Blog Commenting for PR: Dos and Don’ts

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blog-bannerBlog commenting can be an effective PR and marketing technique that offers a wide range of benefits when done properly. Effective blog commenting can help you:

I could go on and on, but you get the point. Blog commenting could be a valuable part of your online marketing and PR campaign.

Of course, there are right ways to leverage blog commenting and wrong ways to do it. Let’s go over some dos and don’ts so you can be a better blog commenter.

  • Do take the time to read before commenting – I shouldn’t even have to say this, but you wouldn’t believe how many comments I get that clearly come from people who didn’t bother reading anything beyond the headline. Whenever you comment without reading, you risk looking like a fool and a spammer. Read. Comment. In that order.
  • Don’t leave self-promotional comments – Yes, blog commenting can be used for PR purposes, but that doesn’t mean you should treat other people’s blogs like a forum for advertising your company. Self-promotional comments have no place in the blogosphere, and they’ll get your flagged as a spammer.
  • Do leave unique, insightful comments – If you want to position yourself as an expert through blog commenting, your comments have to exude expertise. In other words, your comment needs to go deeper than “I agree” or “Good post.” Your comments should add to the conversation and push it further.
  • Don’t use a keyword as your name – Some blog commenters see commenting as a means to build links back to their website. They choose blogs that offer “do follow” on comments, and they spam away. Instead of using their actual name, they use a keyword in its place so they get a keyword-rich link. Problem is: Comment links carry little to no authority with Google, and it just reeks of spam. It also makes it hard to build relationships with others when you’re hiding behind a keyword as your name.
  • Do interact with other commenters – Blogs are like mini-communities. You can network with others and increase name recognition when you become a known member of the community. The best way to achieve this is to interact with other commenters. Respond to the points they make, and just strike up conversations.
  • Don’t get into a fight – Whenever you become an active participant on blogs, you’re going to run into people who disagree with you. Some may even be nasty about it. Don’t engage them. Don’t fight back. You’ll only wind up looking unprofessional, ruining your image. Handle negative blog comments with poise and professionalism.
  • Do sign up with Gravatar – Take a few minutes to sign up for a Gravatar. This allows you to create an icon that follows you from blog to blog, appearing beside your name whenever you leave a comment. It’s a small branding tactic that can go a long way to increasing your recognition around the web.

What are some other blog commenting tips you’d add to this?

This article is written by Mickie Kennedy, founder of eReleases (https://www.ereleases.com), the online leader in affordable press release distribution. Grab your free 160-page copy of the Big Press Release Book – Press Releases for Every Occasion and Industry here: https://www.ereleases.com/free-offer/big-press-release-samples-book/

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Reply

My favorite Do’s are Read First, interact with the other commenters. It’s worth repeating as a Don’t: Don’t ignore what others have posted.

The comments can often take the original post in new, interesting directions. If someone poses a question, and you can answer it helpfully, then it’s not self-promotion but being a good part of the community. That’s win-win.

The name and gravatar tips are valid: use the same name, gravatar for your comments, Twitter, and other social media profiles; better branding. FWIW.

Reply

Promote your expertise within your comment.

For example, if I’m commenting on a post about how to write well, I’ll start by saying…”As a publicity expert who worked as a newspaper writing coach for many year, I disagree with….”

Have you written a book on the topic? If so, say so.

Are you a speaker or trainer?

Are you a consultant?

This mention just might tempt people to click the link to your website.

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That is an great idea.

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I really read your post here 😉 and its great one as jackson say

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The blog post provides valuable insights into the evolving landscape of social media algorithms and their impact on external links in posts. The data presented clearly demonstrates that incorporating external links into a post’s body text can negatively affect engagement and reach

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