A few months ago I helped my wife set up her own blog. Once it was up, she immediately wrote four or five posts. She added her website to her facebook profile and within hours the traffic started coming.
After a day or two, she came to me with a scowl on her face. She asked, “why are all these people visiting my site (I set her up with analytics), but no one is leaving any comments?”
I smiled and said, “join the club! Everyone who blogs wants more comments on their posts.”
It’s kinda just the way it is. Lots of people read, few respond. My question is simple. Why? Why is the percentage of readers who comment so small?
Here are the reasons I came up with:
- Readers don’t connect with the content. I’ve been known to skim over a paragraph or two. I guess that is why short posts are highly encouraged (something I’m working on).
- Readers don’t want to comment. I’ve been on many sites with the attitude, “I’m just looking.” I guess that’s fine. If I had to comment on everything I read online every day, I’d be spending a lot of time commenting.
- Readers don’t feel they have anything worth adding. Been there too. I’ve read some great posts but just didn’t feel like I had anything worthwhile to add. What’s the point?
My response? If you don’t connect, then I see no reason to comment… unless you’re a very honest reader and you want to let the blogger know that their post just put you to sleep. Harsh maybe, but honest. If you’re just looking for info and don’t have time to comment, then I understand that as well. However, if you don’t feel like you have anything to add, you’re completely wrong. I’d encourage you to at the very least post a comment like “I agree or here’s how I experienced that.”
Most bloggers expect/like comments. It’s the only good feedback we get. We can tell when a post generates a lot of traffic, but we don’t know if it’s becasue the post was inspiring or it was so dumb, readers are sending their friends to it for a good laugh. Even a simple, one liner is better than nothing. As a reader, it’s the least we can do.
Anyone agree? Dissagree?
So, the challenge I’m throwing out. Comment more! If you’re not a blogger, comments are you’re way of getting your thoughts and ideas out there.. without having a blog of your own. If you are a blogger, it’s a little of the “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
So, I’m challenging myself to be mindful of the blogs I’m reading, to post a comment where initially I didn’t give it a thought. If everyone did a little more commenting, we’d have significanlty more information out ther for the benifit of everyone!
Of course I love comments on my blog! It’s funny how you wonder if anyone is reading because there haven’t been any comments and then someone says, “Hey, you haven’t blogged lately…what’s up with that?” My blog is different in that it is a combination of personal life and ministry stuff. I try to leave an occassional comment of encouragement on most of the blogs I follow. Comments also generate some additional hits to your own spot! Love my site meter!
Here’s why I don’t comment – I subscribe to your blog. I read it and enjoy it. I enjoy the excitement you have in your new job. Since I subscribe to your blog, it comes directly to my email. To comment, I have to make an additional effort to come to this site and leave a comment. So I guess I’m too lazy to click that many times. Bad answer, but honest.
Kenny,
I agree. One of my philosophies in life is to be to others what you want others to be to you. So I try very hard to comment as much as possible. I find when others comment it lets me know if I am saying things that are useful it also adds so much more the conversation.
BTW glad you started blogging again. Your were missed my friend.
fine, consider this blog post commented on!
It’s because I can’t comment from Google Reader. I want to a lot of times but then efficiently I just don’t. I wish you could comment from the Reader.
This post made me smile. You’re it! Consider yourself tagged.
This is some really good stuff. Email subscriptions and blog readers make it difficult to post comments. Been there too. I guess that’s the challenge, to create that compelling post that people can’t help but post comments… hmmm.
In case you didn’t notice… my sweet (and now blogging) wife posted on my blog for the first time! 🙂
Hey Kenny,
I posted a response at length over at Todd McKeever’s blog. In short, I just have to make time. I tend to respond to blog posts that invite conversation. This one surely has done that!