Getting comments on your Active Rain post is something that many people struggle with. Let's stand back for just a minute and look at the bigger picture.
Why do we want comments - lots of comments - on our posts? Ego? Bragging rights? Competition with associates or friends to see who can get the most? Personal record? Some way to measure impact or value of a particular post?
How about this? Why not create a post that will connect with people - while allowing you to voice your opinion, reaction, response, or take on a particular event, situation, or observation? If we write for our audience as much or even more than we right for ourselves, we stand a much better chance of connecting. That yields comments because people like to share in what you've written.
The primary way to get comments on your post it to have people read it. I prefer short posts. This one is uncharacteristically long for me, but I have a lot to say and I apologize for the length.
There are certain posts - in my estimation - that almost never get comments and won't. These are postings about listings, local history, statistics, or classes. It doesn''t mean you shouldn't post them - just don't expect comments or be disappointed that you don't get any.
Strongly opinionated posts - especially political or religious - will get a few comments from those who share your beliefs, but AR is not a political forum and unhealthy attacks can occur from such posts. These do not serve to widen your readership.
Humorous posts, informative ones, or an occasional "did you know?" will get their share of comments. Local stories, events, and pictures seem to get responses based on how well the post is structured. If it's entertaining and holds the reader's interest, comments will happen. If it's just a post about a carnival happening at your child's school, there's not much that can be added except a "good luck" or mention of a similar experience.
Also be careful of citing milestones. There are certain ones that people like to rejoice in, and generally the readership will heap comments on you for that. First post, 100th post (200th, 300th, etc.), 50K points, 100K points, and 200K points, etc. We all have anniversaries and birthdays, so constantly reading about these would get tedious to me.
A couple of other things in closing. Hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, and personal tragedies or conditions will generally let us share our empathy with you. Those are good posts - especially for getting comments and a dialog going. Pleasant times are nice, too. I remember (and I wasn't the only one who felt this way) over the 4th of July weekend this year how nice everyone seemed to be in their posts and comments.
And I know this has been said many, many times by others - if you want more comments (1) leave comments for others on their blogs, and (2) acknowledge their comments on your post (not in an email to them but right there on the post).
----
For more information on my coaching services or sales tips visit my website stevehoffacker.com or my blog homesalesinsights.com.
Thanks for posting this Steve, as I am a fairly new poster on AR and struggle with the "what am I going to write about???" issue everyday. Then I get writer's block and don't write anything. I've started a couple and need to go back and flesh them out then just post them.
Steve,
So far you only have two responses. Check out Sally from Oahu she wrote about being braless. Tons of feed back.
Steve
Sandy,
Thanks for your comments. I do the same thing with jotting down ideas. Some days I might think of 3 or 4 things that I'd like to write about and other days it's a lot harder coming up with a post. Keep your notes, they'll come in handy. Keep posting. :)
Steve
Steven,
Did I miss something? I don't understand your comments, and I'm not sure of your point. :)
Steve
Steve
I have the same problem Sandy mentioned about. I have great thoughts in my head, but putting them on paper (or screen) is a whole other story-I get a block. How do you get over that?
Steve,
Besides what you brilliantly mentioned, there is another side to that. You need people to open your post and read, in order to get the comment. The titles play a huge role. You catch people's attention with well thought of and catchy titles, people would be more willing to click on the post. Check the posts that get a lot of comments and you will see that they often have a catchy title.
Another was is longer. You slowly build your readership. For that you either need to be very interesting person, very entertaining, publish very informative and well written posts, or be a wealth of informatio, whihc helps people in their daily activity. If you run a large subscriber base, you are guaranteed comments. And not only comment, you would have terrific freindships and associations, so this way of growing comments is like organic way to pop up high in Google.
BTW, this method actually helps you in Google. You will start showing in Google, and if you have good posts, this is exactly the position you want to be.
