The comments that you leave on other blogs is your free advertisement, a measure of your authority and source of free traffic. But quite often the traffic is nominal.
Commenting is not an easy job. I am not talking of the “Wow, That was a nice post, Keep up the good work” type of comments. (If you had been doing that, now you know why you don’t get the traffic.) To make a genuine comment you have to read the whole post, at least the main content of it, straining your eyes and killing your time.
Here are some tips to get quality targeted traffic by optimizing your comments. I had been testing these for the past one month and I have 27% of my new visitors from the blogs that I comment.
Optimizing Your Comments
Selection of Blogs: You can comment on any blog you like, but if you are commenting with the evil intention to drive traffic, then choose blogs from your niche. Such selection has two advantages. One, you will enjoy reading them because it’s your own niche. Two, you will have something to add to the discussion as you are familiar with the niche.
Also make sure that the blog you choose to comment gets regular comments. If the blog does not have comments, then probably the blog does not have enough audience or the readers are reading it via RSS or Email Readers.
Thumb Rule: Select blogs from your niche that get frequent comments.
Be the First to Comment: The first comment to any post is the comment most read by the readers. It stays very close to the end of the post and everyone who reads the blog online will see it. So keep checking the target blogs again and again for any latest updates. (Or you can refresh your feed reader every 30 minutes). And when there is a new post, go there and make the first comment.
Brand Your Comments: A reader who reads the comment you posted should feel that you are good at what you are saying. You have to show your authority. I do not mean to keep the comments too professional. Instead you can provide some additions to the post.
For e.g.: You can add one more point to this post, by sharing your idea on making more traffic through comments, lol.
Comment on Popular Posts: Some blogs display a list of their most popular posts on the sidebar or footer. Those posts are popular either because they get the maximum comments or maximum page views. Make your comments on such posts and the maximum visitors will see your comments.
Longer Comments Increase Visibility: Readers don’t read all the comments of any post unless the number of comments is few. They will just scan the comments section and if you want them to read your comments, you got to be seen. For that, keep your comment longer than the rest of the comments. I did not mean to put in lots white spaces. Maybe you can give an example to support what you just said. Also use emoticons because emoticons are always noticed when someone scans.
Be a Top-Commentator: Most popular blogs have top-commentator widget installed. (See the one on the right sidebar here). Such widgets are shown on all pages, plus it brings in Google Page Rank juice. Comment on blogs with the widget regularly and be on the list and you will earn Page Rank and traffic.
Get a Gravatar: Gravatars (Globally Recognized Avatars) are those small images that you see along with the comments here. A Gravatar adds some identity to the comments and make them unique. Get yourself a cool Gravatar and your comments will definitely standout!
P.S: This tip was inspired by a Gravatar which belongs to a Bird! See it here!
Never comment for the sake of commenting, readers can easily distinguish a genuine comment and a fake comment. If you just want to say congrats, do it in a special way. Recently Aravind just said that my post on the Fast Forward Button was good in a few words. Though the comment was short, I knew it was real.
So you can start practicing the above tips right here 😉 Try adding some tips to show off your authority.
I am a WordPress product developer and creator of Image Attributes Pro. I am passionate about solving problems and travelling the world.
I am the first to comment ….hoping this gets me traffic
Why, I am glad that you refreshed the page..lol . I cant guarantee you traffic, but You will get one visior for sure 😉
Also you are into the Top Commentators Widget. That resets only in 2010
Arun, I feel honoured.
Thanks for referring me in the post.
I must say, the art of commenting is something that gets evolved over time. But, for that, you need to keep commenting.
That way, you’ll be exposed to more and more comments, both good and blunt ones.
Think of why some comments got you hooked up to read it and realise the X-Factor and implement it in your tweets.
I suggest everybody start using BackType.com : The home for your comments, which are spread all over the Interwebs.
Have a good time.
Aravind, Happie to see you here always buddy. and thanks for sharing that site, This is what I said by adding something to your comments.
Now you have shown your authority. 🙂
Great post! I try to implement this strategies with my commenting.
