Someone said, “Build it and they will come.”

Sorry to break it to you, they won’t.

Even if you have the best blog in the world, even if you are theleading expert of “ThingyWhatsIts”

Why?

I  like to think of a party, or some other meeting place, it’s packed, and everyone is talking.

You are standing in the door way, looking for an expert in “ThingyWhatsIts”

Can you hear him, that expert, the no1 authority?

I am guessing no. If you can hear someone, it is because they are the loudest, not even the best at times. There will probably be a group around him, all quietly listening to every word. You may even hear some of them calling get you, saying, “You gotta listen to this guy!”

And  you do. You stop looking for THE expert, who sits there quietly saying, “I built it, so where are they?”

That is you, and the internet, only a million times worse, and with more and more blogs everyday, it will only get worse.

They Will Only Come If They Know Where It IS

You Have to get YOU out there. You need people to know you, and your blog exist.

Some people turn to advertising, which can be great, IF you have the money to do it.

However, you know that LOUD guy at the party, he is already earning from his site, and can out spend you on advertising.

So You have hardly any visitors, and now you are loosing money instead of making some.

Most quit at this stage, but not you!

You Need Some Visitors To Your Site, WITHOUT Paying For Them. 

One method, which is not new at all, is blog syndication.

You join a group, and you comment on someone else’s blog, and they comment on yours.

Google will see the traffic and the comments, and increase your rank. Slightly.

One problem is that is is always the same people, same IP addresses (ip address is like the street address on the internet) and.google will recognise the pattern. Then, often, new comments from the same people will not count, so you are now wasting time.

I am in a group (The NetWorking SuperStars with Gavin Mountford that offers this as part of “The System” but has a cleaver rotation system to stop, or limit, the “same people again” problem.

More than that we support others and get support in return. MORE HERE.

Now you have some visitors, better yet, you have some comments. And often they are great ego boosters – the commentees will be positive, supportive, and generally AGREE with you, and your points.

And…… No one ELSE comes. This blog syndication doesn’t work!

Let me tell you a secret, the reason why this strategy doesn’t work…..

You are doing it wrong!

It’s your fault, all your fault!

Some people don’t like hearing something is their fault. If it is someone else’s fault they are more comfortable. Let me help you see what is wrong with that.

If it is the country’s fault, how are you going to to fix that? You need to be Prime Minister or President. How’s that going?

If it is your company’s fault, how you going to fix that? You need to be the C.E.O. How’s that going?

You see, if it is your fault, YOU can fix it!

So that is GREAT!

So first, let me check…..

• You are in a blog syndication system? – I am in This One – Join
  us!
• You are commenting on others Blogs?
• You are getting some, and sometimes it is only some, comments back?
• And your posts are Worth commenting on in the first place? ( do you give free info, provide value, or try to sell with every breath?)

So you are doing the system, you just might not be working the system.

I like to work the system using a technique I call H!i Jacking.

Hi! Jack Your Way to New Blog Visitors. 

Now, you are leaving comments on other people’s blogs, but what ARE you saying?

You see, often we comment to on people’s blogs because wehave to, not because we want to, so give It little thought.

So let’s say you visit on comment on Bob’s Blog. (Bob is my go to hyperthetical example name) You say,

• “Great advice Bob.”
• “Good advice Bob.”
• “Terrific insight Bob.”
• “Wonderful post Bob!”

Bob is very happy. Especially if he knows about Hi Jacking!

I come to Bob’s blog. It is great, I think, well…. It MUST be, there are so many comments all basically saying – great….

• No one is having REAL conversations though.
• And no one seems to disagree.
• And no one is saying, “Yeah, but it’s ok for you….” (almost seems compulsory on a successful persons blog!

You know what, it all kinda looks phoney. And, it is always the same people saying great post too… I bet they are not even real people….

Yikes – big backfire!

So, get on with it, how do you Hi! Jack a blog, and turn your comments into traffic?

First,

Get Real!

If a post is not great, don’t say, it’s great! What poor taste you appear to have, and people can see it too. Remember when I said have posts worth commenting on? I know some people visit my site, but don’t leave a comment.

I sometimes visit their site, and don’t comment too. You can’t comment on everything!

So pick:

• something you are interested in,
• something you blog about.
• Something you are an expert in.
• Something you are an AUTHORITY on.

Ask,

• questions
• Clarification
• More info
• Show what you know too, by adding more to the conversation.
• Show you too are an AUTHORITY – and be two AUTHORITIES discussing the topic.
• If you disagree, do so, but in a nice way. Don’t go in calling them an idiot, and they are wrong. It may make you seem more important than the blogger, but also as one who needs toput others down.
• Would it not be better to simply put another case forward?
• To offer a difference perspective?
• A different technique?
• Would it not be better to be seen as someone who helps all, and is willing to put their hand down, and help pick up the other blogger?
• I can tell you one thing, other readers will, and will want to see more of “your stuff”

Make sure you make it easy for others to leave comments easily on your blog. Use Comment Luv – there is a free version, so it won’t cost you a thing.

When you are commenting on another blog, and the Blog does not use Comment Luv, always leave a little footnote:

Posted By Jon Barry

of http://JonBarry.co.uk

Even if the site uses “no follow” code (for search engines) PEOPLE wiol see it. Even if they have to cut and paste it, they will find you.

When they do, you know you have just learnt how to Hi Jack blog visitors.

Of course, not all the people you need to reach will be in your blog syndication network.

You have to go out there and find them.

1. Search google for some blogs on the areas you blog about.
2. Follow them.
3. COMMENT on them.
4. Follow some of the people who comment there, and comment on their blogs too.
5. Find some forums on your blog topic, and put good posts and comment there. Have a link to your blog in your footer, or in your profile.

You may find the people who will be in your community also go to other blogs, so that is a great place to go and find some, on the other blogs.

I hope this technique helps you to make better comments on blogs, and comments that serve you, to drive traffic to your blog.

Posted By Jon Barry  @  Jonbarry.co.uk

All Images: FreeDigitalPhotos.net