State your expertise whenever you comment.
For example, if I’m commenting on a post about how to write well, I’ll start by saying…”As a publicity expert who worked as a newspaper writing coach for many years, I disagree with….”
Here are ways to state your expertise:
- Have you written a book on the topic? If so, say so.
- Are you a speaker or trainer?
- Are you a consultant?
- Have you written more than two dozen articles on the topic?
- Do you have a Facebook Fan page devoted to this topic and does it have a large number of fans? (Be sure to link.)
Mentioning this just might tempt people to click the link.
When Patsi Krakoff was my guest expert on the webinar “Time-saving Tips for Smart Business Blogging,” she mentioned the value of comments, especially for people who don’t yet have blogs. I spend as much time as possible commenting at other people’s blogs. In a few instances, the bloggers have liked the comments so much that they extended an invitation to me to be a guest blogger.
How much time do you spend comnmenting at blogs? Have you seen a good return on your investment of time? If so, what has happened as a result?
Joan, I agree that commenting on blogs professionally can increase your reputation. I don’t do it a lot but when I do, I usually mention my business connection. Of course, I want to draw traffic to my organizing blog, but I don’t think that has happened. I think I get more blog hits from people reading me on twitter. Or maybe people on twitter respond personally more, so I know that’s where the connection was made.
Hi Joan,
As a marketing advisor and copywriter for nonprofits and B2B companies, I strive to comment on one to three blogs a week. Now I would like to do more. But that’s the reality of the time I have available outside of the work I’m doing for clients.
By the way, up until now I usually just share my expertise by adding “copywriter” after my name. However, many people don’t know what that is. That’s why I like the suggestion you share today in your post. Thanks.
I’ve just recently started receiving invitations to be a guest blogger. And with regard to the other “returns” I’ve received: The major one is an invitation to speak at a national convention this August (the Direct Marketing Association Nonprofit Federation).
Sometimes it’s easy to think, “Here I am spending time generating all this free content … Maybe I should forget this and devote more time to cut-and-dry projects that directly produce revenue.”
Certainly each of us needs to determine the best balance of how we spend our time. But there’s no doubt in my mind that blogging and commenting on carefully chosen blogs of other professionals – such as Joan Stewart and Publicity Hound – is worth my time.