People new to blogging will often ask how I get people to find me amongst the millions of blogs on the Internet.

We'd like to think that people will find our site and immediately become avid readers but the truth is, we have to actively go out and seek readers - bring them to the fold, so to speak.

One such method is by reading other blogs, posting a comment and leaving a link back to your site. The thought being that if they like the comment you've left, perhaps they'll want to see what else you have to say. But is that spam?

Recently Brian Brown defined comment spam:

Comment spam is when someone leaves a comment on your blog for the sole purpose of creating a link back to their blog. The theory is that this creates a link to their blog from another website and will boost search engine rankings, which is somewhat true.

So it isn't enough to just say "great post" or "I liked what you said."

One of the unique components of blogging is the fact that you can have an online dialog with people. It is interactive. Take Dave Barry's blog. The famous comedic writer inspires tons of people to comment on what he and his assistant Judi post each day.

Recently he wrote about the most incredible comb-over. The comments are fast and fun and add to the humor of the post Dave has left readers to ponder.

But I have one additional thought on comments.

Do you get celebrity-phobia?

Often I'll read the blog of someone that I really admire and I have something to say and want to join in the discussion but I fear that people will think I've said something stupid.

One blog that I read regularly is Bob Bly and he has a group of faithful readers that comment and respond each time he writes a post. Well, not long ago his post really hit a hot button and I got up the nerve to leave a comment. I went back later and saw that the regulars were commenting on everyone's thoughts but mine and I thought - oh gee - did I miss the point? How can I ever show my "face" here again?

But I got over it and realized that the point is to JOIN IN and ADD VALUE.

Brian further says

"...that it is OK to include a link back to your blog in the comments of another blog as long as it contributes to the conversations being discussed on the post and in the comments."

So leave a comment - share an opinion - but don't spam.

What do you think?

Deborah Chaddock Brown
Writer