Darren Rowse on ProBlogger has just reposted a series of tips on attracting readers to one’s blog, and tip four is:
4. Comment on others blogs – I suspect that a number of my regular readers first came to my blog because I left a comment on theirs. It was not a strategy I thought about – I just found myself quite addicted to reading others blogs and giving feedback. When you leave a comment leave your own blog address. Often people like to know who is reading their blog and will come visiting you. Don’t comment just for the sake of it. If someone leaves me a ‘hi’ comment or is obviously trolling my blog I won’t visit them – its just frustrating. Make genuine comments on posts that connect with you. You might make a good friend in the process.
I agree that this definitely helps other bloggers to notice you. The first blog I ever had wasn’t a very successful one, partly because I didn’t update it very much (Darren’s tip six: update frequently), nor did I leave the comfort zone of my own blog and venture into others’ to comment and participate in any discussions. Like Darren I didn’t really think about it when I started this blog, but I did start to comment and interact with others with this blog and this has made a big difference. I always try and comment where I can, although busy-ness does get the better of me sometimes. If I’m only managing to skim through my subscriptions I don’t manage to comment as much as I’d like.
Bloggers, what do you do with comments left on your blog? How do you respond?
a) on the blog itself (ie you comment in reply)
b) by emailing the commenter (assuming they have left an email address)
c) both on your blog and via email
d) on your blog, and you visit the commenter’s blog (assuming they have one) and thank them for the comment
My usual practice is (a) – I reply to comments by commenting. Do you use any of the other means I’ve listed (or different ones altogether), and why?
Addendum: Great advice from Ann Darnton (courtesy of normblog):
What would be your main blogging advice to a novice blogger?
> Stick with it and get out there and make friends. Read other people’s blogs and leave comments. If you want people to stop by your blog you have to return the favour. It takes time.
(Ann’s blog is Patternings.)
12 Comments
(a) – Reply as a comment. It’s supposed to be a public conversation, right?
I’m an a) as well, although I have emailed the commenter on one occasion to chase up more info, before replying to their comment on my blog.
(a) and if it was a thought-provoking comment, it might warrant a post of its own and a link-out to the commenter’s blog.
And linking-out is also one of Darren’s tips. 🙂
Well, I’ve learnt to be more forthcoming in providing comments in the blogs that I read rather than just lurking. It definitely helps in social networking. 🙂 Otherwise, I wouldn’t have had the chance to meet up with you.
Thanks guys! 🙂
Yes on the whole public conversation thing Tom, my thoughts exactly!
I’ve done the same too Michelle.
Marcus, I agree on expanding in a post of its own. Don’t know if I’ve done much of that to date but I think I will in future…
Isaak, yes I’m glad you commented here 🙂 How’s things in Singapore? I hope the haze isn’t getting you too badly… btw, Jaws has changed its menu and prices (I’m not sure I like it)!
I usually place a reply comment in my blog in the rare times people reply. I have gotten a rare e-mail now and then commenting to a blog post, where they chose to e-mail rather than comment, and in that case, I would e-mail back. As for myself, I don’t comment much unless it is something I feel speaks to me and/or it is a blog I feel comfortable commenting on. That usually means smaller personal blogs. The “big” kinds of blogs I pretty much don’t bother even trying to comment on since they are filled with trolls or just people who yell, so I see no sense trying to put a line in such places. I will definitely go over to ProBlogger and read the rest of the post. Thanks for tip.
Best, and keep on blogging.
Darren’s sixth tip on updating frequently. That has been challenging this year for me. I find that i simply lack the brainpower to post when work’s too much. Such a shame. Perhaps when i retire from the workforce in years to come i’ll reach my blogging zenith! 😉
I’m an ‘a’.
(a) Reply as a comment for me too.
Rarely, this has evolved into an email conversation.
Generally if I’ve been inspired to comment on another blog (which is not all that great as a percentage of the blog posts I read) I often want to add links to other relevant sites or posts – spreads the joy, make it much easier for other readers to follow through on what I’m going on about. Although it’s sometimes a pain having to code the links etc.
I guess I’m more of a lurker than a commenter, like Angel. The bigger the audience, the less I feel I have to say.
Oh, but the “link out” tip! That one reminds me of how astounded I was (not knowing blog technology at all when I started) when I linked to someone only to have them find my blog almost immediately! It was like magic. Perversely, I then stopped linking to people for a while because I was shy… I’m over that, now. 😛
Angel, I’m much the same when it comes to the “big” blogs but will leave a comment if something really speaks to me.
jl, don’t beat yourself up over it. I remember reading (on a blog of course) that us non-professional bloggers needn’t stress out if we have breaks or don’t update everyday or whatever – we can consider our blogging a “hobby”, and hobbies you do when you can/feel like it. 🙂
Hi Peta, it’s funny, isn’t it, we probably read waaaay more blogs than the number of comments we write would indicate…
Howdy Iris, I remember being astounded, too when bloggers found my wee post about their blog… it is magic!! 🙂 So are you swapping to Blogger Beta?
a) – because it seems to be more relevant to reply on the post topic there.
I’m always surprised on the few occasions someone has linked to my blog! LOL!
Penny, it always gives me a small thrill when anyone links to me. 🙂