Does commenting pay off for you?

[ses5909]

Do you get much traffic from leaving comments on other blogs? I get a decent amount relatively speaking, but I think these visitors are more likely to stay and look around rather than the ones who show up via the SEs.

[Bob!]

I'm not really commenting enough to notice much traffic, but the blogs I have left a few words on are producing some.

[SarahG]

I've had visitors from comments and trackbacks on other blogs. Whether they've turned into regulars I couldn't say.

[davemcnally]

I have had a few hits from comments but Im not sure if they stuck around.

[deronsizemore]

Do you get much traffic from leaving comments on other blogs? I get a decent amount relatively speaking, but I think these visitors are more likely to stay and look around rather than the ones who show up via the SEs.

I'm the same. I see some traffic, but not a lot. I think they do stick around more though. I think the main thing by commenting on other blogs is that you get some exposure to the author of that blog and they may come back and comment on one or two of your articles or even include one of your articles in their posts with a link back.

[Jessi]

Absolutely. And they may not turn into regulars right off the bat, but they definitely stay on the site longer than those from search engine hits......and if I comment on 'their' site multiple times, many of them 'do' turn into regulars. Obviously not all of them, but it's happened enough that I no longer just lurk on blogs like I used to.

[Dan Schulz]

You know, Darren Rowse of ProBlogger.net wrote about this just the other day...

The Power of Commenting on Blogs (http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/11/04/the-power-of-commenting-on-blogs/)

[hurgoll]

I am ashamed to say I haven't been commenting like I should have been. So hard to even find any time at all anymore. :(

[Selkirk]

I think commenting on other blogs with on-topic helpful and insightful comments is one of the major pillars of blog traffic building, right up there with writing good content, SEO, and social network promotion. Many people check the backlinks on good comments. If your blog is subscription-worthy, they may subscribe. Then, later you might get a blogroll link or a mention in a post.

Also, a good way to do things is to comment on another blog's post from your blog, with a link. Again, with pingbacks, people click through to check what people are saying about them. Don't you? Thats not to say you should just start pingback spamming.

Look at the title bar for this window in your browser right now. I think the key to succeeding with commenting is that you have to make the people reading the comments want to hear more of what you have to say. Join the Conversation. Be interesting. That can be hard work.

The target of commenting is not to leech a few visitors off the traffic of a higher profile blog. The point to commenting is to build a relationship with the other blogger, who may then link back to you or refer others to you. Don't try and leave comments everywhere. Just focus on key blogs that complement yours that you like to read.

Another thing to do is that after you leave a comment, have a reminder system so you come back the next day to continue the conversation.

[tsinfield]

I comment like crazy! but I will not comment on something unless I can add value to it. Alot of my traffic comes through other bloggers I have commented.

[rodaniel]

What Jessi said! It's not a 1-for-1 kind of thing and it doesn't always mean new subscribers - sometimes people just stop by once and never visit again.

I comment on others' blogs as often as possible and I always do a followup visit to the websites of visitors who've commented on mine. I discovered quite a few of the feeds I subscribe to this way.

Commenting is just part of being a good netizen. So maybe even if it doesn't net you much in the way of increased traffic, there's still a payoff... karma.

[shyflower]

I wish I had more time to read and comment. So far, when I do comment most people have been kind enough to come and have a look.

[SageMother]

Do you get much traffic from leaving comments on other blogs? I get a decent amount relatively speaking, but I think these visitors are more likely to stay and look around rather than the ones who show up via the SEs.

I haven't notice any change but then I am new to this. I am not sure how to monitor trackbacks.

[goldfries]

I did get some traffic SURGE the other day, i believe it was because I commented at John Chow. :)

After doing so, it just doesn't feel right. Commenting just to get traffic. I made it a point to only comment when I have something to contribute.

[Jeremy]

I don't know, but if there are other users out there like me, then leaving a good comment can be gold. When I'm reading an interesting topic and browse the comments, I'll almost always click on the names of people who have a link and leave a worthwhile comment. I've found some great blogs that way.

That being said, I have noticed traffic from leaving comments on other sites before, and while there is no way to determine how many stay to become regular readers, I would guess that quite a few do given how many times I've subscribed to a feed after reading a comment.

