Some guy asked me, “how do you manage to keep blogging every other day when most of your posts gets no comments?” Frankly, I’ve never thought of that or even asked myself that question. Yea.. how the hell do I manage to find the inspiration to blog here day in day out without getting any comments to my what I have written?
I see so many blogs ranting and complaining that no one is commenting. I see tons of blogs leaving a cliffhanger, asking some silly questions, doing a blog contest that requires you to leave a comment, go commenting in hundreds of blog daily so they will come reciprocating and the most absurd of all, begging for whoever is reading to leave a comment. Is that all worth it? Are this kind of comments genuine? Do these kind of comments add value to your post?
My Definition Of A Good Comment
A good comment is one that adds value to the post itself. For example, if I wrote something about good SEO WordPress Themes, I would expect the comment to be discussing about SEO and WordPress Themes. The commentator must be able to grasp the fact that I am trying to net the term SEO WordPress Themes and try to compliment on my effort by commenting about the same topic to get the discussion going. By doing so, the comments will add value to the post.
It can be in disagreement. It can too be insulting and rude. As long as it stays on topic, I feel it is acceptable.
My Definition Of A Lousy Comment
However, things are not and will never be that perfect. We see lots of popular blogs getting hundreds of comments, 80 to 90 % of them one liners like, “Great posts” , or “what a well written article”. All these are by people trying to ride on the popularity of that blog, hoping that with the sheer numbers of readers, some will click on their links. Many also are just looking for an outright link back. Worse still, if the blog has a top commentator plugin installed, these guys will comment 3 or 4 times in the same post to stay as top commentator so their links stays up every month.
Coming back to the question. How do I keep blogging without getting comments.
I have given it some thought after being asked and I came up with these ‘excuses’
First and foremost, when I write something, I don’t write with the aim of getting comments. Most of my posts are tips about WordPress Theme customizations and before I write those tips, I try them out first to make sure it works so I don’t cause problem for people who wants to try them out. Because I am quite sure the tips all works, I don’t get much question. For those who are courteous, they will leave a short thank you note. I appreciate that. For others, they just take it for granted, I don’t mind.
Secondly, I’ve been around too long and I know for a fact that tons of comments does not mean tons of traffic. Some blogs with a hundred readers will get a hundred comments. These are very social bloggers who goes out commenting on every blog they come across daily. They make it their mission to do that, so those whose blog they have commented on will come and do the same for them. So out of the 300 blogs they commented on, 100 will pay back the favor, with a comment. Not with a click or a purchase. I am not a very social guy. Since I realize this fact, I can rest easy with lack of comments.
Thirdly, I rely on my stats. Daily, I see more than a thousand search hits coming from major search engines so I can keep smiling knowing the posts I have written with the keywords I am using have served their purpose right and good. I know these visitors are coming for information and not coming to make friends. I like that as these are the most valuable visitors though they don’t drop comments.
Lastly and very frankly, I am into this blog to make some money. To make money, I need lots of Search hits and to get lots of search hits I need lots of search-able contents. So I keep posting day in and day out. If one post of mine can get 10 search hits per day, 500 such post will theoretically gets 5000 hits. I know if I get visitors like these, I don’t get comments.
Contrary to teachings that you go ranking for a certain set of keywords or key phrase, I go for every thing that I feel will be searched by people who wants to customize their themes or are looking for a particular kind of Theme. It might be varied, but like hell, it is a very targeted audience.
Knowing all these facts keeps me inspired to keep posting daily and the biggest inspiration is, every other day, when I get that email or when I check my affiliate sites, it shows me I have made a sale or 2 from my affiliate products. With that, I don’t mind not getting lots of comments. Not that I don’t appreciate it, I just don’t let it be much of a bother.
Do I Mean Comments Are No Good?
Of course not! Every blogger loves to see their post commented on. Not getting any comments is just a fact that I have accepted. When you accept something, the frustration of not getting it is gone.
Comments from fellow bloggers who has a true and frank opinion about your ideas and views are good for self improvement. Only a true friend will tell you the truth about your weakness, so feedback are an important part of life, be it as a blogger or as a human being in general.
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I think comments is a importent aspect of blogging. Every blogger loves to see comments and getting even more then a few comments makes blogging even funner. Of course some comments add no value, but some comments are really fun reading.
