- Image via Wikipedia
I often hear bloggers complain that they don’t get many comments. They have done all the right things, they tell me, they have written great content, joined blog communities and promoted their posts, they have visited other sites and commented but they still aren’t getting any comments, or at least very few, on their blog. What gives?
I’ll tell you what gives.
Word Verification
Sometimes called Captcha but I just call it a comment killer. I hate word verification because it’s one more step and one I often get wrong. I am mildly dyslexic and Captchas or word verifications mess me up. If they were real words it wouldn’t be so bad but most of the time they are not words at all, just a string of letters that almost resemble a word which means I type the word I think it should be rather than the pretend word it is. The worst part about word verification is that often you don’t know someone has it until after you have taken the time to write a compelling comment. I have written many comments only to abandon them because I could not replicate the fake word. Sometimes they are case sensitive and sometimes they are not. I give it the college try and usually try three times but after that I leave. I realize people use these to keep spam out but by using word verification you are keeping real comments out.
Your Post Is Too Long
I’m guilty of this all the time so I really shouldn’t bitch about it but if you run on and on about your day and don’t throw anything amusing or dramatic in there I probably won’t stick around to comment. Not because I don’t want to but because I just don’t have the time to read a thousand word post at the moment. I want to and I often bookmark it to come back later but sometimes I scroll down to see how long the post goes on for and decide I just don’t have the time. I realize a lot of readers do this with me. I know I go on for way too long sometimes, most of the time. Thanks to all of you who read to the end and then throw in your two cents. It’s much appreciated.
Picture Posts
Part of me loves picture posts (and by picture posts I mean there is no text, just a picture or two) because I enjoy the pictures and the posts themselves don’t take any time to read. Unfortunately I get stumped for what to say except for a lame “Great picture”. I assume these posts are fillers for bloggers and they don’t really care if they get a ton of comments on them or not. I’m not talking about pictures of outrageous things such as a child who is covered in maxi pads or something funny, I am talking about pictures of flowers, beaches and sunsets. They are pretty but I’ve seen a lot of sunsets and while they don’t all look the same they do kind of.
I Can’t Figure Out How To Leave a Comment
I am surprised that there are so many blogs that have very confusing comment systems. I don’t know if this is a design flaw or what but if I don’t see a link at the bottom of the post to leave a comment I get really frustrated. There are a couple of blogs where I can see that there are comments but there is no clear path to leave or read the comment. Often I have to stumble around clicking on the actual post page to find it. It’s too bad because I want to leave a comment but I just can’t get to the place to do so. Leave some directions at the bottom of your post or get a new comment system.
It’s Another Review or Giveaway and I Don’t Want What You Are Giving Away
Again, I don’t think people who do reviews and giveaways are looking specifically for comments so I don’t worry about these too much but unless I actually want to win what you are giving away I probably won’t leave a comment. I try to comment on reviews because they are sponsored and I know leaving a comment helps the blogger get more items to review. If you are doing a review of designer jeans then by all means make it an interesting review. Don’t just say the jeans look great. Talk about how they make your ass look ten years younger. Unfortunately a lot of reviews bloggers do these day are for products they haven’t actually seen. If they don’t give you the product to actually review and you are going to be making something up anyway, make it awesome. Some bloggers can do great reviews and giveaways that are entertaining while others just describe the product and link to it. If you want readers to participate make them smile, you will get a lot more comments that way.
It’s a Meme Post With All Kinds of Rules
I run across these posts more and more each day. Maybe it’s because it’s summer and we all want to be doing outside things rather than sitting at our computers begging people to visit but these just seem lazy and almost deceptive to me. They are obviously meant to increase followers but simply linking up to a blogger because they have a Mr. Linky doesn’t guarantee that those readers are going to stick around after the link up is completed. Some of these are really interesting but there are just too many rules. Link up, write a post, link back to this post, leave a comment telling me you linked, and of course answer whatever questions are part of the meme. These are great for new bloggers, it can be a great way to meet other bloggers, but don’t do it more than once a month. Take the time to write an actual post. These remind me of that kid we all knew growing up who had great toys so kids played with him because he had great toys, and only because he had great toys. If the kid didn’t have any great toys no one would play with him because he didn’t have much of a personality and certainly no imagination. Meme posts feel like bribery to me.
There Is No Call To Action
It’s always a good idea to leave a call to action in the last paragraph of your post. Did you just spend three paragraphs talking about your bunion? If so you best ask for people to tell their stories about their bunions in your comment section. Believe me, people will fill your comment section with stories of their bunions but sometimes you have to ask.
You Don’t Respond To Your Own Comments
I’ve mentioned this before but I will usually go back to see if the blogger has responded to my comment. I try to leave witty and interesting comments and because I like my ego stroked I go back to see if the blogger thought I was as witty as I did. I’m easy and an “LOL” is enough to keep me coming back. Sadly many bloggers never comment back to their commenters. Leaving their comments just waving in the wind. Responding to comments is one of the best ways to engage your readers so they come back time and time again.
