic/comments to my blog.
Ken, even though I can explain the importance of commenting to people, I am going to bookmark this post to share with others. People can review your information and the comments and then I can answer questions–a winning solution for all of us.
Best wishes to you for a magnificent weekend. Until next time, aloha. Janet
Janet,
Thanks for the awesome comment. I know you get this BIG TIME! And Like I just mentioned to Dr. Bob, the benefits of good blog commenting are a two way street. I have found many cool bloggers from their comments they leave on other blogs. in fact just to mention here for everyone…this is how I found you. You left a great comment on Adrienne’s blog and it was good and your link back to your blog was you 9/11 post. I remember finding it and within 20 minutes had you on the phone to see if I could use your post in my 9/11 collaboration post. And now we’re in the same blog commenting group. the benefits keep coming and coming.
I’m thrilled to see that your commenting strategy has built your blog to a thriving level. Reaching your Alexa score is not by accident. Thanks for sharing that. I also like the point that you make about leaving comments on posts that may not be easy for you. I used to tell people that if you don’t feel it in 1-2 minutes after reading the post then you don’t want to force a lame comment. But if you are sincere with wanting to leave a quality comment and it’s going to stretch you then that’s a great idea!
Ken
Hi Ken
Thanks for highlighting my blog on this post. Given the quality of everything you do here on The Network Dad, it’s an honor, my friend.
I love your cool tip at the 7 minute mark about a great strategy for getting noticed in the comment stream. And it’s important, not for SEO reasons but for reasons of visibility.
I am one of those guys that will check through the comments on a post after I comment. Here’s what I am looking for — as you said, it’s great to comment on 5-10 blogs each time you post something new on your own blog. Since most bloggers will come check you out if you comment and reciprocate if you write quality posts, it’s a great strategy.
But how do you find new blogs to leave comments? One way I use is to browse though comment stream and find someone who left a great comment. Then I go check them out and most times will leave a comment on their blog.
It’s like you’re building a network of bloggers, a spider web if you will — one piece at a time, incorporating them into your blog commenting strategy.
Love the content in your series, Ken. Keep ‘em coming!
Dr. Bob,
You make a great point…several great points actually. First off you are welcome for the link back to your post. You created an amazing concept of reciprocating the benefits to those who leave you good comments. It’s like as parents we can either lead by encouragement and reward or by negative emotions and disappointment.
You also hit the nail on the head when you mentioned about leaving comments as a strategy and not for SEO reasons. Often people get confused in thinking that commenting is an SEO benefit because of the potential back link. And as there is that benefit, commenting is much more of a visual benefit.
As you I have built my tribe around finding good commentators. So the reward for me is just as big as the reward for them when I get to showcase their blogs.
Ken
Aloha Ken,
Great post on the best strategy on leaving blog comments. Thank you for sharing your wisdom in this particular area. I don’t think I have ever seen anyone give specifics and show a video on the best way to leave comments.
I learned a lot today Ken, and I will apply your great lessons you are sharing here. BTW, I love the videos as you show us exactly what you mean. I really love videos are the technical aspects of internet marketing. It really helps me a lot.
Much aloha,
Kellie
Kellie,
Thanks for the comments. After seeing hundreds of blogs and watching people give up their power due to “lame comments” I thought it was time to clear the air. I’m also starting to see more people list “how to comment” on their blogs. I understand the easy and lazy way is to just leave a simple one liner, but the lasting impression of a good comment and reply will live on.
Thanks for the props about the video as well. I also believe it’s easier to tell it like it is on video. Even though this one was a little dry and long.
Ken
Ken,
I held onto every word in this blog post. You know I’ve had my blog for a long time, page rank 3 but you and I have discussed on a couple of occasions about “where we want to go” with our blogs. For me, not knowing exactly what direction I wanted to take seemed to hold me back somewhat about being aggressive with interaction on my blog.
However, recently I have more drawn… or really attracted… to SEO stuff and as such, have taken a much deeper look and understanding of blogs, how they truly can be the lifeblood of your business and where you can encounter some of the greatest like-minded people.
