When I first started my blogging venture, I was afraid. Yep, I admit it! I was afraid that by commenting on other blogs, people would perceive me as someone who had little to offer.
I was afraid that no one would visit my blog, let alone leave a comment. So why did I have these thoughts and can you even relate to what I’m saying?
Venturing into the unknown can be a scary place. That’s why so many people hate change. I use to be one of those people a very long time ago. But as time went by and I realized had I not tried new things, I would never have grown as a person and even in my knowledge. You certainly can’t have success if you remain “behind the times”.
So during my blogging ventures I have learned so much which inspired me to write this post. I will share 5 simple ways to connect with other bloggers.
Step #1: Read Their “About Me” Page
Doesn’t it make you feel great when someone can relate to you as a person! Doesn’t that make you feel more connected to them or even start taking more interest in them because they went out of their way to learn more about who you are? So why not do the same in return.
When you visit someone’s blog for the first time, head straight over to their “About Me” page and read who they are, why they are here and what they will be sharing on their blog. This will help you see them as a real human being. They may even be on the same path as you, with their main goals being to accomplish a lot of the same things. By connecting with that person on that level will benefit you so much more than you could ever imagine.
Step #2: Leave a Comment on Their Blog
I shouldn’t even have to tell you at this point that your comments should be genuine. Don’t leave a comment because you believe that person will hop on over to your blog and do the same. This is the best way to start building up a genuine blogging community. That’s right!
Locate blogs you enjoy reading and subscribe to their RSS feeds. Set up a schedule to visit them as regularly as you can and leave comments. Always be genuine and add value. When you see an opening, keep those conversations going. Sometimes I learn more from the comments then I do the actual posts.
Step #3: Use Twitter to Spread The Word
Twitter can be your new best friend when it comes to sharing other people’s content. I admit it took me awhile to get into my groove with this program thinking to myself, how in the heck can a 140 character tweet benefit anyone! Man, did I have a lot to learn.
- Start by tweeting their post to your followers.
- Check your @mention section and personally thank every single person that shared your content.
- Start building up a relationship with them. Remember that “About Me” section? This is when it comes in very handy as well. Start a conversation about an interest of theirs. Just get to know them better.
- If you see other people asking questions, answer those if you can. Help them out.
- On Follow Friday’s let your followers know that this is someone you think they ought to follow.
Twitter can be a very powerful tool when used correctly. If you need to learn more check out my post “My Twitter Revelations“.
Step #4: Acknowledge Your Commenters
Luckily for me, I ask a lot of questions in my blog posts and I get a lot of really cool answers. But sometimes my commenters will go that extra step and send me an email asking me certain questions. That opens the dialoge between us to continue chatting.
I’ve built some great friendships just through this method but you don’t have to wait until someone emails you. Go through your comments and see who may have the most questions and email them thanking them for visiting your post and ask them if there is any other way you can be of help. You wouldn’t believe how many people appreciate you reaching out to them.
Step #5: Be Yourself
I would hope that people are just being themselves instead of trying to act like someone who is more successful than they really are. I quickly learned that people enjoyed visiting my blog because I am genuine, honest and am just being myself. No fluff, no outrageous claims, no hype, no acting like I know everything, just sharing what I know in my own words. I include a lot of my own personality in my posts and remain true to myself.
Just be yourself… It’s very important in the blogging community.
Would You Agree
So would you agree with me about these 5 simple ways to connect with other bloggers? I’m sure there are plenty of other things I could have included but these just seem to stick out to me as being the most important.
I love hearing from you and knowing your thoughts on this subject. What would you add to this list or what has benefited you the most. What suggestions would you have for the new blogger just starting their blog? Ah, I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!!!
Until then, have a fabulous day and I know we’ll be chatting again very soon.
{ 75 comments… read them below or add one }
If your very active in leaving comments, then the owner will recognize you when you contact them about doing a interview or something..you won’t have to sell yourself for the first time.
“Black Seo Guy “Signing Off”
Twitter: adriennesmith40
May 23, 2011 at 10:53 AM
That’s a great point Antonio! That’s exactly what has happened to me so this has been such a wonderful experience. Thanks for bringing that up.
I think reading the about me page is a clever thing to do. If I want to connect with a blogger, I must know him first. I think it is similar to reading blog posts before commenting. You mustn’t comment without carefully reading a blog post.
I have to admit that blog commenting wasn’t in my to do list at all. In years gone by, I thought it wasn’t that effective, seriously. But now I think it is one of the best methods for building great relationships that can be one of the best supports in your online journey.
Thanks a lot Adrienne for these 5 steps. You are very good at building relationships. I hope I can be like you one day.
Before I leave, I want to ask you about something. How much time do you devote for blog commenting? Do you do it daily?
Thanks a lot in advance. See you very soon!
Mouh recently posted..How to Take a Screenshot of an Entire Web Page in Less Than 15 seconds!
