Get into the blog circuit or do my own thing?

[Mounds]

When I refer to the blog circuit, I'm talking about a certain phenomenon I've noticed. From my outside-looking-in view, it seems like a lot of comments are left in order to promote one's own blog.

Here's what I'm thinking... should I go that route or blaze my own trail? I'd feel kind of dirty leaving behind comments just for self-promotion. Another thing is that I've heard most blogs don't really go anywhere. That suggests to me that a lot of what bloggers are doing is ineffective. I know for myself that I have never, ever started reading someone's blog based on a comment they left behind on a different blog.

My blog is less than two weeks old now and I'm pulling 15-20 visitors a day. I'm not sure if that's good or bad (enlighten me if you don't mind ). All I've been doing is posting on here and people click through the sig. Once I do start on the promotion end of things, I'll be creating videos for Youtube, writing guest posts and dabbling in social media. I think that makes a lot more sense than appearing all over the place with comments that look like:

Great post, ____! I really liked how you described _______ and ______. Way to go!

-Tim

Please, enlighten me. Should I do what I see many other bloggers doing or simply experiment and see what works for me? One thing I have going for me is that I'm completely unattached to the idea of this blog becoming a business. Maybe it will, maybe it won't. At this time, it exists to serve as a learning/entertainment tool for myself and others.

[WarrenG]

Leaving comments is more for the sake of the blog's owner than it's reader. It helps you get to know them and then they will check your blog out, and if they like it maybe link to you.

I don't recommend comments, especially the example you gave! Looks like spam. After you've been blogging a while you get a good sense of what's a genuine comment and what's essentially a spam one. Therefore, the bloggers that you most want to get the attention of are the ones who are most likely to see through your pretense.

If you find a blog you genuinely like and want to discuss the topics more, that's a better way. I think it's better to get more involved in 2-3 blogs you really love than spread out and start commenting on 20 blogs you're not bothered about.

The other thing is DoFollow blogs - normally your URL in the comment link is nofollow, but some blogs switch this off. So you can leave loads of comments on these blogs which gets some easy backlinks. There are dofollow blog directories out there, just Google. But you'll see how low the comment quality of these sites is. Speaking of which, you can make your own blog a dofollow, then add it to these directories, but just don't approve crappy comments or ones who use a keyword for a name - I HATE that, and people do it even though I specifically say not to, pisses me off.

15-20 visitors is pretty good for two weeks with no real effort on marketing!

[Andrew Gubb]

I get about 50 unique visitors a day. My biggest way of promotion is through the forums. I have a few people who follow me on facebook and twitter too. I also have my link in my email sig, and various other things. Google seems to like me so I get a decent bit from search engine traffic too.

I don't purport to be a master, but I've done quite a few things. I hear guest posting is the best way of getting traffic; it's still a little outside of my comfort zone or skill though.

Comments on blogs just to get a link i agree are pointless. I try to make a point to always make an effort to comment when I have something to say, but if I don't have anything to say I pass. I don't go and seek out blogs just to comment on, either.

[SatvikBeri]

Blog comments are easy but woefully ineffective. Remember what Ramit says about disproportionate results? Guest posts are really the way to go, it may be 10 times the work but it'll return 1000 times the results.

[ssandra]

One thing to keep in mind is what do you like doing?

What you like doing will be most effective, because that's the thing you'll stick with.

[Mounds]

Originally Posted by SatvikBeri

Blog comments are easy but woefully ineffective. Remember what Ramit says about disproportionate results? Guest posts are really the way to go, it may be 10 times the work but it'll return 1000 times the results.

Yep, I remember that! I'm hoping to one day do guest posting, although that's a little ways in the future.

One thing to keep in mind is what do you like doing?

What you like doing will be most effective, because that's the thing you'll stick with.

Right now, Youtube and guest articles are my calling

[danthony]

Well, leaving comments also helps with backlinks when you link back to your site. Promoting your blog is fairly easy and they are tons of ways of promoting it: guest posting, commenting, twitter and facebook campaigns and the list goes on. Sounds like you're off to a good start 15-20 visitors is not bad per day.