How To Get WAY more Comments

[freedombreather]

First, you must invite your readers to leave feedback. Do this at the end of EACH post.

Second, reply to each commenter. It encourages not only more comments, but lets people know that you are actually reading what they have to say! It makes your readers feel warm and special (Note: this strategy is not recommended for people who have too many comments to handle all ready. But if that was your problem you probably wouldn't be reading this post.)

In addition, every time YOU reply with your own comment, this counts as a comment (which adds to your "social proofness" and popularity factor.)

Third, make sure each post you do is updated on your Twitter account.

[Blogetize]

Do you know of any wordpress plugins that automatically update your twitter account when you post?

[sub001]

Another way is to remove rel="nofollow" from your comments. Note, however, that this will dramatically increase the amount of spam comments you will get.

[Inspirational Blogger]

I would think if you advertise remove rel="nofollow" then you're likely to attract the WRONG kind of comments in a very disproportionate number.

I'm trying to encourage more user interaction on my personal development blog but it seems like only a tiny tiny fraction of people bother. Even then, I still get spammers. I'll report back later if user encouragement at the end of posts helps!

[Melody]

If you look at my blog, you'll see that I do *reasonably* well at getting comments. Here's my two cents on this; don't know if it will help others:

* Really try to connect with others in the exact same niche. Leave comments and have the link to your blog in your name. Many will come back and leave you a comment. I think this works best if you have niche you're passionate about.

* Make sure you have a blog on the hot topic of your niche: Right now the Starbucks hot topic is the new Frappuccino recipe, which I'm so tired of talking about (I've blogged about as a test product months ago) but I created yet another blog post on it because it's clear this is what people are talking about.

* Have really great content - I know that goes without saying. I'm not saying that I've got that down though! LOL

* Have at least one person who always leaves a comment - Like your best friend. She (or he) might be the "ice breaker".

* Use twitter to SLOWLY develop connections with others in the same niche. There is no effective fast way to do this. It's not just about numbers. If you're doing this right, it's going to be like a year's worth of hard work.

* Participate in the "big ol' comment" thread found in this forum - Be sure to read the instructions on how to use the thread found in page one. Do NOT go to that thread and just ask for comments without reading the very first post on page one.

* Reply to some of the comments. I actually operate on the theory that I don't necessarily have to reply to all of them. When there are like 40 comments to a thread, that would be a lot of replies but make sure you're participating on your own site.

* If you have comments that go through moderation, respond very fast. I know that I compulsively check my site from my phone in the day because everyone hates when it feels like their comment gets ignored. That's why you have to get to pending comments fast.

I hope that helps!

[sub001]

Great advice, Melody! Thanks for sharing!

[maccam87]

Melody has got it spot on I would add as well is if its a returning visitor who regularly visits your blog then comment on his comment with a question I think that works well
something like

visitor - Hey nice blog there about coffee
melody - thanks very much what coffee do you drink or like the most
visitor - I like black coffee
melody - yer so do I, do you have sugar
visitor - yes two

(I dont know much about coffee lol)

But you get what I am trying to explain lol

[Nathan]

One way that I have increased comments in the past is by using leading questions within the comment link:

Customize Blogger Comment Message to Boost Post Replies - Experiment Garden

[SkawPV]

Originally Posted by Melody

If you look at my blog, you'll see that I do *reasonably* well at getting comments. Here's my two cents on this; don't know if it will help others:

* Really try to connect with others in the exact same niche. Leave comments and have the link to your blog in your name. Many will come back and leave you a comment. I think this works best if you have niche you're passionate about.

* Make sure you have a blog on the hot topic of your niche: Right now the Starbucks hot topic is the new Frappuccino recipe, which I'm so tired of talking about (I've blogged about as a test product months ago) but I created yet another blog post on it because it's clear this is what people are talking about.

* Have really great content - I know that goes without saying. I'm not saying that I've got that down though! LOL

* Have at least one person who always leaves a comment - Like your best friend. She (or he) might be the "ice breaker".

* Use twitter to SLOWLY develop connections with others in the same niche. There is no effective fast way to do this. It's not just about numbers. If you're doing this right, it's going to be like a year's worth of hard work.

* Participate in the "big ol' comment" thread found in this forum - Be sure to read the instructions on how to use the thread found in page one. Do NOT go to that thread and just ask for comments without reading the very first post on page one.

* Reply to some of the comments. I actually operate on the theory that I don't necessarily have to reply to all of them. When there are like 40 comments to a thread, that would be a lot of replies but make sure you're participating on your own site.

* If you have comments that go through moderation, respond very fast. I know that I compulsively check my site from my phone in the day because everyone hates when it feels like their comment gets ignored. That's why you have to get to pending comments fast.

I hope that helps!

+1!

And I'll add 'questions'. If possible, your topic (the sentence that makes your potential readers click on it or don't) should have an ending question.

That makes your potential readers ask themselves about what are you talking about and would click. More readers = more comments

The same goes for the ending of the post. If your last words are a normal sentence, the post is closed. You told all about that issue, there is nothing more to talk about. But if your ask for their opinion, they are encourage to speak, not just press X and close your blog and, therefore, no more clicks, pageviews, nothing.

An example: Melody talked about his blog about coffee and the new Frappuccino. If she says her opinion, ok, that's it. But if she says her opinion and asks 'Have you ever tasted? Did you enjoy it?' she will has more comments

[Trulyana]

Originally Posted by Blogetize

Do you know of any wordpress plugins that automatically update your twitter account when you post?

I use Google Feedburner to publicize my latest blog posts automatically through Twitter. Google Feedburner gives you the opportunity to add your Twitter account into Socialize so that your new posts automatically get published through the feed into Twitter. The Publicize socialize feature on Google Feedburner gives you the option of publishing exactly what you want when your blog is updated through Twitter. You can choose to just post the title and link, or post excerpt and link. I am finding it rather more successful than if I was to have a Wordpress Plugin, plus brings in more traffic.

Do let me know whether you test it out, and how you find it.