Let me just be clear here so there's no confusion. Commenting on blogs as a means of joining a conversation, or being part of a topic or community, is great. It's what makes blogs (and blogging!) fun.
But a blog commenting marketing strategy is just plain stupid, in my opinion. And a complete waste of time.
Don't worry - I'm going to back that statement up and tell you why.
Given the rash of new blog comment spam that many bloggers are experiencing this week, including myself (grr!), I thought this would be a good time to talk about blog commenting as a marketing strategy - and why you should ditch it.
Even if you're not a "spammer"...
While I'm referring mainly to comment spammers here, this just might apply to you as well. I see all forms of comment spam on my own blogs. Some of those comments even coming from people I know!
Blog Commenting Marketing Strategy
The main idea behind a blog commenting marketing strategy is that it's an easy way to get tons of inbound links. Most people do it as a means of link-spamming to increase their search engine rankings. The goal being to leave comments on blogs all over the web to get a live link back from the URL field.
Most people outsource this task to a team of spammers, or use an automated software to achieve the task. Some of them copy other (legitimate) comments already on the page, others spin content so that it doesn't even make sense, and then there are those that make an actual attempt to say something that might seem like a legitimate comment.
And then there are "marketers" that DO leave a legitimate comment, but make themselves LOOK like spammers by inserting keyword phrases in the Name field.
🙄
Issues with a Blog Commenting Marketing Strategy
- Most of these comments get caught by filters and never see the light of day.
- What doesn't get caught by the filter gets deleted by the blogger.
- It makes you look like a spammer.
- Most blog comment links use the no-follow link attribute.
- Blog comment links carry very little weight with major search engines.
- It's incredibly time consuming and/or costly - with very low ROI.
I mentioned in the list above that blog comment links carry very little weight with the major search engines. Meaning, in contrast to other types of inbound links. When it comes to link building, you really want quality inbound links - not a huge quantity of junk links. And certainly not a huge quantity of the same type of links (such as all blog comment links). Serious mistake!
Blog comment links are lower on the totem pole for many reasons, but one of the primary reasons is their location on the page. Inbound links from the content area of a related page carry much more weight than links from static areas - such as: sidebar, footer, comment section, etc.
That's IF your blog comment even passes the filters or the delete key, of course.
Inbound Links are considered "votes" or credibility for the page they link to. The search engines know that blog comments are links left by the person commenting. While a link in the content area of a related web page is likely a true endorsement. (Duh) The search engines are kinda smart. They know the difference, and measure the weight of those links accordingly.
Why Blog commenting as a Marketing Strategy is STUPID,
and a complete waste of your time!
Let's assume you're a pretty cool person, not a nasty spammer, and you really just want to get your website indexed or improve your search engine rankings.
Someone told you that blog commenting was a good way to get inbound links, and so you spend hours and hours of your valuable time reading blogs and commenting on them in hopes of improving your traffic.
(I hope you haven't wasted *too* much time on that.)
Imagine for a second that you have an offline business downtown. Maybe it's a computer shop or a bakery. Now imagine that you spend all day every day walking down the street and stepping into each business along the way. You make random comments to the customers in those businesses, such as "Hi, I have a bakery three doors down" and then walk out.
That seems kinda stupid, doesn't it?
You would probably get kicked out of those shops, probably voted off the square, and at the very least you would get a lot of blank stares and start some pretty interesting gossip about which mental disease you have. And sadly, your business would ultimately fail because you're not focusing on what really matters: quality products or services - and serving your market.
That's blog comment spam, in real life.
The truth is, there are FAR easier ways to get inbound links. Methods that take A LOT less time and result in MUCH higher quality links - that will actually improve your rankings (and bring you immediate targeted traffic!) much more quickly.
In the same amount of time you spammed as many blogs with useless comments as you possibly could... or even legitimately read and commented on blog posts to drop your link & anchor text... you could have done some seriously powerful content marketing.
I don't care if you outsource your blog commenting, use a software program, or do it the hard way (yourself). That same time invested in legitimate content marketing would bring you MORE results (ie links) and BETTER results (ie quality of links).
Let's take Guest Blogging for example. That will allow you to optimize the page (post) linking to yours for a specific keyword phrase. You write the content yourself, so you know it will be a relevant link. The link you include in your post will likely be the only outbound link in the content area (win!). And your quality, relevant inbound link (with anchor text of your choice) is in the space on the page that carries the most weight: the content area.
Work Smart, Not Hard. Or in this case: Work Smart, Not Stupid.
Here are some sources for Link Building and Content Marketing:
- One Way Link Building
- Blog Interviews & Guest Blogging
- Link Building Strategies & Content Marketing
- How to Increase Blog Traffic Fast
- Link Building 101: What is a Backlink?
