Good content is king.
The more useful, relevant and unique it is, the more likely it will connect with its intended audience.
So why don’t people keep this in mind when commenting on blogs?
I’ve been generating decent traffic from this lately, and it’s mainly because I’ve revised my commenting strategy.
I used to reply with a quick comment like “Great post, thanks.” That may be cordial, but it’s not very unique or noticeable.
So of course my comments got lumped in with all the other “Great post” variations.
Now I take a little time to craft my comment and the results are paying off. Here are some tips to help you become a more effective blog commentor.
1. Don’t Be Afraid to Disagree
When I’m scanning comments on other blogs, I always find myself reading comments from people who disagree. Why? …
Because their comment stands out among all the “Great post!” comments.
Disagreeing doesn’t have to be rude or disrespectful. There is a tactful way to do it. Simply state that you disagree and more importantly explain why.
This is your time to shine and potentially prove you are a credible source. This may also engage other readers and the author.
Back up your reasons with facts and useful information. Saying you disagree just for the sake of disagreeing is pretty pointless.
2. Make ’em Laugh
Lighten up and inject some humor where appropriate. You’ll be surprised how this will make people look twice at your comment.
Most blog comments are serious. Make yours stand out with some light-hearted fun.
3. Create a Powerful Opening Line
Just like writing content for your blog or website, you want to get people’s attention. Consider that opening line to be your comment’s headline.
Most people scan, so if they their eye happens to catch your witty opening line, you’ve just increased the chance they’ll read your comment instead of skimming to the next.
4. Add Another Item to the List
I often look for blog posts where the author mentions an ordered list of items – for example, “5 Ways to Build Traffic.” In your comment, why not suggest a 6th way, and if #6 has worked for you, briefly explain how.
Obviously people reading this post are interested in ways to build traffic, so naturally they’ll find your addition relevant and hopefully useful.
5. Impress The Author
Nothing impresses Webmasters more when blog commentors show they are familiar with their work. When it’s relevant, refer back to previous content the author has written and tie it into your comment.
Sometimes this puts you on the author’s radar. Perhaps they’ll even visit your site. It never hurts to seek out a few brownie points… especially if the author has a large audience. They may decide to feature your site in one of their posts.
I always look twice at someone who makes a well thought out comment, especially if it’s clear they’ve been reading my work.
Who doesn’t need their ego stroked once and a while, right? 😉
6. Look for Highly Relevant Posts
Use the blog’s search function to find posts that match up well with the theme of your site and comment on them.
Say you have a blog about fantasy football and you are reading a sports blog. Do a search for “fantasy football” and look for posts that will allow you to show off your knowledge and expertise.
7. Use the Name of Your Site Instead of Your Name
When you fill out a comment form, most blogs will link your name to your site’s URL. Instead of using your name, use a catchy, keyword-focused name that may encourage people to click on your site.
I have to be honest. I’ve never done this, but may try this in the future. I added this strategy to the list because I was reading a comment on my own blog, and I actually clicked the person’s link because their title caught my attention.
8) Keep It Short and Simple
No one wants to read a novel. While it’s important to add something of substance, you also don’t want to get ignored because you wrote too much. More is not necessarily better.
Make your key points quickly, and do so without a lot of fluff and fillers.
9) Comment on Other Comments
If you can spark a meaningful conversation with another commentor, this can also draw some attention to your site. Not only will this increase your visibility, but you get a chance to show off your knowledge.
10) ???
I’ll leave #10 to you. Have you done anything useful I did not mention? What were the results?
(Hint: This is where you put Tip #4 into action.) 🙂
You hit the nail on the head with this one Lisa. Commenting has brought me a lot of traffic that I wouldn’t normally of received. As I read this post I noticed the first commenter said try to post first. I never really thought about it, but that’s very true, I usually will read the first few comments and then scan to the bottom before I reply.
One things about #7, and this is just my opinion. But I tend to believe it’s better to leave a real name rather than keywords in the name field. It just seems to be more personal and seems less like spam in my opinion. I don’t think it’s important to leave first and last name, but at least a first name. Although Keyword name in commentluv is great for that.
