As bloggers we write posts on our blogs and comment on others blogs.
That is what we are told to do in the courses that we take and that is what everyone else is doing so it must be the right thing to do.
Have you ever thought about just why bloggers go to all of this trouble to write posts and comment on others posts?
Maybe it is to get your Alexa ranking higher or is it to increase the Google page rank of your blog.
These are both good reasons but are they really the most important reason. Maybe they are the by product of the real reason we do all of the work.
Building Relationships
I think the main reason we post on our blogs and leave comments on other peoples blogs is to Build Relationships.
It is through these relationships that we network with others doing the same thing we are or those who are looking for something we have to offer. Networking is a very important part of any business, including an online business.
In a traditional business people walk in the door to a shop and relationships can be built face to face. Online we have to use a little bit different approach to networking with others.
As bloggers we can network with others through our posts and comments. This then leads to even higher Alexa rankings and Google Page Rank.
How To Build Better Relationships
So, you are writing posts and comments like crazy but, are these posts and comments as effective as they could be?
As I blog hop I see some blogs that are really easy to comment on or I may even go back and reply to the authors reply to my comment. Then there are other blogs that it seems harder to comment on and I very rarely find myself going back.
I started asking my self “Why is that?”. I came up with several ideas. My first was some people are just better at building those relationships. I think there is some truth in this but, I also noticed that these same people were doing a few things others weren’t.
Several things I noticed that I felt worked really well when wanting to actually build relationships through blogging are:
Ask questions!
People love to answer questions. At the end of a blog post ask a couple of questions to give others ideas on what to comment. Someone might comment that would not of otherwise.
When replying to comments on your post ask questions. The person may come back and reply to your reply. In doing this you are interacting with the people who are commenting on your blog.
When you go to another blog and comment ask a question in your comment. This will start a conversation with the author.
Use a plugin to let others know when you reply to their comment!
The plugin I like for this is ReplyMe. This plugin sends the commenter an email when the post author replys to their comment. This email includes the reply. This way they can read the reply right in their email and then decide if they want to go back to the blog and leave another reply.
Are You Getting The Most Out Of Your Posts & Comments?
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Dee Ann,
I think your post hits on the most important part of blogging, and that is to build relationships with our readers, subscribers and everyone else we interact with.
I don’t think I started seeing any form of success before I started building these relationships.
Not only did I start finding success but,as you know, whilst I’m laid up and unable to attend to my blog I’ve had others come to my aid…. Which wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t started building relationships with people.
ReplyMe is a fantastic plugin that allows us to continue our conversation with our readers and bring them back to our blogs. Just as we’re currently doing over at my place Dee Ann (I’ll reply to your latest comment next).
In your closing paragraph you said that you’re not as good at this you need to be, but Dee Ann I think you’re a really good blogger (and I’m not just saying that) you interact, you reply to comments, return visits, teach us various things through your posts and set an example for people to follow.
Great post Dee Ann
Respect and Regards,
Barry
Barry,
Thank you for your complement. I tend to be really hard on myself. I think it is what keeps me going though. I am really competitive and always want to do better than I did the last time. It is good to hear that others think I do a good job.
I really do think it is all in relationship building and think so many people really miss that. I know I missed it for a long time and like you it was only when I realized that it was about relationship building that I started to get somewhere.
I see you being really great at relationship building and your blog shows it.
Thanks for stopping by and your comment.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award
Absolutely Dee Ann!
I totally agree with Barry that blogging is all about building relationships and helping each other out, more than anything else. I remember the time when I started blogging and was more of an Introvert, till I learned to open up and just be myself with people online.
I also use ReplyMe and I think the best thing is that you can see the reply to the comments you leave at other posts.
And yes, you are wonderful at interacting and commenting too. But yes, sometimes we get caught up with things at home and other priorities often take place, which leaves us less time in hand. It happens with me too, so we all do understand that part of things. And with your new product coming up, it’s all understandable too.
Thanks for sharing and reminding us about an important aspect of blogging.
Harleena Singh recently posted…Don’t Get on That Train!
Harleena,
I remember my first few posts and comments. I was so nervous and had no idea what I was doing. Eventually I figured out being myself and just saying what I thought worked the best.
Ya, life gets in the way but I guess we just learn to deal with it. I think those are the times that what we have done as far as building relationships is even more important. If it were not for those relationships we would be starting over from scratch rather than somewhere around where we left off.
Thanks for the comment Harleena and have a great day.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…Building Relationships Through Blog Comments!
Hey Dee Ann,
I couldn’t agree with you more. That’s why I blog. I’m here to make those connections and build those relationships.
I had a lady contact me today who just needed a question answered. Do you know that she was at her whits end because everyone she had reached out to ignored her!
My heart goes out to people like that which is why I do what I do Dee Ann. Just helping this lady today made my heart sing. Knowing I helped her when no one else would and it only took me less than five minutes to show her what she wanted to know. Do you know that she’ll come back to me time and time again now because of that!