- Effective Link Building: One Major Ingredient
- 5 Types of Web Content That Readers Love
- PLR Article Rewrite Dissected & Exposed
- Pingbacks vs Blog Comments
Content Marketing will have a much higher ROI than a Blog Commenting marketing strategy, all day long. Make sure you're spending your valuable time doing the things that will serve your business long-term, not just fly-by-night tactics that eat up your time and brain space.
Happy Commenting! 😀
Best,
About Lynn Terry
I'm almost nervous about commenting now..lol.
I say comment when you have something to contribute, question or just to say thanks. I totally agree that commenting as a strategy is lame, self serving, and brings nothing to the table. People see through it anyway.
Glad to know I'm not the only one who thinks this way.
I've had a ton of spammy comments at my site, and almost all of them are for Viagra, Cialis and other "male enhancement" products.
I couldn't figure out what in the world I could have written that would have prompted this sort of spam. I suppose everyone gets these from time to time.
Then it dawned on me that one of my keyword phrases is "personal growth."
I guess Viagra & Cialis do impact personal growth, but not the kind I typically write about at Life Compass Blog!
Well why do I get those too? I don't talk about personal growth!?
Peggy
The problem is most people are sold a bill of goods that online marketing is vastly different than running a business in real life.
They make the mistake that creating value, developing relationships, making solid offers and over delivering is irrelevant in the online world.
The truth is it is far more powerful here than in the bricks and mortar world because you can use leverage faster and easier here.
You can also come in contact with some pretty cool people who share your views on business and grow those relationships.
Lynn - as always a powerful message to help people understand where their time should be spent.
Have loved your recent surge in guest blogs to show that you practice what you preach 🙂
Thank you Scott 😉 It is my FAVORITE marketing strategy, and such a great way to build relationships with other bloggers and influencers in your niche!
My recent campaign of blog interviews across the web is going super well, by the way. Moving the page I'm promoting up in the search engines a bit more each day. Loving the instant results!
Its often puzzled me why people try placing a keyword in the name field. If the comment was made for the link (assuming one puts all this effort into a comment because the page rank of the actual post is PR5+), you will have more chance of getting your comment approved by NOT placing a keyword in the name field. You can still "launder" page rank into your site and then direct the page rank around your site using strong keyword rich silo structures on the website (like what Bruce Clay teaches).
Someone had to bring this out and you did. I also wonder why most of the spam comments are about some organ enhancement pill? Anyway, putting out quality content is, I think, the no-fail strategy to gain traffic and solid following.
I think blog commenting with the sole purpose of getting links is a waste of time. However, if you comment when you have something to say and you have your link in your post this does lead to traffic.
You certainly shouldn't look at this as part of your working day, but half an hour reading and commenting blogs leads to some traffic, which can be invaluable if you're just starting out.
Then if you get any backlinks from this it's just a bonus.
If you're investing that half hour to network and/or learn, then it's time well spent - with the bonus of some traffic or links. But if you're doing it just for the links & traffic... there are definitely ways that perform MUCH better that could be done in the same time. That's the main point of my message here - how you invest your time.
I agree that backlinks from blog comments are considered to be low quality backlinks, which don't carry much weight - actually the same is true for forum posting with a sig file, social bookmarking backlinks, mass article submission, mass submission to low quality directories, submission to RSS aggregators...
Nevertheless I found, that blog commenting on a few niche blogs allows you to get fairly easy in Google's top 10, for keywords with relatively low competition. Obviously, this is not sufficient for more competitive keywords.
Great post Lynn.
I fell into this mode of gaining links (bit embarrassed), but in the end all the time invested was a complete "waste". I stopped because I wanted to help people in my relevant field and not be a hindrance to the people I am inflicting pain to in their blogs.
in all the time you have wasted in gaining links a bad way, you only apply 1/2 the time when you put your energy that is going to gain your business quality link.
Again thanks lynn
I can smell spammers from a mile a way (and more LOL). It's the same on forums. So obvious when they are just trying to get a link. It's a real shame and the delete/mark as spam button is my friend *wink*
Great tips on how to get relevant links. I'm starting to get more into guest blogging and see how it can definitely be better than some things I have done in the past.
It's a great way to build your credibility, and get high-quality permanent inbound links. You also get instant *targeted* traffic from the readers of that blog. Blog Commenting doesn't generally build credibility - particularly when you keyword spam the Name field. 🙂
And I don't know about you guys - but I rarely click the link of the person in a comment area. I'm more interested in the discussion and potentially adding to that discussion. Different mindset than when I'm reading a blog post...
Generally, no, but if you are seen in comments EVERYWHERE and are known for quality comments, then yes it sure does add to your credibility.
