5 things that you MUST do manage comments on your blog
Comments are the lifeline of blogs. They encourage bloggers to write more. But, many of the new bloggers find it hard to get comments and they find it difficult to manage the comments (most of them get loads of spam comments). Here are the basic 5 steps to manage comments on your blog.
1) Use word verifications
That’s an easy way to stop spam comments. Blogger, Wordpress or any other popular blogging platform provides this option to show a piece of captcha that must be solved for a valid comment. This step prevents the spammy bots filling up your blog’s ‘comment form’ with unwanted, junk marketing messages. Blogger has an inbuilt ‘word verification enable’ feature that can be found under the Settings ï Comments.
2) Moderate comments
Moderating the comments left by users is essential, because – some people leave spam comments with a marketing objective. It is good for you if you set comment notification by email. You will receive an email whenever a reader comments on your blog. You can choose to publish or reject the comment.
3) Publish both positive and negative comments
If a comment is made with good intentions, without using abusive language, I publish them even if it refutes my point of view. A typical blog will reflect personal opinions of the blog author and the comments have the chance to bring out the counter arguments. Hence, the comments and the discussion between the readers and the blog author present a complete picture. Getting negative comments is good because, you have written something worth that other person has taken some effort to comment on it.
4) Reply to the comments
Always reply comments if a comment need clarification or points out a mistake in your post. Readers of your blog would like you to improve. If you respond to their comments, they will feel noticed. Take the time leave replies at the same blog post in your blog so that it will be available for the future readers of that blog post as well.
5) Payback the commentors
When someone leaves a comment, visit their blogs and comment on their blog posts (at least one). It is not necessary but, I highly recommend it – because, it generates a healthy atmosphere. The whole world of blogging revolves around comments.
Enjoy reading blogs. Enjoy writing blogs. Don’t forget to leave comments.
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I put this post in my weekly wrap up this week, just so you know.
Snoskred
http://www.snoskred.org/
I disabled moderation, registered user, and word verification after some people emailed me to say they’d comment but not with so many obstacles.
I admit, I was scared.
But it’s been a few months now and my comments have gone up, with no trolls and only one spam comment. That’s the exact same stats as before, when I had all of those filters enabled.
I know when I first started my blog and wasn’t savvy, I got blasted with spam and so forth.
I’m not sure why it’s better now but so far, so good.
Great post (I found it from the link on snoskred’s blog).
My experience is the same as Julie’s, I have removed the word verification and registered user and I am receiving more comments, I do use Wordpress spam quarantine which gets rid of most spam, and for both my wp and blogger accounts I verify comments, but it seems to be working to encourage comments.
I have found personally when I comment on blogs that the word verification can cause huge difficulties and generally I will only try twice to make the post before giving up, due to time contstraints. I am much more likely to leave a comment if I don’t have the barriers in front of me, so I guess that might be true for many people.
I don’t use a word verification because of difficulties in reading it. I’d hate for someone to write me a comment and then have to give up because they just can’t get past the wobbly letters! Instead, I use a simple maths question and so far, nobody has complained (except that it makes them think back to highschool maths!)
I moderate comments from people who haven’t already had one comment approved and it seems to be working well. Akismet is catching spam for me too.
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