What’s a Blogging Comment Worth These Days?
In my case, the comment was worth a link placement on the blogroll of a popular “make money online” website.
So here’s my story. Some of you may already be aware that our friend Tish often posts excellent recommended reading links over at BloggingGal.com. Well, earlier today I followed one of those links to a post on AaronCook.com titled, “Make Money: Online Money Makers That Work.” Well, imagine my ghastly surprise when I am greeted with this…
[Edited for the gentle eyes of the Blogging Startup readers.]
After reading what turned out to be an excellent post on affiliate programs and pay-per-click advertising that actually works, I settled in to post my comment…
Hi, I’m with the Asian-Pacific Anti-Defamation League of American Asian-Pacific People (APADLAAPP), and we find your photo representing two clearly emotionally disturbed individuals from the AP community as offensive, insulting and defamatatingingish. We, (okay, it’s just me…but I have an office) demand that you immediately remove said photo or be subject to scorn and ridicule from..from…well, from people like me.”
Well, even though the post was already a week old, Aaron (take note new bloggers) was still reading and responding to comments. Apparently he liked my comment. (But, I should add, did NOT take down the offensive photo!) Later I got an email from Aaron again saying he enjoyed my comment, had visited Blogging Startup, and because he liked the content on the site had decided to add BS to his blogroll.
So, 1 comment = 1 blog link.
(Using my Paul Harvey voice.) And now, for the rest of the story…
In addition to the comment, I stumbled (StumbleUpon.com) the article before I left. It never hurts to share a little social media lovin’ when you like something on another blog. (Hint)
In summary, here’s what we have learned:
- Tish writes great “Recommended Reading” posts.
- Leaving a comment on a blog can lead to great networking and other benefits in the future.
- Leave comments even if the post is older (’cause all good bloggers go back and read those comments anyway).
- Leave relevant comments that add to the conversation. Avoid leaving comments that just say “nice post”. Take a minute to add an opinion or even disagree.
- Bloggers love it when you stumble their posts. (DO I HAVE TO BE ANY MORE OBVIOUS HERE!?!)
- And finally, Aaron collects photos of strange men doing strange things. (BTW, to see the original, unedited photo, you need to visit Aaron’s blog.
Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically to your feed reader.
Comments
Aww shucks Jim, you make me sound so nice! Lucky for you, I caught this post right before I mailed out the bill for that blogroll/link addition. *tears up bill* 
But seriously, your post here is quite excellent, and all bloggers should pay close attention to it. Leaving relevant comments (not just “nice post,” etc.) is always the way to go, and any blogger worth his/her will read and reply to as many of them as humanly possible.
Personally, I make it a point to reply to every single comment left on my blog, no matter how old the post is. Always have. Bottom line, it’s important to interact with your readers and to let them know that their thoughts/opinions have not gone unnoticed. Plus, sometimes they come right back with a nice post about it, like this one here! 
So, not only is it important to take the time to leave good comments, but equally important to reply to comments and interact as much as possible. And this post is direct proof of that.
“Bloggers love it when you stumble their posts.” <— Very true. And that’s why this post has also been stumbled!
Shine on,
Aaron
You raise some excellent points here, Jim and I’d stumble this page myself, except for the fact that I am appalled and downright outraged that you have a photo of me and my younger brother on your page. Furthermore, you claim to be from the APADLAAPP, which is so not true, as we’ve tried for years to contact them in hopes of having said photo removed from the entirety of the internet.
@Andrew: You have to contact me in order to have it removed. And you need to know the “magic word” as well.
@Aaron – I was hoping my kind words would get you to comp that blogroll link. 
Hey, thanks for the thoughtful (and rather long, I might add) comment on this post. Oh, I will be sending you a bill for the hosting required for that long comment!
@Andrew – I am a card carrying member of APADLAAPP (or as we say, a-PAD-lap). But from that photo, I can tell you and your brother would have few places to carry a membership card.
Great post there Jim! I agree with Aaron that any good blogger will read over all new comments on all posts, even older ones. I was just thinking a minute ago how leaving comments is also great because it encourages you to read more. It’s really a win win situation – you’re learning more by reading new articles, and gaining 1 new backlink for each article you leave a comment on.
Great story Jim. And I like the way you invented a new word too: defamatatingingish. I’m not sure I could pronounce it tho.
[...] What’s a Blogging Comment Worth These Days? – Jim shares a personal experience in which one well thought out comment landed him a link on a popular website’s blogroll. [...]
Wo Great blog, check out my site if your interested in making some money Realcashmoney.bravehost.com
Above blog sharing task news looks for really wonderful. I known many blog concern information gather from here!
Haha! Awesome post, Jim! I am laughing out loud here! Thanks very much for the links and the kind words. I really love your sense of humor and how it comes through in each of your posts!
Oh, and that “advice, resources, and warnings for those starting a blog” couldn’t be more right. Thanks for warning your readers about that photo!
Hehe…