Blog commenting is a great way to build relationships with other bloggers that will lead to traffic leading back to your site, assuming that you are leaving valuable, engaging comments.
And if you hate comment spam, you will find that guest blogging for links is a much more irritating issue. Sure you won't get 100's of submissions a day like you do with comments, but what you will do is spend time reading an article just to realize it's somewhat crap.
If it happens to not be crap content, and you publish it, you will have an author that is MIA when it comes to engaging with your audience in the comments.
I just created a new policy on my site that if guest bloggers don't engage with my audience in the comments on their post, I'm taking out their bio link. It's generally not a problem with anyone except the guest bloggers looking to build backlinks, so if they drop a post and run, they aren't getting their link.
Kristi,
I saw your new guest posting policy and I'm going to add that too. I've had the same experience.
Peggy
You mentioned "guest blogging for links" but you were referring to publishing guest posts on your own blog - you lost me a bit. 🙂 I guest post on other blogs in my niche for link & traffic.
I do accept guest posts here as well, as you can tell, but have a very strict quality control policiy. I also have an awesome VA that can field those easily so it's not so time consuming on my end.
My WAHM Talk Radio site has been inundated with a rash of spam over the last 24 hours. It's so annoying.
I leave a comment because I'm interested in the post and want to make a small connection with the writer/blog.
I love your 'local business' example. Being online is not excuse for being a bone head.
LOL so true - and also applies to online dating sites! 😛
Hi Lynn,
I do know that blog commenting (legitimate) does take a lot of time. But I enjoy doing it and have made some great ties that have lead to successful business opportunities.
I do realize, though, that guest posting gives me more bang for my buck and increases my exposure and I plan to do more of it.
Peggy
I'm not against blog commenting in general (hey, I'm commenting on a blog as I say that! lol). I love getting involved in discussions and "networking" with the other bloggers in my niche. It's a great way to get on their radar before you pitch a guest post option to them as well.
But as a link-building marketing strategy... not the best use of your time, for sure.
I like the way you explained this -- everything I've read before now, indicates why it is important to leave comments on 'targeted' blogs. Never once has it been broken down like this (thanks).
I only comment when I have a 'a-ha' moment and/or a question. Like Peggy, I enjoy commenting, I've met a lot of people this way, (nevertheless, I still don't spend 'a lot of time' doing it.)
Never thought of blog commenting that way. Gives me new insight. Thanks
Ugh tell me about it Lynn. I have a personal policy of deleting any comment that does NOT have a real name to it. Yes, there are spammers with fake people names too but there aren't as many at least for me.
Lately I have been toying with the idea of switching to 100% Facebook comments though. It is true you can set up a fake FB account but FB being FB they don't like the multiple account thing. Plus it's harder to fake your identity. Maybe I'm just thinking of this the wrong way but it does sound nice to let FB weed out the fakers/spammers.
I have considered that as well. Facebook integration is nice... I haven't had the greatest experience with their apps and such always working consistently, which is the only thing holding me back. They can be a bit buggy at times.
While there aren't many people who don't have Facebook accounts, there are some. You do get the benefit of having the comment show up in their Facebook stream.
But you eliminate the benefit for a fellow blogger at the same time. While that link should not be the primary reason for leaving a comment, it is a thank you for taking the time to be part of the community.
If it wasn't for comment spam many of my sites wouldn't have any comments at all. Therefore I don't mind the comments that are based on the content of the article and do not contain a link.
Well those wouldn't be considered spam 😉
I am a comment commando and proud of it. Blog commenting has been my #1 traffic generator for several years.
It has nothing to do with search engines or inbound links of any kind.
It's 100% relationship building, and it WORKS!
Good to hear it's working so well for you!
I assume you're getting instant traffic from your blog comment links, then? I would love to hear more and particularly hear some of your direct click-through stats with this method.
Do follow/No follow is becoming more and more irrelevant. Matt cutts has stated point blank, the SEO value of comment links is diinishing almost on a daily basis.
The key Lynn is the commentluv plugin; the largest percentage of the blogs I read have it installed. This combined with an intriguing post title...again geared towards readers, not SE's...and you're golden!
The good news is, it's getting harder and harder to find a blog without it, it's turned into a phenom all it's own.
As for actual CTR stats, that's a darn good question. I do not know what stat that would be or how to check it??
I always wondered why "Russian Ladies selling Rolexes" even bother putting comments on my blog. It seems like such a waste of time. My spam filter gets most of them.
The bad thing is that even with the filter - I get so overwhelmed with the "fake" comments that some of the good ones don't make it through...
Moderating blog comments can be a royal pain. The day I outsourced that one thing... my whole life became easier! 😀 LOL
You are right Lynn I don't know how many (experts) over the years have told me to leave comments on blogs to get traffic. So far I have left zero. Thanks, I am not even going to think twice about it now.
