Do you have a new blog?
It’s frustrating isn’t it?
You’re putting out all this great content, you’re involved in Facebook groups, Twitter and Pinterest and still no one is coming to your site.
How come it’s easier for other people? They start a blog and in three weeks they have 100 subscribers and about a million comments. What gives?
TwinsMommy is a new site for me. I have another blog where I’ve built a good following, but I wanted to create TwinsMommy so that I can learn how to make money blogging – and also teach others.
I’m a freelance writer so I never went the whole affiliate marketing/ads/sponsored posts route. I figured I can give that a go on this blog. You can follow my blog growth if you want!
But, wait! Do you have a blog?
Before we get into the nitty gritty of this post, if you’re reading this and don’t have a blog, but want to start one, I have an easy step-by-step tutorial on how to start a blog using SiteGround!
Even though I have a following, my target audience on that blog isn’t the same target audience for TwinsMommy so I had to develop a new strategy for generating traffic.
One thing I started doing – which I haven’t done in a while – is blog commenting on blogs in my niche.
Why Blog Commenting is Important
If you have a new blog then no one knows you exist! If you want to build a strong network and connect with other bloggers in the same niche, you need to make it a habit to comment on their blogs.
I started going to other mommy-business blogs or money-making blogs to contribute to the discussion and hopefully bring traffic back to my site.
Some of the blogs I’m going to are:
At first nothing was happening.
All that work I did commenting on 5 blogs a day wasn’t bringing traffic back to my site. Some had CommentLuv, others used Disqus, but still no traffic.
And it wasn’t like I was leaving a comment like,
What a great post. I’ll have to bookmark it for the future.
A comment like that can be cut and pasted to any blog post. It’s not personal or relating to the actual post.
No.
I write comments like this:
The blogger responded to my comment, but no traffic resulted from that comment. Now, I know not EVERY comment you write will result in traffic, but I found one easy way that increases your chance by like – I don’t know – 500% or something.
It’s Not CommentLuv
What’s great is that this traffic generator tip works for commenting systems without CommentLuv!
See, before I started TwinsMommy and started my other blog, I only commented on blogs that had CommentLuv.
I figured it was a sure way to bring traffic back to my site. And it is! I mean I have this plugin for TwinsMommy too!
But, for some reason, many of these mommy/work-at-home type blogs don’t use CommentLuv.
I needed to find another way to pique a reader’s interest enough to click on my name and go back to my blog.
And you know what? It was staring me right in the face.
Moms Comment Differently
I’m a freelance writer. Most of the blogs I go to are blogging or writing sites:
And you know how “those” people comment?
Nothing fancy. It’s all business and nothing more.
So, when I started going to work-at-home blogs I started noticing that these ladies jazzed up their blog comment.
Here’s Sarah Brooks from The Frugal Millionaire’s comment on Embracing Simple Blog:
And here’s Jenn of The Art of Better comment on Start a Mom Blog:
It wasn’t until I noticed something on these “mommy/work-at-home” blogs that I’ve never seen before.
Can you spot it out?
The One Simple Thing to Drive Traffic to Your Blog
These smart cookies are putting their blog in their name!
So, it looks like this:
Elna @ TwinsMommy
Or I can do:
Elna | TwinsMommy
or even:
Elna at TwinsMommy
I don’t suggest you put the “.com” in the name as this can trigger the spam filter and you don’t want your comment going there now do you?
I would also suggest to keep it as short as possible. If your blog name is four or five words long, consider a shortened version.
How easy and simple is that?
What’s great about doing this is people are more interested in checking you out when they actually know what your blog name is.
If you only used your name and nothing more, then you’re banking on people reading your comment. Now I don’t know about you, but I don’t read everyone’s comments before I comment.
I’m sure the blog owner is about the only one that will read anyone’s comment, right?
But, if you were scrolling the comments and saw a URL next to a name, wouldn’t you want to see what their blog is all about?
Once I put two and two together, I started adding my domain name when I left a comment.
And you know what? It worked. Here’s my analytics for referrals.
I don’t know about you, but doesn’t that kick ass?
Okay, the numbers aren’t huge, but still. All I did was put TwinsMommy in my name when I left a comment and people clicked on the link and went to my site.
What’s nice is that these people – whether it’s the blog owner or visitors – are my target audience.
I’m not going to just any old blog and leaving a comment. I’m strategically going to blogs in my niche and now that I know certain blogs – Single Mom’s Income and Embracing Simple Blog – generate traffic, I’ll be commenting on those blogs more.
What About Disqus?
Disqus is a popular commenting system many bloggers use. You can create a profile with Disqus or just log in with your social media information.
Personally, I’m not a big fan of blogs that use Disqus. For some reason, I have a hard time commenting on them!
I’ll type up my epic comment then fill in my login info, hit submit and my writing disappears!! grr…That’s happened to me more than I’d like to admit.
But, it doesn’t discourage me too much. I still visit blogs that use Disqus.
Since they use your social media login info, how can you add your URL to your name?
I found some people use a signature when they leave a comment on Disqus.
So, I’ll be sure to do this next time I run into Disqus!!
Did I Blow Your Mind?
π Maybe I didn’t. Maybe this “trick” is old and nothing new. But, for me, it’s totally new. I’ve been blogging for over a year and I’ve NEVER seen this.
I suspect you see this in the lifestyle/mommy niche. But, that’s not to say you can’t use it on a blogging site or a food blog!
Before you send off your next comment, put your URL in it! I’m sure you’ll get traffic back to your site. And if you want to capture this new traffic, make sure to have a lead magnet or content upgrade!
Over to you – do you have any other blog commenting tricks to generate traffic? Share them here!
And remember to Pin me!
Hi Elna! I’ve just read several of your posts and they are all so helpful! I’m implementing your advice starting here by adding my blog name:) There is so much to learn for a new blogger like me and I’m really thankful I found your site with so many helpful tips. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Kris,
Thanks so much for being a loyal reader of Twins Mommy! Love your blog name and happy to see you are using this tip!
And here I thought blog commenting was no longer the thing to do! I have no idea where I got that idea. I’ve started a list of things I can do just from reading this post. I’m ready to go out and comment!
I’m not a mommy, but I’m a new blogger. Found your site this weekend and I’m learning so many practical things I know I can do. Thank you!
Hey Caryn!
So happy you are using this tips! It really got me curious about your blog! Thanks for commenting!
Hi Elna – I’ve been wondering how to reply to comments on my own blog. Right now I’m writing book reviews and short stories (realized I didn’t say that before – I’m new at this!) and it’s great when people post positive things about my writing, but I’m not sure what to reply back. It’s hard to find any posts talking about that aspect of blog comments. Do you have any tips? Thank you!
Hey Caryn,
What you can do is at the end of each blog post post a question and encourage discussion in your comments. Since your blog is mostly reviews, you may not get a lot of discussions in your comments. So I would reply with a Thanks for reading and leave it at that!
Hello.
This is great information and I greatly appreciate it. I just started blogging and haven’t done much, but this is something small that I am able to implement quickly.
Hi!
That’s awesome! So glad you read this post and you are commenting with your blog name! Way to go!
You’re right, that does kind of just smack you in the face! I’d never made that connection before. I’ve included my website but unless someone hovered over my name with their mouse, they’d never know it was linked to a site!
Thanks for the tip Elna!
Thank you for this information!
Are there any paid apps or things such as commentluv that you do use – I know you donβt use that one.
Great to have you as someone I will follow.
Hi Suz,
I used to use CommentLuv and blog still use this option for sure! Not sure about any other tool though!
This is definitely a great trick that I hadnβt thought of yet! Iβm going to try it out right here and now π. Great post Elna, you sure know how to write an easy read.
Hi Lisa,
Wow! Thanks! Glad this post was easy to read.
Rebecca | RestyledHomes
Hey Elna, I started blogging just a few months ago and have stopped by your blog often due to your thorough research and good advice. You my friend are the real deal. Thank you π
Hi Rebecca,
Thank you so much! So happy you started your blog π
Very clever indeed. No matter how long you’ve been blogging for there is always something new to learn. What a great piece. Thank you!
Hi Dela,
You’re welcome! Glad you found this blog comment trick useful!
Great tip – some blogs I go to would prefer that you don’t pop your blog name in there attached to your name. However, I will test it wherever I can. Thanks for the tip.
OMG Elna.. I never though of putting my URL in your name as you suggested. I will be trying it out NOW. Your blogs are always awesome and helpful.
Great way to spread Love to other bloggers and writers.
Thanks for sharing!
Hey Beverly!
Awesome you are using this tactic! I saw your blog name and it got me intrigued!
Thanks for the tip, Elna. Iβve blogged in the past and stepped away for a few years, but just jumped back in recently. It seems to be much harder work than it was nearly a decade ago! So much more to learn about social media and traffic – it is all quite overwhelming. I stumbled across this post today, a day when I was feeling rather defeated, so thank you for the tip! It will definitely be put to use.
Hi Tina,
Yes, blogging can be overwhelming but take it one day at a time and don’t try everything at once π
This is an interesting idea. I’ve heard conflicting opinions about blog commenting but I think it is a great way to connect with bloggers.
Hey, even it if does nothing for you, it helps to connect you with your blog π
Hi Elna, you are so right. I’ve been doing blog commenting to drive traffic to my blog site. But before that, I did Quora. It gave me traffic but not that high compared to the blogs I’ve commented on. Thanks for showing some samples of the comments you found that are very useful.
Hi Valerie,
Thanks for that tip! Yes, Quora is a cool place to gain authority and clicks to your site, but you do have to look at the quality. Is Quora traffic your ideal audience or are the people reading similar blogs as your blog niche more your audience?
Elna, this tip is fantastic and so easy to implement! Iβm sort of an introvert so networking has been tough for me but I am struggling to get traffic so i need to start commenting more. Your approach is so simple! Love it.
Hi Amy!
So glad you found the blog comment tip helpful! It is a great way to up the curiosity factor when you comment! It made me want to see what your blog is about π
Girl! Iβve been blogging for a year and have had some trouble with consistent traffic. These simple tips are ah-may-zing! Thanks for taking the time to share them. Youβll be seeing a lot more of me around your posts!
See ya later,
Mallory
Hey Mallory!
Thanks girl! Glad you enjoyed this post and like my blog!!!!
What a great idea! Never thought to do that.
Hi, Elna! I’m new to the world of blogging, but have really appreciated your tips. Now to hunt down other blogs in my Disney niche and start commenting. Keep up the great work! Thank you!
Welcome Meghan!
What a cool niche for blogging!!! Nice! Thanks for coming over to my blog!!!!
Thanks for the great tip, Elna. I always learn something new from your posts! I wonder how that would work with my site, though, because my domain name is my full name. Hmmm, I’ll have to play around with it a bit. Love your content, Elna. Thank you!
Hey Kari!
Thanks for stopping by! Yes, my other blog is my name for my domain name too! So I think I do name | service…so Elna Cain | Freelance Writer when I comment!
Hmm, I see what I did there. I needed to write Kari Watterson | Freelance Writer in the ‘Name’ box, but also include my website URL in the ‘Website’ box so when you click on my name you’re directed to my website. I gotcha now. Very cool! Thanks!
Yes, that’s perfect! Thanks so much!
Thank you so much for your tips! I have left comments across different blogs but never knew how to engage them back with my content. This has been helpful and I will try them out.
Hi Elna,
I’ve heard many times that you should comment on other blogs that are in or close to the same niche to help with your traffic but nobody explained it as well as you have. Plus you gave examples! Good stuff!
I’ve been blogging a while now but have not commented much on other blogs for fear of spamming. Your description of the right way to do it gives me the inspiration to comment on more blogs and hopefully gain new friends and followers.
Thanks so much for this valuable information!
Hi Elisha!
That’s great to know! So happy you found a strategy to help get more eyes to your blog!
That is indeed an interesting observation. I have never thought about it. My concern is, it could be perceived as spammy. And also, my blog’s name isn’t really a name and it lives on a sub page of that domainβ¦
Hmmm, but I’ll definitively give it a try all the same. Thanks for the tip π
Hi Brigit,
It might be spammy by the way you present it! (with the @ symbol). I personally use | and that is fine!
Hey Elna!
Thanks so much for this informative post! I just started my blog last month and have seen some traffic here and there. I think by looking for Blogs that my website can relate to will help me not only gain traffic but also hone in my content!
