What better way to feel validated as a blogger than to get a swarm of comment luv, right?
Seeing my subscriber numbers go up also gives me that feel-good-warm-and-fuzzy-greatest-blogger-ever feeling too but nothing tops a great comment from a reader! The power of a reader comment is overwhelming and mighty.
But how do you get readers to leave you this highly coveted comment love???
To be honest, I don’t know. There will always be the stalkers out there who read your content habitually without typing a letter while others only occasionally leave a comment.
Still there will be some people who will subscribe and comment on everything you write. All types of readers are very helpful to your blog.
Image via Wikipedia
Think of blog stalkers like the overly curious neighbor Gladys Kravitz (from Bewitched) who always has her nose pressed to the window in hopes of catching a glimpse of the wild and wacky adventures at the Stephen’s house. Just like a blog stalker who rarely comments, Gladys seldom interacted with directly Darren or Samantha but was always telling Abner or the other neighbors about the strange activities across the street. Stalkers bring in the traffic by quietly spreading the word.
Others commenters just pop in from time to time to give you some feedback or to just say “hi”. Sometimes these comments are good. Sometimes they’re not. These are the Endora’s of your readers. The wily red-head literally “pops” in the most unpredictable times offering her daughter Samantha an opinion on the current situation. I LOVE feedback from my readers. I don’t care if it’s good, bad, or even ugly. It helps me grow as a blogger and improves my writing.
Better Content = A Better Blog = More Comments
Finally we have the dedicated reader/commenter. This is your reader who comes back quite often and comments regularly on your content. You get to know each other and build a relationship much like Darrin and Samantha. I bet you can think of a reader who fits this profile already.
This type of reader relationship can be enriching for you personally as well as blogofessionally (totally just made up that word!)
This type of reader relationship can evolve into real friendship outside your blog.
Exchanging emails, instant messages, and even phone calls can foster a new healthy relationship. If you’re luck, REALLY lucky, you may even live close enough to meet for coffee.
Now we’ve identified the three main types of commenters, it brings us back to the question “how do you get more comments?”
I still don’t have the magic answer but here are a few tips that may help:
- Reduce the number of steps it takes for a reader to comment – No one wants spammy comments but you don’t need capcatcha and moderation enabled to prevent it. Lots of people dislike capcatcha; some of the systems don’t display the letters in a legible manner and some systems have lots of glitches. Personally I find it a pain. Most commenting systems allow you to enable moderation setting to auto accept commenters after you’ve manually approved a user two or three times. This makes it easier on you AND your reader.
- Keep profile options open – Allowing your reader to comment with their Facebook, Twitter, (or my personal favorite) name/email/url profiles gives your reader one less account they have to keep up with just to comment on your blog.
- Ditch the glitzy graphics – You don’t want glitzy or confusing graphics in this area of your blog. Sure, they are pretty but they can easily distract your reader and if the coding isn’t just right, can actually cause problems for your reader to know which buttons to click in order to post their comment. This.is.not.good!
- Close your post with a question – This call to action creates a reason for your reader to post a comment rather than relying on good ole fashion feedback.
- Join a support group…a blogging support group! Exchange links with other bloggers in the group for everyone to leave comments. Some may call it cheating but think of it this way: Who wanted to be the first one to give a speech in high school? The only time I want to be first is if it includes good food or free stuff. Not many people thrive on being first. Having this network break the ice for you, helps encourage your readers (especially new readers) hit the “Post Comment” button. I’m a member of Brandy Ellen’s Happily Blended Blogging Support Group and it works. I’m seeing more comments than ever before.
- Reciprocity Reciprocity Reciprocity – Reply to the comments on your blog and take it one step further by leaving a comment on their blog. EVERYONE loves comment luv!
There you have it, my approach to getting more of those bewitching comments. Do you have a strategy to get more comments?
