| Posting comments in Forums and Blogs is a great | | | | where you can give real contributions. When you |
| strategy to drive traffic to your blog or website. | | | | post your replies your signature will show and |
| Not only you get to know your competitors, | | | | there is the link to your blog. |
| possible JVs and people that is interested in the | | | | - After some time, and if your comments are |
| niche, but all the traffic that comes from forums | | | | perceived as valuable and interesting, people will |
| and blogs in your niche is targeted traffic. | | | | start to click in your link. |
| Participating in Forums has been a known strategy | | | | - Again, it's time for the conversion game. If you |
| for Backlink building. Sometimes you just need to | | | | have a good reason for people to join your list, |
| find a Forum with a high Page Rank, create an | | | | then it will grow. |
| account in the Forum, edit your signature or any | | | | There is one exception to what I said about |
| other place where you can post a link to your site | | | | posting a direct link to your blog: if you participate |
| and that's it. | | | | in a discussion where people are asking for |
| Supposedly the Search Engines will follow that link | | | | something you have in your blog, go ahead and |
| to your site or blog and think "Hey, this is a very | | | | say "Hey, visit my blog in and get that, I have it |
| nice forum, if it's linking with this blog, then this is | | | | there for you." |
| a very nice blog". And maybe that's okay for | | | | Commenting in blogs follows most of the same |
| backlink and if you're trying to rank your blog in | | | | rules I outlined above except that you don't |
| Google or other Search Engines for a specific | | | | create an account, you post a link to your site or |
| keyword. | | | | blog when you leave a comment. Once again, |
| This is not what we want now. We need people | | | | post real value comments. Most of the blogs have |
| to click in our link and visit our blog or website. | | | | moderation for comments and the owners just |
| And just creating an account in a Forum, even | | | | delete or don't approve comments like "Hey, nice |
| with page rank 8, and do not interact with people | | | | blog. Keep the good work". This is a little bit rude. |
| in that forum will not drive visitors to us, right? So | | | | Blogs also means some kind of relationship. |
| we need to make posts in the Forums. | | | | Imagine you're talking with a group of friends and |
| BUT.... we must make posts that have interest to | | | | someone you don't know comes in and say: "Hey, |
| people in the Forum and that creates interest in | | | | nice shoes you're wearing. Visit my store at...." Not |
| our personality. Do not post things like: | | | | good. |
| Hey, this is a nice forum with very nice people, | | | | The problem with this strategy, again, is that it |
| please visit my blog in Obviously it will no work. | | | | takes time. It's like what Alex Jeffreys call "Oil Rig |
| And chances are the moderator will delete your | | | | hoping". You start leaving your comments, if they |
| account. | | | | are clever and interesting people start to reply |
| My recommendation is: | | | | directly to your comments, which raises attention, |
| - Find forums that are related with your blog (for | | | | you continue to interact, the snowball starts |
| example, Forums related with Dog Training or | | | | moving, and chances are that people click in your |
| Louisiana Golf Players). | | | | link because they become curious about you. |
| - Browse the forum, see what kind of comments | | | | But you know what's happen with a snowball |
| and topics people post. There are very bad | | | | down the hill... it can cause an avalanche! |
| forums around and you don't want to be | | | | So go there, find interesting blogs and forums, |
| associated with them. | | | | participate and get involved and prepare |
| - If it seems okay, create an account and put a | | | | something real valuable to offer to your blog |
| link to your blog in your signature. | | | | visitors. Your list will start grow with people that |
| - Browse the topics and participate in discussions | | | | are grateful. |