With the lack of interest in blogging, I assumed a lot of things about blogs, such as inadequate comments. I’d stop by someone’s blog, skim an article (or even read it full out) but not leave a genuine, heart felt, say what I want to say about what was I thinking kind of comment.
I also realized that I didn’t really like comments like that on my blog because it seemed it was just a “chore” or something to do to get a back link and with that comes this thought… People don’t care about what you know until they know how much you care.
When I leave my footprint on someone’s blog now, I’m trying to leave value or at least a heart felt thought, thanks or idea.
In the past couple of months, after having made the decision to move forward with more SEO and blogging, I have found the value of commenting to be so important and …. guess what….? FUN!
I’m looking to those bloggers you’ve mentioned above to see how they continue to interact and I’m seeing more traffic to my blog already, more comments, and that’s always more fun.
It’s true what they say, you step out first, do more than the other guys, and it will come back to you.
Thanks for the mention in the video and your ongoing training in blogging. I’m loving this stuff.
Debbie Turner
Where Passions and Entrepreneurship
Meet Prosperity
Debbie,
I have always valued our chats about our goals and visions for our businesses and blogs. The masterminding has always been fruitful. And I couldn’t agree more that without a plan of action most bloggers wonder around not sure of what you write about. When we have a plan and an understanding of our passion and purpose for our blogs then we easily create 500 posts about it. You mention that you are really getting into SEO, are you looking to create a product or blog series?
I’m thrilled that you have found a new vision and purpose for your blog. You have a lot to offer, between your online and offline relationship skills to your marketing. People need to hear what you have to say, and isn’t that the key? People just want to be heard and acknowledged. Like you said…”People don’t care about what you know until they know how much you care.” That is such a magnetic position to be in!
I had a good laugh when you mentioned that leaving comments was such a chore. In the beginning when we thought we knew the value of leaving good comments, it was just a job. Like an action item. Leave 5 comments…done. It was a chore. Now we understand the power and leverage that good commenting brings is about building relationships, trust and connections. It’s now fun to meet new bloggers and learn about them. It’s fun to see your blog grow when people leave comments for you. What steps in growing your blog would you leave for others?
Ken
Hey Ken,
Thank you, thank you, thank you my friend! Not only was I flattered that you included me in your post but your video as well. You actually brought tears to my eyes.
This is what happens when you just share with your readers things that you have learned and experiences that you are having while building your business. Consistently comment on other blogs every single day and leave genuine comments. Always reply back to the ones people leave on your blog and the next thing you know, you start getting hundreds of comments.
I also enjoy going through the comment section to see what others are saying. I’ve seen my name mentioned a few times so it makes me so happy that others are now able to learn from me. Who would have thought!
When we all start out creating our blogs the one thing in people’s minds are the link juice. How can I get it to the top of the search engines, how can I get my blog recognized. If they would only take a little more time, start writing relevant and helpful content and start blog commenting, their blog will start to get the attention it deserves. Janet Callaway is a great example of just that. As she mentioned here in the comments, her blog continues to gain popularity and she just put it up this year.
That’s how to stand out and have people come over to your place to see what you are up to.
I’m loving this series and can’t wait to see what you’ll be sharing with us next. Thanks again Ken, it’s greatly appreciated.
~Adrienne
Adrienne recently posted..Stop Obsessing About It And Do It Anyway
Adrienne,
You are welcome. It was amazing to discover your content..the timing of it all was perfect. Ok now you just dropped some more nuggets I want to highlight for everyone.
“Share with your readers things you have learned…” it’s so easy to do when we get into the habit of learning something and quickly turning it into a piece of content. When we do it usually comes fro the heart and is genuine. As long we don’t stress about what other think and we TAKE ACTION we move so much faster then when we over analyze things. Have you witnessed this with your followers?
“Consistently comment on other blogs and leave genuine comments…” Isn’t that the name of the game. Be consistent. I’ve allowed myself to wonder off the path or fallen off the wagon if you will due to distractions and unknowns. But I think when we get a vision for our blog and bring the true passion and purpose…we can create unlimited amount of content. i think that’s what most people fear about blogging is coming up with content.
