Blog Hopping - What Is It / Why Use It? |

Blog Hopping – What Is It / Why Use It?

January 24, 2012

I first learned about Bog Hopping when I took Alex Jeffreys course “Forward To Marketing”.

Sally Neill did most of Alex’s tutorials and Sally is the Blog Hopping Queen. It was great learning from a PRO.

What Is Blog Hopping?

Blog hopping is basically visiting other peoples blogs, reading posts and leaving comments on those posts.

The comments need to have some thought put into them. They should add value to the post that they accompany.

Poor Comments

“This is a great post”
“You are doing a great job, keep it up”
“I always learn from all of you posts. Keep up the good work”
“Your blog is one of the best there is. I will bookmark it”

These types of comments are not constructive and do not add value to any post that they accompany. Comments like the ones I have listed above are considered spam by most bloggers and will most likely never appear in the list of comments.

Good Comments

I went through my comments and randomly chose several that were good. The length really does not have a lot to do with the quality of the comment. A couple of these are longer and the others are shorter. They are all relevant to the post that I took them off of and add value to that post.

There are many more good comments out there that I could have chosen. These were just the first few I came across.

If you are not sure just how to write a good comment go and read comments on my blog or any of the blogs commenting on my blog and you will find many great examples of really good comments.

Why Should Anyone Blog Hop?

Blog hopping is a great way promote your own blog and get traffic to it. When you go and comment on someone else’s blog several things will happen.

You Get A Link Back To Your Blog

If the blog you comment on is a “do follow” blog then you will get a back link back to your blog.

Just a quick comment on “do follow” blogs. It is great to go to ”do follow” blogs because you get a backlink but, I never look to see if the blog that I am commenting on is ”do follow“. Commenting on ”nofollow” blogs is beneficial as well because it still gets your blog good exposure.

I would recommend that you make your blog a ”do follow” blog to give your commenters a gift for commenting on your blog.

You Will Receive Comments On Your Blog

When you comment on someone else’s blog that blogger will most always reciprocate. They will come to your blog and comment.

These comments will build a reputation for your blog. The comments also add content to your blog. If you write a post and get 20 to 30 comments on the post, the comments will double or triple your content. The comment content is coming from external sources which means that your blog is getting the attention of other people.

Search engines and Alexa love new content that is original. The more comments you get the better your site will do in the search engines and on Alexa.

How To Get Started Blog Hopping

When I started blog hopping I knew very little about it. I had listened to Sally’s tutorial on it and thought it was a great idea. I am sure she gave us all the information that we needed but everything was new and I was overwhelmed with information.

I started out blog hopping just like everyone else, just doing it.

Where Can You Find Blogs To Comment On

Go to a blog in your niche that has lots of comments and start clicking on the links for the blogs of other commenters. This will take you to new blogs that you can comment on. Then click on some of the links in that blog and you will go to another blog. The process is endless and you will find hundreds of blogs

Go to a Blog directory for your niche. There will be lots of blogs that you can comment on.

How To Learn How To Write Comments

I went multiple blogs and just read comments when I first started. By doing this you get to know the blogger and their commenters as well as learn how to write a comment by observing how others are doing it.

Other Advantages To Blog Hopping

I have never learned so much as when I started blog hopping. I learn something from every post I go to. I actually have to limit my time on posts when I am blog hopping because I find myself so immersed in each post that it can take me an hour just to read a post and write a comment by the time I have tried everything taught in the post. I have started marking posts and going back later to try out what is being taught.

DO NOT FORGET

Reply to every comment on your blog post.
Reciprocate — go to the blog of each commenter and comment on one of their posts.
Give your fellow bloggers a token when they comment by making your blog a “do follow“ blog.

Results Of Blog Hopping

Your blog will attract lots of attention.
The search engines will like your blog.
Your Alexa ranking will get better and better.
You will start getting more and more traffic to your blog.

If Traffic Is What You Want — Blog Hopping Is The Way To Get It

If you are one of those people that just goes around leaving spammy comments on blogs trying to get traffic to your blog, stop leaving those comments and learn to blog hop. You will be pleasantly pleased with the results.

Let Me Know What You Think

Do you blog hop? Do you think that blog hopping gets results? Would you recommend blog hopping to someone new to blogging or someone who has a blog that they are trying to get traffic to? Leave me a comment and give your opinion of Blog Hopping.

If you are new to blogging and would like to take a course that teaches you everything about Blogging check out Sally Neill’s own course Learn With Sally. It bsp;is one of the best courses I have ever seen or participated in.

0saves

Save

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing.

