I was on a blogging forum this morning and saw that someone was asking about how to get more comments on her blog. Without even looking at her blog to see what she might do to her blog differently I asked if she has been commenting on other blogs because that has been such an effective way to get comments on my own blog.
It was something that I discovered early on in my blogging. If you consistently comment on someone else’s blog they are more likely to visit your blog and comment back. It’s not guaranteed of course but you are also gaining exposure from the other people who are reading and commenting on those blogs that you comment on.
In replying to this blogger I wanted to give a link to a blog post of mine that addressed the topic, unfortunately I didn’t have a blog post on that topic (hence this post!) so I directed her to a very good blog post that my friend Mavis Nong from Attraction Marketing Online wrote on blog commenting.
Simple Ways to Get Showered in Blog Comments
Comment on other blogs as I already mentioned. This is a great way to get your name and face out there. But don’t just leave silly comments that will get you marked as a spammer. If you leave well thought out quality comments people will be drawn to your blog!
Ask for comments! Simple enough, ask people to comment at the end of your post. Tell them that you want to hear from them and want their opinions on your post.
Ask questions relating to your post at the end of the post. If your post is about how to give a dog a bath you can ask questions such as: What soap do you use to bathe your dog? Do you prefer to bathe your dog in the tub or in the yard? What is your favorite technique to keep the dog in the tub?
Thank your readers. This can be done in a number of ways, the more the better! Use the commentluv plugin to showcase their latest and greatest post (I love posting on blogs that have that plugin!) Have a top commentators widget on the side, nothing like a little competition to get people commenting for that top commentator position! Respond to their comments. Comment on their blogs (did I mention that already?) Email your replies to your commentators with any of the plugins that enable you to do so.
Be sure to turn first time visitors into return visitors. Are you following the 9 steps to keep blog readers coming back? Are you using the 8 phenomenal tools to improve your blog? What about the 10 must have plugins?
Join a tribe or blog challenge. Whether it be a tribe in your niche or a commenting tribe you will find yourself with many more comments, the same goes with joining a blog challenge. There are a lot of blog challenges and tribes out there to choose from, if you are feeling ambitious you could even start one of your own!
I’d love to hear other ways that you get blog comments! Share in the comments!
If you found this post helpful please tweet, share, etc.!
To Your Success,
Great tips, Stacy. These suggestions are easy to do and they do help you reap results. Now I’m off to read the other posts you referenced…
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Stacy Reply:
March 9th, 2011 at 8:52 pm
Thanks Roz! I have personally found these tips all helpful! I’d love to hear your thoughts on the other posts too.
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After taking a blogging hiatus of 9 months and then coming back to blogging, I’ve found that meaningfully commenting on other blogs doesn’t have the same effect it did before I took my hiatus. I was easily able to get 30-60 comments per post before, while now it’s a struggle to get 10. I think that this is a dying strategy, but still may have some value. W
What do you and others think?
Max Bronson invites you to read… How To Increase The Effectiveness Of Your Multi-vitamin Tablet
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Stacy Reply:
March 9th, 2011 at 8:55 pm
Hi Max,
I imagine that after a nine month break it will take some time to build it back up to where it was before your break. I took a bit of break after I had my baby and even though I had one prescheduled post each week and one guest post each week my comments went down a lot. It took a while but now I’m getting more comments than ever. Keep it up!
Stacy
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thank you for this post!!!
I have been blogging for awhile now and can never seem to get more than a few comments even though I can see in my site stats that a lot of people are coming and clicking through posts!!
Samantha invites you to read… Pinkalicious! Purplicious! Goldilicious!
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Stacy Reply:
March 11th, 2011 at 4:22 pm
Samantha,
I’m glad to have given you some ideas, I’m sure they will help! A lot of people have had success with these tips!
Stacy
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Hi Stacy!
I love how you use the term “get showered.” I guess that’s just the kind we should be aspiring for when we blog; we should aim to get a shower, not a trickle, of comments.
And we could easily achieve it through being consistent.
Thanks for sharing these simple steps!
Elmar Sandyck invites you to read… Are You A Follower
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Stacy Reply:
March 11th, 2011 at 4:24 pm
Hi Elmar,
Thanks, it seemed like a fun way to put it and it went well with that picture too!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Stacy
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Hi Stacey, I especially like “ask questions at the end of your post” which is something that I know I should be doing but haven’t been implimenting.
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Stacy Reply:
March 11th, 2011 at 4:25 pm
Hi Karla,
Yes, asking questions at the end of a post is something that really helps with the comments! I notice a difference when I forget to ask a question!
Stacy
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Because I’m in a niche and started my blog as a result of my cookbook readers asking for continued information, I decided to NOT do a daily blog. That’s really, in fact, a JOB and I’m retired. As my new solar oven will become available to the public, this year, I imagine things will get hopping by the end of the year and there’ll be more frequent posting. I do believe in visiting folks who stop by and go to their sites and make comments about their specific posts. (Do NOT like folks who just say “here’s my site, please follow.”)
This is all a whole new world to me and it does take adjusting.
I do like the idea of asking questions at the end of the posting, though. And, of course, I would love to have you all visit and let me know what you think.
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Stacy Reply:
March 11th, 2011 at 4:26 pm
Sharlene,
Thank you for sharing your story! I agree that I don’t like those trite little comments either. I would rather not have a comment than have one like that! I love the thoughtful comments, like yours!
