Benefits of Commenting on Blogs:

Leaving comments on blogs is a worthwhile activity as it provides several great benefits:

– You can get more incoming links to your blogs, which the search engines love.

– You can get the readers of the blog to click through your links, which is always good.

– You can get the attention of the blog owner, which can help you to network with him/her in the future.

Of course, we don't want to run around willy nilly spamming blogs with our marketing message. As we've discussed, there is certain Blog Commenting Etiquette that applies, too.

Selecting Which Blogs are Comment-Worthy:

If you're in the internet marketing or affiliate marketing niche, you're in luck as I have a shortcut. My good friend, Doug Champigny posted 20 Must Follow Blogs for Internet Marketers in 2010 this month.

Imagine my surprise when I realized my blog was listed. I was, of course, honored to be on the list, but I also liked how he grouped the blogs by certain criteria (as you'll see below). I asked him if I could reprint the list here with my 2 cents added. Of course, being the great guy he is (and knowing the value of getting free exposure) he said that would be just fine.

Important Sidenote:

But before I give you the list, I have to make an important point.

We are all limited in time. Obviously. In number of hours per day and number of days on this earth. I teach how to be efficient and effective marketers, so it would be hypocritical of me to tell you to comment on all of the blogs listed below every day… unless you really wanted to and enjoyed it. Therefore, I recommend choosing just a few of your favorites and keeping up with them. Try to be one of the first to comment when a new post is published so that all of the other commenters have to pass yours to leave their remarks.

ok, so which to choose? The blogs are grouped below as follows:

In case you're new to the concept of “Do Follow” – it's a good thing. However, I wouldn't recommend deciding whether or not to comment on a blog that you love based on whether or not it has “do follow”.

The same with Comment Luv. While it's a nice plugin, I would recommend that you link to deep posts in your blog when leaving comments anyway, not just to your main URL.

So, here's Doug's list, and it will be followed by my additional thoughts.

Group One (Do Follow & Have Comment Luv):

• Blog: Internet Marketing
  • Blog Author: Doug Champigny
  • PageRank:* PR4

• Blog: Mike Paetzold Recommends
  • Blog Author: Mike Paetzold
  • PageRank:* PR3
  • Sample Post

• Blog: WordPress Howto Spotter
  • Blog Author: Alex Sysoef
  • PageRank:* PR3
  • Sample Post

• Blog: Marketing Thoughts
  • Blog Author: Ken McArthur
  • PageRank:* PR3
  • Sample Post

• Blog: The Internet Marketing University
  • Blog Author: Gina Gaudio-Graves
  • PageRank:* PR3
  • Sample Post

• Blog: Captain Affiliate Affiliate Marketing Training
  • Blog Author: Doug Champigny
  • PageRank:* PR2
  • Sample Post

• Blog: The Profit Shack
  • Blog Author: Shelby Carr
  • PageRank:* PR2
  • Sample Post

Group Two (DO Follow, No Comment Luv):

• Blog: Click Newz!
  • Blog Author: Lynn Terry
  • PageRank:* PR4
  • Sample Post

• Blog: Nicole On The Net
  • Blog Author: Nicole Dean
  • PageRank:* PR3
  • Sample Post

• Blog: Net Profits Today
  • Blog Author: Rosalind Gardner
  • PageRank:* PR3
  • Sample Post

Group Three (No Follow & No Comment Luv):

• Blog: ProBlogger
  • Blog Author: Darren Rowse
  • PageRank:* PR6
  • Sample Post

• Blog: CopyBlogger
  • Blog Author: Brian Clark
  • PageRank:* PR6
  • Sample Post

• Blog: Entrepreneurs Journey
  • Blog Author: Yaro Starak
  • PageRank:* PR5
  • Sample Post

• Blog: On Copywriting, Marketing & Life
  • Blog Author: Michel Fortin
  • PageRank:* PR5
  • Sample Post

• Blog: Marketing In A Minute
  • Blog Author: Marlon Sanders
  • PageRank:* PR3
  • Sample Post

• Blog: Mark Hendricks
  • Blog Author: Mark Hendricks
  • PageRank:* PR3
  • Sample Post

• Blog: Immortal Internet Marketing
  • Blog Author: Ross Goldberg
  • PageRank:* PR3
  • Sample Post

• Blog: DTAlpha Talk Back
  • Blog Author: Stephen Pierce
  • PageRank:* PR2
  • Sample Post

• Blog: Internet Marketing Center
  • Blog Author: Jimmy D. Brown
  • PageRank:* PR2
  • Sample Post

My Opinion?