You Have So Many Ads and Shit On Your Blog That I Am Just Pissed Off and I Don’t Want To Leave a Comment
I’m all for making money with your blog, I have no problem with whoring out your blog at all, but if you have a million different Adsense ads, Amazon links, and other crap all over your blog it gets to be obnoxious. I don’t click on Adsense ads unless I am truly interested in them and since I have become completely immune to them I don’t see them anymore so I’m not going to click on them. If you are going to beg you should just put a donate button on your site and be truthful about the whole thing. You will probably make a lot more money and you won’t alienate any readers. Having all that blinking crap on your blog keeps people from actually reading your content, and you might have great content but no one can stay through all the videos, slide shows and other shit to actually read your content. Of course it might just be that people with all this stuff have nothing to say and aren’t really interested in their readers. They just want clicks, they don’t want to make friends.
Your Post Is Offensive
Either you swear way too much or you are just going for shock value, or you are just plain offensive. I get sad when I come to these posts because usually they start off really funny and then they take a wrong turn and become racist or homophobic and then I have to leave. I swear in my posts but usually only when necessary or to make the point stronger. Don’t use swear words unless they are necessary, and sometimes they are, but a little goes a long way.
Your Posts Aren’t Interesting
Big shout out and thank you to The Mother for mentioning this one in the comments. Most of the blogosphere is filled with these blogs. If you aren’t getting comments take a good hard look at your post. Ask someone who doesn’t know you all that well to tell you if your posts are interesting or just wasting space.
Make Friends With Margaret from NannygoatsINpanties.com
If you can get her to visit your blog you won’t need anyone else to comment.
So that my dear friends is what gives. If you aren’t getting as many comments as you would like try some of these suggestions and see what happens. If you have any suggestions for increasing comments please leave them in the comment section.
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So, so true. Plus, you have to build a relationship with the readers, I think.
Although, I have been lax this summer… I am not sweating it. I think everybody kind of knows and understands that blogging relaxes this time of the year.
Building a relationship is critical but it's really hard to build it if no one leaves a comment. The relationship keeps them coming back but to establish that first friendship one must get someone to leave a comment, and if you have word verification you are shooting yourself in the foot.
Yep, all these things can really turn off your visitor. Making comment difficult to do is the biggest annoyance for me. I also hate the memes that have a million rules too. You are in my reader as many are. If the post doesn't interest me I'll move on. If it does interest me like this one does, I'll come over and comment. Just like I'm doing now.
Adds are the worst. The pop-up ads kill me. I hate music too. Just because you like that type of music doesn't mean I do.
I don't respond to very many of my comments. I've tried, but it's just now going to happen. I don't feel slighted when folks don't comment on mine. I rarely go back and check anyway. I know I'm a failure. Bwahahahahahaha.
Oh the list goes on and on and on.
Have a terrific day and Happy Independence Day. 🙂
You are hardly a failure. I always find something interesting when I visit
your blog, and I need to stop by,it's been a while, sorry. Music is a big
turn off for me and I will leave promptly if I am assaulted with it, even if
I was enjoying the post.
You forgot:
You just aren't interesting. LOTS of those out there.
That is an excellent one to include. That should have been the first one as
a matter of fact. Thanks for adding it for me!
Try frontal nudity, Free iPads and a Pop Rock give-away!
LOL! I might be able to Pop Rocks.
Great post, you are so right.
As always, you are right on.
Look how easy that was.
Now I can't stop.
I'll just go now.
No, this is entertaining me quite a bit, please stay.
LOL!
No, really…LOL.
All good points. Not reciprocating will squash your comments as well. If you don't visit the bloggers that comment on yours, you will only see them for so long before they realize you're a one-way street and move on.
You are absolutley right Jeff! One of the biggest problems with Disqus is that people don't leave their URL s in the comment section and thus I can't return. What is your URL? I think I know where you are but am not sure of the site name.
Jeff is a spy. He can't give you that information.
I saw that, I can not access his blog without his permission. Which is
something that needs to be included in this post.
Jeff is a spy? Well, I guess when you have a View from the Clouds, you can pretty much do whatever you want.
All good points, and well presented. I like comments too, and it took a while for them to start coming in. I try to give a timely response to all comments, and visit and comment in return. I may not comment on every post I read. I do if I have something valid to say. Doesn't mean I didn't like it if I didn't leave a comment, though.
I took the word verification off mine a while back. I never had spam before that, and I don't get a lot now. I changed posts to require moderation after 7 days, and all spam gets caught and deleted.
I do what I call picture posts, but I give a lead in to what the pictures are about, where they were taken, etc. I also do a narrative on the pictures. And yes, they can be used as filler, but they're usually cataloging an outing.
I love all the helpful “blogging posts” that have been coming out lately.