I have noticed a huge increase in spam comments on my blog this week also. Any idea what's going on?
No idea. I can tell in this recent rash that they are using some sort of software. It tries to pull the title and other elements from the post into the comment to make it appear relevant - but it's not always successful. I'm not sure what they're using, but they were sold crap. 😛
That was quite funny and true. Thanks Lynn, real deal, can always count on you for excellent advice.
Lynn this is so true. I get tired of cleaning out the comments and don't really see how it adds value to the web.
So ... can I have a backlink? Just kidding. 🙂
LOL 😀
I'm not sure I agree with you that comment links are less valuable SEO-wise.
Since I started blog commenting regularly, traffic to my blogs has increased a fair amount (but I don't spam - see below). Blog commenting was a recently new addition to my SEO efforts, and it does work for me.
Blog commenting is a hotly debated point in SEO circles and I've read credible opinions from both sides of the fence.
I take it this perspective of yours on blog commenting is a change of heart. I was a customer of your dofollow blog packets, which I understand you sold this business recently. I'm curious whether you gained affiliate makreting success in the past due in part to blog commenting (I'm assuming you used your own packets).
I don't mean to be confrontational here; I respect your views tremendously, as well as love this blog of yours, but I find it curious when a prominent online markter shifts SEO strategies. I've shifted strategies, and I think we all do from time-to-time. I guess I'd love to see any empirical data supporting the fact blog commenting dofollow links don't add any value. My traffic stats support the fact that traffic and rankings increase from blog comments.
I admit it that I do blog commenting and it forms one part of 3 main SEO strategies (article marketing and guest blogging the other 2 main strategies presently). BUT, I generally write long and informative comments that contribute. If I have nothing to say, I don't say anything.
I think also bloggers like excellent comments because it adds to the discussion, and let's be frank - it's free content which is always good for SEO.
Also, as much as I love guest blogging and writing great content for my websites, blog commenting is an efficient means for backlinks. Again, I don't spam. I don't place keywords in the name field unless expressly suggested (such as your site).
When you write a guest post, it's placed on its own URL. Generally high PR sites want unique content (which I'm often loath to do because I like my unique content on my sites, but I honor the requirement). Because a guest post is on a new URL, the PR for that URL is low. Sure, you can build links to that URL, but I'd rather build links to my sites.
Blog commenting, on the other hand, offers opportunities to get backlinks from PR 3 to 6 (and if fortunate, even higher) sites. There may be many other outgoing links on that URL, but I'll take a link from a PR 4 page any day of the week.
Again, blog commenting is not my sole strategy. It's one I spend time doing adding value (which I believe this very comment does - add value that is). I've spent 20 minutes or longer writing comments. I suppose it's like a guest post, but it's immediate without the time involved of submitting articles, editing, formatting, and waiting for them to be published.
Also, I do get traffic from my comments, so there's that value as well.
With respect to your offline business analogy, I'm not sure it's apples to apples due to the SEO factor. Online marketing includes SEO for many sites, which is unique to online marketing. Besides, one could argue that bulletin boards in local stores where people post flyers and ads are similar to comments and are effective in the offline world.
Anyway, I think this is a very good SEO issue that needs further discussion and one I'm constantly reading and thinking about. I'm glad you wrote this post and stated your position.
Peter, you make some interesting points as I've also heard differing viewpoints on this topic.
I'll admit to being a little confused, because some online marketers I really respect endorse blog commenting as a way to build backlinks (not the ONLY way and and definitely NOT by leaving spammy comments - which we all hate).
Lynn, I, too, am curious how this post dove-tails with your 5,000 Backlinks program. (Which I purchased and enjoyed). I haven't looked at it in a while, but recall the monthly updates consisted of do-follow blogs and forums for the purpose of commenting on them.
I am wondering if perhaps things have changed a lot since then in terms of what works?
Also, do you still find value in using the KeywordLuv plugin (from the perspective of those who leave comments w/ keyword phrases).
Thanks for clarifying this, Lynn - always enjoy your feedback!
That product, which you both pointed out I no longer own, was not created by me - it was a joint venture with a partner, who actually created the product content. That's worth pointing out upfront.
I have never done blog commenting as a marketing strategy myself. And of course that package contained many other site types where you could set up profiles and backlinks.
That type of linking strategy is best used for hot markets and quick promotions (dropping major links all over, quickly) for a quick boost without concern if it sticks long-term. That includes social bookmarking and other "just to get a link" methods of SEO.
There is value to blog commenting of course, and I hope that point came through in my post. But as a marketing strategy, it is not the best use of your time (or the time you purchase from a freelancer or assistant) compared to other methods of obtaining higher-quality links.
