We’ve all seen those blogs with hundreds, sometimes thousands, of comments after each and every post. We’ve also all seen those blogs that have zero comments even though their content is wonderful and thought-provoking and packs a powerful punch.
Nothin’ but crickets on your blog? Here are some basic tips to help you get more comments.
Make It Easy To Comment
If it takes more than a couple of clicks, most people are going to leave. Yes, there’s a lot of concern about comment spam and it’s almost a necessity to install at least a basic plug-in to help keep it under control. However, some of those comment platforms are just too complicated for your visitor.
Keep in mind, what works for one blog might not work for another. For example, if all of your readers are also Facebook members then they probably won’t mind having to log in with Facebook before they can leave a comment.
But, don’t be fooled by those numbers. Not everyone has – or wants – a Facebook account.
If they have to have one in order to leave a comment on your blog, they might just leave instead.
Reply To All Comments
Let your readers know you’re out there and you care about their opinions.
But, go a step further…
Be Part Of The Discussion
All the advice you read says you should always leave a comment that adds value to the conversation, we should never just say, “Great post. Thanks!” Yet, when we reply to those comments, we frequently say, “Thank you for commenting” and move on.
When you’re having a face-to-face conversation with someone you don’t just thank them for talking to you – you add something else to the discussion.
You ask another question, or expand on their idea or even disagree with their opinion and back it up with your own. Don’t just thank your readers – move the discussion another step forward.
Give Readers A Reason To Comment
Most comment programs let the commentor set up a link to his blog, but that’s only a good incentive if you have a blog. Not everyone who comes to your site is a blogger. Some people are just “regular” people looking for a good read and some information.
Give your non-blogging readers an incentive, too. Everyone likes to see their name in print. Pick some of your favorite comments every month and create posts around them, giving a special shout-out to the reader who posted it.
Use a comment counter in your sidebar. A lot of your readers will leave comments just so their name stays at the top of the list. You can even reward your top commentors every month.
Have A Clear Call To Action
At the end of every post include a specific question and tell your readers to answer it in the comments. And don’t forget – include a second call to action telling them to subscribe to comments so they can see when someone replies.
What do you think? Let me know in the comments below!