Commenting on blogs as a strategy to draw traffic to your own blog

This article aims to give you some tips on how you can use your interaction with Internet users to draw traffic to your web site, and ultimately grow your online community.

Many blogging experts agree that commenting on blogs is an effective way to draw traffic to own blog. In addition to allowing you to demonstrate your expertise giving relevant and useful information, commenting also allows you to provide a back link to your own web site, so that people who like what you said and are curious about you can learn more about it.

So how does this work?

a) Grab the attention of the readers

Use your comments to offer some insight into the issue that is being discussed, so readers become interested in who you are and what you have to say.

Your comments don’t have to be long or complicated; just say what you want to say. Over time, people will begin to recognise your name, and trust your views and opinions.

Some may even follow the link that you provide when you comment to wander over to your web site to find out what else you have to say.

b) Get the attention of the blogger

Blog readers are not the only people who take notice when you comment on posts. The blogger may also find your comment interesting.

This is how you meet and build relationships online. And if your comment warrants it, the blogger may even develop a post around your comment, redirecting their discussion. What it means for you is that this blogger’s readers will be even more aware of you and the link to your web site, and could result in more traffic.

Developing a relationship with this blogger also means that you may be invited as a guest blogger on their site, where you are given an opportunity to say more, impress the readers and win a following for yourself.

c) Create some back-links

When you comment and include your web site /blog URL to your name, you are in effect creating a back-link to your web site, which will slowly help you to increase you Google ranking. This will, in turn, drive more traffic to your web site through Google.

Emailing the blogger directly

I love receiving emails directly from my friends and readers, especially when they write to tell me how much they liked a post I wrote or how the information I provided has helped them. And sometimes, the email is private.

But there are times when I see friends and acquaintances waste a potential back-link by emailing me a comment directly to me, instead of posting it on the web site where it will do them some good.

I get an email of all the comments that are made on my blog, so there is no chance that I will miss your comment if you leave it on the blog. In fact, I will receive the email as soon as the comment is published.

So join in the discussions on your favourite blogs; offer your views and comments. But don’t forget that the ultimately, your objective for being online is to network and meet new potential clients and businesses associates. Make it easy for them to find you.

Damaria Senne is a writer based in Johannesburg. You can visit her personal blog or join her as she builds online communities here and here.

4 Ways to promote your business this Valentine's Day

I guess it's hard to imagine what Valentine's Day could possibly have to do with your business as a transcriptionist and virtual assistant.

So I've decided to make a list of some ideas that you could implement in the next couple of days to generate some business.

As I've already mentioned in my email to TAVASA members, I believe that we should give some serious thought to the gifts we give our loved ones.

It's easy enough to walk into a store to buy a box of chocolates and get them gift-wrapped; it's even easier to pick up your phone or log onto the Internet to order flowers through Interflora.

And granted, those gifts are successful each year because they make us feel special. So here are 4 things that you can do for your business this Valentine's Day:

1. Promote yourself as a Valentine's Day gift

Imagine a busy home business owner/mother /father who is working long hours to make her business successful to support her family. How much do you think she would appreciate getting a virtual assistant as a gift to organise the little details of her life that she never seems to have the time to get to? How happy would she be to have her admin sorted more efficiently, allowing her some "Me" time?

So go on – go to your online forums and groups and offer the members a one-day special for your services, to be redeemed by their partners by the end of March.

2. Promote your services to businesses associated with Valentine's Day celebrations

If your client is the kind that traditionally benefits from Valentine's Day, then they already have the food, menu, drink, flowers, chocolate, gift baskets for their own customers well in hand.

But surely they need additional admin help to handle the busy time and make sure that their customers get what they ask for on time? How can you, as a virtual assistant, help?

3. Find out who among your clients has a Valentine's Day special

Is your client going to need virtual assistant help to meet the business demands generated by Valentine's Day promotions? Remind your clients that they too, deserve some romance, and you can help them make the most of the business generated by the day AND still spend quality time with loved ones.

4. Give your clients tips on how they can benefit from Valentine's Day
celebrations

What does Valentine's Day mean to your clients? Write a short article reminding them of the upcoming holiday, and give them some ideas on how they can benefit from it (over and beyond the usual promotions).

Read more of Damaria's articles about Valentine's Day and how to show your partner you care at the web site for OneLove Southern Africa :

100 ways to show love to your wife HER way

http://www.oneloves outhernafrica. org/index. php/100-ways- to-show-love- to-your-wife- her-way/

Show your partner how much you care this Valentine's Day

http://www.oneloves outhernafrica. org/index. php/valentines- day/

Please read the articles, leave some comments, add your suggestions on what else
people can do to celebrate Valentine's Day.

The following tips are part of an interview that I did with Ramon Thomas, an online enterpreneur in 2007.

I think the advice is very relevant for TAVASA members, especially those who are still learning strategies on how to promote their services.

DS: What are the three self-promotion tips you’d like to give authors and small business owners?

RT: Find your niche and narrow your focus. When you narrow your focus you operate in a place where you can claim leadership. This positions you as an expert.

2) Share your expertise by contributing to your industry's online communities through LinkedIn, MySpace and other online forums.

3) Find your unique ability.

Take time out to do some personality tests like Meyers-Briggs, which will help you understand your strengths and weaknesses.

Study your personality type.

Focus on improving your strengths and delegating your weaknesses (to people for whom it's a strength).

DS: Anything else you’d like to add about self-promotion?

RT: Study your role models. Try to meet them and ask them questions. At the very least you can email them.

Never shy away from promoting yourself. You must first believe in the product you are selling, which is YOU.