1 November, 2003 7:07 AM
Human beings are relational. We like to be acknowledged. We like too participate and contribute. We like to feel that what we have to say is valuable.
Most of your blog's readers are human beings. So acknowledge and interact with them.
The most common way for interaction on blogs is through comments. A recent study showed 43% of blogs use comments. Not everyone likes them. A lot of bigger bloggers don't use them because they get overwhelmed by too much interaction. Smaller blogs sometimes don't use them because they don't get any....
This post on Comments has been moved to Pro Blogger. Read the rest of it at Using Comments on your Blog
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Watch out for Squawkbox. They tell you it's free, but if you start to get a lot of comments, they'll pull the plug until you pay. They also have an annoying add link in every post: "Comments by Squawkbox.tv" which is pretty long for a tagline, and usually causes it to wrap. This happened to the Re-Imagine Youth Ministry blog, as well as Rudy Carrasco's Urban Onramps.
Look at other blogs to find comment systems you like, and sign up with that one.
BTW, Darren, I think the Google Ads are tasteful and working well now.
Justin Baeder » 1 November, 2003 9:01 AM
I like comments... dont get enough ;) but I like them. I like interacting with the person, it used to be chat rooms, but blogs are starting to be a better forum (in my opinion) as a lot of local chats close and others go to pay only sites... it seems that blogging is a way forward for those of us who are constantly at the computer and thinking, also because it braodens our views - of the world, politics, church, theology.. you name it there is a blog on every topic.
Anyhow, I like your blog here, its informative and has made me look around and read other blogs too :)
Blessings.
Jaki » 1 November, 2003 8:03 PM
Here are some further thoughts on comment features in blogs.
When I first began in Summer 2000, I couldn't name you a single site that made use of comments for interaction. Gradually over the last three years, commentability has becoming ubiquitous on every blog I frequent. I have found that in large part with that, while there is a marked increase in interaction, there was a downgrade in quality of interaction.
In 2000, when someone wanted to interact with Blog X's post criticizing Eminem's latest antics, he would react on his own site, linking the article. His reaction, being a full post and not just a comment would generaly be thought out and well written (at least in comparison to the average comment nowadays). And the original author would be able to link his readers to the reaction (or not) at his own discretion.
Ah the salad days.
Now, commenting takes little time - and generally, less thought. Now, while there is greater interaction between readers and authors, there is far less interaction between blogs. It's neither good nor bad. It's just different. And there are other considerations as well.
It took me a year to be won over to adding comments to my site. I liked the way interaction worked back then (blog-to-blog) and was also hesitant to morph what was origianlly a self-serving enterprise (I began blogging with the simple desire to keep my pen sharp while I temporarily gave up on writing professionally). If I incorporated comments, I would obviously become more aware of my readers and their thoughts and mores. And I wasn't sure I wanted that.
But eventually I gave way, and have little regret for the decision. Quality dialogue does take place in comments and it does enrich certain elements of the blog. I do occasionally regret that I don't have some of my better comments on subjects archived on my own site, but that's neither here nor there.
As far as comment systems, the best plan (if available) is to host the data on one's own server. I have used DotComments for the past two years and have yet to run into any problems with it or with its interface. In fact, though I'll soon be porting the site over to a web publisher of my own design, I may contiue using DotComments as I can't imagine being able to improve it.
The Dane » 2 November, 2003 11:14 AM
Great suggestions, Darren. I find that I have a fair number of people reading my blog who are completely new to the whole blog idea. They are a little more hesitant to leave comments than those who are more familiar with the concept of blogging. Many of them DO read, but they still have the self-consciousness of someone who's not accustomed to seeing his or her words on public display. I guess it takes time for some to warm to the idea of commenting....at least I hope they will eventually warm to it. :)
Bet » 3 November, 2003 1:00 AM
Oh yes, I forgot to mention. Comments best serve sites that garner between ten and forty comments per thread. If posted comments are frequently low, it tends to depress a site owner. However, if comments frequently exceed forty, the comments section becomes to unweildy and burdensome to be of any use to the average reader - really, who wants to take the time involved in charting a thought's progression over the course of sixty comments? And it's not like someone can just jump in and comment not having read the previous comments without interrupting whatever information flow has been established.
The Dane » 3 November, 2003 7:24 AM
great call Bet - I have a number of friends who I know read this (hi guys) that havn't and probably won't comment on this blog. That's cool - I guess giving people the option is what I'm on about.
Oh and Dane - great insights mate. I appreciate the time its taken to leave those comments - your thoughts have taught me a thing or two! Thanks
Darren Rowse » 3 November, 2003 7:46 AM
I used enetations for a while. It had problems. I switched to Haloscan and stopped having problems. I recommend Haloscan.
Brian » 3 November, 2003 2:29 PM
"Flaming in comments can be an issue also. I've had a fair share..."
You've had more than your fair share, you Muslim lover you.
Oddly enough, it was through a "boycott LivingRoom" comment left on my own blog that I discovered yours! God works in strange ways, eh?
Jon Reid » 4 November, 2003 9:44 AM
good site, keep it up.
kaushal parikh
http://www.kaushalparikh.com
kaushal parikh » 18 December, 2003 3:47 AM
yeah, ive noticed that comments are a great way to interact, and ive been looking to add one to my own blog, but i stepped in the "squawkbox trap" before i saw this place. however, thanks to brian, i just found haloscan, and its looking pretty good. thanks to all you guys that put time into this thread, its helped me out.
John Schuster » 19 December, 2003 6:00 AM
I tried to post a comment at another web site, and my comment was blocked, with a message telling me my post contained "spam like content."
Original post included my URL and I asked if anyone could help me with some questions I had posted on my site. So I thought my URL was the "spam like content."
I removed the URL and the request for help, left my relevant content post, but alas, "spam like content" message again.
Nothing worked. Could not post a comment. I sent an email to the site owner informing him of my problem.
What is a "spam like content"--is the site owner monitoring the posts, and did not like my original post? Weird.
vaspers the grate » 1 June, 2004 4:03 PM
When I first began in Summer 2000, I couldn't name you a single site that made use of comments for interaction. Gradually over the last three years, commentability has becoming ubiquitous on every blog I frequent. I have found that in large part with that, while there is a marked increase in interaction, there was a downgrade in quality of interaction.
online pharmacy » 1 October, 2004 3:18 PM
I've just started a blog, linked to my website which has been running for several years. One of my reasons for this was to increase the number of comments on my articles. It remains to be seen how successful I am and whether I like the result!
Anthony Campbell » 6 February, 2005 2:32 AM
Good points, especially about interacting. It is a practice I have noticed in a number of blogs that I prefer to read regularly. A lot of my posts don't lend themselves to comments, so I don't get too many. I should, however, put more effort into acknowledging and interacting with the comments I do recieve. In fact, I think I'll do that right now. Thanks!
Ian McKenzie » 1 November, 2003 8:52 AM