Comment posted on Appetite For Traffic? The Secret Is in the Source by Sanjeev Sharma@Random Raves & Rants of Sanjeev
The amazing thing about a good article or rationally presented information is that after having read it, the conclusion seems obvious and elementary. And this post is no exception.
The difference between blog commenting as discussed here and social bookmarking is similar to the difference between depth of friendship and width of acquaintances. My own experience is that I have had the pleasure of receiving far greater number of visitors on my blog from the blogs that I commented on than all the social bookmarking that I have done. I always thought that I am missing some trick in the SB domain, but after having read this I have realized that that is not the case.
Thanks for confirming my hunch. I’ll continue to comment even though it takes more time than social bookmarking (this is the only point on which I am not completely in agreement with Alex).
Recent comments by Sanjeev Sharma@Random Raves & Rants of Sanjeev
- Ana Hoffman vs Nick Cardot Twitter Faceoff: Quality Trumps Quantity
I have read both the posts and I think both quantity AND quality are necessary for a business.You need to start with a large quantity of suspects out of which you will filter out great quality prospects, many of whom will eventually become your friends and customers.
This is true of all marketing, whether in the real world or in the virtual one. In the real world companies use the medium of mass advertising (electronic media such as TV or print) to build a loose relationship with a very large number of people. I think this is equivalent of Twitter or other Social Bookmarking media. The communication cannot be very intense or deep. The people, who see your ads, then walk into your store or office depending on the kind of business you have. This enables you to have a one-to-one meaningful communication that can culminate into business at best or a promise of future business together. This is equivalent to the visitors you get on your blog whom you can engage.
Thus quantity and quality both are needed - first quantity suspects, then quality prospects. The issue is which media is best suited for a given objective. And I will go with Ana that one must generate quantity on Twitter and quality on the blog.
- Dofollow Nofollow Links: Is There a Happy Medium?
Today has been a do follow, no follow, back link and PR day for my blog reading and commenting. I read Alex’s guest post here, and then I read his blog and read why he lost PR and commented on both the articles - his guest post here and his own blog.I likened PR to Base Metabolic Rate when I commented on his blog and opined that finally PR may make sense after all.
Now after reading your article on SEO Super comment plugin and more do follow links etc, I decided to do some research on my own and my findings have left me amazed and more CONFUSED. Let me elaborate:
1. You blog has 4085 back links - as per the back link checker I used and yet it is PR 0. Alex’s site has 4385 back links as per the same checker and till just a month back it had PR 2 as per him. So 4085 back links = PR 0 and just another 300 back links = PR 2?
2. I have some other sites as well - my business and a few other blogs. The business site has only 54 back links and has PR 1 and one of the blogs has 84 Back Links and is PR 2!! I am not complaining but find it amazing. What is even more amazing is the fact that majority of the back links are from my own sites!! So maybe the niche or the site type is also a big factor - what I mean is that maybe with very few back links also a site could have higher PR if there are not too many sites in that category?
3. I did a google search on the keyword “traffic generation” and found TGC on 8th spot. It has a PR 0. On the 9th spot is sourceforge.net/projects/traffic/. And its PR is 4!! So does it also mean that you could have lower PR and yet show higher is SERP? In that case what is the fight about PR.? Back Links? etc.
4. There are innumerable sites with very high PRs but abysmal alexa ranks - that is low traffic.I am in India and it is midnight. I think I am going to sleep over my dilemma about these issues and decide tomorrow what is more important for me - higher PR or traffic. I suspect I know the answer, but as I said, let me sleep over it!
- How To Drive Traffic The Google Way
In marketing classes we are taught - put yourself in the shoes of your customer. Give what the customer wants and you will laugh all the way to the bank.These 10 commandments are exactly that. The reader or the audience of the blog is the customer and if we, the bloggers / internet marketers, can deliver what the customer (reader) wants, we don’t even have to try and sell.
I think that is what Google is suggesting. Subtlety, thou are the key to success.