Thanks for the amazing tips as always.
-Elena
Hi Elena!
Glad you enjoyed this tip to boost your blog comments for content marketing and getting website traffic!
Posting a signature link is considered spam and you can expect from moderators to disapprove your comment. It also feels a little bit cheesy in my opinion. It looks like that comment is posted for the single purpose of getting more exposure.
I see that people started applying your @ strategy here in the comments, so I’ll join in π
Hi Milan!
I suppose it’s possible the odd site owner may not like it, but I’m still providing my real name this is just a “bonus!” I agree it’s totally not cool when you just use your site name.
With the kind of sites I comment on, I can’t think of the last time I had a comment disapproved and I would imagine if my comment adds value, the site owner would just trim my site name off. That’s what I would do!
I wasn’t referring to adding your site to your name, I was referring to using signature links. This isn’t even allowed at forums anymore.
So much good advise. Thanks for sharing your wisdom. Going to look into the comment luv plugin!
Hey Lauren,
That’s awesome! So glad you started a blog and are connecting with other bloggers!
This is great info! Thank you for sharing this. Iβm a new blogger and wasnβt aware of this. I feel like I have so much more to learn in the world of bloggers!
Elna, thanks for providing this information. I have a blog to go along with my adoption practice and traffic is hard to come by. I will put some of your suggestions in play.
Hi Elna so I am really new to this world of mommy blogging. I have been blogging off and on since WordPress birth but this is my first blog that I have stuck to and am really trying to get an audience. My background is in tech so most of my other blogs were more about the experience of building the site and playing with various plugins or themes or developing. Techie Mamma is the first I am trying to really put out there and it has become almost like another child. It started when my oldest was a few months old and now as a momma of two I am really trying to get it to grow! Thanks so much for the tips. I have never heard of CommentLuv and am definitely going to look into installing it. You are a great example of how blogging can make a difference and now just have to convince hubby that mine can too.
Hi Cousett!
I think that’s a great niche topic. Many moms in my Facebook group struggle with tech! If you can provide solutions to WordPress help, gmail, email management etc.. I’m sure you’ll drive up traffic for sure!
This is awesome advice! My blog is only a couple months old, and I’m looking for ways to boost traffic. It didn’t occur to me to comments on blogs in my niche, much less add my blog name! I’m definitely going to try this (just like I just did in this comment!) Thanks for the great tip Elna, I love reading your posts btw, very informative and well written!
Hi Rhonnie!
I know, right? It’s a good strategy to up the curiosity of other commenters!
Hi Elna,
What you said here makes so much sense! I actually tend to get more curious if I see website attached to the name. I’ll make sure to do this when I comment. π Super awesome tip!
Wow Elna. Your post is really highly informative and exceptional. Since majority of those who made a comment here are women and your audience are mainly mothers, can I be one of the exemption? Really, that was great of you to share important actionable tips for everyone. Many thanks.
I launched my blog in October and focused on content and increasing Pinterest traffic the past few months but really need to find some other ways to make people aware of my website. Thank you for sharing your info for increasing traffic other than through Pinterest. Can’t wait to try it out!
Hey Pamela!
That’s awesome! Glad you found this blog tip for comments helpful!
Brand new blogger here! Thanks for the tip! I didn’t even realize comments were so important. Geez, so much to learn!
I did just have my mind blown, yes. As usual, you have given me an easy, actionable step to grow my business. First time doing this trick and will plan on doing it in the future and when I do it I”ll think of you. I am so thankful for you Elna! xx
Hey Clare!
Thanks for stopping by! Glad you enjoyed this post about blog comments!
As always love your ideas! New to blogging and love following your blog. Constantly learning over here. ?
Hi Rachel,
Thanks for coming over! Glad you enjoyed this post!
Great tip! never thought of including anything with my name except my name. Thank you for sharing such amazing tips that are actually easy to implement!
Hi Joanna!
I know, right? And when I read your comment I immediately saw your URL name and knew who I was talking to!
Thanks Elna! This was very helpful. I’ve been telling myself just that – commenting and not getting traffic is a sure way to get frustrated and give up, but your strategy is clever. I changed the information on both my WordPress profile and Gravatar… I’m looking forward to seeing if it’ll make a difference!
Hi Cat!
That’s great. As I was reading your comment I did see your blog name and it made me curious! Way to go!
I am so glad I found your blog early in my blogging career. Your posts have been my go-to almost daily! I absolutely love the amount of thorough information you share to help the rest of us who just learning.
Thanks so much!
Regards,
Mandy π
Hey Mandy!
Aww thanks mama! Your words mean more than you can imagine! My purpose for this teaching blog is to help and inspire you to follow your dreams and live your dreams! Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Elna,
As always I learn SO much from your posts. I have read a few blogs religiously for years and never ever commented! Now that I know how valued the feedback is I am going to try and comment more for sure!
I will definitely use your tips to include my URL in my name as well. Iβm scared to know how long it would have taken me to realize this helpful information without reading your tip!
Keep them coming!!
Regards
Tranda
Hi Elna! I read this post not too long ago and your commenting tip really stuck with me. I went ahead and added my blog name when commenting, and it really did drive some traffic and engagement on my blog. Plus, it’s gotten me in touch with a lot of awesome fellow blog owners. I’m currently in the process of marketing my new blogs and your posts have been my absolute go-to guides. Thanks so much!
Hello Elna – fantastic tip! This is my second time reading from you and I must applaud to it! I never thought of this before and rarely comment on others blog – truthfully this is the first time. Overall, I will keep these tips in mind! Thank you! Looking forward to reading more articles to build my blog! π
Hi Quinn!
That’s awesome! So happy you commented π
Great tip Elna!
You know I have seen that in the past and have actually clicked on a couple of links from the comment section before. But it’s been a while and I really had not put it together yet.
Thanks for catching that neat little trick and for sharing!
Great tips. I never thought about changing my name on a blog comment.
Elna! This little blog enlightened me! I love finding new tricks to boost my new blog. Iβm a super beginner and am always reading info to be better at this whole blogging world.
Starting today, I need to stay making those comments!
Thanks girl!
Hey Jenna!
Love it! So glad you are commenting and that you have a Gravatar to comment! Right on!
Hi Elna! This is such a great tip!
I’m embarrassed to say that for the amount of blogs and blog posts I read, I barely EVER comment! I am really going to put effort into doing so, and linking my blog in a signature or name!
Thanks so much! π
Hey Megan!
I know right? I was the same and didn’t think much of the value of blog commenting! Good luck and have fun!
I know this is an old post, but just wanted to thank yo for this tip – so simple but so effective! As you can see, I have started using it right away π
Hey Nicola!
Yes! That’s awesome. I love this tip for sure π
Goodness I love blog commenting Elna. But you already knew that π Be genuine, be personable, share some value and comment persistently. Tweeting for you buddy.
Ryan
Oh I know you do! I feature you somewhere on this blog π Thanks for commenting!
All these goodies that you are sharing is amazing. Honestly never crossed my mind to do something so simple. So from now on I feel a lot more comfortable commenting on other fellow blogger pages and promoting my own blog.. Thank you so much !!!!!
Hi Davianna,
You’re so welcome! Glad you found this helpful for you!!!
Itβs so ironic that I came across this today. I have a new blog and Iβve become extremely frustrated with how to generate traffic and engagement. Itβs like you read my mind! Thank you so much for writing this. I have no idea what those different commenting tools you mentioned are. However, I will be implementing your suggestion.
Hi Kyona!
That’s great! So glad you found this post! Have fun blog commenting!
Wow! This comment method is new to me! Even though you posted this quite a while ago, Iβm just coming across it now…. just goes to show you that thereβs always more audience for you! Iβll def be doing this from now on! Thanks for your insight! π -ps- Iβm a twin mommy too! π
Hi Jodi!
I know! When I found out about this blog commenting strategy I was like whoa! How come I never heard about this? There’s a lot learn about blogging for sure! Enjoy using this new tip.
Hi Elna! You’ve done it again! This is something I didn’t expect, but will definitely put into action as you can see above, lol! π I have blog post on my business site, but I’m also starting an lifestyle blog for boss moms in the next few months. I appreciate all your info that you so diligently give on your blog and in your Facebook group. Thanks again hon!
Hi Angel!
Way to go! So glad to help you out and your boss mom blog sounds awesome!
What a clever idea. But how do you add the URL? I’ll give it a go in the Name box now!
Hey Linda,
Instead of putting in your URL in your name you put your BLOG NAME and your name. So it would read: Linda Hobbis | Mother Distracted
Like that!
This is brilliant! Iβve seen peopleβs sites in their name in comments, but it never occurred to me to do this. I will be using this technique every time I comment. Thank you so much for this post π
Hi Sarah,
Yes! I know! I saw your blog name and I was already curious!
Wooo hooo! Thank you for sharing that! I have been blogging for a month now, and cracking the traffic code has been a struggle! I really enjoy reading content that provides me with the “meat and potatoes” of blogging. This post is giving me something that I can actually use to grow my online presence!
I am about to get busy commenting on some momma blogs using this strategy!
Hi Lyndsey!
Your welcome! I love blog commenting but I’m just getting too busy!! When I have a bit time I always toot around Pinterest or Facebook to check out new blog posts! Have fun learning and commenting!
Now that’s something I didn’t think of nor noticed until you clearly pointed it out
Thanks for the tip.
But how should one do it if the blog is 4 or 5 words like mine?
I’ll try it out here and let’s see if it will look decent lol
Hey Bella,
I think that looks fine for your comment! Not too long! You can always remove the spaces too: MommyHasALittleTime but your way looks good.
Great! Thanks for the tip, Elna.
I will experiment with different varieties and see how it goes! Maybe not entirely related, but what’s your take on using acronyms, e.g. MHALT?
I think until one establishes some sort of online presence, this kind of branding is pointless and may actually be detrimental since people won’t be able to decipher it… What do you think?
Hey Bella,
You can use an acronym but it doesn’t mean anything when someone new views your name. I would stick to what you have!
Hi Elna, thanks for another great tip. Definitely going to give it a go. I am always in awe seeing how many good comments your posts get, you are obviously doing it right! Well done and thank you for sharing!
Hey Estie!
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed this post π Yeah, I’m also amazed too by the comments!
Hi Elna,
Thank you for this rundown of commenting and traffic generation. This is something I’m still trying to figure out, since my blog is only a month old. I’m curious: do you see any value in the free version of WordPress? I know so many bloggers suggest starting with the self-hosted version, but I was hesitant to throw too much money out there if I won’t at least break even sometime soon (I’m not looking to generate a ton of income or anything from this endeavor).
At the urging of so many friends, I started a “mom blog,” but I kind of feel like the ideal time for this was 5-10 years ago and that mombloggers now are kind of swimming upstream.
Thank you for the post (and your time!)
Hi Charissa,
Thanks so much for stopping by! As for your question, yes there is tremendous value to having your own self-hosted blog. The content is yours and you can monetize it. With a free WordPress blog, ads could be placed on your site and you won’t make money since WordPress placed them on for you. Starting a successful blog takes time and commitment but it’s possible for sure! Learn from others who have done it before!
Thank you for your reply. The next day, I went ahead and migrated over to a self-hosted blog (I wish I had just started there in the first place, but I didn’t realize how inexpensive it would be). I appreciate all of your efforts. I feel like I have clicked through 100+ of your resources in the past week.
Elna!
I found this blog during my outreach process. At that time I was looking for another kind of blogs to comment on. I have an automotive blog. But I found your method to increase the traffic to be an interesting one.
I noticed, that some people add the name blog after the name. And I was doing this for some time. But I never did my own experiments if it is effective or not!
I’ll read your other posts on the blogging topic! Also, I think I can share some of my hints.
Thank you so much for the tip. I’m new to blogging and this is really helped me!
Hi Oshy!
That’s awesome. So glad you’re a brand new blogger and this blogging tips to help you increase your blog traffic from blog commenting is helping you!
Hey Elna,
Blog commenting is something I do so regularly but I never thought of using this strategy. It makes a lot of sense and I want to start practicing it right here π
Given my blog url is my name, I’m yet to find out how it looks π
Awesome article.
Thanks for the valuable insights.
I started blogging last year and I’m loving it but just trying to get some traction with organic traffic.