[crumblepie]

If my comment is something like 'hey, nice site' I don't get any visits from that, but if I really put some thought into the comment than I always get a visit back to my website. I like commenting, but if you're thinking of using it just for promotion, I have to say it doesn't justify the time spent.

[TVs Worst Adverts]

I did get some traffic SURGE the other day, i believe it was because I commented at John Chow. :)


I'm never sure how beneficial it is leaving comments on popular blogs. Yeah, more people read it but I find comments get lost in a sea of other comments.

What do you think it was that got you that traffic surge? Did you get in early or was it a killer comment?

[tsinfield]

I'm never sure how beneficial it is leaving comments on popular blogs. Yeah, more people read it but I find comments get lost in a sea of other comments.

What do you think it was that got you that traffic surge? Did you get in early or was it a killer comment?

get in first...

I got in first on one of ProBloggers posts, and got 15 visitors from that one comment...

[rodaniel]

I try not to post comments unless doing so will add something to the conversation, but from the blogger's perspective, even a little "Nice post" comment is sometimes a nice validation that your efforts are being noticed...

On the other end of the spectrum, I've realized that I'm ocassionally guilty of leaving too much of a comment. That is, you can hijack or overwhelm a post with a comment that's too long or veers too far off-topic. I think I may have gotten a little carried away before and, in my enthusiasm, been guilty of this.

:::Slaps own wrist:::

[chrispian]

Like others, I enjoy trying to contribute. If I don't have anything to add I don't. In fact, I probably write 50% more replies than I ever hit submit on. But commenting does help, even if it's not directly. You get your name out there enough and suddenly your "known" at least in some circles.

[sydneymatt]

I'd say that commenting is worth it because the effort comes back in an indirect way. That is, if you write good comments on a quality blog then you will get some clicks back from people reading it. Some of those readers will be bloggers themselves, who may decide to link to your blog. (Then there's the original blog owner who may do the same of course.)

But as some of the posters have said here, it's only worth doing if you have something to contribute. If you don't feel you can, it's best not to, I think.

[pbradish]

I think that commenting has always paid off very well. It's never brought in huge numbers, but it's brought in other bloggers which is way more important to me anyways since their comments are what truly makes the blog interesting.

I only wish that I had more time to comment and read other blogs. I need to set that up as a daily routine again!

[freediver]

I left a comment on the other blog. The blog owner came to visit my blog and like an article. She stumbled it and it turns out she was influencal on Stumble Upon. I received more then 1000 visitors from stumble upon as a result of that one post.

Yes, comment, and comment well my friend.

[erikko]

for me blog comments really such a help aside from you can leave your link in every post, you can also develop an alliance with your co-blogger and also it benefits both of you as he/she can also visit your blog and drives traffic

[Evan]

I've made some friends - by commenting and entering into discussion. It has built my traffic a little. At this rate it would certainly be a long slow process.

[pbradish]

I've made some friends - by commenting and entering into discussion. It has built my traffic a little. At this rate it would certainly be a long slow process.

Yep, it's a slow process. But that traffic is probably great traffic.

[Kamigoroshi]

I say it's not the many single comments that get you visitors. It's the constant single comments that bring you visitors.

Most people look to having one off hits from a single comment, where this is far from the truth. If you think of a comment as a way to build a conversation with the blogger and you, what's stopping you and them from developing something out from it?

Blogs can become communities thanks to comments, and in a real world perspective, you're far more likely to notice someone who regularly says something with a purpose than someone who drops by once and says something that doesnt make sense.

So yeah, I comment if I can. Sometimes if there is no reason to say anything, then don't say it. But if anything, I reply to all my comments left on my blog. Helps build a sense of conversation that way.

[Robert]

Your comment has to have value. "Great post!" just looks like kissing up, but if you can add something, clarify a point, make a correction (not being a grammar freak though, pedantry won't help) then it can be helpful. I've noticed this leading to communities among bloggers, even even recognize a user here from their comments on Personal Finance type blogs. The comments lead you from one site to another, discovering interesting content along the way.

[heylove]

I haven't been commenting as much as I want to, but I'm planning on doing more..I really think it does bring more visitors.

[Dan Schulz]

It can, especially if your comments are insightful and/or informative. :)