Commenting is a Branding Strategy
I recently was told that I am the #1 IntenseDebate commenter on planet earth.
Cool. And yes, I had actually asked if I was, as you can see from the screeny.
I’m the first person to break the 100 point barrier.
w00t.
But what’s the big deal? Nothing really. But it does gives me a good excuse to expound a little more on my commenting strategy and how I use my comments as a branding mechanism for success.
So here’s how it all goes down: Back when I re-branded myself to “human3rror” last year I sat down at my drawing board and mapped out how I was going to “do” this.
I considered a number of things:
- Originality
- Ease of typing
- Is it Memorable?
- Character length
- Is it “Me?”
- Is it “searchable?”
- How highly trafficked is the handle?
- Sustainable?
I did surveys, did a few SEO testing, asked people that mattered what they thought and then moved forward. I wanted my handle to be strong, memorable, and extremely “useful” to me in commenting.
Why I Sign My Comments “John (Human3rror)”
You may have noticed that I sign my comments like this: “John (Human3rror)”. There exists, like much of what I do, a strategy for even this.
You see, using my name, “John,” is not very smart when it comes to brand. Even using my full name isn’t necessarily smart. Why? Because there are sooooooooooooooooooooooooo many “Johns” out there. That doesn’t help bring Google back to my front porch on Human3rror.com.
But when I sign it with my handle (and I add “John” to make it “personal” so they don’t think I’m just some random “handle” only) I provide Google with my brand.
And trust me, Google has been eating it up. I get “alerts” every time I comment somewhere. That means that it’s working.
*smile*
And everywhere I comment I begin to build the online equity that surround “Human3rror.” And it all leads back to my blog.
So there you have it. There’s a bit more “to it” than what I’ve shared, but that’s for another day…!
Buzz it!
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35 Responses to “Commenting is a Branding Strategy”
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Forum Software? 
I was wrong, you can be number 1 in the world in something. (Or you can, I still don't think I can.)
there is only one SynapticLight
lol
For me that's a very pertinent point considering that the most of my blog hits come from the comments I make; alas not so much from my comments here.
Phill(SynapticLight)
hehe~!
i felt special, for a second. but then i thought “how lame.”
This is something I've been thinking about lately. First question: does IntenseDebate default to NoFollow for search engines?
The reason I ask that is that I've been thinking that it would be nice if my personal website (not blog…that's another whole discussion, although generally I link to my blog in my comments since my personal site isn't done) would come up when performing a search for my name. To remedy that, I've decided to do online activity under my name…in this case, commenting on blogs. Basically, I'd like to create as many links that say "Steven Rossi" that go to my site so that Google believes it to be a relevant result.
That said, the name Steven Rossi isn't that unique. I'd like to use the name SuperMoonMan that I've had for a while which, as you expect, will yield tons of search results involving yours truly. However, if I do this, I'm not helping my cause in directing search traffic to my site via a search for my full name.
All this is moot, though, since blogs generally use the nofollow tag on their comments (unless you're of the type that thinks that Google ignores this) and effectively ruin my scheming.
Also, you said that you post as "John (Human3rror)". It looks like you're posting as just "human3rror" here. Are you referring to not-IntenseDebate comments?
Thanks for the post.
Yes, non-ID comments specifically, since that the vast majority do not have 3rd party apps for commenting.
The strat with ID though is to get them into the system. See some of the 7 elements for more discussion about the “why”.
and, chris brogan about the blog-hub mentality.
Great stuf! love the supermoonman thing.
This is something I've been thinking about lately. First question: does IntenseDebate default to NoFollow for search engines?
The reason I ask that is that I've been thinking that it would be nice if my personal website (not blog…that's another whole discussion, although generally I link to my blog in my comments since my personal site isn't done) would come up when performing a search for my name. To remedy that, I've decided to do online activity under my name…in this case, commenting on blogs. Basically, I'd like to create as many links that say "Steven Rossi" that go to my site so that Google believes it to be a relevant result.
That said, the name Steven Rossi isn't that unique. I'd like to use the name SuperMoonMan that I've had for a while which, as you expect, will yield tons of search results involving yours truly. However, if I do this, I'm not helping my cause in directing search traffic to my site via a search for my full name.
All this is moot, though, since blogs generally use the nofollow tag on their comments (unless you're of the type that thinks that Google ignores this) and effectively ruin my scheming.
Also John, you said that you post as "John (Human3rror)". It looks like you're posting as just "human3rror" here. Are you referring to not-IntenseDebate comments?
Thanks for the post.
Oh, and one last thing John, if you click on the little Reputation Meter thing (your 103p next to your name), you can see a little scale that explains the reputation points. Just wanted to point out that, on that scale, you're 1 point above "Awesome." Thought I'd let you know.
Started following you recently on IntenseDebate, and hate to bring up two obvious things I noticed (but I shall not always be a positive commenter). You've got quite the ranking, but you don't follow anyone else on ID and the large majority of your comments are on your own blog or Michael Hyatt's.
I applaud you for responding so quickly and frequently on your own blog (that is a necessity), but maybe it's time to venture outside of the bubble? I could be seeing things as well, and maybe you've magically hidden all of that on ID? Just my perspective of course!
I don't follow anyone because I simply don't have the time. It's like Seth Godin's twitter thing, but not really.
and you're dead wrong on the michael hyatt blog. i've commented there 3 times. maybe 4. my comments in ID span nearly 40 blogs that have it installed.