Keep those tips coming…..they are greatly appreciated!
lol I love finding tips like this, and yet another reason why I love your stuff. I didn’t actually realize you were the same Elna from ElnaCain.com until about mid-way into reading.
Sometimes it’s the tiniest hacks that can make the biggest difference. I love blog commenting as a whole because it can increase engagement, but you’ve made that “work” a whole lot easier.
Awesome π
Hi!
Ha! What a nice surprise for you to find out that Elna at Twins Mommy is the same as Elna at ElnaCain.com π So glad you found this hack useful and unique! I was floored when I found that out too!
Well color me impressed – this tip really gets me excited about commenting on niche blogs in an effective but SIMPLE way! Thank you, Elna – I always know to just dive into your impressive amount of content when I need an SEO/blogging/content creation kick in the pants!
Hey Alex!
Thank you so much! Glad you found this tip helpful. I like this tip also as a branding element and I always look at the name of blogger when they leave a comment. And if they added their blog name, well, I’ll be heading over there to take a look!
Thx for your quick reply! Yes, I feel like as I start my little fledgling blog I’m walking the line between blogging and branding…it’s a fun challenge that i can take on during naptime: to write with the goal of being paid to freelance eventually! Have a good one π
Elna,
Genius, yet so simple. How did we not know this before? I have actually seen this done on blog posts but I didn’t put two and two together. Thanks for putting the puzzle pieces together. You’re blog is so helpful! I love your content on blogging. Thanks for this tip! I will definitely use this in the future.
Hi Erika,
Thanks so much for coming over! And yes! I saw this too and didn’t realize it either! Placing your blog name in comments is a great way to get that curiosity up and running in other bloggers! At least it does for me!
Yes, you totally blew my mind, I would never have thought of this, and I will be implementing it. I have made a few blog comments so far because I liked the content but was not doing it specifically for traffic, but your post just sparked some ideas.
Hey Michelle!
Yassss! That’s awesome! Thanks so much for commenting!
You’re right! This small trick might be old, but it’s definitely new to me. I just it out and it worked! I can’t wait to keep using this trick as I look to grow my traffic. I look forward to your emails because they are just what I need to get some traction for my blog and life.
Hi Kylina,
Awesome. And it did work. I read your name and it got me interested in checking you out!
Thanks for this awesome tip Elna! Glad to try this out!
Although my niche is different – I write about science topics – I’ve nonetheless found your overall advice on blogging incredibly helpful! I can’t wait to try your comments tip on other science blogs!
Thank you so much!
Hi Ewen!
That don’t matter! Just add your blog name to pique some curiosity π
Hello… thank you so much for the advice! Amazing article. I’m glad I found your blog, it’s very useful! Definitely, I will subscribe to it! Can’t wait to read your newsletters!
It’s a great idea for commenting on other people blog! I was always amazed by the work they do but never thought I should comment in the end. I just send them an email. But! From now on I will start commenting, to tell, in front of other people how great work they do! And also will try it to see if I can gain traffic to my blog!
Thank you! Cheers!
Hi Simona!
That’s great to hear! Thanks so much for subscribing!
I have seen people doing this but never really put two and two together. Great tip and one I plan to use from this point on. Growing views and followers is for sure no easy task for us beginners. Thank you.
Hi Jennifer!
You’re welcome! So glad you connected the two together and see how this can help you boost your traffic!
I absolutely LOVED your idea of adding the name of our blog / site next to our name. I had never thought of doing that before and it makes a total difference, not only to filter our comment from a sea of other comments, but also to provide a little more insight into who we are. As you can see, I’ve done that to this very comment, thanks to you. You’ve even inspired me to write an e-mail broadcast to my audience talking about this (with a link back to you and your site, of course). Thanks for the tips, and I look forward to reading more from you π
Hi Maria!
That’s awesome! I was blown away too when I found out!!! So happy you are using the tip! And it makes others want to click over to see your site based on your blog name! Thank you so much for writing about this in your email and linking to me! I’ll be sure to check out your site!
I really enjoy discovering blog posts that give me information on something that I would’ve never thought about before. I’m in a couple of groups where “Blog Commenting” threads but I never understood how that could benefit me. I’m also hoping it’ll get me more connected with other mom bloggers. I know a few right now but I want to continue to expand my network. I’m going to make a goal to leave comments on 5 different blog posts every day this week. I’m excited to see what kind of exposure I receive!
Hi Valerie!
Thanks so much for coming over. I see you are using my tip for blog commenting! Yay! Have fun blog commenting!
My mouth literally dropped open when I read about writing your blog name in the name field! Thank you so much for this tip! Did you notice that everyone in the comments followed your tip?
I am new to bloggingβI have a travel blog and Iβve started lookin g at all sorts of blogging websites for tips. Your blog has been great (and mommyβs travel too, right? So Iβm not too far off here). Iβm looking for inexpensive (no-cost!) ways to get more traffic and Iβve already found so many ideas from your blog. Thank you!
Hey Amanda!
Yes! I know. I had my mind blown with this tip! I just had to tell everyone about it! So happy you found it!
My mind is officially blown! Definitely ready to have my voice stretch farther than my immediate circle.
Thank you so much for providing this helpful tip!
π
Thanks Gabi! Glad your mind was BLOWN! It sure blew my mind when I researched more about this. Thanks for stopping by!
Okay I have never heard of this idea and I love it! I am not new to writing, but new to blogging and kind of lost on this whole backlinks thing! Thanks for this tip!
Hi Mandy!
You’re welcome! Yes, backlinks is a topic I discuss in Ready Set Blog for Traffic as it’s a VERY VERY VERY strong metric for ranking on Google!
Elna,
This is gold! It goes hand in hand with a blog I posted yesterday about the importance of commenting. But to really grab attention by adding your blog’s name is a fantastic suggestion! Thank you for sharing this and not keeping it all to yourself ;). I appreciate your tips and help.
Hi Trinity,
You’re welcome! Yes, I still use this tip even today when I comment!
Hi Elna,
Awesome Tip! I love it when I get actionable tips that will produce a real result. You mentioned that the traffic results won’t be huge but in my opinion, every little bit helps. If you’re already supporting other bloggers and getting your name out there, why not add this little tweak that can lead to some extra traffic.
I’ll be putting this tip into action starting with this comment. π
Again, thanks for the tip. I can always count on you for some great advice.
Hey Shawn,
That’s awesome and yes, every LITTLE bit counts for sure!!!
Oh my gosh, so seriously simple but crazy smart! Trying right now!!
<3 Thanks so much!
This is a brilliant idea! I would never have thought to do this, but now I am going to start using this every time I comment. I have a new mom blog and my traffic is still rather low, but I comment on many blogs daily so I will look forward to seeing some change in my traffic after using your tip. Thank you again for sharing this!
Hi Joanna!
So happy you found out this blog comment hack! Have fun commenting!
Elna,
You are amazing! Seems like such a simple thing but we all missed it! While I am commenting on this, might I also say how much I love, love, love your Pin Promote Planner?! I struggled with how to best plan my time and this sits on my desk and will be used π
Thank you!
Hey Dee Dee
Wow! Thanks so much! I’m thrilled that you like and enjoy my Pin Promote Planner!!!! I loved making it!! So happy the schedules are working for you.
Elna – This tip just blew my mind! I never noticed this when I leave comments before. It’s such a great observation that is easily over looked. Love that you pointed this out as an easy way to promote your blog when commenting.
Thank you!
Yay! That’s awesome Teresa!
It totally blew my mind too!!!!
I love these tips and tricks. I never thought about adding my blog to my name! Certainly am going to try it as well as connect with other bloggers. Thanks!!!
I always use my blogger name when I comment on other blogs. I hope that is OK. π
Great tips! I’m always looking for new ways to get traffic and I love how this will help capture your target audience too!
Hi Ashley,
Thanks so much! And yes, this is a great identifier for your niche to help newbies know you quickly!
Randi @ Children’s Writers World
I’m so excited I found Twins Mommy. Thanks for the great tips on driving traffic to a blog. I try to leave pertinent comments on writers’ blogs, and after reading this post, I’ve learned how to make comments more engaging.
Thanks so much Randi!
Glad you found a great blog traffic tip!
Hi Elna!
Thank you so much for this tip. I am very new to blogging (I hardly know what to focus on first). Now that I have a little bit of content to work with I began looking at how to start putting myself out there and generating traffic. This is such a great tip! I really appreciate it and I plan to try it today!
Hi Cheryl!
I know what you mean. There is a lot to focus on. I’m glad you found some advice here! It’s a great strategy to get your blog on the map!
I’ve been commenting on other blogs a lot lately but haven’t seen any more traffic to my blog. I remember mimicking this tip early on, but I forgot about it recently. I’m going to starting commenting with my website again! Thanks!
Hi Lindsay,
Traffic from blog commenting is a small percent. What you’ll get are credibility and curiosity. You will get some clicks back but don’t expect 100’s a day.
Thank you Elna for sharing you discovery! I’m very new to the blogging world and IοΈ feel a little overwhelmed by all of the techy information that IοΈ feel takes time, focus and some peace and quiet to figure out. This can easily be incorporated into an already simple task.
IοΈ feel like a dummy but I’m not sure how to do this. My blog name is “this perfectly imperfect life” so IοΈ would like to shorten it to ‘perfectly imperfect’ but IοΈ don’t know how to include the URL. IοΈ feel like this probably something super easy that went right over my head.
Thank you again for sharing! I’m looking forward to more newsletters and your tricks of the trade! π
Hey Steph,
Thanks so much for stopping by. You can always brand your blog with the shortened name: Perfectly Imperfect. See how that goes!
Hey Elna,
This is some really great information. I have been blogging for approximately 6 months now and have barely little to no comments. I’m finding it difficult.
Mind you, my blogging strategies aren’t the best as I’m traveling through Australia – not the best way to put all your focus into your blog when you’ve got the beach and travel in mind.
Thank you for the word of advice, I will definitely be starting to comment on a lot more bloggers pages. I’m a health and food blogger so I believe that this could be something in my favor.
Thanks again π
Annie Bri http://www.anniebri.com
Hi Annie!
I hope you are having fun traveling! Food blogs are awesome and do well on Pinterest! Enjoy your travels!
Hi Elna,
Thank you so much for your advice. I remember the old days when I started my first blog back in 2009 and everyone entered their URL and it just showed up!
Now, I had been wondering the best way to get a little visibilty especially for my new blog! I have one quick question though, do you suggest writing Hilary @ Hilary L Hahn or Hilary @ A Day in the Life?..the first seems a little redundant, but it is the best way to find me! Also, I can totally relate to issues with Disqus…I have a profile, but find it wonky at best!
Hi Hillary,
That’s great you found a new strategy for getting your blog visible. If your URL is your name you can try using your name or a day in the life….see what converts better.
Wow! Yes, you did blow my mind! I will be doing this from now on!
It is disheartening to put together posts, especially as someone who is also trying “to pay it forward” now that my kids are older, and have almost no one reading them.
Thank you so much for this advice, and showing the difference that it made for you! π
Hi Annette,
Thank you so much!! So happy you came over to Twins Mommy. Good luck!
Wow! Such an easy tip. Iβm going to start doing this right away. Thank you so much for sharing!
Hey Susie!
Awesome and thanks for coming over to my blog! Have fun commenting on blogs to grow your traffic!
Well what a nifty trick. I would have never thought of adding the blog name to my name field and I’ve SEEN IT DONE! Over and over again! And I comment too. I like to comment. I’ve recently started back blogging for the fun of it and the more I dig in, the more I’m realizing it could be way more than just “fun”. It’s so hard to get people to comment these days… it seems a “like” or a “share” is about a deep as the interaction goes lol.
Hey Denise!
Thanks so much! I know what you mean. I saw the trick too and it didn’t dawn on me until it finally did! Thanks for stopping by. I think a lot of the engagement is moving away from the blog and going to your FB page or YouTube I’m finding!
Awesome tip and I love your blog!!! I used to use my blog name in my comments on an old blog years ago but wasnβt sure if that practice was still βaliveβ now that Iβve jumped back into blogging again. Glad to know it is!
Very exited to join your Facebook group and participate in the webinar this week!
Hi Aryn
That’s awesome! Can’t wait to see you around in the FB group!
Hey Aryn
Thanks so much! Great blog you have too!
You just blew my mind! Haha! I am totally going to start doing this from now on!
