Blog Collaboration: Comments
April 19, 2011 
13 Comments
This post is especially relevant to bloggers and authors alike. I wrote previously on why authors should blog and besides the benefit discussed in the post, commenting is beneficial for both when using a blog.
As you may have read yesterday, I am looking to collaborate with 10 bloggers as a test for the next three months. The idea is to form a small blogging tribe that support each other through sharing, linking to, review/interviewing, guest posting and commenting on each others blogs. There are two options available, and either one could benefit you greatly. The second one is called the UnderDog Power 10. [I will e explain what this means tomorrow]. I thought it good to for a moment focus on commenting and the power of it for your blog/website/business.
Why is getting comments on your blog important?
I will give you a few points here for why it’s important to try and get or encourage comments on your blog. As you look at the points, consider the two collaboration options with other bloggers.
- They provide social proof. people look at your posts and if they see comments (even 2/3) they can see there’s some interaction and would like to read what it’s all about.
- Comments encourage more comments. When people see there are comments they will probably read the post and skim throughout the comments. The chances are good they’ll leave one too or at least a reply.
- A heated discussion will let it become sort of a forum where people come to debate an issue or lay an egg. In my five five years blogging I have seen this work very effectively. That’s why it’s important to write controversially, make bold statements and draw a discussion.
- Most blogs provide at least a link to your main URL in the comment section, so it builds a sort of community between people that comment on your blog. If you are a good blogger and comment host, you will go to the blog/website and interact with them on their turf in some way. This will make them come back because they see you are open to interaction.
Why is it important for you to comment on other blogs?
Allow me to share with you why it’s not only beneficial for you to get comments on your blog, but equally important for you to comment on others.
- Your comments bring traffic back to your blog. As you comment a link is placed on other blogs, and if you’re comments are good, people might find you interesting and want to come see what you’re all about.
- Because of URL’s being placed in your comments, links are being built to your blog every time (depends of course if that blog is a dofollow blog).
- If the blog of the person you are commenting on is properly set up, as explained in the requirements for the Power 10 collaboration proposal, you will also be able to build on anchor text through the KeywordLuv plugin.
- You get introduced to the people that comment on the other persons blog, expanding your reach.
- If you leave good comments that add value to the conversation people will pay attention to what you commented instead of just skimming through the comments and missing yours.
Commenting good manners/etiquette.
- If the person commented is in fact a person, make sure that you approve the comment (if you haven’t installed GASP yet).
- Try replying to every comment you get. Chances that the person will come back is very good.
- Don’t swear or use profanity, on your or other blogs, ever. It’s unprofessional. And don’t allow it either.
- Be tactful with difficult people. Try and answer their gripes as professionally as possible. Remember, other people are watching.
- You may delete comments by trolls.
- Go to the blog/website of the person that commented on your site and leave a comment or interact via the contact form. It’s the right thing to do.
What are the extended benefits?
Depending on what is available on your blog, they can receive benefits from a healthy commenting collaboration/community. Let’s look at a couple:
- Your RSS readership will grow.
- Because of you commenting on others blogs, if you’re free report/email list serous is done properly, your opt-ins into your email list will grow.
- Comments, especially heated discussions equal a traffic boost, so those numbers will rise.
- Links through comments will raise your PR rank and Alexa ranks as well.
- You may even sell some advertising or products to those visitors that came for/through comments.
- Your Twitter followers will grow.
- Your Youtube subscriptions will grow.
- Your social media authority will improve.
Where else does the principle work?
This principle doesn’t only work on blogs but also on social media platforms. If you look at commenting as a means of interaction between people, then you can apply the principle on SM networks like Facebook, Twitter, Youtube etc. Same benefits apply for all.
I hope you can see the great benefits that comments can bring to your blog and what it can mean for healthy growth and business. Remember that if you can see the great benefits of this get in touch with me regarding my invitation to collaboration.
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Blog commenting, or any form of real communication in the digital format is important, it creates community and gives added purpose to Bloggers to write.
Great list of comment etiquette.
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Ivan,
I think one of the best things I have ever done to my blog was to link out dofollow to my commenters. The blog has steadily grown in traffic.
This article was very well written and I enjoyed reading it.
One thing I do need to work on is responding to comments that are left there as you pointed out in your post.
Thanks for a great article and I have signed up for your RSS feed…:)
Mark
I agree in everything you said there. However some blogger don’t believe in this. I don’t understand what kind of ethics they are talking about but it seems they only want commentators with the same interest as what they are blogging. For it seems that if I don’t know anything about your blog then I’m not welcome, and I feel bad about it.
What I do is just read the post and give an opinion, share a personal story or provide antidotes. The key is to provide value to the conversation. Generally, a ‘Good post’ or ‘I agree!’ is frowned upon.
Ivin Viljoen recently posted..An Exclusive Offer to My Twitter Followers Only!
Hi Ivin, I agree with your thoughts here about why not just give a valuable opinion or a help on the blog post. However the point that “only commentators with the same blog niche should be on the comments” would confer to search engine rankings. If you are serious to ranking to search engines, I think you have to follow that rule or else just comment excluding your URL in it.
What really I liked in this post is the extended benefits in commenting. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about it.
I have been checking out many of your articles and it’s pretty nice stuff. I will definitely bookmark your blog…..
Thank you!
Ivin recently posted..The Importance of Editing – Interview With Haley Stokes
That’s two thumbs up for you!
Great points. And the idea of collaboration with other bloggers is a very good one, which can be very fruitful.
Thank you for the interesting post
I think so. Just takes a lot of time to get people educated, aware and involved
Ivin recently posted..Interview- Up close and Personal with Jennifer Hancock
Twitter: shurleyhall
April 22, 2011 at 10:32 AM
You’re right about the benefits of commenting, Ivin. It’s a big part of building up a community on your blog. Of course, now there are so many channels for you to interact with those who follow you that you need time management skills to be really efficient and effective.
Thank for your contribution, Sharon.I get a lot of traffic from your blog when I comment there. A lot of people are criticizing a collaboration like we discussed but I am convinced it’s going to work. You’ll see.
Re: time management, you know I’m big on that. I’ve got what I call a ‘blog task flowchart’. It is a daily task list that helps me cover every base. It’s still to prove effective, but I have seen drops when I don’t and growth when I do. even if it’s small.
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determinations made of pretty much agree with a great article