Thank you
Dawn,
I'll give you a brief idea, but there could be several reasons for not bring able to get from the "idea" stage to the "posted" stage. Probably the biggest issue is trying too hard or trying to be perfect. A post is spontaneous - sometimes I can do an entire post in just a few minutes from the time I get the idea. Look for ideas all the time. Something funny happens in traffic, at the store, on a listing appointment, at a closing. Something instructive - something you discovered or learned from an associate or from working with customers. Something you have observed in the news, in history, in your neighborhood, at church, with your kids, in life. For best results, a post is brief. You can write a book, a white paper, or a magazine or web article and have 1,000 words or more. A post is a snippet by comparison. A post doesn't need a long shelf live because you'll have another one coming out tomorrow or within a day or two. Not every post needs to be a classic. :)
Steve
Jon,
As Barak said several times in the debate the other night, "I agree with Jon." The effort given to the title is quite important, and the readership base is a big key. Thanks. :)
Steve
And then there are certain bloggers who garnering dozens of comments on anything they post because they are the popular kids in class :-)
Cindy,
You are quite right. It doesn't seem to matter what the content is. But how do you teach that? :)
Steve
Steve: Great insight into the world of comments...and those hoping to gain more. I think it really revolves around the Golden Rule. Get out there and comment if you expect them. But also, like you point out, the content needs to be relatable.
Steve - Thanks for sharing tips on how to write good posts. You've made some very good points that I can use... :)
Debi,
Thanks for the comments - that's what it's all about - getting noticed and interacting with each other (Google will take care of itself). You are great at leaving comments on my site and others where I've seen them. :)
Steve
Chris Ann,
Thanks. I really like the persoanlity you bring to your posts and the way they relate. Great job. :)
Steve
Interesting post, thank you. Love the comment from the Steve Nickins!
Steve,,
By far your best post ever in my book, and a well deserved Gold Star! Great job, my friend!
June,
Thanks for visiting and for your comments. Great hearing from you. :)
Steve
Richard,
Wow, thanks. That means a lot coming from you. Really glad you enjoyed it. :)
Steve
People like to feel as if they matter and what they've said is worth commenting about. Responses/replies to posts are one surefire way for some to feel like they've accomplished this. In the world of sales, where people can get pretty emotionally 'beat up' on a regular basis, it's comforting to get a positive comment.
Active Rain has been a great find for me-- a real 'oasis' of positivity! :-)
i appreciate comments on my post and feel that are the exclamation point to that post. If the post is open ended it is like the final thought to comlete the post.. I value comments very much.
Steve ... that is a nice way to put it all .. thanks! pippa
For the most part I agree with everything you said here, with the one exception that "sometimes" based on what a person comments I feel it is more personal to contact them via email and to go and look at their posts and comment there. If I post a comment back to someone who happened to leave me a comment... how do I know they will come back and read my reply to them? So why would I not email them or comment back to them and email them?
Thanks Steve for the advice. It is always interesting to see which of my posts get the most responses.
Steve, food for thought, but a lot of times don't you think the title is what makes people stop and read the blog. Just a thought.
Paula,
I think that's a great insight into the value of communicating and connecting with each other here on the Rain. With only 10 comments for actual points per day, you have to be somewhat selective in which posts you answer, but you can comment on an unlimited number for no points. :)
Steve
June,
That's great that the comments continue your post. It's call a "thread" that continues along with many coments and viewpoints - mostly positive I would hope. :)
Steve
Pippa,
Thanks for stopping by and adding your comments. Appreciate your input. Good to hear from you. :)
Steve
Tammy,
People (don't know how many) follow their comments and go back to see what your response is to their comment. It's not uncommon to get a series of comments on a post - I post, you comment, I respond to your comment, you respond, etc. This builds friendships and lets other who read your posts benefit from reading the interaction. When you do it just through email, you shortchange your readers. :)
Steve
Steve,
Evidently one effective method of having people reply to your posts is giving it the title:
"The absolute, surefire, guaranteed way to get people to comment on your blog".... ;-) ... as one astute observer noted earlier regarding titles.
Good advice Stene; thank you.
