Getting comments on your blog posts

 Once you start blogging you might realise quite quickly that even if the analytics show that you’ve had some visitors on your pages, they haven’t left you any comments. Is it because our online life is just getting too busy? Do we just scan and through and cannot afford the time to stop, think, and comment? Or has it actually been the way we have behaved as long as the internet has existed? 

Of course, my heading already gave away the fact that I think there are ways you can get more comments on your blog posts, regardless of whether it is one about your passion for puppets, how to cook the perfect egg or reflections on your professional practice. Making the headings match the content is a good start! These are my 5 suggestions and I’d be delighted for you to post your comments if you agree or want to share some other good tips.

Tip 1: Write in a manner that provokes discussion

You might have realised what I did just there, at the end of the previous section. I provoked you to comment. When blogging, keep in mind that even if your posts are self-reflective, you are writing for other people. Those scannability tips that I wrote about in How to Write a Good Blog post are a good place to start. 

If comments from your readers are what you are after, maybe you should check if your blog post leaves any room for discussion? One good strategy could be to keep in mind all those tricks on how you lead and provoke a good and ambiguous learning discussion in your class or staffroom. Creating that online does not differ that much, or does it?

Tip 2: Check that the commenting feature is on, to begin with

Make sure that leaving a comment is possible for your readers. Many bloggers are arguing against calling your page a blog unless comments are enabled. As well as making sure that the comments are enabled, note that some features allow or even require the writer of the blog to approve new comments before they appear. Keep in mind that having a comment approval feature on for no reason might just slow it down. Aim to keep it as simple and easy as possible for readers to make comments. You can always turn comment approval back on if needed.

Tip 3: Respond to comments on your own blog posts

One good way of generating comments is to be consistent in answering them. As suggested at the end of my earlier post, it is crucial not to edit your blog posts after you’ve published them. By welcoming even divergent opinions and responding to all of the comments you get, while not touching your original post, you showcase to the world how to be a true lifelong learner. 

Tip 4: Learn to share and advertise your content

Once your new blog post is published you need to find that inner advertiser queen within. The one that believes in her message and adds provocative summaries and discussion starters when sharing the links to her posts with her online whānau. 

It might even be a good idea to find those people who are ready to scratch your back if you scratch theirs. You need to share and create links to your content, especially if your goal is to get a high page rank and a wide audience in Google. You might also want to refresh your knowledge on how Google crawls through websites via links. And if you get more curious about all this, sharing the simple wonder of how Google actually works with your students might create an interesting learning inquiry topic? 

Tip 5: Be the change you want to see in others

Remember to be the Mahatma Gandhi of the blogging world, by making sure that when you visit an interesting blog written by someone else, you also read through the comments and leave a new comment that feeds forward. Maybe even include a link to your own blog to get them to reciprocate? 

By having a quick glance in the mirror, you might remember to acknowledge that commenting with your own name is just as vulnerable an act as writing a blog post in the first place. Remember to cherish those courageous acts both ways. Respecting and sharing our life long learning journeys make them so much more meaningful.

I hope you found this post useful. I must admit I am truly excited to see how many comments I’ll get. What other tips do you have for how to get comments on your blog post? 

References:
Arthur, C. (2006, July 20). What is the 1% rule?. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2006/jul/20/guardianweeklytechnologysection2
Gaudeul, A & Peroni, C. (2010). Reciprocal attention and norm of reciprocity in blogging networks. Economics Bulletin. 30 (3): 2230-2248. https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/32565/1/623739348.pdf 
Google. (2010). How Search Works. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNHR6IQJGZs 
Google. (n.d.). Manage your comments. https://support.google.com/blogger/answer/187141?hl=en
Google. (2017). The Internet: How Search Works. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVV_93mBfSU