A freelance writer acquaintance recently asked how she could quickly and easily boost comments on her new blog.
The good news is it is possible to get more people to leave comments on your blog. The bad news is may not be quick or easy.
In the 15 months since I started blogging, I’ve seen the number of comments on my blog posts steadily creep upwards. I credit this to a few things, including a steady rise in traffic, good writing and committing to posting three to five times a week.
But there’s more to it. Based on my experience, here’s a half-dozen other surefire ways to get more comments on your blog:
1. Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you. Blogging is an interactive medium, so if you want comments, find blogs that cover the same topic and leave comments on them. Link back to posts you’ve written that are relevant to the discussion. Some of the people who’re interested in the topic will see what you’ve written, click on the link, and if you’re lucky, leave comments on your post.
2. Make friends with like-minded bloggers. After a while some of these bloggers who cover the same or similar topics will become your online posse. You’ll find yourself leaving reciprocal comments quite frequently. In my experience, that happens rather organically and if you push too hard it may seem forced rather than genuine.
3. Market your blog posts. Just because you wrote them doesn’t mean people know that they’re there. That’s what Digg, StumbleUpon, Techorati et al are for. Spread the word and if people are interested in the content, they’ll come, read and comment.
4. Blog about what’s happening now. Write about topical things, such as why Michelle Obama is a new style icon what the fallout has been from the Madoff scandal or the octomom or other news events or trends.
5. Be controversial. Expressing a contrarian point of view is going to illicit more comments that going with the flow. But be careful what you wish for. Do you really want people to leave comments telling you how ill-conceived or otherwise stupid your opinions are? They might, and that’s why using the comment moderation feature that comes with your blogging software is good.
6. Ask for them. Once you’re done giving your take on a certain topic, ask your readers what they think – that usually works for me.
After all that, realize that only a tiny portion of people who read blogs leave comments. I don’t know what the research shows, but in my experience it’s 1 or 2 percent.
Here are some other posts on getting blog comments, including a few earlier things I’ve written on the subject:
How to write blog posts that get comments
More on blog comments: be careful what you wish for
10 techniques to get more comments on your blog – Advice from the always helpful staff at ProBlogger.com.
10 best plugins to get more comments – Apps to dress up your comments area so people will be more inclined to add their 2 cents.
Got your own tips? Let’s hear them!
There are some very striking points here. I might add, make it easy for people to comment. If they have to put all their personal info, join your website and sign over their first-born, chances are, they will not comment. Right?
mkp
http://www.womendaybyday.com
Hi.
I have been reading you from time to time, but I had never left a comment. I guess this post is as good as any other to start ^.^
Thank you for the advice: sometimes we just forget the simple things. I am planning to start a blog myself and I will certainly have all this into account when the time comes.
I totally agree with Maryan: more than once I have given up about when I am being asked thing after thing.
Great suggestions. As a new blogger and budding photographer, I will definitely try a few of them and let you know how it works out. Thanks.
I’ve tried several of your tips, but there still are no comments. Is there something I’m doing wrong, or am I just not getting enough traffic?
Excellent tips Michelle, I’ll be off in a moment to implement #4 but I just wanted to say that there is definitely an art to get people to take a moment on your site to share their thoughts. I have what I feel is one of the better, even if newer, automotive blogs but I can’t seem to get the ball rolling on comments. It’s like chipping out your first brick in what you hope is a big dam but not even seeing a trickle of water at first.
Thanks for the advice.
Comments to this website ebb & flow. I also take tweets and FB shares into account when deciding whether what I’m writing is touching a nerve. And be careful what you wish for – you wouldn’t want the flamers to find you.
Michelle
Very well said!!Completely agree with all the points.
It is very important to connect with the reader, it is then that the reader would leave a comment.
The blog should be interactive, only then it is more fun.
Getting to know the views of the people you write for is rewarding.
Hence it should be made easier for the reader to comment, by giving him options which he could click rather than having to type.
Another way of encouraging comments is by organizing for Comment Contests!!Makes it more exciting:)
What do you say?