Steve,
It is always nice to know someone read the post...;-)
Ann
Steve: Congrats on the feature! And you made some great points here on getting comments! Thanks for posting this!
Congratulations Steve!!!! And a VERY good post I might add. Have a great week!
I tuned out at ... "I like short posts..." - But I'm with you there - word efficiency a wise person once taught me.
Thanks for the suggestions! I have certain bloggers that I like and you are one of them. I try to visit you daily! Congrat on the feature!
Russ,
You can't always tell how a particular post will relate to your readers so it's interesting to see the responses. :)
Steve
Charles,
You mention the title, and that's very important. I try to be clever or use word play when I think that's helpful. However, a cute title may get a look, but the post still has to hold interest and then it has to evoke a comment. :)
Steve
Paula,
An interesting title is a great hook for getting people to notice the post. Then it still has to deliver its message. :)
Steve
Sheila,
Thank you for reading the post and for your comments. :)
Steve
Ann,
It is nice to know that someone read the post and agrees with you or has another point to add. :)
Steve
Steve Homer,
Thanks for your support. I appreciate what you had to add. Makes it worthwhile. :)
Steve
Teresa,
I do like to get your comments - thanks. I appreciate your support. Have a great October. :)
Steve
Steve Kappre,
If you're not a frequent reader there is no way you could appreciate how brief my posts are typically. This one was compact - it just had several points that needed made. Thanks. :)
Steve
Barbara,
I so much appreciate your support and kind words. Thank you. :)
Steve
Steve, I think you are right on the mark when you mention how important the title of the post is.
David,
Thank you. Sometimes I come up with a title and then craft the post. Other times I get the idea for the post and then come up with a title. :)
Steve
I think that the biggest recipes to getting a lot of comments is to respect divergent opinions, even while pointing out why you think they are wrong, and always recognizing those that comment... Don't post and ghost.
Lane,
I think the way someone responds to the comments they receive does have a lot to do with the amount of future comments and generally with the readership. Thanks. :)
Steve
Really great post - it seems like the popular topics really do work especially well.
Good advice! And popular to! I do find I search out the creative titles first and then decide if the topic is worthy... So helpful information...Thanks for the insight!
Steve,
I've had trouble with comments and wonder what the solution is. Thank you for sharing some ideas.
Emily,
Popular titles, yes. Silly posts often garner a lot of readership and comments also. Often the serious, instructional posts gain little response - depends on the message. :)
Steve
Cat,
Thank you. It's good to get your input and sharing on this topic. Titles are quite important, but the message has to deliver also.
Steve
Thanks for the tips. There's some good stuff here.
Kevin,
Thanks, Glad to be of help - if you can refocus your posts along the lines of some of the tips I offered. :)
Steve
Andy,
Thanks for your support. I appreciate your comments. Hope my ideas helped. Happy blogging. :)
Steve
Steve, I think you must have engaged me as a reader since I'm commenting! LOL. I do agree with you. For me, it's hard to keep them short as I am quite windy and wordy....can you tell? Thank you for the reminder though and congrats on your feature...
Later in the rain~Deb
You definitely got my attention. I agree with other comments that the title is key to even get the attention of readers.
writing good content is the surefire best way of getting a conversation started on a blog. Getting comments is not the same as getting a conversation started though. The usual "lots of comments" kind of comment bog down the conversation.
Thanks for the informative post.
Good content conquesrs all, right? Thanks for some good advice.
Steve, you left out one - write something that is well done and gets featured. That's a sure fire way to get a bunch of comments! Good job on this one!
Steve, you clearly had the right recipe for this post. I am your 63rd comment and it is because, like the ones before me, I got a lot out of it. It resonated and connected. Way to go!
