Why I comment on A-list blogs
Dec
15
Written by:
2009/12/15 04:37 PM
Comments, perhaps the life blood of blogs. They encourage you, uplift you and inspire you to write more. Many bloggers work long and hard just to get a few comments a day. While others, we call them A-list bloggers, just have to sneeze and they receive 268 comments. The question then is, do these A-list bloggers really need your comments? Do they even notice them?
This post is a follow through of another post from Sire of Wassupblog. The post basically brought to the fore some concerns that this particular blogger and many of the readers that A-list bloggers never or hardly reply to the comments received on their blogs. The blogger then states that he will not be commenting on A-list blogs because of this phenomenon. The post is: Why I No Longer Link To The Likes Of ProBlogger And John Chow. He mentions Two main A-list bloggers, namely John Chow and Darren Rowse from Problogger..
David Risley from DavidRisley.com posted a comeback to this on his blog entitled When Comments Begin To HURT Your Blogging Success [VIDEO].
As a result a huge scrap developed within the comments of these two posts. There were many in defence of the A-list bloggers, as well as many taking Sire’s side. I even posted my two cents worth.
But we are not here to discuss that post, but to share with you, why I post on A-list blogs, and why I think you should as well.
What I do not expect when commenting.
Many people comment on blogs for the sole purpose of eliciting some response or garnering some back link juice. You can normally tell these apart.
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They are very short, and not relevant.
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About 1-5 words.
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Offer no real value.
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Some times littered with URL links.
I do not comment on A-list blogs to improve my PR or steal back link juice. Although this can be a benefit, gaining back links that is, it is not my sole purpose. In fact that is not my reason for commenting on any blog, let alone A-list blogs.
Neither do I comment on A-list blogs, or any blog for that matter, to elicit, or expect a reply from the blog author. Although if and when one does reply back to a comment I made on his blog, I regard that as an extra bonus.
I comment on blogs to add value.
One of the main reasons I comment on blogs, whether that be an A-list or a Z-list blog is to add value to the topic and thread. If I can’t add value to the post, I seek to add value to one of the other comments on the post. I don’t know about you, but I would not want some free loader to spam my comments just so that he/she can think they can get some link juice so then why would I do that to others? But then that's just me.
I comment on blog posts, because I enjoyed the post, it added value to my life in some way. I either want to thank the author, or add something else, or address a fellow commentator.
What type of value can you add?
So then, what kind of value can you add.
You can say thank you – But not just a one line, but express why you are thankful. Did the post help you with a problem? Did it open your eyes to see something in a different light? Did it make you laugh?
Add something that the author missed – Nobody is perfect. despite what you might have heard. Bloggers do not have all the answers. maybe you can add something that the blogger has missed. Something that will throw some more light on the subject. Something that will help another reader. Something that you might have experienced that no one else has.
You have an opposing view - Surprised that not everyone believes the same way you do. Be careful that you do not sound arrogant or condescending. Tact is the key to a controversial comment. But maybe you have an opposing view. Maybe the author got it wrong. Maybe you know something that he does not.
Agree with the author – Well simple enough isn’t it.
Comment on another comment – Reply to someone else's comments on the same post. Use any of the above points to add value to that commentators comment. In so doing you will add value to the whole post.
I comment on blogs to meet new people.
Another main reason why I comment on other blogs, A-list or not, is to meet new people. Most A-list blogs have thousands and thousands of readers. A lot have there own blogs. There might be someone there that shares my interests. Maybe there is someone there that I can help. Maybe there is someone there that needs my help.
Everytime I have commented on an A-list blog, I have received some form of traffic from them. Some of the blogs that give me traffic are:
If you add value, have some form of respect towards the blogger and their readers, have blog etiquette, then people are going to know more about you. Leaving your blog link on the blog comment (most blogs allow you to do so) will give people the opportunity to follow through to your blog. Viola you just gained extra traffic, and maybe even gained another reader.
Why do you comment on blogs?
Ok, so I have shared why I comment on blogs. But why do you comment on blogs? Do you comment on blogs at all? Why not share with us, in the comments below, why you comment on blogs. If you generally do not comment, then this is the place to break that trend.
Related Reading:
How to promote your blog by networking
Your comments make content more valuable
Generating Traffic For Your Blog and Website
How to Grow Your Blog’s Readership.
Remember you can win a weeks worth of free ad space just for commenting. The best comments during the week will get a weeks free advertising space. Check out: Win free advertising for your blog
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