Don’t you hate it when you write a great blog post and no one comments on it? Whether you have a few readers or thousands of readers reading your blog, it seems that many people are having trouble to get hundreds of comments. If you want to increase the number of comments on each of your blog posts, here are a few things you can do:
1. Bait your readers – make sure your blog posts end with an open ended question to your readers. If you want people to leave comments then invite them to do so. Sometimes that extra push can make people comfortable to pop the first comment up there or just join the rest of the discussion.
2. Leave room for discussion – instead of writing a thorough blog posts that covers everything from the moon to the sun, write short blog posts that allow the readers to add input. By not covering everything it makes it easy for others to contribute to the conversation.
3. Reward your top commenters – if you want to get creative this is probably the best area to do so. Shoemoney rewards his top commenters by linking out to them on every page in his sidebar. This is a great way to get new readers to comment.
4. Use threaded comments – the advantage of threaded comments is that it makes it easy to follow and respond to conversations.
5. Write opinionated content – the more opinionated you get the more comments you are going to receive. If you want proof of this, just look at Shoe’s post on President Bush.
6. Subscribe to comments – once someone places a comment you can give them an option that says “Notify me of follow up comments via e-mail”. By doing this they may come back when someone else posts a comment and then add another comment.
There are probably tons of other methods you can use to increase the number of comments on your blog, anyone have any other suggestions?
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{ 86 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for the threaded comments plugin, was looking for that few days ago but couldn’t find it, and for the other tips
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Best Regards
Sasa
Yes, always thought the standard comments on most sites were particularly bad. That threaded comments plug will help out with this. Thanks for the tips and glad to see you using them in your own post. That’s a peeve of mine when bloggers put tips out but don’t practice what they preach. So, way to go…
Sweet ways
I would recommend waiting on number one until you have a good readership, and if you have a good readership you might not need it. I hate asking questions on my blog because I don’t have many readers and I feel bad when no one responds… But to that extent there are many blogs that looks silly asking open ended questions and not getting responses (thatsfit and luxist are two that have many viewers and ask questions but have few comments). Threads might not need to be added until later either, like engadget had done. All the advice is great though. I just caution as to when you implement them.
is this one way?
I’ve been very gradually been able to increase my comment count. Like anything else, you have to work at it. Thanks for these tips. While I may not use all of them, it’ll help focus me on what I need to do.
Your could add:
7- answer to comments and discuss with commenters
You could add:
7- Answer to comments and discuss with your commenters
test comment, why it does not appear ??
Hey Neil,
Good methods. I wrote up a blog post not too long ago called “9 BIG Methods to Pump Up Your Blog Comments”. Take a look and let me know what you think: http://www.winningtheweb.com/pump-up-blog-comments.php
yeh, threaded comments rule. lol. its one of my favorite plugins.
what? making nonsensical questions?
I actually lost interest in the threaded comment plugin. It’s neat with only a few comments, but a pain in the ass with active posts because you have to scan through everything to see newer replies, instead of them just being at the bottom.
I do believe you’re on the right track
Thanks for the great tips. I can see where I’m going wrong straight away – my posts are far too long.
I have no idea what the threaded comments plugin is.
Anybody care to explain?
Number 1 and number 5 are my favorites. You can really pull in some cmments if you piss people off or talk about a controversial subject. Sorta like Shoe’s post on Kanye West.
Threaded comments are a great idea. I’ve got to get around to installing the plugin on my blog.
Shoe you should add the subscribe thing , each time i have to go and search for my comments to see if u answered them
For the point #5 , i still dont know why shoe dident add ” The worse one ” i’m sure most would have choosed that one
It does appear but i think its ur first time post so you had to wait till shoe approval .
what r u talking about ? comments are already integrated in blogs , there is no need for plugins ..
Another underused method to increase you blog comments is to remove Akismet
Another point : install a voting system like on Digg with this Wordpress Plugin:
http://www.cyber-knowledge.net/blog/2006/10/15/wordpress-plugin-rate-your-comments-comment-karma/
Even f you are just posting articles and not writing a blog you can ask for comments tat will give you great insight on your visitors — Be sure to use a comment form and not just a mailto: — you’ll get a lot more replies.
“4. Use threaded comments – the advantage of threaded comments is that it makes it easy to follow and respond to conversations”
True. It sucks when you have to leave a reply and make a reference like “@12 yeah you are right about that” etc. Hate scrolling back up to see what’s being referred to.
what about a comment contest?
That’s why you use the blockquote tag.
Then the newest replies are still at the bottom in order, but no confusion as to which person you’re quoting. Just like a forum.
See how my reply is nested under yours, rather than just showing up at the bottom? There ya go…
He’s talking about your ability to reply to the comments. I could never find that plugin. I love it though.
I love the threaded comment thing!
I put them on my blog: http://www.jonathanvolk.com
I think the only problem with your 3 point “reward your top commentators” is that it only acts as an incentive for poor quality, non-expansive comments from people only wishing for the prize.
