This post was written by Deb
One Last Post About Comments: Become Part of Another Blogger’s Community
This week on Twitter, someone mentioned how he was getting a little tired of seeing everyone blogging about how to comment and how no one is saying anything new. At the risk of getting his dander up, I’d like to offer up one more post about commenting. Thanks for indulging me…
I’ve been remiss. I’m always talking about the importance of commenting to build traffic and I haven’t been doing it enough myself. My problem is as I get busy with my own blogs, I don’t have as much time to visit other blogs and drop them a line. This is a big mistake. Every blogger should visit blogs within his niche and become part of the community. Here’s why:
Hey Look at Me!
Every time you comment you draw attention to yourself. People remember your name. Soon they’re going to want to click on the link to your blog. More and more people are going to visit and become part of your community as well. This is a good thing.
Yeah.. I Know a Little
By participating in the discussions you’re showing off your expertise. Granted, if you come off as a know it all you won’t be very well liked, but if you’re an upbeat, enlightening part of the discussion people will remember. Commenting at other blogs is a good way to show off your expertise.
So Did Anyone Watch Lost Last Night?
Many bloggers work at home alone during the day. Commenting at other blogs is sort of like chit-chatting with your co-workers at the office. Even the shyest people need to socialize a little bit. Visiting other blogs and interacting with the regulars can be very therapeutic.
Here’s the thing…
When you visit other blogs, you learn:
- Who are the movers and shakers in your niche. Trust me on this, you want to have friends in this business.
- You get your name out there.
- You spread the word about your blog.
- You gather ideas based on others’ blog posts and comments.
- You meet lots of new like-minded people.
- You learn about new blogs in your niche.
When I began Freelance Writing Jobs three years ago, I spread the word by visiting other blogs and commenting. Though I did a few other things as well, this is the one single thing that made the biggest difference. People don’t just up and visit blogs. They have to know they exist. If you want that to happen you have to get out and toot your horn…often.
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16 Responses to “One Last Post About Comments: Become Part of Another Blogger’s Community”
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I’m in that same spot where I’ve been busy and not commenting as much as I used to. Obviously so, my comment count is down on my blog as well. The good thing? It doesn’t bother me as much as it used to.
Great post!
Sure there might not always be new information there, but the occasional post about commenting is needed as the blogosphere grows. New bloggers start up all the time, and not all of them are going to know how to go about building traffic and community. I know I didn’t when I launched my first one.
Plus, a little reminder now and again is generally a good thing.
I agree with Misses E - about the new crop of bloggers. You know, I always see probloggers (and not probloggers) comment about how blog topics are overdone on blogs about blogging. YET at forums about blogging I see the same old questions, over, and over, and over. Seriously, someone must want to know this stuff. Evergreen blog topics are good to go over IMO.
Also, I like commenting because it also allows you to be an insider at said blog when it comes to jokes or long-standing blog traditions. It’s cool to part of a blog’s history just by commenting.
I agree with that. The more you comment the more comments you will get. People need to see a blog exists before they can be part of it.
Oh and what misses E said.
I heard there is 120 000 new blogs that start every day. So one can not say something enough.
Thanks for the tip and reminder. I am working on identifying the important blogs in my various niches - how about a post on how exactly to do that? It’s easy if your niche is tech or web related. You can just look at Technorati’s Top 100. But what’s an efficient way to go about finding other niches? How do you know who’s big? AND how many of these communities is it reasonable to strive to be active in?
Thanks!
It’s true, Deb. I’ve noticed I get more reciprocating comments when I say something on someone else’s blog. When I get too busy to interact with the community, I lose traffic. And I also lose a bit of that camaraderie from the community.
[...] on one of Deb’s posts here asked, “I am working on identifying the important blogs in my various niches - how about a [...]
Lela–I’m not a problogger, but I do help startup companies with social/guerrilla marketing and I have a background in academic research, so I hope you (and Deb) don’t mind me offering some suggestions.
1) Do a Technorati or Google Blog search for keywords unique to your niche. You can filter Technorati search results by the blog’s authority, which is one way to tell who the big players are in your niche.
2) Once you’ve identified a few blogs (maybe 10-15) in your niche, look at all of their blog rolls. See if you can find new blogs through those blog rolls, and also look to see if you see any trends. If every blog you find in your niche is listing a particular blog in their blog roll, you can be pretty sure that blog is highly regarded by others who are writing about your topic.
3) Add every relevant blog you can find to your feed reader and watch your reader closely. Within about 7-14 days you will start to see who has interesting things to say about your topic and who is generating a lot of buzz with other bloggers in your niche. If you have a lot of time on your hands, you can do this all in one day by reading the last two weeks’ worth of posts on all the blogs you’ve found in your niche.
4) Some bloggers have their feed subscription stats readily available on their blog. Same thing with their daily page views. After you start familiarizing yourself with your niche, you’ll get a feel for what number constitutes a large following in your niche.
Hope this info helps!
–Fern
Yes, Fern - thanks for that! I like systematic ways of tacking big tasks!
[...] visit each other’s blogs and website and comment in a positive [...]
For all of you who have stuck around and have these how-to blog information, there are new people starting and older ones falling by the wayside. For all newborn babies, people also die and a new generation become the successors. The same is true with just about anything, life and death. I have just recently started to investigate and start mine up, and I have been reading everything I can on the subject, including other’s blogs, especially the how-to blogs. Language and trends change through time, thus, the need for the writer to update the information in the current language and trends. I certainly don’t run around speaking in dead ancient languages or even jargon from the 15th Century, “Thou has smote me.”
[...] said jobs, I’m going to welcome the others into the neighborhood. By participating in the other blog communities I’m offering my insight, learning and gathering new ideas from others, and maybe even gaining [...]
[...] many ways to do this without being spammy. Visit forums, participate in Twitter, become a part of another blogger’s community. Soon, traffic will be flowing. To just think people are going to show up is a big [...]
[...] on one of Deb’s posts here asked, “I am working on identifying the important blogs in my various niches – how [...]