Make it easy to leave comments
Posted on 12 October 2009
It’s really sad when there are so many blogs that have absolutely no comments. After all blogging is part of your social media presence. It’s about two way communications so have a gander down this list and see how you whether you have all these or most of these elements.
Oh, and please add to the list… it can’t be complete 
- Leave some things out on your post so people can add to your list or ponderings
- Be sure to thank everyone who leaves you a comment so they feel welcomed and will spread the word
- Try to keep some balance on the comments left. Having a list of argumentative and negative ones may scare off others
- Respond publically to comments made so new readers can see that you are engaging in the process
- Make it easy to comment. Let your readers just hit the return key. If you create a barrier by asking them to sign in, they will probably leave it
- Create new content so people can see something of you rather than just a rehash or what’s already out there!
- Post in the positive. Negative posts make you seem scary
- Your final sentence or question makes it easy for people to respond
- What about reasons 9, 10 and beyond….?
Here’s the risk, will there be any comments…lol
21 responses to Make it easy to leave comments
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Hi Karen, here are 9, 10, 11 and 12! If you don’t ask, you don’t get!!
9. Ask people to RT for you.
10. Add content that may be controversial so people will want to have their say!
11. Include content that people are interested in and add links to social networking sites, ezine links etc.
12. Give people a chance to promote themselves (see below!)
Best wishes
Karen Williams
Personal Development Coach
http://www.selfdiscoverycoaching.co.uk
Number 10 could/should be maintain your sense of humour. I really don’t like those rant style blogs – life is just too short!
Excellent! I hadn’t thought about Twitter – and that is funny!
i agree Sarah about a sense of humour but also find that can be a double edged sword… it’s all in how its interpreted by the reader.
Work in progress for me..
Thought-provoking post Karen. I like the idea of making it easy, keeping a sense of humour and using Twitter – of course! A couple of suggestions:
* keep blogs short – people’s attention span is limited and blogs are a valuable (at times!) addition to our lives but time-consuming.
* Use pics and short paragraphs to make more impact.
We’re all learning this new art form and posts like this help us all to challenge our thinking – thanks!
Zoe aka quirkytraveller
Thanks, yes its hard to believe that blogging’s only been around for a few years – less than 10 years, I’d say!
Ask a few questions to make it easier for your readers to respond.
Thanks Charlotte, that really is food for thought. all my training in marketing says to focus your readers attention on one call to action. I will have a play with asking more than one question.
I also think that it’s important to tap into something personal/emotional for people – after all, we connect with others on an emotional level. The blogs I find most engaging are those that both inform AND let me know the blogger a bit more.
Great response, thank you. I hope I’ve succeeded in let you know more about me…
Throw some video in if you can. Let people see and hear you. It’s a nice break from reading too!
It’s coming Teresa. Bought a video and tripod a few weeks ago, but there are still in the cupboard lol
Hi Karen
Thanks for the tips. I had tried my hand at blogging a while back and it didn’t work. I have been considering trying again (particularly considering how social media is helping direct people to web sites-e.g. Twitter) and this has given me some ideas.
Ian
It all comes down to what you want to achieve with your blogging; how your blog will acheive it and how the blog fits with the rest of your marketing.
Then you create a blog that really works for you!
It’ll also help if I improve my typing (see last comment!) LOL
I agree with Deborah,
“important to tap into something personal/emotional for people – after all, we connect with others on an emotional level. The blogs I find most engaging are those that both inform AND let me know the blogger a bit more.”
I usually comment when the post has hit a chord or I think I can add to what’s been said, or am provoked to ask a question.
When people leave a useful comment on my blog it encourages me to visit their blog and reciprocate.
An added motivation is being able to leave a link to my site
With you site, I don’t know whether I need to use html or can simply add a link beginning with http://
Lynne Lee
http://www.internetmarketingfirststeps.com
Thanks Lynne for your comments. I am not using any specific comments software – just what comes with wordpress.
Hi Karen
Good topic and with a title that prompts a response.
Other thoughts. See the blog post as being something which is thought provoking. Ask people to leave a comment with their insights. Often people have great tips that can add to the list. View the blog as being about adding value and giving people something worthwhile and not just being promotion. Let people know you have something new by automatically tweeting.
Hope that adds to the list.
Duncan Brodie
http://www.goalsandachievements.co.uk/
Thanks Duncan for your insights here. As you say, people have different perspectives and it is great to offer them opportunities to contribute.
Hi Karen,
First of all, IT WORKS, because I found your blog through a comment you left on someone else’s YEAH!
And I would like to add the one thing I always look for when I read a blog I like is a button that makes it easy to share via Twitter or Facebook. I am ALWAYS disappointed if there is not one and I think the blog writer misses out on a huge opportunity for exposure if they do not have that. Make your blog easy to share for the reader. If it is not easy to share, it your efforts do not get as much return as they could!
Thanks Karen, your ideas are great and very helpful!
Edie Galley
Host and Producer
http://www.BFAWomenRadio.com
Thanks for your comment and yes, making it easy to share is an essential element for a blog these days.
Karen,
Good advice and to add to your #8: asking questions and directing people to post a response is the easiest approach. This way people can add their “two cents” to the conversation.
- Yiana