One easy marketing tool that every blogger can use is actually sit right there in front of them all the time. It is the comments section on their blog. This blogging tip goes further than just responding to comments. I suggest you follow them.
When I say follow your commentators, I am not just referring to follow them back to their site. If someone stops by and leaves a comment, follow them home, find a related post, and leave a comment. While your there, check on who else has left a comment and follow them home. Once again, find some related content and leave a comment there.
In effect, you are introducing yourself to the readers of those who read your blog. Not only are you introducing yourself, you are also visiting them and by leaving a comment on their blog, you are introducing yourself to their readers. This has a compounding effect.
To use numbers to demonstrate this point. If five people leave a comment on your post and you follow them back and comment on their posts. You have introduced yourself to everyone of their reader. Let’s assume they each have 100 regular readers – that is 500 readers who will see your comments. If each of those five have three regular commentators and your follow them, that is an additional 15 blogs you have introduced yourself on. If they each have 100 readers as well, that becomes an additional 1500 readers for a total of 2000 readers you have introduced yourself to.
If ten percent of those readers decide to visit your blog in response, that is an additional 200 readers. And what has it cost you? Perhaps and hour or two visiting 20 blogs and reading and leaving a decent comment.
It won’t happen every time. In fact you can leave comments on all 20 blogs and only receive an extra 20 or fewer visitors. Do it regularly and your traffic will grow. Ask yourself, can you acquire around 200 extra visitors virtually for free? When you think about it, not only are you marketing yourself, you are also networking!
Hadn’t thought of this, great tip for newbies and “gurus” alike
I’m really enjoying your blog. This is fantastic advice! I have not thought about it. I have been leaving comments on blogs I like, but I have not been following their commentators home. Thank you very much for the great information.
~Vicki Priebe
Wish Grantor