Commenting to Grow Your Blog

July 15, 2010 - Last Modified: July 15, 2010 by Kelli

Comments are very important to bloggers. It doesn’t matter if you are giving them or receiving them!

Ever noticed that you don’t get comments on your posts? Let me tell you why…

#1 – you don’t respond to the ones you do get

and/or

#2 – you are not commenting on others.

Remember our Rule of Five?

The first set of Blogging Basics posts told us to set aside a time to respond to comments and to leave comments. Today I am going to go a bit further.

Responding to Comments: When I respond to a comment on my website, an email goes to them letting them know that I responded. That kills two birds with one stone. Plus, it usually sparks a bit more conversation! I use Word Press and have added the following Plug In: Comment Email Responder. You should be able to find it for a Blogger version by simply doing a Google search “Comment Email Responder for Blogger.”

Leaving Comments: Do you follow bloggers that are in your niche? Do you check in often? Are you clicking over to leave comments to show your support? I learned the most useful information the other day to find blogs with Comment Luv Enabled (which, BTW I use Comment Luv).

1. What is Comment Luv? It allows users to leave a link back to their last blog post! So, readers of my blog may be interested enough to click it from your comment AND you get a link out there!

2. So, how do I find blogs that interest me but also help me by supplying Comment Luv? Go to Google and do a search that looks like this (remember to replace the ****** with your search term. EX. I did one for organizing, one for homeschooling, and one for giveaways.)

****** Title=”CommentLuv Enabled”

Keep quotes and all! Happy searching and commenting. Just think, if you leave 1 comment a day you will be increasing your links in by 30 each month, just by doing that!

This post is part of our amazing Blogging Contest, plz add a comment and tweet it to support the author.

About Kelli

Follow @momof3boys3702

Hi! I, Kelli, live in a small town on the coast of Southern Alabama with my husband (Ricky) of almost 11 years, our three wild and wonderfully different little boys, and one totally spoiled little dog named Annie. visit my blog 3 Boys and a Dog.

{ 60 Responses }

Raj says:

I have understood that comment luv plugin does a great job in increasing the amount of comments we get on a blog, but how about its load..??
Shweta says:

Hi Kelli, In past few days I have learned that commenting is an important part of blogging. Great article. Keep up the good work
Biaa says:

Hi, I really liked your post on this comment responder plug-in. I'm looking for exactly such a thing. However, I'm with blogger, not wordpress. I've tried to search for a blogger version, or coding or anything, and I can't find anything :( Any suggestions or directions?
marissa says:

I think I have to start an english website cause I can't find any blogs on my niches I usually write. There just aren't enough bloggers in my language. Thanks for the tips Kelli.
Dr. Skigh says:

Yes, commenting on other blogs is a great way to do some initial marketing. You do get a link back to your site and start building some steady traffic. I just wish I had more time. It takes me about an hour to comment on 10 different blogs or entries.
Beth says:

Comments I love. I love leaving them I like to chip in on someones talent the best way I know how. If I enjoy reading something I certainly am going to comment. I don't however like to read comments on someone's blog or website when they say thanks or thank you. To me this is not a very creative comment. I would rather have someone leave something thought provoking and original. Keep as you said the conversation flowing. I do believe that comments are like Networking and if you are serious you will make many friends that will lead you down a road of greatness. :)
- Kelli says:
  
  I agree 100% with this! I try to leave comments that add to a conversation. Plus, on my own blog, I don't respond to "me too" or "thanks" comments. I have a feed reader in my outlook and every day I go through it until I find a post that grabs me. Then, I click over and leave a comment. :-) My goal is only 3 comments a day. It is small beans compared to the number some people leave, but I am busy. LOL!
lawmacs says:

Some very simple but important points you mention here commenting on other blogs is a good way of building a network and encourages other bloggers and readers to comment back on your site and good luck with the contest. Thanks for shaing these valuable points
- Kelli says:
  
  Thanks for taking the time to read them. :-) I agree, very simple points but many people don't take time to handle the little details because they are too busy looking at the big picture. :-)
Marian Schembari says:

There’s this super-specific blogging community that you only understand if you’re knee-deep in the trenches. So maybe my friends don’t 100% get why I dig comments, but anyone else with a blog understands how vital they are to not only your site’s survival, but to your sanity/ego/motivation to move forward with your life. We judge a blog entirely on its comments. I could give less of a sh*t if you get millions of readers every month, but if you’re getting 100 comments per post you are the cat’s pajamas. If you’re in PR you understand that reaching out to bloggers is important. But which bloggers do you contact? Those who are part of something bigger? The columnists for AOL? The biggies on HuffPo? Or do you go to the ones who have established their own little “cult followings”? People like The Bloggess or Marie Forleo… To be perfectly honest, the reason I comment on blogs isn’t because people ask. From my experience, both with my own comments and seeing why other people write, here are the top reasons I comment a blog post: * The blogger has said something I agree or disagree with strongly * I want to congratulate someone on a new job/baby/engagement/personal success * Something is hilarious and I want to add my own experience * Something is so amazing I couldn’t possibly leave the website without letting the blogger know how amazing they are but am too lazy to write an email (There is a fine line. Remember that.) * There’s some form of list, usually in advice-form, where I have something to contribute This is a great post!
- Kelli says:
  