“Always reply back to comments…” I’ve seen the level of interaction on your blog and it seems that this is the biggest reason for your comments to consistently reach well over 100 per post. Would you agree?
I’m glad you like the content so far. I have a lot more for this series and a few pieces of your content have really inspired me!
Ken
Hey Ken,
I’ll pipe back in here now and keep the conversation going. See how easy that is when you keep asking questions!
“Share with your readers things you have learned…” Everywhere I turned I was being told to blog about what your readers want to know and not about you. But isn’t learning new things what your readers want to know too? Don’t you think that the current journey that you are on will be beneficial for others? Obviously for me the answer is yes.
“Consistently comment on other blogs and leave genuine comments…” If you only have time to visit two blogs a day and leave comments, do it. It’s better to at least visit five but do what you can because it will start to pay off in the long run. I can’t stress enough about how being consistent in a given action with produce results.
“Always reply back to comments…” To me the comment section is where you are able to actually have conversations with your readers. And aren’t we all striving for our readers to be our new friends? So to me, I’m just having a conversation with a new friend. Just make them feel like they are at home and they will keep coming back for more.
Thanks Ken and I’m looking forward to what else you’ll be sharing as well. See you soon.
~Adrienne
Adrienne recently posted..Stop Obsessing About It And Do It Anyway
Adrienne,
You are so right on the money. Engagement is the name of the game and asking thew right questions keeps the conversation fresh. Who knew we could carry a conversation via blog comments? I love it!
Thanks for sharing your awesome ideas.
Ken
It’s amazing how many bloggers, newbies in particular, are clueless about commenting etiquette, Ken.
As a result, they get banned from blogs. A little education on the matter goes a long way.
Ana
PS Adding your blog on my new CommentLuv enabled blog list!
Ana Hoffman recently posted..CommentLuv Premium
Ana,
Yes it is. Not only is leaving good comments a sign of your leadership and brand, but your understanding of how to communicate with others. The first step is leave a good quality comment, and the second is lifting the community by engaging with them. Good commenting can have a bigger impact with your community, following and relationships online than even the original content itself.
You have created a huge and successful brand with your blog. What tips would you share with others about attracting and engaging loyal readers?
Ken
Thank you for adding my blog to your CommentLuv enabled blog list!
There’s really nothing new under the sun, Ken.
For me, it all came down to posting quality content that my readers couldn’t find on any other blog and networking with as many bloggers as possible.
Ana Hoffman recently posted..Internet Marketing Tools
Ana,
Quality content, networking with other bloggers…perfect! The other things I noticed on your blog is personality. We shouldn’t be afraid to be ourselves. We can relate to others who are true to themselves and share their journey and discoveries rather than just share stereo instructions.
Thanks for always adding value.
Ken
Hi Ken, Fantastic post! I think comments are the lifeblood of a blog. It’s a chance for the readers to engage with the author and each other. I love it when commenters leave an insightful comment, whether they agree with me or not.
My blog is about personal technology, but it’s written for everyday people, not techies. Tech is intimidating for some people, yet as time has progressed, I think more and more people are feeling comfortable commenting and asking questions.
When I leave comments on others’ blogs, I subscribe to comments, if that is an option. I love reading about what others have to say on the same topic. As Janet has said about Adrienne’s blog, her comment section feels like a party and I don’t want to leave it!
Have you thought about adding a subscribe to comments plugin for your blog? I would subscribe to comments!
Thanks for sharing your valuable insights with us!
Carolyn recently posted..Why Siri is Siri-licious!
Carolyn,
I have seen this “subscribe to comments” plugin and i think it’s a great addition to any blog. Anything to keep the conversation going and to extend the experience of the readers.
I like that you provide simple solution to a technical world. You could keep the conversation to the people who live this everyday, but it sounds like you want to bring in new readers into your world by reaching them on their level. I like how you have figured out who your reader is. What other concepts do you use to engage with your readers and make them feel comfortable in your world?