Will she purchase anything from me? Maybe or maybe not but she’ll remember me and recommend me to her friends because I took that time to pick up the phone, call her and help her. That’s what building relationships online will do for you. Make those connections when others won’t.
Great post Dee Ann and you know one of my favorite topics.
So happy to have you back and hope will see you on a more regular basis now. Always good to hear from you.
~Adrienne
~Adrienne
Adrienne recently posted…13 Steps to Relationship Marketing Success I Learned While Getting My Hair Cut
Adrienne,
This is not a business we can do alone.
That is a shame that all of those people ignored that lady. Those are the people that think this is a solo business. It is not. It is a community business. It takes the whole community to make each of us a success.
With out the community we are nothing and will not make it. Sure we all have to work and it is hard work but we all work side by side.
That lady found her community through you and she will be back, back with friends.
You are so right this is all about relationship building and not going it solo.
It is good to be back and I plan on sticking around. Thank you to all of you who stuck with me through my ordeal and have made it easy for me to come back slowly.
Thanks for the great comment and have a great day.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award
One thing I remember from years of ghostwriting is that I need friends in all areas of knowledge. Writing is a private practice that needs input from other people to stay current. The Internet can change in 5 minutes and run on by while I am researching some obscure point.
I’ve had several Internet friends answer my questions and actually pull me out of the holes I’ve gleefully dug for myself.
Don’t know what I would do without them. Two great bloggers that answer my questions and give me great advice are Barry Wells and Mandy Allen. Don’t know what I would do without them.
Pat Graham
Pat,
Barry and Mandy are definitely great friends to have. I have also really appreciated their advice and suggestions over the time I have been on the internet.
Blogging friends are all very valuable and I don’t know what I would do without them. They are definitely some of my best friends.
It really does take a community to do what we do and we have a great community.
Thanks for your comment and have a great day.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award
Hi Dee Ann,
This subject hits the part that i don’t like too much. Build up relationships, but everyone says is vital in internet business. I am ok in building them in traditional face-to-face, but here…oh no…
The other day i was thinking that is useless to build relationships in order to earn your living online, if i don’t have clear my passion. Is that correct?
Thanks,
Angel.
Angel,
Building relationships online is as easy as off line. I find somethings harder than others but it is the same off line somethings are harder than others.
For me Facebook is a hard platform and I really do not know why. Maybe because I just don’t do it enough. I would rather leave comments on blogs and meet people that way. I will also email people and ask them questions.
Not everyone is going to be in your same niche. I have friends in several niches. We have one thing in common though and that is we are online.
Without relationships there really is no future.
You have started building relationships because you commented on my blog. Great to know you.
Thanks for your comment and have a great day.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…When Life Happens!
Well Hello Dee Ann, once again I am glad its not just me!
Sometimes I will read a post and come up stumped when its time to leave my thoughts, I know the content was good but as the post ended on a closed note, it left me no wriggle room to comment on.
I noticed a thread on the warriorforum about blog commenting of course they were focussed on backlinking, it was sad that my reply about connecting and learning from others sounded like a revelation amongst all the self-centered replies.
By engaging with others and effectively masterminding through posts and comments we can over time create a network of people that we can offer to help and call upon in times of need.
By the way, definitely going to switch to the replyme plugin as I love how Adrienne has implemented it, will be interesting to see how you have personalised it as well.
igor
igor Griffiths recently posted…The Day Your World Ended
Igor,
There really is so much more to commenting on posts than building backlinks isn’t there? You definitely need backlinks but the relationships are just as important. I think it is something that a lot of people miss.
It is also not just about making comments but having others leave them on your post. I feel the same as you sometimes I think a post is ended on a closed note and it is almost like they don’t really want comments.
Thanks for your thoughts and have a great day.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award
Hey Ann,
Yes i do agree building relationships through comments. When i started my blog before few months, i was like lone guy wondering here and there with a hope that someone will comment on my blog.
But then i came across your blog and then i realized how important it is building relationship through comments. Thank you for the wonderful post.
Sunil recently posted…Has Facebook Started Turning Grey?
Sunil,
I really think that the main purpose of commenting is to build the relationships. It is through those relationships that we make progress in our online business’.
I am glad that you learned something from my post.
Thanks for stopping by and for your thoughts.
Dee Ann
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Blog comments is a good start to build relationships because of the sharing of information and ideas that’s related to your post. Some will be curious of who are they and thus will check and reach them through their site.
Yes, well I think my current blog leaves quite a lot to be desired as to user friendly commenting and I’m planning on updgrading to a WordPress blog with the CommentLuv premium plug in; that is unless Blogger get more friendly. What I mean by that is I don’t believe my commenters get notified when I reply and I don’t have the flexibility to give them a DF link that counts back to their blog anymore. This last one is the real pain as I can’t reward my commenters properly.
Roz,
I have never used blogger but I think it is a lot more restrictive than wordpress.
I think you will like wordpress when you change.
Some people are looking for those links and will only comment on blogs that give them a link back. I personally think that that is wrong and I comment on any blog no matter if there is a link back.
Thanks for your comment and have a great day.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…YouTube Thumbnails