One of the cool things about blogging is the conversation–not only do YOU get to tell people your thoughts, you get to hear other people’s opinions as well. Over time you get to “know” the people who comment on the blogs you frequent.

Here are some tips to use comments on other people’s blogs to create traffic for your blog:

• Make “Real” Comments

This should be obvious, but it amazes me how often the only comment left by some wanting to makret their blogs is “good post.” Don’t get me wrong, I leave those posts on occasion as well, but not usually. If I want to comment on a post and communicate to the blogger their post was exceptional, I don’t just give a two word “good post.” Instead I tell them why I think the post was good.

• Comment on Blogs in Your Market

Feel free to comment on as many blogs are you like, but for marketing purposes be active in the top blogs in YOUR niche market.

• Make Your User Name a Marketing Message

As I pointed out in this post, your user name is a marketing message. Use it accordingly.

• Add to the Conversation

You want to give not only your two cents, but five or ten. Without being a show off, add your own expertise (when you really have something to say.) This not only makes you look good, it makes the blogger notice you and can easily lead to a guest blog post or other favorable mention.

• Create a Post for Long Comments

When you have LOTS to say, don’t make a long comment, make a post on your own blog, linking back to the original post on the other blog. This leads other readers to want to see your blog as well.

• Tell Them You’ve Posted About Them

Don’t just depend on the automatic track back when you make a post about someone else’s post or blog. Instead, go back and tell them in the comments a brief teaser about the post you created on your blog. This will dramatically increase the number of visitors that blog will send you.

• Give a Reason to Visit Your Site

As often as is reasonable (which is kind of in the eye of the beholder), give readers of other blogs reasons to visit your blog. “I posted about this yesterday…” with a link to your blog is a great way to generate traffic. Just don’t overdo it–you don’t want the owner of the blog you are commenting on to think you are trying to outdo him.

Put these little tips to work and your comments will start generating more and more traffic as well as building your reputation in your market niche.