Are you looking for ways to get more blog comments? There are a few simple things we can do that will help make it easier and more inviting for our readers. We love our readers and do not want to miss out on even one comment from them.
We all love to get blog comments from readers. It is a nice feeling to know that someone is reading what we pour our hearts and souls into and spend hours writing, and they are moved to join in the conversation. But are we doing everything we can to encourage that and make it easy for our readers?
Are there things would could be doing to get more blog comments?
I have been participating in a few blog hops here and there and visiting blogs in general, and made a few notes of some areas where it might be causing us to lose blog comments. I also saw some areas where bloggers were doing a terrific job, really inviting the comments. I wanted to share this with you, because we all love to get more blog comments from our beautiful readers. It makes our day.
7 Ways to Get More Blog Comments from Readers
- Do not make a reader login. Make it easy. Offer sign-in options for convenience but also allow readers to comment without signing in with another account. The average person knows nothing about disqus or wordpress, and many others do not always like to sign in through social media accounts because each app gives access to our information.
- Be sure you have comments turned on. I know. This one sounds obvious, but I have seen some blogs, even in blog hops and parties, that do not have the comments turned on, either that or some are well-hidden. See #4.
- If you use captcha to help with spam, make it a simple one, and make sure it is working properly. This is where I went wrong. Mine was a simple math equation, but even that was probably not fun for a reader, and even though I did get comments, I found it was not working for one reader who was kind enough to let me know. I removed it until I find a better solution. I have seen the ones with check boxes, and those look great.
- Make sure comments are easy to see and get to for a reader. Most are very obvious, but a few were a little inconspicuous. We want to make it as easy and as obvious as possible for our readers.
- Comment on your favorite blogs. Write thoughtful comments demonstrating that you really showed up…and didn’t just offer a quickie comment. Sometimes if they connect with you, they will visit your blog and connect with you through a comment.
- Ask questions. Ask questions in the context of your article and at the end. Really invite the readers to jump in and be part of the conversation.
- Participate in blog hops and link parties. It is a great way to get those first comments on your new posts and to make new friends.
And a few more BONUS TIPS…
- Get more traffic to our blogs.
- Make your posts about the reader. Unless we have an extremely fascinating life, we need to realize that our readers’ time is valuable, and be wise with it. When it is about them, for them, and something they can use, they will more likely be moved to comment and to even share it.
- Invite readers to contribute to the post with credit for their new and fresh ideas. Readers with blogs love to contribute and be part of something big, and we all love the link and the attention it can bring to our own blog. See bonus tip #2.
Hope this lists helps you. It is great when we can learn from each other. As I was making comments on the blogs of others, it made me take a second look at mine and see areas where I could improve. What suggestions do you have to get more blog comments? Are there some areas that you find making comments difficult?
If you have other suggestions, please leave them in the comments. I will add them to the article with credit if they are different from suggestions already listed. Please be sure to leave the link to your blog if you are a blogger.
Readers contribute… How to Get More Blog Comments:
One thing that I have found helped enormously with comments is that I take the time to respond to comments on my blog. Sometimes my response starts a “conversation” of back and forth exchanges. I made this as easy as I could and installed a plug-in that immediately emailed a person when there was a reply to their comment.
I think reciprocity is huge. Visiting others and leaving meaningful comments usually draws people back to your site.
-Jennifer, The Deliberate Mom
As far as comments themselves and responding to comments there was one thing I really noticed some people doing that I now do myself: use the person’s name. It makes it more personal.
-Jennifer, Mums Musing Mind
These are great ideas. I also added the plugin CommentLUV that way when people leave a comment it links to their most recent post. I really love seeing what all my readers are up to.
-Kat, Confessions of the Perfect Mom
These are such wonderful tips Topaz!
I agree with all of them.
One thing that I have found helped enormously with comments is that I take the time to respond to comments on my blog. Sometimes my response starts a “conversation” of back and forth exchanges. I made this as easy as I could and installed a plug-in that immediately emailed a person when there was a reply to their comment.
I think reciprocity is huge. Visiting others and leaving meaningful comments usually draws people back to your site.