Hey Alyssa!
π Thanks so much! Love your Gravatar pic!
Thank you so much for sharing this information! I was so unaware at the importance of commenting on other peoples blogs and how the whole process actually worked! Very eye opening for me:)
Hi Tessa!
I know right? It is a great way to grow your brand for sure!
Oh I use Disqus cus I thought it would be a very easy way to comment and track them.
But great point in adding the URL to the name. Will try to implement that a lot more!
I’m new to blogging and love this tip! Looks like a bajillion others did as well ? (Btw, does it get overwhelming to respond to every single comment? You’re amazing!)
Hey Kate!
Thanks! The comments don’t come as often as when I published this post π Thankfully!!
Thanks so much Elna! I had no idea about putting your blog in your name! this week Iβm going to start finding parenting blogs and start commenting. I love your newsletter because you are so relatable!
Hey Amanda,
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoy my newsletters π Love your URL name!
This is ingenious! I just tried it out and of course didn’t read the comments first so I added the .com whoops. Won’t be making that mistake again. I actually really like being able too see other blogs and often click on them from the comments so this tip definitely makes sense to me! Thanks Elna.
I have seen this before but kind of forgot about it when I got back on the blogging train π Thank you so much for sharing! I felt like I was commenting but had no rhyme or reason to it. Not that I didn’t enjoy the blogs but I don’t have a lot of free time to just be aimlessly commenting. I’m still working on coming up with a good plan and routine for my new business especially with still working my full-time job and a very busy seven year old!
Hey Jessica!
Glad you remembered this tip! Good luck on your blog!
Hi Elna,
Great advice! I’ve been reading A LOT of articles on blog traffic generation. I’ve never seen this, thanks for the tip.
Another thing I just recently realized is that a simple thing like your gravatar picture is important too. I would click back to a link with a generic gravatar, but I would if I saw the face behind the comment!
Thanks again!
Great post! I have come across a few of your article before, this is my very first blog comment! Now that I have just started a blog I love getting as much info as possible!
Do you find a lot of your comments are from other bloggers just trying to increase their traffic or actual readers/clients?
Hey Kylee,
Thanks so much! Glad you found a great tip. People who come by to comment can grow their traffic for sure!
Wow – I noticed this trend and was wondering about it. *Now* I understand – thank you. Putting your name in front does help other readers to connect with you, which makes perfect sense.
One tricky aspect may be for anonymous bloggers like myself i.e. WO @ Working Optional might look weird?
Brilliant point out through your helpful post! Maximum time, I was done comment with a link in the text but you discussed this perfectly. I have gotten a good result in SEO purpose. A new blogger should bookmark your site for helpful assistance.
Oh wow! Thanks for this tip! It was super helpful! I am fairly new to blogging and every information is super exciting to learn ! Thanks and God bless! Have a lovely day!
Hi Silvia!
You’re welcome! Love your blog name!
This was something I knew about but I guess I didn’t know it was so important. My blog name is long (Ginger Mom & the Kindle Quest) but I haven’t found a shortened version I like yet.
Thanks for the refresher course π
Oh my goodness! What an obvious and great idea… thank you for sharing this with everyone. I am always looking for new and better ways to drive traffic to my blog and I enjoy commenting on others’ blogs. Never thought to do this! Thanks againl.
This is seriously so helpful. I’m a freelance writer as well and a mama so time is limited. I haven’t really put a lot of time into commenting on blogs, but this makes it feel way more doable.
Thanks so much!
Wow, your comment about comments sure got a lot of comments! :). Thanks for this, Elna! Any advice on figuring out where your target audience is “hanging out?” (Mine is students, and especially nontraditional students, people who are parenting or working full time while going to school, or who have returned to school after a long absence).
Hey Joy!
Yes this post is very META for sure π As for your target audience, I suspect Pinterest and Facebook π Most millennials and moms are on those platforms. If more visual, then Instagram.
π Thanks!
Elna,
My mind IS blown after reading this. I never would have thought to attach my blog name to my name in a comment, if it weren’t for this post. Thanks so much for the tip!
Hi Tawnya!
That’s’ awesome. So glad to help!
Hey Elna,
I so love this idea. I never thought of it either as so many comment sections ask for your website anyway. Multiple ways to snag more traffic is a win. So far Pinterest is the only way it’s working right now but it’s still small. I have just readjusted my niche, since my life changes necessitated it, so I can’t wait to hit more sites with my comments and use this tip.
Thanks,
Laurie
Hi, this is so helpful because I have learned that there are different people who have their own preferences when it comes to commenting plug-ins. I commend you for having a well-written write-up. Thank you for sharing this one. π
I’ve never seen this piece of advice anywhere before. I will have to try it. I just came across you recently and have really been enjoying and learning from your posts. I only have a personal blog right now, but I’m wanting to start freelance writing. Thank you for all the info!
Hi Ashley,
Thanks so much! Yes, I’m a freelance writer and a mom to twins! It’s an awesome side hustle!
I stumbled across your post while looking for more efficient traffic generation methods. This is amazing. I would never have thought of it like this. Going to implement from the next comment.
Elna thank you so much… I would have never spotted this on my own. I am a new blogger and am seeing growth. However, I have not started commenting on other blogs (I do read other blogs). This is mainly, because I did not see the value in this strategy. Your post here has me thinking I should give it a true try and see where it can go. Agian, thank you!
Hi Raielle,
So glad you found a great tip to use. Commenting is a great thing to do network and get some blogger friends!
I am new to blogging and driving traffic to my blog is maddening. There is SO MUCH information out there it is overwhelming! I appreciate your straightforward approach and honesty. I am going to go put this info to good use STAT! Thank you so much for sharing!
And, while I do not have twins, I do have an in home, state licensed daycare. So I have 8 kids to work around most week days. I appreciate your hard work and dedication to bring us this info!
Charlie @ http://www.ArmMyKitchen.com
Hi Charlie!
I know what you mean! It can be maddening. I hope this tip will help you bring some traffic to your blog!
Oh wow! I never even thought about this! I mean, I do something similar for my Pinterest name, so why wouldn’t I try it on blog comments? Thanks so much Elna! This is great!
(And I’ll try it our right now! ?)
Jules – I tried to comment on your blog. The post about Printify and it blocked me as spam for the way my comment was set up! I was so sad π I really like your blog though!
Hi Jules!
You’re welcome! So glad you found a new traffic tip!
Ok. Wow. I’ve been at this blogging thing for years and NO I’ve never read this tip anywhere before. You never know sometimes what’s going to work well and what isn’t, but this tip is simple enough that anyone can start using it. Thanks so much!
Hi Sherry!
I know right? I felt the same way. I’ve been blogging for years and not even heard of this!! It is an amazing tip!
Wow! What I am idea! I am going to try this, starting here ?
Hi Janet!
You’re welcome! Glad you found this little traffic generating tip!
Oh God, I am learning so much from you. I had no idea. Well, I am also new in this blogging world, and my head is about to g boom with all the new information I’m receiving (good thing I always loved to study). Thank you s much for explaining everything so well. I am using this tip from now on.
Hi Lena!
Wow! Thanks so much π I’m happy to help. I love blogging and I’m also learning every day. I don’t think you quit learning actually π
Thanks for the great post? I always knew commenting helps to bring some traffic, but not as much as I’d like. Can’t wait to see how well it work!
[email protected]
This is such a helpful tip! I know I’m a guy and not a mommy blogger in the slightest but super helpful for a growing niche travel blog where comments are a critical networking point. Also good that reading through this comment thread got me connected to CommentLuv. What a fantastic little plugin! Thanks!
Cheers,
Mark
Thanks Mark!
And of course you can come here if you aren’t a mom blogger!!! I just connect better with mamas π
Hi Elna!
Awesome post! I’m definitely going to have to try this out!
I love your opt-in forms – so simple and sleek ? What do you use to create them? I just started a new blog and would love to check out different options for opt-in boxes!
Your help is much appreciated π
Michelle @ Who Says What π
Hi Michelle!
Thanks so much! I use OptinMonster for the pop-up boxes you see when you click on a form. I think MailerLite or Rapidology have nice opt-in boxes. As for forms, I use ConvertKit (the ones at the bottom of my posts). I have a tutorial on how to make those in this post: https://twinsmommy.com/convertkit-mom-bloggers/
Elna, your a genius!
I don’t know why it’s never crossed my mind before to use either of those strategies when commenting on blogs! It’s so simple too! I didn’t know what CommentLuv was either, but I’m off to check that out now too!
Thank you for the great ideas, I’ll be sure to add my blog to my name or as a “signature” from now on!
Hi Crystal!
Thanks so much! I couldn’t believe this simple trick when it hit me with a ton of bricks. I’m like, hey, that can totally work and it does! Thanks for stopping by!
Good Lord, Elna, the number of comments on this post alone blows me away! Great tips and I so appreciate that you get into detail.
I’ve just spent a ton of time clicking through all kinds of links and reading posts from your latest email. Girl, I love what you’re doing!
Am going to start using this strategy now. π Does the @automatically embed my site? (Guess I’ll find out in a moment!)
Thanks!
Hey Karin!
I know right! It’s my most commented post for sure! π Thanks for the support!
There’s seriously good stuff here, but I imagine you already knew that. lol π
(btw, any idea why my avatar didn’t show up? (I have Gravatar.) )
I’ve seen this done so many times, and I can’t believe I never thought to do it myself. I’m definitely using these tricks from now on! Thanks for a great post I can use while I try to grow my blog following.
Hi Dana,
I know what you mean. When I first started commenting on mom blogs I noticed this, but didn’t pay much attention to it until one day I DID!! π
Thanks so much Elna. I started my book review blog in December so I’m still learning (usually the hard way lol). I’ve been frustrated with not getting people to my site also. When I was concentrating on building the site, I added a ton of people on FB so I was getting exposure but of course no sign ups to the site.
I found you about 2 months ago and I have gotten a lot of good tips from you about the set up aspect and I found this post at the perfect time as I’m in the process of addressing this issue now. Thank you for all the wonderful, helpful info that you share. I’ll be sure to let you know how it works for me.
Hi Debbie!
So glad you found this post. Go start commenting, networking and sharing!! Good luck!
Obviously, I didn’t get it right lol…I’ll try again
Thank you so much! I have been working hard trying to spruce up my Pinterest. I just tried Board Booster. I need to take a few minutes and comment on some new bligs today!
Thanks again.
I never thought of doing that. And I’m sure I have seen dozens of people do this and I haven’t realized how simple it is to implement in commenting. I’ve had my blog for a couple of months now, and I’m just starting to try new methods to drive traffic. And I am finally being a little more social and I’m starting to talk to others and join facebook groups. Thanks so much for this tip! I’m going to use it now! π
Hey Monica!
That’s great! Glad you found this trick and are using it! Have fun!
Thanks so much for the great tip. I’m new to blogging and need all the help I can get!
Hey Liz!
You’re welcome. Glad you are using the tip!
What a great idea! I always thought that it would be enough if your name/username had your site/blog link embedded in it, but seeing it spelled out is even better. Thanks Elna, for the useful tip.
And as far as comments sometimes disappearing using other comment interfaces, I always copy my comments before submitting, especially when they’re well-thought out & in-depth.
Hey Layla,
Yes, for the Disqus comments I have to copy my comment too! Thanks for stopping by!
Your blog is my Favorite. I love getting emails from you and reading the posts because they are so helpful. I just started a website/blog and have found this does help. The only thing that worries me is not enough people seeing my comment on blogs.
Hey Mandi,
Thanks so much for letting me know you get my emails! I love connecting to my subscribers! Keep doing the comment trick and your comment will get noticed if you have a good comment of course!
Brilliant! I just tested this out and clicking on my name took people to my website but when I clicked on other names it didn’t take me anywhere. Thanks so much for posting this. π
You’re welcome Heidi!
Have fun!
I love this tip! I am a newbie blogger just starting out and haven’t really explored commenting on other blogs in my niche. Forehead-smack, DUH! Thanks for sharing. I’ll be trying this out for sure π
Hey Alexandra!
I know right? It literally blew my mind once I figured it all out…mind totally blown here π
I have never thought of this technique when commenting on blogs, but I think it makes so much sense! So, yep, mind BLOWN! I feel commenting is such a good thing to do. Do you have special times you set aside to read and comment? Or just as you go? Thank you for this post, such amazing advice!