  I agree! I can't just write a comment that says "great post", so it isn't as if I spend all day commenting on a million blogs. :-) I run through my feed reader each day and choose a few posts that strike me, click over, and leave a comment. :-)
Shiva says:

If you can try and see my site's backlinks then you will see that almost all of them are from Blog Commenting. Infact it is only through Blog Commenting that I have been able to get a good pagerank and a good amount of loyal readers. So I would say Blog Commenting is one of the best way you can build backlinks as well as get more readers for your blog
- Kelli says:
  
  Not all of my backlinks are from commenting, but I do have quite a few of them because of comments. I think it helps to comment... it helps to build relationships! :-)
  - Shiva says:
    
    Well yes you are right, commenting is one of the best way you can start a communication with an unknown blogger or reader and thus build a relationship. In other ways of backlink building we hardly are able to find a way to communicate with a person (except guest posting( :)
    - Kelli says:
      
      But, it is really hard to get good guest posting gigs unless someone is running a contest or you have already established a relationship. :-)
      - Shiva says:
        
        Ya you are right, it is difficult to get your guest posts accepted in many blogs. We need to have relationship with bloggers to get guest posting opportunities. But still guest posting is the best way of backlinks
Terry Tiessen says:

Commenting is something I have only started to do resently. Thank you for your perspective. I have found interesting groups, clustered at various blogs , that also can be interacted with, neat!
- Kelli says:
  
  As I said, you can't expect to get comments if you aren't leaving comments. :-) I am so glad you have decided to join the commenting bandwagon. :-)
Jorgen says:

I love blog commenting but it is rather time consuming as you first have to read the post, then read the other comments and then finally try to write something that adds value (and not just another "hey, great post"). I am going to declutter the number of blogs I subscribe to so I can reply properly to what I read!!
- Kelli says:
  
  The thing is, you don't have to reply to everything you read. :-) I am a reader and LOVE to know what is going on in the blogging world, but I only respond to those that resonate with me
Julius says:

This is another wonderful article about commenting on blogs. I knew that commenting could grow your blog by driving traffic, but the more I read articles like this, the more I understand the true essence of commenting as a form of interaction. I strongly believe that you should comment not just because you want others to see you on the comment list or have the chance for your blog to be visited, but to express your point of view on the matter at hand. Through this interaction, I believe that you would obtain growth, not just for your blog but for you as well. :)
- Kelli says:
  
  Very true, Julius! If I block out time each day to leave good, meaningful comments on blogs, I see a big difference in traffic! Plus, every blog that has CommentLuv gets me a new link in! My Alexa rank has dropped to a little over 300,000 from right under 500,000 in just a month!
Kelli says:

WOW! I have been away from home all day and came home to a full inbox from responses to this post. :-) I am going to bed but will respond to each person (as needed) tomorrow! I am so glad that so many of you found my tips helpful. :-)
Sandra Lee says:

Thanks for the search info for ComLuv blogs. I agree it can be easy to get drowned out leaving comments on the big sites. My best success is leaving comments on blogs that really resonate for me and are more at my level of blog development. Then I find people are really grateful, happy to interact and reciprocate.
- Kelli says:
  
  Sandra Lee, AMEN! I do leave comments on the larger blogs sometimes, but seriously those a bit smaller make a much bigger difference! Well, personally, I don't read comment when there are hundreds of them, but if they are all on one page, I will scroll down, reply, comment, and click. :-)
Aaron says:

Kelli, Comments are VERY important to the blogging community and using a plugin like CommentLuv or emailing them to thank for the comment are both great ways to increase readership and get a good discussion going. Great tips.
- Kelli says:
  
  Thanks Aaron for drumming in what I said. :-) I am not an expert by any means, but I know what works for me!
Paul Castain says:

Very helpful. I particularly liked the tools you mentioned and will add them to mine shortly! Thanks :) Respectfully, Paul Castain
- Kelli says:
  
  Paul, I would love to know if you tried out the Email Responder and the CommentLuv search. If so, how did they work for you? Do you have some advice to add?
Rob says:

Nice article! I actually just finished my Productivity Tool/Page for my "Commenting FEEDS my Business" System and it definitely is something that will guide and organize my approach to building business and establishing relationships. I'd like to share it with you at some point via email so you can see what its like. Thanks for doing this post again, Rob
- Kelli says:
  
  Rob, I would love to see it. You can always contact me via the contact me button on my webpage or through twitter :-)
Paul says:

Great points. I tried to find that wordpress plugin you're talking about and only found WP Comment Auto Responder. Is that the one you use? It sends an email to people whenever a comment they left gets approved. That's a bit different from what you're describing though. Does your plugin only send an email when you respond to a comment someone left as a site owner? That sounds cool. -Paul
- Kelli says:
  
