Turning Pageviews into Comments, Or Spicing This Place Up a Bit
January 2, 2009
I’ve been thinking about this lately: what does it take to convert silent visitors to active participants? Based on the stats I’m looking at, people are definitely reading my blog. Well, they’re at least clicking on my blog. Maybe that old logo at the top is scaring them off once they get here, but we’re definitely seeing some action. If I got 2 pageviews a day, I’d understand why I get one human comment for every 500 spam bots, but that’s not the case. It’s so bad that I find myself approving some of the spam comments just to satisfy my ego.
What am I doing wrong? I feel like I leave the majority of my posts open-ended, I certainly invite comments, and I respond to comments when I receive them (that is, all three times…). I think the new plan is to just ask more questions. So what do you think I should do? Do you think I’m doing the best I can and should just pray for the best? Do you have any advice to give me? Has this happened to you? What would you do if you were me? What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Does this dress make me look fat? Please, please, pleeeeeeeease respond in the comments section below.
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7 Comments to Turning Pageviews into Comments, Or Spicing This Place Up a Bit
by Evan
On January 2, 2009 at 11:34 pm
To get visitors to comment you need to
1. Blog regularly.
2. Ask for something. Ask what you should do, ask for recommendations, ask what people think.
3. Give something away.
by Steven
On January 2, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Hm, see, I’m working on the first suggestion and getting better at the second, but I’m not so sure about the third. I have this fear that if I come up with some kind of contest only two people will enter and then I’ll be wasting my time. People suggest that idea a lot, but I’ve always been a little hesitant. Has it worked for you? And am I wrong in thinking that it seems a little…desperate?
by tfa
On January 3, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Asking people why they aren’t commenting is a good way to get comments, but rather limited in the long run.
The best way long term is to reply to each of the comments that you do get, that way if people check back on their comment it gives them something to bite on. If you can get five or six people leaving comments on a regular basis, you will find your comments box comes alive, because then you don’t need to comment so much and your regular commenters will start chattig with themselves.
by Steven
On January 3, 2009 at 2:54 pm
So you caught on to my devious scheme to get comments, eh? But seriously, I agree with what you’re saying. I think you’re right about responding to comments. I have in the past a little bit, but I’ve definitely not done it every time. I should do that more, for sure, if not just for the sake of being polite. Thanks for your thoughts.
by Evan
On January 5, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Well, you need to ask yourself where you want to be in blogging. Do you care enough to give something away? You don’t have to give something extravagant away. If could be invites to some new service you’re on, a gift certificate, an album on Amazon, etc.
by Steven
On January 5, 2009 at 7:27 pm
That’s definitely a good point. And those ideas are really helpful, too. I’ve gotten some beta invites for services before and in the past I’ve just kinda given them away without doing anything fun. Also, something like an iTunes/Amazon Music Store gift certificate wouldn’t cost much but would be fun. I guess I’ve always just shrugged off the giveaway idea because I thought I’d have to give something expensive or super exciting. Good thoughts.
by Evan
On January 5, 2009 at 7:43 pm
If you want to give something bigger, make people subscribe and give a screenshot, but you have to ask yourself if you are at a point where you have decent enough content that people need the extra push to subscribe and they will like it, or will they subscribe and unsubscribe after?