Thanks Linda. And thanks for sharing your experience with taking word verification off. I think a lot of people are afraid that they will be spammed to death ( a valid fear) but there are ways to block it. When I switched to WordPress I got a lot of spam at first but I installed aksimet or whatever it is called and it has caught 99% of the spam. The spammers are crafty and the more traffic you get the more likely you are to get spam but it's so much better than missing out on some of the readers that are turned away because they have trouble leaving a comment.
OMG. You are the Queen. You are a genius. You've said it all so well and so succintly and I'm going to RT this to death (and pray that I'm not guilty of any/much of it). Thank you. I humbly bow down to you (in all seriousness!!!).
Thank you, I don't know if I am the queen, there seem to be an awful lot of queens in the blogosphere already, but I appreciate the sentiment. I've been guilty of all of them at one time or another so if you are don't sweat it, just get rid of word verification.
thank you for this, I have been wondering the same thing, and one big mistake I have is not commenting back to commentors, because blogger does not make it easy. As of today I have the disqus comment box so it will be easier for me to do. I do reviews, I do a very rare meme, I do not do wordless wednesday….so I can only hope my content is interesting. I even try to make my reviews educational, but I will admit I am wordy (can you tell from the comment..lol). I would love your feedback on my blog if you are so inclined.
Yes! This is the one thing I really hated about Blogger. That you couldn't easily comment back and you'd never know if they were going to see it anyway.
Great post! I am guilty of a few of these unfortunately, namely the swear words. 🙂 But it's how I get my frustrations out.
I loved the other points in this post though, a lot of times I don't comment on people's blogs because I have nothing to say about what they posted.
Um, I love when you swear, it works, your posts need swearing and you aren't using them because you lack creativity, your stories are just ripe for swear words and it works, don't change a thing.
I don't think you swear too much. But maybe my tolerance level is high, what do I know. And I'd rather have readers that don't comment, than commenters who don't read.
And you know, there is nothing wrong with saying screw all this I'm the writer, you're the reader, sit down shut up and listen. You just have to own it and realize people won't like you very much. They never do like leaders, do they?
No, there is nothing wrong with taking the lead and owning your own little space on the web and some bloggers do this remarkably well, I wish I had the balls to say some of the things I was thinking but didn't because I didn't want to turn off readers.
Actually, speaking your mind might be more true to yourself and could potentially start bringing in way more traffic, not less. Because you are being passionate and if any of it is controversial then you could really drum up interest and get a good conversation going. Unless you're going to talk about joining the KKK. I mean, you'd probably still get a lot of traffic, but then you might also get death threats, and that might not be good for business.
When I do posts like these, especially when I am fired up, I find I get a lot more comments. But then that is because I struck a nerve and am writing about things I know probably bother everyone else if they bother me so much. I was sure my blog awards post was going to turn a lot of people off but that is the post with the most comments ever so shout it from the mountains and own it!
Hey, was that bunion comment directed at me?!
Seriously, the “call to action” is an excellent idea. I don't always include one, but I find that when I do ask for experiences, ideas, or tip, I get more comments. I think most readers like to feel engaged in that way. And I, as a blogger, like the atmosphere of give-and-take in the comments section rather than just a bunch of people saying “Great post” or whatever.
Er . . . great post!
It wasn't directed at you when I wrote it but when I reread it I realized
that you had indeed talked about bunions. I must link to it. I love the call
to action because then I know it's okay to ramble on in my comment about
something stupid I did that I was reminded of while reading the post. If
they don't tell me to do something I will just sit there waiting for some
direction. Of course some calls to action are implied and the better you
know the blogger the better you know how to comment on their site.
Oh, I hope you didn't think I was hinting around for a link!
I agree with all your points, and if nothing else, the call to action makes it easy for people to just grab onto something to base their comment on.
Of course I didn't think you hinting for a link, it fits in perfectly and
besides it was an hilarious post that everyone should read again and comment
on.
When I comment on blogs for the first time I never really know what to say,
that is especially when the call to action comes in handy. That way I don't
make an ass out of myself by missing the point of the post (something which
happens a lot).
I always debate asking the reader to say something, because then it sounds like you're begging for comments. And I don't want to appear desperate. On the other hand, most people probably don't think that when they read a call for action. I find people offer their opinion or personal story whether I ask for it or not, but that might be the people who want to comment and I've just given them something to say. Maybe if you do a call for action, it gets people who normally wouldn't comment to do so. I had all kinds of lurkers come out when I offered to send out a pen to anyone who wanted one last year. So there's your call for action: Who wants a free thing?
I have no trouble appearing desperate because I am.
I've been thinking about your not wanted to make that call to action because of fearing to appear desperate. I think that is a woman thing. We don't ask for raises, help in the kitchen or orgasms. We need to get over it and ask for what we want. You would never hear a man say “I don't want people to thing I am asking for comments”. We write blogs and comments and traffic are the payoff because we want people to read what we write so asking them to throw in their two cents should be part of the how-to of blogging.
There is a blog I'd love to comment on, but somehow her comment system doesn't like me, at least not when I use Firefox. So I only comment there if I really must. I hope IE and it works there. But what a pain! I hate word verification for all the reasons you mention, but also all the clicking i have to do either before or after I get to that part. Just let me comment!
