Blog owners get a lot from having an active community. For some bloggers they pay the bills from the purchases and clicks of their readers. So of course blog owners try to build a blog with an active community they can build trust on.
What might be surprising is the users who are the most active can often gain more from their efforts then the blog owners.
An Example
To explain this I am going to use Blogussion’s User of the Week from our last newsletter, Rob Rammuny. Now if you did not get our newsletter you are really missing out because we share some very valuable tips. Last week we shared some of our plans for Blogussion’s future exclusively with our subscribers. [Sign up for our free weekly email by clicking on “Newsletter” in the sidebar]
Our newsletter also posted a brief introduction to Rob, his contact information, and why we chose him as a “User of the Week”. Here is part of what we said in our email:
Rob wrote an amazing guest post about Twitter Marketing, a variety of guest posts on Unique Blog, and promoted our posts excellently. Rob set himself apart by going out of his way to promote our content throughout the week with Stumbles, Tweets, and Diggs. You can also find a comment from Rob on most of the recent posts.
Look at the reasons we chose Rob for our feature in the newsletter. He was helpful in providing us with great content, promoting our work, and connecting with other readers. For blog owners, that is a big deal. For Rob, its an even bigger deal.
Active Presence Has Its Perks
Being active has its perks for users. These perks are important as the blog you participate on grows in traffic and authority. If you stay consistent your activity will include a few of these benefits:
- Trust - As blog owners we trust those that take part in contributing to our blog. We see your efforts to work hard and build your own blog and often we respect that and help you in your efforts.
- Links –We link to your articles if we know who you are and what you are writing about. For example, in our Weekend Wire post we linked to a lot of our readers. Many of the links were to readers that contribute regularly to our blog by commenting, stumbling, or writing.
- Projects - When we undertake a new project often our closest community members get first dibs on seeing the new projects results and a chance to communicate with us personally. In other occasions we might even outsource to you, invite you into a partnership, or ask your advice. Being active on our blog and others could get you some very unique results.
- Partnerships - Rob’s active presence eventually led us to invite him to be an author on Unique Blog. He posts short articles whenever he wants and can link to his own articles pretty freely. Its a great thing for him and he even gets a link and a picture in Blogussion’s footer.
Promotion Always Pays
Readers who promote the blog’s they read to others through Stumbleupon, Twitter, Digg or Delicious almost always get the favor returned. It is not uncommon for Alex or I to get an email asking for a favor from someone who regularly promotes our content. We then promote their work and hope to build traffic to the posts they ask for help with. You see what you give you usually get.
When it comes to being active you usually get more than you put into it. If you already read the articles here, drop a quick line in the comment box and we will not only remember your name, but respond. Often our responses lead to personal emails and a quick look at your most recent posts. If we like what we see we spread the wealth by promoting your content and linking to it.
Kindness Always Pays
This phrase works for blog owners too, but kindness always pays for readers. Most bloggers read blogs that get more traffic then they do. Many bloggers use there comments to drive traffic. There is no better way to make your presence known and get some promotional help then by connecting with the Blog Owners you read by connecting over a variety of mediums.
Here is What I Do for Other Bloggers:
- Comment Regularly
- Stumble Their Posts
- Digg Posts
- Bookmark Posts on Delicious
- Twitter Their Posts
- Ask a Question on Twitter
After spending no more than 5 – 10 minutes doing these tasks you have suddenly become a very trustworthy reader the blog owner is going to like and connect with. If you spend only 10 minutes a day doing this for a blog owner you will find your network of bloggers growing, your relationships increasing, and your traffic going through the roof!
31 Discussions
Yep I agree. I used to belittle the impact of doing those things and obviously I was wrong. I started seeing a good increase in the community in my blog when I started spending my spare time connecting with my readers more and replying to their emails (w/c I used not to do before).
Those little things really have impact not only just in getting traffic and stuffs but also in building relationships in the blogosphere.
Melvin´s last blog ..Personal Branding with Your Name and Photo
Building relationships is the most important thing you can do online. As a reader, being able to effectively establish a presence on someone else’s blog is a great way to build traffic from theirs!
