Blog Commenting
If you’re into blogging, you probably know how important it is to comment on other blogger’s posts. One reason is to express your opinion whether complementing the author, adding value to the post or opposing the author’s views.
Aside from this, you also have a chance to introduce yourself to the author and other bloggers, promote your own blog or business site and promote your latest post (i.e. via CommentLuv).
In fact, if you are an active commentator, it can be a factor to driving traffic onto your own blog. You might even make it to the top commentators if the site is showing them.
So, in short, just by commenting you can also help the author and the readers and at the same time make friends (or enemies 
).
Here’s the ultimate guide to effective blog commenting from Alex Whalley.
Follow-Up Comments via Email
Commentators have the option to follow preceding comments via email. Just tick the box before you hit the Submit button. They’ll be sent to the email address you specified.
Remember an email address, together with your name, is required before you can comment.
A recent post from Brandon Connell made me realize that I do not offer such option. So, with a bit of search and research, I installed this WP plugin.
Why You Should Opt In
Here are a couple of reasons why you would want to be notified of preceding comments via email:
- You think the article is awesome and interested in what others would say
- You’re interested in how the author would react to your and others’ comments
- You’re interested on who else would the article drag in to comment
Why You Should NOT Opt In
- You don’t want your inbox to flooded due to the following:
- You commented on a big fish’s blog
- You commented on a do follow blog
- You don’t care about the author’s reaction/reply to your comment
- You don’t care what other commentators think
- You don’t care who else would comment on the article
Are you a comment spammer?!
I hope not. This site supports Spam Watchers (scroll down to the bottom right).
Anyway, big blogs and do follow blogs will get tons of praises at the very least.
Why You Should Opt In Anyway
- You want to discover other sites or bloggers through that particular post
- You want to connect with other bloggers via their site
- You’re on a blog hopping/commenting spree
24 Comments
@dragonblogger
I don’t necessarily want followup comments via email, but I do want all blogs I comment on to email me when someone replies to my comments specifically. I get too much spam email from some sites that get 100 comments per day and I get 100 emails per day from those posts.
From Justin Germino\’s mind: Think Blogging is Easy Money
@intelliGines
That’s very true with big blogs or interactive websites.
Thanks again for the comment. Have a good one.
Hi Gines, you have listed great reasons why yes and no. I leave comments on other blogs and sometimes lost track – I am lazy to keep track of every one I left. Followup is sort of my tool. Also I love to see what others say about this post – any other great reasons to do follow?
From Kent Chow @ In Marketing Tips\’s mind: 5 Free Ebooks you should have
@intelliGines
Hey Kent,
For me the 2 main reasons are waiting for what others would say and who else would be commenting on that particular post (thus the possibility of meeting other bloggers).
Can I suggest that you install the opt-in plugin on your blog as well?
Have a good one.
@maria_muir
I can’t make my mind up sometimes to opt in, I opted in with Mashable last year……I ended up deleting and opting out again. It does have its advantages, but I’m really not that keen.
From Maria\’s mind: The HPV vaccine fraud as Gardasil reaches Irish schools
@intelliGines
Hi Maria!
Yeah, that’s a problem with big sites like Mashable. Like you said it has its advantages.
Have a good one.
It has become very hard for me to decide it to subscribe to follow up comments cos the very next day my Inbox gets filled with numerous comments. It is totally confusing and my other important mails are getting mixed up with it. I think I will have to make a new email address just for commenting
@intelliGines
Hi Simon!
A different email address is a good idea if you’re up to maintaining another account. I know it takes a bit of work and consumes time but I just filter the emails (either on Gmail or my email client). Makes it easier to delete as well.
Thanks for dropping by. Have a good one.
Thanks for your great article. I always opt-in to follow up comments, once i find the article very interested and sure, through commenting to other people’s blog, it will enable us to make friends with the owner and also to connect with other open minded people just like you. great tips here and this is my first time of visiting this blog and will be visiting often..thanks
From Valentine Belonwu\’s mind: What is WeNetProfits?
@intelliGines
Thanks for visiting Valentine.
You’re right about that. It’s a win-win situation. You add value to the post and, in return, you gain friends and possibly traffic and followers too.
I guess that’s exactly what happened over at Joe’s site eh?
BTW, I joined your forum. Not much going on there yet but I can help you with that if you like.
Have a good one.
Thanks for your response, well, my blog was launched on monday and still trying my best to drive traffic there and sure if you have any help you need to offer at the forum, kindly let me know. all i want is team work. Thanks once again and i will be checking on you always.
From Valentine Belonwu\’s mind: Most Disastrous Place to Be is in the Middle of the Road
@intelliGines
Team work – I like that. I’ll do what I can. Let me know what else you have in mind.
@websitebegin
I say opt in for one reason – you can then become an active member in the community.
Every webmaster needs a little bit of help, too. Since many bloggers make a habit out of replying to almost every comment on their blog, having someone else, too, respond makes less for them to reply with.
Also, since blog commenting is essentially free advertising, you can get some extra clicks, too.
Great post!
@intelliGines
Hey Joe, where you goin’ with that gun in your hand?
Kidding
Do you know that song?
I agree with you. With all the time and effort spent on blogging on 1 site (let along 3 or more), a little help will definitely make bloggers smile some more. Some claims that 25% of their traffic comes from blog commenting. I guess that depends on how active you are.
BTW, cool website! Thanks for dropping by.
@websitebegin
I am obsessed with blog commenting. I have been known to spend a couple of hours commenting on 75 blogs. I get major traffic the following day, too, so I gotta write some AMAZING content for that day.
And no, I don’t know that song. I’m only 13, I’ve missed a lot
@intelliGines
Wow! Now that’s obsession. That’s really good. Keep it up.
@maria_muir
Joe, you can drop by and comment on my blog anytime, I could do with someone like you
(Sorry Gines)
From Maria\’s mind: The HPV vaccine fraud as Gardasil reaches Irish schools
@intelliGines
No problemo. Joe’s a mean commenting machine. I’m going to start visiting blogs again including yours.
@theMickMorris
It’s interesting to see how others look at subjects like follow/no follow, reasons for subscribing to comments etc.
Different perspectives always just add a bit more food for thought.
@intelliGines
That’s right Mick. Although it’s aimed at helping people decide, I hope it doesn’t confuse them.
How’s the weather down there? Ha!
Thanks for dropping by.
Hi Gines,
This is great advice. I always opt-in to follow up comments.
Sometimes people add some really interesting information into their comments and I like to see what people have to say.
Also, it’s a great way to meet other bloggers through their comments.
From Jazz Salinger\’s mind: Learn and Earn Competition – This is It
@intelliGines
Hi Jazz,
Sean’s Learn and Earn competition is another example of either opting in or out. You’ll know for sure that there will be tons of comments on all 3 sites. I’ve opted in to get the most out of it — learn new stuff through others and meet new friends at the same time.
Have a good one.
@Alexwhalley23
Hey Gines.
Thanks for the mention and link to my post, very much appreciated. This is a nice expansion on the points about opting in and you covered a lot of the things that were brought up by my readers, so nicely done there. Funny thing is that it wasn’t until I read this post that I realised I did not have the subscribe to followups plug in either! Sheeeeesh, fixing that now.
Ciao for now
Alex
From Alex\’s mind: How to Optimize your site with your Googles on
@intelliGines
No problemo Alex. That’s an awesome post there man. You can tell by the number of comments and the value of the comments.
I only installed the plugin a couple of hours ago. I’m glad my pingback lead to helping you.
Thanks for dropping by. Have a good one.
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