When you start to write you get to a point where you want to know what people think of what you’ve said, some validation. It’s a natural progression from starting a little blog for yourself and then realising people are reading it. Having a blog can start out as a personal thing for you and then you start looking into your stats and see you have an audience. Who are they and why are they reading what you say?
Blog comments I think are extremely important and especially to those who run their own sites. It’s not about getting 100’s of comments but if people agree/disagree it becomes a forum for debate. Comments become important to those just starting out as they need the validation as to why they carry on, I used to say I blog just for me and I do. I post random stuff on my blog but people read it. Over time my ramblings have attracted an audience.
Turning page views into comments is difficult. Firstly the writing has to provide a comment, so unless you’ve asked a question/debate in your piece I’m not sure what comments you were really after. People rarely post the “Great read” on a blog comment but now are more likely to either RT or reply on twitter or like on facebook.
Secondly, if you have voiced an opinion make sure it stands up otherwise others will comment against what you’ve said. Everyone has a point of view, not everyone will agree with it. Comments sections can provide debate which is good as long as they are handled correctly. Abusive messages are not needed.
Thirdly, trolls – as Peter previously wrote this is an all too present occurrence. Frankly it baffles me that anyone has a) the time b) the balls to do it. Mind you people get so brave behind a computer don’t they?
I follow well over 100 blogs through google reader and I’ll use Feedly to read them on my iPhone. I don’t take the time to write a comment on each and every blog I read. I know it’s a good way to drive traffic back to your own but I prefer to do as I mentioned earlier and either RT or comment on twitter or Facebook. If I feel I need to make a comment, either it’s a great read and I want to thank the author or I have the answer the writer was looking for – I will save it and return to comment on it later. Although I have been known to write some really helpful comments like “Great dress” and “Cakes look yummy” but at least it was a positive comment! So there are a huge amount of times when I don’t comment myself and admit I prefer using twitter and facebook to put my comment in.
Blogs now have so many different formats for comments and each with a different log in. It’s not made easy for people to comment unless you want to remain anonymous of course. So I’ll log into all the blogging log ins and comment, if they reply then I go back and reply again. Time constraints do put people off commenting and for that I do fail as I don’t see it as a priority in my week.
Some moderate comments which is quickly becoming more and more popular although it’s now being advised against as you are not enabling freedom of comments. It’s tough when you want to avoid hurtful nasty comments and it can be seen as punishing those who leave nice things. It’s like a – let me see what you’ve said and I’ll choose whether to publish it or not. The ones I hate most are those who have chosen to delete a comment as they didn’t agree with what was said, why blog? You can’t have just your one voice and the world would be pretty boring wouldn’t it?
Obviously abusive/personal messages should have zero tolerance.
Some take the step to turn off comments altogether, popular fashion blogger/writer Gala Darling took the decision to switch off her blog comments. Totally her choice and she wasn’t the first and she won’t be the last. She’s the only blogger I regularly read that has chosen to do it. For me personally I think a blog is just like a stage, there are those who narrate the story and the audience. (Don’t expect half time ice creams in this economical crisis!)
Whatever you do don’t spam me with penis enlargements and breast enhancers. Quite frankly too much time on your hands!
Most of the blogs that I write are rather bonkers imaginary tales of celebrities being invited round to my house for tea (a series I am hoping to reproduce on this very website). As such I don’t really expect people to leave comments on them, other than maybe the odd “I think the hospital let you out early”, but it is nice to get a response on them.
I have linked my blogs to Twitter and Facebook and, without wishing to sound like I’m blowing my own trumpet, most of the feedback I get is positive. Not that I’d object to getting negative feedback though as long as it’s constructive. Anything to help me progress as a writer.
To cut it short I think what I’m trying to say is that this piece was anice article and a good blog. 🙂
Aw thanks!
You’re right positive feedback is good and if it has to be negative it should be constructive! 🙂