- How KeywordLuv Can Get You on the First Page of Google
Thanks Ana. It would be nice to have you see if there is an article on my blog that people would like to know about, optimize it and see if it can be ranked.And sure enough it will be one big challenge because I am certain that my blog will score a big ZERO on SEO.
I was first going to send this message as an email and not as a comment here but then decided otherwise because I have a query which may be of use to your readers. The question arose from your reply that mentions about optimizing an article on my blog for ranking. The question is:
I would think that most articles on my blog are indexed by search engines - for good or bad - whatever, based on the keywords and other SEO parameters. Now, is it possible to rewrite and optimize the same article in such a way that after updating, it will get better SEO score on the search engine score cards? So dose it mean that every time a search engines indexes an article, it re-reads the SEO parameters?
I hope I have been to communicate my question properly.
- List Building: When I Want Your Opinion, I’ll Ask for It… Asking Now
I think I am stating an obvious that you can build a list only if you are operating in a niche - if the blog is a general one (say, like mine) then maybe a list is no help.And that brings me to my question - why RSS / feedburner subscription is not enough? Especially, if we are not using canned mails? Can live broadcast not double up as a post as well?
And one question that is not related to the subject of lists - This I had noticed earlier too, but this time I checked - The replies that you have given to the comments before me on this post have time-stamp of Feb 25, 2011 between 7.39 pm and 7.55pm - but the last article that each reply refers to on your blog are spaced 8 days apart. I think that is a great way to promote different articles - my question, how is it done?
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Article by Ana Hoffman
Ana is the founder of Traffic Generation Cafe and wants you to know that Thesis + Scribe = SEO Made Simple.
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{ 37 comments }
I didn’t realize how useless SU really was. I knew I’d get traffic and a lot of people would end up clicking and leaving, but now I’m starting to see that it’s not worth the time. Better to spend the time where it actually matters.
Thanks for this insightful post, Alex!
Jamie Ferguson´s last blog ..10 Tips For People Advancing In The Coffee World
Alex,
I really enjoyed your post. I’m so glad you said the blog comment was the best ingredient in your Bloghetti. My Google Analytics report, confirmed that I am getting a lot of traffic from my blog commenting. I didn’t know if this was the norm, and now I do. I feel that commenting gives you a real sense of community.
It certainly is a win win situation. Building relationships, getting traffic, and gaining knowledge all at the same time - what more can you ask for?
Thanks for writing such a tasty post.
Connie
Hey Connie!
Thanks so much for sitting down to enjoy my pasta
I definitely agree with your summary of blog commenting, and really who can go wrong with a trifecta like that!
Again, I appreciate your energy in my (Ana’s) comment thread
Alex´s last blog ..Keyword Winner Version 20 -Sneak Peak and Review
Hello Alex,
I must agree with you on this one, because commenting doesn’t only get you one beneficial thing like directory submission or some social bookmarking gets but it also helps you build a relationship with both the blogger and the readers, practically you can hijack some of the blogger traffic and redirect it to your own website, while, like I said, you also build a link back, and increase the probabilities you will have a new friend that can help you in the future (I am referring to the blogger here).
But, because we are talking about a recipe here, no food is delicious if you only use one ingredient, you have to add some alternatives link building techniques, relation building (like twitter, facebook), traffic sources in order for someone’s blog to really be setup in a redundant way (if one method fails you know you can focus on an other to bring up the rear).
Alexandru Petru´s last blog ..Impuscaturi misiuni
Alexandru Petru (aka Jocuri) I love that you took my analogy and continued to apply it to your comment and example.
Definitely a nice compliment to the meal
Alex´s last blog ..Keyword Winner Version 20 -Sneak Peak and Review
I swear I just responded to this? I am slowly losing my noodles
Thanks for continuing my analogy into the comments Alex, I can always count on you~
Alex´s last blog ..Keyword Winner Version 20 -Sneak Peak and Review
Sure thing, Alex. I am always here to add my useless theories in the comments on your well research, well written posts
Alexandru Petru´s last blog ..Machiaza Barbie Anime
Ah, this post was like sweet, sweet comfort food (funny enough, spaghetti *is* my comfort food, lol!). I comment on over 100 blogs a week, and there are so many pieces and tidbits and lists of the 5, 10, and 20 best methods for generating traffic.
