Recently at Blogussion, I have written our most popular posts to date, 100+ Lists To Help You Become a Better Blogger. I knew this post was going to become popular because of the vast amount of resources listed in it. One challenge however was to figure out ways to help boost it’s popularity and create an even bigger response to it.
Besides using techniques like social media, word of mouth advertising, and others to promote my post, I turned to another common technique. Blog commenting. I let that post sit at the top of the blog with no new posts pushing it down for a whole weekend. I used that to my advantage as I commented on others blogs.
It turned out that by following the 5 tricks below, I made the best of blog commenting to promote just one post. Believe it or not, by promoting just one post instead of my whole blog, I brought in a lot more traffic than normal. That could be something to think about next time you comment on a blog.
So let’s get started with this list. Remember, these are tips to help you make the best out of blog commenting. I find these ways very effective when you are just promoting one post. Always remember: never rely solely on blog commenting to advertise anything. Blog commenting is a very good way to bring in some traffic, but there are better alternatives.
1. Scout for CommentLuv Enabled Blogs
CommentLuv is a great way to create an incentive for people to comment on their blogs. Take advantage of this, because at the end of a comment you write it will automatically fetch the latest post from your blog and link to it.
An example of CommentLuv in action. Screenshot grabbed from ThouShallBlog.com
So as you can see from the above screen shot, my comment had a link to my latest blog post. The blog post I wanted to publicize. So hopefully by having a link to my article in the comments, all future commentators will see it and hopefully click it.
Find blogs that use CommentLuv.
2. Comment with your article title as your name
This could be something you may or may not want to do as you aren’t being very personal, but you are advertising your blog post efficiently. Replacing your name with the title of your post makes your comment suddenly sound more appealing because of the value the post has to the readers of the blog you are on.
You may need help getting your name noticed, even when you have a post title as your name. The following articles from Blogussion may help you to do just that:
- Signature Advertising 101 — An article targeted more at advertising on a forum, but it does have some points that can come in handy for discussion on a blog (comments are similar to forum posts).
- Creating more appealing posts in 4 simple steps — Check out the first point: How to make catchy titles
3. Look for blogs that have the top commentators plugin installed — be at the top
If you can comment enough on blogs that use the “Top Commentators” plugin, you could get featured on the blog where the plugin is. Simply comment enough on the posts at a blog with this plugin, and if you have the most then you should be at the most recognizable place on the list — the top.
Now, if you used the idea in tip #2 (use your post title as your name in comments), and are at the top of the list for most active commentators, then you should definitely see a lot more traffic coming to your post. Especially on a huge blog like John Chow’s (mind you there is a lot of competition for the top spot)!
4. Reference your post in your comment — when necessary
All you would need to do is talk about your post in your comment on that blog. If it has relevance to the topic of the post, then it should do fine. Remember not to make it sound spammy either. Things like “[Post Title Here] — Check it out!!11!!!1″ is considered spam and may not even be approved by the admin. I feel the best way to mention your article in the post is to NOT link to it. It may sound crazy, but if you link to your blog in your name and you still have the post you want to publicize at the top of your blog, then the chances are they will visit it (if you interest them enough).
5. Become an active commentator, get rewarded
You should try to become the blog admins favorite commentator. Build a relationship with them through the blogs comments. This process will most likely take a long time to do, and the post you want to publicize immediately will probably have been pushed down your blog by other posts by the time you are done this. But, if you can eventually make friends with the blog owner you may get a few mentions from them on their blog if you play your cards right.
Take for example a friend of Blogussion, Patrick DeVivo from Pulse Blogger. We have become friends through commenting on each others blogs (he also set me up with a coupon code for OIOPublisher). When I wrote my post 100+ Lists To Help You Become a Better Blogger, he wrote about it on his blog. I appreciate Patrick for doing this, and I still have to find a way to pay him back for doing this for me.
So that was a short little post. I hope you enjoyed it. Whenever you have a post where you truly think will become popular because of the information it contains, follow these tips and I promise you, you will see results. As I write this line, my post has been viewed a total of 6,977 times. I know it’s not all from blog commenting (it actually did very well on StumbleUpon), but I know that following these techniques did contribute to a percentage of my traffic for that post.
25 Discussions
I’ve never thought about doing #2 but it has potential! However I don’t know if I should be using different names when commenting on the same blogs and I really doubt I’d be able to keep track of which names I use on which blogs. Is there a chance that my comments will be marked as spam by using multiple names (anchor texts basically)?
Never knew about the active sites list for CommentLuv though, I’ll be using that from now on.
No, it wouldn’t be marked as spam. It’s really common for some people to change their display names on blogs every once in a while, so there’s no problem if you do it to promote a post (unless the blogger is really mean, but that’s doubtful!).
Just to let our readers know ~ we are a proud do-follow blog too! We will get around installing the CommentLuv plugin as soon as possible.
- Awesome Article Alex – AAA+ Quality
I’ve been a huge fan of the idea that commenting will bring you readers over time. This only works though, as you’ve said, if you are an active commenter on the blogs that you comment on. A random comment here or there won’t do much for you long term. Being a constant commenter though not only builds up a likely chance of getting more readers but also being able to become friends with the blog writer(s) your commenting on which can open up a slew of other opportunities for you.
Being a consistent commentator on another blogs is a great way to make friends. Making friends online is important, especially if you blog. You brought up some good points in your comment, I hope to see more of them Stuart.