Thanks for the response. I was just eluding to what I saw recently when I started following, sorry to jump to conclusions (didn't feel like scouring through your comment history, lol).
I understand that you don't have the time to follow many on ID or Twitter. Just thought I'd suggest that it might seem a bit selfish to those who you want to be in community with you. It's a two-way street, and that's something I'm learning quickly. You're awesome as well!
I have been thinking about rebranding my online moniker for a while now, but it seems like an awful lot of work and hassle. Any further advice on rebranding?
Commenting is definitely a branding strategy. You have to be in this game to be perceived as a player. It only makes sense.
Definitely been thinking about commenting as a way to develop relationships and drive traffic to my blog. Hadn't really been thinking about the branding aspect. Some interesting things to chew on. Thanks.
Let's try it
Chris (chrissulli)
It takes guts. But the long term benefit is awesome. I could never have gotten as much “equity” if I had just been johnsaddington.com.
so, courage, perhaps is one thing…!
yeah. i didn't figure it out til much later in my growth as a blogger.
John,
At the end of the day, I still don't see the overall value in 3rd party commenting. Can you give me some bullet points to convince me? (Especially since my readers are opposed to it.)
ryanbrymer
Michael Hyatt blogged about it today, a few thoughts:
http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/02/join-the-conversa... />
but to a certain degree, it's fairly aesthetic. but the ability to provide threading, and points can be welcome to some communities.
increased management, spam filters, metrics are also some things “behind the scenes” that are really nice. additional “social aspects” incorporated (like twitter integration) are powerful for sending notices out.
it's really up to you! no dogmatism here.
Oh, the twitter thing is completely different though. my strategy behind that is much more deep as it is wide (or skinny… depending on your perspective…!).
i've got a blog post about it that's queued… don't know when i'll push publish tho.
also, does following “prove” or “provide” community? what does it suggest to you?
Tony Morgan hit the nail on the head when he decided to follow people on Twitter. People cannot connect with you unless you are following them, which is just another tier of actually being social. I agree with him on this.
We can either be in the community with a megaphone (shouting), or with open arms that convey we are not here for an ego trip or the spotlight. Not following people on Twitter conveys to me that either we only care to hear from our select circle, or that we're just here to shout.
It's been weird to enter into community like this for me. I'm sure it has for other introverted techies. But it's always more about what God would desire to be accomplished.
You've got a different perspective, and one that I don't see as negative or positive. You (and many others) have a different strategy than mine (and a number of others).
I think people can connect with me even if they aren't following me (and I them). I mean, you have to open the scope of thinking here a bit. Even right now, we're having a conversation via the blog and I would consider this “connecting.” And sheesh, I even publicize my email. You don't need to DM me to ping me directly.
Again, a different perspective perhaps. You think it conveys spotlight or ego. I think the perspective is a legitimate one, but that doesnt mean that it's right. I think following lots of others could provide the same interpretation.
Finally, throwing in the “God” card would suggest that God desires that we connect (in this limited conversation) with everyone on twitter. I can think of a number of examples where that just doesn't apply.
great stuff man.
Interesting view. I guess with Twitter it's a bit obvious that we can have more influence if we are also hearing from more people / interacting with their lives. Not just having them check ours out and hopefully they find us interesting enough to interact with.
The God card belongs in every conversation to me. It's the only card I carry with me everywhere. And I believe if He has put me here to reach the world that it's not my box that he lives in. The fact is that I have interacted with many more people as a result of also hearing what God is doing (or not doing) through their stories.
That's what's great about community. There are some that will circle around your method, and some that will others. Reaching the lost is THE key to me, and is something I am learning more about with the online stuff. That's what must be considered, without question.
I disagree. I do not agree that “following” people on twitter equates more influence at all. Perhaps you're not aware of “all the other ways” of influencing and engaging online?
A good read for you: http://www.web-strategist.com/blog/2008/07/10/why... />
Or perhaps you haven't read that some are called to “create content” and not to necessarily “engage” with others? Some reach the lost by feeding the hungry. Some reach the lost by preaching to packed stadiums of thousands.
I think we need to revisit the “understood” methodologies and be open to ones that we may not necessarily employ ourselves, but as just as beneficial and effective.
I am wary of the God card. Because of what it can mean for many. What it too often means in my experience is "I know what God want me to do therefore everyone needs to do it my way". That can be a problem, in part because most of the time I am not sure we have really sought God enough to know what he wants, and two just because he wants something for us does not mean he wants the same for someone else. I am not saying we can't know God's will, just that we need to be very humble about our understanding.
Another issue with the God card that I have seen used inappropriately is jumping into spiritual things in the wrong way. I will again be humble in my understanding, but some people are very outspoken very quickly and you use you chance to share God. I personally am a bit more hesitant because I want to make sure I have a relationship first. A good example are two girls my wife works with. There are some overt Christians at the school where they teach that talk about God all the time, give out gospel books, etc. Two good friends of my wife are very put off, but because my wife has been more about relationship building and has spent more time they allow her to actually do more sharing. They completely turn off the others. (This is not to mention the fact that at least two or three of the overt Christians either don't want to do their jobs or do them in ways that the non-Christians see as unethical, so their witness is watered down.)