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I happen to think that many small business folks would find networking on the web as valuable as networking at, say, the next Chamber event. There are many ways to do networking on the web but I happen to think one of the easiest is to participate in blogs you enjoy by frequently posting relevant content. Blog comment posting is very much like standing around chatting with a group of folks at a networking event (except you don’t have to balance the Swedish meatball plate on your wine glass.)
When you target blogs you enjoy reading and bloggers you would like to have a relationship with and participate appropriately in the conversation you will find that your writing improves, you gain access to thought leaders and you will likely receive the benefit of spillover traffic from some of the blogs where you leave comments. (Don’t post sales pitches and direct links to your site - the blogging software will point to your site much like a business card, let it do the work of linking)
Now, here’s a tip to make your commenting task go a bit easier. WordPress and TypePad, the two big blog softwares automatically throw off RSS feeds for comments as well as content. You can subscribe to the comment feed of any blog you follow and automatically get new comments in your RSS reader so that you can react to the ones that need your input.
Here’s the URL for mine and the format for any WorpPress blog - http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/blog/comments/feed/
Comments
This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 24th, 2007 at Oct 24, 07 | 9:07 am and is filed under Blogging, Referral Marketing, WordPress. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
I enjoy reading and commenting on blogs when I run across useful information.
Excellent idea! I hadn’t thought of blog comments being syndicated. Seems it’s true, the more you write, the more KNOWN you become.
Get Known,
Rob
Also, Posting comments whether they are relevant or not drives web traffic to your site.
I totally agree with this post. Used to be that you had to cold call or cold e-mail someone to make a connection. It was difficult, and many people lacked the fortitude to do it. Even if you were a smart person with something intelligent to say, chances are you didn’t break through.
Now you can simply join the conversation. You can show your smarts (or wit, or cynicism, or whatever) and allow people to find you. And it’s so much easier than butting into a conversation at a cocktail party.
Surprising more people don’t do it. You don’t even need to have a blog…
John - agreed. Except the part about the Chamber events. On the web, we get to “listen” to the people who we find interesting and insightful, and join in the conversation. At the Chamber event, I get cornered and have to listen to countless sales pitches.
It seems like the blogosphere is a more civalized place in that sense.
Yes!
I got started doing it because I knew how good it felt when someone wrote a comment on my blog at the beginning. I wanted to share that feeling whenever I read something I agreed with or had a thought about.
I quickly learned that this struck up a conversation that was even better than just feeling good.
Eventually, I figured out that this was also driving traffic to my own blog, even when I didn’t offer a link in the comment.
Strike up a conversation. It’s a good thing.
Cheers,
BW
i agree that posting on blogs, as well as authoring blogs is a great form of networking. i am not certain i would compare it to a business event for your local chamber of commerce or other networking group though. blogging/commenting i feel to be a direct route to someone that either has information you are looking to find out, looking to talk to about, looking to teach about a ceratin component of what the topic is… a chamber event are usually not directed say at the IT industry, or Accounting Industry, etc. you are in a venue which is comprised of many different industries.
i am happy to report that the chamber events have driven business to my company, as well as blogging, and commenting on blogs and newsgroups.
i am happy you posted this topic.
I must admit that because my blogging is typically done in a flurry first thing in the morning that I don’t take time to comment, even though I’ve followed quite a few blogs (including this one) for a couple of years.
So many small business owners have complained to me about the futility of attending networking functions where either their targeted prospects aren’t in the room or rookie networkers are viewing them as group sales functions. AAAKKK!
From now on I’m going to try to turn these folks on to blog-comment networking. More efficient, more targeted, and way more interesting.
So, I wasn’t really saying that Chamber events weren’t effective, well, maybe I kind of was, but I didn’t mean it universally.
I find that any group, Chamber, blog community, etc, participated in authentically, will pay dividends.
I just don’t think people think of commenting on blogs as an easy way to network.
You are right on target with this post. I’ve been encouraging clients and members of networking groups to start using blogs for conversation, but I love the idea of using blogs to actually network. It is not an easy or quick method, but over time I can see how developing a mesh of posts, comments and links will create a community around a specific topic. Everyone in the community will benefit from the conversation. (In Google results as well!)
[...] Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing posts about how Posting relevant comments on blogs is networking. There are many ways to do networking on the web but I happen to think one of the easiest is to [...]