However, the best one I’ve found is plain ol’ commenting. Even though for my own personal blog I barely leave comments attached to my blog’s URL, I’m still making a name for myself and showing up here and there occasionally. It’s enough for now. I’m seeing growth.
Delena
Delena Silverfox@Natural Parenting Blog´s last blog ..Hostgator Coupon Code
Delena,
I really appreciate you sampling my cooking, honestly if you knew the risks you were taking coming in…
Blog Commenting is so underrated and I think that because people use it to build links, it opens the doors for people looking to engage to get noticed that much easier.
Thanks again Delena,
btw, there is nothing natural about parenting
(at least not at 5am)
Alex´s last blog ..Keyword Winner Version 20 -Sneak Peak and Review
Well done Alex. On my last blog before switching everything over to my current, blog commenting was my ONLY promotional method; it is still my #1.
Note to Ana and all…it works; it works well.
Alex, I’m a little confused on the social bookmarking though…you went out of your way to say you recommend it, then, well…..kinda trashed it. What’s the end word?
Dennis Edell@ Direct SalesMark´s last blog ..March Comment Contest Begins! February Info Forthcoming…
Hey Dennis, thanks for confirming the facts mate.
Now as for me confuddling you - sorry. LOL I was saying that its not as effective but I could never go on record and say it was no good, so I had to say it was good, just not in this case when compared to the potential that blog commenting has.
Alex´s last blog ..Keyword Winner Version 20 -Sneak Peak and Review
Fair enough, thanks for retuning.
Dennis Edell@ Direct SalesMark´s last blog ..Should Guest Bloggers be Responsible for Their Own SEO
I think commenting is a great way to initiate that first conversation with a blogger without just sending them a direct contact. It’s like being at a networking event and chatting with the speaker and follow up with their ideas, but just on a computer.
From there you can build the relationship and take have a lot higher chances of getting a guest post accepted or even a backlink because they like you and know you.
I had really good luck with this on one of my niche blogs where I commented a ton on authority sites and was able to guest post on the high ranking sites which gave me a ton of exposure, but it all started with commenting.
Like your ideas, and creative title!
Ryan´s last blog ..Websites Versus Blogs- What’s the Difference
Ryan,
I really like this:
It’s like being at a networking event and chatting with the speaker and follow up with their ideas, but just on a computer.
Thanks so much for adding value to the post, and for the awesome feedback of course!
Alex´s last blog ..7 Reasons Why Your Article Titles Suck!
The amazing thing about a good article or rationally presented information is that after having read it, the conclusion seems obvious and elementary. And this post is no exception.
The difference between blog commenting as discussed here and social bookmarking is similar to the difference between depth of friendship and width of acquaintances. My own experience is that I have had the pleasure of receiving far greater number of visitors on my blog from the blogs that I commented on than all the social bookmarking that I have done. I always thought that I am missing some trick in the SB domain, but after having read this I have realized that that is not the case.
Thanks for confirming my hunch. I’ll continue to comment even though it takes more time than social bookmarking (this is the only point on which I am not completely in agreement with Alex).
Sanjeev Sharma@Random Raves & Rants of Sanjeev´s last blog ..India Vs China – What Price Democracy
Sanjeev my friend!
Your comment means a lot because that is the reason I like to use analogies and metaphors where possible. Not only does this make it easier for people to relate to the topic, it also - as you so eloquently pointed out -makes the conclusion seem obvious
I appreciate your comment, and have to say that you are allowed to disagree with me on that last point because if all your comments are this insightful - it would clearly take longer than a bookmark
Thanks again Sanjeev, and thanks for popping over to Alexwhalley.com as well
Alex´s last blog ..Keyword Winner Version 20 -Sneak Peak and Review
Without a doubt blog commenting does bring in traffic. I’ve had numerous people contact me via my contact form at the IEJ and tell me that they came from a blog I commented on.