Thanks again Lisa for more great inspiration!
#10: Leave a signature! I use mine (not when commenting on international blogs such as yours), and that brings interest by the author of the blog, as well as the other commentors.
Like; “Love, Lizbeth Osnes – behind the scenes. A blog about my everyday, and how it is to live with anorexia nervosa” 🙂
I was in the category of people who use the words”great post” and as at now I have learnt a lot from your post.
I disagree with one of your strategy as you have said in you post that Use the Name of Your Site Instead of Your Name, but majority of the blogs don’t allow to do that, they only ask for original name, then hat to do here. Can you share your views here?
The Short Guy tips number 10!
– Read the whole post before commenting. There are people who didn’t even reading the post and suddenly boom! They make a bold statement that is untrue.
Lisa, I just read your blog on “How to write killer blog comments”. I noticed that all of your comments listed are from 2008. Are you still working in this type of business? Is it viable for you? I am thinking of going into the affilliate business as a means of making some extra income but do not have any money to waste and need someone to advise/ mentor me.
well every time i make comment under post i feel like this comment is gonna bury…but in link building i learn you should do things according to plan, try not to use shortcuts just be real everywhere.
My question marks were suppose to be hearts. I guess your blog doesn’t except them. Oops!
I sometimes add in a few ?’s or other attention getters.
I have been known to ask questions. . .even though it says comments. I think it makes for real interaction.
I use what I know about teaching. When teaching persuasive writing, kids are encouraged to use quotes, anecdotes, statistics and facts to influence readers. Is it a surprise that quotes are what makes Twitter popular? Why not try them in a comment. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
I really like your site and the information you write about. You are truly a blogging expert. I will check back and try to get one of those #1 comment positions.
I am a newbie blogger, but I have been getting a decent amount of traffic from commenting on different blogs daily. It’s also helped me to build backlinks. My biggest problem with commenting is #1. I guess I need to realize that there is nothing wrong with constructive criticism.
Very unique post, Lisa. I must say tip#1 works the best for me. Almost ALL the comments you see on a blog tend to agree and thank the author. I disagree when I can and it often brings me traffic.
I have nothing to disagree with here tho 🙂
My tip#10 has already been posted but asking a good question can really spark a conversation with the author and get your posts noticed.
Thanks for the great tips. I’m going to try and implement a few more strategies. I never thought about creating a powerful opening line so I’ll try this one first.
Lisa, This month marks the first anniversary of my introduction to your blog. Yet, I somehow managed to overlook this post. It might be that I saw it earlier but didn’t understand it back then. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
Obviously, as you can see, I love #7.
Good read, it opend my eyes, many thanks!
Blog commenting is in extension, but we can avoid this writing or posting a very good or a very unique and interesting article. Readers comments on posts that caught their interest.
.-= Mary´s last blog … When the Truth Hurts… =-.
It is funny that some people could “read” this post yet not follow it with their own comment. Haa. It is a great article though. I have found the main points useful like actually commenting in your niche which gives targeted web traffic. You want to be helpful so others will want to see more of what else you know. Also, don’t come off as competing with the article in your comment but rather contributing to it.
.-= Web Traffic´s last blog … Welcome-Top Web Traffic Tips & Resources Free =-.
Thanks for the post! It’s very educational!! Thanks!
.-= Princess´s last blog … Sports: Football – NFL and its Process =-.
Great post, never thought to use yahoo questions , that’s an interesting idea. New to blogging so this is all very useful to me, thanks for the post.
.-= Bubblewraped Blogger´s last blog … Click all the way to the bank? or NOT? =-.
OK also YOU need to use the social networks to drive traffic to YOUR Blogs and websites ! MYspace, Face Book,Twitter, and of course the traffic exchanges traffic swarm is best however remeber the Traffic exchanges are used by others to GET traffic and referrals to their sites so that’s YOUR niche YOU want to advertise FREE traffic sources ! SPORTSBUZZY.COM
i’m not very glad with yahoo answers. i drive some traffic from the answers but i analyze often my analytics and they show me that people from yahoo answers are not my best readers. they do not stay very long on my site.
i personaly think that every1 has to try different ways to increase traffic. but the successful ways are different for every blogger.
addicted to life’s last blog post..Addicted to…
MY advice is TO find a free resource to get traffic to your blog and kepp trying difernet ads or content to see what gets the biggest response !