I do like when people reply to my comment. If I find a new blog to read where the author doesn't acknowledge that I've been there, I'm not always likely to return. It's too bad they don't know how much their inaction turns people away. I've almost always replied to every commenter, and if I can do it, so can they. I wonder why people like that have a blog at all if they're not going to engage readers. Why not just put up a journal?
I only recently made a sincere effort to respond to most if not all of my commenters, I figure it's easier than trying to visit every single blogger that visits me, but I try. Lord knows I try.
I think I might know which blog you are talking about and it is so frustrating because she writes really compelling posts and I want to comment but I can't figure it out. If she had a better commenting system she would have tons and tons of comments because her stuff is that good.
I wonder how well-received it'd be if we mentioned our problems to bloggers with bad commenting systems. Some people might not think so, or may not be technically able to change it to something better. It's a shame, because if they only knew….
Since Blogger is part of Google I don't think you could ever find a place to
complain, so they wouldn't receive it at all.
Uhm, Jen, what is a “meme”? I honestly have no idea.
Pardon me for butting in, but a meme is a blog chain letter. Where people “tag” you and now you have to tag 10 or 20 or 50 of your fellow bloggers and link back to the person who tagged you and you have to blog about something a lot of people don't care about. Blog awards are the perfect example of this. Your readers don't really find it interesting that you got an award. They might find it interesting if part of the meme includes saying 5 random things about yourself, but you can do that anyway without a blog award whose sole purpose to create backlinks for the awardee.
Thanks Margaret! I've been hearing this term for ages and never had a
clue what it meant.
I was trying to find one when you hijacked my blog. Thank you for splaining that to our Miss Linda. I've been trying to explain stuff to her all day and I just end up shaking my head.
Now that is a damned lie, Jennifer. Shame on you!
I have to agree, Ms. Ranting Redhead.
I wasn't going to read your entire post because I had to scroll down, but I bit the bullet and read every word.
No captcha, halleluia!
Can't wait to read your LOL after my comment.
LMFAO!
Wel that was a great post. I do not like long posts simply because I have tons of other blogs to look at and make comments. I too, don't like the blogs that it takes 30 minutes to figure out how to leave a comment or to sign up to make a comment. I have a question, is it better to respond to a comment on your blog or to go to their blog and comment on their own blog? That is what I try to do. Anyone that comments on my blog, I go and comment on their blog. I just don't have time to go back to a post that I have commented on to see if there is a response. But Jen, it is really good of you to do that. Makes all the comments even better and sometimes the comments are as good as the post. I sure don't like the blogs that are full of ads.
???Hope you have a super week end with a great Fourth. When is the big day.
This has always been my dilemma too. I can't subscribe to every comment feed that I've left a comment on just to go back and constantly check to see if someone responded to my response. This is what's so good about Disqus, and is why I have a love/hate relationship with them because I'm not very happy about their poor ability to migrate with me to WordPress, but I digress.
I want to move to Disqus, but I'm skeert! I've read about some problems and I'm just too afraid to invite any trauma to Junk Drawer. Sigh.
It wasn't that bad as long as you have patience. And Margaret's how-to.
Yeah, but didn't JD have insurmountable problems that made her switch back? What happened over at I Do Things? I forget.
Yes she did but I don't remember what they were either. I think she had some readers who couldn't make Disqus work for them, it didn't link their blog. I have that problem too but I don't know if that is a user issue or a flaw in the software. If people haven't linked up I ask for their URLs which might be too time consuming for you but for me the benefits still outweigh the drawbacks. I love that I can reply in an email and that I can link within the comments very easily.
I try to do both but I'll be honest it doesn't always happen, at least not right away. I think if someone comes to your blog it is polite to go to their blog and return the courtesy, it is most important to do that in the beginning because there is no other way to meet people. I don't go back to all of them but a lot of them I know the bloggers well and I want to know how they responded to my comment. I love reading Junk Drawer's responses as well as JD's, they are always funny. My reader's comments are usually more entertaining than the post I wrote.
Thank you, Jen.
I think comments are the most fun but there are many blogs I read every day that just don't elicit a comment, there is just nothing to say. How often can you say “I enjoyed that” – that's a comment that doesn't merit a return comment. And what is a synonym for “comment”.
I don't read product review blogs – especially when that is the only thing on the blog. I sometimes talk about stuff I use and I always say “Not a sponsored post” . I don't do it often or I just mix it in one of “This and That” posts.
And yes, a lot of the time I am just not interesting. I wish I could be funny but if I am it is inadvertent…
I do like my “Sunday Serenade” tradition tho – I'm in an instrumental mode now. I noticed there is a “Musical Monday” meme but I'm sticking to my Sunday thing – I do it for me as much as anyone else.