Hi Vicky,
I try to block out time over the weekend to catch up on my blog reading but sometimes I comment on a post I read during the week!
Well this tip is new to me too & I blogged for a few years. Blogging less now that I started my online business but still in the blogging world so I appreciate the advice! My site is my name but I think it’s still relevant π Very clever of you to notice this practice on your own btw!
Hi Kelly!
You’re welcome. Yes! I was the same too! I’ve been blogging and doing freelance writing and hadn’t noticed this until I started this mom blog. It’s pretty cool and it’s standard for me! Thanks for stopping by!
You know this is an amazing tip! And even though we blog about two different topics in essences I enjoy coming to your blog and reading your tips because they are so helpful to me to learn your tips of the trade and apply them to what I am doing with my blog. So I will def start doing this starting with commenting on your post! Thank you!
Hi Sheila!
You’re welcome. So happy you found a tip to boost your traffic π
You may have thought you sounded a little dramatic towards the end… but you really did just BLOW MY MIND! hahaha. This is why I try to continually take in information on other blogs. You can skip the seemingly little, but VERY important tips!!
Thank you so much for sharing!
Hi!
You’re welcome. Ha, I do get a bit dramatic at times. Hey! I’m an introvert so I gotta bet my drama out there some time π
Elna,
Do you have any suggestions if your blog name is your actual name? I love this idea because it tells people from a glance that this person is a blogger too! I just don’t really think it works if you have a self-titled site.
On another note, I absolutely love your blog. I found a post on Pinterest and I have literally been going through your posts for a few hours, taking notes along the way! I love your writing style and how you really put the information out there in a manageable, real way. So thank you for taking the time to help other mamas grow their blogs too!
Erica
Hey Erica!
Aww thanks so much. If your blog is your name you can use your title. For my other blog, ElnaCain.com, when I comment I use this: Elna | Freelance Writer.
Try that!
I’ve always commented on other people’s blogs and it’s rare that anyone comments back on mine and it’s so frustrating. I love your tip of adding the @ and my blog name(I assume that’s what you mean when you say, URL, correct? of am I wrong?)! Thanks!
Hey Brenda!
Thanks and yeah you can add the @ or | too..It’s a great trick and still going strong π
Great tip! Thank you so much for sharing. I am new to blogging, and will definitely add this to my tool box π I recently found your blog, and have really enjoyed reading your posts! Thanks!
Hi Kathryn!
Thank you so much. I love helping newbies so anytime you have a question, just email me!
Elna, I look forward to reading more of your new-to-me blog. I’ve been doing my name this way for comments for a very long time. I don’t know why I started doing it, I think I just liked the look of it. I do, however, add the “.com,” removing it in the few cases when I get the “Your comment looks like spam” message.
Disqus was mentioned, so I’d like to tell you my one little problem with it: People who have the Disqus commenting system have the option of adding an “I’d rather post as a guest” tickbox, but so many bloggers do not add it, so readers have to login, use a password, etc. I and countless others simply click away as we don’t have time to login at every blog we’d like to comment on.
Hi Jean!
That’s great you’ve been using this trick for a while. As I mentioned, I’ve never seen it since I was blogging as a freelance writer and well, going to Neil Patel’s blog, I didn’t see people use this trick π
But, once I started TM and visited other mom blogs, I was like, whoa! What are they DOING??
Yeah, Disqus is NOT my favorite commenting system at all. It takes me soo much time just to comment one time..
I have started doing this to my blog last year and have seen my traffic doubled, so yes I totally agree commenting on blogs is very effective in generating traffic π
That’s awesome Jocelyn!!
I know it’s helped me with traffic too!
Elna, thank you so much for this tip! I never thought of doing this, but will do it from now on. I need to start commenting more…it is one of my goals for this year.
Hi Cindy!
Yes, it is a challenge for me still, but I at least set out a time to do it!!
Hi, Elna!
Following your advice. Starting…Now!
Thanks for sharing your wisdom. I’m also really enjoying your email content. Lots of great tips!
Hi Helen!
Thanks so much. I love writing about email marketing if that’s what you mean OR, thanks for being a subscriber and enjoying my emails π
Thanks for the tip. I am just starting to grow my blog. I will go try it out.
Hey Heather!
That’s awesome to hear! Keep me updated on your journey!
Thank you! This is a great tip I never would have thought of! I’m struggling with generating traffic to my site! Hope this helps!
Hey Sarah!
Thanks so much! So happy you are using the tip..just make sure you get rid of the @ and just use the | instead! You included both π
Hah! This is so smart! I never thought of this before. It’s so simple but effective! Thanks girl <3 Going to try it now π
I know right!
Super simple and I do it ALL.THE.TIME now!
Great article! I have heard of this strategy before, but now it actually makes sense.
How do you add your blog to your name as your suggested? I’m commenting to see if I can figure it out. Lol.
Hey Heather!
You succeed! I would however, stick to the | instead of the @ as this symbol can be spammy for some commenting systems. So I do Elna | Twins Mommy as my name!
Another fabulous post! I’m pretty sure a good 40% of what I schedule on social media is your blog posts, Elna. Lol. So with Comment Luv like you have here.. I would add @TheBeautifiedLife with my name, in the name section? I tried it with this comment. Not sure if that’s what you meant or if it automatically does it since it’s Comment Luv?
I still have the WP commenting system – I need to change, but I don’t want to lose all my comments. Will I lose them all?
Thanks,
Alee
Hi Alee!
Thanaks so much! Thanks for scheduling my posts π No, it doesn’t have to be with CommentLuv just any comment platform except Disqus for example. But on SquareSpace and other WP sites I can do that!
This is so awesome Elna!
I will put it to practice immediately and will be commenting more π
Btw discoved your site on Pinterest and have learned so much from you, so thank you!
I wish you continuous success π
It’
Hey Karla!
You’re welcome! So happy you found a great tip. I would advise though, using the | instead of @ as I noticed that some commenting platforms think that’s spam!!
I can’t believe I didn’t notice that before, I sat reading this with my mouth hanging open thinking “D’oh!”.
I was directed to this article by your mailing list (Which, by the way, I love!) I don’t suppose you’ll be writing one about mailing lists any time soon? I don’t have one yet but it’s on my to do list…
Hey Tessa!
Thanks so much! Yes I normally write one newsletter a week! So happy you are using this tip!
I have just recently gotten into blogging again. I was blogging here and there, but starting up a blog is frustrating. Thanks for the tips about commenting on other people’s websites. It’s not something I always feel comfortable doing. Do you have any posts about how to increase likes on Pinterest?
Hi Stacie,
If you opt-in to my Mom Boss Vault (resource library) I have a guide on how to optimize your Pin graphics. This can help you to increase your repins π
I absolutely love everything you write about. I appreciate all the tips and tricks. So far, I have found your content to be the most helpful without having to pay for it. I’m a new blogger with 3 kids so it’s been hard for me to make the time to grow my blog. But, every little bit helps. This tip is amazing. Thank you.
Hey Anne,
I’m in the same boat as you too! It’s hard growing a blog. I’m struggling now and that’s why I’m working hard at creating this daily series. Maybe in a month it will kick up! But I know ultimately it’s all about your tribe and subscribers. They are the ones that follow you and they are the ones that will eventually buy from me because they trust me and know that what I have to say will help them!
Oh my gosh!! You are a genius! I literally never would have thought about this. You rock!! A million times over. You. Rock!
Hey Emily!
Thanks so much. Glad you liked the tip π
I definitely learnt something new today. This is great. I am currently following you on Pinterest and Twitter and I am loving your tips. I will find more blogs in my niche and see if it works.
I comment on about 20 blogs a day so far as a strategy. Thanks again!
Divine I http://www.ladiesmakemoney.com
Hey Divine!
That’s awesome. I wish I could comment on 20 blogs a day. I’m lucky if I can squeeze in 3! So happy to hear you learned a new trick!
This is a fantastic post that I must say is very helpful for me at this time. I have been blogging for over four years now and I am now venturing on taking things a notch higher. Thanks for your advice!!
Hi Nicole!
So happy you found this tip! It will surely help you generate more traffic to your site!
Hello!
I’m a twin mommy as well (4 boys total!) and started my blog about a month ago. I REALLY appreciate these great tips! I plan on doing some serious work at naptime today. Haha βΊοΈβΊοΈ
Thank you so much for taking the time to explain some methods that worked well for you!
Hi Elaine,
Whoa! Four boys! Good luck! My one boy is more than enough. He’s a very determined hard headed boy. Ha. He takes after me π Thanks so much and congrats on your new blog!
Hey Elna! This post was great. I definitely have to get better about commenting on other blogs in general but this tip was perfect for a newbie like me.
I’ve been blogging for 4 months and I feel like there is still so much to learn. Tips like yours that are quick and easy to implement make me feel like I can make some real progress without having to carve out a big chunk of time.
I can’t wait to check out some of your other posts. ?
Hey Tasha!
Thanks so much! Yes, I’ve been blogging for two years now and I am still learning. I don’t think you ever stop! Thanks for stopping by!
I love this tip. I’m going to start using it right now and see how it works!
Hey Lucie!
That’s great. I love using this traffic tip when I comment on blog posts!
This is excellent advice, and very new to me. I’m definitely going to try it. Thanks for being so transparent, and willing to help others. π
Hey Veronica!
You’re welcome. So happy you found this tip useful.
I had no idea! Thank you for your insight. Of course, I use my name for my blog so I’m not sure how to work that in.
Yeah that’s a tricky one!
I also have a site under my name, Elna Cain so when I leave comment I just put my title. So, it looks like this: Elna Cain | Freelance Writer. So maybe do that instead?
Wow Elna, I am so impressed with your work!! Every time I get a chance to read one of your posts it’s always quality and helpful. Thank you so much for sharing. π
Julie,
Thanks so much! So happy that you found this post useful. It’s totally helped me!
Omg, Elna! You are one brilliant woman! This tip is amazing and I never would have thought of it. How did I not notice that. Lol I need to make it a habit to leave more comments. I love reading through my favorite bloggers post but forget to comment or get distracted with the kids. I love your writing style and can’t get enough of it!!!
Moncia!
Aww thanks so much. I love writing on Twins Mommy. I can be more relaxed and conversational with my peeps! It’s great. Yeah, I may have more grammar mistakes, but oh well! It’s me almost unedited π
So happy you found this tip. My suggestion though is to use the | instead of the @ as that might trigger the spam setting when you comment. You’ll get notification if that happens. Just switch it!
Hello, saludos desde Venezuela, thanks for that cool tip!
No problema chica! (My Spanish isn’t the best so don’t try to write your whole comment in Spanish!) Glad you are using this tip!
Elna, I have been leaving comments for so long without seeing traffic. It’s been so frustrating. I’m definitely going to be using this tip in the future.
Thanks so much for sharing!
Becky
Hey Becky!
Yes! Totally works. I just finished commenting on like 10 blog posts and used this trick for each comment! Traffic here it comes! Ha, well you know what I mean π
Haha, Yes!
BTW, any tip on how to upload an image to your comment? I know you can do this using Disqus but I can’t figure it out for CommentLuv.
Hi Becky!
Yes, you need a Gravatar for that! I actually have a post with step-by-step instructions! https://twinsmommy.com/blogging-basics-every-blogger-needs-gravatar-set-one/
Thank you so much, Elna! I just set it up! π
Awesome girl!
I know blog commenting is a great way to get traffic so good luck!
What a cool trick! I had noticed this but I didn’t make the connection at all. This will be something I for sure use now! Especially since my site is still a baby, like only 2 weeks old! But I am making the leap into this blogging world and so happy to find cool tricks like this.
Hey Heather!
Awesome! Love your name and it makes me curious to see your blog now!
Hi Elna =)
LOVE your blog, girl! Just found you off Pinterest and can’t wait to read what else you have here.
Jennifer
~PotPieGirl
Hi Jennifer!
Thanks so much. So happy you found me on Pinterest!
Great tip! I hardly ever get anything useful when I click through on these types of posts but this was a winner. You get to be the first one I try this on. Thanks!
Hey Angela!
You’re welcome π So happy you found a great tip to help you grow your traffic π It totally works too.
I love that you have figured it all out!! Who would have thought, that small addition. I love it and I’m using it ? Thank you!!
