SEO Tycoon

**Learning Newbie** · 12-03-2007, 03:33 PM

I always thought it was spammy and black hat to talk about commenting on blogs and the possibility of getting anything at all back for it. But really it's not a communism, it's a community, but I think it's expected for there to be give and take. Most bloggers if not all of them want people to leave comments, and a lot of them try to encourage people.

So I know people leave comments and also know they get a link out of it. I don't see anything wrong with that, as long as the link isn't the only reason you comment. But if you leave something on point that contributes to the overall topic, also getting a link out of it isn't evil.

At the same time I know people are all over blogs that don't disable comment links with nofollows. That seems like it's missing the point, because the primary reason to read a blog (and you better read the post before you comment!) should be that its interesting. Plus in SEM terms, if you write something intelligent, people, not search engines but real flesh and blood people will click your link. If you choose a blog because it's up your alley, there's a better chance your thoughts will be up other reader's alley and they'll actually like your site. Full circle back to the community.

Am I off base here? Are other people thinking along these lines?

**sandbox** · 12-03-2007, 04:12 PM

I don't often leave comments on blogs, if a blog post is relevant to my website topic I would leave a comment and fill in the website field. If I comment on a blog that isn't in my websites niche then I don't fill in the url box.

Anywhere that you leave a comment with your url attached like blogs, forums etc will say something about you. It's very easy to track links back to blog comments or forum links to find out what kind of guy runs a website.

If you leave comments just for the link it shows that your lazy and probably ignorant too, so yes if I like a comment I am more likely to click through to that persons website, I'm also more likely to take them seriously and do business with them. It's not just about leaving an interesting comment with your website url, it's about building a web presence that adds to you and your websites credibility.

**SmartBomb** · 12-03-2007, 04:33 PM

For me, it depends on the blog and the discussion. I leave comments on blogs that I'm active in discussions on and rarely leave comments for SEO purposes although being active on a few good blogs and a few good forums does certainly help out.

**coolslko** · 12-05-2007, 08:24 AM

Well.......posting comments on blog posts or articles is really a good idea in my opinion and I post comments too if i find any post appropriate like if it is apprciable I appreciate it and if I found something missing I suggest to the author about it. I also do not think about that it is supported with no-follow attribute or not beacuse if it is not supported then very good as it may be also consider as abacklink by SE's and if supported it still have chance to divert traffic to my site. I beleive if i post really something enough good comment then it will sure bound a visitor to click on my link..........so i think posting comments on blog will be never a bad idea.......

**corlock** · 12-05-2007, 11:32 AM

I still leave a comment whenever I found a blog post very informative and interesting and of course I leave a link to it. It doesn't matter if its nofollow to me. For me, I'm expecting a traffic from it. still, there is a chance that it will be click, right?

**journey08** · 01-03-2008, 10:50 PM

I do leave comments on blogs if I find them very interesting because of having good and quality content. If it also gives me enjoyment while reading all the posts. Doing that, will let the owner know that his/her blog is really impressive.

**~DaRk-EyE~** · 01-04-2008, 11:30 AM

I think there is nothing wrong with blog commenting, anyone has the right to give comments or opinions on what they've seen or red, but let's face the fact that most people just use it for spamming........

**jamestl2** · 01-04-2008, 04:35 PM

Yes, but not to self-promote my own site, it's to network with other people that have similar minded interests, and to express my interest in their posts.

**vangogh** · 01-04-2008, 06:23 PM

Looks like I missed this when you first posted John.

Think of commenting on blogs the same way you might post here. The benefit isn't in the seo value of a link. The benefit is in building relationships with other bloggers and other communities.

Assuming your comments contribute something to the other blog people will click the link and visit your site to see what you have to say. The more you contribute the more they'll visit.

Many people who subscribe to my blog first got to know me through our interaction in the comments on someone else's blog.

It's just getting yourself out there and participating in communities. The more you can enmesh yourself in the web the more the web is enmeshed with your site.

**Learning Newbie** · 01-04-2008, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vangogh

Assuming your comments contribute something to the other blog people will click the link and visit your site to see what you have to say. The more you contribute the more they'll visit.

And herein lies the double sided nature of links. You could want a link because it'll help your PageRank (or just SERP rank) or you could want it because people might click on it.

Sometimes I see blog posts that ask a question instead of answering one. Sometimes its rhetorical, sometimes it's to loyal visitors about how they like to interact with a site, and sometimes it's about something more general and factual. If it's the last kind and you have the answer, posting it will help you establish a relationship with the blogger, and the blog's readers.

I guess another question is how many people who (A) have sites and (B) sometimes leave comments on other blogs, also put their URL into that field when they leave a comment? And how many people leave the URL blank?

**vangogh** · 01-04-2008, 09:37 PM

It's not really as double-sided as it seems. A link has value associated with it. Some links might have more value in regards to how a search engine sees the link and another link might have more value in regards to how a person sees the link. Ideally a link would have high value in both. Think of it more as a spectrum instead of an either/or.

