Pro Bloggers Don’t Cry
It has come to my attention this week that people are complaining that their blogs are not getting enough comments. There may be several reasons to combat this problem.
Are you writing good content?
Comprising good content, you must remember that you are writing to readers in your niche searching for answers to their questions. Your style can be informative or it can use story telling, humor, technical expertise, or any other way you find most suited to you. Giving quality information on a subject generally makes for the best niche blogs.
The Information Blog
An example of an information blog is this. If you are in the weight loss niche, you can write endless amounts of good content on things that are weight loss related. For instance, exercise, nutrition, low carb intake, state of mind and relaxation techniques come up for people on diets or otherwise trying to lose weight. I could list hundreds of articles related to this example.
Are you pushing a product… or business opportunity or system?
There are many blogs that I go to and cannot leave a comment because it is all about a product. What it says to me is “BUY IT BUY IT” That is a turn off to me and many others. Blogs are supposed to be comprised of original content bearing good information. Not sales or opportunity pages! We are no longer living in a push economy, but rather a “Thank You Economy” as Gary Vaynerchuck points out in his newest book “The Thank You Economy.”
Illustrating the concept of “caring,” Gary gives an example of the old Butcher shop in days gone by. The butcher knew every customer that came in. Socialized with them and knew what cut of meat they wanted, what the customer’s family liked to eat, etc.
Apply this analogy to your readers. You need to know what your niche readers need from you. Then go the extra mile to provide it, and even more… get to know them. After a while your “readers” become your “subscribers”, and ultimately, your “customers.” Why? Because you expressed an authentic interest in them. This creates, not only customers, but loyal customers.
So, think about it. Does your approach need to be re-vamped?
ANOTHER way to Blog like a pro, is to leave good comments.
Don’t leave a one-liner that says something like “hey, great blog!” That’s what the easily identified hacks and spammers do. People are not likely to click your commentluv link, or follow you off the post when you do that.
You need to READ the blog and give a good, clear comment that reflects what is written. Doing so, you will most likely get that blogger’s attention to come visit you and leave a reciprocal comment.
Comments are of utmost importance. I find that I attain a great many friends, subscribers and clients from my blog comments. Many of them come over to my social sites and blog because of what I wrote, and because I wrote it “genuinely” and thoughtfully.
Bottom line,
Besides the machinations one must undertake to spin out a blog in the technical sense, there are the human qualities to consider. And that’s what really works when you want people to visit your blog and comment. I’ve had great success and profit by employing this technique carefully and consistently over a substantial period of time.
Blessings,
Donna
Hi Donna, it’s always good to have many comments on your blog but you cannot expect start commenting without having great content. Additionally most people don’t like to be the first to comment on a blog so great way to get more comments is to actually join a comment tribe…
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Hi Donna,
A short heartfelt post or comment that expresses true emotion and thought, beats a bunch of data or dry comments any day. We all crave true connection and a deeper sense of both the writer and the reader to make the Blogging experienice really meaningful. I for one don’t like to read posts unless I can say something with meaning.
Thanks
Laura
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Hi Laura, I agree with you there! I won’t comment on a sales blog, but any other that people have a message to spread I will. Not only that, but there is so much of a learning experience I get from reading blogs.
Thanks for visiting,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted.. Prosperity Mindset
Hi Donna,
This is an excellent article about the best way to approach blogging. Let’s face it, the competition out there is unreal but great content is always the winner. Google is changing to preference great content and although “content is king” it is now more important than ever with the new trends. This article gives new bloggers excellent guidelines to get on the right path early. It is also indicates some of the practices we should not do with our blogs.
I really like your analogy of the butcher shop and getting to know your customers. “You need to know what your niche readers need from you. Then go the extra mile to provide it, and even more… get to know them.” Isn’t that the bottom line? The way we do this is to leave great comments, and hopefully there is an exchange that occurs. I must say that TSA has been a great community that has helped a lot of us engage with each other and giving us the opportunity to get to know each other. I know I have become personally connected with several TSA members.