Janine @WriteRN
Hey Janine!
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed this tip! It rocks and it’s awesome.
Great information. Thanks so much for sharing.
You’re welcome! Glad you liked this tip.
Very helpful post for a blogger mom such as me. Thanks for sharing this post.
You’re welcome Jordan! Glad you liked the tip.
I have always done this, but I stopped a few years ago because there were some big bloggers who said to stop doing it. Google was slapping their hands for it. But now i don’t even remember who said that π It seems pretty easy to do w/o sounding like a spammer. I guess I’ll give it a shot again π
Hey Mel,
Who knows? All I know is that a lot of mommy bloggers are doing it and it hasn’t hurt my site or anything!
Hey Elna! Do you know you are rocking this blogging thing? I’m really awestruck and surely using this. 1 to your subscribers
Cheers!!
Aisha
Hey Aisha!
Thanks girl! Yeah, this blog is awesome and so many people come over to comment! Yay!
This just blow mi mind!! So simple and I totally think it works but in my case my blog has my own name π
What I’ve been noticing is that disqus is giving me so much trouble that people prefer to not even leave any comments at all. I think it’s time for me to try something else π
Thank you so much for this post!
Hey Zaha!
Ha! So happy you had your mind blown! Good that you realized that maybe having a Disqus commenting system isn’t the perfect thing for your blog!
Put me in the club of not liking disqus. I love to read comments even if I don’t leave one myself and disqus hardly ever loads when using my cell phone.
Hey Katrina!
Ha I know too! Disqus is a pain for me! Thanks for being in the same club!
I love this tip! I was able to go into my disqus & just update my name there. I think it worked.
This is just such a smart way to build your brand & put your name, face & blog together for people.
Hey Jessica!
I know right! I love this little tip for sure.
This is a seriously awesome idea. Never thought of it before. I have been commenting on a lot of websites with absolutely no luck of drawing them to mine. You are a genius! I swear. Thank you so much for pointing this out. It was a massive help. Thank you!
Hey Angela!
That’s great you found a new tip. Have fun!
This is actually my first ever comment!! I just went live on Saturday which I thought I was ready for (boy was I wrong) but there’s still so much I haven’t learned. Y’all are all so sweet and inspiring!!
Hey Blondie!
Thanks for choosing my blog to leave your first ever comment π
This just happens to be what I am focusing on this week π commenting…and trying not to be so clueless π Thank you so much for putting this post together. I was trying to figure out a strategy and this really helped π
Hey Bekah!
You’re welcome. Glad you found this helpful.
Hey Elna,
Great tip, I rarely leave comments on sites even though I read a lot of great content. I guess I thought I never had anything significant to add to the conversation. But I found your blog and thought and after your tip (and not listening to my inner chatterbox), I thought let’s start!
I am definitely adding the extra plugins and keeping an eye out for more of your great content
Glad you started commenting on my site! π I hope you found some other great posts and feel free to email me if you have any questions.
Elna,
I’ve been blogging for over a decade and never made the association of adding your blog name along with your personal name on comments, duh!
Thank you so much for pointing this out and I’m so grateful to have discovered your blog and especially this post.
Will look around a lot more to see what other gems you are putting out there. I’ve already subscribed so I don’t miss anything new. Happy to have “met” you!
Hey Cathryn!
I know right? I’ve been blogging for only 2 years and I didn’t know this trick either! It’s purely ingenious π
A great tip. In my case my blog is named after me, so putting the my name again after my name would be a bit weird. π But it’s an interesting method for those who have blogs by different names. If it really works, why not!
About CommentLuv: It’s only available for WordPress. So for those of us who don’t use WP (there are many other platforms and systems), it’s not an option. For example, I’ve noticed a huge grow in Squarespace usage in blogging, which by the way has an infuriating commenting system. And obviously, it’s not available for Disqus, LiveFyre or other such comment systems. I’ve been thinking of building something similar for my Drupal site, but it seems like a difficult and resource eating thing to do. Maybe one day. π
The blogging world is ever evolving. It’s so great that people like you share what they learn along the way, because it would be long before most of us would figure it out on our own, lol.
I have noticed bloggers signing their name and the blog name but never stopped to wonder why. Duh! I usually sign just with my blog name but I’m changing that pronto! Thank you so much for the awesome tips!!!
Hey Jas!
So happy you found this tip and are using it right now!
Thanks Elna!
Great advice! I’ve been blogging nearly 12 months and have been finding it a hard slog getting anyone to engage with my blog. All I ever seem to get is spam when it comes to comments, it can be really de-motivating and I often get to the ‘why do I bother stage’ and think about throwing the towel in. I do comment on other blogs but never really get any responses. I’ve often wonder why bloggers put their blog name next to their name in comments. From now on I am going to do the same (in fact right now)
Thanks so much for sharing!
Hey Helen!
That’s great you found this resource and trick. Adding your site’s name really does help pique the interest of the commenters. Good luck!
This was a super great read. I just started my blog and am trying to generate traffic to my site, so this is an awesome find right here.
I’ve seen others do the @ thing, but never knew why haha. So glad I clicked through and read this post. Not to mention the fact that I need to get on my blog commenting game STAT!
How do you find blogs in your niche? (I’m still figuring this whole niche thing out… mine are moms wanting to make money from home)
Hey Brianna!
Thanks and so happy to hear that you want to up your commenting game! Yes, my niche is the same. For me, the best way to find blogs in your niche is to look on Pinterest and Facebook groups. Over time you’ll find blogs in your niche. I keep a Google sheet of all the blogs I want to comment on regularly!
Have fun!
I am going to have to try this! But I have a silly question. How? I am just getting going in the blogging world, so everything is new to me. Or does is happen when I add my website when I submit a comment? Thanks for the post
Hey Meg,
Yeah once you have your website up and running then you can use you’re website name or topic next to your name.
I think I understood it as soon as I posted my question. Nothing like a bit a practice. thank you!
Yep, it really works!! Since I started to comment as Ana Willis @ TheyCallMeBlessed, I started to see a lot more referral from other blogs! I
Thanks, Elna! Your advice, and tips are always brilliant! π
That’s great Ana!
Yes, having your URL in your name totally gets people to click on your comment. They want to know what your blog looks like and what your content is all about. Totally works!
Mind = BLOWN! This is so simple yet so effective, and what’s crazy is that I visited a site today and left 3 comments on the sites of bloggers I found through that first site.
Just to see if you were right, I went to look at the comments. Guess what? They each had the @ symbol up there! Crazy how the brain works, huh? I just felt compelled to go see what they were writing about. I guess I’ll be using this calling card from now on. Thank you!
I know right? It totally works. Having your URL next to your name piques a commenter’s interest. I mean if you are commenting on blogs in your niche, then their audience is also your audience. So if they see your URL name that’s in that niche, they will automatically see what you are up to!
You did just blow my mind! I never noticed that before! Also, I totally LOL’d when you said “What a great post. Iβll have to bookmark it for the future.”. I have way too many comments like that. Thanks so much for the tips! I always learn so much when I visit your blog.
Hey Amanda,
I also LOVE your blog too girl! Thanks so much for stopping by. See you are using this trick! Way to go!
I agree with you that what we say is a reflection of ourselves thatβs why I always try to share something I know about a topic whenever I leave a comment.
In doing this, thereβs a better chance that my comment will not be ignored and will be posted.
Iβm sure weβll be meeting the same bloggers and it helps to be seen as someone reliable or insightful.
Besides, Iβve already taken the time to read the post so why not take the time to contribute something as well. Itβs a nice feeling when you do that. ?
Thanks for the tips!
Well, here I am following suite. Nice find and thanks for sharing…. Now to try it out!
OMG!!! Freaking Awesome Content….I have be on your blog all day…I am a stay at home mom also and starting my new blog journey….Thank you for this valuable info….Love It!!
*Happy dance* Thanks Trish! You rock! I’ve seriously had a stressful day today! I had a flat tire at Wal-Mart of all places with my twins in tow. Grr…two hours later I’m finally home. And I still have to go to soccer practice later, write a blog post for this blog and one for a client!
Anyways, you made my day just by commenting twice I see! Thanks a bunch.
Yet another amazing tip! Like I said, I’m going to be up all night on your site. I literally have my blog up, changing things as I read. Thanks for being an amazing resource for mommy bloggers like me! xoxo
Lauren
http://alsoknownasmama.com
Thanks Lauren!
So glad you found this helpful! I’ve been using this method for a few months now and it totally works!
Thank you for the tip! <3
I love this, it’s so simple but really effective. I’ve just updated my gravatar profile with my blog name after my name. Now I’ve just got to remember to add in my blog name everytime I comment on other blogs! I’ve pinned this to my blogging board π
Hey Gina!
That’s a great idea to add your blog name to your Gravatar profile! Thanks for stopping by!
Great tip! Going to do now. Just tried right now with you, hopefully not spamming because my site name is kinda long but putting as one word, in hopes it helps.
Hi Carmen,
That’s perfect π
Hi Elna!
Love this tip, mostly because it’s quick & easy π Most traffic generating advice requires a lot of time and work (understandably), but I LOVE finding little nuggets like this that take literally seconds to implement and still yield results. Thanks so much for sharing <3
Also one quick question: I noticed you have the option on your blog to subscribe to replies to your comments – and I love this! I have this implemented on one of my blogs via a plugin but was wondering if this is an option in CommentLuv or do you use a separate plugin to achieve it?
Thanks!
Thanks so much!
The option to subscribe to your replies is actually a WordPress plugin! https://en-ca.wordpress.org/plugins/subscribe-to-comments-reloaded/
Disquos comments also has that function too, but don’t know if you have to add it or if it’s built in.
Thanks!
Trying your tip for the first time, right here! Thanks Elna. That is such an awesome technique that I never made note of.
That’s great Gurk!
Try it out on other blogs and have fun!
Do you know what I LOVE about this? I love that everyone commenting is totally following your tip. It’s like you’re starting this mini-revolution in the blog commenting world, which is awesome. It make so much sense to put the blog name with your name when commenting, but I’ve never done it before. I love simple, practical tips. Way to go!
Hey Meg!
Ha! Thanks. I never thought of it that way β a mini revolution of the comment URL traffic generating tip! Ha π
So happy to see you are using it and I’m sure you’ll get some traffic back to your site if you invest in blog commenting in your niche!
Great, great tip! It’s so obvious yet not-so-obvious. Thanks for pointing it out. Just been commenting with my name. Will work with your suggestion and see how it goes. Traffic is always a trial and error thing. Until something really works. But, there’s no harm in trying.
Hi Jane!
You’re so right. It seems like the mommy blogger and lifestyle bloggers have been using this trick for a while. That’s why I never saw it for over a year of blogging!
Great read! I’m still new to blogging and there are so many tips and articles out there to spend money to promote traffic, so it’s really nice to see something that can be tried at no cost!
Hi Mindy!
Thanks so much. Yes this is an easy tip and totally works. I just headed on over to your blog based on your URL π Congrats on your pregnancy and sorry it sucks :-)…I had twins and I was on bed rest at 23 weeks and I had raging heart burn. I couldn’t lay down to sleep and had to sleep sitting for all of my third trimester. What we go through eh π
Jeez – so simple. Connecting with other bloggers is a hard process to start – especially if you are not naturally an extrovert. Any tips help, for sure.
Omg I just came across this post on Pinterest and I am blown away Elna. Who knows maybe using the trick can help with getting traffic to my blog. I am a newbie blogger still learning all the ropes of personal finance blogging (itβs a lot and all the info is very much overwhelming) I am happy tho! I love a challenge! Thank you so much for this tip π
Hey Nene!
Yes! It can totally help you bring traffic to your blog! Keep on commenting π
Ha!
Thanks Linda. I know, I was shocked when I found out about this. I mean I’ve been blogging professionally for over a year and never heard about this. Such a great tip!
Wonderful tip! I cannot believe I never saw it, or maybe I did and just glossed over it. I loved scrolled down the comments and seeing everyone applied this right away, I know I am going to.Thank you for sharing!
Hey Cara!
That’s great. And you know what? It totally still works for me! I’m not getting crazy traffic, but people are coming from link when I comment on other blogs. It’s great.
What an informative post, I’m really enjoying this new blog! Thanks for the tip. Trying to see if this will work for me too.
That’s great Kami! I’m sure it totally will.
Hi Elna!