Thanks so much for sharing. I would love it if you would share this on an upcoming SHINE Blog Hop. This is such a great post.
Wishing you a beautiful week.
xoxo
Thanks for mentioning the plugin to subscribe to replies. I forgot to add that. Does the plugin that you use just notify them of when there is a reply to their comment or a reply to the post in general? I wonder now what mine is doing. lol That is why I love discussions like this and noticing what happens on someone else’s blog. It makes me think about what is happening on my own. I have noticed that when I have commented on other posts lately and checked the box to be notified of replies, it is notifying me of all replies to the post. I agree. Reciprocity is huge and leaving the meaningful comments, really connecting. I added your response to the post with a credit. Thank you so much for contributing. I will check out the upcoming SHINE Blog Hop! Thank you so much for inviting me! xo ~Topaz
I think #5 is key. Like Jennifer said too, there’s a lot of give and take with blog commenting. For people who visit my blog regularly and take the time to leave a meaningful comment, I definitely do the same for them.
I do that, too, Katie. I love making new friends. Leaving comments and reciprocating with a comment is a great way to meet and connect with other bloggers. ~Topaz
This is such great advice — I’ve gotten to know several bloggers through comments alone. I always respond on my blog because of the infamous no-reply blogger, but I don’t know how to fix that! 🙂
Oh, me too! I’ve met some wonderful bloggers that way. I always respond to people who comment. If someone takes their valuable time to read my blog, I definitely want to say hello and connect with them. It’s wonderful to meet you, Dee!
This is great info and definitely some things I will start doing. Appreciate the help. Found you on Sits Link party.
Glad you found it helpful, Leah! Anytime I find something that helps me, I love to share it with others. I have found so much helpful information from others. I love to give back in any way I can. Thank you for visiting!
Definitely agree on #1. I can’t stand when I go to a blog and I want to comment but they only allow facebook or google+ users to comment. I have neither and sometimes it’s very frustrating.
That is probably the most difficult one for me, too. I really want to connect, but I don’t want to have to login to just leave a comment. I never like using my social media accounts. I don’t like how the apps all like to get into your personal information. I just don’t think a reader should have to do that. It’s wonderful to meet you, Kalliste!
I really like that tip as well.
Signing in via 3rd party sites might cut down on spam a bit, but it also prevents a lot commenters from joining the conversation.
I deal with this a lot, as I usually just don’t want the blog comments I write to be linked to my various social network accounts. It’s frustrating to be at a great blog, but be totally unable to comment on any post.
Having a simpler commenting option — name & email address only, say — will increase number of people who can comment, and this in turn will hopefully increase the number of comments overall.
I agree, Nancy. Keep it simple for commenting. I know what you mean to get frustrated because you are unable to comment. I hate it when I have already written the comment before I realized that. While I do see spam as an issue, I would like to try other ways to deal with that, if possible, especially with a blog where comments can add to the discussion. Thanks for stopping by!
Found you through SITS link up, I just wanted to say that you make excellent points in your post. Most of those are what I found helpful when I was first starting out. If I can add my 2 cents, I’d say it’s also important to respond to people who comment on your post. Nothing turns me off more than visiting a blog, commenting and then see the blogger doesn’t respond at all to anyone, not just me specifically. Makes me feel like I stumbled on a ghost town. It’s even worse if they say they reply to every comment and to come back and visit often to see the replies, you come back and see no comments at all have been replied to, day in and day out.
Hi Ana Lynn! I love making new friends from SITS! I agree with you and Jennifer both on that. I will check back many times to see if they respond back and to make sure they didn’t ask a question that I might need to answer. It’s also just a great exchanged sometimes. I like to hear what they have to say. So when others comment on my blog, I assume they might be coming back to check also. I like to take advantage of that exchange so that we can get to know each other a little better. It’s wonderful to meet you!
Great ideas. I hate it when it is hard to find where to write a comment or if you have to register. I’m sure everyone is very busy so making it easy to comment has to help. Found you on the SITS sharefest. Have a great weekend.
You are right, Patti. We are all busy. We must always keep our readers and their time in mind with our blogs. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
I agree with all of this! Acting like the real person that you, creating a conversation around your posts, is definitely possible!
