Be a blog commenting champion, not a virtual graffiti artist

Blog commenting can be an effective marketing strategy. But far too many people just leave graffiti all over other people’s blogs.

Blog commenting is an undervalued means of marketing by most businesses. No wonder, when you see how many people make such a mess of it.

In fact, most comments I get on my blogs are at worst spam, at best virtual graffiti. Here are a few examples.

Don’t leave a trail of virtual graffiti

“My brother suggested I may like this website. He was once totally right. This publish truly made my day. You cann’t believe simply how a lot time I had spent for this information! Thank you!”

 

“Everything is very open with a precise explanation of the issues. It was really informative. Your site is useful. Thank you for sharing!”

 

“What’s up to every one, for the reason that I am truly keen of reading this website’s post to be updated regularly. It consists of good data.”

 

“This web site really has all of the information and facts I needed concerning this subject and didn’t know who to ask.”

 

And let’s not forget the ever popular “Nice post”.

Those are just some of the short ones. There are longer ones, and there are many that I would not reproduce here, due to the topics or words that I don’t want to appear on this page. They are all horrid.

Blog comments can be effective website marketing if done properly

You can do better.

Let’s look at why and how blog commenting can be useful to your business. Then we’ll share some handy tips for effective blog commenting.

Why blog commenting is effective marketing

Everything you say online or offline is marketing. In that respect, blog commenting is no different than any other medium of communication.

Why blog commenting can be effective is that it is targeted. You can comment on blogs that relate directly to your business.

You can comment on posts that relate directly to your business.

Or you can comment on blogs and posts that would be of interest to your target audience…even if they don’t relate directly to your business.

Any chance to engage your audience is a chance to draw them into your sales funnel.

Any chance to impress your audience is a branding success.

Blog readers often read the comments. In fact, some read the comments more than the post.

But readers are not the only audience. When you comment frequently on a blog, or even just occasionally, you build a relationship with the blogger.

She recognizes your name.

She recognizes your avatar.

She won’t recall each of your comments, but she might recall one or two…and she will probably have an image of who you are (your brand!).

Being recognized positively by bloggers can open up all sorts of doors. The blogger might ask you to guest post. Or, you could offer to guest post. The blogger might ask your opinion for an article. Or the blogger might mention your company.

Not long ago, someone on Quora recommended asking me for help with a writing project. That was a positive result of having voted up many of her answers, and occasionally commenting on some of them.

How to write effective blog comments

Although there is a certain “street cred” glamor that comes with being a real graffiti artist, nobody likes virtual graffiti on blog posts.

Your blog comments should be:

  • Engaging
  • Thoughtful
  • Provocative
  • Constructive

First, make sure you’ve read the whole post, or at least the whole section that relates to the comment you want to leave. Let me tell you how silly it looks to say that the blogger should have considered something that he had, indeed, considered two paragraphs later.

Second, take a stand. Do you agree or disagree with the position the blogger takes. Be upfront about this.

Third, if you disagree, state why. Be highly respectful, especially as relates to taste and opinions, of which there will be many. Make a reasoned argument, without disrespecting the blogger or the readers who agree with him.

Fourth, if you agree, state why. If your comment is about how you agree, then make sure to add something to the conversation. Don’t just nod your head.

For instance, add a reason you agree that the blogger didn’t mention.

Or add a dimension that the blogger didn’t include. Not only do you agree, for instance, that Stairway to Heaven is an epic rock anthem, but that Bohemian Rhapsody is, too.

Or add some data to back up the blogger’s claims.

Or, even better, add an experience you or a client of yours had. This is a great way to talk about your business without turning people off by selling.

Whatever you do, don’t try flattering the blogger about the design of his blog or about how well he writes…unless the blog post is actually about his blog design or his writing style.

Blog commenting is an undervalued means of marketing by most businesses. If you do it right, you can promote your website and earn valuable traffic.

Stick to the topic of the blog, always be respectful of others and their views, and leave only substantial comments that are worth reading. If you leave shallow, off-topic comments. All you’re doing is spraying virtual graffiti around.

* Bonus points if you can identify the Ontario city where the photo above was taken.

About David Leonhardt

David Leonhardt is President of The Happy Guy Marketing, a published author, a "Distinguished Toastmaster", a former consumer advocate, a social media addict and experienced with media relations and government reports.