Great way to connect both with the readers of the blog as well as the blog owner. Definitely be strategic about it. I look at the amount of traffic and conversions from all sources and divide up my commenting time accordingly. That way I can be sure to get reach but also focus on those places that are the most useful from a business standpoint.
Robert mate, I have read your comments before and it is no surprise that most of your (converting) traffic comes from this source/
Its all about engagement after all, and a comments thread provides the first point of contact in most cases.
Thanks for sharing your experiences and insight mate
Alex´s last blog ..Keyword Winner Version 20 -Sneak Peak and Review
Alex,
It makes sense to make commenting a complete package by becoming a guest blogger. You would really be adding to the blog community you are in.
Big fish and little fish is another package. For me the little fish and their readers are usually become my subscribers.
Sheila Atwood@landing pages best practices´s last blog ..How About a Chocolate Donut A Danish- Maybe
Hi Sheila,
I think you put it best when you said that the little fish are the ones that will ultimately become your readers too.
There in lies the key
Alex´s last blog ..Who Stole My Pagerank
mmm…bloghetti…. Great analogy, Alex.
Your point about building relationships makes so much sense, but can be time consuming. And it can be difficult to find something meaningful to say.
Ronika´s last blog ..Its Bad Business to Let the Killer Get Away With It- The Sam Spade Guide to Better Business
Haha thanks Ronika!
I agree and disagree with your last comment, because although it may be difficult to find something meaningful to say, who says you have to always be meaningful? You can be engaging, helpful, and just ‘there’ without necessarily having to provide thought provoking discussion with each comment.
I have to say on a side note though - if you take this attitude to your comments, you will make a name for yourself very quickly!
Thanks for your comment Ronika
Alex´s last blog ..Why Everyone Should Manage Their Reputation Online
I was wondering if Digg and StumbleUpon was helping or hurting my blog. I too noticed that my bounce rate is higher when submitting to those sites. I guess trial and error is part of the process. Thanks for confirming what I knew to be true. I’ll stick with commenting on blogs that I like, and participating in forum discussions.
Ah Participating in forum discussions, now there is a medium through which the same principles can be applied!
Thanks for sharing Justin
Alex´s last blog ..Keyword Winner Version 20 -Sneak Peak and Review
hey Alex, I love your writing. I liked the comparison betwen cooking and blogging. You are right to emphasize the caution we should exercise when writing comments in order to focus more towards adding to the discussion rather than only taking a link to our blog.
StevenPapas@Norton360DiscountCoupons´s last blog ..World Of Warcraft Collector’s Edition Review
Thanks Steven!
I appreciate the compliment, and I’m glad you thought the post was tasty
A Perfect example of someone who summarises the point you are making is Patricia the Lavender Blogger because she did not even realise that blog commenting was building backlinks!
Her small niche blog now gets hundreds of comments from those she been engaging in the blogosphere.
Go Patricia! LOL
Thanks for your comment Steven
Alex´s last blog ..Keyword Winner Version 20 -Sneak Peak and Review
I liked this subtitle Alex, “How to Cook the Perfect Bloghetti”. I agree with the piont you made on social bookmarking being like adding tennis balls to the meal. Of course you want more traffic, but you want that traffic to convert.
Sending traffic to your blog that only increases your bounce rate is pretty much a useless ingredient. Thanks for sharing Alex, and I look forward to checking out the results from your blog commenting experiment Ana.
THanks John, I actually came up with that about 2 seconds before I penned it LOL, the irony is that all my other attempts at metaphors took ages to get right. SUch is life
Thanks for commenting John, and Yes - Ana I am looking forward to the results too
Alex´s last blog ..Keyword Winner Version 20 -Sneak Peak and Review
Yup I have been searching on few ways how to bring more traffic to your site.
I think commenting on Commentluv enabled Blogs is one of the best sources to bring traffic on your blog.