I'm just writing and writing here – gotta stop. Ciao bella
I know what you mean, I end up saying something like my lame “nice picture” and it just stops the conversation in it's tracks, never to take off. It's too bad, there is an art to leaving comments. Some days I leave good ones and a lot of days I just shouldn't even bother because they don't make much sense.
I can ramble on and on too.
I love your Sunday Serenade because it isn't the Musical Monday, you are a rebel!
Not so much a rebel as that I don't get out much. I only recently became aware there was a Music Monday. I hate memes anyway – “Tell Us 100 Things We Don't Know About You” – oh for pity sakes – I don't want to know that much about anybody! And further more, it's none of your business!
Oh my God, YES! This is a fantastic and honest list. How can bloggers try their readers' patience through various means (boring or non-provocative content, or make readers jump through too many hoops to comment) and then complain about not getting comments?
Dude – there are millions of other blogs out there you are competing with, you HAVE to say something remotely interesting or remotely relevant and make it EASY for your readers to leave a comment.
I had to add one more thing to this list. Take a look.
Oh, for the love of God. I just tried leaving a comment on a Blogger blog and got this lovely message “We're sorry, but we were unable to complete your request. When reporting this error to Blogger Support or on the Blogger Help Group, please:
* Describe what you were doing when you got this error.
* Provide the following error code and additional information.
bX-pef7rj”
Bastards. And it ate my comment too!
Ha ha ha! Ooh a bad word from Kathy 😉
Well it is Friday after a long, stressful week at work. Everyone here should be glad it didn't say something more colorful. The week warrants it.
Oh there are just times when no other words expresses it!
You can swear here, it's safe and we would be there for you. Go ahead and say it, you know you want to.
I can't! I just can't! But I want to!!! Aw, f*ck. There is is. Partially.
You were so close! You can do it. If you like use a less offensive one like
shit.
That's what great about commenting on other blogs, too. I don't swear on my blog (at least not any more), but I go ahead and let the fucks fly on others. It's really quite liberating.
Fuck, this conversation is really depressing. I like swear words. They're very expressive.
Report them there bastards immediately! (And send them a meme while you're at it.)
I got that when I was trying to comment on your post, Kathy. The damned thing ate my comment twice! I thought about calling you, but couldn't find your number.
Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that. I can't imagine why, but I've heard it happens randomly to some folks. I don't want to be the blogger with the annoying comment system!
All of the above applies to me. No! I hope not MY posts, but the reasons why I don't comment on, or read some blog posts. It has to be a special blogger for me to read a really long post, and I will eventually stop commenting on posts if my comments are never responded to.
I hate when my post doesn't really allow for a 'call to action'. Some just don't without sounding really contrived.
Every blogger should read this, so another re-tweet is needed.
I can't not comment on your posts, you don't need a call to action you have Mo. And if your posts aren't side splittingly funny they are poignant, either way a comment is a must on your post.
Phew! That's really nice to know. Mo is a bloggers gift from heaven really 🙂
Oh yes she is, I wish I had a Mo, I'd never run out of things to blog about
and if I did I'd just post that video of you two laughing. In fact the next
time I can't come up with a post I might just post that video anyway. If
it's okay with you of course.
Ha ha! It would be more than alright! I might try another one some day, but it has to be when we happen to be next to my computer, so I can sneakily record.
So, about those bunions. I don't have any, but my sister had some removed and they were, like, totally gross and disgusting, so she did a meme where other bunion patients had to describe their own bunions and the 100th person to respond won a prize, which was a box of effin' bunion pads, but she never got 100 responses, so she still has the bunion pads. Would you like them?
BTW… great list. You're spot on on each and every item. (No bunion pads needed to cover them up.)
See, you get it! I love this comment because it is absolutely perfect! It has nothing and everything to do with the post at hand, it's really funny and that is what makes for more comments because Margaret will be along any minute to comment on your comment.
And then I can comment on Margaret's comment and it will be like a slumber party where we can all paint our toenails around the bunion pads. I wonder if they come in any colors besides tan?
Oh they must, I am sure Kathy has some, she has all the cool bandaids. I've
never had a bunion but it's a great word to repeat over and over again.
I bet Kathy has bacon patterned bunion pads. Bunions, bunions, bunions! Yeah, that was fun!
And I bet she wears them with her bacon shoes while eating bacon and
thinking about her bunions, bunions, bunions! Oh this is too much fun!
Do you suppose pigs get bunions? Then you could have bacon bunions. Hey… I just realized it's really hard to say bacon bunions over and over again really fast without messing up. (And I haven't even broken into the wine yet for the evening.)
I suspect they do since pigs are very close to humans at least in their
intellect and thus don't wear practical shoes when they know better (are you
listening Linda and Nicky?).
Well, I rarely wear practical shoes either, but I don't have bunions which may or may not be the direct result of the amount of cheese I eat. Or the amount of bacon. Or both.
I don't know what a bunion is. I do know what a funion is though. Bacon with onions! Does it get any better than that? Also, what is practical about shoes in the first place? If God hadn't wanted us to wear stilettos, he would have left us barefoot.