In the end, the most important thing in your SEO strategy is VARIATION. So you do need a good combination of directory links, blog comment links, social media/bookmarking links, post/page links, profile links, etc.
But it's also worth noting that the search engines are including many quality measures. For example, a tweet from an influencer carries more weight than a tweet from someone without influence. They look at the #'s following vs # followed among other things. So type and quality is more and more important.
I would be interested in seeing specific stats on time invested, and the ROI (specifically number of unique click-throughs and conversions) from blog commenting alone. I have a feeling most people don't check their stats closely enough to know with 100% certainty what is working and what is not - or what is working better, in less time, than other methods. Still, I invite anyone to prove me wrong with detailed stats on this...
Thanks for the clarification, Lynn -
Definitely not trying to prove you wrong. I was/am genuinely confused as to the merits of blog commenting. I've never invested a huge amount of time in leaving comments, but my own personal experience is that commenting does drive some traffic and helps forge relationships.
(But, then again, I don't leave a bunch of "nice post" spammy type comments, either).
Like you said, I think it all boils down to variation and quality.
I don't disagree with that, and variety is definitely important. Unfortunately many people use a blog commenting marketing strategy exclusively, and totally miss out on the benefits of better content marketing. If you were only going to do ONE thing (which for some reason, many people get stuck doing) blog commenting would NOT be the wisest choice...
Hi Lynn,
I feel the value of the comment left determines the effectiveness of the strategy.
Some people find me through my comments left on other blogs, and I put enough thought and effort into adding value that the person made sure to note how much of an impact the comment made on them.
Like any internet marketing strategy, it's not so much the tool itself but how you use it that determines its effectiveness.
Thanks for sharing!
RB
Hi Lynn,
While I can glean your frustration as commenting no value spam does create a annoyance and is often the byproduct of inexperienced marketers, outsourcer's gone wild or shady services and the twin to those telemarketers who call during dinner
But, it's kinda of a double edge sword your falling on here with commenting is a waste of time.
Throwing out spam comments like "great post" or unrelated obvious no value spam sandwiches is a given but for marketing purposes there is value in participation beyond "link value" Commenting is also about exposure and contributing to relationship building and community within relevant topic or niche. Often within comments there are gold nuggets of information (expanded thought) that can create a path to the commenter thereby raising awareness & exposure on topic.
In some cases comments get trashed or deleted It is easy to spot bloggers whom appreciate participation, no comments or dialog = time waster.
For the blog commented on well participation is a weighting factor in serps too. Fall on the sword is, Most have a "self" somewhat in their contribution, if blanket commenting does nothing for you than we would have a silent blog-o-sphere.
No follow in blog settings, there are tools available to detect who is follow &/or no follow if the slight inbound link boost is a sole motivation for commenting. (which it should not be)
Is blog commenting the end all be all of your marketing strategy or should you guest post? Well of course a guest post within the theme/relevancy of your topic is a more effective use of time and effort from a seo perspective. Commenting is your calling card to the blogger which can be the beginning a relationship that leads to an invite to guest post which adds value to the commenter and the blogger alike.
I agree with your points, as I stated in the opening paragraph of the post. Blog commenting is a great way to get involved in discussions and meet other cool people in your niche.
You'll notice lively discussions here at ClickNewz - and I welcome them. 🙂
But as a marketing strategy, it's incredibly time consuming with a much lower ROI than other methods of getting links. And higher quality links at that. I just think it's a shame that marketers teach people to do that vs other methods that also build credibility and give better results.
When you compare a guest blog post on a popular blog, to a comment on a popular blog, it's a no-brainer which builds more trust and credibility with your market. Not to mention the difference in the quality of the link.
But yes, blog commenting as a means of joining a community or conversation - comment on! 😉
Lynn, this post could not have come at a better time for me. I just hired a new assistant who is skilled, motivated and good - and is having a heck of a time learning the "Stupid" method of blog commenting I was boggling teaching her.
You've inspired me to rethink the best ways to employ her skills.
Put that smart woman on some tasks she'll enjoy! 😉
I think Lynn, you raised some valid points in this post, one of which is on the SEO weight/ value of blog commenting links.
However, some bloggers have showed verifiable proofs of how they get impressive traffic from blogs they left valuable comments at. I agree with you that blog commenting can be time consuming and it's easy for a new blogger to get carried away in the act and lose sight of the activities that really make big impact.
I also had been thinking about that and recently wrote two posts on steps to develop a personal blog commenting plan for SEO benefits, that will not chop productivity time.
I enjoyed reading this - this is the second time I'm reading your opinion on blog commenting. Thanks
I agree with you in some aspects and others, I'm still undecided. Blog commenting does take a huge amount of time. I enjoy commenting on blogs too and have seen a spike in traffic as well due to my efforts. But I don't know it I have necessarily thought of how it has grown my ranking on the search engines.
