What can I do to get my blog noticed?
That question was answered in a blog April 25, 2009– two days after I first started my own blog — from Problogger.net, probably the best resource for info on blogging.
“Adding comments on other blogs, especially the most popular ones, is a great way to build traffic.” — Blogging expert Darren Rowse
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
- ADD VALUE: 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.”
- COMMENT, BUT DON’T BE A STALKER: 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.
- STAY ON TOPIC: 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.
- USE HUMOR, AND PERSONALITY: 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.
- PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: Actually, I’d read advice early on that commenting was the best way to find your voice before you started to actually blog.
- BUILD RELATIONSHIPS: 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.
- ASK QUESTIONS: 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.
NOTE: This is one of my re-postings from the original articles written “way back when” I first started to blog in April 2009.
Good tip use humor and personality, People like people, not just blog posts. It also provides a great opportunity to bounce ideas off people and get feedback face-to-face, rather than replying on comments or emails that can often be misinterpreted.
Commenting on other blogs is a nice way of getting your blog noticed. This gives you an opportunity to get more people to your blog because you may attract the people who read the other persons blog. Your site does not accept some comments though.
The best way get your blog/site noticed is to create valuable content that others would find useful. Irronically this is also the most difficult method as well.
Also, Lets not forget that good content is always a great way. Thx, for the read.
its great ideas & tips.i mostly liked the asking question.thanks for sharing this great post.
Nice article with commonsense advice. We’ve built readership of our blog by keeping a narrow focus: aviation marketing.
What if you do all of this stuff to get your blog noticed and it doesn’t get noticed or you just put whatever to get your blog noticed that’s so not a good thing so why do people do it. Do people lie on their blogs and if so why do they do it? Is posting a lie really necessary just to get someone’s attention. You shouldn’t have to lie about anything just to get someone to read your blog.
Pretty good advice if you ask me.Basically make it interesting.
Thanks Shari – nice article.
I am following a discussion in another LinkIN group where people are post their facebook pages so other readers can “like” them. It is a way of building a following.
I am curious what you think of that approach.
Ethan, if I wake up early enough tomorrow morning, I’ll write a blog post answering your question. Actually this is an issue I have lots of opinions on — so I hope I get to it . . . unless I get inspired tonight š
Good topic, Shari. I can see that participating in the blog community is a good way to call attention to one’s blog. That takes a lot of work. For example, just finding a selection of blogs organized by topics/themes that would create your community is a lot of work, and monitoring and commenting intelligently on those blogs could be a full-time job.
What else can you do? Let’s say you’ve put some effort into writing a thoughtful blog that would contribute to your community. How might you encourage traffic?
Roger, well for one thing, posting your articles as DISCUSSIONS on LinkedIn groups — that brought you to it, and me š Another thing I’ve done is join a “tribe,” TSA Mastery, but that’s a topic for a whole blog post, and I’m not certain I’m the best person to write it.
I get readers the old-fashioned way. I put my blog out there, advertise it on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, put a few postings on Ezine Articles, and see who comes.You can buy traffic through various services for a monthly fee, but it may not be the right traffic. Check it out at http://www.wealthwisdomandwellness.com
Peter, I have tried to post a comment on your blog, but it asks me to LOG IN?? And I tried to subscribe, but got a screen full of letters? What gives?
You do have an appealing style and a lot to say.
THX for visiting me here.
Shari, in answer to your question, “How many articles do you read AND leave a comment?” I would say “A lot.” You say you like streams of comments. Is that as in “stream of consciousness” writing? If I read a blog post that has inspired me, I like to add to the idea that was conveyed to me.
Barbara, you are most likely in the minority as most readers probably simply skim through articles — sad, but true. That is one reason that subheads and listings are powerful to “secure” the reader within the content. Of course, having valuable info is most important!
Re: “stream of consciousness” and stream of comments — no connection: although I do personally like writing emails that flow with my thoughts, which may often be connected ONLY in my mind:-)
Shari, I concur completely. Commenting on other blogs and supporting your blogging community is a smart way to build your own traffic. Good karma comes around! Another method to encourage visitors is by posting links to your own blog posts that people might find useful or of interest to LinkedIn Facebook, Twitter, and other platforms.
I offer blog posts revised and edited as needed to organization newsletters, professional association publications and websites, and other like groups that need content. Much of what we write about as public relations professionals is applicable to a variety of industries and fields. I recently had an article about social media use for small business posted in a nationwide green industry newsletter. The price is simply a bio line about me and my blog with a link back to it.
So, taking my own advice, please visit San Diego Rostra at http://www.sdrostra.com, a San Diego-based political blog, or San Diego Bargain Mama at http://www.sdbargainmama.com and look for the “Thrift This!” column, to see what I do in my so-called “spare time.”
Cool site, the San Diego-based political blog.
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Givers Gain is the mantra of my BNI fellowship . . . and it really does work because it’s Win-Win all the way around!
Shari, why do blog visitors so often leave without asking a question or writing a comment? I have invited readers to do both and yet not many of them do so.
Barbara, my first response to you is a question: How many articles do you personally read AND leave a comment? My own experience is that if I have nothing of value to add — whether elaborating on a point in the article or possibly disagreeing with something, then it doesn’t seem worthwhile to spend the effort on my part OR expect people to read more “noise.” I love streams of comments, though, when people have really read an article and then leave information of value, i.e. something worth thinking about and possibly using š
Answer the problems posed by other commentators – it takes pressure off the blog owner, (and may get you noticed), and makes you appear to be an expert, (which gets more people onto your site, builds your authority etc).
Engage with other commentators for example – on one leading blog I saw a comment by someone who was doing everything OK – was building up a following – but getting no comments and minimal income.
I checked his site and saw that his site was very passive. I’ve suggested more call to action and adding a few posts which were not just factual.
As a result we now communicate regularly and he’s one of the people I use to check out my project’s upgrade.
When actively commenting check your Alexa and Technorati ratings and you will see your blog rapidly improving its position. Though on both systems I reckon it takes about two weeks for your work to have an effect.
Paul, I love the idea of building relationships with your commenters, so I checked your last blog post START YOUR BLOG and fell into the proverbial “rabbit hole,” i.e. had to read several of your articles. Good stuff there. I look forward to returning often.
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