Well, you may or may not be surprised, but I would recommend ignoring the groupings entirely and choose a handful of the blogs above to comment on regularly based upon MY criteria.

– Relevance to your market. If you're a copywriter, then choose the blogs above that are most likely to attract your perfect client.

– Voice and personality of the blogger. For instance, there are a few bloggers who I wish I could understand, but their communication style is just not in sync with mine. I honestly can't enjoy their writing because the discussions there get way too deep. (I'd rather be making money than analyzing some minuscule details about making money.) I know… there I go with the common sense, again.

– Ethics & Philosophy of both the blogger and the readers. Many marketers recommend products that I just can't endorse. Obviously I wouldn't hang out on those blogs and discuss my opinion when it would just make me look like a trouble-causer. Plus, I want to find blogs where I like the commenters. Certain people just attract good people. Those are the ones I want my name both in front of and alongside.

– JV partners and networking. I'd rather comment on blogs that are run by people that I have met in person. It's a great way to stay in front of people who you'd like to build your relationship with.

– Attitude. Where do you ENJOY commenting? I don't give a monkey's butt whether the blog has Comment Luv or not. If it's got the eye of your potential clients and you enjoy the discussions at hand, that's where I'd recommend spending your time.

Yes, I'm all about the SEO, but I'm more about enjoying my days. And, on that note, I sure hope you'll continue to read – and comment here.

Have a great week!

Warmly,
Nicole

PS. Please leave a comment!

You can see them here:  Pictures from Willie Crawford's Birthday.

I've got more, as promised. Of course at the event, I woke up late (from being up all night talking with Lynn) so my hair is straight outta the shower. I guess the “throw the sunglasses on quick as a headband” look didn't go the way I'd hoped! Scary!!!

Now you know just how much I love you guys!

Nicole Dean meeting the amazing best-selling author, Shel Horowitz. We're chatting about business ethics. GREAT man!

Elizabeth Ashe, Lynn Terry & Kathleen Gage are in the background.

Nicole Dean & Paul “the Media Czar” Richardson.

A heck of a business man — I look forward to making lots of money with him. (More on that soon…)

Sam “Every Day is Saturday” Crowley.

I think this may be the only time I've seen him NOT smiling like a goober. He's an extremely energetic force of nature. To know him is to love him.

Me & My Tracy Roberts Friend laughin' our butts off. (It's my blog. I can say “butts” if I want!)

You know it. That's the one and only Stephen Pierce teaching the “Mo Money” gang calls. If you haven't seen him speak yet — find him and go. He's phenomenal. Both times I've seen him, I've laughed my butt off. (There I go again with the “butt” thing.) lol.

Me and Tracy Roberts brainstorming with Laura Fenamore.

Lynn Terry, Yvonne Lyon, and Me.

Hope you enjoy!
Nicole

All photos were taken by the talented ElmerHurlstone

I've been a jet-setting queen the last few weeks — off to StomperNet Live 7 in Atlanta in early March and then down to Willie Crawford's 50th Birthday Bash in Orlando last weekend. (I might just be crazy enough to go to another event later this month!)

I've been asked about both events — if I had fun, who I met, and how they were overall.

Here's the scoop. The two events were complete opposites, so I feel that I benefited differently (and greatly) from each.

StomperNet Live 7

Where: Held in Downtown Atlanta in a Hyatt.

Who: I'd estimate about 200 people there, but could be totally off.

What: Friday – Saturday speakers from 9-6 each day.

My Roomie:  Tracy Roberts, my awesomest  Virtual Assistant and friend.