This is a component of what I call a “blog marketing strategy,” and it’s been very effective for my business. In fact, this has been the most significant thing I’ve done to grow and strengthen my network since I started my business last year.
I do think that posting direct links to your blog, website, etc. is okay, however, and I encourage my readers to do it. I’ll not do it on this comment, though, since I want this comment to get through
:)
- Jason Alba
CEO - JibberJobber.com
Author - I’m on LinkedIn — Now What???
I do so agree with you, says she entirely ungrammatically! I have to disagree with the comment from Scott. Posting irrelevant comments is one of the biggest turnoffs I know. It’s like I’m talking to Tracy at our local Business4Women networking meeting about SEO (a subject she specialises in) and someone barges in and says, “Oh, by the way, you may be interested in the fact that I sell heating equipment”. Reaction from both of us would be unprintable!
Hazel, I can definitely see your point. I guess I was making more of a footnote comment about comments driving website traffic. I feel that Blog comments can definitely drive others to your(the commenter’s) website or blog. When someone makes an inane comment on a Blog I always check their website. It’s the same if they offer good advice or comments. And if the saying ‘all publicity is good publicity’ is true maybe it applies to the Blogsphere too? I have seen flame wars on blogs and forums that drove massive traffic to both parties websites. And Google doesn’t care.
Scott
I notice that you say *If* all publicity is good. Personally I don’t believe that it is but this may not be the right place to have a philosophical discussion about it. Yes, flame wars drive massive traffic — for a short time but unless the underlying source is interesting and sustainable then the traffic will die off. Mind you I’m not the right person to be commenting on this as I use both my blogs more as signposts and noticeboards than as spaces for original comment.
Keep well.
I hadn’t really thought of blog commenting from a chamber of commerce networking prospective (as opposed to an internet marketing prospective) but it is a great idea. So many people are blogging now it’s inevitable a client or prospective client may be reading &/or sharing with you. Besides it someone is really interested in what you have to offer, they’ll make an effort to contact you. Although a link or your site &/or blog is always helpful in letting people see where you’re coming from.
I definitely see the value in commenting on other people’s blogs, both from a networking standpoint and from a web-traffic perspective.
On the flip-side, how do you encourage people to comment on your own blog? I’ve tried numerous things including simply asking, but just can’t seem to generate any commentary.
Any suggestions?
[...] - Get more.. Blog-Tipping: Catalyze, A Social Network for Software Development and Usabi.. Posting relevant comments on blogs is networking | Duct Tape Marketing Blo.. Marketing With RSS Feeds - Creating A Direct Link To Your Customers - R6K.N.. How To Use RSS Feeds [...]
marketing to people, not customers
I’m loving the rash of posts on personal, people oriented marketing. The common theme here is this: you’re not marketing to customers, you’re seeking a relationship with a person. Here’s a quick roundup: AdverGirl’s tip for successful B2B - treat
I agree 100% with this post. When I check out the referral sources on my blog traffic, I always find traffic coming through from links I left on blogs months ago. Obviously, posting to more popular blogs is more effective, but still, participating in the conversation pays benefits for both the commenter and the commentee. One of the great things about blogging. (And how irksome is it when you come across a blog which doesn’t accept comments or trackbacks?)
[...] Tape Marketing has an insightful post pointing out that Posting relevant comments on blogs is networking. When you comment on others’ blogs, you’re not only contributing to the conversation, [...]
So many small business owners have complained to me about the futility of attending networking functions where either their targeted prospects aren’t in the room or rookie networkers are viewing them as group sales functions. From now on I’m going to try to turn these folks on to blog-comment networking. More efficient, more targeted, and way more interesting.
I absolutely enjoy the fact that blogs are an excellent method to network. We live in an age where we are able to take our businesses to another level with blogging.
It can depend on whether you sell easy to buy low cost goods or services, or high end stuff. There’s a lot of truth in the saying, the money’s in the face. For PR services, which are mainly 1-2-1 with CEOs/MDs the personal relationship is important. And while I do have clients I’ve never met, I’ve never had really big contracts without personal meetings and usually personal recommendations, despite being a pro-active commentator for years on various forums.
Excellent information. Posting comments definately drives traffic to your site.
[...] Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing posts about how Posting relevant comments on blogs is networking. There are many ways to do networking on the web but I happen to think one of the easiest is to [...]
I’ve recently joined and wanted to introduce myself