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Leaving a Comment On a Blog:
5 Easy Steps to Making Your Voice Heard
 Five weeks ago, I wrote an e-tip called "The Rich Benefits of Blog Commenting." It focused on how blog commenting helps your business and included tricks for writing comments that get attention.
Since then, I have heard from many talented, savvy solopreneurs who were confused about exactly how to leave a comment on a blog post. I decided if there were that many smart people who didn't get it, maybe I should review the steps.
5 Easy Steps to Leaving a Blog Comment
While blog formats differ slightly, depending on whether the blogger uses Typepad, Wordpress, or something else, the basic steps are almost identical. One exception: some of the major newspapers require a more intricate "registration" to make a comment. You should read the fine print to make sure you are not giving away too much personal information or getting yourself on multiple vendors' lists (unless, of course, you don't mind getting those e-mails from "partners.")
1. Go to the blog address and read the post. Type in the address of the blog. You will see the most recent blog post on top. If you get your favorite blog by e-mail or RSS feed, you'll need to click on the title of the post to get through to the web page that allows comments. Now you can read the author's post.
2. Click on "Comments" at the bottom of the post. It will have a number either before (on Wordpress blogs) or after (on Typepad), which tells you how many people have commented so far.
3. Read the comments made so far and look for the comment box below them. You will see three places to enter information: 1) Your name (usually first and last); 2) Your e-mail address (don't worry, it won't show on the page); and 3) Your website address (for Typepad, it says "URL") This is the spot for either your website or your blog address- where you want traffic to be directed to, so people can learn more about you.
4. Make your comment in the empty box. Make a well thought out, on-topic comment that shows your credibility and expertise. (Contribute to the conversation, but don't start off on a tangent of your own.) Also, "great post" doesn't really continue the conversation, so I'd think of something more meaningful to say. When you're finished, click "post" (in Typepad) or "Submit" (Wordpress).
5. Copy the list of distorted numbers-letters in the empty box. People get confused at this last step, but it's really just a safeguard to prevent automated spamming, in short, to be sure it was actually a human leaving a comment, and not a computer.
There you have it. Some blogs allow you to check a box if you want to follow (be notified by e-mail of) the comments and conversations.
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