Why do I comment?
Commenting is vital to blogging. My philosophy is one cannot completely rely on search engine results for traffic. I do get about 18% of my visits from search engines, but my best visits come from referring traffic from other blogs. And I get more than 25% of visits from other blogs. (The rest is direct traffic and clicks from social media.)
What do I mean by “best”? Simply glancing at my Google Analytics I can see that when I leave comments behind on other blogs I get longer visits (4 or more minutes) so hopefully better engaged comments in return. Visits of 4 minutes or more tells me visitors are interested enough to read at least one post. (I could go further into bounce rates to find out what visitors are doing at my blog, but that is another post.)
Why do I get better visits? Because people are reading what I wrote on another blog, they like what they read and decide to visit my blog. I hopefully leave some sort of impression that makes them want to read more of what I have to say. Now, half of that “better” traffic means I need to have great content and engaging blog for them to come to, but commenting elsewhere I get to prove myself once and then again when they reach my content.
I comment for better traffic, more traffic and to be part if a community here and everywhere engage.
So how do I blog comment?
I thought I would simply show you.
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I forgot to mention. After all that you will need to rinse and repeat. Looking at my Google Analytics also shows me that the blogs I frequently comment on send the most and best visits. Readers see me often and get to know my face and my content. This leads to a better community of bloggers and hopefully repeat visitors to both sites. Win win.
Links referenced in video:
8 Reasons No One Follows You On Twitter
How to Guide to Better Link Building on CommentLuv Blogs
More Tips and Info on Commenting
Online recording done with CamStudio. A free tool you can grab here: http://camstudio.org/
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Welcome! I'm Allie. I help WAHMs get their businesses noticed online. Feel free to look around. New here? Check out 
I don’t look at any of that stuff, but tell me; since mine is a free site and I might not have all the proper bells and whistles, does that ding you when you stop by? Or is it more of a ‘neutral’ visit; not good or bad?
The flip side is, when I stop by here do you get dinged because I don’t have any bells and whistles? I honestly used to think that was why ‘certain’ people weren’t dropping by. Silly me, huh? I finally got it; but sometimes I just need a big ‘duh’ at times.
We just got our new iPhone 4s and I’m listening to some ‘Industrial Rock’ off of Pandora (free app, free music). I’ve never heard it called ‘Industrial’ rock before. It seems to be a cross between techno and hard rock. Kind of funky; I’m bee bopping to it……..:).
Oh wait, was I supposed to talk about commenting? Yes, it’s a good thing; it’s how I built my network. If anybody else is showing up through other avenues I wouldn’t know unless they tell me.
Sorry I’m still a social media dummy at times but I have been told I’m lovable…….that should count for something, right?
Bill Dorman created this awesome post: I was almost duped into oblivion
Bill,
I’m not sure what you mean by bells and whistles? If you are referring to the options to enter all that info about yourself, your blog has that. I can log in with FB, Twitter etc. I would call those bells and whistles.
What do you mean dinged because you don’t have bells and whistles when you come here. I’m so confused????
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: Better Comments Equal Better Visits: How I Comment for Blog Success
Back in the day (like 90 days ago) I had heard if people are using Alexa as a ranking tool and they go to a site that doesn’t have it, it dings their score. That is why I thought maybe certain people weren’t showing up, but that wasn’t the reason….doh…. because I have a ‘free’ site, I don’t have any extras.
I can see I’m going to have to keep my eye on Megan. I was going to call her out but it looks like she might be around to stay so we wouldn’t want to scare her off, would we?
Hope your Friday is going well.
Bill Dorman created this awesome post: I was almost duped into oblivion
I recently answered a very generic question as myself on a financial website, but just happened to link my website (I do if offered the opportunity), and I have actually gotten a few hits from it, so I thought it was kind of funny and surprising.
I normally comment more because I want to comment on a blog, but as I said, I will enter my information if given the chance. People can become interested in you in the oddest of ways, so it never hurts. I even have had people contact me on my personal profile on Facebook, because they liked something I have said or had on my account. One gal nicely wrote to say how much that she loved all of the quotes that I have on my profile, and then put in a friend request, which I accepted. That freaked me out just a little, since I did not think all that was public, so I quickly remedied that. ;P
I would love to get rid of all the spam commenters that are all too common, though…
JLLopez1006 created this awesome post: Savvy Savings Offer– 15 FREE Holiday/ Christmas Cards from Mixbook!!!
