Paid Commenting is Stupid and Commenting Isn’t a Traffic Method.

< rant >

Last time I actually counted, method by method, of my own knowledge, there are about 1991 unique methods you can use to draw traffic to your site.

(I.E. “submit to Digg” and “submit to Sphinn” are not two different traffic methods. They are the same tip, and if you list them that way, you’re a CHEATER. They fall under the same heading “Submit to social bookmarking sites.”)

Half of those traffic methods are free.

None of them is “comment on other blogs”.

That’s not a traffic method in and of itself – it’s a corollary to creating relationships between you and other bloggers. Forming relationships is always better marketing than getting a quick link.

I said “Forming relationships is always better marketing than getting a quick link.”

People running around giving one-off comments, but then don’t understand why they aren’t getting comments at their site.

Let’s get back to why commenting isn’t a traffic method though. I was counting the number of traffic methods I know for sure, 1991.

To get that number, rather than pick common tips that people give in their lovely link bait lists, I go by actionable steps whose actions you can reasonably expect to result in an actual new visitor like “form relationships with bloggers at y social bookmarking site, then submit x type of article to them, at this time of day if you can.”

Sure, linkbait is awfully cute, but at the end of the day, if you aren’t doing it as part of some type of learning series, but for traffic alone, what are you really giving to the community?

101 more things to do, with no starting point on how to actually do them?

75 more ways to feel inadequate and helpless? Bah!

I’ve noticed the rise in paid commenting like everyone else, but I say, why pay attention to stupid people? They want attention and you’re giving it to them. I’d rather refer to their unethical ways in passing, saying only this – yeah, those people are dumb, to sell, to participate, to buy them. It’s just a matter of time before their spam gets caught, and it’s normally before they get any link love from DoFollow bloggers.

But let’s not waste the whole article on them. The title and the one paragraph is enough.

If you must use commenting as a traffic method, despite my warnings, why not split your blogging up, between writing, and participating in the blogosphere?

Go make sincere comments on blogs you love? And just leave your link where you may not have left a link at all before? No cost, and the comments are sincere.

But I don’t believe in commenting *as a traffic method* in and of itself. Commenting is a part of blogging, and certain parts of blogging can be used as a traffic draw (a traffic draw is still not a traffic method. Methods keep bringing you traffic over time).

But using comments just for traffic potential is

1. Cheating.
2. Ineffective.
3. Inefficient.
4. Technorati’s, and to a lesser extent, Google’s fault.

Yeah.

I said it.

If you want people to stop spamming your directory, Technorati, stop being lazy and create a better measure of authority. 100 regular links should not be equal to 100 links by authority sites, and the definition should go much further than the number or even quality of links.

(Despite my sniping, I have some respect for Technorati and a great deal of respect for Sifrey. I can still think they’re wrong, though.

Because I’m *adorable8, that’s why. Laugh darn you, it’s MONDAY!)

You know what great bloggers are doing?

They’re writing great blog posts, not chasing after links. And people who have 25,000 links are 7 out of 10 times older blogs with consistent voices from seasoned bloggers who understand the game, and thusly, they deserve their ranking.

But what about the other three who got into blogging after the culture of linking began to fail and cheated to get their ranking – shouldn’t they be displaced by quality bloggers who have smaller audiences?

(Not me. Though you’re a dear for thinking that. I can get traffic easily, I don’t need to depend on Technorati. I’m fighting for You.)

I blame Google too, but at least Google gives more weight to what they consider quality links.

But let’s get back to you, traffic and comment.

You want more traffic? Fine.

I would stick more to methods that have a reasonable expectation of bringing you clients, such as “place a 4 line classified ad in a popular ezine.”

Despite the fact that email is on the decline as part of marketing, the people who have properly fed and watered their email lists have some of the most loyal followers in the world. I read maybe ten emails lists religiously and give them my real, ISP email address.

All week I wait for them and am so happy when they arrive, because I’m sincerely interested in them. I know they’re trying to sell me something and I’m happy because I want to buy — because their last product improved my life/business/relationship/earning potentional/happiness.

Ezines still count as a traffic method.

“But Tinu!” you might be saying – though I have no idea why you think you need to shout. Use your inside voice.

“But Tinu,” you might be saying, correcting your volume. “I get traffic from links at sites where I leave comments.”

“As well you should, if you left a good, sincere, comment,” I would say, “Even better that you should get SEO-related credit for your link if you’re leaving good comments, which is why I DoFollow.

“But if you’re leaving a link to try and get over on someone, expect them to delete it. There’s no law that says they have to publish *any* link, let alone spammy nonsense.

Some people perceive leaving links with your comments a way to get over, but allow it anyway. Wouldn’t you rather leave a comment that could get you a few hundred visitors than one that could bring you a few dozen?”

“Um, yeah,” you might say, if you were a sane person. “How do I do that?”

“You read the next article for some quick tips.”

< /rant >