With all this new technology about, and the many social bookmarking sites available to submit posts to, are you finding that you don't spend as much time commenting on blogs in your field of expertise? Do you just do a quick retweet, and move on?
Did you know that doing so could very well be hurting you?
Leaving a well thought out comment, asking a question or further discussing a post does take extra time. But it is time well spent.
1.
When you leave a comment you get a back link to your site or blog. We all know how important back links are to help your own page in ranking well with the search engines.
2.
Leaving comments helps your personal brand. As a new blogger or site owner, one of the most difficult things is becoming well known and trusted by your visitors. By leaving appropriate, thoughtful comments, using your real name and showing people that you are a real person goes a long way to building that trust.
3.
It's a great way to promote your own post. If you've really spent a lot of time and energy on a post you want it to be read. One strategy is to find other recent blog posts (by doing a Google Blog search on your main keywords) and then contributing to that conversation with some very relevant information. That blog author will likely be very happy to have additional content brought into the discussion. It is then appropriate, and relevant to leave your website address pointing to that particular post on your blog.
4.
By spending time out in your field of expertise, you are forming relationships and community. As well as you becoming known, and helping your brand, you are getting to know others. Building relationships with others can help you find people that will promote your site, perhaps even become a joint venture partner in the future.
5.
Leaving comments brings more visitors back to you. I often cruise the comments section of other blogs. If I see a comment I really can appreciate, I will click the link and go check out that persons blog. If I like some of the articles in that blog, after I leave a comment for them, I will often add them to my reader.
6.
You get what you give. If you want your readers to get involved in your blog, and leave you thoughtful comments, guess what! You get what you give. If you don't ever take the time to leave someone else a comment you won't get as many back on a regular basis either.
As a blogger, I LOVE getting great comments. And
I love to return the favor. It is a very key part in helping me get to know my readers, and helping me provide information to you that you are, in fact, gonna want to read!
Next time you read a great blog post. Hit the tweet button. For Sure! We all love that new phenomenon. I think it's wonderful that you enjoyed my post enough to share it with all of your followers... and again that favor will often be returned. But then head down to the comment section, and add your thoughts as well. You'll be glad you did! ;)