Seth´s last blog ..The Best User is the Biggest Winner
I agree with you. If you can play important role in a blog’s success, that would also help you to grow your own reputation. I always try my best to follow other blogs by commenting, digging, and retweeting. By doing these small tasks, I am building a solid community around my own blog as well.
Internethow Blog´s last blog ..What an adult can learn from children’s TV programs?
RIght… people want to help those people that help them. We appreciate all you have been doing for Blogussion too!
Seth´s last blog ..The Best User is the Biggest Winner
It is amazing how quickly a community can build when you do those small things too. I always love when I see the same group of people commenting on my blog and others blogs.
It is so cool getting to know people and learn how they think as you interact with them from one blog to another.
Blake @ Props Blog Reviews´s last blog ..Let Click Booth Make You An Affiliate Rockstar
Nice post.
I agree on everything you just said here. I think the more active you are at a blog or forums or communaties the more people will find you a trustworthy person, not only this, but you’ll get a lot of other benefits like, backlinks, exposure and building relations. People would be more willing to respect you as well.
To be honest I used to comment on blogs leaving a crappy comment thinking only to get backlinks and traffic, but now as time continues I’ve learned to be a real active member and try building realations and not doing it for only traffic.
The more active you are, the more the blog owner is willing to rapy you back as well.
Teen Blogger´s last blog ..Why Teens Should Start Blogging for Bucks Now
Its great you’ve changed and started to really contribute to the blogs you comment on. This comment is a great example of what that can do for you!
Seth´s last blog ..The Best User is the Biggest Winner
Before I started in the blogging community, my wife and I did a little writing on eHow. I was always so turned off by people trading meaningless comments to increase their comment count or to try to get others to read their articles.
Not only does contributing with insightful comments (like Teen Blogger) make you more credible and spark other readers’ curiosity, but it also keeps you from looking like a spam artist. I’m a pro spam artist, I should know
jk (I hope)
Blake @ Props Blog Reviews´s last blog ..Let Click Booth Make You An Affiliate Rockstar
Spammers are everywhere and its easy to see from scrolling through some blogs that sadly is all they have for a community.
Seth´s last blog ..Wired Weekend #2: The Best Blogging Tips From Around the Web
Networking is everything. We just can’t hide ourselves but we need to market ourselves in order to get exposure
Yes and great way to do that is by interacting with other bloggers!
Seth´s last blog ..The Best User is the Biggest Winner
Are you sure it’s allowed to ask other people to digg/stumble your posts? I don’t remember, but I think I read it either at digg or at stumbleupon, that it’s not allowed to ask friends etc. to digg/stumble – it would have to be done “organically”.
I could remember wrong though, just thought I would mention it
Klaus @ TechPatio´s last blog ..Top 10 Gadgets I Want For Christmas – And Maybe You Would Too?
It’s always OK to ask others for Stumble/Digg. For example – Me & Seth Digg & Stumble each others posts ALL the time, their is nothing wrong with that. Tons of bloggers do it all the time, I also do it with tons of other bloggers. It works great.
Usually if you ask someone to stumble your post, they’ll ask for you to return the favor. And their is nothing wrong with sharing each others great content right?
So your answer is Yes, it is OK to ask others to stumbe/digg and even comment your posts.
Great post Seth. You’ve made a lot of solid points here. If you become active in a users community great opportunities open up for the blogger & the user. Even Joint ventures are formed, and the list continues.
Rob´s last blog ..5 Killer Wordpress plug-ins
Activity usually means friendship eventually. Friendship is one of the most powerful tools for business in the world.
Seth´s last blog ..Wired Weekend #2: The Best Blogging Tips From Around the Web
I could agree no less. In order to receive something, a reader or a blogger must first learn how to give it…and he will surely then earn it.
Generosity pays a thousand times in blogging…but what is more valuable in blogging is by being trusted by other bloggers.
elmot´s last blog ..Having Faith with Fate
Generosity pays a thousand times.. is so true. Well put!