This very blog is a good example, I mean the top commentator is Reverse Funnel System Blog right now and not all of his/her comments are actually that useful but they still get what must be a relatively high traffic link.
just for the nested effect ?
maybe shoe can tell us the name
Rewarding top commentors is about one of the best things you can do to keep readers coming back.
Question totally off topic … why there is no category list in your site ?
like if i wanted to see a specific category ..
I think shoe mentioned before that this blog bring the less $ / time he put in it …
he could use that time to get more ROI
I assume this post follows your 6 ways of getting commented on.
i also believe in rewarding your best commentors.
great advice thanks.
Yes good tips, and nice post- thanks
ill try this on my blog!!
You could allow dofollow tags in the comments. Join the movement.
http://blogmunch.com/i-dofollow-youreally/
Nice list.Thx
Cheers
Wow that is exactly what i needed. I was thinged up every day why only 2% of readers leave a comment. And here is solution
The suggestions like rewarding top commenter or using do-follow are good if you monitor things… or a spam-magnet if you don’t.
I’d say make it clear that quality comes into play with top commenter rewards–not just quantity. As far as do-follow goes, I’d do it selectively, maybe using Boser’s plug-in: http://www.gregboser.com/dofollow-plugin/
I always leave an open ended question out there for readers, it induces more comments and gets a good discussion going. I think having a discussion on a blog is where the power of blogs are, no one wants to write and have no one respond.
without threading, i wouldn’t be able to tell you that you didn’t pay attention to the first comment you replied on
what track? look more comments!
Unless he derives entertainment out of this blog, it’s not always about making more bank
Opinionated content only gets you so far, trust me on this. If you write on politics, you participate in a very saturated field and because there are so many blogs out there it is difficult to separate yourself from the blogs out there. Time will help build communities, but have you ever noticed that some of the worst looking blogs and worst bloggers out there are actually making bucks online? Sad, but true…
George Bush hates black people.
Yeah I second that! I am a big fan of the threaded comments. Just on the point Shoe made re: Top Commenters – I think that certainly is a winner for a blog, I need to get that implemented myself.
Seems all the good plugin’s go to WordPress!
Peace,
30 Day Man
Ahhh, just read the rules on the top comments – it seems the stats are calculated over the past 7 days, so it keeps things current and interesting.
If that wasn’t so funny it might make me mad. Myers made that scene legendary.
Great points, thanks Neil.
Some of the tips you provided were really useful for my blog! Thanks
Controversial opinions i think are the best way or questions (like how much money you make blogging). Some good controversial topic is candidates for president, stem cells, religion, and when will hillary clinton go away.
Some blogs have actually made comments into a Social Networking Atmosphere.
People can reply directly under a comment. Each commenter has a homepage and a option to upload a picture
Also comments are archived and categorized for easy retrieval
Absolutely correct. I ran a contest for $25 the other day and it got more action than a hooker in vegas! I don’t know how many of those people will convert into readers – prolly not too many, but I got about a dozen new backlinks out of the deal.
Good advice. I’ve been struggling to get more comments on my webcomic/blog. Thanks!
Great info.
Its must help to increase comment counts.
Dilpreet
How about a random Wordpress plugin for Shoemoney site so we can stumble it randomly? More traffic for you guys.
Hell yeah. I’m all over it!
Thanks Shoe.
He did.
Length isn’t always the problem. I think it’s good to mix things up. Vary them.. some for search engine love and others for reader love.
Excellent post!
I think we all will after this post
Thank you! This is one of the things I am pushing for on joeychgo.com
Yea, but it’s nice to be able to reply to a specific comment…like I just did on this one. New comments to the original post will still be at the bottom.
Great tips!
I have been trying since long time ago to increase my comment count
Agreed, theyre ook.
If you ask questions on your blog and no one responds, why not just write up a few comments yourself. Sure it’s a little shady, but the tip came from John Chow.
I can see how something like this would work. It’s got to be adequately promoted though, or the blog will seem extremely dead.
I agree, but the comments should at least contribute something to the conversation or topic. How often do see things like “great post” or “i agree”.
Not bad for a simple $25. I haven’t tried something like this yet, but I’m thinking more and more that I will.
Thanks, I’ve been looking for ways to increase my comments on both my blogs!
This information should be posted right next to your computer. It is like a checklist for good blogging.
CathL
I love your posts. But I too am trying to find a good mix. I am doing the longer one at night for the morning and a comment on a daily event that is shorter. I would like to get to three a day…but a life is good as well!
Be different
Be honest
Be original
Be entertaining
Be smart
The Mad Ape
That whenwhen me. At fifteen he was the flavorsome spine I was, had the ghetto on me but closely my experience. Tina could reasonably skim on her biblical pleasure.
great post, i’m now looking at the top commenters and threaded comments plugin to install on my blogs
i need to get more comments.
lach des comS stp
jio jyu loi mepepe
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