9 Tips to Get Your Readers to Comment More

Blogging can be lonely work, and comments really light up a blogger’s day. I’m sure you know the excitement of getting the notification of a new comment, and finding out whom it’s from and what they want to say. So how can you get those comments and notifications more often? Try following these 9 easy tips to write posts that are guaranteed to be covered in comments.

1. Make them think
Do you know something that would surprise your readership? Do their paradigms need to be jolted? What are assumptions that you can disprove? If you make your readers think, they’re more likely to respond – some will deny what you’re showing, but many more will have their eyes opened. Both responses will be strong, and you will likely see commenters on both ends of the spectrum.

2. Make them feel
Think about the letters you read in the “Letters to the Editor” section of newspapers or magazines. Chances are, the letters are responding to articles that struck the readers in very personal ways. If your post can tap into emotions, you don’t need to make it controversial. People want to talk about things that make them feel.

3. Leave it open
When you create a comprehensive post about a complex that leaves your readers reeling, they probably won’t have much to add, if they even make it through the article at all. If you find that your post is getting away from you, consider breaking it into sections and making sure that its theme is very well defined. A series of blog posts also lets you incorporate what you have learned from your reader’s comments into your next posts, too.

4. Make the invitation
If you know that your post has its limits, start asking questions of your readers about their own tips, tricks, and recommendations. Inviting dialogue can help your blog and your readers learn from the wisdom of the masses instead of just your opinion. Ending with a question is also less obnoxious than stating “Please leave a comment,” while achieving the same goal. Interesting questions can even encourage RSS subscribers to click through and view the comment section to see what others are saying.

5. Set some boundaries
Some bloggers have observed that creating written guidelines for the types of comments accepted and deleted will help people know that their comments are being read and appreciated. Many blog readers don’t think much about “the man behind the curtain” unless you let them know that there is a human looking at what they have to say.

6. Respond
Don’t forget to talk back. Make a habit of thanking people for compliments, apologizing graciously and fixing mistakes, and diplomatically handling people who have different opinions from you. As your community grows, you might step back and let discussions work themselves out, but you still need to be involved in what is happening on your site.

7. Make it a contest
People are competitive, and like to win. So if you give them an opportunity to win something by leaving a comment, you might find yourself with a whole lot more comments. Contests should also encourage users to spread the news to others, so that you even attract new traffic. But be careful: if the comment section on a contest post is too bare, others might have a decreased opinion of you and your blog.

8. Engage users in other places
Some users are more comfortable on social networks instead of in the comments section. Some even prefer to send emails. Embrace the contact from your readers in other parts of your life. Often social media mentions are even more beneficial than comments, and getting feedback from your audience is excellent no matter what form it takes. You can continue to encourage these fans to comment, but don’t measure your blog only by the number of comments it gets!

9. Do not require signups
Most people do not register recklessly for anything. Plus, no one wants to spend more time than necessary writing a comment. Make sure your commenting system is as easy as possible for commenters to use.
Of course, every audience is different, and some will respond to one of these tips more than others. What helps you get more comments from your audience? What encourages you to respond on someone else’s blog?