Marketing With Spam?
I’m almost certain you hate SPAM as much as I do. By spam, I mean any unsolicited communication that is anything but helpful in nature. But it’s not going away any time soon.
Which in a way, is good news for internet marketers because it makes it really easy to stand out. I mean, it’s like having a license to print money when everyone else is suffering a marketing handicap like that.
Especially if you’re trying to build web traffic through comments on blogs, websites and forums. Which is actually an easy way to get traffic over time.
And that’s what today’s post is all about. How to get web traffic without spending a dime… without spamming anybody… simply by standing out from the internet crowd.
But first, let’s look at the crowd…
There’s the HYPER-linkers.
They’ll say something like:
Awesome article. Really cool. Check this out I think you’ll like it too.
(insert blatant affiliate link)
Which I guess “works” if you want to upset a lot of bloggers and get your comments deleted 9 out of 10 times. But it most certainly is NOT a good way to get web traffic or leads.
Then of course…
There’s the “CLEVER” fellars. These guys will actually leave a sincere compliment and then blatantly post their links or phone numbers. This is like going to visit friends and then before you leave YELLING at them and shoving your phone number in their pocket.
A slight improvement. But not much.
There’s SERIAL commentators. At first glance they look sincere enough. They don’t share their links but you can tell right away that they don’t give a damn what they type. Half the time they haven’t even read the articles they reply too. They assume that quantity of comments is the name of the game.
But it gets even worse…
There’s ROBOTS. These are obviously copied and pasted comments that make absolutely no sense at all. They get deleted almost instantly but seem to come back again and again.
I’m sure I’m missing a few more…
But that’s the gist of it. You’ve seen them before and maybe you’ve concluded that all comment marketing is EVIL and NEVER works at all.
I don’t blame you at all.
I do however think there’s an easier and less evil way to get web traffic through comments. It’s something I’m a big fan off and I’m sure you are too.
It’s called being a decent human being instead of a spam-bot.
Here’s a few commenting tips I’ve found in the past that work quite well.
1. Pick a few blogs and comment often. Not every day, but often enough. This keeps you in front of the blogger’s mind and their core audience. Consistency is the key.
2. Always be friendly and helpful. If you can possibly help anyone who comments without spamming your links then by all means – do it.
3. Don’t be afraid to leave long comments. Look, as long as you’re sincere no blogger is gonna delete your comments for being too long. Pour your heart out.
4. Join the conversation… or start one. There’s nothing stopping you from asking a relevant question or replying to the comments of others. Comments are basically an open forum with the blogger as the moderator.
Plus, a few things that almost never work.
• Stirrin’ Mud. Because there’s enough of it out there already.
• Spamming links. We’ve covered this one already.
• Bear oil. You know… insincere comments or empty flattery.
And a few final thoughts…
Most blogs let you share your link and hide it under your name. That’s all you need to share and all you should. If you leave sincere comments. If you actually participate in discussions then people will visit your links over time.
Will you get hundreds of leads a day? NO.
You probably will not.
Will you make friends and build relationships that last a life time? YES.
You probably will.
Will you get more web traffic? Yes.
Most definitely.
But only quality, not quantity.
A trickle of gold instead of a bucket of lead.
And in the end that’s what you want… gold.
Jason The “Better Networker”
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12 Comments
Josh Boxer on October 26th, 2009
Jason,
Right on the money as always. Spam is like standing on top of a building in Times Square screaming to people about your business. No one can hear you and quite honestly, most New Yorkers just look up and shake their heads.
On the other hand, people who take the time to write relevant comments, posts, etc. will be more like that huge HD Monster TV smack dab in the middle of Broadway for all to see.
Thank you for bringing the goodies once again Jason.
[Reply]
October 26th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
@Josh
You’re right on the money. You’re also a
master of metaphor. One of the most
overlooked skills in marketing.
[Reply]
Mitchell Dillman on October 26th, 2009
Jason,
If you continue to offer up such quality and insightful posts, and I continue to take them to heart, It is only a matter of time before I too will begin to stand out from all the ‘noise’.
This only affirms my belief that in my quest to learn and accel at my newly choosen craft I must go to where the ‘leaders’ are and listen closely! I WILL BE BACK…
Sincerely,
Mitchell Dillman
[Reply]
October 26th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
@Mitchell
As always, it’s a pleasure to have you here
Mitchell. I think you already stand out from
the crowd.
[Reply]
Heidi Colmenero on October 26th, 2009
Thanks for the insight. For me, as I’m sure it happens to many people, so much information and knowing how to go about handling it and using it to create your own space in the web is quite a mistery. So pointing out tips like the ones on this post is really helpful. Thank you
[Reply]
October 26th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
@Heidi
I hear you. There’s a lot of info
out there. But with persistence
a path is carved.
[Reply]
Rebecca Geiger on October 26th, 2009
Spam bots need a bucket ‘ o lead, and you are a pot of gold 
You are the best blog with a cup of coffee. Thanks for making spam taste great!
hee hee
[Reply]
October 26th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Hah. Thanks Rebecca.
Nothing better than catching
up on a few blogs with
a cuppa coffee.
[Reply]
As Always Great stuff,
I Learn lot from your posts.
Just an observation and I include myself (My old self) in this. I think a lot of people are afraid to admit that they learn from others.
Like they feel the need to always be the one that Knows it all.
Happy to hear other’s views on this.
Pete.
[Reply]
October 26th, 2009 at 9:58 am
Too true Peter. Too true.
Reminds me of the quote…
“In my walks, every man I meet is
my superior in some way, and in
that I learn from him.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
[Reply]