Jen,
Ya, I don’t really like when people I don’t know contact me via a personal route. I do have a FB profile for the public but things like my personal email is only for, well, personal use.
Do you have spam blockers like Anti-Spam Grow Map and Aksimet? They help so much. I still get spam but a lot less than I use to. YOu can grab them here: http://www.ramblingsofawahm.com/20-wordpress-plugins/
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: Breaking Allie News! I Hope I Don’t Pee My Pants!
Do you know if these are for WP.com, WP.org, or doesn’t matter? I stupidly started my blog on WP.com, and have had nothing but probs due to it. I think I do have Askimet built-in already, and it catches the spam, but I still have to go through and permanently delete them (can we say anal?!- LOL!), so that is what I am referring to.
I do not mind people putting in Friend Requests that I have some association with, but it is the totally random ones that I got even before I had a blog that freak me out. I am sure that partially it is due to my famous name.
They are for WP.org. I am not familiar WP.com sites, I wish I was to give you more insight. Can you switch to WP.org? I thought to have your own domain you need .org??? Maybe I am confused. Who hosts your site?
Allie created this awesome post: Better Comments Equal Better Visits: How I Comment for Blog Success
I so agree with you, Allie – SEO traffic is great, but it should be just a part of overall traffic strategy.
Referral traffic is the one source we can control and most of it comes from commenting and guest blogging.
PS Thanks for the mention!
Ana @ SEMRush created this awesome post: Best Affiliate Marketing Programs that Pay
Ana,
I don’t know why you end up in my spam every time! It is driving me crazy! I need to see if there is a way to anti-spam your email. This is getting ridiculous.
Anyhow, thanks for coming by. I was having a discussion here with Bryce and I was wondering what a good percentile of search traffic versus referral traffic a blog should get. I aim for 50/50. Do you believe the traffic sources depend on the blog type, subject or niche? Or is 50/50 a good traffic variation. If you have a post about this, I would love to read it and share it.
Again, sorry my spam plugins keep thinking you are spam.
~Allie
Hey Allie,
I just Tweeted you to say thanks for the Guest post and clicked through one of your tweets below to arrive here.
How great is that, it shows up in the commentluv below (sure I could pick another one but I’m not gonna
).
A few things I wanted to say.
1 – Great Post! (I actually read somewhere you shouldn’t say great post in a comments section because that is often seen as spammy but I mean it and if I mean it I get all stubborn and don’t see why I shouldn’t say ‘great post’ if I want to just because of spammers – just asying).
2 – Nice tip about the name – I always put the one above out of habit for those sites that use keywordluv (which I think I also first learned about from Traffic Generation Cafe and thinking about it that’s most likely also where I first found your blog – i.e. via a comment you’d left there) and keep doing it even for those that don’t. If I notice and remember I change it to my name, but I’m going to try your tip with the | because I like it.
3 – What tools did you use putting together the video (because this is something I really need to start doing on my site)?
4 – I love your accent. It’s great to hear your voice actually – I didn’t really think about it but you have a great accent and I suppose that adds to the personal touch too once people know what you sound like (I’d better start working on mine then or maybe get a ‘voice talent’)
5 – good point about the tweeting/sharing. I actually haven’t until now because I’m over cautious about spamming people but you’ve really got me thinking on that one. Particularly that 1) my tweets are normally my updates and I already had a mental note to myself to mix it up a little more on twitter (which I am NO GOOD at). 2) particularly on twitter I guess people are more tolerant of things that aren’t in their niche/interest as the tweets go by in a flash anyway. Somebody told me tweets are like cocktail party conversations which I thought was quite cute (and that they probably haven’t been to the most engaging cocktail parties). Anyways, you’ve convinced me – I’m going to tweet this now
6 – thannks again for the guest post
7 – there is no 7 but somebody somewhere said lists are good and 7 is supposedly a good number
a bientot,
Alan
Alan@Lifestoogood The free life, health, business and money coaching site created this awesome post: How Easy is it Exactly to be a Work at Home Mom (WAHM)?
Look at the size of this comment! Almost like a post in itself!
