Popularity has a price: You’ve got to do some Work
Some of my students have started blogging, and one student asked me today [actually in a comment on my first post]:
“How can I get my blog noticed?”
Interestingly enough, that question was answered in a blog posting today, April 25, from Problogger.net, one of the most popular blogs around. Blogging expert Darren Rowse said that adding comments on other blogs, especially the most popular ones, is a great way to build traffic.
Darren’s article referred me to a 2007 post listing 11 tips for getting your comments noticed on a popular blog. Would you believe there were 136 comments on that one article?
No, I couldn’t read all of them . . . had to stop myself somewhere around comment 93. But I learned a lot and wanted to share some of Darren’s tips, some from his readers, and just a few I’ve picked up along the Revolutionary Road we’re traveling.
Tips to get your blog noticed
- First off, social media is really all about conversation, so the comments are every bit as important as the post. IMPLICATION: Be sure your comment adds value and doesn’t just say “I agree” or “You suck” or “Read my blog.”
- When you read a blog, you ought to consider leaving your comment. Lots of people have set goals for themselves to comment on every blog post they read. Of course, if you read someone’s opinion every single day and you comment every single day, you could be getting a bad rep as a stalker.
- Commenting gives you a chance to show what you know. And that’s always fun; plus you really can contribute, especially if you stay on topic. Very important. Stay on topic; don’t talk just to be heard.
- If you want to connect with people, then your comments should show some of your personality and/or sense of humor. A comment has been called a mini-resume. You can be establishing your personal brand in your comments.
- Actually, I’d read advice early on that commenting was the best way to find your voice before you started to actually blog.
- In the business world, lots of comments are complaints — and this isn’t always a totally negative situation. Actually it is an opportunity for a company to handle a problem that they might never have known about otherwise. Handling disagreeable comments in a polite and respectful manner goes a long way to building better relationships and the community that companies are now trying to establish.
- One last tip: Ask relevant and thoughtful questions in your comment, so . . .
What kind of comment can you add here?
PS I did want to add a link to the Air Force’s “Blog Assessment” flow chart which offers suggestions on how to deal with comments on their blogs. Good for business people, particularly, to Think before Replying.
Next post: Listening Tips
This is helpful information. My cynical side tells me the only one making money from social media are the ones leading workshops on how to make money from social media.
I am finding your articles short, clear and to the point. As a public speaker and coach – I always appreciate these qualities.
You are making me want to read more blogs!
Thank you.
Nice to meet you Ethan. I have to say that when I get to read a comment like yours — from someone I hadn’t known before — it reinforces the power of Social Media . . . and the value for each and everyone of us, not to mention the globe
🙂
Re: making money from social media — To me, it is not so much making money from social media as it is Helping people communicate more effectively with one another . . . and find the products and services that they need. The money part of it will follow. My mom always said, “Do what you love and the money will come.” 🙂
I just read a post on the Four Stages of the Typical Twitter user and I’m going to use that information in a future series of posts all dedicated to Twitter. Stay tuned.
I suspect it’s all a question of balance . . . too much of anything is too much. So when are you coming here for the face-to-face? BTW, folks, Randy is my “baby,” not my grandbaby.
We all have something to say. I only hope that we continue to use these new social media skills in everyday interactions with real people with real flesh and smells and tics and smiles and mutual distractions…
Erin, I think I told you all that when I first saw Twitter, I asked myself, “Why do I care that someone is going to get a pizza?” but as you’ve seen, TWITTER IS SO MUCH MORE, and as Jack Dorsey told my PR class today, Twitter can be what each and every one of us makes of it. I’m happy that you, too, see the “light.”
Shari,
I’ll have to admit when I first heard about Twitter, and even blogging, I considered them fairly pointless. Since we’ve started to discuss the ins and outs of these and other methods of social media in class and how it can actually get your name out there I’ve become pretty geeked out about it. I found myself yesterday telling a businessman at one of my tables all about tweets and blogs and so on. Since I’m so new at it I’m going to practice for a while and try to get my content right…but I have an idea for a twitter feed. I’ll let you know! In the meantime, thanks for all this information it’s way better than filming a commercial!!
erin
Hi Shari!
