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.)
Comments
Darren Rowse on ProBlogger has just reposted a series of tips on attracting readers to one’s blog, and tip four is:
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.)