Great! BTW, Your logo rocks, its looks professional. Cheers
Arun, well thought out post. I agree with you. Being the first commentator of the post really helps.
Btw which feed reader are you using?
Nihar, I am using RSS Owl, I dont think its the best out there. Most people use Google Feed reader and Feed Demon. RSS Owl is clean and does the job. Moreover its open-source, I am a fan of open-source stuffs, So i just use it.. 🙂
optimism is a great tool in wining almost anything in life
your post provide deeper insight where to comment why to comment qualitatively.
Yep, In the present world its not hard work that counts, its smart work. You should be knowing that better, because you are a finance-guru…
Yeah, it’s surprised me as i am doing the same thing for my site’s promotion. Just leave a comment; to be sure you will get good number of back links. Thank you
Leaving comments defenitely helps… Great way to go.. 🙂
Good luck
Arun, you certainly know how to stimulate comments on your own blog 😀 Thank you for mentioning my Gravatar here, I use it everywhere so that people will recognise and remember me easily. I find it really does help create a community – which for now is small, but growing! Ok so now I have the Gravatar, I just need to work on my other networking skills. I’ll be reading here to find new tips 🙂
I love to see your gravator again, and thanks for commenting on this very post, so my readers dont have to follow the link I have on the post to see your gravatar! You deserve all the kudos for this cool gravatar. Good job!
I am also trying to build a community myself, and I think its growing too 🙂 Good luck with yours, I will try to be a part of it too!
@All, This was the gravatar that I was speaking about in the last tip!
Yes from now on more bloggers will realize the importance of commenting. Nice work.
I have added a gravatar and activated it but it is not appearing wonder why ?
I guess, you commented this just after signing up for Gravatar. Its appearing here now!
Cheers
Use Emoticons in comments !
Buddy is this Tip worthy ?
It really works.. Glad you found use with it 🙂
Hi buddy i added an image to gravatar and it is not appearing in my comments..
You added the flamy image..right..? It is here now.
Gravatar’s are usually cached to reduce the load on their servers. Think of the number of blogs requesting a gravatar at any given moment!
It appears only when the cache is replace by the new pic, so its here now.. Congrats 🙂
wow.. thanx man.. gravatars are cool.. and definitely makes ppl unique..
You said it, That was one of my points in the Brading your Comments post! Great men think alike 🙂
Hi Arun,
I read your article in DBT. I’m a newbie to blogging. I always commented on many blogs what I felt genuinely. Hence I attracted little traffic from some blogs.
I think what you wrote here is very true. Many people just say ‘wow, great post!” It becomes little monotonous to see the same comment everywhere. It’s like give the attention to the author by making an enlightened comment based on the topic or thought discussed, and you’ll receive the same attention.
I’m going to write a post on comments, and would like to link your blog. Can I?
It’s good to know your blog which seems to be very professional!
Thanks
Solomon
Solomon,
First thanks for dropping by to share your thoughts. REALLY appreciated…
You said it right, you serve the community by givng out your take on a topic and you make a name for yourself. Not the author alone, but other readers will also notice you. Commenting is a great way to promote your blog, always remember that the comments cannot be erased. So think of you as you are going to be two years from now, as a established blogger. Comment now such that, it would match your profile even at that time.. 🙂
You are welcome to link to this post and thats greatly appreciated and thank you in advance.. 🙂
I am honored with your kind words, Cheers solomon 🙂
I was just writing a post on traffic generating comments, and guess where my research brought me? Quite depressing to find some of my ideas already here.
Though some are my own too…. One thing I do, which I wrote in my post is subscribing to comments to be positioned to participate in a conversation and create curiosity about myself. I have found much traffic like this.
Another significant difference is (though my method may be a little time consuming) the links to share. I like your idea of sharing the best posts. What I do, is use a link to something I’ve written that adds to the post. Kind of like an extended comment that takes the conversation ahead.
Yes, that is, I think the key to how I see comments – conversations.
So there, it is, like you suggested, showing off my authority and all that, though it really is you guys with all the intense insights – my focus is more on the quick and painless idiot-proof stuff.
thanks for ideas
i have learned a loot of your article today
thanks