Comment on blogs for personal branding

Commenting on industry blogs can be a great networking solution to help draw attention to your business and to develop your personal brand. You can share knowledge, solutions, or just helpful hints with the blog’s audience (and your potential clients!). Often, comments lead to them turning to you next time they have a problem. Follow these simple rules for commenting on industry blogs.

Be professional. Your words are going online for all to see and will be a direct reflection on your business. In all likelihood, they’ll be around for years to come. The number one rule is to ALWAYS be professional. This means checking your facts before you post. Don’t argue and fight with other commenters. And never, ever forget to proofread.

No spam allowed. When replying to a blog post, only make comments that are completely relevant to the post. Always read the post in its entirety and be sure your comment is both relevant and helpful. Readers are so used to spam on an everyday basis that they tune it out. If you only post telling people to check out your website they’ll assume you are spamming them and will quickly go somewhere else. Save your personal information for your signature.

Form your own opinions. Everyone is entitled to their own thoughts and opinions. When commenting on blogs, be sure you don’t get into a habit of agreeing with the majority. You need to be strong and assertive without being rude. If you disagree with the original post, don’t be afraid to let your opinion show. Clients respond better if you are confident and sure of yourself.

Get your facts straight. Before you comment, always be sure you read the entire post as well as any follow-up comments. Once you have all the information, then prepare your comment and post it. If you feel that you need additional information, look it up before you submit your comment. Commenting before you have all the facts will make you appear uneducated.

Brian Farrell is a coach, helping clients achieve their personal and professional goals. He's also the creator of the "QA2 Method". For more about Brian, visit bfarrell.com