How do you engage your readers? Do you draw them in to leave comments? Here are 4 sure tips to engage your readers.
Tip One: Create an argument or make a controversial statement
It doesn’t need to be too controversial, however if your post leads to an arguement, your readers are more likely to jump in and add their opinions.
Tip Two: Answer every comment as quickly as possible.
When someone leaves a comment respond to them. Respond in such a way that it commences a discussion. Treat the commentator with respect – allow them, encourage them, to disagree with you.
Tip Three: Provide a means to continue the discussion.
Use the subscribe to comments plugin. they can then receive follow up comments which may encourage them to return to add more comments.
Tip Four: DoFollow
Install the DoFollow plugin and advertise the fact. If readers know that their comments may gain a little PR juice they will more willing to comment.
With these four tips, the reader will be encouraged to leave a comment. Once they leave a comment they feel a part of the post and will most likely return to see the effects of their comments. What are your best strategies to engage your readers?
This is very smart advice. It’s all about common sense, and the same rules apply in any type of media. Talking about controversial stuff is a good strategy, but I would add this: Create a strong following/credibility before anything.
I employ most of these tips and find I get quite thoughtful, detailed comments. By thoughtful I don’t necessarily mean complimentary, but comments that readers have really thought through before posting.
I agree that controversy has a strong appeal. I think you can certainly overdo it, though. There’s a blogger that leaves nothing but controversial comments on many blogs. He’s done it so often and gone so overboard with insults that his motives are clearly transparent at this point. I now consider him a windbag, no matter how many subscribers he lures in.
**Freddy: I agree about the strong following – however all bloggers have to start somewhere and if you genre does involve some controversial topics then one way to build a following is by making careful use of those issues
**Vivienne: I think in all blogs there needs to be a balance – you have to give your readers a reason to keep coming back. This involves a balance of information, enjoyment and the occasional controversial issue.
**General: I am probably as guilty as a lot of blogs in that I struggle to really define myself and my niche in the blog world – to a casual onlooker I probably appear to jump from one niche to another – however I am only 4 months old as a blog and as a blogger – my goal for this year is to find my niche. Until then I will continue to be a little casual with my post topics. the radical blogger
@Les:
Do you have links for getting the DoFollow plugins? What is it do?