I like how you dissect each and every thing and lay it out for all of us! 
Hajra created this awesome post: Will they call you over for a Bloggers Party?
Don’t mind Alan, he is crazy.
Just kidding. He is just long winded. Ha ha! I know a few people (er Hajra) that can write EPIC comments. LOL.
I do remember opening that comments think “OMG! I am going to have to read all this” but ultimately it was awesome and we both learned from our conversation.
Allie created this awesome post: Blogging Success: Failure Is Success
I didn’t do that to rile you, honest (particularly given the subject)
but somehow I put the wrong email address in which is probably why my gravatar didn’t show.
Alan | Life’s Too Good created this awesome post: Great Ideas – Like The Million Dollar Homepage
Alan,
You didn’t rile me. Why does everyone keep thinking I get angry if there is no Gravatar? Did my post come across as angry? Gosh, I hope not.
Thanks again for the opportunity to GP. And it is rather funny that MY guest post pops up in YOUR Comluv on MY blog. I like that!
Now I am really glad you and I both read Ana’s blog. She has actually helped me connect to a few people. She is awesome! Always helpful and very friendly.
I use Cam Studio. I am usually skeptical to using free downloadable tools but it was recommended by notable bloggers as a jump start to vlogging. It is very easy to use. Given it is free and very useful to me I should give them credit in my post. http://camstudio.org/ And then edits are done with Windows Mover Maker. I do believe YouTube has editing tools also, for free. I’m not fancy but I really don’t need to be yet.
And thanks for the compliment on my accent. I’m originally from Southern CA and it really comes out when I am nervous, hurrying or excited. Personally, I hate it BUT I just get over it. Isn’t it funny when you first hear bloggers voices? Never what you expected. I have to admit, the British bloggers by default always sound more intelligent and/or sexier (thanks to James Bond, of course). So I would suggest you get to vlogging and you’ll have American women listening all the time. LOL.
“Tweets are like cocktail parties.” That is a good one! If I were a more personal tweeter mine would be bar banter, lol. I like to mix it up a bit but always try to stay about 90% in my niche. Sometimes I tweet personal or funny stuff.
Thanks a bunch!
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: Better Comments Equal Better Visits: How I Comment for Blog Success
I really like what I’ve read, and I am sure to visit back. cheers.
roy created this awesome post: Best Apps to Money Management
Roy,
Thanks for stopping by!
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: Building an Online Business: Smart Advice from a WAHM Pro
If I have free time, I do visit blogs and leave relevant comments. My blog hopping usually starts with a new comment posted on my blog, then I will follow the link in that comment and so on. I can get to different places, know different information, and so on. It makes blog hopping amazing.
Marvs created this awesome post: Wonderful Photographs of Manila Then & Now
Marvs,
Your own blog is great place to start, visiting and supporting bloggers that have come to you shows the true spirit of reciprocation and blogging community. If I see a really good title I pop over to that blog also.
Thx!
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: Buffer: Scheduling Tweets Like a Super Star
Thanks for the insights on Blog Commenting. I would add that in order to be effective in comment blogging, one should take it as relationship building. When it’s your mindset, you will not sound like spamming.
How would you like to know how to write evergreen articles? Cheers!
Mark @Webby Thoughts created this awesome post: Evergreen Articles -How To Write Articles That Can Grow Your Business
Mark,
You are absolutely correct. It is the process of building that online relationship.
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: Better Comments Equal Better Visits: How I Comment for Blog Success
Very nice post. When you visit and comment on a blog, I believe that it creates a simple relationship between bloggers. Especially when you mean what you comment.
Pauldoh,
In all honesty, you should only be commenting when you mean what you comment. LOL. Better relationships are forged in honesty. I’m sure you meant when you comment is more in depth or more heartfelt.
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: When the Sun Sets on Your Blogging: What to Do with Your Readers
I agree! The more visits I take the time out for, the more traffic I recieve at my blog. Commenting not only raises intrest in myself, but in the blog I am reading as well. The Edification of someones elses Blg is a Win Win situation. People like you work hard at delivering valuable content to your readers, and the best way for me to let you know is by taking the time to comment. Great Job, fellow WHAM!