Well, since you asked. Why yes, I do have bandaids that would serve well as bunion pads. Both the eyeball bandaids and the sunny-side eggs (from the breakfast bandaid package) would make any bunion happier. I'm sure of it.
We're total comment whor…I mean, um, we're obsessed with comments! This is a really great checklist to improve your blog if increasing comments is your goal. I found our comments really started to roll when we found a couple of bloggers we could relate to, started leaving comments on their sites and then starting checking out the blogs in their blog rolls. (Chances are, if you like a blogger, you'll probably like the blogs they like). Before we knew it, we were commenting all over the place and people were visiting us in return.
It's great when you start to form a posse of sorts, bloggers who run in packs. I think it's true that like follows like. So many of your readers are also my readers because we have the same sick sense of humor, love of shoes and an appreciation for cheese. And of course we both have Linda.
You know you and Nicky are my favorite children, don't you? If we lived in Virginia, we could have a saying about us… “We don't drink and we don't smoke, Norfolk Norfolk!” I didn't swear Jen! Norfolk is not a swear word!
You do know I can read, right Linda? You're supposed to tell your kids that each one is your favorite, BUT IN PRIVATE so the other ones don't know.
Well, now I just feel Nofolked.
Norfolk indeed! That'll be the day!
Seriously, do you and Linda need a room?
No but we might need some gin!
That's a great idea, Nicky. I really wish I could find a couple of bloggers I could relate to because I'm sure it would be more fun than what I do now, which is to make up comments and add them to my posts. Those things generally don't attract anybody worth attracting.
You liar lips! You know damned well I love you to pieces and we do relate! So quit being a wimp and a baby and bend over.
You know I got this comment in my email with no reference and well, lets just say I didn't know what to make of it. Do you two need a room?
I already told you, we need gin!
I don't blog, but I read quite a few and occasionally I leave a comment.
This week I've visited 3 sites (3!) that said I needed to be following on GFC to enter a contest. Then, they went on to say that if I didn't have Chrome or Safari I probably couldn't see the “join” box and there was no backdoor method to sign up.
So, they think I should download a new browser to follow them??? I don't think so. Just pissed me off. X3.
So now, not only will I not be entering their contests, I also won't be reading their posts.
Ooh I hate when they try to make me become a member (which is only so they can send me tons of emails I don't want) I don't sign up and I leave right away. It's really too bad because I wanted to leave a comment and I probably would have told all my friends about their blog, and they would have told their friends, and so on and so on. Their loss.
Yup, Guilty of so many of these sins… esp the talking (rambling too much).
I shall do better…
The most fun part for me about getting comments is getting to answer them and, if the person has their blog linked up to their name, I can hop right over to visit, as well. Margaret at NGIP gave an excellent tutorial on how easy it is to link up your blog URL in Disqus.
As always, you've offered some very good suggestions here, my friend.
It is when comments take off like this, and everyone gets involved, that I
get the biggest kick. I think it was Mike from Too Many
Mornings<http://www.toomanymornings.com/>who started the whole thing
over on your blog
http://injaynesworld.blogspot.com/2010/03/injay….
Of course he is still trying to stir up the ass wars between you and me. Did
you see the comment he left on my blog yesterday? It almost made me cry.
Margaret gave and excellent tutorial
http://www.nannygoatsinpanties.com/2010/04/why-….
I didn't see his comment. I'll go look for it now.
I am totally with you on the “Your post is too long” point. Lots of times I do take the time to read a long or complex post. But then, I don't know what to comment on! Should I just make a remark on one part of it, and then they will think I didn't read the whole thing? Usually I just move on. Sometimes I get Comment Anxiety.
When the posts are too long I skim. I have also been known to cheat by
looking at the other comments and stating something similar yet vague. I am
a horrible person.
Bwa-hahahaa!!! Love that last one. Only, why do you point to my Rachel Ray contest link? How did you even get to it? I thought I shut that off from anybody getting to it.
I searched and searched and then did a little spy mission, because it was
awesome and proved my point.
Ooh, that was a mistake! I will have to fix that. The rachel ray one should have been in the post already. I bet it preloaded it and I just wasn't paying attention.
Fixed it. Duh!
oooh. I'll have to check out that nanny goat blog..that sounds like a hoot to visit!
All very good points.
Grrr. I hate word verification also..
Nannygoatsinpanties is a very fun blog and she has great shwag!
Dyslexics of the world untie!
Word!
I suppose I should start caring more about comments, but to tell the truth I write for relief on my blog. I keep promising myself to monetize more and link back and all that other necessary bs. Maybe next week I'll work on that more. We'll see. But I have so many irons in the fire that my personal blog is the one that gets the least love. Gonna have to try harder on the time management thingy.
The Captcha thing and sign in with FB or google and all that mess bugs the shit out of me, too, and I am waaaay lazy.
I like your blog. 🙂 This was a very informative post. I haven't even considered those things. Which is probably a good thing since I do pretty much everything wrong. LOL!