Bo
Deb,
It will help to keep your posts short if you just focus on one topic. For instance, even in my post, if I had talked just about having a great title, that could have been the whole post. :)
Steve
Christine,
There is a certain art to creating good titles, and this can be developed. Any title is OK if the content is strong. We're not talking about buying a book, but it may cause us to take a second look. For instance, "Yankee Stadium to close" or "New York to lose an icon" are factual titles and may have a nice story, but contrast the same story with this title, "Where will the spirit oif Ruth live now?" Thanks. :)
Steve
Maureen,
Your point is right on. Getting 50 or 60 comments is great, but a post with a dozen commments may really resonate with a small group of loyal readers or even someone new to your writing. As for a conversation, I'm not sure this has really been encouraged on AR, but I like it and engage in it whenever I can. Asking a question in your comments can keep the thread going, don't you agree? :)
Steve
Will,
Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment. Appreciate your interest, :)
Steve
Diane,
In the end, it does come down to content. You can't eat the package (title), what's inside (message) has to taste good also. :)
Steve
Patricia,
That's a serendipity. Just writing what you feel in a way that you think will relate to others is the best start. Then if it gets featured, great. :)
Steve
Bo,
I really appreciate your support and great comments. I'm glad you found this post useful and that you found the content meaningful. :)
Steve
Steve, thank you for a very good post. I do not post that often because Iam actually spending time in real estate. When I have time I try and put together something that has substance and that I think some one will actually read. I cannot complain because i have only posted 30 time and have over 1000 comments and have met some incredible people here. I do think I will take your advice and try and "condense" my posts into something shorter. Great tips!
I think the number one way to get lots of comments is to simply write an attractive title...one that you will just HAVE to click on and read. The title is the advertisment and there are key words you can use to elicit excitement and curiosity. It is too easy.
Russell,
You describe a measure of success with an average of well over 30 comments per post. That's excellent. Obviously your messages, when you do post them, are discussed. Thanks for your comments. :)
Steve
Rebecca,
What you describe is a little like plastic or wax fruit - it looks great but there's not much to it. The title will get someone to notice, maybe even scan or read it. It has to relate or connect in someway to the reader to get comments. Thanks. :)
Steve
Steve ~ You have a lot of insight and I agree with your 100%. I especially related to the suggestion in the response to a comment -- that you don't have to be perfect -- Often I get into that mode and do not post something I have been thinking about -- and guess what? Someone else does the post!
All part of the communication progress. Great points Steve. I think whenever you spend a lot of time on something people will notice it. At least that's how we try to approach things. I think comments are not quite as important in the long run as visibility is. Visibility can come in aesthetic forms, content uniqueness and specialty marketing to a niche area. The posts i often see get commented on are those that people feel safe replying in. Those also tend to be the most duplicated in this network, so while they may get a lot of comments, it's viewed by the same group of people. I think diversification is key but there's definetely something to be said about showing interest in other people's blogs. That's how you'll get reciprocation; based on genuine remarks and consistent readership. Great post and keep up the good work Steve!
Steve, Thanks for your insight and suggestions. Active Rain is something that takes time and dedication and has to be "worked" to get people to read your posts, comment and get featured. Sometimes it is frustrating learning how to "play" the game.
Joan,
That is the wonderful thing about blogging. If you want to start a sentence in the middle - go ahead. If you want to end with a preposition - OK, too. Punctuation, capitalization - fairly loose. You don't need to be sloppy or abandon all rules, but you have some creative freedom. As for perfection, remember that blogs (even if they have a shelf life) are for the moment. By the time you have composed it, edited it, rewritten it, had friends look at it, decided that you needed to work on it some more, and then maybe published it - the moment may have passed. Just write the best you can to express your views and post. :)
Steve
Castellum Realty,
Thanks for the great comments. Sometimes posts that seem like they would receive a ton of comments don't, and the other way around, too. Personally, a handful of sincere comments from people who follow my posts and a comment from someone new now-and-then is very rewarding. :)
Steve
Christine,
Like anything, patience is necessary. While we'd like instant success, when we want results too quickly, we tend to lose interest in the pursuit. :)
Steve
I agree that also for me a short post is more likely to be read and commented on <-----ADHD
It always helps to get a gold star and congrats for yours. Nice points in your post.
