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How do you get people to comment on your blog?

In exploring ActiveRain I've discovered several things about blogs:

Keep them short and sweet
Stay away from a "wall of words" as someone called it, i.e., a looooooooooooong post with text, text, text.
Don't ask general questions within the blog, e.g., "I'd love to hear your comments."
Blog titles that ask questions get more comments
Dogs and cats get more comments
Pictures, especially of cute pets, cute children, wildlife running wild, or people running wild, get more comments
Politics gets more comments
Blogs by those who have been here since Day One get more comments because they have a fan base (also known as "Associates" and "Blog subscribers")
If you can make your blog title sound like someone did, does, or will do something really stupid or dumb, you'll get more comments. I call it the PHAW-BS syndrome (Paris Hilton/Amy Winehouse/Britney Spears syndrome).
Use ActiveRain's HTML to spice up your blog with color.
Use bold text, paragraph centering, bullet lists, and numbered lists.
End your post by asking a question.

Now get to work. Report back next week. Same Bat time, same Bat channel.

Posted by Russel Ray, San Diego Marketing & Business Consultant on 09/03/2008 02:33 AM

Comments (41)

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41 Comments on How do you get people to comment on your blog?

SEP

2008

Great tips. I really should at least attempt to use HTML and do more to spice up my blogs other than photos here and there. Where do folks find the time to learn all these things and run a business too? I feel like I'm light years behind!

The secret is to write posts that other people have interests in or controversial posts. The trick is to find out what they are. When you read comments, sometimes you pick up a feeling for a subject that a lot of people disagree with, you can elaborate your comment on a post of your own.

:) Sounds like you have it figured out and don't worry too much about the HTML coding it doesn't work well in Localism now so the AR gods are trying to wean it away from I think!

Russell, Write your posts in Windows Live Writer (free) and copy/paste the html into AR's html. Works great for me...

One way to get people to comment on your blog is to write a blog post about how to get people to comment on your blog. Hey...what just happened here?

Russel,

Not sure there's always an explanation as to why some posts get a lot of comments. However, your first point is the key for me - keep them short.

Steve

Thank you for the tips and advice on getting comments. I find myself commenting on blogs that fit your description.

Russel, the tried and true way to get others to comment on your blog is to go and comment on theirs. Trust me... it works.

Liked your short and sweet points. Keep it succinct and interesting and of value seem to be key.

Thanks for the tips, I'll keep them in mind from here on. I think short and sweet pretty much covers it.

OCT

2008

I'm not sure how I got to your blog, Russel, but here I am. As a newb to blogging, I'm trying to wrap my head around all this. It's compelling, that's for sure. I can't stop reading. I'm reading AR's directions and appreciate your help, too. First thing they say to do is read and comment. Will do.

OCT

2008

Hey, thanks for the hot tips. I enjoy reading your posts.

OCT

2008

Russel,

Reciprocate, reciprocate, reciprocate! I'll be at 10,000 comments received before the election, and it's because I comment on others' blogs.

Mike in Tucson

OCT

2008

Hey Russel,

Terrific outline - I lke short and to the point, with an effective headline. Get it read - then stimulate a comment.

Thanks, Laurie

Thanks so much for all the pointers, every little bit helps. Have a great day and when you have a chance, please visit www.smithmtnlakeproperties.com .

OCT

2008

Hey, here's a good one, I just thought of a great way to get a lot of comments; Write about something that will piss everyone off!! For sure you will get many, many, many comments! lol!! Enjoy reading your stuff! Thanks

DEC

2008

Russell: These are some really good points you have here.. Thanks for sharing

DEC

2008

Russell, I love the bullet points, I'm also a technical writer and I never have a shortage of bullets! I agree with keeping it short and sweet.

Regina P. Brown
Allison James Estates & Homes

DEC

2008

Russell, I am going to try your system and see what happens! Thanks for visiting my blog, and your enthusiastic endorsement of my call to the fence sitters to hop down and get GOING!

JAN

2009

Russell, followed you here from another message board. Love your posts and great information! Trying to figure this whole ActiveRain thing out, seems very interesting! Thanks for all the great info!!

JAN

2009

Hi Russell,

Good points - "Blog titles that ask questions get more comments." I didn't realize that. Has that been your experience?

Thanks for the tips. Keep up the good work!

Deborah :)

JAN

2009

Hey, Deborah.

Yes, it has been my experience that blog titles that ask questions get more comments. Two other things I've noticed

posts with pictures get more comments
posts that end by asking a question get more comments

For future readers, I'd edited my original post.

Hey, Folks!

Just wanted to tell everyong, "Thanks for stopping by." I originally preferred to return comment for comment rather than commenting in my own blog, but I've now discovered that you can get up to 75 points for each of your own comments in your own blog. So carry on a conversation in your blog with people who comment, and you'll get more points.

Now, let's go see how many points this comment got.

MAR

Thanks for the tips on blogging.

MAR

Really appreciate all of the great tips you have in your blogs, thank you.

MAR

Russel when you say you get "up to 75 points for each of your own comments" is there any rhymn or reason to the amont of points?

Hey, Dan.

No. That's what makes it so much fun. -- LOL

MAR

I see that some people have a lot of points for their profile and linking, etc. where I dont have as many but have done the same thing... Any idea how this works?

I like posts that answer my questions I have as well and I love posts like this one!!! thanks.

Hey, Nicky.

I understand they are not giving points for linking any more. :(

Make sure you read this post: http://activerain.com/blogsview/669649/How-the-system-works

Also go to my most recent blog posts and scroll down to the links under "Helpful blog posts for ActiveRain newbies." You don't have to be a newbie to use the information in them.

APR

Russel, you have done it again! Another excellent post, filled with useable information and more information from the others commenting. Also thank you for the link to How the system works

See ya later, gotta go, read and learn

Al and Peggy Cunningham

APR

Great tips Russel. As always, thanks for sharing!

Have a great day.

Derek Littlejohn

Hey, Derek.

Glad to see you here. It's a lot of fun Playing in the Rain.

MAY

I like the short blog. Unless the post is really interesting or relevant to me, I don't like the wall of words.

MAY

Hey, Christine.

Same here. If it has to be long, though, break up that wall of words with some color, bullet lists, pictures, etc.

SEP

What is wrong with providing dense information (a wall of words). Is everyone so shallow that they have to have eye candy?

OCT

Hi Russel, I like the idea of short and sweet on the blogs, if it is too long people will lose interest and move on to another blog. The bullet points are a good idea also, it chops the information up into segments.

Thanks for the information.

NOV

Russell, thanks for categorizing your blogs and helps the way you did. It makes learning much more proficient. You really seem to have a good grasp of the 'how to' aspects of AR and thank you for sharing so freely.

NOV

Thanks for the information Russell. Just trying to think up some interesting topics. Posts that provide some interaction with the comment makers are the best.

NOV

From the blogs I have read you seem to have the best system of comments. I like the cat and the get your 10 easy here.

DEC

Russel- I am always learning so much from you about getting more out of Active Rin and making it easier and more fun for our readers to participate! Sara

JAN

I just followed you blog from blog to blog...... Great tips! Very cute pix!

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Russel Ray, San Diego Marketing & Business Consultant

La Mesa, CA

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Russel Ray

Address: 7000-31 Saranac Street, La Mesa, CA, 91942-8915

Office Phone: (619) 341-0173

Cell Phone: (619) 341-0173

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