Links Through Commenting
February 7, 2008 – 1:17 pmIf you’ve been poking around promotion websites, you’ve probably seen the recommendation that you should leave comments in order to build links. I’d like to expand a little on this idea.
First off, if you’re leaving comments on a blog, chances are that they are using the “nofollow” attribute. This means that spiders will not follow that link back to your website/blog. So if you’re commenting on a blog just to fill in the little textbox that says URL, you’re doing it wrong.
Let me repeat that for you. Don’t comment on a blog/guestbook/shoutbox/forum just to self promote (unless you’re dealing with a plugboard, in which case, go for it.) Not only will it piss off the blogger (and possibly cause them to delete your comments) but it is a waste of your time. Comment only if you have something meaninful to say, even if it’s just a “thanks for the article.” You want to start a dialogue with the website maintainer.
Do not use a spam tool to post the same comment on multiple blogs. Bloggers are not stupid. They know these tools exist and can tell copy and paste comments from real content. If the victim is feeling vindictive, they can report your IP to your ISP or report you to your webhost, possibly getting you booted from both. Don’t be stupid.
Why do you want to start a dialogue? Because you want the webmaster to think of you as an individual person, not just another anonymous passer-by on the internet. If you pique their interest they might come wandering over to your website, and if they like it enough, they will link it on their own.
Obviously, this kind of tactic works best if you’re dealing with websites with similar topics to your own, but don’t be afraid to make friends across the board. Like any kind of networking, you never know who will recommend you to someone else.
In short, leave thoughtful comments on other sites, not just promos for your own work.
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