Definitely! If we want our readers to show up, we must show up. Sometimes the discussions in the comments really contribute to the original post.
I discovered your website on thesitsgirls.com and I love it 🙂 Thanks for the tips, it’s very helpful for new bloggers like me 🙂
Thanks for visiting, Mei! It’s nice to meet you!
I know a lot of bloggers love disqus, but I can not stand it!
My newest philosophy newest commenting is, if I read the article, comment!
Oh, you know what I find frustrating, Kristie? I take the time to read a blog, enjoy it, take the time to write a thoughtful comment, and then find out I have to login to share it. I leave very frustrated. I try to remember to check first, but sometimes I forget, and sometimes I can’t tell. WordPress.com is sneaky. If you have an account with them and use that email, it will require you to login. If you use another email, you can leave the comment. I am not making this up. lol
Ugh, you’re right: WordPress.com is sneaky. I always think I’m logged in to comment (since I have a gravatar account) and then after I hit post comment it takes me to a login screen. And I can never figure out what to log in with. Okay, I’ll stop posting about my commenting pet peeves now.
Ha ha! That’s hilarious! I can never remember that login either. I have figured out if I use a different email than the one it knows me by, then I can post like a normal person.
I think these are great tips. I don’t use captcha I just moderate my comments. I love commenting on blogs, it’s so fun to see what other people are up to. I’m stopping by from SITS & I hope your having a great Saturday!
The more I get to know others, the more I am enjoying it, too. I feel like we are actually connecting through our comments, and I love when I see someone I know in the comments. I read somewhere that when your readers start commenting on each other’s comments, you now have community, which is even better than comments. Thanks for stopping by, Leslie! 🙂
As far as comments themselves and responding to comments there was one thing I really noticed some people doing that I now do myself: use the person’s name. It makes it more personal. But I do have a question about how to encourage my reader to share my posts. I have been getting a few, but wasn’t sure if there was a trick to that. Thanks for the tips Topaz! (Stopping by from SITS Girls Sharefest)
Jennifer, it’s funny that you are here commenting. I am subscribed to comments on another blog (http://pickanytwo.net/affirmations-for-moms/) where you commented, and I just commented on your comment. It’s in moderation. But I would LOVE to quote you on an article in progress about our self-talk. Do you mind if I quote you from the other blog comment?
Great tip. I try to do that. Sometimes I get distracted and forget, but I do try to fit someone’s name in where I can. I feel like it makes it more personal.
Hmmm…that is a good question. I am brainstorming that along with a few other things and might have some ideas. Still working on them. Stay tuned. 🙂 It’s wonderful to meet you, Jennifer! I love making new SITS friends!
Um … YES! I’m gonna email you.
Great tips! Surfing in from SitsShareFest this morning! Sounds like a series I do called “Dear Bloggers.”
Thanks, Trish! It’s wonderful to meet you!
Oh I agree with that commenting system! I’m always very disappointed if the only way to comment on a blog is through Disqus. Sometimes I send an e-mail instead, but it’s just not the same and I feel totally left out.
Does anybody here knows if when I reply to a comment on my wordpress.com blog, the person gets a notification of that? And if not, how can I fix it?
Hi Elvira! I agree. I don’t really get Disqus at all. I just do not want another place where I have to login, especially for no other purpose than to comment on someone’s blog. I can’t even imagine how the non-blogger must feel having to do that.
I am not sure how wordpress.com works with that. Oh, wait. You have access to the Jetpack in plugins, right? I think there is a tool in there for that. I am on wordpress.org and use this plugin: Subscribe to Comments Reloaded. Not sure if it can be used with wordpress.com or not.
I just replied on your comment on my blog (thank you for that by the way) – did you get a notification?
I almost never click on ‘subscribe to comments’, because often I get a notification of every single comment on that particular post, and not only the reply. With huge blogs that’s rather an inconvenience. I just see that yours says ‘notify me of followup comments’ – maybe that’s the way to go (I’ll check it this time). Thanks a lot for your help!!
You know, I do subscribe to the comments most of the time. I try to remember to unsubscribe later. I just know that I forget to check back sometimes if I don’t. I didn’t confirm the follow for yours, because it wasn’t in English and confused me. I’m glad you popped back in here so that I could let you know.
