Last summer Stephanie of Metropolitan Mama wrote this post for my blog while I was away on a family vacation. This post got more comments than any of my own posts ever have (with the exception of giveaways)! Because it was so popular, I asked her if I could re-run it as a part of my weekly How-To series. So here you go. ENJOY!
If you’re like me, you probably read dozens hundreds of blogs every week. You smile. You nod. You laugh out loud. You might even cry. You marvel at how some people can be so funny and intelligent and kind. But do you comment?
I am of the opinion that it is not only very nice to leave comments when you are so moved, but that – in the long run – leaving comments also benefits YOU. Especially if you have a blog, business, or website of your own that you’d like to promote. If you leave insightful, thoughtful comments, the author of the blog WILL notice. Even the extra popular bloggers who seem like they’re probably dining on caviar and crab legs, while their nannies watch their perfectly manicured children. Yes, even them and, for the record, they’re doing the same thing you are – eating macaroni and cheese, cleaning up baby spit-up, and singing “Hush-Bye-Baby” for the 90th time trying to get their toddler to go down for a nap.
Here’s how to make blog comments that will get you noticed:
1. Say something directly relevant to the post and more than two words. “Good job” and “Cute baby” are nice (and better than nothing…), but more thoughtful comments are what will really get noticed. Make an observation. Explain why the post made you tear up. Give a little background.
2. Point out a helpful resource. For example, if the blogger is lamenting the fact that she can’t decide what to make for dinner, point out your new favorite recipe website or a cookbook that you particularly enjoy.
3. If the blogger is running a contest or promoting a particular company, say something that will be valuable to the company. I.E. why would you or wouldn’t you buy that product, what features make you excited about the product, what would make it even better, etc. You better bet your bottom dollar that the companies are reading those blog posts, and they’ll be even more likely to sponsor giveaways again in the future if they think women are tuned in to the post. Plus, they might just take your advice… you never know.
4. If the blogger is running a contest or promoting a product AND you decide to make a purchase as a result, say so in the comments! And when you do make the purchase, it doesn’t hurt to say, “I found out about this product through so-and-so’s blog.” If the blogger finds out, they will LOVE you.
5. Most importantly, LEAVE A COMMENT. If you pass on by, you’ll miss the chance to promote yourself, to make a connection, and – possibly – to make a friend.
Amen, That was a great post. I try and I mean try hard to leave good comments, why? Because I love good comments on my blog and I have to admit most of the people that leave comments on my little blog do all of the above and I love it, I feel like I could pick up the phone,call them and converse like old friends for hours on the topics in question. Some, I even email back and forth with and it only takes minutes out of my day and they are some of my favorite minutes!
Wonderful post. Thanks for the rerun – I don’t think I saw the first go at it.
Great post!
Just kidding……I like to leave more than just a one liner. I know if I sat and took the time to thoughtfully consider something, I would like to know what people really thought and how it impacted their life.
Thanks so much for this post! I have been trying to leave more comments on blogs I read and put my blog out there more! Thanks for the encouragement to do so!
I love to comment on blogs because it helps to develop a sense of community. I try to leave thoughtful comments, but it’s difficult sometimes. I know that I really appreciate comments on my own blog that are similar to the ones you’ve mentioned.
(And I feel absolutely NO PRESSURE in leaving a comment on a post about the proper way to comment…)
Thanks for re-running this one! I missed it the first time around. Sometimes I end up being a “blog stalker” because I don’t feel like I can add to the “conversation”. Well, blog stalk no more :}
You probably don’t know it, but I read your blog each and every day! I enjoy your helpful hints and honesty.
Thanks girl :}
I totally remember this post. Although I love ALL COMMENTS (except freaky ones, which I don’t get very often) I do love to interact with readers. I especially like it when they have an email address where I can contact them directly.
One thing I might add for bloggers is that when someone comments on my blog, I think it is nicer to go check out their blog than just to reply privately to their comment via email. This can’t always be done (especially for the caviar bloggers noted:) but it is nicer:)
Have a great day Jo-Lynne!
First of all Stephanie at Metropolitan Mama is super great and her blog is a good roll model for a bloggers. I think all bloggers appreciate comments. That’s part of the reason we blog. Comments are a great networking tool, too!
BTW, I’d love to figure how to number my comments on blogger.
good job cute baby! But seriously, it is good to be reminded of the basics now and then.
