Only 1 out of every 100 Readers Comment on your Blog
Below I’ll outline 10 ways you can increase the participation rate in the comments section on your blog.
Jakob Nielsen’s latest study finds that 90% of online community users are lurkers (read or observe without contributing) with only 9% of users contributing ‘a little’ and 1% actively contributing.
So 1% of your blog’s users are actively engaging with your blog and the rest are at best occasional contributers.
The study isn’t just on blogging so the actual numbers could be more or less than these and would no doubt vary from site to site anyway – but the principle is true. The vast majority of readers leave a blog without leaving a comment or contributing to it in any way (and some bloggers like it like this and switch comments off – read more on whether to have comments on or off here and the up and downsides of comments on blogs here).
To some extent this is just the way it is and we probably need to just get used to it – however when it comes to comments there are some ways to encourage more interactivity on your blog:
10 Ways to Increase Comment Numbers on Your Blog
1. Invite Comments – I notice that when I specifically invite comments that people leave them in higher numbers than when I don’t. To some degree this confuses me as most of my readers know that they can leave comments on any post – but I guess inviting a comment triggers a response to some extent. Also keep in mind that new readers that are unfamiliar with blogging don’t always know about comments or how to use them – invitations to participate in well laid out and easy to use comments systems are good for helping them participate.
2. Ask Questions – Including specific questions in posts definitely helps get higher numbers of comments. I find that when I include questions in my headings that it is a particularly effective way of getting a response from readers as you set a question in their mind from the first moments of your post.
3. Be Open Ended - If you say everything there is to say on a topic you’re less likely to get others adding their opinions because you’ll have covered what they might have added. While you don’t want to purposely leave too many things unsaid there is an art to writing open ended posts that leaves room for your readers to be experts also.
4. Interact with comments left - If you’re not willing to use your own comments section why would your readers? If someone leaves a comment interact with them. This gets harder as your blog grows but it’s particularly important in the early days of your blog as it shows your readers that their comments are valued, it creates a culture of interactivity and gives the impression to other readers that your comments section is an active place that you as the blogger value. As the activity in your comments section grows you may find you need to be slightly less active in it as readers will start to take over on answering questions and creating community – however don’t completely ignore your comment threads.
5. Set Boundaries - I noticed that shortly after I set the rules for my comments section (with a comments policy) that my comment numbers jumped up a little. I’m not sure if it was just a coincidence or whether readers responded to knowing what was and wasn’t acceptable. It’s just a theory but I think a well managed and moderated comments section that is free of spam and that deals with well with people stepping out of line is an attractive thing to readers. I personally don’t mind people expressing different opinions to one another in comments but when I sense things are getting a little out of hand and too personal I often step in to attempt to bring some order to the situation (I rarely delete non spam comments). I find that people have responded to this and that comment threads generally stay constructive as a result.
6. Be humble – I find that readers respond very well to posts that show your own weaknesses, failings and the gaps in your own knowledge rather than those posts where you come across as knowing everything there is to know on a topic. People are attracted to humility and are more likely to respond to it than a post written in a tone of someone who might harshly respond to their comments.
7. Be gracious – Related to humility is grace. There are times where you as the blogger will get something wrong in your posts. It might be spelling or grammar, it could be the crux of your argument or some other aspect of your blogging. When a someone leaves a comment that shows your failing it’s very easy to respond harshly in a defensive manner. We’ve all seen the flaming that can ensue. While it’s not easy – a graceful approach to comments where you admit where you are wrong and others is right can bring out the lurkers and make them feel a little safer in leaving comments.
8. Be controversial? - I put a question mark after this one because it doesn’t always work (and I personally avoid it as much as I can these days) – but there’s nothing like controversy to get people commenting on your blog. Of course with controversy comes other consequences – one of which is the risk of putting off less vocal members of your readership.
9. ‘Reward’ Comments – There are many ways of acknowledging and ‘rewarding’ good comments that range from simply including a ‘good comment’ remark through to highlighting them in other posts that you write. Drawing attention to your readers who use comments well affirms them but also draws attention of other readers to good use of your comments section.
10. Make it Easy to Comment - I leave a lot of comments on a lot of blogs each week – but there is one situation where I rarely leave a comment – even if the post deserves it – blogs that require me to login before making a comment. Maybe I’m lazy (actually there’s no maybe about it) or maybe there’s something inside me that worries about giving out my personal details – but when I see a comments section that requires registration I almost always (95% or more of the time) leave the blog without leaving the comment that I want to make. While I totally understand the temptation to require registration for comments (combatting spam in most cases) something inside me resists participating in such comments sections. Registration is a hurdle you put in front of your readers that some will be willing to leap but that others will balk at (the same is often said about other comments section requirements that go beyond the basics). Keep your comments section as simple and as easy to use as possible.
So – what do you think? How have you increased the levels of comments on your blog (had to ask)?
Also – check out our Blogging for Beginners Series for more blog tips and ProBlogger the Book for a comprehensive guide to improving your blog and deriving an income from it.
About Darren Rowse
My name is Darren Rowse and I’m a full time Blogger making a living from blogs like 
RE: #10 – Even requiring an email address puts people off. Not everyone knows to use the disposable email sites. Despite your intentions, people generally don’t want more useless (despite how useful you THINK it’ll be) messages in their respective Inboxes whether you send it or no. JMTC.
no comment.
How about this for the “Only” reason
people don’t want to have to fill out information to leave a comment.
I absolutely HATE having to register to leave a comment. There’s nothing more annoying than when I go to leave a comment and find out that I have to register first. As soon as I see that, I leave the site. Anyhow, excellent article Darren.
For some reason, I feel inspired to leave a comment?