About Dee Ann Rice

Hello, I am Dee Ann. I love working on the internet and blogging. I enjoy learning and love to teach others what I have learned. I have traveled and lived all over the world and have friends most everywhere I have ever gone. I love meeting new people sharing with them what I know and learning what they know. I really believe that by sharing we all make it where we want to be faster.

Visit Dee Ann Rice's Website Follow Dee Ann Rice on Twitter

33 Responses to “Blog Hopping – What Is It / Why Use It?”

Barry Wells :

January 24, 2012 at 5:30 am

Hi Dee Ann,

Thank you for including me in the post and linking to my blog.

I think blog hopping has been one of my biggest lessons online. I first started doing it as part of the 100 blog comment challenge, where I met loads of great bloggers and learnt loads of great lessons.

The benefits of blog hopping are endless, when we do it right. As you said Dee Ann, leaving stupid comments like “love your blog” and such like have no place on my blog and the person leaving them is wasting their time. They’ll never gain a backlink, build a relationship of get any form of assistance from the blog owner.

The relationship built through blog hopping really do start to flourish when we make sure that we reply to every comment and also return the visits to our commenter’s blogs.

Through those relationships we’re able to gain much more than comments back and forth. We have advice, help, encouragement, assistance on tap…. not to mention the help from our regular readers to get the word out about our content when we write a new post.

Through blog hopping I have built good online relationships, through those relationships I have started building friendships and through those friendships i have been able to attract a greater following, where the cycle starts again.

Thanks Dee Ann,

Take care,
Barry
Barry Wells recently posted..Developing Alliances and Friendships With Other Bloggers

[Reply]
Dee Ann Rice Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 6:16 am
Barry,

Yours was an easy one to pick as you always write really good comments that add loads of value to the post.

I knew your comment would be a great example for those just starting out or trying to figure out how to do this blogging stuff.

I have had several people come to my blog lately that really have decent blogs that they would like to build but I think have no idea how to go about doing the commenting and attracting people to comment back.

It is really about building relationships and not just leaving comments. If people would just think about how they build relationships off line they would get it also. Off line you do not get to know someone by making a couple of short statements about how they look. A conversation is needed. It is the same online.

Barry thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted..Is Your Blog Backed Up?

[Reply]
Barry Wells Reply:
January 24th, 2012 at 6:33 am
It’s funny you mention building relationships off line being so similar to building them online. I was being interviewed yesterday and during that I made the exact same point Dee Ann.

It all takes effort on both sides, but that effort is so rewarding when it all comes together.

I have also seen some excellent blogs that lack in the comment areas and I find that the blog owners never get out there blog hopping and getting in the mix. It’s the easiest way of generating traffic and building the friendships that’ll take us all forward

Thanks Dee Ann,

Have a great day my friend
Barry Wells recently posted..What Would You Like To Achieve This Year?

[Reply]
Dawn Kay :

January 24, 2012 at 6:13 am

Hi DeeAnn

I never knew how to blog hop properly until I read Sally’s blog hopping guide…

Everyone definitely needs to read that if they want to do it successfully!

Not only do you get people visiting your blog but that’s how you start getting to know other bloggers and then the real friendships develop…

Thank you for the shout out DeeAnn and I’ll email you later with your gentle nudge (lol)

Take care

Dawn
Dawn Kay recently posted..I’m Sooooooo Gonna Do All Of This

[Reply]
Dee Ann Rice Reply:
January 25th, 2012 at 9:42 am
Dawn,

I totally agree with you about Sally’s blog hopping guide. Everyone should read it.

I really got my first start blog hopping by reading it and going though the tutorials Sally did for Alex’s course.

Blog hopping is a great way to get people coming to your blog.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted..Just A Bit Of Sunshine

[Reply]
Julie:

January 24, 2012 at 7:54 am

Hi Dee Ann,

I really enjoy blog hopping, and I’m abit the same way, I tried putting a time limited and ended up not getting the rounds done. Then it was the number of blogs, then to just forget it, do what needs to be done first, then I can go blog hopping till I drop.:-) Abit like facebook, it’s murder trying to start something once conversations start up there. On the other hand, sometime I just think I have no self control and really need to discipline myself!

As I said to Barry, I use to hesitate to leave a comment as I didn’t know what to say, had nothing of value to add to the post. All in the learning process, visit enough blogs, read the comments and replies as well, you soon get the hang of it. In fact I’ve made replies on blogs before purely because of a comment rather than the actual post.

So, I go from not know what to say and scooting out to blithering on. I’m off now before I add devalue to you super post Dee Ann.

