How to get more blog comments
The focus of this newsletter is something all bloggers love - comments. Unfortunately most blogs, especially new blogs, receive very few real comments from real people (everyone gets spam comments though).
I hope, with help from the tips in this newsletter, your blog will grow a nice community of readers who interact by leaving you comments.
First though I want to quickly clear something up and give you a little background info about me - the guy writing these newsletters.
YARO - ARE YOU TRYING TO SELL ME SOMETHING?
I knew you would ask that question.
Let me be completely straight up front with you.
I hope, with help from the tips in this newsletter, your blog will grow a nice community of readers who interact by leaving you comments.
First though I want to quickly clear something up and give you a little background info about me - the guy writing these newsletters.
YARO - ARE YOU TRYING TO SELL ME SOMETHING?
I knew you would ask that question.
Let me be completely straight up front with you.
Yes, I am trying to sell you something but as you will see, these newsletters do not focus on constantly pushing product after product in your face.
I want you to enjoy this newsletter based on merit because you genuinely benefit from the content.
I want you to enjoy this newsletter based on merit because you genuinely benefit from the content.
But you don't have to take my word for it, judge for yourself as you receive each newsletter.
I won't attempt to convince you now and waste space in this newsletter - no one wants to read a newsletter talking about how good a newsletter it is.
All I ask is that you remain subscribed for a good five to ten editions and if you don't learn or benefit in some way, then please, unsubscribe.
HOW I MAKE A LIVING
I'm a blog trainer. That means I teach people how to blog and in particular how to market your blog to build traffic, how to make money from your blog and eventually, once you become advanced, how to build an entire business based on your blog.
Some of my information is free - like this newsletter, my report 'The Blog Profits Blueprint' (have you read it yet?) and the introductory free training videos on how to set-up your blog at http://www.becomeablogger.com.
Occasionally I will invite you to join my coaching programs, offer you information and training products that I believe offer quality information and recommend services that compliment blogging.
All these offers are completely optional. The reason I bring it up now is that I want you to understand why I spend so many hours producing this newsletter and writing my own blog, and how I can earn a living from doing so.
Be sure to study how I use this newsletter to recommend products and other offers. You can learn a lot simply by observing my techniques and then apply them to sell from your own blog or email newsletter.
OKAY, SO WHO EXACTLY ARE YOU?
My name is Yaro Starak, I live in Brisbane, Australia and sometimes Toronto, Canada. I'm a 29 year old male - with big hair.
I presently blog about Internet marketing, blogging, entrepreneurship and self development at
http://www.entrepreneurs-journey.com .
I've been blogging since late 2005 and make over $10,000 a month from my blog and over $30,000 a month from my online business in total - which by the way, is based entirely on my blog.
I've run several businesses, some failures and some successes and I've bought and sold websites too.
I enjoy tennis, yoga, swimming and...well, this is not a personals ad, so I'll leave it at that.
If you want the long story (with pictures!) you can read my five-page bio at -
http://www.entrepreneurs-journey.com/yaro-starak- timeline/
That's enough about me, let's talk about your blog.
HOW TO CONVINCE PEOPLE TO LEAVE COMMENTS
Let me set something straight right now.
If your blog has no traffic you will not receive any comments.
It makes sense of course, but some people don't see the connection between these two elements.
If no one is reading your blog then no one will leave comments either. Simply posting great articles to your blog is not enough - you have to *market* your blog to bring people to it.
We will talk A LOT about marketing throughout my newsletter, so stay tuned for that.
For now, understand if you don't receive any comments to your blog it's probably not that your content is bad or people don't like you, it's because you simply don't have enough traffic.
If on the other hand you do have some traffic, yet no one replies to your posts, there are ways to stimulate comments.
Try these tips to begin with -
- Write articles that reference or focus on other bloggers. You will get their attention that way and there's a good chance they will come to your blog and leave a comment as a result.
- Ask your readers a question at the end of your article.
- Write about topics that stimulate conversation, such as current events (think politics, news, entertainment).
- Be controversial with your writing. Have a strong opinion and others with strong opinions will reply to argue or agree with you.
- Be patient. Sometimes you just have to wait until the first person leaves a comment which opens the floodgates.
KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING
A while ago I stopped actively responding to comments on my blog unless I was asked a direct question. I really had no excuse for not doing it, I was just lazy and working on other writing projects. Consequently the average number of comments on my blog entries dropped A LOT.
I noticed the regular commentators stopped commenting as frequently and most conversations on my blog ended very quickly.
This is really tragic for a blog and I'll tell you why - it reduces your "Social Proof".
WHAT IS SOCIAL PROOF?
Social Proof is when humans take action or make a decision based on seeing other humans doing it first. It's sort of like an implied recommendation - if other people do it, it must be good.
It's like when you see a bunch of people all looking up at something in the sky at the same time. You can't help but turn your head skywards and see what all the fuss is about.