Stacy
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Great tips! I am doing all the things you say (except for the plug-ins) and am beginning to get more comments.
Yay!!
Naturally, I would like to get even more…
Great post!
Jeanine
Jeanine invites you to read… Wardrobe Remix- The Mysterious Case of the Khaki Pants
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Stacy Reply:
March 11th, 2011 at 4:28 pm
Hi Jeanine,
Keep up the good work!
Stacy
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What a fabulous post. Thanks to Jeanine for sharing it so I found it. I will definitely be implementing some of your tips.
Lori invites you to read… What to Make For Dinner- Asparagus Quiche
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Stacy Reply:
March 11th, 2011 at 4:29 pm
Hi Lori,
Thank you for stopping by! I am sure that you will see more comments!
Stacy
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Great tips Stacy. I think commenting on other blogs and social blogging communities are best ways to get more comments.
Thanks for submitting this awesome post on Blokube.com
Keep up the good work.
~Dev
Devesh @ How To Blog invites you to read… Entrepreneurship- First Impression Speaks A Billion Words
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Stacy Reply:
March 11th, 2011 at 4:31 pm
Hi Devesh,
Thank you for your comment! I love blokube!
Stacy
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Hi Stacy,
Yes indeed, those tips mentioned above are the best ways to get a lot of comments. Getting comments is very important, you get to be friends with the ones that are commenting on your blog, you get to know their opinion – discuss with them, blogroll and so many other things. The comments are essential to a blog. Thanks for sharing!
Best regards,
Maria
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Stacy Reply:
March 11th, 2011 at 4:42 pm
Maria,
Those are all great reasons for getting comments. Thanks for sharing!
Stacy
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I’ve been blogging for some time now and I am a witness that leaving comments on other blogs is a great way to gain other readers! I haven’t joined a blog challenge yet but this post encouraged me to do so. Thanks for the great tips
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Stacy Reply:
March 11th, 2011 at 4:49 pm
I’m glad to offer some inspiration!
Challenges are great experiences for growth & friendship!
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I’ve definitely noticed that when I get behind on reading blogs, the comments on my own posts drop dramatically. Leaving meaningful comments is definitely the best way to get them.
Karen Peterson invites you to read… Japans Got Me Thinking
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Stacy Reply:
March 11th, 2011 at 4:51 pm
I’ve noticed the same thing!
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[...] How to Build Your Blog into a Success | One of the most effective ways to build your blog readership, comments, ranking, stats, etc. is to be a part of a blog tribe as I shared in my recent post Simple Ways to Get Showered in Blog Comments. [...]
I agree with leaving comments on other blogs. It’s time consuming but so worth it. I have built a community that way!
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Stacy Reply:
April 16th, 2011 at 5:34 pm
Hi Jacqueline,
Blog commenting is a great way to build community!
Thanks for sharing,
Stacy
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You’re so right … it’s a great way to build a community and relationships! This is what the new social internet is all about.
Commenting can build social capital, authority, trust and credibility throughout.
Barry Wheeler invites you to read… Start Blogging by Focusing on Small Niches
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Thanks, per usual, for great advice! My blog is starting to get better traffic and I have implemented many of your practices.
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Thanks Stacy for your many tips! May I ask to give awesome comments,do you leave, give some thoughts and come back later to post it?
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Stacy, I was very impressed by your automatic reply to my comment with the offer of your (great) book for beginning bloggers. Was wondering what plugin allows that.
Astro Gremlin invites you to read… Train to Be a Secret Agent in Your Own Home
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Stacy Reply:
January 5th, 2012 at 8:22 am
Thank you very much! It’s “Thank Me Later” and one of my favorites!
Stacy
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Thanks, Stacy. I figured it out by reading your 10 Must Have Plugins article (I have them all now!). I was having difficulty making the HTML work when I edited the Thank Me Later welcome message. You can see it if you leave a comment on my site. The href etc. shows up as code. Wondered how you edited your Thank Me Later message text to embed the links properly?
Astro Gremlin invites you to read… Happy Solstice!
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Stacy Reply:
January 7th, 2012 at 10:53 am
I wrote a post about it!
http://growwithstacy.com/2011/03/25/create-commenting-page/
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Astro Gremlin from humor based blogging Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 4:04 pm
Thanks so much, Stacy. I ended up using your guidance to set up a Thank You page and turned off the Thank Me Later plugin.
Astro Gremlin@humor based blogging invites you to read… 5 More Funny Amazon Customer Reviews
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Hi Stacy,
I love the tips that you provide, for myself in order to attract more comments, i will join online forums. This is one of my way.
Wanlin invites you to read… How to create an Ebook Cover for Free!
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Stacy Reply:
January 10th, 2012 at 11:13 am
Hi Wanlin,
Some people have a lot of success this way!
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What an awesome post Stacy! I recently started reading your blog and was glad you sent out an email to some of your previous helpful posts like this one.
From what I read and saw in many of the comments others left, being successful at blogging revolves around building momentum. =-)
(commenting other blogs, guest posting, forum posting etc.)
A great saying from Pat Flynn is, “Be Everywhere”
When it comes to blogging online this line is as powerful as it is simple!
Looking forward to reading lots more!
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