My blog is a place to store my memories, jot down random things, vent, rave and generally keep track of whatever is in my head. I don't have ads, or belong to any blog communities; it's just my own little space on the Internet. If people stumble in and like it, that's great and if they don't, that's ok too. Comments are always welcome (and I try to always respond), but it's ok with me if passers by don't bother. Not everyone is for everyone, after all, and I think diversity is a good thing. 😀
You are absolutely right. Some people aren't blogging to rule the world,
this post was directed at them, not the people like yourself who simply
enjoy writing for yourself. I started blogging because I wanted everyone to
read what I had to say, I never intended to keep it quiet. So these tips are
for bloggers who want world domination more than people who keep a journal
on the web. It's your space, you can't do wrong.
I love the title of this post and how there were 111 comments by the time I got here 🙂
But yeah, I totally agree that as long as you can find common ground with someone, you'll start building a base of visitors and the comments will come. I think those old rules are true too, like “write what you know”, and “be yourself”. From what I've seen around the blog-o-nets, people relate well when you're honest.
#13 Get rid of Disqus 😉
Seriously, with a lot of blogs now, if they have Disqus, I just don't bother. The comments don't always load, my comments don't always show up and Disqus is always hounding me to register. Ugh.
You're only of only two blogs that I visit that use Disqus. There were three, but she shot Disqus into the cornfield. The other says she'd get rid of Disqus if she knew how. So, I have hope. 🙂
Holy CRAP…. your comment post got a ton of comments! LOL! Another thing is sometimes people say if you are behind a proxy server then you can't comment. I understand this helps with spam, but this keeps people from ummm…. leaving comments at ummmm… work NOT THAT I WOULD DO THAT AT ALL!
Great post… I hate it when people require you be a member to post. Like what's her name with that funny name and fancy dancy blog… I am not important enough to leave her a comment ? And I am important if I join? Yea right. NOT.
Great tips. Another important thing I think is worth a mention: You don't tell anyone you wrote a blog.
I know so many people who blog, but they don't share the fact that they do so with anyone else. So when they don't get comments or views, they're stunned. Um… HELLO! You gotta tell people you're out there.
This is an excellent point. It was only this past winter I made business cards and decided I shouldn't be ashamed to pass them out. It helps a lot. I still haven't told my family however.
I read a lot of blogs while I'm at work but don't leave comments (just in case IT is watching). I'd spread comment-love 24-7 if I could but alas, life calls at the end of the day. I agree with all your points. If it takes more than 5 seconds to figure out how to leave a comment, I move on. And some of the giveaway rules are ridiculous! “Tweet this upside down then email 500 of your friends then retweet this with your finger in your butt then become my follower and follow these 3000 people…” Ridiculous!
I break all the rules, from using CAPTCHA to writing 2,000-word posts, to posting pictures of my pretty sunsets (okay, no sunsets, but I did put up some bird pictures recently).
I am a failure. I'm going to suspend my blog forever. I will blog no more forever.
Maybe.
Here's the thing: I have to have something to weed out the spammers otherwise I get dozens and dozens of them a day, but I hate the DISQUS, which seems to be the only other alternative. It only works about 50 percent of the time, and it requires a lot of typing (e-mail address, blog name, repeatedly). I only use it because I don't have any other choice. On your blog, for example, it has recently decided not to use my avatar, or to reject my comments altogether (maybe it knows better), forcing me to log in and out repeatedly in order to post a comment. I've gotten so frustrated with it recently, I just don't bother if it doesn't work the first time.
Other than that, though, I love it.
Have a happy 4th, Jen!
Hey, it worked this time!
Oh, and one more thing: The number of comments I get are directly proportional to the number of comments I leave.
Wasn't that a Beatles' song?
Anyway, there are very few bloggers who attract a lot of comments without ever commenting on anybody else's blog–and almost never on their readers' comments–themselves. Heather over at the extremely popular Dooce.com is one, and there's another one like it that I can't ever remember the name of. These women literally receive hundreds of comments on each post and make their living blogging because people love–and sometimes hate–what they have to say. Both of them post a lot of solo pictures, write 1,000 to 2,000-word long posts and have convoluted rules for posting comments, among other problems, yet are hugely popular. Or at least well read.
We should all be so lucky.
You are the exception, I have begrudgingly accepted your captcha thingy and I bitch about it in your comments every time I leave one so that makes me feel better. Your posts are wonderful, you are one of the best writers I know out there so don't go getting all woe is me on my ass. You are a great writer, which is why you aren't the best blogger. I'm a decent enough blogger but not the greatest writer. I'd rather be a better writer but I get easily distracted by shiny things. Don't go changin' Mike.
hi, bloghopping from tribal blogs. i find it funny that your post seemed to be from a blogger that does not receive comments. and here i am being the 121st.
i guess in my part of the world, blogging sort of died down. my old blog only receives a few comments and the new one, being so new, rarely receive one. such a pity. 🙂
before, i used to worry because i love discussions and exchange of thoughts. thank God i was able to discover that i was not alone not receiving the same number of comments that i used to before.
but how i love to read comments and to exchange thoughts with other bloggers. i am crossing my finger that the new blog will be receiving comments someday.
