Marketing Tip: Do You Have Pluck?

One of the most commonly encountered marketing axioms is: visit blogs and websites and leave a comment.

At first, I didn’t really understand what this was all about; it actually seemed like a waste of time. But now, after a year of blogging and learning about online promotion, I’m beginning to understand.

For example, readers can leave comments on this blog. At the bottom of each post, just click on “comments” [or "No Comment" if none have yet been made]. You will be taken back to the article, where you can scroll down to the comments box. There you can type in your comment.. I’ve set up this blog so that commenters can enter the URL of their own blog or website. If you write a comment that is interesting enough, someone may well click on your name and visit your site — you may have found a new “friend.” As I write this, your comment potentially will be exposed to almost 5000 unique visitors a month to my blog, people with interests perhaps common to yours. [To attract even more attention to your comment, create an "avatar," an actual photo of yourself or some graphic to represent you.]

But only 5000? A paltry number. How about hundreds of thousands?

Yes it’s possible.

For example, visit the website of USA Today. Find an article of interest and read on down to the comments section. You’ll find there an opportunity to REGISTER with USA TODAY. It’s worth doing, believe me. Do it, and then leave your first comment, which only registered users can do. Suddenly you’ll find yourself filling in a form that is maintained by PLUCK.

PLUCK? What is that?

This fairly new online facility is, frankly, quite amazing. It has managed to capture the business of some of the major online news outlets, and it manages their comment actvity. PLUCK creates an online profile for commenters. If you leave a comment at USA TODAY, for example, anyone who wants to know more about you has only to click on your name at the top of the comment. I, for example, have created my identity there, and in the description of myself, I mention explicitly this blog’s URL. Aha! Now, if I make comments at USA TODAY, or any other news outlet powered by PLUCK, I have created a gateway back to me and this blog. Amazing! And, if my comments are provocative and interesting enough, I may attract attention from a handful [or more] among the thousands and thousands of USA TODAY online readers. GOSH!

THEREFORE [remembering my high school geometry]: If you have a blog or website, and you are seeking to expand your reader universe, registering at a PLUCK-powered site makes a lot of sense. Maybe you have a blog promoting your book — or your freelance writing buisness. It’s worth promoting via websites with a huge audience. BUT REMEMBER: it doesn’t mean a thing unless you routinely post intriguing comments. You can practice the skill of “commenting” right here on Becoming A Writer Seriously. Try it — right now! Leave a comment to see just how easy it is.

Related Posts

If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the RSS feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader.
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Sorry, comments are closed.

Web Analytics