Most people in the SEO game know that commenting on blogs and websites can be a great way of gaining attention . Major advantages include:
- First and foremost, it can drive traffic to your own blog/website
- You build relationships with an online community/target audience
- Other bloggers will visit your blog and comment on it
- Because you need to read the post and other comments before making your comment, you expand your knowledge base
- You get quality backlinks for your blog/site which will help push your website up the search engine rankings.
Commenting really can be a useful tool in building online relationships - both with your target audience and as a way of connecting with other professionals in the same field. Your comments can lead to all manner of advantageous connections. After all, it was my comments on search engine people that led to me being invited to write this guest blog post - a welcome opportunity for me!
However, there is an art to commenting effectively and you'll need to make sure that you follow some basic guidelines so that you're seen as an informed contributor to any discussions you take part in.
- If you're considering making a comment, make sure that you read the blog post carefully so that you fully understand what the writer has said. You'll also need to read the comments that have already been made to ensure that you're not just repeating what other commenters have already said.
- Make sure that the blog you are contributing a comment to is relevant to your own blog/website - it's no use commenting on a fishing blog if you're in the furniture trade - doing so will just make you look like a spammer.
- However, it's fine to think outside the box a little and comment on a blog that is of interest to your peripheral audience, rather than your core readership. A little diversification can be a good thing and commenting on a blog that is in a related field to your own will add interest.
- Don't comment too frequently - it will just be annoying both for the blog writer and the blog readers. You will look as if you may be commenting merely to get the links. To avoid doing this, make a list of comments that you've made and which blogs you added these comments to. This will serve the dual purpose of building a list of blogs where you can become a welcome regular contributor to the comments section.
- Make sure that the comments you add contribute to the discussion in a meaningful way. Don't just post comments like "This is a great idea" or "Nice blog post" - this could get you flagged as a spammer. You need to think carefully about what to say so that you are adding value to the discussion taking place. Your comment will need to be well-thought out and well written. Make sure that the comment is at least three or four sentences long and check the accuracy of any information you provide.
- It's fine to post links to your own blog, but try to make sure that you also post links to other blogs/websites that will be of interest to readers and other commenters. This will serve to prolong and extend the discussion.
- Above all, avoid getting involved in a flame war with other commenters. If you do disagree with somebody's point of view, then it's fine to point that out in a polite manner, offering an alternative viewpoint. Never use derogatory or insulting language - this will reflect badly on you. If other commenters respond to your comments in a disrespectful manner, either ignore the comment or respond firmly but politely reiterating your point of view.
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