I also think when people see no comments on blogs, they won’t psot a comment, but when their are lots of comments, people will also comment as they think it’s a popular blog.
Nice post.
Hi Teen Blogger,
You are spot on. Commentaters follow commentators. If a blog gets lots of comments, others are tempted to add in their words and it is surely fun to read what people have to say about your opinions.
On the other hand, itis also important to accept and realize the reason as to why we don’t get much comments so that we don’t lose our interest.
Thanks!
I totally understand the concept of blogging without being concerned about accumulating comments. I finally get a few comments after several years of blogging, but some of my blogs are in search, and that beats comments every time in my book.
What I don’t understand is why do you not have Adsense on this blog? If you are getting that level of traffic, Adsense would be a big income jump for you! Is that not permitted on Wordpress?
Hi Franklin,
RT got it. When we target search visitors, we have to understand the kind of visitors we are targeting. Whether those that are looking to purchase something or otherwise.
This blog does not target Adsense visitors simply because I have given them all the information they have came for and they have no need to click on the Ads to look for more.
When you use Adsense in a blog like this, your CTR goes tumbling down due to the massive number impressions but minimum clickthrough. When that happens, you will start getting the lowest paying clicks or get smart priced. Then all your other good performing blogs in your Adsense account gets affected.
So you see, with Adsense, it is not the sheer number of visitors that will make you money. It has to be Adsense targeted traffic and you have to know how to target those and how to structure your post so your Ads gets clicked.
@Franklin Banker,
Because AdSense for blogging topics is horrible, if anything other than public service ads are shown.
Right on, RT.
I placed in Adsense for two days last week just to temporarily fill up my second header that I have just added. MY CTR tumbled to below 1% when it used to be more than 6%!
I was horrified. That’s the reason you see a teaser in the header now. Had no plans for that initially and thought I would just spring a surprise before Christmas. LOL!
Thanks for dropping by RT. It’s been quite sometime.
Your post on blog comments made me realize I should comment and thank you for all the great blogging and marketing tips. I have one blog where I give away free graphics that I design, and I only get thanks and/or comments occasionally when I require an email form for a freebie. It gets discouraging at times, so I found your post today uplifting and realistic — keep ‘em coming!
Yea, sometimes it does feel lousy doesn’t it? Especially if when you are new and have not realize the facts of blogging. People don’t show much gratitude. LOL.
Having been blogging since July this year, I have a total of 6 comments so far on 60 posts, but I’m averaging 10 new visitors a day with 5 click throughs from this blogsite in the past 30 days(google analytics is awesome for viewing what’s happening on the back end of your site).
As a struggling author, I’ve found the exercise of blogging is sharpening my writing skills, which will eventually lead to a better book. So, while I enjoy receiving comments, each of my blogs is an individual expression of myself. Whether or not they receive a comment does not define their importance to me.
Write On!
Hi Curtis,
I guess that’s another good way of looking at things. As long as we know we are on the right track, it does not matter if anyone says anything or nothing at all.
Good for you!
LOL – My first blog (long gone) I used to be so sad because no one commented ! These days its almost a relief if the volumn of comments die down! I find it vary much depends on the blog style – my new blog (linked) is like this one – more factual than opinion- I don’t get many comments. My self-titled blog has lots of opinions and is more personal -thats what gets comments.
In the end its about the bank balance otherwise I’d have to get a J.O.B yuck!
Hi Lis,
J.O.B. seems to be a dirty word for you these days!! LOL!! So glad you are finally realizing your dreams.
Ironically, this very post has received quite a handful of comments! Anyway, I’ve removed comment plugin from all my blogs long time ago. A few of my blogs used to have comments in dribs and drabs. I found them time-wasting. Unless, someone enquires something revelant. Since most of my blogs are currently making money from Adsense, I’m too busy filling up with more posts with various long tail keywords, like what you have mentioned. And too busy with article marketing.
I see you have also stop pinging to all those local portals like PPS and so on. Good for you. Those are drab traffic that only serves to bring down your EPC
There is so much hype about the promotional benefit gained by networking in blogging communities – I was a bit taken in at first. However, this article confirms my dawning realization that the time involved is much better spent on SEO (and, of course, writing posts) – if your goal is to increase site traffic.
Thank you for your forthright style, and for sharing information containing deeper insight than you can find most places.