I have wondered if there is a way to follow up on just the replies to the comment. I am not sure what mine does. I haven’t tried it out with a different email address to see. I definitely need to doing some research into this. I just checked the description and poked around in the settings, and I am thinking that it sends a notification if anyone comments on the post at all…not just a reply. I could be wrong, but that’s what it looks like.
Well, I explored my plugin a little more and found that it DOES offer the option to either subscribe to all comments or just replies. It was a little complicated to get to, and I didn’t like that, but I explored around and found the option to enable a reader to choose upon commenting which option they would like. Cool, huh?
LOVE Your blog design. So pretty!! These are great ideas. I also added the plugin CommentLUV that way when people leave a comment it links to their most recent post. I really love seeing what all my readers are up to
Thank you, Kat! I wanted to make it a comfy place for myself and others, since I knew I would be spending so much time here. Ha ha! I agree. I love comment luv and keep meaning to add it. Thanks for reminding me. I love to see what others are doing, or sometimes they will link a post that is on the same subject. It is a great way to mention it without feeling like anyone is spamming the comments. It’s nice to meet you, Kat!
I’ve been blogging for six years and I have definitely seen comments go way done. But at the same time, my own time to comment has seriously reduced as well. I wonder how much of that is the changing blogosphere and how much is the fact that I don’t comment as much as I used to. Interesting tips to consider. Thanks for the post.
That is an interesting thought. I wonder how much has to do with that and how much is because there is so much more information out there, and it’s become more about that than a conversation. I am sure it is probably a combination of things. It is an interesting observation. I have noticed in in general when I visit sites. It seems like recipes get the most interaction, because people have questions or want to offer a suggestion. I am sure there are others that engage readers. That is just one that I noticed. Thanks for stopping by to read and comment, Rebecca!
These are some great comments. I would be honored if you would share them at Pin Your Friday Favorite on my site. Thanks for the great advice!
Thank you so much for the invitation, Jessica! I will definitely look into it! I’m still new to the blog hop/link party things, but I am catching on and want to add a few more to my weekly routine. Thanks again!
Stopping by from Pin Your Friday Favorite link party. I agree completely about link party’s. That is where we get most of our comments from. Thanks for sharing! Have a great weekend 🙂
I agree. The comments are nice, and I am also really loving connecting and getting to know other bloggers through the comments.
This is a great list! Thanks for sharing at Pin Your Friday Favorite!
Thank you, Jessica!
Great tips. I especially appreciated your bonus advice. It is important to have something to offer the reader (I know I don’t have a fascinating life 😉 ). Thanks for linking to Pin Your Friday Favorite!
Ha ha! Yeah, every detail of my day to day life would never fill a blog and wouldn’t make for a very interesting read either. It’s wonderful to meet you, Nicki!
I agree with you!
I probably fail on #2 under Bonus Tips
Any suggestions on how I can improve my posts/site?
I noticed most people would rather e-mail me than comment on a post.
Hi Michelle!
Hmmm….let me think. I know I’m still working on this for my own blog as well, and everyone’s blog is a little different, but I will brainstorm with you. 🙂
I like the question you posed the other day. That was fun to think about and answer. Just off the top of my head maybe…something to do with reading tips/speed reading, organizing a home library, book shelf ideas, tips for kindle, book deals, book contests, questions…and you may be doing some of these already. These were just the first things that popped into my head as I was brainstorming with you. Maybe think in terms of what might make great pins for pinterest. That is usually what will interest a reader, too. Hope that helps. 🙂
That’s odd that people would rather email than comment. Maybe that is a blogger thing? I’ve seen bloggers using blogger mentioning something about email a lot. I use a self-hosted wordpress and everyone just leaves a comment. I think the emails would be great for forming friendships, but I do love to read the comments on a really good posts. Sometimes the comments can be just as good as the post, and if it is something someone really needs, I want them to get as much as they can on the subject.
Topaz, Thank you for the suggestions. I have written them down.
Some of these will be fun for me to research then post about.
You are welcome, Michelle. Glad to help. 🙂