6 Comments

mygif
July 13th, 2008 @7:19 pm  

Maybe 2 and 3. :-)

We never had much comment activity on MP, until we changed things up. Here’s what I do that helps to encourage comments.

1. Polarize the post–when you stand on one side of the fence, your readers can join you or oppose you.
2. Be 80% perfect–when you answer all the questions and cover all the angles, what’s left for the reader?
3. Finish with a question–many readers are paralyzed by the many commenting angles, so don’t. When you direct them to a specific question, you make it easier for them to comment.

I hope that helps, and thanks for contributing to MP. The number of comments on your posts for MP, suggests #4. Only a small percentage of readers comment, so you need A LOT of readers. ;-)
Andy Beals last blog post..Yahoo Still Fighting the Good Fight

mygif
Matt McGee
July 13th, 2008 @8:21 pm  

It took me many, many months before I ever started getting even somewhat consistent comments on my blog. I think that is pretty common for most new blogs, unless the blogger has a built-in audience already who will follow him/her to the new blog.

For me, comments never even took off until two months ago when I stopped forcing people to register and let any visitor on the blog leave a comment. Best thing I ever did. :)

mygif
July 13th, 2008 @9:53 pm  

Andy and Matt,

Thanks for the tips! I am ALWAYS open for any suggestions or helpful hints.

Matt, the “built in” audience of family and friends still wonder what I do for a living so I suspect I will have to “grind it out” and build this the old fashioned way.

Andy, You know that it’s more #3 with me ;-). As for finishing with a question….that makes perfect sense. Funny how things that seem so simple elude us rookies.

Thanks for reading guys.

Frank Reeds last blog post..Care to Comment?

mygif
July 13th, 2008 @10:44 pm  

Almost forgot.

#5. Reply to each comment individually, and ask the commenter a follow-up question. ;-)

#6. Install the “subscribe to comments” plugin, so a commenter knows new comments have been added, and so likely to return.

PS. Don’t ask me a follow-up question! You don’t have the above plugin, so I won’t see it anyway! :-P
Andy Beals last blog post..Yahoo Still Fighting the Good Fight

mygif
July 14th, 2008 @1:15 pm  

Hi Frank, I can relate to the commenting issue…I have had a lot of people tell me they love my writing and yet they do not comment or subscribe. I read recently that there’s nothing wrong with commenting on your own blog to get the ball rolling, but I think this would look funny. I wonder if those who do get a lot of comments are more controversial, or just have a bigger network of readers? In any case, hang in there because people can surprise you sometimes. Maybe you can find a moment to comment on my blog, musingsbyapple.blogspot.com, or we can arrange reciprocal links, this can help increase readership. Good luck!

mygif
July 14th, 2008 @2:25 pm  

Carrie,

Thanks for stopping by. I am trying to follow the advice given earlier to respond to folks like yourself who will comment. I suspect it’s other blogger types in most cases but it’s cool to get some form of a “dialogue” going. If you don’t mind me asking, how did you get here?

Frank

Frank Reeds last blog post..Face It Yahoo - You Are NOT A Search Engine!

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