Twitter: adriennesmith40
May 23, 2011 at 10:57 AM
I’ve heard that a lot of people breeze through the post and then when they leave their comment, they are asking questions that were really answered in the post. Several people have brought that up as being a pet peeve of theirs. Doesn’t look so good on the person either who is leaving the comment.
It wasn’t on my radar either Mouh which is why I love sharing with people that you can start at any time and it really doesn’t take much time to start building relationships. And you are right, blog commenting is the best way to do that.
Thank you Mouh, I appreciate that. I’m so touched.
I do comment on blogs daily and I start with just five a day. That’s 25 by the end of the week so if you have a few more minutes to spare and want to throw an extra one in there, sometimes I do. Just depends on how much time I have. Hope that answered your question.
When I go to a new blog, I always read the about page. I want to see who is the person behind the blog. So a good about page is always important.
The combination of commenting and Twitter is powerful. If you’re trying to connect with a blogger and that blogger sees you on their blog and Twitter, they’ll remember you more.
I would add when trying to connect with people on Twitter, don’t send DM’s on Twitter especially to the bigger bloggers. Most people don’t read them. I do because I don’t get enough spam to not read them.
Great post because I think you’ve become a great example of how to connect with people on Twitter!!
Benny recently posted..Why a Couch Potato Will Stay a Couch Potato without a Kick in the Butt
Twitter: adriennesmith40
May 23, 2011 at 11:00 AM
Thanks Benny, I appreciate your comment.
Great suggestions too but I have my own thoughts about the DM. I believe there is a right way and a wrong way to go about it which I share in my Twitter Revelation post. Also, I know the majority of people don’t actually read their DM’s which I believe is a mistake on their part. That’s how I’ve connected with some awesome people because they sent me a DM. Had I not read it, I would have only hurt myself. Oh, big mistake people… The majority are spam but aren’t you missing out on those gems by ignoring them all!
As always, I appreciate you stopping by and it’s always great to see your smiling face.
I think where twitter and retweets have become most effective for me is when I take the time to post a “thought” along with the retweet. It’s almost like a secondary comment, and gets my twitter followers more interested in what I’ve just shared.
Christian Hollingsworth recently posted..How do you find happiness
Twitter: adriennesmith40
May 23, 2011 at 11:01 AM
Now that’s a great idea Christian. I try to add something to the title or just my own thoughts as well so it’s not the same tweets going out everywhere. Sometimes I don’t come up with anything so I’m not always on the mark. But that is a good suggestion. Thank you for that!
I miss the mark often as well. No need to worry; we’re all human right?!
Christian Hollingsworth recently posted..How do you find happiness
Twitter: adriennesmith40
May 23, 2011 at 12:14 PM
Ah you are SO right Christian. I miss it way more than I care to admit. LOL!!! Thanks though!
Adrienne,
Thank you for the really good post!
I just started blogging and I don’t get scared of commenting on other peoples post but, what scares me is the comment they will be leaving. I have this fear about negative comments, even if its only words it does hit me hard at times(from experience in FB), fortunately commenters have been really nice to me so far.
I am really enjoy commenting and currently following 10 blogs. How many blogs do you comment in a week? How do you keep track of them? Are mostly related to your blog?
Armand Polanski recently posted..Two Pre-Requisites for your Dream Lifestyle
Twitter: adriennesmith40
May 23, 2011 at 11:08 AM
Hello Armand,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us and welcome to blogging. Aren’t you loving it! The good thing about the comments people leave on your blog is that you have the option to approve them or not. If people are just going to be ugly and mean, I don’t want them visiting my blog or commenting for that matter. Luckily, that has never happened to me so I guess I’ve been fortunate. I’m sorry you’ve had that experience on FB.
I comment on at least five blogs a day so by the end of the week that’s 25. The reason I keep that number low is because I have two blogs I work on so that’s actually 10 a day that I visit and comment on. I subscribe to their RSS feeds so I start by visiting the blogs of the people who left me comments and then I start on my RSS feeds and just go down the list of who has the newest post.
Some blogs I visit are related to my niche while others aren’t. I enjoy a wide variety and just because someone visits my blog and they aren’t in my niche, doesn’t mean I won’t visit their blog. I enjoy reading a variety of information.
Hope that helped and again I’m so happy you stopped by today. Always a pleasure to see a new face over here.
Adrienne
Your welcome Adrienne. I will be coming back for more of your post. Have a Great Day Ahead of you!
Twitter: adriennesmith40
May 24, 2011 at 9:56 AM
Why thank you Armand, I appreciate that and always a pleasure to see you over here!!! You drop by anytime…
Yup – I agree. Those are great ways to connect with other bloggers and techniques I use myself as well!
Great post!
I am in the works of writing a post about all the new bloggers I’ve met in the past month and plan on mentioning all of their blogs. Will be fun!
