10 tips for increasing blog comments
| Comments | 10 mistakes to avoid when posting a comment >
1. Put your best arguments first.
If you start every post with "Today I'm going to write about... " - that's not the best way to draw people in. Kick off with a point that makes people go "Great point!" or "Terrible point!"
Avoid mediocrity or blandness. Make the words jump out at you, right off the page and onto the floor. Don't forget to pick them up and put them back on the page before you publish the post, though.
2. Put your 2nd best arguments last.
OK, you have a great opening... but the post doesn't end well. "So, that's what I think of this. How about you?" Nonono... don't do what I do. You can do better than that.
First, you grab the reader's attention, next you make them read the detail of your post, and finally you have to give them a good point to go out on - but leave them wanting more. Otherwise, they'll be underwhelmed, and your post will be just another one that doesn't get many comments.
3. Write what you know.
There's not much point writing on things you know nothing about. "Hi, I'm not a sports fan, but did you see the game last night?"
The subjects also need to be relevant to your blog, familiar to your existing readers, and familiar with potential new readers. But not so familiar that they take one look and say "Heard it" before moving on.
You want to write what YOU know, but what the reader doesn't know they know. If that makes sense.
4. Use a great title.
"KAPOW!" Great title. A much better one distils the meaning of your post into just a few words. "Google PageRank update" - who cares? "PageRank: what Google never told you" - a bit better. "How to boost PageRank and influence people" - perfect! Well, it's not bad.
As with the opening line of your post, the title should jump out and make you want to read more. For instance, if you're going to do "Wordless Wednesday", can you do it without using that as the title? Get creative. Otherwise, you're just... not very creative.
5. Don't generalise - name names.
Good examples:
- Ken Armstrong wrote a good post about James Bond.
- Bad Evan has changed his Entrecard widget image.
- Evil Woobie has a blog about love.
- Turnip of Power is a vegetable.
Bad examples:
- Someone wrote a post about something.
- Someone changed their image.
- Someone has a blog.
- Someone.
6. Then again - don't name names.
Be coy, let people know it's them you're referring to, but don't name them! They might comment to say "hey that's me!"
Examples are the same as for #5 - just swap the "good" and "bad" around. Maybe avoid the "Someone" example though. That's not coy. It's just silly.
7. Captivate the reader.
Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Banana Blah Blah Blah Bleh Blah Blah Blargh Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blahnana Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah.
Really, who wants to read a dull post? Would you go back and read it again? If the answer's no - it might be time to rethink your writing style. Bad style never comes into fashion.
8. Reply to comments with new questions.
OK, so you've got a comment or two. Why not start a discussion by adding a comment with some further thoughts? This can get people to keep coming back to your posts. Failing that, you'll look silly as you're always the last one to leave a comment, but at least you tried!
9. Reply in a new post.
Replying to comments is good, but replying in a new post is much more visible. Did someone just give you an idea for a new post? Use it!
10. Ask questions at the end of the post.
What do you think would happen if the Internet stopped working for 24 hours?
Why don't you help me get more comments on this post than any of my others?
Tell me when... will I see you again?
Or, ask questions that are actually relevant to the post...
What tips do you have for increasing blog comments?
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Comments on 10 tips for increasing blog comments
2
There is that, yes. :)
3
Great list. I attempt to use everything you have suggested here but I am guilty of not following the advice as mentioned under #8. I should really start asking more questions. I need to get more of a debate going among the commenters. Thanks for the advice.
4
OMG Bad Evan DID change his EC image. And he is SMOKING!! I don't usually go for baldies (sorry Ben) but he looks hot! Maybe its the bright green eyes....
5
Only one of Evan's eyes is green (unless he changed that too -- the bald head has me blinded by the light).
I try to end many (not all as that's too predictable) by asking questions. I'll have to remember about the second-most valuable/notable going last, though and my absolute weakest spot is titles. I always think of a great title weeks later when it's way too late to change it. :(
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6
Hi buddy,
Excellent posts, I was really wondering how to get more comments. I would definitely use these tips in my blog.
The best part which I liked in this was asking questions at the end of the post :)
7
I read point number 1 and ran off to edit my current post. I had been concerned about a hefty little preamble I'd put up there before the meat of the post and, sure enough, when I went back and looked at it again, it seemed to be a very poor and unengaging opening to the piece.
So I cut it out, thanks for the confirmation of my concerns. :)
8
You're talking about increasing levels of engagement of your existing readers, but of course since only a small percentage of readers will leave a comment, a good way to increase numbers of comments is to increase your traffic. Now, if only it were that simple...
9
Once again, another nice and articulate post. Your blog is becoming one of my daily reads. :)
I have tried to make an effort to ask questions at the end of my posts to spur comments. It's worked better at 10 things, but I'm tenacious!
10
What tips do you have for increasing blog comments?
Tagging people like an evil MeMe works I guess, lol.
Actually I like to include something very witty or extremely vulgar. If I make you ROLF LYAO or really really piss you off...Well then I know you're gonna comment.
@SexyBaldy (aka Ben) I love your lists. I never really sat down and thought about these comment pullers. I guess I just always had it in my head, that this is how quality articles are written. But thinking about it now, it is something that we ALL should consider before we hit "Publish".
@FragileHeart- Nope, still just one green eye. Once I go back to my reg card...that may be the last time I change it honor a fallen friend.
11
Great list there! I was thinking of replying to comments with a new post but decided against it as that may reduce the subscription numbers. That said, I'll be trying that out for the whole of next week and see how it goes.
Cheers!
12
@Evan: lol so it is one green eye. Well, I'll be. I can never say I have attention to detail! You're still smokin' as a baldie though.
13
I like the way the conversation continued as if I never switched to a new domain - now that's classy. :)
14
I love titles. They can be as much fun as making the blog post in the first place. Sometimes I like a play on words. Something that sounds kind of bad or naughty even. Or type in keywords when you've written something only related to them in a really twisted way. One of my best is "stick figure porn". It was a post about people drawing stick figures. I don't still write for that site but that post had huge clicks! :D I'm sure some people were disappointed when they got there. But, it was an adult content site so it was kind of mean of me. I did get some peeved comments from horny guys but I like(d) twisting their tails so it was all good.
15
[...] This is a tricky one to do though - it takes practice. But practice makes perfect. Give your readers the opportunity to expand on your post - they’ll be much more likely to comment, and others will join in the discussion. You should also read my tips for increasing comments on your blog. [...]
16
[...] it pays to raise some points that are likely to encourage comments. You don’t have to write complete nonsense to do this, but if you try and please everyone, [...]
17
If the internet stopped working globally for 24 hours the world would explode. I guess just my own head would explode, but either way it would still be a drag.
I was most intrigued with #3 -- write what you know -- and how that relates to personal blogs. Mine is a personal blog (surprise!) and I know most about me so that's mostly what I write about. It's not quite as self centered as it sounds.
Regardless, I often wonder how to increase traffic and comments when the subject matter is just what one chick thinks. Do you have any top ten lists for personal blogs, topics, marketing, commenting, etc.?
I guess I should search your site for that info, but I'm feeling lazy and was trying to get a new tangential conversation going here in your comments.
18
cardiogirl - thanks for the comment. :) My top 10 lists aren't usually specific to a certain type of blog though. I guess I could do pros/cons for personal blogs, might be a good topic.
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