Take Care
Julie
Julie recently posted..A Pyramid Scheme: Is That What Network Marketing Is?

[Reply]
Dee Ann Rice Reply:
January 25th, 2012 at 9:46 am
Julie,

I am glad that there is someone else that has the same problems with trying to figure out how to set limits when blog hopping. I could blog hop all day and then never get anything else done. I have not tried doing everything else first maybe should give that a shot.

I was really nervous when I left my first comment also because I did not think I had anything to say. I think we all have something to say if we just trust our selves.

Thanks for the great input and thanks for stopping by.

Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted..Goals For 2012

[Reply]
Leora Wenger:

January 24, 2012 at 1:57 pm

Dee Ann,

I don’t have time to post this week (I’m in the middle of a post on Pinterest that I plan to publish next week), so maybe I’ll use the little time I have this week to blog hop. I think I have to give up the do everything all the time and do it well. Maybe do one thing at a time and do that well…

Best wishes,

Leora
Leora Wenger recently posted..Google+: the Increasing Plusses of Google Plus

[Reply]
Dee Ann Rice Reply:
January 25th, 2012 at 9:49 am
Leora,

It seems like I always have more going than I can really get done.

Personally I think I need to work towards doing one thing at a time and doing it well. I do love blog hopping though.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week.

Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted..My Pet Peeves About Commenting

[Reply]
Susan Silver:

January 24, 2012 at 4:56 pm

Blog Hopping is very enriching! I learn a lot by interacting with other blogs outside my niche. Currently I am involved in a weekly twitter chat where we share our best posts for the week. Then we comment. It is a great way to stay in touch with friends,connect, and build social proof for our blogs.
Susan Silver recently posted..Improve Your Typography with Simple CSS

[Reply]
Dee Ann Rice Reply:
January 25th, 2012 at 9:52 am
Susan,

The Twitter Chat sounds fun as well as being a great way to interact with others and comment on their blogs.

I really like blog hopping because of everything I learn. I think it is the best education I have had in a long time.

I always miss blog hopping when I get really busy and don’t have time for it.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted..Is Your Blog Backed Up?

[Reply]
Corinne Rodrigues:

January 25, 2012 at 12:53 am

Dee Ann – I like the points you’ve raised about blog hopping. I’ve gone to very popular sites in my niche, looked at interesting comments there and followed the links to find like-minded bloggers. Through this I’ve made some really good connections.
To my mind, the focus of our blogging should be the interaction with our readers and with other bloggers. However, I’ve always been confused about the ‘do follow’ versus the ‘nofollow’ argument. You’ve clinched the argument for me. Thank you!

[Reply]
Dee Ann Rice Reply:
January 25th, 2012 at 1:38 pm
Corinne,

I agree blogging should be the an interaction with our readers and other bloggers. It is through that interaction that we develop relationships and our blogs.

Blogging and commenting should be like having a conversation with someone off line.

I am glad that you now understand dofollow and nofollow.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted..My 7 Links – It’s A Challenge

[Reply]
Anna:

January 25, 2012 at 1:44 pm

Hi, Dee! I didn’t know there there is a term “blog hopping” It sounds reasonable and of course valuable and relevant comments are most appreciated!

[Reply]
Dee Ann Rice Reply:
January 28th, 2012 at 1:47 pm
Anna,

The term blog hopping just means going around and leaving a lot of comments. This will then bring traffic back to your site in the form of comments. This traffic will help your site be recognized on the internet.

Of course relevant comments are the best and will have the best chance of actually appearing on the blog you are commenting on.

Thanks for stopping by.

Dee Ann

[Reply]
Adrienne :

January 26, 2012 at 12:35 pm

Hi Dee Ann,

Sorry I’m late getting by but I really appreciate you sharing my comment with your readers.

You KNOW this is an area near and dear to my heart. I had actually learned about blog commenting several years ago but was way too intimidated to contribute. Like you, I joined Alex’s course and Sally insisted that we comment so I had made a pack to myself that no matter how uncomfortable I was I was going to do it anyway. Boy am I glad I did too. Had I not, my blog would not be where it is today.

I know that when I was first taught this it was mainly for the backlinks. Sure, we all want those pointing to our site I agree but there is so much more to this than just backlinks. Knowing that you are helping others learn and building up relationships with other bloggers can really benefit you in the long run.

When you are just genuine with your comments, people will notice and want to come check out your blog too. It’s all about the connections we make.

Thanks for pointing this out and for the bloggers comments you highlighted here.

