How to Get People to Comment on Your Business Blog

Blogging is an effective way to promote your business. Blogs are more popular now than they’ve ever been, and blog readers are a loyal breed. In order to get loyal readers, you must give them something to keep coming back for. Regularly updated content is essential. But just as important, or perhaps even more important, is getting comments. Comments foster more of a community feel and can provide you with valuable feedback. There are many things you can do to encourage visitors to comment.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Blog

1. Break the ice. The hardest part is getting your visitors to make that first comment. Once they have commented, they will be much more likely to do so again and again. Invite readers to introduce themselves and include links to their websites.
2. Ask for opinions or hold informal polls. The subject can be anything that relates to you products or industry.
3. Write about current events. Blogs are loved for their ability to share news stories almost instantaneously. Staying on top of what’s happening and writing about it in a way that pertains to your blog’s subject matter is a great way to get your visitors talking.
4. Have giveaways, and require readers to comment in order to enter. Everyone loves free stuff, and when entering to win is as easy as typing a few words, many readers will bite.
5. Hold a “Post the Most” contest. Give a prize to the reader who contributes the most comments each week or month.
6. Reply to comments to keep the discussion going. If someone asks a question about your post, answer right in the comments instead of just writing a new post. If you must write an entire post in response, link to it in a reply to the original comment.

Tips & Warnings

• Set your links up to open in a new window. This will allow visitors to follow them without losing their place on your site, and they will be more likely to come back and comment when they’re done.
• Comment spam is a problem for most blogs, and it is a big turnoff to readers. Use plugins, CAPTCHA, or comment moderation to keep the spam out while letting legitimate comments in.