Recently I participated in the Top50 MLM Blogs Contest and the one thing that every blog that made the top 50 has is fantastic content and value! All of them are great models to follow.
Love your blog!
Raena Lynn
Hi Raena, Because of Google changes, I was inspired to write this blog. Too many people are not aware of the importance of having real live people coming to your blog and actually giving a good comment. I don’t like one liners nor automated responses. You won’t see many on my blog. I would accept one or two Only If I Know The Person Well!!!
As for TSA, I think we would be drowning without them. I also find it interesting to keep up with other bloggers there because I always learn something from a blog.
Thanks for your comment,
Blessings,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted.. Prosperity Mindset
You’ve certainly hit it on the head with this one, Donna. If you want to receive good comments, you must put out good comments. This is over and above good content. Thanks for that reminder.
At the end of the day, commenting is about connecting with people, not just words and traffic. I share a little about me in my comment, you share a little about you in yours, and before we know it, we know each other a little better.
I’m always delighted by any comment that allows me know the commenter a little more. So I don’t know if you know me any more about me with what I’ve just said, but I suspect you do. 🙂
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You have got the magic Srinivas! This is the way we get to know each other and build trust. I know people like automation, and there is nothing wrong with that, but as a blogger, I rather have quality than quantity.
Also, Google Plus’ new formula gives higher ranking to good social media. They are on the way of ridding all the automation. If you want Google to be your friend, you will use Blogs and other social media correctly.
Look at us, We just became friends lol
Donna Merrill recently posted.. Prosperity Mindset
Hi Donna, I think it’s harder to get blog comments these days because people simply don’t want to take the time. Certain types of blogs and posts seem to get comments effortlessly, but they are often controversial topics or topics that spark passionate debate about something.
That said, commenting on quality blogs is a good way to help build relationships and meet people who could be future business partners (not necessarily in a network marketing program, but other things like JV’s, etc.)
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Hi Eldon. Yes, it is harder to get comments these days. I don’t like to comment on controversial topics or get into debates. I like things to flow easy. Some blogs I go on are just sales pages, therefore I cannot comment. But I can tell you this, I’ve met some awesome people from my comments and they “friended” me because something clicked. Some of them are great friends of mine now, some came into my funnel, and yes JV’s are fun to do with them.
It is a way to meet like minded people. I am not a technical person, but I can team up with one. Things like that happen all the time.
Thanks again Eldon,
Blessings,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..No Blog Comments? Don’t Cry
Sometimes people do have great content on their blog. I think that because there are so many millions of blogs nowadays, we all have to fight for the same number of viewers. If you’re not tech-minded (I’m not) it’s difficult to know how to promote your blog and have the right SEO on each page. I remember when I wrote just for the sake of giving my readers help and information. No one came to my sites. I still write for information today, but I’m better aware of how to use my words and arrange my pages for the search engines.
Another thing, not everyone repays a visit to their blog with a visit to yours, so if you were banking on your comments to get you visits, you’d be spending all your waking moments commenting on other blogs.
It’s really hard these days to get traffic and comments. I’m a writer and don’t necessarily know how to promote myself. This is not ideal for getting visitors and comments. 🙂
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Hi Anne, Thanks for your inspiring comment. I know that if I leave a comment on a blog and it is not reciprocated, I won’t go back. The point I’m bringing out here is just one little piece of the puzzle. Like you, I am not a tech person, but know enough how to do the SEO thing.
I write for the sake of helping people. I just enjoy it. I notice that I have a pretty good return. I don’t accept those one liner comments on my blog. I like a good comment like yours!
But remember, this is only one little part of generating comments. There are so many other ways to get traffic. Here I’m bringing out the point that a good comment will capture the interest of the blogger or the responders to that blog. I wrote it because I have had pretty good people coming into my funnel that have read my comments.
Thank you for your sincere comment.