Michael recently posted..My Blog Is Now Ad Free Well Almost
Twitter: adriennesmith40
May 23, 2011 at 11:10 AM
Thanks Michael and I’m sure that is going to be an awesome post. Can’t wait to read it!
Yes, I would agree
But you also do way more than these 5, lol.
The about me page is one of the most visited on blogs (I definitely have to update mine soon) and it is something to pay attention to.
I would also add, that for those that don’t get Twitter, you can do the same thing on Facebook or LinkedIn, just choose a social site and go for it.
Brankica recently posted..25 Bloggers Not Giving Advice on Blogging A Different Blog Interview
Twitter: adriennesmith40
May 23, 2011 at 11:09 AM
Hey Brankica, great to see you girl!!!
Yep, there are definitely more than five but it was a good start.
That’s true, it doesn’t matter where they spread your content as long as they share it. Whatever their preference is is great! Just as long as they share the love.
When I read this post I was thinking exactly the same. The “About Me” page is so important and my own are so bad. It was just something I made quickly and did not put a lot of work into. That is a big mistake.
Twitter: adriennesmith40
May 23, 2011 at 12:13 PM
Guess you will have to put some time aside and go back to rework that one then.
Glad I reminded you because you have a great blog and it will help even more people connect with you more.
Hi Adrienne
I think the About page is very important on a blog. It is one of the first thing I check out the first time I am visiting a new blog. I want to know who I am speaking with. Commenting on other blogs is a great way to meet other bloggers. I have met a lot of blogger that way and many of them are following me on Twitter after I have made some comments on their blogs.
Have a nice week Adrienne
Thomas recently posted..How to Change Windows Explorer default startup folder
Twitter: adriennesmith40
May 23, 2011 at 12:12 PM
I agree Thomas, it’s how people can get a little glimpse into who you really are. Of course there’s no need to share your entire life story. But it will help people get a feel for who you really are.
I do end up following all the people that I comment on their blogs. At least I know I’m doing my part and that makes me feel really good.
Thanks Thomas, I will definitely have a great week. You do the same.
Hey Adrienne,
These are all excellent points and you hit the nail on the head!
I’d like to think that I visit someone’s about me page 95% of the time – for like you said – it’s where you get to know a little about the person and see what shared interests you might have. Speaking of which – I’ve been meaning to redo mine now for some time. It needs a little more Griddy Oomph to it lol
.
I think you know how I feel about commenting and replying to comments in general. Oddly enough, I don’t comment as much as I probably should or would like to – but when I do comment, I take the time to try and leave something meaningful. Why? Because if I’m commenting it means the author has inspired me somehow – the post has made an impact – and I’d like to share with them how and why. So I would say – not only be yourself when you comment (as you would in your posts) but add how the topic relates to you at a personal level – meaning – your personal experiences.
I make it a point to reply in kind to each comment that I receive. Why? Because I always like to say that the gold is usually in the comments – and not in the actual post. It’s where you make friends, learn new things about and from people, initiate discussions and conversations, come up with new ideas for blog posts and even have a little fun along the way.
I would add that another way to connect is by not only being yourself – but by always, always being respectful towards others. You might not agree with what they said – but you should disagree with class – and by remaining polite.
Being a comment troll or playing devil’s advocate just to get noticed won’t get you very far.
You made a great point about sending personal emails to people. I’m seeing this more and more – probably because I’m getting them more and more
. I’d like to think I do the same whenever I can. Once you feel comfortable with the person you can even go the extra step and add them on Skype to have further discussions. A few of my close blogging pals are the one’s I probably talk to and turn to most often.
Believe it or not – when I started blogging I had no clue – seriously, I knew nothing about blogs, blogging, commenting and it’s value, Twitter…NOTHING! Much like you I was petrified to share my thoughts on someone else’s blog. I still remember the first two blogs I ever commented on – and the whole time I was thinking what they would think of me. And that’s the problem. You can’t think that way. We’re not here to judge each other and no question is a stupid one. Say what you really think, ask what you really want to know – just be yourself and people will be much more helpful and receptive than you might give them credit for.
When you comment, tweet or whatever – ask about the person – how they are – how their day went, what they’re up to, how their project is going…show interest if you mean it and they will show interest right back. But again – don’t do these things and expect something in return – do them because they come naturally to you. Also – when you comment, start with a “hello” and end with something nice as well.
When you’re talking with people – you’re doing just that – talking with them! Refer to them by name!
When you tweet something of someone’s – add a little note as a prefix. I often do that. It shows that you actually read the post and didn’t just retweet it to get their attention or for the heck of it. Of course – you can’t always do that but whenever you can – try!
Anyhow, I’ve left you with a novel – but I suppose that won’t surprise you haha. I skipped around a lot but I hope it’s coherent nonetheless.
All that to say – I loved this piece Adrienne. You really made some terrific points that I hope more people will take into consideration.
Have a great week.
Cheers
Ingrid Abboud recently posted..SuperPost Sunday – Danny Brown’s Touchdown- Slam Dunk and Goal!