Tara Woodruff created this awesome post: IAM going to MIAMI! ~ViSalus~
Tara,
I love your comment! Especially the end “the best way for me to let you know is by taking the time to comment.” Isn’t that the truth. The fact that readers comment shows they want the author to know they are doing well.
Sometimes the value of the blog can be measured in the value of the comments made.
When there is true discussion, to me, that simply tells me that the author cares to give great content and his/her readers reciprocate.
Thanks for your comment, it made me think. I like that.
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: Quotes and Stuff I Heard on the Blogosphere
Megan,
Thanks. Yep, I am a firm believer in leaving great content everywhere I go. If I can’t then I don’t like leaving anything.
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: Breaking Allie News! I Hope I Don’t Pee My Pants!
Wow, I’m impressed by how many referral visits you get. Search brings in about 75% of our traffic, so I can definitely work on getting more of these referrals.
I hope to be a better commenter. I’ll start by hitting these shiny share buttons on the left.
Bryce
Bryce Christiansen created this awesome post: Work Life Balance Starts by Setting Limits
Bryce,
I debate over whether referral or search traffic is better. I guess it depends on the goal of your blog. I think I would like 50/50. I need to know that if I don’t get on social media and/or other blogs to comment, I can still get an audience. But I have to confess, referral traffic is more fun because they seem to already know me and are more willing to join a conversation quickly. Do you agree?
Some say traffic is traffic as long as they buy something. What do you think?
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: Better Comments Equal Better Visits: How I Comment for Blog Success
I see the benefit of both. I feel like I get more from my referrals in terms of comments or engagement, but it still feels good to know my site will be seen by hundreds of new eyes each day.
Bryce Christiansen created this awesome post: Work Life Balance Starts by Setting Limits
You make a great point of getting 100′s of new eyes daily via SEO.
Gosh, I hate SEO! Yet I know the benefits of it. Some day I’ll have to give in and really get some great keywords. I have some but I should really work harder on it.
Thanks for your insight.
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: Better Comments Equal Better Visits: How I Comment for Blog Success
i only did not enjoy reading the article but the comments as well
joy created this awesome post: Color and Line Guidelines Tips in choosing Clothes
Tell me about it, I love reading comments sometimes, especially when the conversations gets heated, but not mean.
Allie created this awesome post: Blogging Success: Failure Is Success
Blog commenting is very important part of SEO campaign because it is very effective and long term thing to build you website high.
Frank,
It is pretty important. What what is even better is guest posting. It seems to be the craze this year.
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: Blogging Success: Failure Is Success
I am visiting your blog based on a comment you made as a follow up to a comment I made on SITS Girls today. Comments, comments, comments!
I appreciate your approach here and wish I’d thought more about this before I started posting my own content. That said, I am enjoying the relationships that are growing as a result of comments and posts. Thank you!
Thanks. And never think you can;t change things up on your blog, it is your blog. Just don’t shock your readers. Maybe make it gradual.
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: Blogging Success: Failure Is Success
I agree…If people like your blog and leave their comments, there is a possibility that they will visit your blog again…
Ricci Sionil created this awesome post: Chiropractor In San Diego Reveals New Spinal Decompression Treatment Program To Get Rid Of Back Pain And Neck Pain
That is the plan. LOL.
Allie created this awesome post: Blogging Success: Failure Is Success
Very nice blog, I like your title, Ramblings Ha Ha
4 Leg Celebrity created this awesome post: I want you!!! Free Blog Promotion
Well Thanks. It just popped into my head. I wondered if I ever made a mistake but I don;t think so. Thanks for the compliment.
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: Blogging Success: Failure Is Success
Hello Allie,
Love the post. Blog commenting is a great way to get links and visitors back to your blog.
For me it’s one of the most enjoyable ways to promote my blogs and sites. You get to read some interesting posts, learn new things and interact with other bloggers.
I do feel that visitors who find you via blog comments are more likely to spend time on your site, visit a few pages and maybe even leave some comments of their own. More interaction!
All things considered, blog commenting has got an awful lot going for it.
Hamish created this awesome post: Kindle 4 – Is It Amazon’s Ace In The Hole?
Hamish,
I love your Gravatar!!! It looks so friendly. Do you ever get into serious discussions online and people find it hard to take you serious? LOL.