Blessings,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..No Blog Comments? Don’t Cry
Hi Donna. This is my first visit to your blog andI must say I like it. The look is pretty simple but clear and therefore attractive to me. Your post is very interesting because I believe it addresses an issue that almost each person starting a blog will face. Even in the longer run, attention to your blog posts might drop if you don’t pay attention. The two tips you give that I like most are the “Thenk You” concept and “Leaving good comments”, to which I subscribe entirely. Many thanks for sharing. Best regards. Axel
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Thanks Axel for your kind words. I believe in the Thank You concept because it works well for me!
Donna Merrill recently posted..No Blog Comments? Don’t Cry
The analogy of the butcher is a great one Donna!
Knowing what our market wants to be fed thi sis what a blogger wants to do. Little cuts of the best meat the parts each client wants from our niceh. This presupposes listening, asking good questions and offering special untique meaty content!
Thanks Donna;)
You hit the nail on the head Patricia, I like your analogy. If you are not born a good listener, you gotta take lessons to do so. There is no way to do business unless you are really listening. It is an art.
Thanks for stopping by,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..No Blog Comments? Don’t Cry
Donna,
I really appreciate the concepts in this post as they relate to your content and what you put out to your readers. You have to give them something they want to read AND comment on. And you can always improve upon this and as you say – revamp.
Leaving good comments is also very important and one can learn to do this better. I think I even wrote a Blog Commenting Best Practices post a while bad. I know I had to learn it at some point, and we all do.
Good Bloggers don’t cry, we just get better over time!
VaNessa
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Hi VaNessa, I think that those of us that have been in this game for a while know the difference. We were trained correctly. I see so many newbies coming in with sales posts. It makes me wonder, who the heck is teaching them?
Thanks for your visit.
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..No Blog Comments? Don’t Cry
This is an end to end approach to getting things done. I agree that the best way to receive is to give first. One must really visualize how technology and human capacity interact.
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Yes technology and human approach are a good leveraging system. But when I get a comment that I recognize from a technical device, it is not worth it to me to post it. Why? Because it says to me that person is chasing numbers. I, just don’t resonate with that. I believe my blog is a place to learn and share and for people to make friends with others that have a similar mindset. That is why I wrote about the importance of the human side.
Blessings,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..No Blog Comments? Don’t Cry
Twitter: herbertkikoy
January 27, 2012 at 9:40 am #
I had to admit that it’s kinda hard to please our reader, as much as possible I do the best I can to come up with something that my readers will surely love. Thanks Donna
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Herbert, the more you do the better you will get. Sometimes you can write a personal story. Think about it.
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..No Blog Comments? Don’t Cry
I totally agree with all your points you raise here about blog comments. I also have some trouble sometimes coming up with valuable content and then have wondered why the comments were not coming in! Great Post!!
Hey Mick Sometimes it is a good idea when you are “stuck” to go out and read some articles in your niche. You can get hundreds of ideas from just reading. Try it, you may be surprised.
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..No Blog Comments? Don’t Cry
What an awesome blog post! Love Love it! I couldn’t agree about the importance of great content. I also get totally bummed out when I go to a blog and all I see is “you better buy now” or other salezy messages. I love to visit a blog that inspires me and has a unique flair..There are so many subjects to cover and plenty of great niches to explore!
People need to think outside the box and look around and take notes about what people want and need… Great point Donna!
Thank you Nathalie!
I had to bring up this subject because it was getting to me also. I get so many one liners and spam, I have to delete it every day to keep my blog comments consistent to what I am posting about.
Unfortunately some look for numbers (I don’t play the number game) and think that I will go back to their blog. Well, not so. Reciprocity is earned not delivered by some automated system. I’m a stickler!
Blessings,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..No Blog Comments? Don’t Cry
Donna great post as always:) I think also it’s one of those things that people don’t want to be the first one to leave a comment (although really it’s good to be the first one!).
I get a lot of comments to my blog however, the amount of comments I get in terms of the amount of traffic is incredibly low – there are a lot of lurkers about!
