The majority of readers visit a blog but often don’t leave a comment or engage with it in any way. While some bloggers prefer it this way and turn off comments, fostering comments and interaction is the initial step in creating a community around your blog, and I believe this is crucial.
When it comes to comments, there are several ways to promote more interaction and participation on your blog:
Invite Comments
It has been observed that specifically inviting comments results in a higher number of comments than when they are not invited. This may be because it triggers a response in readers, even though they know that they can always leave comments on any post. Additionally, new readers who are unfamiliar with blogging may not always know about comments or how to use them, so invitations to participate in well-laid-out and easy-to-use comment systems can be helpful.
Tips for inviting comments:
- Ask specific questions: Asking specific questions in the post is a great way to encourage comments.
- Make it easy to comment: The comment system should be easy to find and use. Make sure that it is visible on all pages of the blog and that it is mobile-friendly.
- Respond to comments: Respond to comments promptly and thoughtfully. This shows that you value your readers’ feedback and that you are building a community.
Ask Questions
Including specific questions in your blog posts is a proven way to increase the number of comments you receive. This is especially true when you ask questions in your headings, as this sets the tone for the post and gets readers thinking about the topic from the start.
Here are a few tips for asking questions in your blog posts:
- Ensure your questions are specific and relevant to the topic of your post.
- Ask open-ended questions that encourage readers to share their thoughts and experiences.
- Avoid leading questions that have only one right answer.
- Use your questions to engage readers and promote discussion.
Be Open Ended
If you say everything there is to say on a topic, you’re less likely to get others to add their opinions because you’ve already covered everything they might have said. While you don’t want to purposely leave too many things unsaid, there is an art to writing open-ended posts that leaves room for your readers to be experts, too.
Interact with comments left
If you don’t use your comments section, why would your readers? When someone leaves a comment, engage with them. This becomes more challenging as your blog gets larger, but it’s especially important in the early days of your blog. It demonstrates to your readers that their comments are important, encourages a culture of interaction, and signals to other readers that your comments section is an active and valued part of your blog. As the activity in your comments section increases, you may find that you can be a bit less active as readers start answering questions and building a community. Still, don’t completely ignore your comment threads.
Whether you find interaction challenging or enjoyable, it’s a crucial aspect of your blog’s growth.
‘Reward’ Comments
You can show appreciation for valuable comments in various ways, from a simple “good comment” acknowledgment to featuring them in other blog posts you write. Recognizing readers who make insightful comments not only affirms their contributions but also draws the attention of other readers to the positive use of your comments section.