Steve thank you for great post!! I like the point you maid at the end acknowledge comments on your post. That's one thing I don't do, but always look forward to when I leave comments on other posts. Lesson learned
Kelly,
I like short posts. Unless it's very interesting - and many longer posts are - I personally like to see them no more than about 12-15 lines. Thanks. :)
Steve
Karen,
Thank you for your kind comments. The gold star is nice, but even better is the nice reception this post has received. :)
Steve
Nelya,
Thanks for the visit and for your great comments. Glad you took something away that you could use. :)
Steve
I'm glad you made the point of not emailing people back when they comment on your post - it always seems to private to me. Plus, it's difficult in Active Rain to respond back, you can't just hit "reply". Responding within the comments is much easier.
Thanks for the great tips Steve-I will work on the things you suggested.
Good points Steve for your fellow Rainers -- thanks for writing this post. I agree that shorter is usually better, and it's nice to see photos too. I guess content is still king!
Sorry about that -- I wasn't signed in for the comment above!!
Hi Steve - Congrats on being featured, well deserved. I especially agree with the last points you make about leaving comments and acknowledging the commenter. I repeat this as often as I can especially when leaving comments for new rainers who need a little hand-holding....and they're usually happy to have someone explain the etiquette.
Thanks Steve for your Blog. I enjoyed what you had to say and agree with it all. It will make me think twice prior to blogging again, and I definately will respond to comments.
Steve, I enjoyed reading your post. Thank you for your well written advice! Congratulations on being featured!
Carey,
I have experienced that myself, plus I want it to add to the comment section. Thanks for adding that. :)
Steve
Dawn,
Your welcome, and thanks for your comments. Let your blog be an expression of your personality as you discuss whatever topic you present. :)
Steve
Maureen,
That happens. Thanks for your input. I recently started using some type of graphic or a photograph. I think they help anchor the message. The post doesn't necessarily have to about the photo(s). :)
Steve
Gail,
Thanks for generous comments, and thanks for reaching out to the new posters on Active Rain. :)
Steve
Tony,
That's great to hear. Thanks for your wonderful comments. Keep blogging. :)
Steve
Lourdes,
Thanks for your support and participation. I'm really glad you enjoyed the post. :)
Steve
Great ideas. I have actually read your posts before,a nd they were interesting-Dinah
Steve - I really enjoyed reading this from you! I appreciated your paragraph that said this post was unusually long for a post you normally like to write (it read something along those lines!), and you are right your posts are generally shorter. But informative the non-the-less.
I agree with the points you made here about comments. It makes sense to me and I find the posts that have the most comments , for my, are usually the ones about my family, pets or real estate related information, usually the ones where I am asking for help!
I agree that it is important to comment on other posts as well as to comment back on our comments. Communication! It works well here in the rain.
Dinah,
I appreciate your support. Thanks for being a reader and for adding your comments. :)
Steve
Terrie,
Thanks so much for your kind comments and for going into detail about the points you liked. Communication and relationships go together. :)
Steve
This is all great. However, none of this makes us any money and the time spent responding or creating blog after blog after blog could be spend being truly productive. Getting responses for the sake of getting responses is counter productive.
This is all great. However, none of this makes us any money and the time spent responding or creating blog after blog after blog could be spent being truly productive. Getting responses for the sake of getting responses is counter productive.
This is all great. However, none of this makes us any money and the time spent responding or creating blog after blog after blog could be spent being truly productive. Getting responses for the sake of getting responses is counter productive.
Point taken Mike
Steve,
It is nice to know someone reads!!! lol
Ann
I am commenting because you seem have a very calm and collected style.
It puts the reader in a calm mode.
Richard
Nice post Steve, I do very much agree with short and to the point is better. If a post is too long, I may just go to the next. Congrats on your gold star!!
Steve, Congratulations on your featured blog being #1 on todays Active Rain update! Great tips, by the way!
Good job. The response from your blog is a great testimonial in your blog.