What a cool tip!This a great way to let others know about your blog without being spammy.Thank you soo much for sharing this.I’m definitely gonna try this.
Hi Sheli!
I know right? Some comment systems think the @ symbol is a bit spammy and may not take your comment. But, you can just swap it for the | symbol.
Elna,
Thank you for writing back but more importantly for taking the time to actually personalize your message. I know any successful blogger/freelance writer has worked HARD to get their own personal success, so I dont expect anyone to give me the answer. Just direction. That’s exactly what you did. Thank you for that. I have started to doubt my material at times. I know blogging 2x per week is my goal now. I will make that happen. I started this blog and my Facebook (Twitter, etc) pages after beating Post Partum and then being diagnosed with PMDD (Pms for the 2 weeks prior where bi-Polar and ADD meet up for a love affair and then break it off, until next month). After countless doctor’s appointments and failed medications I had to create my own DIY remedies, etc. I actually give all my tips on my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/HealthySol1/) – I have almost 200 followers but NO ONE EVER likes…anything. Maybe it isn’t good stuff? I have a few people who will comment here and there but they are my friends. Most of the likes are from people I dont know – that have come in contact with my page. I’m sure every successful blogger has been through this.
I will check out your other blogs on FB and Pinterest! I have some Mommy friends int he same boat and I will share with them.
Courtney
Courtney you sound a lot like me! Similar number of followers, few likes and most from friends, doubts about quality, etc. Totally different niches but we’re still in the same blogging boat! I feel like I’ve been reading so much great advice lately from seasoned and highly successful bloggers that it’s easy to get both really super excited AND totally defeated by where things are really at right now. I have to remind myself that it takes time and persistence to see results (and that I actually have to be social and self-promote…as an introvert I have a terrible time with both of those things!). Keep at it, Courtney, and I’m sure you’ll be great!
Thanks so much for sharing your insight, Elna. The quality of material you post is the quality I aspire to have in my niche, so thank you for being a great example!
Thanks Emily!
Even for me, I struggle with traffic. If I miss a morning of promoting my content, then I don’t get visitors. It takes a long time to get to that status of not putting out content, but still getting a ton of traffic. Creating great posts and a lot of posts is a start.
Pinterest is also great b/c the life of a pin is long! There are pins from a year or more ago still floating around being repinned. That’s awesome for new bloggers!
Hey Courtney!
Building a blog and tribe does take time and effort. Like I mentioned I would promote promote and promote on Facebook. Find relevant Facebook groups and Pinterest groups to join. On their promo days promote your post.
It can take up to a year or more to really see growth so don’t despair. Just keep posting quality posts and connect with other bloggers! Good luck!
Elna…
Today I sat at my computer feeling defeated – “WHY isn’t anyone reading my stuff”…”Why can’t I seem to get ANYONE to post on my fb, etc”. Then…I came across this gem! I have tried many, many routes. I’ve gone to similar blogs and Social Media Sites but found that others felt I was trying to “Take” their followers. *sigh. I’m currently a WAHM – trying to get my blog up and running and I know the biggest Obstacle I have is FINDING THE TIME TO WRITE! Any suggestions!? I think this blog is going to become my new best friend. Thank you for sharing & taking the time to reach out to others since you know how difficult it is to start.
Best,
Courtney
Courtney,
You are my new BFF k? Let’s encourage each other and help each other out.
LOVE your site by the way.
It does take a lot of promotion to get your new blog up and running. I only get about four hours to write, but I guess I’m a fast writer. Well, I do this for a living. I’m a freelance writer π
I think you need to take a weekend and draft up two posts. Then in the week, you post twice a week and promote on FB and Pinterest like hella lot! Grab my Pinterest and FB promo list in one of my blog posts and start promoting your blog out!
That’s what I’m doing and my blog is exploding…well, I thin it is π You might want to broaden your niche to and include some work at home fitness stuff. That would appeal to a lot of people. So get excited again Courtney! I got your back!
Disqus is not my favorite, that is for sure, but I did start following the trend of adding my blog name to my comments and I have seen a little traffic too. As a blogger, I’m also drawn to clicking through when other bloggers leave their blog names.
Hey Suzanna,
That’s great to hear. Yes, it isn’t a lot of traffic but I feel the more you comment on specific sites in your niche, people will start coming over to your site.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Hi Elna. Found your blog from a Pinterest graphic, which was very appealing. I have been using the the @ blog for a while and I feel it definitely helps. No clue where I picked it up. I comment on a variety of blogs under my moniker, but like to associate myself with that comment at the same time. I’m a quilter and many of us go by our blog names and that’s how we know each other.
Have you tried any link ups for bloggers? That has helped me generate new readers and commenters in the past.
Keep up the work as you build traffic to your new blog.
Hi Tisha,
Thanks so much for telling me where you came from! I LOVE Pinterest. As a freelance writer, I don’t ever see the @blog thing. It isn’t common so when I moved into the mommy blogger space, I was surprised by what they were doing! It definitely helps me in generating some traffic for sure!
I have no clue what link parties are. I’m assuming it’s a way to get backlinks?
Wow this is honestly refreshing to read. I have read countless articles about how to get more traffic to my website but never have i read this. And its so simple too. I thank you for sharing it with your fellow bloggers. You are awesome ??
Hey Melle,
Thanks so much. These tips are things that I learned from blogging and you may not see them on other sites! I also tell insider tips to my subscribers.
Growing traffic is hard. Every day I have to hustle and promote my content. I’m actually thinking about hiring a VA to help with this! Thanks for stopping by.
Wow, that is so helpful, thanks! To be honest, it’s hard sometimes being an introverted blogger. But I am ready to step out of my comfort zone and meet some fellow SAHM bloggers. Excited to read more of your posts!
Hey Brooke!
I went to your site and love your work at home post! Happy to meet another SAHM blogger. I consider myself a stay at home working mom π Happy to hear you found this helpful.
Thanks for stopping by!
What a good eye! I’d seen those before but it never really clicked with me since in the PF blogging niche, I already know the names behind the blogs, and used to always check out the blogs of commenters routinely. Obviously other blog commenters aren’t going to have that familiarity! I’ve always been a proponent of making things easier for people to access and this is right up that alley. I shall start this right away and see how it works out. Thanks for sharing π
Hey Revanche!
Thanks so much. Yeah, this little trick does make it easier for the reader to quickly see your handle and decide if it’s a blog they want to read. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Elna,
I am new to the whole blogging world and just trying to start earning money through blogging, but I literally just started and I have 9 months π π to figure it out and generate enough traffic to support my weight in my family so I can stay home with baby #4 and not be as stressed out emotionally and financially about having 2 children to put in daycare while still working for them to go to daycare!!! It’s so frustrating. Any tip you have to help with growing my blog are wonderful. I appreciate your guidance and the time you took to write this.
Hi Krystal,
Earning money from blogging is a lot harder than offering a service. With my TwinsMommy, I’m not even thinking about monetizing it for at least 10 months or a year. If I gain enough traffic for conversions earlier than 10 months then I’ll look into promoting affiliate products.
What I suggest and what I did when I first started blogging was look into a service. I chose freelance writing. If you have a knack for blog writing you can earn money to write blog posts for companies and entrepreneurs. For example, one of my clients is Adam who owns Blogging Wizard.
My other site, ElnaCain.com teaches people how to become a freelance writer. On this blog I have a post on different services you can offer as a stay-at-home mom.
But, still try to grow your blog as well. I relied a lot on Facebook and Pinterest groups to grow my blog. If you pick up my freebie (or already belong to my list) you’ll receive it!
Good luck and contact me anytime to hash out a plan.
Great post and tips Elna! You broke it down in simple steps and giving tips on how to keep it simple, clean and straight forward. Easy to walk away with for your readers! π
Hey Theresa,
I just cleaned up your name in the comment and removed the “.com” as this can trip the spam filters. Just having the name of your blog is enough as the comment system makes it a link!
Thanks so much!
That’s an awesome tip! I get to use it first here! π
Hey Starr,
Thanks so much! I see you’re using the tip the right way too π
Hey, Elna,
First of all, I did not notice that at all! You are so right, now that I think back on the comments in blogs that I’ve read they do have the URL by their name. However, you didn’t tell us (the newbie blogger) how to do that, lol So I thought I would try it out on this comment and see if it was added. π
Secondly, I love commentluv, I always click on all the links, especially if I really enjoyed what they had to say π
Thanks again!
Hey Jen!
I “cleaned” up your name in the comments to not include the actual URL. I will update my post to reflect this. I just got too excited and didn’t properly explain myself!
Alright, take two π lol This was such a neat tip and I am now noticing it everywhere!
Hey Jen,
I cleaned up your name to not include the wwww. All you need is your blog name π Having www or .com can be considered a bit spammy and can trip the spam filters making your comment go to spam. How many times can I say spam π ha..
Awesome post. Will be trying this fro now on! I will admit I don’t like Disqus either! I have the same issues as you, or sometimes it just freezes up, and I sit here wondering if it went through or didn’t. There are times I have just given up on commenting for that reason. Will be toying with this, right after I check to see if I did it right!
Hey Allyson!
Thanks for stopping by. Yeah, Disqus is not my BFF for sure π Unfortunately a client of mine uses Disqus and his blog is an authority blog so my posts gets a lot of comments. This means I have to use Disqus repeatedly. Not a fun evening!
I used to do this all the time – actually, I just put “Kelly the Take Action Wahm” as my name – until I had someone send me a message that my comments were going to their spam. Sometimes, comments can be marked as spam if the “Name” field has more than 3-4 words.
Hey Kelly!
Good to know. So far, all my comments have been approved so only time will tell. It can be seen as a bit spammy, but I think in the mommy blogging world, it seems to be accepted as good.
I think using the | and no ‘dot com’ are very good suggestions. That would probably resolve the issue in 99% of the cases. Good advice, Elna π
Hi Kelly!
Yes, just the simple | or “at” is fine too! Thanks!
I have had comments on my posts goto spam, but never noticed the why. Just noticed they weren’t spam and approved them, now I will be checking to see why!
Oh, I just realized Allyson, your comments may go to spam because you have “.com” in the name. Just put your blog name. That’s all. The comment will turn it into a link and you don’t need the .com at the end.
π
Yeah, I don’t know. It seems like my comments on other blogs go through? Sometimes the @ symbol may be considered a bit spammy. I would then go with the | symbol instead β Elna | TwinsMommy
And what Kelly mentioned, if your URL is super long, then maybe that can trip the spam filter? Who knows, but it’s worth a try!
Well, you blew my mind with this!
Ha! Thanks so much. I know what you mean! It totally blew my mind too once I saw I had some traffic as a result of my comment.
Hey Elna! I’m a first time visiter here and this post was super helpful! I’m extremely new to the blogging community and I didn’t know how much there is to learn! It’s a huge learning curve but I’m slowly getting a hang of it and this helped me a ton! I love commenting if for nothing more than the fun interaction, but these tips for site traffic are great. Can’t wait to see more of your posts in the future!
Hey Megan!
Thanks for coming over here and commenting as a new blogger. When I first started blogging, I was super excited to be commenting! So, I know how excited you are.
Yes, this traffic tip definitely works and I’m shocked I didn’t know about it sooner. But, like I’ve been mentioning, it is specific to the lifestyle niche and not sure it would fly in other niches like the business niche for example π
Thanks for coming by and I hope you find some other posts that interest you and feel free to sign up for my grow your blog checklist or side hustle promo kit that I’m offering as content upgrades!
Neat idea!
Look at me — I just tried it!
Sometimes the best ideas are the simplest ones, aren’t they?
Great tip, Elna. Thanks for sharing!
Brent
Brent I cleaned up your comment name to not include the .com as that is considered spam! Just your blog name will do the trick π
Hey Brent!
I know right? Not sure if this would fly on bigger blogs, but it works for the lifestyle type blogs for sure π
OK that is brilliant and I will need to start doing that. It is a lazy thing to just put my first name but you’re right that it gives a blogger authority to show the blog name in the NAME field and maybe even draws the eye of others reading the comments. Thanks for the tip, and you have a new reader π
Hey Julie!
So happy you used this tactic with your blog comment! Love it. I actually went to your site and have it marked down for reading and commenting π So, you see, because I saw your URL had something to do with working moms I knew your blog would be in my niche. It’s such a perfect identifier and I can’t believe I haven’t seen it at all until just this past month!
