Much of the learning in blogging comes from the interaction we have with our readers through the comments on our blog.
And it is a fact: The more comments on your blog you have, the more readers and subscribers you will also have.
And if we talk about comments on a blog – and the participation of users in general on the Internet – researcher Jackob Nielsen found something called “The 90-9-1 rule” And that I find very interesting because it is something that also applies to comments on a blog.
On average, 90% of readers will never leave a comment on your blog (he calls them“consumers”). 9% will leave a comment on your blog from time to time (called“Collaborators”). And only 1% will leave a comment on your blog that will add value to it (called “Creators”).
Seeing it like this, the truth is that one can get depressed with these statistics. Or, on the contrary, you can make the decision to break with the statistics and get your blog to achieve a greater participation in the comments from your readers.
Here are 10 ways to get more comments on your blog. How many are you using?
1. Make it very easy to leave a comment on your blog.
Eliminate the “Captcha”. Your readers go from copying letters that are difficult to read or doing addition or subtraction, or simply placing the answer to “What color is snow?”. If you are afraid of spam comments, there are a wide variety of plugins that will help you filter them.
2. Dare controversial points of view
When writing your articles, in some you can take a somewhat controversial position (as long as you can defend it). Readers of “both sides” they will want to express their opinion and say what they think. And they will do that through the comments on your blog.
3. Question!
If you want your readers to express themselves, ask a question or two at the end of your article. If they don’t, they’ll think your post is educational only and for informational purposes only (which is fine, but doesn’t encourage comment).
4. Limit outbound links.
I know you always want to help your readers, but when 5 or 6 links to other articles, even if they are very good, your readers end up getting confused. Do you want them to stay on your blog or to leave it? Try to limit those links to one or two at most.
5. Respond to all your readers’ comments.
Your readers spend their time contributing comments to your articles, so respect them and respond to each and every comment on your blog. I have visited a few sites where I have seen that the author does not respond to comments on his blog. Bad practice, very bad practice.
And if you want, you can also reward those who comment on your blog, using what for me is the best comment system for a blog.
6. Recognize that some readers don’t want to be the first to comment.
There are readers who will only start commenting on an article only when they see that others have already done so and a conversation has begun to take place. Nothing you do will solve this issue. You just have to know that there are these types of readers.
7. Give your readers a reason to “talk.”
Ask them what they think and what they feel about a topic. Every now and then, we have to “shake up” things. If you can get them to stop for a minute to think, it is very likely that they will be more willing to leave their comment.
8. Take care of the titles of your articles
A sensational title (misleading read) for your article will surely get people to come to it. But if through your content you do not fulfill what you promise in the title, it is more than likely that people will not leave you a single comment. Keep what you promise, always.
9. Make everyone feel “at home”.
Some readers may feel that they are not part of the “circle.” If they see that only a few readers are dominating the conversation on your blog, they will leave without leaving their opinion. Let everyone feel “loved” when they come to your blog, and not just a few … I think you understand what I mean.
10. Touch the emotions of your readers.
Your readers will comment when you get them to feel something, and if you do, it will surely be difficult for you to shut them up. Because you have touched a passion or an emotion in them.
And what about you?
Have any of these 10 ways to get more feedback worked for you?
Do you have any other that you want to contribute to this list?