Most likely will! I stumbled across your site yesterday and so far am liking what I see
Stuart Conover’s last blog post..The Shiny Swine – SFIV Commenting Contest Case Study
We are happy you stumbled across too Stuart
Hope you can take away something from our blog, and hopefully we can see you around our community too
Good points Alex. I didn’t know about commentluv active sites page
I prefer to use my name in comments because many webmasters are too strict when keywords are used in name 
You’re right, it is often looked down upon to use keywords as a name instead of your actual name. But, I do think it can help you promote your blog better as people look out for certain keywords on a blog.
1) How come you don’t have CommentLuv active on Blogussion?
2) What’s my name…. ***points to the top of this comment***
3) I guess I haev to leave more comments on this blog.
4) I don’t have any specific article to reference in my blog, but if you wanna see a funny video at our blog check out – http://fupducktv.com/blog/?p=144 (hope this isn’t too spammy)
5) I like leaving comments at Blogussion.com. I actually visit about 25 blogs daily and about 100 weekly.
Good article!
1) We have actually been working on getting CommentLuv. Right after I reply to everyone’s comment in this post, I am going to install it.
2) Couldn’t tell what your name was through your comment, but I believe it is Dave.
3) Go for it!
4) Don’t worry about it, you should try to bring up your post. But like I said – you may not need to link to it in the comment if you describe it well enough (no link usually makes it look less like you’re advertising).
5) Glad you like commenting here. We appreciate your comments.
Many blogger have clear instruction … NOT TO USE KEYWORDS AS NAMES. So I think your second point is bit weak here. But however I like that top commentators one and I think this will work if I will keep commenting (genuine and related to posts) on top blogs.
I will start this one from today itself.
Just want to tell you that your all posts are really interesting and teaching me lot of stuff, thanks for that.
I am usually against solely putting keywords in a name, but just for the sake of the article I suggested using the title of your post as your name to publicize the post.
I’m glad you found the blog useful, hope to see more comments from you in the future!
I thought you brought up some very good points in this post. Also, Conover is totally right. The only blogs I comment on are those that I know I will be returning to, which means that I won’t be afraid to subscribe, and maybe spread a little word around. It’s easier this way I think. Comment the stuff that your interested in, and it’ll do wonders.
You’re right, because if you can comment on blogs where you know a lot on the subject then you will definitely write great comments. The more interesting your comments are, the better discussion it will create in the comments section.
Interesting post. Will take a note of this.
I was browsing through the Internet a few days back to check out for blog commenting service providers and came across seo traffic spider. I have used their service and found it the best so far. They communicate promptly with their clients and do a perfect job and meet requirements. I thought this information may be helpful for those looking our for professional SEO services and this would save them the time to research on the best and affordable service providers.
Hey, thanks for commenting Anna.
That sounds like a cool service, what’s it called exactly?
Personally I’m not sure about the second idea. It just seems a bit spammy and I personally wouldn’t visit anyone’s site who commented like that. Not to be big headed, but I like the way I comment… with my name (Simon) first for a personal touch, then with Teenius (partly for advertising, partly so I’m more recognisable than just ‘Simon’).
Anyway, nice post
Simon | Teenius’s last blog post..The Importance Of A Good Logo
Comment luv is definately a great way to publise your blog but you need to regularily post reply in comment luv blogs to get a significant result im starting to get page rank on my blog pages but i have to do 10 replies of so a day
Graham Gunningham´s last blog ..Recycled Promotional Products the green alternative
Absolutely, there’s no doubt that blog commenting and making useful comments are going to promote your newly written articles and your blog and one can also look for CommentLuv blogs in his/her niche so that makes it more interesting for everyone.
There are few blogs which I’ve visited myself from the commentluv plugin so it’s really good. Plus as you discussed, bloggers then regularly visit the blogs of their regular commenters and also contribute to it, so in many ways you get the benefit of commenting constructively and regularly on different topics of the blog while promoting your blog.
I liked your post alot. I recently started college and in need of some cash. This program seems very promising. It might be what Im searching for. I need to do some more research now on google. Thank you again for this awesome post. I will check out the rest of your site. Have a good day!
It’s so tough to get blog comments these days without the use of incentives such as CommentLuv. I do miss those times when blog comments are about real conversations rather than just using it as a stepping stone to promote yourself but times have change so we need to move on.
Wondering whether commentluv, works with Disqus?
Nizam´s last blog ..Why You Should Use Product Library Management
Alex
how could I not comment after such a beaut post! Thanks … great tips; I especially like the reference to Top Commentators … I hadn’t heard of that plugin.
Keep the good stuff flowing!
Comment Luv doesn’t love me and it never includes a link to my site – not sure why but it’s a bit annoying. Otherwise I would rave about it all day.
I know you’re not supposed to use a key phrase or title name for your name as people don’t like it but I try to add my blog name to get it out there a bit. Maybe even if my first comment doesn’t appeal if people see me repeatedly leaving comments maybe they’ll be intrigued in the end.
Sadly I haven’t found leaving comments a great way to get new readers so I think I need to give up on that avenue but it’s hard. I like to encourage other bloggers in their writing and leaving a comment is the best way.
Lastly, I wouldn’t mind people leaving links in comments on my blog if they opened in a new window but I can’t get them to do that.
If anyone is feeling a bit overworked they might like to read my latest blog post: Simple Ways To Fix Your Work LIfe Balance (http://www.getinthehotspot.com/2010/02/23/simple-ways-to-tune-your-work-life-balance)
Your list of 100 lists is super and lots to be explored. Off to tweet about it now. Thanks lads:)
I usually look for blogs with keywordluv and commentluv installed, because it helps me promote my latest blog post and also use my real name and keyword in the name field.
1 trackback