Thank you for the compliment. I want my commenting to be a mini letter. Since I write like I am writing for my friend, might as well comment in the same manner. Things don’t need to be so ridged.
I’m glad you feel the same way I do, I also think that people visiting from other blog’s comment section tend to be better commenters and then better visits.
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: Do You Commit Any of the 7 Deadly Sins of Online Networking?
Allie,
I love this topic! Over the last month or two I have seen a serious decline in my blog comments. Also, a serious decline in page views. I sit and stew about it but realize that I have not been putting in the time to get the results I want.
I am building a business right now and my blog has completely taken a backseat, which totally bums me out. There are just not enough hours in the day.
So for me, I have seen a direct correlation to me NOT commenting on other blogs and a drop in my traffic and comments. Darn the luck!
Christina created this awesome post: Your Weekly Dose of…WTH?!!
Christina,
I know exactly how you feel. Over the last week my blog has been “neglected” by me. Meaning I wasn’t on everyday. It is my biz hub and to not be here, to me, is somewhat of a fail. It’s not like that for everyone, just me. LOL.
It is so true. The more I comment on other blogs, the more traffic I get. And I started to notice more comments, then better Google rankings because, I assume, Google is seeing that my posts are popular. It is such a cycle. I had to actually see it with my own eyes to believe it.
There are not enough hours in the day, by far! The Internet is so vast, you feel like you never get anything done.
I set aside at least one day out of the week for commenting. Sure I do see a spike for a day or two and that is it. But that is better than nothing.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Hope it brings you some traffic.
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: Black Friday Deals and the Giving Spirit, WAHM Blogger Style
I think the blogging police should get a raise. They’re overworked and underpaid!
Seriously though, I always applaud people taking a firm line with using Gravatar’s. I will let the occasional non-Gravatar go through if I really believe it is a real comment, if I’m not convinced they read the article, into the trash bin it goes.
As for “spam” I often look through my spam bin, and only look at Gravatars, so many non gravatars can easily get binned that way too.
It is such a simple process to get a Gravatar, there’s no excuse for people not to have one.
Steve@Affiliate Marketing Tips created this awesome post: How to Make Money with Amazon Kindle Books
Steve,
Tell me about it! Seriously underpaid. LOL.
I do almost the same thing. I will let some non gravatar comments pass if I know they are not bloggers and/or leave a great comment, that makes me look right. Just kidding. All that is true except for the make me look right part. I welcome opposing views.
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: Blogging Success: Failure Is Success
Since I started commenting after the contest for the back links I have seen that the quality of my comments have increasingly declined! So, the point remains that it is all on your interests. If we are interested in actually stopping by and reading the post and having thoughts on it; we are bound to leave a pretty nice comments. However when objects like back linking become the primary goal then you just want to leave a comment and run away! Though I am trying my best; I just realized this today. Maybe the ultimate goal is the object after all!
Hajra created this awesome post: Will they call you over for a Bloggers Party?
Hajra,
Interesting insight. And all true.
I still believe quality is better than quantity. And now a days I find the quality of the post where you are being linked from, say with guest posting, counts so much more than 100 bad comments on horrible sites.
Just keep up what you were doing, enjoy yourself and it will all fall in place.
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: Blogging Success: Failure Is Success
You think we both will get back to cool commenting groove once all this back links frenzy is over. My sister says that she feels I will stop commenting for good from now on!
Hajra created this awesome post: Will they call you over for a Bloggers Party?
I may not want to look at another commenting section again. But I know I will miss it and probably start back up on Monday. And anyway, what would our blogging buddies do without our comments? LOL. I wonder if they would even notice?? You think they would?
Allie created this awesome post: Blogging Success: Failure Is Success
They definitely would. They are wonderful that a week of absence and they flood your inbox! And that makes one feel so special! Especially after the commenting streak we have been on; I am hoping they miss me!
But yes, I don’t want to see a comment box for at least a week now! Give my fingers some rest. Had a look at your fingers lately?
Hajra created this awesome post: Will they call you over for a Bloggers Party?
[...] do comment on blog posts I enjoy and try to leave great content behind. I share my posts on social media and I am active on social [...]
[...] your facial expressions are all non-existent in most of your online interactions. Allie wrote a great post about commenting which is a great way to network and meet people online, but normally this is done with no video or [...]