Speakers included: Dan Thies, David Bullock, Perry Belcher, and the amazing Stephen Pierce, as well as others from the Stompernet Faculty.

Content provided: Actionable internet marketing advice. Solid online tactics. Left with a to-do list a mile long.

Pitches: None. There was nothing for sale. Just solid content.

Networking: I'm not sure if it was the size of the crowd or the types of businesses that the others had, but I didn't find the networking to be very personal. Went to bed fairly early. No major “love” connections. (I'm married. I mean for my business!) Although I did meet Mr. George Williams who will be a long-time friend.

Highlights: Perry Belcher's speech was inspiring, informative, and entertaining to the tune of almost peeing my pants. Yes, it was THAT good.

Feeling afterward: Like I'd just finished my Final Exams and found out that there was another round. My brain was tired, but I also knew that there's more work to do. However, very excited to have actionable items on my list.

How was the Sushi? Excellent! I discovered a “Las Vegas” roll that has a jalapeno on top. YUMMY!

Photos: none

Willie Crawford's Birthday Event

Where: Held in Downtown Orlando in a  Crowne Plaza.

Who: I'd estimate about 40 people there, but could be off.

What: Friday – Saturday speakers from 9-6 each day.

My Roomie: Lynn Terry – Yes, THAT Lynn Terry. I was so nervous meeting her, but we were just like old friends in no time.

Speakers included: Felicia Slattery, The Niche Prof, Kathleen Gage, Rob Canyon, Mark Hendricks, David Preston, Sam Crowley, Kevin “Mr. Ebay” Johnson, Shel Horowitz, Laura Fenamore, and again, the amazing Stephen Pierce.

Content provided: Not really any advanced internet marketing information overall. More business sense and overall motivation strategies. However, I did leave motivated and ready to kick butt afterwards, so it's something that benefited me hugely, obviously.

Sales Pitches: Yes. Oddly, every speech (except Lynn's) ended with a pitch for an item around $2000. I guess I don't understand the speakers' circuit very well.  I would have easily dropped $100-300 on each of at least half of the speakers, but the larger packages that were offered were just “too much information”, mostly videos (which you guys know that I don't do) and would require my time — something that is worth more to me than money. Rob Canyon was the exception as he offered a really cool business coaching (one-on-one) plan that appealed to me very much.  So, I'll probably go check out some of their products and see if there's anything a bit more “bite-sized” for me.

Networking: Phenomenal. Seriously. I got to hang out with Bob the Teacher (who rocks!), Felicia, Lynn, Sam, Rob, and Willie Crawford (of course). I also got to meet Elizabeth Ashe (who I've known and emailed online for at least a year), Paul Richardson & Elmer Hurlstone the Photographer/Writer/Editor. Plus, my Tracy Roberts friend was there, too. And, that's just a few of the amazing, creative people there. I got to meet one of my affiliates who will now be helping me with some of my blogs. (Total sweetheart.)  I got about 4 hours of sleep every night and several times laughed until I cried. Leaving was very hard, almost like the last day of summer camp.

Feeling afterward: Like I'd been on vacation. Came back focused, energized, and ready to double my income. Feeling like a ROCK STAR!

How was the Sushi? Excellent! I discovered DEEP FRIED sushi! YUMMY!

Photos: Oh yeah! Coming soon… In the meantime, here's one to hold you over. This is me, watching Lynn's presentation onstage. (I'm the ponytail with the ears!)  Tracy is next to me in the blue shirt.

Note: I ran out of Twitter copy/paste energy. Those who aren't linked above, feel free to mention your Twitter URL and give your thoughts about the conference below.

More pics soon!

Nicole

Stephen Pierce is giving away a free report that will teach you about building wealth. (Stephen has gone from having 2 cents to his name to making millions of dollars online.)

I just donated to Stephen Pierce’s Feed One Million Children charity drive by downloading a free report. I hope you will, too.

All I did was visit www.foragreatercause.org
and signed up to receive the free report.

For every person that signs up, Stephen will donate a plate of food for a starving child on your behalf.
I've skimmed the report and it looks interesting. But, the important thing is that you're feeding a child. Check it out!
Warmly,
Nicole