I found the best way to get more comments, is to give more comments. I think there is a balance and it has to go 2 ways. So I take the time to visit other bloggers, and write comments on their blogs. Also, I like Commentluv, I think it's a great way to reward other bloggers for commenting on your website.
I inadvertently found out that posting any sort of opinion can get you comments. Not necessarily the kind of comments you WANT, but it'll get you comments. And emails. And possibly death threats.
I'm pretty sure “Your Posts Aren't Interesting” is why I have 34 followers and not 100+.
I was surprised when I did a giveaway, one that was for a rather “adult” product, that I actually got a few people who stopped by just to enter the giveaway.
And I will admit that I have found several really cool blogs by reading comments (both on my own blog and on other people's blogs), finding their blog link and going over to take a peek and ended up sticking around.
My problem is usually that my comments end up being novellas (like, oh THIS ONE!) Sorry!
This made me laugh because I have been having a heck of a time with captcha tonight. My record seems to be 6 tries.
OK, I need your help please. I'd like to be able to reply to those who leave comments but I don't seem to have the ability. I can only add a comment myself which does not show up as a reply to anyone. I've scoured my site (blogger.com) but can't find anywhere to set this up. Can anybody help please? I feel like I'm being rude by not replying.
You can't do it with blogger so all you can do is write a block of responses
and address each reply.
Pants! Thanks 🙂
Yup… I agree pretty much. What I don't get are the folks whose blogs I really like and I comment there all the time, but they never comment on mine. My best guess is that they don't really find my outdoor stuff all that interesting even though I like their topic. At least I can hope that I don't have internet halitosis. Thanks for visiting my blog quite a bit lately.
Jen- I just linked to this post from http://justthrowmoney.blogspot.com/2010/07/comm…
Thanks for mentioning my article, I just left a comment. Um, you still have
word verification…
Hey Jen, thanks for coming by the site and speaking about the comment “monster” in all of us. I've even gone the extra mile of making all of your visits show up in my admin section.
Interesting thoughts, I agree with some, and not others, that being said I know I do tend to go on and on and on with my posts. I can't help it, I have lots of smart and funny and clever things to say!
Ooh, maybe I can help it.
Good post!
The only time I get a ton of comments is when I give away money. I wish I could write posts like that every day. I think one of my blogs is too boring and the other is probably too offensive half the time, but I write that more for me than anyone else – I like getting comments but I've never really worried about how many I get.
these are all very good / valid points!
Wow, you are behind! And you sound like the spammer who says “great post,
keep it up.”
Ahahhaha. Im sorry love! Im just trying to catch up over here! I really did
read it, I just couldn't think of anything else to add since you covered
everything so well!
Don't sweat it. You could have just commented on the most recent post, you
didn't need to read all of them. I appreciate it, I really do, but that's a
lot of reading and commenting.
Im dedicated like that.
I'm just a poor broke ass money whore. I need to spew vile and detriment at all of the commenters that come to my site.
Shoot, if I could stuff an ad spot one every line of my html code, I'm all for it…lol
Ha I certainly have been guilty of many…I guess as time goes on you learn…but I never questioned how to get followers or comments….I think thats ridiculous in itself…
Hi there;
This was very interesting to me, as a new Blogger. Thanks for the post. I have been blogging for a couple months now, am hooked, but want to get better, so I read lots of other blogs in order to learn (and be entertained!).
Nice post and nice blog.
Terri
I really enjoy browsing your website for the reason that you usually provide great pieces of information about computers and technology. Very nice writeup… Thanks for sharing once again. I plan to put this blog in my favorites list. I believe I will subscribe to your feed as well. I can’t live without new cars in 2011!
I like your style for sure–Brash and packed with info. Why do I especially bond? I’m 65, a new blogger, and I don’t have a Helluvalotoftime to get all of this. Nothing bugs me more than I write a comment and then I get the damned word puzzle wrong and my comment evaporates and I’m supposed to start all over!!!
Maybe you can answer my question (I’m new at this, having begun my blog in July 2010). If I have Alexa rank of 345,000 and USA of 54,000, why does Google Analytics’s figures not suggest the huge readership I’d think that represents and I’m not getting comments (which is why your post intrigues me so)…I’ll use your suggestions…Thanks
PS How long have you been doing this and how does one determine she’s gone over the line and begun to “whore out her blog?” (with advertisers)
Definitely worth leaving a comment for this post. I also get the Captcha text wrong most of the time. There are many blogs I have wanted to comment but it wasn’t easily apparent how to do this.
I like the tip of asking questions. My most popular post has a question never answered: Tranny is a slur. When you searched for “Tranny blog” what were you looking for? Oddly enough, none of them have answered. It gets views from all over the world, Google translated.
I think “make friends” is a good tip for comments.