Being a writer by trade, I know how important it is for getting quality content out there with keywords and have tried my hand at article marketing as well. Depending on the niche and blog though, I have found that blog commenting has had more of a positive effect than my article marketing for a couple of them.
I find for some sites, the comments have added much better information than the actual post. There is a recipe/cooking site I like to frequent and due to the comments posted, I have come up with some recipes that were much more enjoyable than the original post.
I have also found some potty training tips on a moms blog that were covered in the comments section and not the post itself. So, yes, I hope people do keep commenting but it does appear that most of these people do it for being a part of the community and not as a marketing strategy.
So, I will perhaps heed your words of advice and try some more article marketing or guest blogging to have more data and stats to evaluate.
thanks again for the useful information that you are so excellent at providing, and giving us some food for thought so we can make the best of our business.
I agree - I get a lot out of the comments left on various blogs, and love that sense of community in the blogosphere!
I would be interested to hear more about your stats - the "spike of traffic" you referred to. Do you track the blog comment URL's as they show up in your stats as referring pages? How many unique visitors do they usually result in? And are you able to tell whether that traffic is converting for you?
First off, allow me to say that I agree that blog commenting as a marketing strategy is a waste of time. That being said however, for those blogs that I'm going to read anyway, like this one, and the post compels me to reply, why not take advantage of putting my keywords in the post comment? I don't think that there is a penalty. Is there?
If I'm commenting on a blog where I am known and I get caught up in the filters, which does happen to me because I try to link to different pages within my own site and use my name with different keywords attached to it, aren't I more than likely going to get my message approved when it is discovered? Does a blogger with a very large readership like yours look at the comments that get caught in the filters or do you just trash/mark as spam them and move on?
I outsource blog comment moderation (Thank you Angie!!!) and she looks through every single comment caught in the spam filter and approves the legitimate comments as she finds them. As a blogger, the comments are very important to me. I want to engage my readers, and discuss the topics with them.
The way you linked here is just fine. Your comment is a quality addition to the conversation, and you included your name which was nice. You could use the KeywordLuv method here (I have it installed) to get a cleaner inbound link (not diluted with your name) by putting "Leigha Baer @ Keyword Phrase" (without the quotes of course).
Lynn,
This is a great post. I was guilty of using my keywords in the name at times. I was not trying to spam, but I figured if I could get a backlink at the same time as engaging in the conversation, why not? But, ok, I"ll use my name from now on and concentrate on other ways to build quality backlinks:-)
You'll find that some bloggers won't approve comments with keywords in the name field - or they'll delete them if they went through automatically. I often do, unless it's a truly great comment. In which I usually reply to them with "Hi Steam Cleaner... " (which is a sign of my annoyance - lol).
good post test
LOL I just had to approve that one...
Love your sense of humor! 😀
Lynn, good post.
It makes much more sense to me to carry out guest blogging than leave a load of blog comments. Unless, of course, i'm genuinely leaving a comment to be read (and not simply for the link).
The problem i perceive is that gaining the volume of guest blogging may be more problematic. Both in finding blogs to 'guest' upon and in writing the posts themselves.
However, I take your point completely.
Mac
Lynn, you've taken a rather bold stance here and I like it.
Blog commenting solely for backlinks (even when done correctly) is a poor use of time. But comments do provide some SEO benefit to both the commentor and the blogger.
But the biggest benefit to comments (as you've pointed out) is the networking. It can be an introduction to others who've left comments. And I do periodically click through the link when someone has left a great comment, just to see what their site is about.
Part of the problem is that it used to be a very effective way to build SEO and traffic. But when abused it becomes far less effective as both readers and search engines tune it out.
As for the keywords, I usually delete comments with keywords in the name unless they use the KeywordLuv style (even on blogs where I haven't added that plugin). It would be nice for WP to add a standard field on the comment form for Keyword Text.
The anchor text of a link is important in search engine algorithms, so a link that says "Bill" won't rank as high as one that says "Amazing WordPress Guy" when people search for "wordpress". So if I have a place to put my name so that people know who I am, and a place for the keyword I want as the anchor text for my link it would work better. The KeywordLuv plugin gets halfway there, but it isn't obvious how to use it.
Another thing I like to see when reviewing comments is a Gravatar. Since most bots don't use a valid email address they can't get a gravatar. It is not a deciding factor but it does have an impact when I'm reviewing my Akismet list.
The real problem, in my opinion, is people trying to make SEO so darn difficult. And employing fad tactics, like a blog commenting marketing strategy, instead of just writing good content and getting good links.
Fads die. The SEO I do has resulted in very high ROI long-term. I have pages I created 5+ years ago that still rank in the top 3 and make sales every single week.