Mike,
Thanks for the comments, but are you sure blogging doesn't make you any money? Look at testimonial after testimonial from people who have created listings, made sales, and gotten referrals from their participation on Active Rain. To me, that's a pretty productive - and fun - use of one's time. :)
Guest,
Thanks for the visit. Blogging does not provide overnight results - except in rare cases. However, it lets you build a network of readers and potential customers. Stop back again. :)
Steve
Ann,
There's always that. Thanks for keeping the conversation going. :)
Steve
Richard,
Thank you. I'm glad you feel that way, and I'm glad you decided to leave a comment. Come back anytime. :)
Steve
April,
Thanks much for your agreement and support of my posts - and for the congrats. :)
Steve
Brenda,
I trust you are beginning to learn your way in the Rain. I'm glad you were able to learn something from the post. Let me know if there's anything specific you want to know - I'll try to help. Thanks. :)
Steve
Lisa,
I really appreciate your continued support. Thanks for the congrats. :)
Steve
Tim,
Thanks for visiting and for your comments - you helped make this a successful post. :)
Steve
Steve, you points are well taken. Your study is well intended. I will agree with all points and especially about the point and milestones post.
Frank,
Thank you. I appreciate the comments you've added and your support. :)
Steve
Well, you are sure getting plenty of comments so sounds like good cogent advice. It is especially disheartening when you put a lot of effort into a post to get little or no comments. I sometimes use those big articles for my monthly newsletter so i benefit from the economy of scale from the effort. Aloha from Kauai...
Steve-
Thanks for the great post. As someone fairly new to AR, every little bit of info is helpful. I've noticed the post that receive the most comments are the ones that give advice such as yours. Some of us new to AR may not feel like we have advice to give just yet. :-)
I will say the title is what helps me decide whether to open it or not. Regarding keeping the post brief, if it is too brief and doesn't really have much substance, I usually don't comment on it. I'm probably the opposite...too long. So, I'm taking note of the really good blogs and trying to improve.
Thanks for sharing!
Steve a day late but nonetheless I finally made it here to comment! I can hear your voice in the post ! I love the comments that have a little story or something to share - some make me laugh out loud and others are so heartfelt and kind. This post has a lot of good suggestions and it is great that you shared your experience and advice. I know this is an area a lot of people have questions on. Congrats on your star!
Ronnie,
Thank you for those nice comments. Sometimes we write a really great article that be appreciated in a different forum or site that just doesn't connect with readers. That's OK, try again with your next post. Not every post will be a hit. :)
Steve
Carla,
Welcome to Active Rain and the many opportunities open here. Remember that blogs have many purposes - inform, entertain, educate, instruct, comment. The main thing is to have fun and not worthy about whether it would get an "A" from your high school English teacher. :)
Steve
Shannon,
Thanks for taking the time to write those great comments. I appreciate your input and support. :)
Steve
Steve, thanks for the helpful post. I've tried coming at it from several different angles and still don't feel like I have the hang of it yet. Maybe you would visit my site and offer some suggestions. I could be your guineea pig:)
Robert and Jani,
Thanks for the coments. I looked at your posts and have a few suggestions that we can talk about by phone if you want to call me. One of the main things to watch for - not that you're doing this - is trying to hard or forcing it. Let the posts just flow. :)
Steve
I think a lot of us with writers block or those of us who just can't get started do indeed want to be perfect...but I'm finding, the more you write, the better people seem to get at it...so its something I need to do more of and perhaps I'll get as good as some of the top AR's out there...
Sonja,
As you continue to post and people get used to your sense of humor, writing style, and apporach to the topic, they will become regular readers and will comment rather freely. Keep at it. :)
Steve
I find the most comments I get is when I engage readers with a question.
Winter,
That definitely works - both in the body of your post and in the comments (when people want to carry on the discussion). :)
Steve
Steve, great food for thought and the formulas worked well for you here:-)
Debra,
Thanks for adding your comments. I appreciate your support and participation. :)
Steve