The famed "no comment".
Do you respond to comments to your posts? Do you comment on other blogs?
The first question is rather easy to respond. In fact, you could double your comment count if you're available to join a hot topic conversation on your post in real time. Train people to jump off Twitter, because they have more to say, and voila'.
Some commenting platforms like Disqus, which I installed in my other site, also make it easy to capture reactions in the stream. Although, keep in mind that many consider posts with just Twitter reactions mostly noise that detracts from wanting to comment.
Commenting on other blogs seems to be easier to justify when everyone else is there -- the crowded restaurant/bar concept. By comment 50, very few are reading your take, in some cases, the author is not keeping up in the same enthusiastic way they were ahead of time.
Leaving thoughtful comments in blogs is an underutilized way to really dig into a relationship and build on the ideas of another. Spammers are still grappling with the thoughtful part. I can tell you that many a post idea was inspired while commenting on another blog.
It was thanks to the comments in this blog that I had the idea to create the page About You.
Comments matter
Comments matter for a number of reasons. While we all acknowledge that time is probably one of the biggest constraints we face in social media, especially with the urgency of real-time compulsion, including comments in our social media marketing strategy can make a big difference. Why?We are more comfortable hiring and buying from someone who engages with us actively. While weak links in networking do help, direct recommendations and referrals come more readily after some interaction -- and recency. Conversation is a habit that helps build relationships.
The way you think and articulate your expertise in the comments matters.
Being memorable
Building credibility with other bloggers through thoughtful comments can help you launch your social media activities with a bang. People already know about you and your content. This of course works best when you’re willing to give away some ideas for the good of others.
I literally blogged for almost a year without a blog -- just by leaving thoughtful comments on other people's blogs. Comments are skin in the game, a welcome rarity that will make you memorable.
There are 7 types of memorable comments
Responding to a question in the post. It's pretty obvious, I know. The easiest way to participate is by showing you are listening and are willing to collaborate with the author on their own site. Have you noticed how truly responding to questions is becoming prominent in your LinkedIn Profile? I could not have written a better post on should you outsource social media? without the contribution of the community there.
Adding a thought provoking question of your own. Asking good question takes skills. Check out the top ten reasons why your LinkedIn question is getting mostly pitches. I’ve seen lots of smart questions asked on Twitter — either to begin or extend a conversation that is then captured in a blog post. Watch out not to kill a conversation.
Making an open ended statement as additional thought. This is one of the best known forms of solicitation for further thinking and discussion. It works so well because it gives the other party(ies) the opportunity to add more information as you broaden the scope. As an example, use any of the well run Twitter chats, if moderators can do it there, you can do it anywhere.
Pointing to other resources. Let’s face it, we don’t all have a full research department at out beck and call. When you offer knowledge to others, you not only look good, you build a reservoir of good will in the process. This is a balancing act. Think about connecting others ahead of putting your content out there.
Extending the conversation to other applications. This will definitely raise your profile with the blogger and all the other readers. And it may establish you as a knowledgeable source. Show them how something could be employed elsewhere. You may raise the question of why give away so many ideas. Trust me, the money is in the implementation. Ideas are free –- or they want to be.
Providing an example as a case study. This will highlight the possibility of an interview as part of a subsequent post at that blog. You are establishing yourself as an experienced practioner with background and behind the scenes knowledge.
Offering to co-author a subsequent post on a topic. It’s a more direct way to go from comment to a blog’s main real estate -– the post –- without saying you’d like to take over. This is especially useful if you don’t already have a blog of your own but have been very active and generous in the comments. The relationship opens the door.
These are memorable because they show a degree of high involvement and can lead to establishing and deepening a relationship. What other types of comments worked for you?
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Bonus reading:
3 Things You Should Know Before Starting a Blog
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