Hi Woodcs82, Yes it does (speaking from experience here). But don't expect results if you only randomly post comments at different sites. It's massive action that counts. I'll give ya a personal tip here. I make it a point to leave some comment on each and every blog that I come across. and it's not just any comment but something that contributes/praises. Cheers!
Depends on where you do it. I've gotten responses to a simple two word comment, "Tunacicle Salad" on places where my name is linked to a website or blog. At the right places people are like WTF !? & curiosity gets the better of them.
Yes, and I say this from experience - almost all of the loyal readers I have today I've gotten from participating on their blogs and commenting. If you have a quality site, people will notice it and return the favor! If someone comments on my blog (links in signature) and leaves a meaningful comment, not just a "good post, thanks" comment, I WILL visit their site and if their content is good, most likely link to it one of my weekly roundups and subscribe. Blog comment marketing DOES work.
Yep, it can work and the amount of traffic you get from it varies depending how large the readership of the blog is. It can also help position you as an expert in front of your target market if you make useful responses! I've certainly clicked through on comments when the info has been interesting.
Actually, it's better to comment the smaller blogs than the bigger ones. The bigger ones already get tons of comments and don't care too much; the smaller blogs are very appreciative and more likely to return the favor and send their visitors your way. I've experimented with both big blogs like Problogger, and smaller blogs too. Another good thing is to look at the comments on the big blogs, and visit the sites of the people who left those comments - and comment on THEIR sites. Check out this article I wrote to understand more why it's better to comment on smaller sites: http://superbloggingtips.com/2007/10/give-comments-to-the-little-guys/ But you are right, the comments do have to be interesting and a good quality response, or otherwise you're just wasting your time.
Yeah, it is all about contributing to the conversation...I have been saying all along that the two most important things to building a site is "traffic" and "conversation"...and you need "conversation" in order to get traffic if you don't want to pay for it.
Yes blog commenting works as long as you: i. comment on famous blogs. ii. your comment is one of the top 5 comments. Even then it doesn't work that well - it'll just bring in a few hundred visitors to your site per week. And the time investment is a lot for that. The tactic is not scalable at all. So its one of the things you should look to outsource.
I have found that although you do get traffic from the actual comments. The best traffic comes when you build a relationship with the blogger due to multiple comments and they start referencing you in their posts.
Yeh it's time consuming but you do get returns for your efforts. You should try to grab all the traffic generating options available But yes you will need time for that specially it gets difficult when you have a day job as well..
With all the work involved in commented on blogs, is there an accurate way to track the return on investment other than increased traffic and mentions?
You certainly can get traffic from blogs, especially if they are in your niche. If you continue to contribute to the blog through comments then you will get more traffic and I have found that blog authors will also become more likely to link to you. One rule though:contribute something useful, spam will get you no where.
Of course it does! Actually, it's work so well with my blog that I have actually earned most of my traffic, and exposure, from my (high-quality) comments. Comment marketing is a big thing for bloggers. It's like not having sneakers to play basketball. Your blogging success will not be in your reach if you don't participate in the blogosphere.
Commenting substantially on individual blogs has some effect. Commenting on every blog you come accross only once does nothing. I stick with about 5 blogs that I comment on daily, most of which I already have some kind of email relationship with the owner, that way it strenghthens the relationship even more.
Are you trying to spam? Then stop! Post comments if you need to..I believe they are great in this sense!
Yes, remember to make the name you use to post the comment good anchor text for your site because the url you enter will be linked from the name.