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How to get people to comment on your blog
Posted by forecollard • 8/31/09 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic
Topics: blog content, comments
As bloggers we judge our content and success not only by our traffic but also the content in our comments. The answer to this question could be a huge help to building a better blog.
How do you get people to comment on your posts?
User Comments
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Sometimes it is depend on the reader initiative. I prefer to leave some comment even just a single sentence will enough. Some of the blogger never leave any comment at all.-
It is very true.
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This might sound obvious, but have you tried asking?-
JP2112
This might sound obvious, but have you tried asking?
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Agree with this comment.
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You can post a question or two in your blog post, especially the last sentence. Sometimes that works. I hate to say it, but the posts I get the most comments on are the ones that had cuss words in the title. -
Tell them to. Like' You guys need to come over and comment on the blog'
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Might work for you, because you r one mighty scary looking bug!
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There are many ways that you can encourage your readers to comment. Commence with the structure of your posts.
(1) Do your titles and subtitles encourage comments?
(2) Does the text encourage comments by stating your are looking for reader feedback?
(3) Do you conclude your posts with a question for reader discussion?
(4) Do you answer comments your receive promptly and individually?
(5) Do you comment on the posts of bloggers who have commented on your posts?
(6) Do you backlink to your readers' posts in your own posts?
(7) Do you use a Recent Visitors and/or a Top Commenters widget?
(8) Do your promote your posts throughout social networks and use twitter and friendfeed to keep your readers aware of when you publish new posts?
(9) Do you provide RSS and/or atom feeds?
(10) Do your readers offer updates by email?
(11) Do you offer newsletters?
(12) Do you have a forum?
(13) Do you have reader polls and surveys?
(14) Do you encourage your readers to become guest authors on your blog?
Click my username and when you arrive on my BC profile page click the url for my blog titled onecoolsite When you click through locate the searchbox and copy paste the titles of the reference posts below into it to locate the posts.
Reference posts:
Appreciating your readers (This post contains 12 tips.)
Encouraging blog readers to comment (This post contains 14 tips.)
No Blog Comments? It’s All a Matter of Perspective (This is a very popular post containing insight and strategies.)-
Wow! These are great tips! Thx!
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@millieriver
You're welcome
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All great ideas..pretty much what I do..probably why I have so many readers..hey, but you forgot the most important thing..should be no# 1 on your list....KEEP IT INTERESTING....lol..well take care -
Great question.
I really like the tips that time thief posted up there.
To work off that, I'd like to add a couple things for you to consider.
Using Chris Brogan as an example again, he gets a TON of comments on every post...but are they all valuable? Would you rather have 100 "Great post!" type comments or 5, well written, thoughtful and insightful comments?
I think that getting a good amount of quality comments comes down to two things: Community and Content.
If you build a strong community around your blog, you'll get a lot of comments. Chris is a good example of this. If you interact with your readers, comment on their posts, incorporate their comments into your posts etc...you'll build up a strong community.
In terms of content, I think for blogs there are really two types. Informational and Conversational. With an informational post, you provide all the answers, and unless it's a controversial topic, don't expect many comments (or they'll all be "Thanks for the great post!" type comments). If it's conversational, you'll either take one side of an argument, or you'll ask questions, without providing all the answers. If you answer everything, your readers will have nothing to comment about.
Hope that's helpful (=
David
Scribnia.com The world's bloggers reviewed by you.
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you should introduce your blog to others. -
sometimes all you need is ask. -
Yes, I think both JP2112 and I already covered that above.
One can ask directly and indirectly for comments (feedback) in titles, subtitles, text in the body of posts, and at the end of posts.
Activities to avoid as they can be perceived as being "spammy" are:
(1) begging for comments and/or followers on forums like this one;
(2) and/or flooding shoutboxes and message boxes in social networks with invitations to visit your blog.
Note: There are comment exchange groups and followers groups at BC that members can join.
www.blogcatalog.com/groups/tag/comments
www.blogcatalog.com/groups/tag/followers -
ya i know, just wanted to respond to the thread starter.
i agree, begging is one thing to avoid, just doesn't make sense.