Read more about David Leonhardt



Comments

  1. Hi Dave,
    What a pleasant surprise to read this post on COMMENTS!
    As you know I was a blogger without a blog and was known among the international blogging community as a Comment Author!, Yes, a comment author without a blog.
    To make the story short, later I created a blog for myself and I gave much importance to blog commenters who often share their views suggestion thoughts, etc thru their comments on my blog and every month I publish a post about my monthly blog comment authors.
    In fact, I published an article on this subject under the title “The Power Of Blog Comments” which is on Googles page #1 Here is the link: https://www.pvariel.com/the-power-of-blog-comments/

    Yes, it is vital one in blogging as you mentioned it has many values, and I like the point you mentioned here that if you are a regular visitor and commenter on a particular influencers page surely he or she will make note of you and your activities and some times it may lead to a great business relationship.
    I fully agree with you all the points you mentioned in relation to blog commenting.
    Yes, generic comments and one word comments I do not accept on my blog, This is noted very well at the bottom of every published content on my site. Just to get a backlink there are many out there to spam your page, to avoid this I post this with all the published contents on my website.
    It is another trend to note that many bloggers shut their comment option maybe because of this graffiti issues
    Hey, Dave, I am not getting your notifications via mail
    I found this today on the pages of BizSugar and I up-voted and commented.
    Thanks
    Have a great weekend.
    Keep sharing
    Best Regards
    ~ Phil

  2. Oh dear, guilty as charged!
    Sometimes I comment just to let the person know they’ve been heard.
    I will email myself a link to this page to refer to whenever I feel inane drival slipping onto the page.
    Ooops!

  3. Hi David,
    Glad to be here again.
    Thanks for approving my first comment.
    Today I found this post curated on the pages of GrowthHawkers and I dropped the following comment and upvoted.
    As you know I am a blog comment author since from the beginning of my blogging journey I can very well relate to most of the points you brought in.
    Some visits high ranking sites just to get a back link, as they do not even read the first paragraph and drop a one word or one line comment and go.
    I do not encourage this types of comments on my websites. This I specifically mention with all my published posts.
    Very serious thoughts you shared.
    Keep sharing.
    Best.
    Philip

  4. Nice Post!…

    Oops sorry David. Actually this reminds me of a YouTube video I came across a few years back simply entitled Red.

    Do have a look at it HERE. I Most love the humor about it but it a lot of similarity’s with this blog post you have written here.

    Some good solid Advice you have given btw.I have come across many bloggers over the past decade as a freelance web developer but only now have I myself joined the Blogosphere with my own blog so am currently just trying to build a blog commenting strategy and a fan base round my own blog.

    I thing also a comment should add value to the original post, with tips, suggestions, maybe even a tutorial like the one I left yesterday on a post about link building and making site speed a priority. anyway I hope I have given you some food for thought today with my two pennies worth.

    Best,

    Phillip

  5. Every time I log into the dashboard of any blog I have to moderate, I want to write a post “Open Message to Businesses: STOP HIRING SPAMMERS!

    If you are a spammer, you are a THIEF of the most important thing any of us has: our time! And if you are hiring spammers you are worse than they are!

    Multiply all the time we all spend deleting their crap and think about all the good we could have done in the world with that time. Stop being a sorry thief.

  6. Hey David,

    I totally agree with you especially about growing your brand. Sometimes it’s just easy to know who read your post or not. Sometimes, I assume they like me and just wanted to let me know that they were here. 🙂

    Guess I’ve been doing some graffiti myself. But now I know what to do and why.

    thanks for this post.

  7. Great article and important info. I receive a lot of comments on my blog, and over half of them are spam. If you are going to leave a comment, you need to take time to consciously add value to the post. The comments are basically an extension of the content.

    Another important thing to consider is, if you’re going to disagree with the points the author makes, do it in a tactful way. Even if you are correct, the last thing you want to do with your comment is bash the writer. We are all in this together, learning, growing and sharing insights. So approach comments with tact and with a constructive, positive mindset. Negativity doesn’t help the author, and it’s bad for your personal brand (provided you’re brave enough to share your actual name).

  8. Wholeheartedly agree. I think legitimate, and well thought comments are a great way to network with people online. When otherwise, you struggle to do so offline due to living remote, small community size, or just not being into networking events.

  9. I 100% agree with you because this is what I have recently been doing, commenting on relevant and related blogs and the outcome is obvious. Although it is stressful to read and understand what the writer is saying and then, give the right comment that might contribute to the post or ask relevant question related to the topic. Not easy though but very effect seo tip that many blogger are neglecting.

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