When first time visitors to your blog see other people making lots of comments they are more likely to decide there is something valuable at your blog and bookmark or subscribe to it and may even make a comment.
This is good for blog traffic. This is social proof in action.
I was very conscious of always taking part in comment conversations at my blog and consequently my readership was growing in leaps and bounds. I stopped and I noticed I hit a wall and my blog didn't grow quite as well as it was.
I know a blogger who has a rule - she responds to every single comment made to her blog.
Consequently she has developed a fantastic community around her blog and her traffic has skyrocketed in a short period of time.
Remember, comments on your blog are very important, take the time to respond to them.
I won't attempt to convince you now and waste space in this newsletter - no one wants to read a newsletter talking about how good a newsletter it is.
All I ask is that you remain subscribed for a good five to ten editions and if you don't learn or benefit in some way, then please, unsubscribe.
HOW I MAKE A LIVING
I'm a blog trainer. That means I teach people how to blog and in particular how to market your blog to build traffic, how to make money from your blog and eventually, once you become advanced, how to build an entire business based on your blog.
Some of my information is free - like this newsletter, my report 'The Blog Profits Blueprint' (have you read it yet?) and the introductory free training videos on how to set-up your blog at http://www.becomeablogger.com.
Occasionally I will invite you to join my coaching programs, offer you information and training products that I believe offer quality information and recommend services that compliment blogging.
All these offers are completely optional. The reason I bring it up now is that I want you to understand why I spend so many hours producing this newsletter and writing my own blog, and how I can earn a living from doing so.
Be sure to study how I use this newsletter to recommend products and other offers. You can learn a lot simply by observing my techniques and then apply them to sell from your own blog or email newsletter.
OKAY, SO WHO EXACTLY ARE YOU?
My name is Yaro Starak, I live in Brisbane, Australia and sometimes Toronto, Canada. I'm a 29 year old male - with big hair.
I presently blog about Internet marketing, blogging, entrepreneurship and self development at
http://www.entrepreneurs-
I've been blogging since late 2005 and make over $10,000 a month from my blog and over $30,000 a month from my online business in total - which by the way, is based entirely on my blog.
I've run several businesses, some failures and some successes and I've bought and sold websites too.
I enjoy tennis, yoga, swimming and...well, this is not a personals ad, so I'll leave it at that.
If you want the long story (with pictures!) you can read my five-page bio at -
http://www.entrepreneurs-
That's enough about me, let's talk about your blog.
HOW TO CONVINCE PEOPLE TO LEAVE COMMENTS
Let me set something straight right now.
If your blog has no traffic you will not receive any comments.
It makes sense of course, but some people don't see the connection between these two elements.
If no one is reading your blog then no one will leave comments either. Simply posting great articles to your blog is not enough - you have to *market* your blog to bring people to it.
We will talk A LOT about marketing throughout my newsletter, so stay tuned for that.
For now, understand if you don't receive any comments to your blog it's probably not that your content is bad or people don't like you, it's because you simply don't have enough traffic.
If on the other hand you do have some traffic, yet no one replies to your posts, there are ways to stimulate comments.
Try these tips to begin with -
- Write articles that reference or focus on other bloggers. You will get their attention that way and there's a good chance they will come to your blog and leave a comment as a result.
- Ask your readers a question at the end of your article.
- Write about topics that stimulate conversation, such as current events (think politics, news, entertainment).
- Be controversial with your writing. Have a strong opinion and others with strong opinions will reply to argue or agree with you.
- Be patient. Sometimes you just have to wait until the first person leaves a comment which opens the floodgates.
KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING
A while ago I stopped actively responding to comments on my blog unless I was asked a direct question. I really had no excuse for not doing it, I was just lazy and working on other writing projects. Consequently the average number of comments on my blog entries dropped A LOT.
I noticed the regular commentators stopped commenting as frequently and most conversations on my blog ended very quickly.
This is really tragic for a blog and I'll tell you why - it reduces your "Social Proof".
WHAT IS SOCIAL PROOF?
Social Proof is when humans take action or make a decision based on seeing other humans doing it first. It's sort of like an implied recommendation - if other people do it, it must be good.
It's like when you see a bunch of people all looking up at something in the sky at the same time. You can't help but turn your head skywards and see what all the fuss is about.
When first time visitors to your blog see other people making lots of comments they are more likely to decide there is something valuable at your blog and bookmark or subscribe to it and may even make a comment.
This is good for blog traffic. This is social proof in action.
I was very conscious of always taking part in comment conversations at my blog and consequently my readership was growing in leaps and bounds. I stopped and I noticed I hit a wall and my blog didn't grow quite as well as it was.
I know a blogger who has a rule - she responds to every single comment made to her blog.
Consequently she has developed a fantastic community around her blog and her traffic has skyrocketed in a short period of time.
Remember, comments on your blog are very important, take the time to respond to them.
Make sure you visit Become A Blogger to get your free video tutoral.
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