I agree with all of that. I love to leave good comments because I know how good it feels to get good comments. So I want to make sure to leave that person with a good feeling. People come to my blog a lot because of the humor that’s usually there but I have to admit that I have laughed hysterically at some of the comments that people left. It’s always fun to get a laugh back.
Great post!
How was that comment? LOL.
Hugs.
Kim
thanks for reposting this – I didn’t “see” it the first time. Lots of great advice.
I really try to leave “a little bit” in comments other than a one liner – I’ve met a lot of other bloggers that way – sometimes I just can’t come up with something – or if there are several other comments, sometimes I feel if someone has already said what I wanted to say, then it looks like I’m copying – that’s when I sometimes leave a lame comment.
on another note- I’ve been really trying to comment back on my blog to the comments made to me! It’s been fun!!
~Tidymom
Stephanie is great isn’t she?! This is such a good post. Thanks for passing along…
I found this very helpful last time, and it reminds me of why I love doing this. Getting information from other bloggers is a great benefit to having a blog. I was able to find a great recipe reference from one of my readers, and let them know it!
Thanks
Thank you for reposting this. I missed it the first time around. I really like the idea of telling a company about the blogger who convinced you to buy. I had never thought of that.
Comments make me smile… so I try to give the smiles back. I’m a talker so it’s not difficult to say something. Enjoyed the post. Some great musings. Just sayin’.
hope blissdom was fantastic! and those aero sweats look right up my alley…hence my post on Philly Moms about WnTw on TLC…looking forward to reading the blissdom recaps.
Thanks for re-posting this. I missed it the first time around, too.
I love to leave comments. It’s almost an obsession. I guess, like many of the others that left comments, that I do it because I know how much I myself like to receive them.
By the way, it also helps for search engine ranks. I just happened to look at my stats last night and saw that in the 2 months since I started my site (not my personal blog) I’ve racked up 530 inbound links. Like I said…. I have an addiction. LOL
Very long and informative article.Just droppin by from the daily blog tips. Reading in skim mode just to know some more about blogging. Really a great article. Keep it up.
This post caught my eye because I’m fairly new to commenting, even though I’ve been reading a handful of blogs for awhile now. Why new you might wonder?? Well, I finally decided to start my own blog and now have my own means of staying in touch with bloggers beyond just being a spectator. I liked your suggestion about making connections because that’s truly what the blogging community is all about.
Very well written. I started out searching Google for…I forget. This post was brilliant. Simple, concise, direct. Spoke to me almost as if you were my friend. Liked it very much. It’s great how far a bit of kindness can still get you.
thank you, very helpful. As usual, the key with writing is to be specific!
melina bee
This post was really helpful for me. I have already been to your blog several times and have found your “how to” section extremely helpful. Thank you!!
How can I NOT comment on a post that talks about the importance of commenting?
I am proud to say I am familiar with Stephanie’s blog and love it! I have just discovered yours and love the How Tos as well as I build my blog and get deeper into the blogosphere! (Downloading Gimp as I type!). I am finding that just studying (and commenting) other people’s blogs are helping me become a better blogger! Thank you! (and I also would love to know how to number comments in Blogger!)
Just stumbled across this clicking and reading blogs this morning during my before work readathon…made basically the same comment on a blog of mine a week ago or so, and love that this blog spells it out in detail…
It is just my nature to comment in whole sentences and not two word blurbs…
So glad I found this and THANKS!
Jo-Lynne,
I love this. Mostly because I leave genuine comments by nature. Since I share my heart about my marriage and the things I’ve mostly done wrong on my blog, I want to hear back from our readers. Hearing their stories is so important to what we do at the Imperfect Wives. Leaving good comments helps and encourages us as writer’s and their comments help us all grow in our marriages.
Thank you for re-posting this. I found you by googleing “how to make a header for my blog” and you were the first on the list. I am enjoying my time on your blog and look forward to learning more from you. Thank you for sharing your design “how to’s”. So many people don’t do this for different reasons. I’m excited because I have found a jewel today!
Blessings to you my friend,
Cherie
This is so helpful…Im a new blogger and i only have 2 followers my brother and myself…hahahah i am excited on using this method.. Thanks =D
Thanks for posting this! I am a very new blogger (just began on June 1st), and I’ve already referenced your posts several times. I stumbled across your blog via google a couple of days ago while searching for some sort of blog help (I forget what exactly I was looking for), little did I know the wealth of information you have here! Thank you again, for all the knowledge you have given me. I will definitely stick around.