Thanks for the entry!! It’s exactly what I was looking for, and it enhances what you told me last time!
As a direct consequence, I have added comments to my blog.
And for a better visibility of your site, you can use the add this widget (addthis.com) so people can share your entries on their twitter, facebook, and so on. You’ll know more about this on the presentation we’ll do about ‘blogging tips’ in two weeks in the PR class!!
Cyril.
COOL, Cyril, I “can’t wait” for your presentation, so I’ll probably look into “addthis.com” now . . . but in the meantime, can you send me A COMMENT ABOUT ROBERT SCOBLE’S CHAT for my next blog post. THX, Shari
When blogging was first getting started, I was not too eager to hop on the bandwagon. I just felt that it was a waste of time. The same went for MySpace, Facebook and Twitter. After taking a few of Shari’s classes, I come to realize that social media is what networking has come to these days; it’s just a sign of the times. Today, I had wished I started earlier, so I’m not spending so much time trying to catch up…At the rapid pace that advertising is changing these days, future advertisers must stay on the innovative crest and not ride in the wake of new innovative methods to advertise. Blogging is here to stay and it is bringing it’s sibling Twitter along.
One of the best parts about commenting on other blogs is simply reading all the great posts. I’ll set out to leave a bunch of comments on blogs I follow which honestly does bring some traffic and builds my relationship with the bloggers as they get to know me. But more then that I learn so much! Its the best way to stay on top of what is going on in your industry while making some connections along the way.
I never thought of comments to be more than just humorous insights posted on the profiles of friends. After reading your blog, I saw that comments can be perceived differently in the business world.
For example, in the old days, you think of having a physical suggestion box where customers can “leave comments” about the business or they can voice their opinion about how the business could improve. Every week or so management would open the suggestion box and review each comment individually.
Now, blogging has opened the door to a virtual suggestion box where not only, customers can do all of the aforementioned, but the rest of the world can see see those comments and comment on those as well.
-Luis (BUS 360)
Shari,
I totally agree with your point on “negative” comments.
Many people get disappointed when they read comments that say something negative about their work or their company.
If those comments are written with purpose and they are not just someone having a bad day wanting to let off a little steam, they can be a goldmine of information about where you need to improve your business.
Look at those comments as opportunities to shore up the weaknesses in your business. Instead of letting them raise the hair on the back of your neck, which is the natural reaction, look at them with respect as someone who has taken the time to give you the “most valuable” feedback about your business…
Les
Mary, I LOVE the idea of a class blog. I think it would be a Great Idea for our class to share our Advertising Findings as well as for my PR class to show their research. Thanks for the thoughtful comment.
One of my other professors is actually using blog sites as a tool for our class. He has created a blogspot site for our class (http://sfsudai325.blogspot.com/), so that we can upload our projects, post related articles, and see what other classmates are doing. We use this instead of iLearn.
This way, we and our professor can comment on other people’s individual work, and give them our ideas. It is very helpful to see what everyone else is thinking of your work. I really like this idea because it feels “informal” and that you wont be criticized for saying something about people’s work. It is fun and easy to use, because we are all familiar with it already. Also, it is a good way for other professors in the department to see what current students are creating.
The quote from your article, Shari, that stood out to me was “Commenting gives you a chance to show what you know. And that’s always fun; plus you really can contribute, especially if you stay on topic. Very important. Stay on topic; don’t talk just to be heard.” Our class blog is on our one topic, which makes it fun to read, to comment on, and because we all already know the subject, fun to discuss!
I actually have a blog that I update once in a while. A few years ago, I used to blog religiously and my friends used to comment on some of my blogs. After looking back at my blogs, I realized the blogs with the most comments are the ones that require the reader to think a little bit and when the reader thinks, they like to share their own ideas.
I consider comments as my way of understanding what blogs catch readers’ attention and which blogs are unworthy.
The blogs that got the least amount of comments was the ones in which I just spoke about what I did that day and contained no insight.
To me, I appreciate blogs because they can be your journal so you can keep track of memories and it can give insight to others.
-Ashley
(fr. your advertising class =))