The good old Golden Rule. Really, it works online just like it does in real life. Sounds too low-tech to work in the virtual world? Well, it’s not. I’ll prove it in five easy steps.
- First, develop a nice, friendly, informative profile page on yourself. This can be your myspace page, your blog, your Squidoo lensmaster page, or whatever. You don’t have to give out your personal information. Include a link back to your blog, or whatever else you’d like visitors to click on.
- Then do some surfing. Look for blogs or pages that are well-written and interesting. Find something you really like. Have fun!
- Don’t just lurk. Participate in polls, give some stars, add some appreciative comments to the guestbooks. Be genuine. Be kind. If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. Remember the Golden Rule, and treat others the way you would like to be treated.
- Usually, you can add a link to your comment. This is where you put the address to your profile page, or directly to your blog. Don’t use a spammy, junky link. People don’t like being tricked into clicking on spam!
- If you’ve been kind, people will read your insightful comment and want to know more about you. They will click on your link, visit your page, and maybe even leave you a nice comment too. Perhaps they’ll check out your sidebars and ads. If your page is especially wonderful, you might even get a Digg or a bookmark, or even a regular subscriber. Who knows — you might even make a friend!
Give the Golden Rule a try, and see if you get good results. Even if you get one quality visitor for every ten quality visits you make, you will have made Cyberspace a friendlier place. And that’s good for everybody!
I agree! Once in awhile, I just spend an entire day surfing for blogs. I usually find a couple additional ones that I love, bookmark and come back to regularly. It’s always tempting to just lurk, but as a blogger myself I know how much comments are appreciated so I try to leave some sign that I’ve visited (whether by leaving a comment or participating in a poll, etc)
Good advice
That is the on thing I have come to learn about blogging. It is one big friendly (for the most part) community.
Good advice. Another tip is do not leave short comments like “Good Advice” just to get your blog link on a post. Welcome to Entrecard. The people in this network are great.
I agree 100%.
Life in all aspects should always follow the Golden Rule!
Great advice. Clicked from entrecard.
Colin, that’s a great point! Your comments must be substantive and genuine. Don’t just say “nice post.”
Great ideas on building a readership by being a good e-citizen. I’ve been using EntreCard to generate traffic, but in a more methodical way than most probably do. I actually take the time to review sites, leave comments and subscribe to the ones I like. I’ve enjoyed reading over your posts here.
“Don’t just lurk.”
I always try to leave a comment when I find a new blog (like yours!), as I know how much *I* appreciate when people take the time for me. Nice to “meet” you!
Yeah, I get plenty o’ hits but I’m not known for my kindness…
Sue Doe-Nim’s last blog post..Someone’s Child
Great advice! Since discovering the blog world I have decided that I need some time for myself to do some reading and thinking. There are so many wonderful and interesting blogs out there and so much to learn!
Caroline’s last blog post..Are you prepared for an emergency?
Wow, I really like these rules. I have actually been going by them without reading them. Hoping that if I share enough love that when the time comes the love comes back to me.
Very good post and very good advice!
Andy’s last blog post..Smoking, and the effects on children.
Yes, whether you call it karma or whatever, I really think that you reap what you sow. What goes around comes around, and all those other Golden Rule cliches. They’re true! Thanks for all the love in your comments!