I think it’s also down to educating people (as you have shown here) the value of why they should be leaving comments:)
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Hey Lilach, I love to be first. Maybe it is because of my big mouth nature lol! It is down to educating people and also don’t forget that 80/20 rule. 80% Great content and 20% sales…maybe that’s why!
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..No Blog Comments? Don’t Cry
Hi Donna
You don just Have a great blog but a blog that teach people a lot about online marketing and how to use your blog as you heard online. it is the place were people fall in love with what you do or you lost them for ever.
I really see your blog as your heard online of YOU and your BUSINESS , If I like people to know how a am and what I do I just send them to my blog.
Thanks for all your help and spreading the word with what i am doing.
Regards
Theuns
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Thanks for your kind words Teuns, Our blogs are our home base. It has to be good and informative in order for people to come back and read it. There must be good information and sometimes a little humor. I do the same thing as you, when people ask me about what I do and who I am I send them to my blog also.
Blessings,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..No Blog Comments? Don’t Cry
Twitter: marquitaherald
January 26, 2012 at 5:04 pm #
Excellent points Donna. I think it’s really tough for new bloggers to gain the self confidence they need to hang in their for the long haul. You can write superb content, but if people can’t find you in the sea of millions of blogs out there in cyberspace it’ll take forever to build an audience. Funny thing about commenting – I just read a post by one of the ‘SUPER’ bloggers who put down commenting as a way to get known … actually he said it was “poopy.” Of course he can easily afford to thumb his nose at the tactic since there were 75 comments linked to that post! I scanned through the list and the majority had nothing more valuable to say than “great article!” so not sure his audience really got his message 🙂
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I know what yo mean Marty, Those one liners are usually automated. I would not allow that on my blog! I found more people out of the blue coming into my funnel because I found their blogs interesting and full of good content and commented on it. People from the comment section started to “friend” me and now we built a good relationship.
When I see an abundance of comments on a post I can bet it is all automated and sure enough it is!
Thanks for visiting Marty,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..No Blog Comments? Don’t Cry
Donna,
I like this post! Blogging and comments are a huge part of marketing in the atmosphere of Online business. Not only should we leave valuable comments, but if you want to see in increase in comments and followers of your own blog it is my rule to comment on 10-15 blogs a day.
Great tips… keep up the good work!
Margaret
Thanks Margaret
10 to 15 blogs a day is great. Leaving a valuable comment can lead so many to you because of what you say and revealing who you are and where you are coming from. Authenticity is the key word here. The more you put out, the more you will receive.
Thank you for visiting
Blessings,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..No Blog Comments? Don’t Cry
Hey Donna, I love this and it is all so true! Such a needed post because most do not know proper comment etiquette and how to even gain traffic from their comments. What you wrote about people leaving one liners really stood out to me since it is especially true that the person most likely did not read the post and are most likely spammers. This is awesome! Thanks so much for sharing!!
Hi April,
I thank you for your comment! I agree that I don’t like one liners either. Sometimes I don’t even include them in my comment section.
Thanks for visiting,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..No Blog Comments? Don’t Cry
Good point Donna – and very true. Your insightful comments on my blog are what led me to your blog – and I’m happy they did!
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Why Thank you Alexandria! That is great to know. Feedback is always a good thing. Thanks for visiting,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..No Blog Comments? Don’t Cry
Hi Donna,
I totally agree with all your points you raise here about blog comments. One of my challenges is that I don’t write enough content because I want to give value and I am not always very creative with my thoughts! I am working on this for 2012! I have always been blessed with many comments and of course belonging to a tribe helps this enormously. So does the commentluv community.
I heard Mari Smith speak about commenting systems yesterday and she was clear that if we ask for the email,name and web-site, we are reducing the number of comments we receive. That was interesting. I know she has visited my site several times but not left a comment, maybe that is why. She uses the Discus comment system that I used to use. Once you are registered, it remembers you and you don’t need to fill in information encouraging more comments! Just a thought….
