Blog Commenting for SEO
Leaving relevant, helpful comments on other blogs to earn visibility, referral traffic, and occasional links, rather than expecting strong direct ranking value.
If you thought blog comments were a quick way to build backlinks, you have been misled by outdated advice – most comment links are nofollow and offer little direct ranking signal.
Key points
- Comment only on blogs closely related to your niche – relevance is the only thing that makes the tactic defensible.
- Use your real name and a genuine profile; fake names or brand-only handles are instantly flagged as spam.
- Add real value: share an experience, a data point, or a different perspective – never just 'Great post'.
- Treat it as a relationship and discovery tactic, not a link-building method; the real payoff is referral traffic and outreach leads.
A travel blogger’s comment that earned real traffic
A travel blogger focusing on SEO for travel blogs left a thoughtful comment on a popular ‘Solo travel in Japan’ post, describing her own experience with a specific ryokan and linking to a detailed review on her site. The comment was approved, the link was a ugc seo link, but within a week she received 40 referral visits. Six months later, one of the commenters invited her to write a guest post. The comment itself never passed ranking credit, but it started a chain of valuable exposure.
Three ways this tactic actually helps
- Referral traffic A well-placed comment on a high-traffic blog can send engaged readers to your site, even if the link is nofollow, because real people click it.
- Relationship building Commenting consistently on the same blogs gets you noticed by the site owner, opening doors for outreach, guest posting, or collaboration.
- Brand visibility Each comment puts your name and a link to your site in front of a new audience, reinforcing your presence in your niche over time.
Three signs your comment is low-value
- Generic praise 'Great post' or 'Nice article' adds nothing and is often ignored or deleted by moderators – it wastes your time and theirs.
- Keyword-stuffed name Using a brand name or a keyword as your display name is a clear spam signal and makes your comment look untrustworthy.
- Irrelevant link Dropping a link to a page that has nothing to do with the post’s topic harms your credibility and may get the comment rejected.
Common questions
What is blog commenting in SEO?
It is the practice of leaving comments on other blogs to earn visibility, referral traffic, and occasional links, but not direct ranking signals.
How to create backlinks using blog comments?
Most comment links are nofollow, so they do not directly help rankings. Focus on referral traffic and relationship building instead.
Sources
- Google Search Central: Link best practices Explains nofollow and sponsored link attributes, including comment links.
- Search Engine Journal Covers practical SEO tactics, including blog commenting as a relationship strategy.
- Google Search Central: Link spam guidance Details what Google considers link spam, including manipulative commenting.