Seth´s last blog ..How to Setup a “Favorite Posts” Section to Bring Old Posts Back to Life
Blogging has freed me up to do what I do best: create massive value… for anyone who can keep up with me!
Dave Doolin | Website In A Weekend´s last blog ..Black Magic SEO! Vampire Weekend sucks SERPs
Creating value is the greatest asset you can have.
Seth´s last blog ..Wired Weekend #2: The Best Blogging Tips From Around the Web
Great article Guys.
To tell you the truth, the main reason I joined this community was for the link love, but now it’s just fun and helpful, thanks.
Igor
Igor Kheifets-IgorHelpsYouSucceed´s last blog ..Subliminal Affirmations Software-Turn Your Dreams and Goals Into Reality With Only 10 Minutes a Day!
Yeah a lot of people start the way you do. Our blog is a dofollow blog and we know people sometimes come just for the link love, but if they participate they get so much more out of it!
Seth´s last blog ..How to Setup a “Favorite Posts” Section to Bring Old Posts Back to Life
Seth @ another great article. I love the way you guys express generosity. Guess what? I just stumbled this post and it was my 1,100th discovery. No one had stumbled it yet despite the hint
I often stumble my favourite pages, it’s the least I can do and also helps me find them again.
Somone | Thesis Theme HQ´s last blog ..From Podcasting to Wikis: Everything in Plain English in 3 Minutes or Less
Wow man.. very nice amount of stumbles. I usually stumble for the same reason, its a great way to build a collection of excellent bookmarks. I regularly search my stumbles for articles I know I have stumbled previously.
Seth´s last blog ..How to Setup a “Favorite Posts” Section to Bring Old Posts Back to Life
Very well said Seth. I relay the same type of message as often as possible. You always get back more then you give, so give as much as you can!
Dennis Edell´s last blog ..Only 4 Ad Spots Left – Meet The First Advertiser! And The Pot Just Got Sweeter.
Yes – - Giving is so good. It is helpful to you and you get a lot of feel goods too!
Seth´s last blog ..How to Setup a “Favorite Posts” Section to Bring Old Posts Back to Life
Seth,
I have found what you’ve said to be incredibly true in my experience. Part of being active in the community is you become a member of the community. Members of a community always take care of each other.
I always question why so many readers would come and read a blog daily, but not participate in the discussion at least once in a while. It is amazing how people start to recognize you and support you the more they see your name.
Do you think being part of a community is important for branding too?
Blake @ Props Blog Reviews´s last blog ..Let Click Booth Make You An Affiliate Rockstar
Being part of a community is essential for branding. If people don’t see your name being tossed around all the time then why would they want to read your stuff? They have to respect you, like you, or at least find some interest in you. Comments and community are great ways to do that.
I was hoping you’d agree
After reading through the comments, I’ve noticed no one has address how guest posting helps you to be a part of the community. While I don’t have a ton of guest posts written yet, I know they are one of the best promoting and branding tools any blogger can use.
They show that you are truly a part of the community since you are willing to participate (and are allowed to participate). I love that you promote guest posting so much here on Blogussion (or Blogussian if you’ve watched too many action flicks recently). Hopefully I’ll get all my stuff straightened out and get a chance to submit a few articles soon.
Blake @ Props Blog Reviews´s last blog ..Let Click Booth Make You An Affiliate Rockstar
I am the web’s biggest advocate for Guest Posting! I love it and its so useful to your blog! It is the best way to instantly be apart of a great community.
Seth´s last blog ..Wired Weekend #2: The Best Blogging Tips From Around the Web
They show that you are truly a part of the community since you are willing to participate.
Trust is one of the most important thing you need to build in order to get quality links to people who have been in this business for so many years. Taking part in a community is the most effective way in building a good relationship between the site owner and readers.
Nikky @ NLP Training´s last undefined ..Response cached until Sat 12 @ 1:22 GMT (Refreshes in 23.99 Hours)
2 trackbacks