Twitter: adriennesmith40
May 23, 2011 at 12:34 PM
Wow Ingrid, thank you SO much for sharing this wealth of information. Now I don’t feel so bad when I find myself leaving a mini-novel at times when I leave a comment.
You know one thing about me is I am always respectful of others and I appreciate that they took time out of their day to visit my place. So when that comes naturally, that’s when people start viewing you as a real human being who truly cares. If people can remember that you need to treat others the way you would like to be treated, it will come more naturally to them as well. You just never know how relationships will be formed and with who. I’ve had the best time here online and like you mentioned, I also Skype with a few of my new blogging buddies as well. It’s been really great getting to know them even more.
Thank you for your tips too! These will really help add to my short simple list. I really appreciate you taking the time to share so much wonderful information with us all.
Have a blessed day and a fabulous week! I will do the same.
Adrienne
Howdie Adrienne,
While all of you guys are discussing the boredom that is Blogging, you’re missing all the fun over at Bloggers Market this week. Talk about connecting!
Ohhh, number 4 is rather relevant here; “Acknowledge Your Commenters”. You might want to acknowledge my commenters as well as yours this week.
I really crack myself up sometimes !!!
Jeffrey Morgan recently posted..This Lady Is Partially Insane And Totally To Blame
Twitter: adriennesmith40
May 23, 2011 at 3:52 PM
Hey Jeffrey,
I’m headed over there right now!!! OMG!!! Why didn’t you tell me you were doing a post on me? I would have spread the word. I thought you said you posted on Sundays… Okay, I’ve been out most of today at a meeting so here I go and yeah everyone, get over there right now!!!
Adrienne,
The Blogging community is an awesome community! Visiting and leaving comments on blogs are common ways of interaction among bloggers.
After a painful decision, I reduced my involvement with my technical communities due to personal reasons – I felt that I am spreading myself thin. In the last 3 years, I’ve been attending, volunteering in, and helping organize tech events in my region.
Turning my back to the community (at least, “physically”) has left a gap. But the internet has allowed me to still connect with people without the need to actually meet them face-to-face.
Marlon recently posted..Uncover the Source of Your Information Overload with Xerox’s Business of Your Brain App
Twitter: adriennesmith40
May 23, 2011 at 4:35 PM
Hey Marlon,
I love the blogging community. It’s kind of like you go to a party and everyone who was invited has something interesting to say and their personalities are addicting!!! You never want to go home but the good thing is that you can just chat with them later. It’s so cool!
Sounds like you’ve made some changes in your life as well. But never fear, you still have us Marlon…
Twitter: berget
May 23, 2011 at 4:32 PM
Hi Adrienne,
I almost never read the about page first, but I do it after a while. I always sort of recognize their writing and the content first, and if I enjoy it, I read the about page and start asking questions and leave comments. So for me it’s always about the writing first.
I think what you’re saying about being yourself is very important, and that we should all think about blogging as a way to build relationships. What we do is that we deliver something unique and something personal, and we’re using content to create relationships.
Jens
Twitter: adriennesmith40
May 23, 2011 at 4:40 PM
Hey Jens,
That’s too funny, almost made you look first!!! I will admit, the guest post I wrote and some of the interviews I’ve done recently share a lot more about me than my about me page does. I thought that was probably way too much information to share and that people would get bored reading it. But I do enjoy reading about other people and why they are here too.
You are right, it should be about building relationships and of course, learning new things. That’s the two things I’ve taken away from this experience. With each person’s writing style you can see part of their personality. What an awesome experience.
Ms. Adrienne,
You make some excellent points in this post. I’m like Jens. I don’t usually check out the About page unless the content is really good and I want to know more about the author. Or if they don’t mention who they are in any of their posts, I’ll click on Contact or About to try to find out who is lurking behind the posts.
Now I’ll be more keen on reading the About Me pages and using your Twitter techniques to connect with more people. I’ve had a Twitter account for awhile, but wasn’t really sure how to engage with my followers. You gave some really good pointers here.
Thank you for sharing your techniques.
Twitter: adriennesmith40
May 23, 2011 at 8:02 PM
Hey Getzie,
I use to do the opposite as well but then I realized that I may be able to add a little something in my blog commenting by finding out a little more about them. Sure, it doesn’t always present itself but it does give me a little better idea of the person behind the blog.
I just shared over on the groups wall about a post my friend Jeffrey wrote about me just yesterday. Giving me a hard time because a lot of people don’t have their Twitter share buttons and easy access for readers to spread the posts around. Okay, so I try to teach people… Anyway, I do share a lot of helpful information for anyone who is eager to learn. Hopefully you’ll check that post out as well.
Thanks Getzie and I appreciate you stopping by. Always nice to see you here!
Adrienne
Hi Adrienne,
It’s a must for me to read the about page when i visited a new blog. I want to know the owner better. Sometime just by reading the about, you know you will click in personality.