Ken
Hi Ken, Great question. I write a series called Tech-Knowledgy where I answer readers’ questions on tech. Often I will get questions from readers via email or Facebook on topics that other readers are probably wondering about. By sharing these answers, I can not only let others know the answer, but help them feel more comfortable about asking questions themselves.
No one knows everything about tech, so it’s okay to ask!
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Carolyn,
Great points. Plus technology is always changing. I’m sure you are never left to wonder…”What do I write about now?” What are some of your favorite blogs that a tech person may frequent?
Ken
Hey Ken…
I definitely agree with you that commenting is an art.
I’ve always felt that commenting is a great way to expand the topic you wrote about (if you are the author), or to position yourself as knowledgeable on the subject (if you are a visitor).
I’m looking forward to reading the other articles in this series.
Karen
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Karen,
That is a beautiful and powerful statement regarding commenting. Yes there is a huge opportunity to extend the topic and it doesn’t have to be in agreement. The conversation could be a good debate where either party or multiple parties share difference of opinion. That would actually be a great thread on any blog. At least that would be better than…”Great Post.” What are some of the other benefits to leaving comments have you seen?
Ken
This seems to be a really hot topic lately. Even though I even wrote a post about this myself, I admit I sometimes have trouble not seeming like a spammer when I comment. By the time I read the posts (especially if I am a frequent visitor) I feel like I am just talking to someone I know and often (especially on the horse blogs I frequent) I just want to say “good job” or “great picture” but I am trying to get away from that more and more.
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Jamie,
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Yes leaving a good blog comment does several things. But don’t forget that you can always add that extra element of yourself in your comments. You can spice things up by debating a bit or offering an alternative to the discussion. You can frequent other commentators and respond to them as well.
We need to move people from the “great post” to the engagement factor. Blog comments can be a great discussion over many topics. They could also be personal and engaging. In fact I would love to hear what some of the best comments or discussions you have seen on the horse blogs you visit? Do most people just say “great blog?” Or is there a good amount of energy going on?
Ken
I would say that most people don’t have engaging comment conversation on most horse blogs unless it is a really controversial subject. I think this is mainly due to the overall disorganization of the blogs I am clumping together as a “horse blog” though. I see in your reply good examples of engaging me in conversation, is it ok if I say “good job” here??
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Yes I am late to the blogging comment game. You called me out on that and I love it!! haha. I respond to comments on my blog too and totally agree with you that your blog should be more than just a bunch of posts. Every blogger should engage with their commenters because it makes them come back. Or…at least it makes me come back when I get a response. If I don’t I usually forget I commented and don’t go back. Thanks for sharing.
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What I find amazing is that so many people leave comments that are useless in value, gramatically incorrect, and not on subject. Why people think bloggers will approve these comments amazes me. Thanks for the post as you shared some good information!
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A lost art indeed – but there’s a great contingent of commenters who do add value and offer genuine responses to the blogs they read (I strive to be one of them!)
Blog Commenting has almost become an extension of your own blog – it’s kinda like leaving a business card as you go. If it’s presented right, and placed carefully and strategically, it can be a great way to support your marketing efforts – as you say, potential massive exposure – if it’s done right.
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Ken Thank you for the “comment instruction”! I need to put these into motion. Comment can work as networking and building each other up. I’m thinking building up a friend has the affect of building up your self. Keep up the good work.
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I must say it is a lost art, that is not beneficial according to me applying these things.
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Hello Ken, It’s my first time on your blog and am already loving it. Can’t agree more about Adrienne Smith, I was blown away by the time and effort she puts in replying comments and visiting websites of those that left the comments.
This is what I believe is the missing element. Those that left a comment on your blog can’t ask more than someone with a well established blog, getting hundreds of comments, stop by your blog post and leave a comment. I believe that’s what made her blog get a ton of traffic and comments as soon as a new post is made.
Another thing is that, most people will have a tendency to stop visiting and commenting on other blogs once they start reaching a level where they start to see comments appearing in every blog post that they make without doing anything. This is where Adrienne is different, and this is why she gets repeated visits from commentors…
Dr.Spencer Jones
P.S: Love the idea of replying to early comments to get good exposure.
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