This is a guest post by Rahul. Should you wish to guest post in this blog, please visit the guest post guidelines.
Getting a reward is the hardest thing to get, I am sure no one can buy it from a store for this work. This applies to blogging as well, you keep writing and posting, finally you will find yourself only doing all the writing but this is not going to be interesting with time unless you get someone peer to review it and give their comments, ideas and thoughts to the share.
Do you think it is easy to hold someone in your post and make them read your share? Well it is not that easy of course not hard as well. In addition, you cannot expect visitors of your blogs to take time to comment on your articles every time they read yours. However, there are few ways/tips that can help you to encourage your readers to post comments.
Let me explain few tips that might really help you to get more comments than what you are getting now,
1. Blog on Hot Topics:
When you are posting a blog post that are hot it will invite more readers to share their thoughts, especially topics like current affairs, gadgets release and the events scheduled will get more comments. This will force the readers to leave a comment.
2. End Your Blog post with a Question or begin with a Question:
When you are writing your blog posts believe that you could make this interactive, then you can do one of the following,
End your post with a question, which might trigger and instigate the visitors to leave comment and initiate a discussion. Another way to instigate readers of your blogs to leave their comments is to write the posts with an open question with a number of open options or answers. This in turn will allow the readers to take time to contemplate over the topic and share their opinions and thoughts. This works the best as I am following it in my Medifast discounts and Nutrisystem coupons blog, believe me this works really well.
Another option is to leave in the beginning or at the end of the article a request to post comments. This way you will find many users leaving comments, when they are introduced to the commenting sections automatically for the simple human tendency of exploring something new.
3. Respond to the Comments:
You must be smart enough when you are following it when a visitor or a reader of your blog leaves a comment, ensure that you reply to their comment. Also make sure you are initiating a clever topic for discussion in the thread for getting in the flow of comments, which in turn will encourage other readers also to participate in the discussion thread. However, this may turn as a pain in the neck when more number of comments begins to flow, and this is the juncture that you start reducing the replies and leave your readers discuss amongst themselves and you replying to one of the most interesting comment that you receive.
So you must be smart in this approach, as this can build a healthy level of community around you.
4. Use Comment Notify plug-ins:
This type of plug-ins when installed will keep you notified for every single comment made by a reader. Try to choose the plug-in that will leave you with an idea of what the comment contains, which in turn, will be of more than a great help in choosing the right and interesting comment that you want to revert back. This means you are going to save heaps and heaps of your precious time.
The next best thing about this plug-ins is that these will also let the commentators know when they have a reply it can be from you or even from other readers/visitors of your blog. This will definitely force them to come back to the discussion thread to continue.
5. Reply with a Question:
To keep the discussion going on in your comments area, try to leave some questions to think about, or ask a question on their opinions like “why and how” questions. This way you will be continuing the comments and discussion thread or when you receive a complement, forget not to say a “Thank You”. If you are receiving comments that are controversial, you can justify your point by agreeing or disagreeing, or else can change your opinion and let everyone know. Simple, do remember that questions can always keep the answers flowing, so do follow that technique here as well.
6. Giveaways:
This is one another best way to keep comments flowing in your blog. This might cost you a bit but still you can receive more comments. You can conduct commenting contests in your blog and give away prizes to the winners. You can give cash prizes, goodies, or an ad slot in your blog who has the most number of comments in your blog. You can check the most number of commented guy for a particular time period manually or even it can be easily calculated by using plugins.
In short, add life to your blog posts to receive more comments that will encourage you to write!!
Comments are always appreciated!!
Rahul is Technology lover and a fitness advocate who is associated with weightlosstriumph. Check out his weight loss blog where he features latest promo coupon for Medifast and Nutrisystem diet food discounts.
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Of course all these tips are useful to increase comments specially write on hot topics. For instance you can write about cricket world cup 2011 because everyone wants to know about it.
Rakesh Kumar recently posted..Samsung E2652W Champ Mobile – Price Rs 5000 in India
Giveaways seem to be the best way to get people to do anything don’t they? Nothing is free
Eugene Farber recently posted..Google Commits Murder Readers Rejoice
Thanks for this, Rahul. I think replying to comments is the most important point. It’s good manners and encourages the conversation to continue. It’s all about connections.
Linda/Positive Spin recently posted..‘Hell For Half A Year’ What’s This Doing On Positive Spin
Hey Rahul, great list.
I would add one more thing. Commenting on other blogs is very important because bloggers like to repay the favor and they will come to comment on your post.
This is especially useful when it comes to writing a post that didn’t get many comments, because one extra comment from a blogger can spark up a discussion.