  Paul, sorry for the delay on this. I use the Comment Email Responder. You can find it on the UGH site at http://www.u-g-h.com/wordpress-plugins/wordpress-plugin-comment-email-responder/ Hope that helps!
The Bad Blogger says:

Wow... thanks for the tips "****** Title=”CommentLuv Enabled” I was actually finding blogs with this plugin installed, but how stupid I am of not knowing how to search... anyway, I usually see if the title trigger me to click on them, or else I will not even go to their blog.
- Kelli says:
  
  Not knowing something does not make you stupid! Being unable to learn or unwilling to learn makes people stupid. :-) Obviously, you are ABLE to learn and WILLING or you would not be reading this blog!
ashok says:

I am following blogs I consider in my niche - they're high-traffic blogs, though, and it is hard to connect with new audiences there or advertise my work. I do feel drowned out on those blogs. I'll let you know how the strategy works out. I'm dropping lots of comments and responding to many more, but I think the key to the whole thing is "time."
- Kelli says:
  
  Yeah, the only way to be seen in a sea of hundreds of comments is to be the first 5 or even 10. It is better to go to medium sized blogs in your niche. :-) I join lots of carnivals, guest post, and join a few memes that fit my blog.... in addition to commenting!
  - ashok says:
    
    I would love to get in on memes - the Mommy bloggers I run into have these huge spikes in subscriptions and links because of bloghopping. I might get linked to by someone once a month. Carnivals is a good idea. I have something about ready for a philosophy carnival.
    - Kelli says:
      
      It is actually very easy to join Meme's just run a search for meme or "add your link to the linky" and your blog's most popular keywords. When you find some, note the days they run, the rules, etc then link up! As for as Carnival, you don't have to link up a new post! I find carnivals are great for getting more exposure to some of my older posts.
Kevin M. says:

Very cool tool way to find commentluv blogs! I am going to try it out right now. Thanks for passing on the information!
- Kelli says:
  
  How did it work for you? I love it and don't know how I survived before finding it out!
element321 says:

Kelli, thanks for sharing your tips. I usually look for new blogs through bookmarking sites. Next time I look for my sites I will try your tips. As for the email responder, I never thought getting one of those. I just got one for mine. When I get the time I will configure and activate it...
- Kelli says:
  
  Did you get the email responder? Have you activated it? It is a Godsend for me and feel that if you plan to do it, you should take 10 minutes out of your day and JUST DO IT. :-)
Stephanie Smith says:

I did not know about the comment email responder. I will try that and see if it makes sparking a conversation a little easier.
- Kelli says:
  
  I would love to know how the comment email responder is working out for you!
Nabeel says:

Hi, You are correct. Replying to comments increases the number of comments. It also increase loyalty to the blog. Also, the commenter feels valued as the blog owner replies to the comment. Kindest, Nabeel
- Kelli says:
  
  Very true, plus if others see that the blog owner is reading and taking time to respond, they are more likely to leave a comment. :-)
Sherman Smith says:

Commenting is very important when your blogging. It's a great way to get yourself exposed to people in your niche. I just started using commentluv and I love it. I'm part of some tribes on facebook and commentluv another great way to meet more people with the same interests. Thanks for sharing!! Sherman
- Kelli says:
  
  Very true! How do you find FaceBook Tribes? Also, I am not familiar with CommentLuv tribes and would love to hear more about that.
Charles says:

Commenting is the point of blogging to me. Although I have read of bloggers who have blogs where they don't allow commenting yet they have an enormous readership, not everyone can be that good so comments are necessary in this case. I just recently started using a blogger blog I had created several years ago. I was too amateur at the time to understand how to set up and use a blogspot blog so I stick with a site that provided all the tools necessary and made it easy to post articles and get comments. Now I decided to use my own blog and has been really difficult to peak readers interest even though I only have a few articles. But just yesterday I got my first comments on one of my articles and this gave me hope that I might be on to something here. I thank Famous Bloggers for starters and because of it my Twitter followers has grown a lot so more people are aware of my articles. I look forward to growing it even more. I look forward to getting more comments and replying to them as well. It's the best part of the whole process of blogging.
- Kelli says:
  
  Yes, I, too, like the interaction! I have always been surrounded by people and I would hate to think that would change just because I now work from home. :-) That is so exciting to finally get a comment! I remember my very first one... BTW that reader is still with me years later. :-)
Sumon says:

Thanks for share this @ wish you all the best @
- Kelli says:
  
  Not to pick on you, but the type of comment you just left are the ones you should avoid. If you can only say thanks, move on to another article that gives you something to reply to. No one gets any insight or ideas from a "thanks" comment, so they have no reason to click over to your site. :-) Try to come up with one point in the article that really resonates with you and respond to that
Ryan Biddulph says:

Hi Kelli, Thanks for sharing the clear and concise comment tips. Commenting is a powerful network marketing tool. By simply reading a post and leaving a thoughtful comment you can build lasting relationships. That's leveraging :) Ryan Biddulph
- Kelli says:
  
  Thanks Ryan! Have you tried any of them? How is it working for you?

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