There is no better way than using commenting and tweeting to get into the radar of the other blogger especially if you are like Ingrid who always give such an insightful comments. Just wonder how many words she has written till now
You have actually bring up one essential activity of bloggers. That is to connect with people, the reason why we are getting noticed, traffic and results.
Lye
Lye Kuek Hin recently posted..Weekly Roundup 2 – Blogs That I Find My Way To
Twitter: adriennesmith40
May 23, 2011 at 9:17 PM
I totally agree with you Lye… You can actually find out if you think you both have something in common or perhaps just see them as a genuine person. You usually can tell a lot by what they share.
Ingrid definitely blew me away with her mini-novel. She shared so much valuable information just in the comment. That’s why I tell people to be true to yourself. Look at all you can learn from that alone!!!
Thanks Lye, appreciate your comment as well. I so enjoy hearing what others have to share.
Hey Adrienne,
Could you do me a favor and kinda follow along with my post through the week. I’m starting to get comments that are addressed to you. It’s like opening someone else’s mail. We’ll call it a guest post by proxy.
Jeffrey Morgan recently posted..This Lady Is Partially Insane And Totally To Blame
Twitter: adriennesmith40
May 23, 2011 at 9:31 PM
Will definitely do Jeffrey, I’m trying to pop over there every so often to see if some of my friends have wandered over there to check out your post. Glad to see a few more of them showing up. I’ll be sure to respond to their questions.
Guest post by proxy!!! I could see myself writing something like that! LOL!!! You were great though so thanks again for doing that. It was a pleasant surprise…
Hello Adrienne,
As always I enjoyed your post … and the great conversations held in your commenting section!
I usually read the About page first – or if I’ve read a post I’ve enjoyed – because it can help flesh out the personality of the writer. I have to admit to feeling a bit disappointed if the About page is basically devoid of anything that gives an idea of the personality behind the blog.
I appreciated your “conversation” with Ingrid about the importance of keeping comments kind – I believe Ingrid used the word “classy” – and keeping them genuine… you provided all around good tips for blog writers who care about providing solid content in a warm yet professional manner.
Have a great week!
Peppy
Peppy | The PeppyWrites Chronicles recently posted..Would You Like Something To Drink With That Foot In Your Mouth
Twitter: adriennesmith40
May 24, 2011 at 9:38 AM
Hi Peppy, welcome!
I love the commenting interaction. I sometimes learn so much just from those!
I personally heard from a friend of mine and he admitted that he kind of threw up his About Me page so although I know some people didn’t put much thought into it or add much for that matter, I still know that after commenting and interacting with them that I have found some of them to be a real gem. Hopefully this post will remind people to put more thought into it.
I know that debates go on sometimes in the comment section but people don’t have to be mean. I won’t allow any mean comments here but I’m also blessed that I don’t believe any of my posts have warranted those types of responses. I believe being genuine and sticking with your beliefs are key to really building up great friendships so I totally agree with Ingrid’s comment. One of the reasons I think so highly of her.
Thank you Peppy and you have a wonderful week as well. I appreciate you stopping by.
Adrienne
Twitter: adriennesmith40
May 26, 2011 at 10:51 AM
Hey Peppy…
I just wanted to quickly shoot you a message that I have now tried four different times to comment on your post and it locks up on me when I go to preview my comment. I apologize but I’ve tried three different browsers now and the same thing happens to me in each one. So, guess I won’t be commenting. I’m sorry but wanted you to know.
Great post Adrienne, sometimes we all need to be reminded of the simple things that make the blogosphere go ’round. Not to mention you can learn a thing or more from the contributions that come from people commenting!
Vitaly Tennant recently posted..The Law of Karma
Twitter: adriennesmith40
May 24, 2011 at 9:41 AM
Hi Vitaly, welcome to my home! Pleasure to see you here.
I appreciate that and for your comment. You are so right, sometimes we just need that reminder. You know, we all get busy doing our things and sometimes veer off course. But don’t worry, I’ll remind you to get back on the right track! As Jeffrey so clearly stated in his post, I won’t let you get away with it for long!
The blogging community is just such a wonderful place. I’ve met some of the most amazing people and I’m so blessed to be apart of their little group. Plus, I sure do learn a lot from my friends.
Can’t wait to visit your blog. Guess I’ll be seeing you soon.
Thanks again for stopping by.
Adrienne
This is a great list Adrienne! I try to follow all 5 regularly, but I must admit I sometimes neglect to check out the About Me page when I first discover a new blog. (I tend to be so intrigued by the post that I completely forget!) I also need to use email more, as I tend to stick to Twitter and blog comments when an email or Skype would be more effective. I’ve been working on my About Me page, but it can probably use even more improvement!
