Give Up the Backlinks

Add More Value to Your Blog: Provide High Value Backlinks

We’re all in the business of providing value right? Well, as I stumble from blog to blog I see that so many of us are missing the simplest of opportunities to provide additional value to our loyal readers and passers by – passers by which could so easily be converted to loyal readers if we simply make them aware of the free backlinks we can offer them, and why they’re so important.

Sure we want to provide value through our thoughtful, cutting-edge posts, but what else can we do to provide value? Well, for one thing we can turn our blogs into an online backlink generator (so to speak) . By doing so we increase our own traffic by packing in additional value to the community – yes, this is the corner of backlinks and gold mine.

Don’t Use Your Top Commentator Widget Like a Blogroll

If you aren’t using a top commentator widget, get one. If you are, take the time to consider the settings. By default, mine was set to never reset itself – that’s bad, and this is why.

Say you are involved with a tribe, as so many of us are. Your tribe mates are going to make a point of commenting on your posts. That’s good for you because it generates discussions on your blog, and it’s good for them because – BING – they score a backlink. Now, rightly so, your tribe mates are naturally going to jump to the top spots of your top commentators widget. But once those spots are filled it will become increasingly difficult for newcomers to ever break on to that list unless that list periodically resets itself (like monthly for example).

If I, as a reader of your blog, know that your top commentator list will reset next month, the likelihood of my returning to add multiple comments on your posts will surely increase. Why? Because I want another high value backlink wherever I can get one. Plus, there is added exposure for me as a top commentator on your blog. That’s incentive!

In addition, you want people to earn those coveted spots over and over again – even your tribe mates. Level the playing field every month. I believe your long-term, actively-commenting readership will be stronger as a result.

Yeah, But My Top Commentators List Will Be Blank at the Start of Every Month

Perfect! There is also a setting for that. You can add text to be inserted in the event that the list is ever blank. And, of course, we know that it will be at the beginning of every month. So this is your opportunity to encourage commentators to comment. Use it creatively.

If it’s a Blogroll You Want, Use a Blogroll – But Add a Twist

Blogrolls are a great way to offer value to your readers by offering links to good content, but of course they are also a way to provide additional backlinks to your tribe mates. Ideally, you can use them for both because your tribe mates are writing good content.

But let’s say you have ten spots reserved on your blogroll and only 7 members on your tribe. Use those other three spots in creative ways. For example, say some newcomer arrives at your blog and joins the discussion with some pretty good commentary. A relationship develops and you like what this newcomer is bringing to your community (or the larger community) – show your appreciation and encouragement by honoring active newcomers with a spot on your blogroll. It can be temporary, and probably should be. But the added exposure for someone working hard to enter the game will be much appreciated and deliver to you a loyal follower.

In a similar light, you can create a new blogroll attached to a link category called something like, “Honorable Mentions,” or “Shout Outs!” If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you can simply go to the “links” tab in your WordPress admin area and create a new link category. You can then add a new blogroll to your site but attach that blogroll to your newly created link category. Just try it. It’ll make sense when you get in there (if not, contact me).

Use a Comment Re-Direct Page and Spice it Up

A comment re-direct page is always a good idea, but it’s only seen the first time somebody comments on your site. That is why you need to use that opportunity wisely. Don’t just say thank you and let them on their way (as mine currently does – Feb. 2010). After thanking them, preferably in video form, make them aware of other opportunities on your blog for them to secure additional free backlinks.

Tell your readers that your top commentators list resets every month. Tell them that by subscribing to your blog and getting first notice of your newest posts, they increase their chances of appearing high on your list of comments where they will remain for the rest of time (a strong argument for ordering your comments with oldest comments appearing first – maximum exposure for early commentators – incentive).

I have a “promote yourself” page and I will leverage this one-time, comment re-direct opportunity to encourage my newest commentators to use it for gaining additional exposure and valuable backlinks for themselves. In addition, I get to learn more about my readers. It’s a win win.

Tweet Now! also offers a re-direct page, as can your opt-in form. Use them both in exactly the same way I describe above. These are all awesome opportunities for you to connect with those actively participating on your site, while making them aware of how to get backlinks through channels you’ve created for them. They’ll be back

Consider Comments on Pages (Not Just Posts)

Sometimes retaining a comments area on pages makes a lot of sense. I, for example, have a “Promote Yourself” page where my visitors can promote themselves, and this is done via the comments widget. I also have a page, “The Book” where I encourage those that have read my eBook to offer their reviews. Again, such reviews are made via the comments widget. But what about pages like, “About Eric,” “Contact Eric,” and “Key Resources.” Does a comments widget make sense there? Why not?

The interaction that comments allow is always a good thing, and if folks want to comment on my about, contact and resources pages that’s great! But, and this is the point, the ability for readers to add comments to pages further provides your readership with additional opportunities for backlinks. This incentive will in turn stimulate participation and further generate a sense of community and value.

What Is a Backlink?

Oh, sorry. Perhaps I should have answered that question up front

A backlink is an essential ingredient for maximizing your Search Engine Optimization (SEO) efforts. Free Search Engine Optimization??!! SaWEET!

Basically, when Google or some other search engine indexes some blog and finds a comment that you made that includes a link back to your blog, your blog increases in value in the eyes of the search engines – that’s a backlink.

Now, you really want a backlink strategy that is bigger than yourself and this is what is currently fueling the “tribes” concept. It is very worthwhile for you to participate in the community and leave backlinks (popcorn trail) along the way. But, if you can have others helping you to distribute your popcorn trail far and wide in exchange for you helping them, you’ve got a huge leg up in your ability to generate traffic to your blog (or any other site).

I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Are you using these strategies? Are you using others? If not, why not?

Add a comment below and tell us your thoughts. I mean after all, there are some FREE backlinks in it for you

Rock on and remember – keep moving forward,

Tagged as: backlinks, how to get backlinks