This is day 20 of 31 Days to Build a Better Blog,a group project 60+ of us bloggers are doing together in an effort to help each other become better bloggers.
Leaving comments on other blogs is a practice that many of the 31DBBB participants have already been doing for nearly 20 days. Leaving a comment on another blog in your niche is a great way to get yourself noticed and is probably the best thing since yellow hot-shots.
What is a yellow hot-shot?
A hot-shot is basically an electrical device used in the agricultural industry to make an animal move from one point to another. It delivers a small electrical jolt via two prongs. When used correctly, this little zap can get a cow or other animal, such as a blog, moving in the right direction. But when used too much or used incorrectly, it ends up being counter-productive and just makes things worse.
Commenting on other blogs in your niche is just like using a yellow hot-shot. When used correctly, it can really add value, not only to you, but to your blog also. Using your “comment hot-shot” effectively takes a little more effort than just zappin’ everything in sight.
Without copying and pasting all the great information, here are the things that stand out if you want to hot-shot comment effectively.
- Add value to the post you are commenting on. Just because you can comment doesn’t mean you should comment. If you don’t have anything other than “Great Post!” or something similar, keep your hot-shot in your truck.
- Add questions about the topic. These can be directed right at the author, or to be even more engaging, ask a question that other visitors might try to answer. Blogging is about engaging the reader. The more you can help in the discussion, the more credible you become. Use your hot-shot to keep the conversation going.
- Add a disagreement about the post. Obviously this needs to be done out of love, but there is no better way to get people’s attention than to disagree. Be cautious in using this hot-shot method. Your comments are a mini-resume about you.
- Add a link to something you have written that specifically adds value to the post. If a Christian blogger is writing about King David, don’t throw in a link about your cousin David’s dog and the time you used the hot-shot on him.
There are so many ways to comment ineffectively that I won’t list them all here. There are a few no-brainers to avoid such as putting 6-7 links in your comment, one or two word comments, bad grammar and bad spelling, and dominating the conversation.
All in all, commenting effectively can sure get your own blog and your credibility moving in the right direction. When you add value and substance to a conversation, people will start to take notice. By commenting intellectually and effectively, you will have people drop by your own blog to see what else you have to say. Who knows, you might even be asked to write a guest post on a big blog one day.
Discussion questions:
- When you leave a comment on a blog, do you subscribe to the follow up comments so you can stay in the conversation or do you just perform a “drive by comment” and leave?
- Do you try to comment on every blog that you read?
- After reading today’s topic, do you think you will comment on other blogs more or less?
- Would you be more apt to comment on a post that you agree with or when you disagree?
The Extra Mile
A few other things you can do to take your blog, other bloggers, and this project even further today…
- Reply & give other bloggers feedback on the little things they do.
- When other bloggers include a link to a new article they’ve posted today, click, read, and comment on it.
- Check previous posts in the series for new comments.
- Tweet, share, & bookmark this post.
- Please review Janis Van Keuren’s blog, Open My Ears, Lord, and give her some feedback.
Kevin Weatherby is takin’ a look at God’s Word from a meat and tater’s perspective instead of fish eggs and fine china. He blogs at Campfire Cowboy Ministries and you can follow him on twitter at @CowboyMinistry.
69 Comments
I posted my opinion post today. Talking about Worship Woes in the blog today.
http://ronniespoon.blogspot.com/2010/05/worship-w…
Kevin this was a very useful post. This is a relational business in a relational kingdom. We must sow, others will water and God will add the increase.
Thanks Peter…You are so right about relational…
I saw a saying one time.."It's not a religion, it's a relationship."
I sometimes subscribe to the comments if I left a question i'm hoping gets answered, or if the conversation is interesting. Normally I don't subscribe.
I do not comment on every blog I read. I comment when I feel lead to, or when I feel I can add value or just want to say that I really liked what they had to say about that topic. If I can't relate or don't feel I'd add value I don't. I'm also an avid RSS subscriber and tend to be a rather silent reader. Working on becoming less silent and actually going and visiting the blogs and commenting.
I think I'll comment about the same but will try to remember that some things may not be the best to say.
Post for today – Top 5 Posts this Week –http://tijuanabecky.wordpress.com/2010/05/28/top-…
I saw that you posted your most commented on posts this week. Just wondering if this hurts or helps your traffic. I have done that a couple of times and my traffic goes way down.
Well you get any regular daily traffic that you'd normally get from those coming to see if you have something new up. And you have the ability to say that you posted something rather than nothing (nothing bringing close to no traffic). You still have the RSS readers but you can't tell when they read or not unless they click to comment or to read one of your top posts, which today was my first time doing that and those all weren't particulary popular so didn't bring in many readers from RSS. Those who click the link from twitter or Facebook probably didn't click because is said "Top 5 Posts" instead of something more exciting that they actually want to read about.
So it brings in your regular traffic, but the people from Facebook/Twitter/or here don't click to read because of the title. So today I haven't had very many readers compared to other days but I had more readers than if I hadn't posted anything.
Does that make sense?
yep. makes sens. I was just wondering if you had better luck with this type of post than I did.
Kevin, What a great post. I love your sense of humor that is packed into all of your comments, posts, and now today's assignment. I agree with Erica. You took a simple concept and made it interesting. Well done.
Probably the only thing I disagree on is the idea of not commenting on someone's post if all you can think of saying is great post. This is probably personal for me. As I get few comments, I would appreciate a comment that just said, "Great Post" because I would know a real live person actually read my post.
And to all the real live persons that have commented on my blog today–"Thanks" for all of your helpful ideas. You guys are great!
From My Heart to Yours,
Janis
This is great. I think you are really sharing some helpful ideas with folks. I can't wait to check out the other posts.
Hey Jon, thanks for stopping by. Love your stuff on SCL. I hope you find the discussion here helpful. Would love to hear any insights you have on any of the topics we're covering here in the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog series.
Oh my gosh!!! If I wasn't a macho cowboy, I would be screamin' like a little girl. Jon Acuff actually read something I wrote.
P.S. You can read a lot more here:
http://www.campfirecowboyministries.com
lol
I didn't have anything to do with the disappearances. When you do find the responsible party, Kevin has a torture device that he sometimes uses to discipline his children and the cows.
I survived a hard week at work, and am looking forward to a long weekend when I can finally get back to my blogging! Yee-haw! (I think I could use a yellow hot-shot at work. Maybe that would help.)
Commenting is an area I've fallen off of. Heck, I need to catch up on my blog reading. But there is definitely something to what Peter says: you reap what you sow (though not right away). And I really like the emphasis on adding value — that makes so much sense.
I did manage to sneak two posts in:
Pray for Louisana, crushed by our sin, a news post
Jesus Manifesto, a review of a book about to be released
1. I usually subscribe to the comments. I like to know if there is a reply afterwards.
2. I haven't and likely won't comment on every blog I read. There isn't always a reason to comment.
3. After reading today's post I will likely try to comment more often.
4. I would likely comment if the topic of the post is something I am passionate about. Whether or not I agree is not the deciding factor on whether or not I comment.
The points you raised in todays write-up are very vital. However the issue of diagreeing with the writer in his own blog may generate controversy and if not managed properly he may treat you comment as a spam.
I just leave my comment to those blogs that really get my attention whether I agree or not. It is fun to stay in the conversation. Sharing my own views and then learning from others is really great.