~Adrienne
Adrienne recently posted..How Bloggers and Content Marketers Can Generate Unlimited Video Ideas

[Reply]
Dee Ann Rice Reply:
January 27th, 2012 at 7:04 am
Adrienne,

I am so far behind that your being a few days late getting to this post is nothing. I have several of your posts to get to yet. Seems the last couple of weeks have been time hogs off line.

I totally agree with you, backlinks are important but the real benefit I have received from commenting are the relationships I have built with other people.

Those relationships are so much more valuable than any backlinks.

Thanks for stopping by and commenting.

Have a great weekend.

Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted..All The Better To Hear You

[Reply]
Leora Wenger Reply:
January 27th, 2012 at 8:09 am
“real benefit I have received from commenting are the relationships I have built with other people” – Just want to add Rah, rah to that…
Leora Wenger recently posted..What Promo Products Suit Your Company Best?

[Reply]
Dee Ann Rice Reply:
January 28th, 2012 at 1:59 pm
Leora,

I think the relationships are the real gold in blog hopping. I will totally agree with you there.

Thanks for stopping by.

Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted..Is Your Blog Backed Up?

[Reply]
Harleena Singh:

January 27, 2012 at 1:22 am

Loved the post Dee Ann!

Hey- I never knew about blog-hopping! Yes, I admit my comments do get a way too long as I love to communicate my thoughts when I visit blogs and leave comments there. It almost seems like I am talking to the blog owner- guess I also blog hop then

I loved the wonderful tips you left for everyone to read and that sure is so true. I guess when your comments speak volumes and have meaning, they attract more readers to the blog and get your ranking up as well.

I never really learnt how to comment, but have read so many blogs where people truly pour their thoughts right out and have always loved that. It makes an immediate connection with the readers and blog owners. And of course Adrienne is one such example

I have yet to make my blog a ‘dofollow’, though I too am worried about the spamming part. I guess I would need to install the proper anti-spam plugin for that and get started as well.

Thanks for this wonderful post and new information that I learnt just today.

Have a nice weekend
Harleena Singh recently posted..Accepting the 7 Links Challenge

[Reply]
Dee Ann Rice Reply:
January 28th, 2012 at 1:52 pm
Harleena,

I think you are talking to the blog owner when you comment. You are also adding content to the post. Many time if you read all of the comments on a post you will find out a lot more than if you just read the post.

I enjoy your comments and have not found them to be to long.

Dofollow really is not something to be afraid of. If you are monitoring your comments you will not have a problem. I did a post on dofollow if you want to go and look at it.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week end.

Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted..Goals For 2012

[Reply]
Barry Ranns:

January 27, 2012 at 11:27 am

Hi Dee Ann,

I must admit I am still a bit of a shrinking violet where blog hooping is concerned.

I know all the benefits enjoyed, and I know I should do more, but it can take me a day to come up with a post for my blog, so making comments with value doesn’t come easy at the moment.

I will improve as time goes by, and make better, and more meaningful comments,

Barry
Barry Ranns recently posted..I Don’t Know What To Blog About!

[Reply]
Dee Ann Rice Reply:
January 28th, 2012 at 1:56 pm
Barry,

My only advice for you is to start blog hopping. You will learn so much from other people.

You will also learn how to write a comment if you are having problems with that and you will get lots of ideas for posts.

The comments that you write look fine to me but as you comment more and learn more you will be able to expand on things.

If there is something that you do not know how to do and then you learn do a post on that. Most likely others do not know how to do it either. There are a lot of people reading your post not just those of us commenting.

If you need any help just let me know I am more than willing to help.

Thanks for stopping by.

Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted..All The Better To Hear You

[Reply]
Pauline Bennett:

January 31, 2012 at 12:51 am

Hi Dee Ann
I have just discovered your blog while “blog hopping” and read your post on the same subject!
I did not know much about blog hopping until Barry Wells introduced me to it and now I am slowly getting used to doing it every day, I am learning so much and connecting with lots of great people, plus hopefully increasing the traffic to my blog.

Thanks for all the information, I will be back!

Regards

Pauline
Pauline Bennett recently posted..Some Do’s And Dont’s Of List Building

[Reply]
Dee Ann Rice Reply:
February 7th, 2012 at 3:51 pm
Pauline,

I love to blog hop, unfortunately lately I have not gotten much of it done.

I have been trying to work on an ebook and a couple of other things. I have to get back with it.

Blog hopping is a great way to learn lots.

Thank you for stopping by and have a great week.

Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted..Duh, It Was In Front Of My Face The Whole Time

[Reply]
Pauline Reply:
February 7th, 2012 at 11:04 pm
Hi Dee Ann
Good luck with your ebook, I know what it’s like to try and fit everything into our day, we just have to prioritize
Regards
Pauline
Pauline recently posted..Most Popular Questions Asked By Online Marketers

[Reply]
Dee Ann Rice Reply:
February 8th, 2012 at 6:47 am
Pauline,

That is true. It just seems like sometimes I have to many things that are of a high priority.

Just got to get some of all of them done all of the time I guess.

Have a great day.

Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted..Duh, It Was In Front Of My Face The Whole Time

[Reply]
Ian Ieba:

February 6, 2012 at 5:12 am

Hi DeeAnn

Sorry it’s taken me a while to get here after returning from my vacation. Things have been pretty hectic for me and I have been playing catch up! Plus last week I broke my hand!

When I first started blog hopping I didn’t really know what to expect being new to it, and I was a little nervous at first about leaving comments but my nervousness soon disappeared as I started to get to know the people behind the blogs I was visiting.

To me the real benefit of blog hopping is building the relationships with those people. Through blog hopping I have made some great online friends and they have not only taught me a great deal along the way but they are a constant support.

Through blog hopping; I now interact with a wider group of friends, advisers, readers and dare I say butt kickers (when I’m slacking, and there’s no shortage of those is there Dawn, Barry!)

If I had not started blog hopping and visited Kathy Dobson’s blog I would not have met her in person over Christmas and New Year! Now that’s the real benefit of blog hopping – A Friend for life

Thanks DeeAnn have a great week, catch up again real soon…

Ian
Ian Ieba recently posted..Orlando Vacation and Meeting Kathy! Read All About It!

[Reply]
Dee Ann Rice Reply:
February 7th, 2012 at 3:55 pm
Ian,

Don’t worry about taking so long, as you can see I am way behind my self.

I have really been working in some other areas and have to get back to doing this on a daily basis.

I think the most valuable thing that I have received out of blog hopping would definitely be the relationships. I have met so many great friends while blog hopping and learned so much from them.

I also learn a lot from reading all of the posts but meeting the people who write them is even better.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week.

Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted..Duh, It Was In Front Of My Face The Whole Time

[Reply]
Kari:

February 6, 2012 at 2:56 pm

Looks like I’ve been blog hopping for the past month then. I had never really dedicated a lot of time to comments before this year – I just thought that posting articles and keeping my blog up to date was more important. I was wrong.

Like you said I’ve started getting more comments. Granted some people leave comments (in their own blog hopping process) and don’t come back to check out the replies I leave, but still they come and check out the blog in the first place where they would not have even known about my blog before.

Besides more traffic and content on my site – I too have learned ALOT in the past month…all stuff I would not have even thought of before. I have a few different blogs so it’s not just one thing that I’m learning. I’m learning all sorts of stuff to apply to my blogs and my life – which is pretty cool.

I’ve never been one to leave comments like “Thanks for sharing!” and I think that if people just took a few extra minutes to read the article and leave a good comment then they would notice a huge difference in their blogs.
Kari recently posted..Positive Manifestation: Manifesting What You REALLY Want

[Reply]
Dee Ann Rice Reply:
February 7th, 2012 at 4:01 pm
Kari,

Welcome to the world of blog hopping. It is really fun and rewarding. I am so glad that you have discovered it.

I love reading other peoples posts and making comments. More than that thought I love getting to know the people writing the posts. Seems the post take on a lot more meaning when I know the person who wrote it.

Blog hopping will definitely get you more traffic to your blog even if it is only other blog hoppers who are leaving the comments. I many times go back and read the relpys the blog owner makes to my comments. I like reading what they write.

If I have taken the time to write the comment I want to read the reply.

You are right if some of these people would just take the time to read the post they might write a better comment but, some of them would have to get a blog and give up the sales page before I would post their comments on my blog.

Thanks for stopping by and good to meet you.

Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted..Duh, It Was In Front Of My Face The Whole Time

[Reply]
Create Attractive Visual Images for Your Blog Posts:

February 12, 2012 at 5:22 am

[...] tool. If you want an example of a great post on blog hopping, try Dee Ann Rice’s post on Blog Hopping or Ian Ieba’s post on Developing Alliances and Friendships with Other [...]
Fernando :

February 14, 2012 at 9:21 am

Hey, Dee Ann! I knew about this thing, but I didn’t thought it has a name. Always a pleasure reading you
Fernando recently posted..Dryer and Washer Combos Buying Guide

[Reply]