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Blogging Etiquette: How to Blog Politely
Today’s blog entry will consist of something that I haven’t yet seen posted anywhere: A how to on blogging etiquette!
Some of you may look at me funny when I say this, but I really think that blogging is similar to interacting in the real world, but with the whole face to face element taken out of the equation. Think of the blog as a persons house, where a blog owner lives, and you occasionally come visit them to hear their stories.
Personally, when someone tells me a story, no matter how good or bad, I’ll always have something to say to them once they’re done. They took the time to talk to me, so I’ll take the time to return the favour - even if its something as simple as giving them feedback or criticism.
I think the same should go for blogging. Often, even the most boring blog post can entice an excellent conversation if everyone adds their two cents. This is not only respectful to the owner, but it can add something to the blog where there was previously nothing to be found.
So with that said: Blogging Etiquette rule number 1 - try to comment as much as possible, regardless of whether or not you know about or are interested in the topic. I subscribe to a broad scope of blogs, but I will always post a comment, unless it is totally off my radar, say, a post about makeup or something. I have absolutely nothing to say about makeup lol.
Besides, chances are if you’re commenting on their blog, they will return the favour and comment on your blog. This helps increase no only their readership by offering interesting conversation to others, but it helps to increase yours as well. This goes for comments on your own blog as well - keep the conversation going - if people respond to you, respond to them!
My second blogging rule is to make a point to check out the site sponsors and ads - assuming they are something that might interest me of course. Sponsors pay good money to have their ads show and sites visited. I figure the least I can do is check out the product that they are offering, and if I sign up, that in turn helps out the blog owner as well, with a bit of a commission. Some may disagree with me here, but if you reverse the situation, chances are you want people to visit your sponsors, so why not visit those of your favourite blogs?
Blogging Etiquette rule number 2: Check out site sponsors! Chances are you will gain something out of it, and so will the advertisers, and blog owners.
My third blogging rule is somewhat related to my first rule in terms of commenting. If you comment on my blog, I will go the extra mile and make sure I comment on your blog. I think for even the largest blogs, with thousands of members, it doesn’t take long to take a brief glance at the commentators most recent post, and post your thoughts on the topic.
This goes a long way to not only increasing the blog community, but increasing inter-blog-interactions. And yes I just made that term up lol. Every blog I’ve ever subscribed to I’ve discovered through reading another blog! Without their comments, I would never have found out about the blogs of my readers, or other interesting blogs that I subscribe to. Afterall, the blogosphere is really an interconnected web in itself!
So Blogging Etiquette rule number 3: If someone takes the time to comment on your blog - return the favour.
So theres my 3 Blogging Etiquette rules: Comment as much as possible, visit fellow bloggers site sponsors, and if someone takes the time to comment on your blog, regardless of how big or small, return the favour, and check out theirs.
I hope that all made sense - I just kinda threw it together as it came to me, but it all relates to the whole give and you shall receive principle. Hope this helps make your blog a more successful one! 
DON’T FORGET TO CHECK OUT MY $175 COMMENTATING CONTEST AND HOW YOU CAN WIN AT THE FOLLOWING LINK!! CLICK HERE!!!!
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Fantastic write up Taris. I do follow 2. Your 1st and 3rd etiquette is going to help you in better interaction with your readers.
Blogging etiquette applies heavily on new blogs in my opinion. A-list bloggers do no do any of the following in their daily blogging life. This shows how much the smaller blogs are putting effort in building a community. But nevertheless, this is a great article for all bloggers.
Cheers
Wei Liang
Yup like I told my friends, a-list bloggers can say hello good morning and get 139 comments while smaller blogs write that and get 139 defames..
You guys are totally right. Just see John Chows blog, he writes anything at times, but people just leave so many comments for some link love.
@ Ben
You are so right! The A-listers can just write a post that says “BOO” and they will have 500 comments, but I still say us up and comers provide the best content, I know you do Ben!
Also most relevant content as they are still in the trenches. Easy to say use Twitter when you 10K followers. Another when you have only 14.
Part of it is community, but the biggest is link juice. Have to be where the people are.
Thanks!!! And welcome to my blog!! I’ll be checking yours our shortly
In addition to writing good posts, you lead by example too. Nice to see you visit everyone’s site.
I was quite surprised when i read Taris comment on my blog because i usually dont see people follow ucommentifollow.
In defense of Chow and Shoemoney I do see they post to their comments. Not every comment, not every post, but often enough. Besides, when you get that many comments, what, two-thirds are variations of the same thing. The rest are people flaming other peoples for more link juice, why would the host want to get into that muck?
I know they do reply but not as much. They should moderate the off line comments but i hardly see them do that. For them, its a competition, who has more comments.
I do hear John Chow makes an occasional visit elsewhere. Imagine it is when he is invited to, to get an A-lister it probably takes a bit more to get them there. But that is life, the spoils go to those willing to do what others are not.
Good post Taris.
Your commentators are going wild here.
Only a few days left for the money?
I don’t think I am in with a chance though!!!
That’s a lot of cash dude.
Thanks!!!
Yea it’s almost crunch time hehehe
And in all honesty, I’m surprised it didn’t get more response - Perhaps people didn’t think I would be paying out???
I’m sure the second contest will get more response though, as there will be even more up for grabs!
I too am surprised, but it does take time and I think people also think they will never win and give up before they can! oh well better for us
That’s it!!
Most contests have low turn out, especially the more you ask of people. That is fine, the willingness to do a little more is all the difference.
Well people forget sometimes. Not intentional but being busy they just forget.
Really it is laziness or procrastination. I have won prizes in three blog contests, two I came in second only because there was no third.
Tyler Cruz held a contest recently where he offered free business cards for making a video of why you need them. He even said that chances would be good because people are basically lazy. He was right, he didn’t have enough contestants for all the sets of cards (prizes), so he doubled up the #1 winner’s number of cards. He has RSS subscriber count of about 2,000 and couldn’t get 5 contestants.
Seems the only way to get contests competitive is if the entry is simple. Like asking people to leave a single comment and then draw from the pool. With the drawing method I have only won one. Prefer doing something, chances are much better.
Good post and it is certainly true for the laziness!!
If you notice the flipsites book was won because of a single entry. Everyone else was lazy i guess.
Great post Taris, I agree with everything you said and I too go over and visit all my commenters sites, blogging is really about community more than anything else. You cannot blog in a vaccuum!
I think we all bloggers should form our own community what say. It will make for a win-win situation for all participants.
This is something I haven’t been doing but need to start. Appreciate Taris visiting often.
What i meant was something like a Digg community. Where we all bloggers digg each others articles and the like. Helps to get more traffic.
Totally - Im’ writing an article on digg next week actually!!
That would be cool. I will digg your digg article
I appreciate you giving us #2. Not often brought up, but we need to be supportive. Especially in MMO, we know what’s up. Support a brother.
Very few bloggers follow point 2.
BTW just a thought, another good etiquette would be to submit fellow bloggers article to social sites
Yup, looks like you’ve got the basics of blog etiquette down pat. Many people see them, but not as many follow all of them, especially #2. Nicely written.
Thanks a lot and welcome to my blog!