Marianne Worley recently posted..An Unauthorized Review of The Parables of Business by Danny Brown
Twitter: adriennesmith40
May 24, 2011 at 9:52 AM
Hi Marianne,
I have no doubt that you follow this list to the tee. I think that if you are drawn to a post or someone pointed you there, it was for a reason so visiting the About Me page first isn’t always necessary. You can always check them out later. But let’s face it, when you decide that you want to start building a relationship with them, it’s the best place to learn more about them.
I still love email, I don’t care what others say. It’s a great way to connect. Plus, I have built some relationships with some awesome people who don’t even live in this country so with the time zones, it’s just easier. But when we can, we’ll definitely Skype so we can chat more. I laugh at all those people who just love hearing my voice and my laugh. Hard to do through email. What’s up with that!
Thanks Marianne, always a pleasure to see you.
Adrienne
The About Me page is a very powerful way to connect. Some readers never look at a post but they spend a chunk of time on the About Me page. As you said it is a good place to try and build a connection.
I try to tweak mine every so often so that it stays fresh.
Jack recently posted..Today I Am A Man
Twitter: adriennesmith40
May 24, 2011 at 9:53 AM
I know the feeling Jack, sometimes I get lost over there. Next thing you know it’s 30 minutes later. But that’s because I find some people so fascinating. I try my best to revisit mine from time to time as well and updated a couple weeks ago. Glad to hear that you find this important as well.
Hi Adrienne – all of these are excellent tips on how to get to know bloggers.
The one tip that stands out the most for me is commenting on blogs. There is a much deeper focused conversation going here, one where you can really get to know more about the people in the community, what makes them tick, what their passions are and connect in a meaningful way.
I’ve built some great relationships with folks right in the comment section of blogs!
Thanks for sharing Adrienne : )
Mark Harai recently posted..But Online Relationships Aren’t Real… Are They
Twitter: adriennesmith40
May 24, 2011 at 2:52 PM
Hey Mark, thanks for the comment. I totally agree with you about the blog commenting. That’s also how I have build a lot of great relationships or shall I say, that’s where they started. Lots of fun interacting and exchanging thoughts sometimes right there in the comments.
Oh my goodness, Adrienne! I learn so much from you in every post! I am like Jens, I don’t read About pages, never have. I just checked and my About page is the 6th most popular page on my blog! Uh oh, I don’t even know what it says! I just remember adding some minimal info when setting up my blog and never thinking about it again. Yikes! Now I’m scared to go back and look at it. :-0
I think I haven’t looked at About pages because I get a sense of the person from their posts. Especially you, Adrienne from your posts, interview and videos, lol! It’s not that I don’t want to know the people better, it’s just that I have been getting to know them through their writing.
But to answer the question you posted to commenters: I would suggest recommending blogs you visit to StumbleUpon. StumbleUpon can be a fruitful source of readers, if others recommend your site. If you recommend your site that won’t help much so it really is up to others to click on that StumbleUpon button!
Carolyn recently posted..Road Trip iExit Is Your Must-Have App!
Twitter: adriennesmith40
May 24, 2011 at 4:05 PM
Hey Carolyn,
I’m so happy to hear that young lady! Ah, you are learning from me and all tech related issues I learn from you! Thank goodness right!
Don’t worry, you aren’t the only person who hasn’t put any time into their About Me page… But, maybe it’s time to revisit it again and put a little more thought into it. Now that you’ve seen the comments, you know how many people visit them. Trust me, they will like you even more after you have put more heart int it.
The thing about the About Me page is that you can add a little something into your comments that you know about them because you’ve read that page. Talk about impressive to someone new. That you took the time to actually read more about them, that’s a for sure attraction to you. Now it doesn’t always work with each post but it does come in handy for others.
That is another great tip for sure Carolyn. Stumbleupon is a wonderful source for others to share all kinds of information. I don’t use it enough, that I do know.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Really appreciate it and can’t wait to read your About Me page when it’s finished. Take care!!!
Okay, I just checked the About page, and I wrote about the blog, not about me. Lol, I didn’t even know the About page was supposed to be about me! Oops!
Okay, I’m off to revise it. I will post when I’m done.
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May 24, 2011 at 4:20 PM
As I love the saying, you don’t know what you don’t know! But once you do learn, now it’s time to take action. So glad you will be sharing more about you with us. That’s what we want to learn. We want to know who is Carolyn, why are you here and what is your blog about! Kind of a brief summary!!! Or some people like to read a book, as long as you share more with us about you.
Thanks Carolyn and I’ll look forward to reading it!
Hi Adrienne,
First time here and first impressions are really good. Your site is so easy on the eye I scrolled down to see your theme! I love list style posts as I tend to remember the key points.I have taken up visiting blogs as a way of getting back into IM after an absence of 1 yr. Long story !…..I have kept your blog details as I am a fellow student of Alex and I will be back soon.Orla
Twitter: adriennesmith40
May 24, 2011 at 4:35 PM
Well welcome Orla, what a pleasure to meet you. And a fellow student of Alex’s. Not only do we have a lot in common but I’m so thrilled to see you drop by my blog.
