Blogs and Forums: Only Comment if You Have Something Meaningful to Say!
When it comes to online business, commenting on blogs and forums should be an integral part of your Internet Marketing strategy. Once again we see the power of networking at work here, and the same basic rules apply – be relevant, be interesting and don’t “hard sell”.
Whatever niche you’re in, there are forums galore out there. Here you can meet people who are actively and intently interested in your subject, and have taken the time to become a member of the particular forum because they value the information. So, where else would you look to find a more dedicated audience with better potential? Whilst there are a number of forums for each niche, there are still more independent blogs, written and produced by people who are also into your subject. You might initially think of these people as competitors, but that certainly doesn’t mean you shouldn’t communicate with them for general marketing purposes.
One really important point to always keep in mind when commenting on blogs and forums is that you should be considering the value of the actual content that you post instead of the possible benefits which you may get from the links. This is very important. Many people pursue commenting strategies with the single purpose of gaining back links. In some cases this can be technically flawed anyway, but you had better make sure that the content posted next to your individual or corporate name is good!
Blog and forum commenting is highly recommended as part of an overall website development strategy. As is the case with blog production in general, or with social media network interaction, the material that you publish will be read and its composition judged. You don’t want to be posting irrelevant comments, or comments that are designed just to get your name out there. There seems to be no point at all in typing “great post”!
Blog owners will usually look at comments with great interest, and forums are almost always moderated by motivated individuals. In every case, whatever you write will have an impact. If you have something contrary to say, make sure that it’s constructive. There’s nothing wrong with being negative as such, so long as it can be viewed as a positive contribution to the conversation in view. Being negative just for the sake of it, or to create some kind of viral controversy isn’t really a good overall marketing technique for you.
You should note that some blogs have installed a “no follow” link policy, which means that if you have a link associated to your post, either in the signature or otherwise, the search engines are being told not to score the link. Most experts in this area recommend that you give more attention to the content of your posts and make sure that they are informative and contributory, rather than worrying about a potential back link to your site.
Initiate a policy of commenting on active blogs and popular forums associated with your niche. Use your competitor’s sites in a creative way to build your credibility as well. Remember, as is the case with many Internet marketing strategies, a subtle yet consistent approach is key.
Michelle Dale is Chief Executive of Virtual Miss Friday, an adept and highly-proficient Virtual Assistant Service which works closely with enterprising people who really want to succeed in their chosen field. If you’d like to learn more about online business building success strategies that are tailored to your needs, contact VMF today!