Hi Elna,
I visit a lot of “mom blogs” and it’s true they don’t use CommentLuv. I’ve often wondered how they got their blog name on the comment list…I’ve been blogging for a while now and never thought about doing that…clever idea!
Thanks for the heads up about this. I’m going to start using this for sure. π
Hope you’re having a great week!
Cori
Hey Corina!
Thanks. Yeah, lots of mom bloggers don’t use CommentLuv and that’s why they started putting their URL in their. Smart cookies eh?
Yeah it is a clever idea and I’m glad I found out about it! I’m definitely using it more.
Interesting! I never would have thought that adding your blog name would bring in so much traffic. I’m going to give it a shot, starting right now π
Hey Emily!
I know, it’s so true! But, make sure to comment on blogs in your niche or else it wouldn’t really work that well. People may click through, but do nothing more. You want to have people in your niche click through, read your post, comment and then subscribe!
I need to focus more on blog commenting, because it does generate results.
Hi Elna,
OMGISH! Why did I not realize this? What a great tip! I am a craft blogger and I don’t know if this will work the same in my niche, but I have to give it a try. Even if it doesn’t, I do plan to start a mommy blog eventually so it will come in handy then. I will definitely stay tuned to your blog as I really would love to get into freelance writing and could really use some help. Thanks so much for making this post!
Best,
RaeLynn
RaeLynn,
I cleaned up your comment name to not include the “.com” as that is a bit spammy! Just the blog name will do π
Thanks RaeLynn!
Go for it! Give it a try and use variations. Sometimes commenting systems don’t accept the @ symbol so you have to improvise. Thanks for supporting me and make sure to grab your free checklist to grow your blog if you want to stay in the loop of what’s happening here.
And I suspect you’ll be getting more comments on this blog post than most others right?!
Thanks so much for this. I will be trying this over the next while and looking forward to sitting down with a tea and starting to read your blog posts – I’m really enjoying them π
Hi Hannah!
That’s the nicest thing I’ve heard. I’m so happy you enjoy my blog posts and I get so giddy and impatient waiting for them to be published! While I want my blog to focus on mom-bosses, I love other creatives and they can totally benefit from my blog (as long as you all don’t mind my chatter about my twins every now and then π
Give this tactic a try. I’ve been using it again today and I ended up getting a comment on this blog and a subscriber out of it! Go figure π
Not only does it bring traffic but I have loved following other blogs and seeing what their content is like!! So, it is a win win!! Great advice and thanks for sharing!
Hi Meredith!
Thanks so much for stopping by! That’s great to know that it really does work. I’ve only been doing this whenever I leave blog comments and that’s been a few times this month! I just don’t have the time, but I’m working on that.
I love checking out other blogs too when I see their URL name in the comments. It does pique your interest for sure!
Awesome tip! I honestly never thought about doing this! I found your post over on one of the FB Entrepreneur groups and followed it over here- so glad that I did! π
Melinda!
I just cleaned up your comment name to not include the “dot com.” That’s a bit spammy, but just the blog name is just fine!
Hey Melinda!
Thanks so much. It’s nice to know where people who show up came from. I suspected most of my engagement (i.e. commenters) are from FB and I would have never thought that since I’m marketing more on Pinterest!
Definitely give this a try in your niche and see what happens π
Sweet! You know, I have been blogging since 2007 and following slews of blogging experts since then too and this is the first time I’ve seen this suggestion.
When your site tells others what to expect when they click it’s pure genius to use it. I’ll be sharing this post for sure. Great observation.
I’m gonna put some more thought into what people could do when their site is their name too. That’s the case for me, so I think I’ll start right with this comment. γ
Also, thank you for the Disqus commentary. I think 1 of every 3 awesome comments I write disappear when I can’t get it to work. Maybe that’s because I do a majority of my blog reading and commenting from my iPhone. I don’t know, but it makes me not want to spend the time to comment on a site that has it.
Hey Stephanie,
I know what you mean! I have never seen this too and I’ve been blogging for a year. I think it’s a great idea especially if your site name isn’t your actual name. But, even if it is, you can use that space to say what you are perhaps? My other site is ElnaCain.com so maybe I can say Elna Cain | Freelance Writer? Could work.
I still hate Disqus. One of my clients uses it and they get a lot of comments and I have to respond. Every response I have to re-load the page and start fresh. I always ALWAYS copy what I just wrote in case it disappears when I log in. And every time, it disapears. And I type my comments on my laptop! Go figure!
Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks for sharing my post!
What a great post Elna. And you have so many comments for a new blog. You are doing something (lots) right! Will be trying this tip right now. I think I also need to change my avatar to my photo…make it more personal.
Joanna,
I cleaned up your comment name and removed the “.com” This isn’t necessary and can be seen as a bit spammy. Just include your Blog name and the comment will turn that into a link when you submit it!
Hey Joanna!
Thanks for coming over to my new blog π For me, I’m focusing my efforts on Pinterest, but am finding my engaged audience is coming from Facebook. So, I’m not forgetting about using FB for marketing my posts.
I also have experience blogging since I have another blog and I’m a freelance writer in the digital marketing niche π But this blog is still very new to me. Monetizing a personal blog is hard. I know the first step is getting traffic and while I shouldn’t focus on that, it is a huge part in why I’m writing two posts a week, getting on Pitnerest, using FB groups and just getting out there!
Loved your guest post over at Brilliant Business Moms!
Elna, this is GREAT observation. I would have never thought of this! I’m a new blogger and have not yet found that magic solution to make my blog traffic explode. Every little bit helps though! Looking forward to reading through the rest of your blog. Thank you for the wonderful advice β€
Hi Juliet!
Thanks so much. I’m just as surprised as you! See, I’ve been blogging for a year and NEVER heard of this until now. So, I think it has to do with the niche, but I suspect the lifestyle niche supports it!
Thanks for stopping by and if you want to grow your blog with me (this is my new blog and I’m showing everyone how to grow it and monetize it) just sign up to my freebie at the end of this post!)
You know, I’ve seen people do this before quite a bit, but I never really knew why. And I certainly had NO idea it would help with traffic.
I’m pretty new to this whole blogging thing – well, at least in terms of getting really serious about it. I’m totally testing this tip out right now by leaving this comment – the first time (but hopefully not the last) I’ve ever done it! Thanks for sharing this information.
Hi Michael!
I know right? I actually never seen anyone do this until I started this blog and went to other mommy blogs. I was like, oh, why are they doing that? But, the more I saw, the more curious I became and started checking out their sites, especially if they are in my niche.
Happy you are starting this tactic. Go to other sites (popular ones in your niche of course) and see what happens.
I use disqus and I do like you said and make my user name @Echanning so that people know where they can find me without being spammy. I will say that I don’t like commentluv very much just because there have been a number of sites that use it and then when I leave a comment, the link gets broken and then you only see my personal name and nothing relating to my blog. It’s so frustrating especially when you took the time to write a meaningful comment. It’s not always the case but I’ve had it happen to me far too many times when I’ve used it.
Hi Channing!
Thanks for the heads up with CommentLuv. I haven’t had that issue before. But, I know recently when there have been blogs with CommentLuv, after I submit my comment, the link never shows up. It took me like 20 comments later to realize that if I untick the CommentLuv box and re-tick it, CommentLuv re-calibrates and BOOM! my link is there.
Thanks for stopping by!
Hello Elna,
I totally agree with you that commenting, if done right, can be a good source of traffic. I myself comment on a lot of blogs, not only for traffic and expsure, but also to meet new bloggers.
One thing that I wold like to mention is that not all blogs would allow the person posting the comment to use the blog keywords along with the name. I have seen some blogs who have this commenting policy.
Regarding CommentLuv, I don’t see it to be much popular nowadays, the craze is gone. But still, if the blog that I am commenting on has it, it’s an added bonus for me. I myself use it on my blog too.
Hey Sourav,
Thanks for the heads up. I have seen blogs not allow the URL in my name but as I mentioned to another commenter, I can usually pass it if I switch the @ symbol for | symbol instead.
I’ve been noticing not many blogs using CommentLuv and didn’t know it was “out of style.” I still prefer it and enjoy using it and have it set up on all my blogs.
Thanks for stopping by!
Great post – I’ve been doing the same for a while now and haven’t really seen any real growth either! But thanks for sharing your tips – I know I can always use extra knowledge!
Hey Jess!
That’s good to know. From my little “case study” it seems to be generating some traffic β not a lot, but something. I’ll have to see if it generates more or less over the months!
Thanks for stopping by.
This is very true! Commenting on other people blogs has brought traffic over to me. Even months later I still have people coming to my site from a comment I had made. It’s great, easy enough, and a way to spread love to others blogs too.
Hey Marya!
Thanks. Yes, I wholeheartedly agree with this. I learned the power of blog commenting by my e-friend Adrienne Smith! She’s an amazing woman and blogger and very inspirational.
Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Elna,
I follow your brilliant work for a long time. You’ve got brilliant tips and it looks like you do not hide anything for yourself. I was just thinking the other day, when am I going to have some time to comment to the blogs. I was doing it regulary when started my lifestyle blog, but in all organization about VA Service I just missed it. Even I know that is great way to get to know people and their work better. I like your new blog so much. I now that you are busy as you are also mother of twins. I am mother of 1.5 little girl and sometimes is so hectic. I know you understand. I wish you all the best. Keep going. Your work is honest and whatever you say come from the personal experience.
Rahela Vukusic Drusko
Rahela’s VA Service
Hi Rahela!
It’s nice to see you here! I often see you on social media and my other site. Thanks so much. I feel the same way with commenting. I just don’t have the time, but I know it’s crucial if you have a new blog and no audience. At least with my other blog I have a list and loyal followers so I don’t have to work that hard at attracting an audience.
But TwinsMommy is my new “baby” and I want everyone to know about it! Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Elna,
You rocked this gf! Getting traffic is a trial and error thing for most bloggers. Finding what works best can be so frustrating! I would love your thoughts on CommentLuv. Do you find it useful for good comments or do you find people will just drop an invaluable comment to just get a link back. I toss between using it and not.
Bren
Hey Bren
Thanks!I actually like CommentLuv. It was my first introduction to traffic generating tactics. If you comment on blogs in your niche, then it’s suffice it to say that the commenters would benefit from your CommentLuv link.
For me, though, these new blogs I was targeting don’t use CommentLuv, so I needed to find a way to let others know, hey! check me out too cuz I think you’ll like my content as well!
The only drawback to this technique is what if your URL is just your name (like you and for my other site ElnaCain?) For instances like that, it just doesn’t work that well!
Blog commenting is my thing. I am known for it. Not so much for traffic purposes but because I love to start conversation and make friends! π I mean… THE BENEFIT and BONUS is definitely traffic, but again, I am more in it to make friends and… It’s hard to get me to shut up! LOL!
Hey Gigi!
True dat! I have met so many fabulous bloggers since I’ve been commenting. But since this is a new site and I want to gain traffic I thought this was a simple thing to do! I wish I had the time to comment as much as I’d like. Since I have twins and I’m a freelance writer, I’m pretty busy, but I’m making time to check other peoples blogs for sure!
Thanks for stopping by!
OMG, I never even thought of that! I started putting my url at the end of comments, but I never even thought of putting it in my name. What a great idea! I’m going to try that and see if it brings me more traffic. Thanks for the tip!
I KNOW right!
I never thought about that either. For a while I was doing the same thing and putting it in my comment, but that wasn’t really working. I find putting it in your name just sort stands out as your scrolling past the comments!
Thanks for stopping by.
This is a great tip! I was afraid it would be something like using Disqus, which I don’t mind as a blogger, but I can’t get behind as a regular blog reader. I’ve seen people do the URL in the name, and I’ve even done it myself on a few sites. You’re the first blogger to point out the actual differences in traffic generation, though. Thank you!
Hey Abby,
Thanks so much. I know the traffic “spike” isn’t big, but I’m sure if I comment more using this tactic I’ll get traffic back to my site. Thanks for using it on my blog!
It’s funny because I seriously did not know about putting your URL in your name! Sometimes commenting systems dub it as spammy so I just alter it to say Elna Cain | TwinsMommy and that passes π
Thanks for stopping by!
Needed to compose you a very little word to thank you yet again regarding the nice suggestions youβve contributed here.