In the end, i think great content is the most important point. If you keep your reader wanting more, they will be encouraged to leave a comment. Also I have found my call to action statement in the last paragraph encourages comments – I ask people for their opinion and for feedback.
regards
Clare
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Now that’s a great comment Clare! Hmm lots to think about from Mari Smith. I just have been taking it for granted putting my email in when I comment because to me it is commonplace. This idea is sizzling in my head right now. Thanks for the information.
And your call to action plan is a great idea!
Thanks Care,
Many Blessings,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..No Blog Comments? Don’t Cry
Each one of these tips are good and I comes in times from my Facebook comment this past week about this. I get a lot of people complaining about it and not exactly “getting” the engagement concept.
I hope you do not mind, but I had a post that followed up on my FB comment.
I have to say that the most frustrating are people who repeatedly do not get it. And I even have to direct that person to posts at other sites that say the same thing but in different words in hopes that they “get” it.
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Hi Nile, I don’t know what it is, but I’m getting the same complaints from people. When I ask them if they comment they tell me either they are part of a mechanical commenting thing or they scan through a post and comment so people can comment on them. No way that doesn’t work. If I visit a blog and don’t like it because is spammy, I won’t comment.
On the other hand, If I visit a blog with good content first it is a good learning curve for me and second, I will leave a good comment that others may read and friend me. That has happened many times.
Reciprocity is the key!
Thanks for your comment.
Blessings,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..No Blog Comments? Don’t Cry
This is so true. I have realized and seen a lot (I mean, A LOT) of comments made by succesful bloggers just almost everywhere I went on the Internet, while browsing.
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Hi Anne,
I’m glad you read comments. It is so important to leave good content on a comment just as it is writing good content on a blog. Blogging is a two way street. Reciprocity is the key!
Blessings,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..No Blog Comments? Don’t Cry
Hi Donna,
thanks for sharing your insights. I agree that comments are highly important. The only question is: Does my blog entice people to leave quality comments or not ? If not, even commenting on other people’s blogs first – which is a good idea – won’t help.
Many good bloggers forget the promotion part of blogging over just creating good content.
Be blessed
Oliver
Hello Oliver. I love following your blog. You are a talented writer and give great content every time. I do believe that your blog does entice people. I enjoy visiting all the time. There is always something to learn on your blog.
Knowing that, if you are commenting on people’s blog and they do not reciprocate, then it is time to let them go and find someone else. There are endless amounts of niches and tribes out there that know all about reciprocity.
Thanks for stopping by,
Blessings,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..No Blog Comments? Don’t Cry
Hello Donna
I concur with your points! Gary V is a great guy, my mother would call him bold, I like him alot! Do you know of my friend Erik Qualman? I think you’d be interested in his thoughts too if you are not already aware of him he is the author of Socialnomics and Digital Leaders. Have a great week 🙂
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Hi Sadie, Thanks for visiting. Yes I am a great fan of Gary V. I can relate to him because I’m an old New York City Gal and this is the way people talk to each other. I have read Crush It and the other book I mentioned above. His videos are inspiring. And No I don’t know Erik but I will Google him. Sounds interesting to me.
Thanks for visiting,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..No Blog Comments? Don’t Cry
Donna you really have hit a nerve with me with your new posts. Some blogs seem to get to much into their own head and I find that I can’t relate. Others can have a great point but the grammar is so bad that they are hard to read. I agree with you about the ones that seem to sell, sell, sell. If I don’t want their produce I won’t come back.
Hi Joyce, Thanks for visiting and yes, I agree with you when you say that some blogs get into their own head. Some people write for themselves and that is so not what a blogger should do. We have to write for our readers. Give answers to questions they might have and so on.
Thanks again,
Donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..No Blog Comments? Don’t Cry
How is it that you writing a post about comments, and you don’t have one?
Ohh.. now you do! 🙂
Great post!
(and I really mean it, because I read what you said about good comments)
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Hezi, you are hysterical. Kudos to you! Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
donna
Donna Merrill recently posted..No Blog Comments? Don’t Cry