The Perfect Host: Comment Moderation

Reblogs 1 Minute

A good comment thread can elevate a lackluster post, and a bad one – one that’s full of in-fighting or self-promotion – can turn off new readers. I read some blogs for the comments alone. Certain bloggers have built communities of loyal commenters whose insightful and entertaining conversations are almost more fun than the posts themselves.

So how do you encourage good commenting on your site, and discourage bad behavior or silence? Here are some ideas:

  • End with a prompt. At the end of each post, encourage comments by asking a question or requesting feedback. This lets your readers know that your blog isn’t just a monologue – you value their opinions and want to hear from them.
  • Reply to comments. Your job doesn’t end when you hit publish. When readers leave comments, keep the conversation going with a thoughtful reply. You can even reply directly from the notification email, before it has time to slip your mind.
  • But don’t reply to every comment. If you have quite a lot of comments and you reply to each with a simple ‘thanks,’ your comment thread isn’t going to be as interesting to readers. Think of your replies as a way to add something substantial that will build on the discussion.

    • via The Perfect Host: Comment Moderation | The Daily Post at WordPress.com.

Published by deWriterMD

Debra Brady is the publisher of MetaRead360 Small Press, which is all about small press publishing, in print as well as on screens. From science fiction to self-help, we are creating a space between self-publishing complications and traditional publisher woes. Here, we are offering some of our own marketing and promotional videos in combination with videos from other sources that are designed to help you better understand the business and the process of publishing. Whether you have an idea for a new book or searching for a way to complete and publish one you already have, we are actively seeking both promising and already-published authors and multimedia producers. "MetaRead360" is all about delivering compelling books and videos that do not fit among the re-packaged fluff that flood the marketplace. MetaRead360 Small Press is looking for new authors to publish. Contact us with a description of yourself and your publication to see if we are a match.

Published

Leave a comment