‘Commenting’ as a Marketing Tool - my #1 ‘No-Brainer’ Tip
‘Commenting’ on blogs and forums can be a free, easy, and effective way to gain relevant, targeted ‘traffic links’ and traffic to a website.
We’ve all seen blog and forum comments that were obviously done to promote a website, a product, another blog, etc. When done thoughtfully, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.
But in my experience, the majority of these ‘comments’ seem to ignore what I consider to be the
#1 Rule of ‘Commenting’: Check The Original Post Date
It sounds like a no-brainer, I agree. However, it seems that in the fervor to get the word out; generate traffic; and traffic links, as much and as quickly as possible - this one vital task is being ignored, perhaps strategically. As a result, I continually see comments being posted to some really ‘ancient’ stuff. I’ll not name names, but I’m talking years here folks.
Maybe this is viewed as acceptable. After all - it’s a known fact that in-bound links are of some importance to Search and Social Marketing. The more the merrier, right? Perhaps… if the goal is link quantity rather than link quality. Of course ‘nofollowed’ links will offer no link ‘juice’, but it is still a ‘traffic link’.
I believe that if you are serious about long-term online success - indiscriminate commenting is poor strategy, most importantly because…
- It’s all about the numbers - not about the customers. As a rule, these ‘generic’ comments offer little of added value for the viewer. But it’s the viewer that pays the bills though, right?
- And of no less importance to successful online business, there’s Perceived Reputation - No matter how original, well-written and relevant your comment may be, if the original post is woefully out-of-date - your reputation is at risk. At best you may be perceived as careless, lazy, or ‘dated’, at worst - a short-term, fly-by-night scam.
There are exceptions to every rule, and this rule is no exception. ;) But instead of making a potentially risky comment on an aged blog post - isn’t it better to simply write a new article or post yourself, and include a reference to the older information if needed?
You’ve heard it before, and I’ll say it again - do it for the viewers, customers, and searchers - NOT the search engines, bots and spiders.
And please, please, please…check the date before you comment.
