FeedWhat’s the Big Deal about Comments On a Blog?
April 21, 2011 in Elementary Educators, High School Teachers, Middle School Teachers Tags: blogging classes, WOW! classes
Here’s an article I wrote for a post on WOW! Women On Writing’s blog, The Muffin. I am teaching a blogging course for them starting on April 29. If you are interested, check it out here. Now on to the article:
Comment Sense: Using Comments to Build Your Blog Readership
One thing blog owners seem to wonder is: Where are my readers?
They ask themselves these questions: Is anyone actually reading this blog? If so, what do they think? If not, how do I drive readers to my blog?
One way to answer all of these questions is with comments.
If you want to make a blog owner happy, leave her a comment. There’s nothing like reading a comment on your blog from a new or old friend–it just shows someone out there somewhere is actually reading and has an opinion on what you have to say. Why do you think there are so many contests where the way to enter is to leave a comment and the winner is chosen from the readers who left their two cents on the post? So besides having a comment contest to get readers to your blog, how can you use comments to work for you?
1. Leave comments on other blogs in your same area. For example, if you have a blog on gardening, then find other blogs on gardening, leave a thoughtful comment along with your blog address, and wait. Chances are, that blog owner will visit your blog and perhaps even start a dialogue with you. Maybe you can start a conversation in the comments section of this gardener’s blog. The more people who see you and your wisdom on this gardener’s blog, the more they might also want to visit you on your blog.
2. Answer and respond to comments. If someone leaves you a comment, you must respond and/or answer him or her, especially if there were any questions asked. It is your job as blog owner to make sure these questions are answered and addressed. If you become known as an expert in your field as well as very helpful, then you will grow readership. People will come to you for the material on your blog. If they have a question, you can answer it.
3. Visit other people’s blogs who leave comments on yours. Most bloggers leave their URL in some way when they comment. A few times a week, you should visit the blogs of these bloggers and leave comments on their posts. It is the best way to get your name in front of other people and your blog to attract new readers. It also shares you care about your readers and want to support them.
If you have a blog, then you know how important comments are to bloggers. So, spread the love around, and make some comments today.
April 21st, 2011 at 10:49 am
Thanks for this post, Margo! Blogging is a time-consuming business, and the points you’ve made show some excellent ways to get and keep traffic coming back.
April 21st, 2011 at 4:57 pm
This is such a great post! I often am bad about commenting back. I love reading what other people are reading and blogging about and I, clearly, like talking (ha!) but I tend to let my own comments and comments on my posts die off. I need to be (much) better about that…
April 24th, 2011 at 3:29 pm
Well, thank you Clara and Pam for leaving a comment!
It’s not easy to keep up with any of it, really. 
But we do the best we can, and at least with comments, we are making other people happy too. 
April 25th, 2011 at 6:30 am
Hi Margo,
Thanks for this post. You always have such cool posts on your blog.
Donna v.
April 27th, 2011 at 1:01 pm
Thanks, Donna!
Right back at you.
March 16th, 2012 at 2:50 am
Love is magic. A lot more we hide it, a lot more it shows; the greater you suppress it, greater it grows.