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On "Gaiatribe: Ideas for a Thinking Planet" I use CommentLuv and I have a regular "Weekend Meet'n'Greet" that encourages readers to visit each other's blogs. I also feature news topics in the "Three Questions" posts, inviting people to think about what's happening.
On "The Wordsmith's Forge" I have some regular posts like "Hard Things" and "Plans & Goals" where I ask folks what they've been up to. Once a month I hold a Poetry Fishbowl where people give me prompts and I write poems based on those. That's very popular. -
I have been subtly including words and phrases in my titles and subtitles to encourage reader's comments (as TT also mentioned) and it really is working. I am getting tips from my readers -
A list bloggers like Chris Brogan tell us that for every 100 hits on their posts they only receive 1 comment so I think it's important to know that and not feel stressed out. The way to best way to get comments is to comment, comment, comment on other blogs.
As I stated above the way you structure your posts can have the effect of drawing out comments. This can be achieved by using a question in the title and/or question(s) at the end of the posts as well. You can also make reference to being interested in hearing reader feedback in the body of the post.
Here's an example:
Title: Is _________ a helpful blogging tool?
I have been using a ___________ for several months now and find it to be quite helpful with my blogging. I have only noticed two small things I'm not keen about and I will be discussing these in my review below. I'm really interested to hear what you readers have to say about your experience with ________.
- [body of post goes in here]
Discussion questions:
(1) Have you used _____?
(2) Did you have any problems with it?
(3) Is there anything else you would like to share about ___?
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write a good blog?-
I agree...Keep it Interesting...
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nice content about tips and trick -
Write lame brained, infuriating and controversial and counter-intuitive arguments about inconsequential silly stuff
The idea is to make the dumbest person feel cleverer than you. And, Empty vessels make the most noise, so more comments -
I think many of you are missing the mark on this. One aspect that was discussed on Source Blogger, this week, was commenting strategies for link building.
The question was posed: "Why would I want to comment on your blog that was NOT 'DoFollow?'
If you want to increase the comments on your blog, head on over to Source Blogger. "LinkBuilding Week for Blogs" ends today.
Source Blogger -
I think I scared all my commenters away. Damn voodoo dolls and death threats... -
Keep it consistent --write on a regular basis so your readers will know when to tune in. Also, it's always important, especially for new bloggers to always comment on your reader's blogs. Also, comment back to each individual who comments on your blog, don't just do a generalized comment back to everyone, because some people actually look for a personalized comment back to them.
Just be consistent and genuinely comment on blogs that you are of interest of. Not just "good blog" or, "well done". Grab the content right into your comment.
People will notice.
Also, if you get zero comments, that does not mean your blog is bad. Your stats may show another story. I know someone who has over 500 readers per day and has ZERO comments.
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Just sayin'... -
I must wholeheartedly agree with JP2112. If you want comments, then ask for them.
While dofollow blogs do indeed get more comments, they also get a lot more spam. A person who genuinely agrees, disagrees or has something to add to your post will not care about dofollow or not.
With today's anti-spam plugins such as askimet, and widgets like commentluv, you may want to think about changing your blog to dofollow and of course, ask for comments.
Good luck! -
"...As bloggers we judge our content and success not only by our traffic but also the content in our comments..."
Timethief left some decent recommendations on 09/04...
You should start judging the success of your blog based on subscribership. (At least that's what Copy Blogger (Brian Clark) mentioned recently).
The probability that your recurring readers (subscribers) will comment is far more likely.
Source-Blogger dot com -
Say stuff they don't like.-
I completely and emphatically disagree.
But if you can start an argument in your comments, you'll get a ton of them. -
That's what I meant. I dont like your post. It is plagiarizing
Yes.. that's another one.. be unoriginal, so people can comment to criticize
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Write on topics people can really identify with. They comment to share their experience. -
Ask questions and keep things a bit open and people will comment.
And of course, write interesting posts.
Also, network with other bloggers. It's a friendly community in general. But like any relationship, it's give and take. -
use moronic logic in making perverse arguments
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