How to Get More Comments

Recently I did a post about Hits, Followers, and Comments. Overwhelmingly, you all said comments mattered most. After all, blogging is different - if you just want hits and pageviews, build a website.

Several asked how to get more comments.Since I do not excel in the area, I asked some experts to offer their advice. These bloggers get 35+, 60+, and 100+ comments respectively.

First up is a cheery young man on a mission to help others perfect their query letters.

Blog comments. The number one way to earn comments on your blog is to leave them on other blogs. I know this is obvious, but it's true. Most bloggers try to visit the blog of every comment they get, to return the favor. Most, but not all. But not all comments are created equal. The best comments show that you read the post, are a mixture of humor (when appropriate) and thoughtful honesty, and answer any questions that are asked in the post. Even better is if you can add new information to the conversation. 

The best part though, is that if you've established a pattern of leaving great comments, you can sometimes leave quick jokes, or even just stop by to say hi. If a blogger knows you, and knows that you actually read their posts, and usually leave thoughtful comments, no one is going to be offended if you leave a shorter one sometimes. In fact, if you've built a rapport with someone, you can even skip their blog from time to time, and not offend them. For example, I spent over a year reading 50-100 blogs a day, and building some great friendships. Lately I haven't had time to read any blogs (for like a week or two), but no one has given up on me, because they trust that I'll be back. 

The only other way to earn comments, besides being some kind of celebrity, really, is through your own content. The best posts are those that get readers involved, by asking questions, or holding votes, or asking them to chime in on something like a critique of some kind. Images are also extremely important. The most popular posts in the history of my blog are those that had universal images that many people would find in Google searches. The caveat to this, of course, is how much you care about having random visitors who may or may not care about the actual purpose of your blog. Personally, I don't have adsense, and I don't care about selling anything to anyone, so for me, connecting with readers and writers is the only thing that matters. 

- Matthew Rush at The Quintessentially Questionable Query Experiment

Next up is a blonde who simply bubbles with enthusiasm and a positive attitude!

There’s no secret to getting lots of comments: all you need to do is comment consistently on others’ blogs. Of course, keeping your posts short and posing a question at the end always help, but the real key is interaction. If you visit other people’s blogs, they’ll come to yours. Keep that up, and before you know it, you’ll have a steady stream of visitors coming your way. Besides getting comments, you’ll build up great relationships with bloggers from around the world. I’ve also discovered that the more genuine the post, the more you’ll connect – blogging is like real life that way. No one wants to see a mask you’ve put up; people want to be let into your world. While writers still need to be professional, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with getting personal about challenges you might face. So, to boil it down to three things: comment on other blogs; keep it short; and keep it real!  

- Talli Roland

Now, for those of you who said you’d take 100 comments, here’s someone whose average is just that per post - 100 comments.

How do you get more comments? You don’t - you encourage more comments. 

Encourage more comments by commenting on other blogs. Relationships are two-way streets. You build them by visiting other blogs and getting involved in the lives of other bloggers. And you do this by commenting. 

Encourage more comments by posting interesting stuff. People like information. They like to be entertained. They need to connect with the blogger. If you post about your passions, others will connect. Ask questions to spur discussions. Get involved in blogfests. 

Encourage more comments by making friends. Get to know you fellow bloggers. Let them know you understand. Support and encourage your blogger friends. Feature them on your blog. Shout out their accomplishments to the world. Get involved and give back to this community whenever possible. 

Now, go make some friends!  

- Alex J. Cavanaugh

Any questions for my wonderful guests?

Hurricanes and Tension

I woke up Saturday morning to the sound of rain and wind beating the side of our house. Hurricane Irene had arrived, and she hung around all day.

I've lived in Eastern NC for seventeen years now and experienced many hurricanes.

The first was Hurricane Fran in 1996. Yes, we had to start with a big one! Fran made landfall in Wilmington as a Category 3 and proceeded right across Eastern NC. (The eye passed over our town sometime around 2am.) We had no idea what to expect and were totally unprepared. No bottled water, no batteries - our only flashlight died at about midnight, an hour after the power went out. We spent the whole night in our hallway, listening to 100mph winds and wondering if the roof would still be there in the morning.

We were lucky only to lose a few branches and shingles from the roof. Others were not so lucky - this is the Motel 6 sign on top of three cars. A few days later, Raleigh released flood waters so they wouldn't flood - and flooded every town along the Neuse River. (Thanks, Raleigh!) Fortunately, we don't live in a flood zone.

Irene battered our area with 40-50 mph winds and gusts even stronger. At least it hit during the day, but it was a very long day and the rain didn't stop until 7:30 that night. A few branches down, leaves everywhere, and over five inches of rain. Our power flickered all day long, but we never lost it.

A hurricane can certainly add a lot of tension to a story. The preparation, the waiting, the long hours of listening to the wind roar, the fact that you are trapped in your house for the duration, storm surge for those on the coast, surveying the damage afterwards, possibly going for days without power... If you've never been through one, interview someone who has - because I don't recommend first hand research!

Forgive and Forget

Since I always offer publishing and promoting information, thought I’d share something motivational with you today.

Forgiveness is a topic close to my heart. The fourth book in my series was all about forgiveness.

Most of the hate and anger in the world is a result of an unforgiving heart. Think of the wars, the divorces, the reality shows where people scream… All because someone felt jilted, slighted, neglected, or threatened - and chose to harbor those feelings rather than let them go.

Recently I had someone take advantage of my knowledge as a speaker. In a big way. By nature, I’m naïve and trusting - and someone took advantage of that. I was crushed. (My husband said I probably needed a really good cry anyway.)

Afterwards, I just wanted to let it go. I wanted to forgive, forget, and move on with my life. Letting go of that last bit of anger was tough, though. But I did it. And now, not only do I feel lighter, but something really amazing happened this week, something I’d wanted for so long. And I know it’s only because I forgave this person.

When we refuse to forgive someone, who does it hurt? That’s right - US! The other person doesn’t know we are harboring thoughts of their demise. No matter how much resentment we send in their direction, they don’t feel it. Instead this bitterness turns on us. What was once a small issue grows to epic proportions and we are caught up in the negative wave of emotions.

We also forget that we make mistakes, too.

John 8:7 "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."

And I used to tell our one foster daughter - “Life is not fair - get over it!”

Is there someone you have not forgiven? Maybe they meant to cause pain. But, maybe they didn’t. Maybe they didn’t know any better. Maybe they have apologized but it fell on deaf ears.

Forgive them. You are the one it is hurting. And by releasing that bitterness, you will gain far more than that anger and indignation ever brought to your life.

Book Tour is Closing Down

Last week I received some sad news - Book Tour is closing down September 1st.

Book Tour was a fantastic site for readers to find author events, interviews, and podcasts. Authors, publishers, and publicists could build an author page featuring bios, links, appearances, and books. The feed from Book Tour appeared on numerous sites, including Amazon’s author pages.

Kevin Smokler stated it was just not financially possible to run the site anymore. (And that there were fewer author tours.) He did offer several other sites as viable replacements:

Amazon Author Central
Google Calendar
Upcoming
Eventful

He even stated that existing dates could be downloaded as an XML file or through a tool at Book Tour and uploaded into several of the sites listed above.

Outside of my own websites and blogs, Book Tour was the main site I used to post my schedule. I’m really going to miss it!

Anyone else use Book Tour, either as a reader or author?