Some handy tips thanks. I look at the stats of my web site each day (which are not that bad) and I would say less than 3% of visitors leave comments. I am always thinking of new ways to get more comments so some of the things you said make sense and I will no doubt try them out.
PS: love your work.
Do comments make you happy?
It seems like that a Contest have begin to leave a comment.
So this is my entry.
To leave a comment, or not leave a comment, that is the question.
I choose not to leave a comment.
Darren,you made me put in my first comment on a blog !!! Its a great start.
Good post, I just started a blog and took my time implementing a nice comment system with some scriptaculous animations and some ajax immediately posting to the comments. I was wondering if people would notice the link to leave a post as the actual controls come up on an overlay, but I think from now on I’ll remind people of this ability in my blog post detail as to convince more to comment. Please check it out.
thanks for this list. although i find nothing new in this topic, it serves as a great reminder and tip
What benefit do you think there is in getting comments?
90% of people are dumber than monkeys why would you want to hear what they think?
Usually I just don’t have the time, or do not notice the comments. I think if comments were a larger part of the blog then I would comment more. It j.st seems that it isn’t worth it to comment.
Great post! Some of this tips I use intuitively, so there are some comments in my blog. But some of them I didn`t knew. Thanks a lot!
this page has too many comments
Good points, Darren. Of the ones you list, I’ve found #2, 4, 6, and 7 to be most effective. Humility and graciousness go a long way toward inviting comments and, beyond that, opening genuine communication.
Good stuff. Thanks again…
I totally agree that having to register…or giving a name/email to leave a comment is a hurdle…
I agree with all of your points, more people should pay attention to the details if they want results.
If your an artist or a writer you may enjoy my site at TheBluePanda.com
well, here is my comment…are u happy?
Aiyaa! Look at all these comments. My problem is not enough traffic + too many posts, which means very few comments.
Along with the navel gazing, that is.
Well I commented so poo on you this site stinks.
Thanks for all the tips you recommended. This is very helpful.
This is nel from http://www.animomedia.com
This is a great list! Well done.
I have fiund some of these suggestins to be true fir both my blog, and the blogs of others.
Keep uo the great work!
digitaldion Strong Artificial Intelligence, gadgets, theology, and Vespa!
Thnaks , interesting points.
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After writing a post like that, I can’t to anything but comment!
Oh, and I just noticed we have the same first name.
There aren’t many of us, that’s for sure.
I’d love to have more comments to my posts and I actually invite everyone to comment. I only ask questions on my blog… This is my “concept”.
But I have hardly a few comments so far.
So my question here is simple : is there a way to avoid asking for the email before posting comments (i am on WordPress) ?
I think that like registration, it can keep some people from dropping me a line.
I don’t see the use of the email request by the way. Is there any reason it is required ? .
are comments really that big a deal?
Thanks to everyone for your comments – there’s so many (this post got to the top of Digg and Delicious) it’s hard to know where to start.
A recurring them here (and in the Digg comments) was ‘what’s so good about comments’ or ‘why would you want more comments’?
I’ve previously written a post on the upside and downside of comments (link above in the article and here which might help answer that question.
My perspective is that comments are not the be all or end all. On some blogs I think it’s even legit to not have them at all (depending upon the goals of the blog).
However on most blogs comments are a good thing and are one measure of how people are interacting with your blog. I love comments on my blogs because they are where a lot of the real action happens and where the real learning happens. I know on my blogs that I always have limited knowledge on my topics and that it’s my readers who teach me so much – as a result comments are something that I value highly.
The number one reason that people don’t comment is because they just can’t easily give a comment, they have to set up an account ,login in ,give a real e-mail address, etc. I wouldn’t have made this comment if I had to do these things..
97 comments.. wow! :D
Well, it made me comment, so you must be doing something right…
OMG, i didn’t have to register to leave a comment….wtf OMG LOLz0rz….amazing stuff bro.. Thx
i’m just commenting to get the 100th =) hehe
Well you got me to comment… Good article.
I think you may have forgot the number one technique to get comments………..ALLOW COMMENT SPAM.
I let a stand idle for about three months with no comment spam filter. I recently ressercted it and had over 25,000 comments waiting my approval. In fact so many comments it WP locked up before fully populating the entire list so I can delete all at one time.
Hmm… so you have to be nice to those that leave comments? No wonder I only have one person that leaves comments.. or it could be the fact that I only have a handful of regular visitors
thanks for the advice
Hey, Darren
Thanks a lot man, and honestly, This is the first comment I’m leaving on any blog post
Really useful post
Let me guess…. Most comments you’ve ever recieved on a post. and guess what else? first time I’m commenting on a “blog”. No registration helps alot.
Great tips! I’m going to start putting a few of these into action NOW!!!
Cheers!
Love the article!
good points, and you have everyone leaving comments ;)
Another thing to do would be to reward regular commentors, if a commentor is a regular and is polite, you can offer to link to them or have a post every week/month/year (depending on how frequent you blog) that thanks all users that commented (and you would post the users name in the post so:
Thanks to all the commentors of week #2 (oct 5-oct 10)
User#1
User#2
User#3
User#4
I was one of your lurkers, so I thought this would be a good post to comment on first. :) Thanks for the list!
In regards to #4 Interact with Comments, in your opinion, is it better to respond to comments via your blog or by personally emailing them?
This is a good list for all of us to remember when blogging. I find it hard to garner comments, and feel that it’s okay to be wrong and still maintain credibility. Thanks for this post, I love your blog, so keep up the great writing.
Nice job! Like many others, I am just getting started. The tips you provided are most useful.Thanks.
~rick
Hey Darren,
Here’s my contribution to your growing commented post.
Cheers,
Shawn
worked for me…I commented!
I think one that definately invites me is having a picture… well i guess it keeps me on page for me to leave a comment :)