Nice to see a guest post here, Lye, although I am used to your writing bu now
Brankica recently posted..What is nofollow Is all this fuss about Google PR annoying you
Twitter: Findmyblogway
Hi Brankica,
It give people a new perspective from my writing. Ultimately i am still the main guy for this blog. So prepare to hear a lot from me
Twitter: adriennesmith40
Hey Rahul,
I agree, all these are extremely helpful to get comments on your blog.
I also will agree with Brankica that commenting on other blogs will help as well. It’s been extremely helpful for me because other people who see your comments will follow you back to your blog and now you have yet another new visitor.
Great tips and it’s my first visit to your blog. Really enjoyed the post.
Adrienne
Adrienne recently posted..Damn Those Hackers- Don’t Let This Happen To You!
Hey Rahul,
Thanks for the awesome post ( ;
You have some great points here, but commenting on other blogs must be among this list. If you spend some time everyday providing quality comments you will get some in return. Maybe not as much as you want, but you will most surely get some.
God bless,
William Veasley
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Answering your readers on their comments is the best way to encourage them to make or write comment on your blog.
Irfan recently posted..How To- Hide your Real IP Address for Free
You are correct Irfan, that will definitely increase the bond with your blog as well
Giveaways! I’m always stunned by the amount of responses that giveaways actually generate. There have been times when just the sheer count of responses has discouraged me from actually participating, even when it was something I really, really wanted.
I’m tempted to try a giveaway on my blog, but I keep feeling unsure of myself, since it’s such a small visitor count to begin with.
Delena
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I agree, it’s not easy to keep someone in your post and make them read your share, but it isn’t hard either.
I think your third tip on responding to comments is a great tip because once your readers see that your are actually responding to comments it will encourage them to leave comments so they can interact with you.
Thanks for sharing Rahul, I think conducting commenting contests is a great way to encourage comments on your blog too.
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I am glad John
Great tips Rahul, well done! Commenting to high traffic blogs is a certain way to attract comments yourself – as I have experienced – and responding to comments is a no brainer of course. But what hugely helps is the CommentLuv Plugin which encourages your readers to leave a comment since they can get a link back to their blog and promote a page. So, it’s a win-win situation, as long as readers don’t over do it with useless “copy&paste” comments. Thanks for bringing it up.
steven papas recently posted..Garmin GPS 60CSx Handheld GPS Navigator Review
Yes copy paste comments are really bad, blog commenting gives you regular traffic
Rahul,
I use all the methods you mention to increase my blog comments, all except the giveaway. I actually never thought about it, so thanks!
I use the ReplyMe plugin, which sends an email when a reply is left to a comment. It seems to work very well.
Steve Roy recently posted..The Lost Art Of Giving
Reply me plugin is good but still you must try the giveaway option
Hi Rahul,
I totally agreed with you here. Hot topics always attracts more traffic and current affairs too. BTW you have mentioned all valid points here. Nice work.
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All are true and I think replying to every comments will help you build trust and relationships with readers and they will come back too
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A comment notification plugin is a must. It can help both the blog owner and the blog readers. If you don’t get notification with new comments, don’t expect much of a conversation.
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Great suggestions, Rahul. All of them are great. Perhaps “giveaways” is the one most seldomly used but I’ve seen it work magic! People become motivated awfully quick to come out of the woodwork and comment if they’re incentivized with a giveaway.
Also, as a side note, it’s so important to go out and comment on other people’s articles. Not only does it show appreciation for their work and time investment, but it typically results in the site owner clicking through to see your content. Win-win!
Thank you…
Jon recently posted..3 Can’t-Fail Steps to Building Trust
Hi Rahul, this is awesome blog post! You give me the idea how to increasing blog comments on my blog. Thank you very much!
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I don’t agree on giving giveaways for the purpose of attracting comments. That’s like bribing. It’s ok to give away something for the purpose of giving away – nothing else.
I believe Comments and Commenting are natural process of communication. People tend to comment when they see value in adding their opinions.
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I recommend Urtak, it’s a great new tool to find out what your readers are thinking and increase audience on engagement. Sometimes Urtaks have thousands of responses while the standard comments section is empty.
You are very right when you say hot topics. No one would want to read anything that looks boring. To get comments you have to ensure that what you are writing will get the full attention of anyone who reads it.
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Great tips ahead Lye, I appreciate it. Comments are nothing to your blog if there is no more response from you, it is must to response not only to increase comments but also to keep in touch with them.
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I use the ReplyMe plugin, which sends an email when a reply is left to a comment. Ultimately i am still the main guy for this blog. Sometimes Urtaks have thousands of responses while the standard comments section is empty.
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Though i know about hot topics but i really like the ‘end your post with a question’ thing.