Commenting on other people's blogs is a great way to get visibility, build relationships with bloggers, subtly promote your book, and get links back to your site (if the blog gives "do-follow" links). But you will only hurt your credibility if you go about it the wrong way. Here are some tips for successful blog commenting:
Actively look for relevant blogs to comment on. Subscribe to the feed of the most important blogs in your area of interest, and use tools like Google Alerts to keep an eye out for relevant posts on other blogs. You can also use Google Blog Search or blog directories like My Blog Log to find blogs that are a good fit.
Contribute to the conversation. Don't just drop by and say "great post." Instead, make a thoughtful comment that contributes something. You might offer an additional tip or real-life example, or expand on a point the blogger made. If you're commenting on a book review, explain why you enjoyed reading the book. Your comment doesn't have to be long, but you do need to say something useful and relevant. Do not give the impression that you are just there to promote your book or leave a link to your site.
Don't make inappropriate comments. There's nothing wrong with disagreeing with a point that someone has made (and many bloggers encourage disparate views), but do so in a polite, respectful way. I'm amazed at some of the rude and tacky things people say on blogs and in online forums.
Don't be overtly promotional. Commenting on someone else's blog is not the place to blatantly promote your book or services. However, there are subtle ways to convey that you are an expert on the topic being discussed and encourage people to click on your name to visit your website.
You might work in a reference to your book related to the comment you are making. Here are some examples:
"Twitter is such an important tool for authors that I devoted an entire chapter in my book to promoting through Twitter."
You will have to use your judgment to determine what is appropriate, but you might look at what other commenters on the blog are doing as a guideline. Just remember that you are a guest on someone else's site and mind your manners. Comments, anyone?
Actively look for relevant blogs to comment on. Subscribe to the feed of the most important blogs in your area of interest, and use tools like Google Alerts to keep an eye out for relevant posts on other blogs. You can also use Google Blog Search or blog directories like My Blog Log to find blogs that are a good fit.
Contribute to the conversation. Don't just drop by and say "great post." Instead, make a thoughtful comment that contributes something. You might offer an additional tip or real-life example, or expand on a point the blogger made. If you're commenting on a book review, explain why you enjoyed reading the book. Your comment doesn't have to be long, but you do need to say something useful and relevant. Do not give the impression that you are just there to promote your book or leave a link to your site.
Don't make inappropriate comments. There's nothing wrong with disagreeing with a point that someone has made (and many bloggers encourage disparate views), but do so in a polite, respectful way. I'm amazed at some of the rude and tacky things people say on blogs and in online forums.
Don't be overtly promotional. Commenting on someone else's blog is not the place to blatantly promote your book or services. However, there are subtle ways to convey that you are an expert on the topic being discussed and encourage people to click on your name to visit your website.
You might work in a reference to your book related to the comment you are making. Here are some examples:
"Twitter is such an important tool for authors that I devoted an entire chapter in my book to promoting through Twitter."
"In researching my book, Selling Your Book to Libraries, I discovered that . . ."
"Because I write mystery novels myself, I really appreciated the way that the author . . ."
Depending on the topic under discussion, I sometimes sign my name with a tag line such as "Dana Lynn Smith, The Savvy Book Marketer" or "Dana Lynn Smith, author of Facebook Guide for Authors." Some people include their website address in their signature, but many bloggers frown on this. Creating a signature that's several lines long and blatantly promotional is not appropriate. Some people think that including any type of signature or reference to your book is too promotional.You will have to use your judgment to determine what is appropriate, but you might look at what other commenters on the blog are doing as a guideline. Just remember that you are a guest on someone else's site and mind your manners. Comments, anyone?
Thanks Dana, I enjoyed your post, especially the explanation how to use taglines and email signatures when commenting. Great suggestions.
Posted by: Benita Tyler | February 05, 2010 at 08:38 PM
Thank you Benita.
Posted by: Dana | February 05, 2010 at 09:05 PM
Good post, as always, Dana. Another problem I have encountered with my own blog is people trying to leave overt spam in my blog comments which blatantly promote their product. These spam messages include links to web sites, brand names, etc. Sometimes they try to relate it to the topic of the post, but more often than not it has nothing to do with the post. For those who write their own blogs, you may want to consider setting up your blog so you can moderate all comments before they "go live." Also, most blog comments sections are set up so you can include a link to your own site or blog if someone clicks on your name, so there is really no need to include a web link in your actual comment.
Posted by: Terry Cordingley | February 06, 2010 at 04:37 PM
I think that it's also important for criticisms to be objective when you disagree on a point. Thanks for sharing this guide. It's really helpful, especially on blog or forum interactions.
Posted by: BookWhirl | June 11, 2010 at 02:02 AM
Dana, you continue to provide great tips and things to think about. Thanks. I needed this since I am rather new to book marketing and social media.
Posted by: Stephanie Williams | June 26, 2010 at 08:31 AM
Thanks so much Stephanie!
Posted by: Dana Lynn Smith | June 26, 2010 at 10:40 AM
Good reminders. It's so easy to come across in any of the negative ways you mentioned when using email where we try to be brief and to the point. I try to read what I say three times including once out load and still find typos and other things I wish I would have said differently.
Posted by: Carol@inthetrenches | June 26, 2010 at 01:16 PM
Thanks for the information. I've had a problem with the signature. I like this method where the blogger automatically includes a link.
Posted by: Pat W. Kirk | November 30, 2010 at 05:07 AM
Thank you for this helpful blog,it's given me food for thought.
Posted by: Ruth Silnes, The artist who writes. | December 07, 2010 at 12:05 AM