I would gladly go up against a comment spammer with my stats.
I guess that they're trying to take advantage of the search engine algorithms. That's a game that I'd rather not get involved in.
If we do as you suggest and just write and interact with each other well, the long term ROI will be there. The fad SEO techniques will help you for a short time and then disappear.
My mind keeps saying blog commenting isn't even a strategy, it's a tactic. Yet the people who use it believing that is it is a strategy, will either wake up or find that their "strategy" knocks them out of the long term game.
Wait, most of the people who are using it as a strategy aren't thinking long term. Even if we find a way to keep all blog spam at bay, they'll find some new tactic to come up with and use.
I do find it interesting that this same tactic works well as part of a strategy with a clear objective. Like you mentioned earlier Lynn in your reply, where the objective is to get a quick boost for "hot markets and quick promotions ... without concern if [backlining] sticks long-term."
When that is the objective and I think it's pretty darn good objective even if not everyone agrees with it, do it where it works.
Not somewhere where community and relationship is the norm, doing it here is just smarmy.
On a completely side note - I'm using those comments as a good sign. Since I tend towards low blog esteem when I've just started a new blog, those spam comments are proof that my blog is being found via the search engines somewhere or the spam bots and software couldn't find me. 🙂
Thank you Lynn! You have cleared up an area for me that I was unaware of. I still thought blog commenting was a good use of my time! So much for that theory! I detest spammers myself, so I always tried to add value with my comments. I get tons of spam everyday, and some of it definitely comes from auto-commenters, it isn't even sensible!
I even had some asking to exchange links, then when I tried to reply to the email they gave, there was no such name at such an email. No big surprise, I'm still quite a newbie, so I thought they might have been serious!
I am extremely thankful for people like you Lynn, that take the time to give us some honest, cold hard facts!
Blog commenting is a good use of your time -- if you're trying to build relationships and be part of the community. The SEO benefits that may or may not be there are a perk.
The true ROI is that you will get to know people and they will get to know you.
I would argue there are better uses of your time for that desired result...
Lynn:
Thank you for posting this! I get newsletters all the time in my inbox from supposed "gurus" that blog commenting MUST be a part of your SEO strategy. I've tried it on and off over the years and every time I have tried it, it has failed. Most blogs today are nofollow anyway and blog owners are quick to delete comments that aren't genuine. It totally is a waste of time.
I gave up on blog commenting as a strategy a long time ago and it's good to hear from a true professional like yourself that I made the right decision.
Today I only contribute to be part of the conversation or to provide something useful to share. Any traffic or "backlink love" I might get from my conversations are icing on the cake - but not the primary goal!
Have a good one!
Travis
I just saw in a forum the other day where a woman paid to have back link comments put on blogs and she got her site banned. She was devastated to say the least. You risk your blog and your good name when you do this type of thing. I have been deleting spam posts for weeks now and there is no end in sight.
I just think if you have a good blog and you just go about the natural course of posting and commenting when you really have something to say, means more to your blog in the long run with regards to ranking.
Do people really think that Google is that stupid?? 🙂
Lynn,
I use a plugin on my blog (WP-SpamFree) that has done a great job of blocking spam without having to force visitors to type in weird words or do math problems. It also allows you to block IP addresses from posting comments.
Might be worth trying, especially since it's unobtrusive (and I'd be interested in knowing if it does help if you -- or anybody else reading this -- tries it; you can let me know by leaving a comment on my linked blog).
Best regards,
Tom
I SO agree with you about blechy self-serving comments. I get a lot of comments that are very generic (like "good job" or something) - - these really don't contribute much to the conversation.
Another pet peeve of mine is putting another link on a comment. People should already know that making a comment is putting a link on your name already. There is no need to do that again! Plus, when people do this, it sure looks spammy. So I usually delete those kinds of comments.
Hey Lynn
Great post! Yes I certainly agree that using blog commenting as a strategy to link building is really too time consuming and marketers could be better off using other strategies instead.
Guest blogging for one is one strategy I really like and you have put to great effect. I will be using that at a later time when my blog is more established (Have only 2 posts now).
Love your analogy of the baker Lynn. So many people leave their business brains at home when they go online. I reckon a good test of whether you should invest your time in an online tactic is the one called "how do real people behave?". Your analogy is a great way to demonstrate it.
Interesting I really get spammed anymore...I wonder why that is?
I don't think the bakery analogy makes much sense. Tke the commenter above who said he gets lots of ED comment spam. How is trying to sell ED online similar to marketing an offline bakery? Wouldn't you agree the business models, including the target customers, are totally different? If the target customers are totally different, doesn't that mean the marketing strategy should be pretty different? Besides if you're selling Cialis or whatever you don't have to invest in the product - not the same way you do when baking your product - some big huge company already designed that drug.