I want links because each one is a new avenue into my site. More links means more ways for people to find me. Many of those links will also end up improving where my pages rank further adding more avenues into my site.

I always add the URL into the field when I'm leaving a comment. I have a site to promote so why not add another opportunity for someone to find the site.

John I think you're trying to hard to analyze commenting on another blog. There are many blogs I subscribe to. When I have something to add to the post I comment. Sometimes my comment is a thought the post didn't cover, sometimes it's a question, sometimes it's an answer to a question, sometimes it's meant to be humorous. It's not much different than the reasons why I would post here.

What happens with all those comments. The blogger now knows my name. The community that reads the blog also knows my name. People who stumble across the blog might learn my name. At some point if my comments are interesting, entertaining, intelligent enough those people get curious about me and click to visit my site. Hopefully they like what they see and subscribe to my blog or decide to hire me for a service I offer or tell their friends.

I'm not thinking about any seo value in the links when I comment. All I'm thinking about is commenting on something I read. If I do it enough more people know who I am and what my site is about. Many of those people may go on to link to me.

**kjs86** · 01-05-2008, 02:55 AM

Normally i don't leave any comment on the site..but if some post is reallty very very helpful then i do thanks the author

**marsel** · 01-05-2008, 04:00 AM

yes you should and yes you should post your website if the content is relevant...why do they have that feature for nothing

**coolguy27** · 01-07-2008, 04:30 PM

I still do that.. even almost all of the blogs are of nofollow it is still considered as backlinks....

**Learning Newbie** · 01-07-2008, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vangogh

I always add the URL into the field when I'm leaving a comment. I have a site to promote so why not add another opportunity for someone to find the site.

And because they ask for your URL. I'm sure it would be easy enough for a blogmaster to turn that field off if they wanted. Whether you fill it in for SEO value, for people might click it value, or to introduce yourself value, there's nothing at all wrong with the practice, it's even encouraged. (That's the point I was getting at with my question - I think everybody who has a URL leaves it when they do comment on blogs.)

I wish more people would comment on my blog. I send it to coworkers and they tell me what they think over coffee. I actually prefer that, because we have a back and forth where we can raise new ideas, evaluate them, and everything. But I do wish they'd leave a comment for everyone else to see - I like the idea of leaving behind a record of what day to day life was. And one that includes more peoples thoughts is a multifaceted one. Other bloggers want to have more comments for other reasons, probably the same reason they show Feedburner subscribers and also Alexa rank.

**vangogh** · 01-07-2008, 08:06 PM

There are some things you can do to encourage comments on your blog. In fact I wrote a post on increasing comments on your blog awhile back.

One thing you can do is ask for them. If you ask questions at the end of your post it tends to draw more comments. Another idea idea that I've found to work well is a comment exchange. Find a blog you read that could also use some comments and ask the blogger if they'll comment on your blog if you comment on theirs. Sometimes there are people who are hesitant to comment if no one else is so having a comment of two stimulates more comments.

**johneva** · 01-07-2008, 08:30 PM

I tend not to simpley as I dont want to be classed as spam on other peoples blogs, I will sometimes just make a comment on blogs but very very rarely leave any URL in the comment simpley as the message normally gets deleted if I do, even when the link to to something very very relevant and just helps explain my comment I made in the blog.

**~DaRk-EyE~** · 01-08-2008, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vangogh

There are some things you can do to encourage comments on your blog. In fact I wrote a post on increasing comments on your blog awhile back.

One thing you can do is ask for them. If you ask questions at the end of your post it tends to draw more comments. Another idea idea that I've found to work well is a comment exchange. Find a blog you read that could also use some comments and ask the blogger if they'll comment on your blog if you comment on theirs. Sometimes there are people who are hesitant to comment if no one else is so having a comment of two stimulates more comments.

Nice article you've got there, this could really help us increase comments on our blogs, "interacting" with your readers is one of the key to this one...

**Learning Newbie** · 01-08-2008, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johneva

I tend not to simpley as I dont want to be classed as spam on other peoples blogs, I will sometimes just make a comment on blogs but very very rarely leave any URL in the comment simpley as the message normally gets deleted if I do, even when the link to to something very very relevant and just helps explain my comment I made in the blog.

In the comment field, or in the URL field? I would never delete a comment just because a person filled out the URL, but I always check the URL. Half the time it's after publishing the comment (telling the moderation think it's ok). And if the site is good enough, I'll wind up linking to it in a future post.

**vangogh** · 01-08-2008, 08:16 PM

Thanks DaRkEyE. I'm glad you liked the post. Try some of the ideas in there. They do help generate more comments.

Johneva I thought we were talking more about the link you add to the URL field when filling in your info. Leaving links in comments is another issue. I think it's ok to leave a link when it makes sense to, but it can easily be seen as spam.

I happened to write a post about leaving links in comments. I think the main thing in regards to comment links is showing respect for the blogger and the community around the blog. If you don't your link will probably get deleted along with your entire comment.

I know I have very little patience for people who drop irrelevant links into a comment on my blog. But if the link is relevant to the discussion I'll leave it.