Thank you for that compliment. I must confess, I LOVE the simple look. I know, I know, I should have more stuff all over it but I just don’t like it. To each his own right! I did purchase the Thesis theme and created this one myself and it was worth every penny. I love that you have much more control over the overall look of your blog. But moving on.
Lists type posts are huge!!! When we make it easier and list out the steps, who doesn’t want to learn that way. So glad you landed on this post for your first visit. Of course, I have lots more goodies to share.
If you ever need any help on anything, give me a shout. Don’t mind helping in the least. And good luck with getting back into the groove of things. You’ll be up to par in no time at all.
I agree with all but I think I would rather have someone else write my ‘about me’ page. All I can think of is “it’s just me being me”. Not too compelling, huh? I did do a leadership class with about 20 people and everyone had to write 5 things about everyone in the class. It was funny that when the info was compilled how similar everybody’s response was about me. Therefore, I would rather have someone’s perception of me than what I ‘think’ I am………..what do you think?
I remember when I first started my blog and I was already entrenched with a pretty good social media crew. The first time I hit publish I almost panicked. Of course I didn’t have anything to worry about and I only had one comment and it was from my IT guy in the office who help me set it up; but man did that feel liberating.
Once again you are spot on w/ your suggestions and I would urge anyone taking this leap to follow your suggestions.
Good to see you.
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May 24, 2011 at 8:56 PM
Maybe you can take those questions asked in your class and put that on your about me page. Let them know this is how others perceive you because in your opinion, you don’t have a whole lot to say! That would be an interesting read…
I know that feeling Bill, I felt the same way. All those fears but over time it’s just gotten better and better.
Thanks for your comment, really appreciate it! As always, nice to see you here.
Adrienne!
Wow! A true gem. Very insightful conversation here. This one is going straight in my bookmark bar (O:
I certainly agree that these 5 ways are very effective to connect with bloggers around the blogosphere. I believe about page is the most neglected ones by bloggers followed by commenting. I really like your approach – commenting on 5 blogs per day! Thinking about integrating something similar in my schedule (O:
Thanks Adrienne!
You Rock!
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May 25, 2011 at 9:22 AM
Hey Adam,
Why thank you, I appreciate that! You know me, always eager to help others…
You are SO right, the about me page is the most neglected but really in the overall scheme of things it’s one of the most important things that you should have in place. As you’ve probably read some of the comments, I’m not alone in this thinking.
The reason I haven’t commented in the past was because of the time but I made myself just visit a few a day and as you can tell, that’s turned out really well for me. I say just get on a schedule that works best for you.
As always, I appreciate you stopping by. Have a great day!
Yes, Adrienne. When I visit a blog for the first time, I usually head right to the About page if I like a particular post. I learned much about the blogger this way. I don’t always leave a comment, but I’m doing that more now. If I don’t have time to leave a comment, I might bookmark the site. That keeps the site in my repertoire in case I want to return to the blog later and post a comment.
It’s refreshing to see how you respond to practically everyone’s comment. Personally, I don’t know how you keep up! But it’s another great way to connect with other bloggers… To let people know that you’re real.
Great post! Thanks.
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May 25, 2011 at 9:26 AM
That’s great to hear that you do as well Allyson.
Well, I take the time to respond because I appreciate every single person that visits my site and I want to reply to what they shared. I believe they deserve the attention, don’t you! Also a great way to continue the conversation and build those relationships. So it’s my honor to take the time.
Thanks again Allyson, always a pleasure to see you.
I always suss out the ‘about me’ page of the author of a blog. It gives me a sense of what the blog is about and the personality behind it. I then have a look at a few posts and continue to comment on them.
Good post.
Twitter: adriennesmith40
May 25, 2011 at 9:27 AM
Thank you Gabriella and I appreciate you sharing your thoughts on this topic. Good to hear that you also read who the people are behind the blog. I believe it helps get to know a lot more about them so then I move on to what they are sharing.
Enjoy your day and thanks again for your comment. It’s always appreciated.
Hi Adrienne, Thanks for your post I think that step #5 may be the most important one always being yourself and staying true to who you really are is so very important. Not only in what we do as bloggers ob on line marketers but in life in general. Because lets face it no one likes a phoney. I love the way you write from what you truly believe its very refreshing.
Thanks again.
Ed.
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May 25, 2011 at 9:29 AM
Hi Ed, great to see you again. Thanks for your comment and I think #5 is pretty darn important too. I’m fortunate to say that I’ve connected with a lot of really great people so I believe they are following that step to the T. It’s so important to remain who you are and true to yourself in this industry. It will take you a lot more places.
Thank you for your lovely comment and for that compliment. I really do appreciate it!
Adrienne
Hi Adrienne,
Nice tips for other bloggers. But, actually the tips are bit common for me. And those are the basic way to connect to other bloggers. However, your post is useful for the newbie. Thanks.
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May 25, 2011 at 11:23 AM
Hey Andrew, welcome back!!!