Rahul´s last blog ..Is Content The Prominent King Of Your Blog
Hey Rahul
I also have been searching about how to get more traffic in website/blog but it is effective and efficiency for website/blog.its not fake users enter in website.My focus on search engine traffic.When users enter in website/blog.
@Rahul - if you have some idea on search engine traffic so tell me about that.i want tutorial also.
Facebook Applications´s last blog ..Introducing the Facebook Photo Theater- Here to Stay whether we “Like it” or Not!
Definitely agree Rahul, especially if you can craft a winning headline everytime
Hint hint, comment luv
Alex´s last blog ..7 Reasons Why Your Article Titles Suck!
Hi Alex,
This is one of the greatest posts I have read recently.
I completely agree with what you are saying about SU traffic. I have experienced a huge hike in my bounce rate as well from 42% to 76% when I used to submit my posts to SU myself. I then stopped submitting my posts to SU for a while and then it drastically came back to normal.
In most cases I experience that if I submit my posts to SU myself; I get fairly large numbers and hence a bad bounce rate. But if I leave it, there are indeed some people stumbling that post (lesser compared to me submitting it directly) but this doesn’t affect my bounce rate much. I don’t know the secret.
Jane.
Jane | Find All Answers´s last blog ..How To Ruin Your Relationship
Now that is how you start a comment! LOL, thanks so much Jane, I appreciate the feedback.
I also thank you for taking the time to share your experiences with some of these (supposed) traffic sources.
BTw, if you find out the secret, I’ll give you a million dollars for it
Alex´s last blog ..How To Build an Amazon Niche Site in 11 Minutes Watch Me Live!
Hey Alex,
What an awesome post you’re sharing here. Loved it.
Blog commenting is one of the most effective way to get traffic and build relationship with blog owner (that’s how we started connecting with each other?) . I’ve awesome success with it.
It is something that I’m never going to stop doing.
I try to leave long comments (something like mini guest post). Actually i learned this technique from Ryan Biddulph.
Anyways, Thanks for sharing this awesome guest post Alex. Keep up the good work.
~Dev
Devesh @ Make Money Blogging´s last blog ..15 Free Thesis Skins for Your Thesis WordPress Theme
Thanks Dev.
I think having you as the first commentator is quite fitting because you are one of the first bloggers I connected with through commenting that then enabled me to connect with others.
In fact, I believe that through TechnShare was how Ana and I first met - so there you go.
The power of blog commenting and community comes full circle.
Thanks Dev- and it is YOU that is awesome my friend, your a great Blok(ub)e indeed
Alex Whalley´s last blog ..How To Build an Amazon Niche Site in 11 Minutes Watch Me Live!
Alex,
Interesting topic and some points to ponder because even though i’ve heard many times that blog commenting is a great source for backlinks and traffic I haven’t done it on any one blog consistently enough to really see a huge difference. It sounds as though it’s worth a try.
The concern about using the other social media sites to syndicate content and bounce rate is another point that caught my attention. I belong to a syndication tribe and that’s primarily the sole purpose behind the tribes to spread content over the social media universe and increase traffic.
I can see your point on how a lot of that traffic may not be targetted and thus increasing bounce rate…hmmm…so all traffic isn’t good traffic.
Thanks for sharing Alex
Roger
Roger Holmes´s last blog ..What Duke Basketball Has Taught Me About Network Marketing!
Roger,
Blog Commenting works just like good content and guest posting, in that if you do it inconsistently and without focus then it all goes to waste.
Staying and becoming part of multiple communities helps bring those communities back to your blog and I think this is what makes the blogosphere so powerful. Its just about harnessing the viral power that community can bring, and of course the only way to get that is through commenting
Don’t get me wrong, your syndication is still a great idea - just keep in mind that if you are sharing content that is not necessarily of interest to your target audience, then you are mirking the waters of your own community before you have a chance to dive in.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Roger. Glad you enjoyed the pasta, I mean the post
Alex Whalley´s last blog ..Who Stole My Pagerank
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