I get your point, James - but there are a lot of marketers (not "spammers") that are trying to use blog commenting in that very way as a means of funneling traffic from blogs related to what they are marketing.
The pharmacy/adult/gambling spam is another monkey altogether. That crap is everywhere.
Every analogy breaks down somewhere. I believe that Lynn's point is that you don't randomly walk into another business and "advertise" your own business and walk out, which is what many spammers do.
If you visited with the business owner and mingled with the customers (i.e. build relationships) then you'd be building your business. That is what we want to see with blog comments.
I guess I just don't know what it is! I don't really understand how the system works. Does digg.com put up a link to your site or something? I'm confused at how this system helps me build backlinks.
Great input Lynn,
If we're all being honest here, most of us are here to both learn ... and yes, get our name out there. I think comments that add to the original post or whatever are welcome, but comments that add nothing to the topic are spam.
It's sometimes hard to tell the difference, as the first time I visit a new blog or site, like this one, I don't always know the tone or topic that well, but I want to learn something and contribute.
To me, spam is in the eyes of the beholder. If you don't like what I say, or think it's irrelevant, it's spam.
We can't all immediately be involved, so you have to start somewhere, and often that is commenting. I don't know if it works, I'll take your word for it, but I wouldn't automatically lable all commentators spammers.
Remember back in the old days, people went door to door. Lots of people hate that. But people have to make a living, "baby needs new shoes," so sometimes you have to get out there and join the conversation. I guess some examples would have made it super clear on what you consider spam and legit.
Thanks for the word up though.
Paul's door-to-door example is good. I like that. One difference though, is any commenter, if going about it the right way, has something to offer the post AND gains a backlink (i.e. gains something of value). Not every stop for a door-to-door salesperson results in something valuable for the salesperson.
Suppose my link in the URL/website field is to a blog totally unrelated to the blog on which I'm commenting, that doesn't mean I don't have anything relevant or valuable to offer to the post. Just because I don't blog about cajun food doesn't mean I haven't eaten cajun food and therefore have nothing valuable to say on the subject. I have plenty to say about cajun food; I just don't blog about it.
Also, in my view (I haven't done it long enough to provide clear empirical data) a dofollow link from a PR 2 blog post page alone is valuable. Perhaps not as valuable as an in-text link on a PR 2 URL, but it has value. I suspect a PR2 dofollow blog comment has more value than most links you can build such as using blog networks, article marketing, Web 2.0 pages, profile links, etc.
That said, the longer I work on building an online business, the more I'm convinced that the absolute best links are those that are created to your site without any effort on your part (other than the content of course). I'm talking about people linking to your site because the content rocks. These links are also the most gratifying. If I had the magic formula for creating linkbait and viral content, that would be the only approach I'd take.
You can say all you want that writing great content will do it, but that isn't always the case. What goes viral and gets linked to is a crapshoot to some degree. Also, some people are better at it than others.
I have to say, it depends on how you comments on other people's blogs. If you comment "Nice articles" or "Thanks for sharing", no one will care about you. But if you comment something very constructive and the authors love, he/she will click the link.
When I check on link building tool from Wordtracker, it does help me in link building for my site.
Hey Lynn, while I agree with most of what you have said, especially in regards of spam comments, I don't believe that leaving legitimate, quality comments can be considered a total waste. Link juice aside I believe that leaving great comments helps to build your brand and that is something that is very important to an online marketer.
I've been commenting on many blogs for many years and I've always had good results. I think where most people go wrong is that they rely more on the amount of comments they leave rather than the quality of comments. Perhaps if they took more time to leave good content comments more of their comments would live to see the light of day, not to mention the possible traffic from others visiting their link because they found their comment interesting.
Agree with some of the things and disagree with some.
Yes its true that links from blog comments have lost their original trust with the search engines as they used to have earlier but I still think that every link counts.
If the sole purpose of commenting on a blog is to get a backlink then yes its not the best of the things to put your precious time into otherwise if the someone wants to learn to want to be known as an authority in their niche then its a good way of connecting with the audience which an already established site receives. So even if a blog is nofollow it doesn't matter you still have chance to establish yourself as an authority and also don't forget about the traffic that you'll get if people find your comments useful enough.
So I strongly think it is not as stupid as it looks like but yes it is if link building is the only aim.
Blog commenting is a great way to increase your profile online and get additional backlinks to your website. It needs to be done in an intelligent way though - "great post" and then a link doesn't constitute a good comment.
Once you can master the art of blogging, you are able to pick up the right blogs to make successful entries to benefit the targeted website. It is a vital activity and you are able to draw potential visitors. It should be well placed, efficient and to the point. Thanks a lot.