I for one have found Yahoo Answers comunnity to be successful in geting refrrerals to any program i have running !
Each new account i make i get free YAHOO 360 blog to make !
IF the answers account gets suspended i still get the BLOG staying up and still use the E mail account !
OR i can delete the account and still have the blog active !
The accounts get suspended from Troolls re[porting any answer they feel is a viloation !
YAHOO does not remove the answers until some KID reports them !
WELL thats it that my best resource !
i would say great post, but i’m scared, so i’ll just say good post.
i’ve been doing a few of the things you mentioned and whenever possible, i go for humor when commenting.
Hi BloggerNewbie,
LOL, I’m not aware of any time frame etiquette for blogs. I always appreciate new comments no matter how old the post. 🙂
Lisa:
“Great post” really…
@ Arial: I often have thought that too! that’s funny but I am sure you are right.
#10 – ask a question to get more dialog going…
speaking of questions – is there a time frame etiquette to leaving a comment? I just noticed that this post is a few months old!
You site is superb !!! i doesn’t have a site. But i am now interested to own a site after reading your sucess stories. Thank you very much… you site discribes each and every details that a beginner needs. soon i am also going buy a domain and host a page in internet. Now i am searching for a good domain name to select. Sister, plz help me by providing some tips and tricks after i started my website.
“iam 23 male working in bajajallianz life ins co. as sales admin ” i hope you will help me. pls send me ur e-mail id, so that i can communicate to you for my doubts, since you are so expert. (thinksanu@gmail.com) hope u vil reply.
This is quite the interesting article. I have never really thought of the comments left on a post as a marketing strategy. Although I do on occasion leave comments on a good article that I have read, I always viewed it more as a means of communication with the author, rather than with other visitors.
Thanks for opening my eyes.
#10 – Sometimes authors can make mistakes, correct them and if there’s nothing to correct try to keep them up to date with the latest procedings (especially useful if the blog post is about a news event).
#11 – Write an outrageous theory and back it up with logics (but keep it short, it’s still just a comment).
#12 – Use different links when commenting on different posts, for example, this post is about backlinks so if you have an article about backlinks then use that URL instead.
>>>>><<<<<
My #10 – You can use special characters to have your post stand out in a sea of post.
My #11 – Don’t be afraid to experiment. Try something and see if it works.
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I’m always amazed how you come up with great content. I don’t comment on blogs ’cause I never really thought much about them bringing in traffic but this has inspired me and I see how this could work if you really worked it.
Yes Liza what inspire u to make those good contents. Please share here a bit of here and there tips can go a long way for newbies like many of us.
http://www.lemilia.com
emyseverchangingworld.blogstop
Arial took my comment, so now I’m stuck with doing #9.
I just started commenting on blogs to drive traffic to my homeschool blog and will keep the above tips in mind.
Here’s my #10 tip… Try to be the first person to comment so your comment gets viewed more often! LOL Great advice as usual, Lisa.
This is something I am doing more and more. To add to Arial’s idea – pick your favorite blogs and subscribe to the RSS feed. Check your RSS feeds often so you can be notified when a new post shows up in one of the blogs you like. This will get you closer to the top or the top.
I like posting comments to blogs, you get to read and learn something. You get to express your views and get more exposer for your site. Plus it is a whole lot easier to write a short statement and get a backlink than an article.
Blog Authors get their needed feedback, so everyone wins.
.-= Bruce Cagle´s last blog … MLM and the power of Backlinks =-.
That’s right!!
The person’s comment will watch everyone’s eye when they finish reading the article. I do this on forum a lot, just browsing if there’s a new post that i can relate to and answer/ask about =)
Again good tips. It doesn’t worry me about the no follow. I’m Learning and following your advice. I Told my self persevere Emilia.
Lemilia.com
Emyseverchangingworld.blogstop.com