Yep, I do attract a lot of newbies mainly because I explain things a lot easier than others. But hey, that’s okay with me.
Have a great day!
I really like your #4, Adrienne, especially the part about emailing them, thanking them and asking if you can do anything further for them. That’s huge, to me, and the best way to build relationships.
We all have our strengths and specialties and what seems easy for us to do can really help out another.
Thanks,
Peggy
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May 25, 2011 at 8:09 PM
Hi Peggy,
Me too, I know that others appreciate it when you reach out to them but let’s face it… Most people just don’t. It’s been a wonderful tool for me and I’ve connected with so many awesome people this way as well.
As always, I appreciate you stopping by and sharing your thoughts. Always a pleasure to see you.
By using social network and social media and some others community, you can easy to connect with other bloggers.
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May 25, 2011 at 8:10 PM
Absolutely Tony!!! Thanks for stopping by!
I absolutely loved this post, Adrienne, and it looks like you got a great response from everyone on it! =) The “About” page of a website is definitely a place where we can connect more personally with a blogger — thanks for the reminder that I need to work on mine! RIght now, I have a business-related “About” page, but I’ve been meaning to make it more personal for some time now!
I completely agree with following up by commenting on the blog and using Twitter. When I first connect with someone, I usually schedule them into my #FF’s for the week. I also try to find them in all other places, such as LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube. I feel that it makes a difference because I can learn about the other person in all these different places and the other person is also reminded of me as they learn more about me.
Stellar post, Adrienne! =) Thank you!!
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June 2, 2011 at 8:45 AM
Thank you Samantha, always enjoy hearing from you.
Ah so you have some work to do on yours as well. You have so much to share about who you are and your experiences. I know people will be able to connect with you on a more personal level through your About Me page. That I know for sure.
I appreciate you sharing with us all the other ways you connect with people. You are definitely a star in my book so we can all learn from you as well. Those are great places to connect with your blogging buddies. We need to all be taking notes.
Thank you Samantha for all your kind words, You do know how to make a lady feel wonderful.
Wow Adrienne , your post is really an eye opener for me, I never knew there is a thing that’s called blog community . The reason why I started a blog was it’s convenience to a paper journal which I will misplace it sooner or later. A blog makes such a lovely E-journal with the ability to upload pictures instead of traveling to a shop to develop it due to hectic modern lifestyle. Slowly it transformed to a portfolio to show my clients the projects I worked on , instead of emailing them attachments one by one which again takes time. A new blog is like a new shop, empty , waiting to be refurbished, splashed with fresh paint and products to be sold are all up to us to decide with minimal manpower and rental cost. ThAnk you for showing me more depth to a blog community that displays high level of genuine professionalism. A value that is good to preserve in a modern society today. But may I ask, is blog commenting really important ? thank u once again for ur sharing
Twitter: adriennesmith40
October 5, 2011 at 8:57 AM
Hi May,
Welcome to my blog and thank you for sharing your thoughts on this topic.
People start blogs for so many different reasons and it sounds like you started yours as a journal for you and then it turned into a portfolio to show clients.
You asked if blog commenting is really important. It depends on what you want from your blog. Most people have blogs because they are promoting some type of product or service. Because of that they need more traffic to their sites and blog commenting is a great way to do just that. It’s a great place to build relationships with other blog readers as well as learn from them as you read other blogs. You can also form partnerships with other bloggers through those relationships and it will show your clients that people are very interested in what you have to share. If you blog just sits out there on he web and no one even knows it’s there, that’s not doing anyone any good.
Hope that helped and enjoy your day!
hi Adrienne, many thanks for your advice
true, its like a little shop located high up in the holy mountains where nobody knew that it even exists. I just hope to help more ladies out there to discover another side of them which they have never seen before or thought that they can look that beautiful actually. To show them that tweezing of eyebrows, applying a nude natural looking foundation and drawing of eyeliners are not that tough afterall. There is no such thing as ugly girls but just superbly lazy ones!!
Its amazing how blogging and internet can help link people around the globe together. We may have never met before, but through connections and conversations like these certainly helped us know each other better and a possible friendship even. Most importantly its the common interest and similar life values that we all share despite language , race or religion; which ultimately create a magical system that attracts even more of our kind. Just like Apple’s loyal fans/users, they all probably share some similar traits, don’t you think? Its like Steve Jobs’s system attracts people of his kind
the good way. Although today came the sad news of him passing away, I believe what he had left behind will continue to benefit and help more generations to come in future.
Many thanks for your reply once again.
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October 6, 2011 at 10:30 AM
You are so welcome May!
Blogging is the best way to connect people and share with others so it sounds like your blog is a great place for women to come and just learn how to be beautiful, the natural way. By commenting on other people’s blogs, you can then attract more people to yours and open it up to an even larger audience.
Thank you again for dropping by and sharing your thoughts with me. It’s always appreciated.