Troon Scotland
Social media seems to have a vice-like grip on most people.
Even strong-minded individuals distract themselves with social sites from time to time, commenting on updates, eyes glazing over as they swipe and scroll..
Bloggers hellbent on moving reader discussions from Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to their blogs face a tall order. But achieving this mighty feat benefits you and your readership in more ways than one.
Blog comments serve as valuable user generated content.
Legitimate comments:
- add valuable content to posts
- position posts to rank higher on Google
- drive referral business
Bloggers enjoy these sweet benefits only by coaxing readers to move the discussion from social media to blogs.
Social Media Safety
Most social media users feel safe engaging within small, intimate networks on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Commenting on social media feels familiar.
Submitting comments to blogs feels a bit more intimidating. Large readerships harbor potential critics. Leaving social media comfort zones opens you up to all manner of feedback.
Guide readers to overcome fears associated with blog commenting.
Move the conversation from social media to your blog with these 10 tips.
1: Make Commenting on Your Blog Easy
Use a comment system that makes it easy to comment.
Never make readers jump through hoops to comment; most won’t.
Give readers the option to comment by providing their name and email address.
Making it easy to comment on your blog goads readers to continue discussions on your site versus social media profiles.
Never use a comment system that forces readers to register and sign in unless you boast a massive, loyal audience. Few if any readers will take time to register for a comment if they can comment immediately via Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Everyone on social media already registered for social media sites. Virtually no readers take the time to register in order to comment on a blog.
Blogging From Paradise readers can comment by easily providing their name and email address. Use a fake email address if you wish; I want nothing from you but a genuine discussion if you choose to comment on BFP.
2: Give Commentors a No Follow Backlink
Offer bloggers who comment on your blog a No Follow backlink to entice them to chat.
No Follow backlinks trump social media comments. Bloggers can nudge readers directly to their blogs via a No Follow link and genuine, detailed comment. Social media links direct fellow users only to profiles, each being at least 1-2 steps-clicks away from a blog.
Even though No Follow links carry no SEO benefit most bloggers deeply appreciate any backlinks pointing directly to their blogs for traffic, income and blogger outreach potential.
Accept the dual nature of offering backlinks. Spammers seek out blogs to gain links.
Every blogging benefit comes with a drawback.
Removing No Follow links to lessen spam reduces blog comments too, in addition to prompting engagement on social media.
Give engaging readers greater exposure by offering them a link.
3: Approve Comments in Timely Fashion
Approve comments within a 24 hour time frame to foster engagement on your blog.
Social media comments submitted offer instant approval. If you allow 2 days or even a week to pass before approving blog comments most readers will never return to comment.
I only comment on blogs whose owners approve comments within 1-2 days. If I don’t see my comments published within this time frame I never submit another comment. If anything, I comment on the blogger’s social media profiles for instant approval and exposure.
Social media offers instant gratification. Give readers satisfaction within a reasonable time frame. Approve comments in timely fashion to keep the discussion on your blog.
4: Read and Reply to All Comments
Read and reply to all blog comments.
Build relationships with your community to migrate them from social media chats to discussions on your blog.
Let readers be heard. Prove your interest. Listen. Reply.
Why would you keep comments open if you do not read and reply to every comment, at least until you become wildly successful, famous and desperately chasing the 25th hour?
Give readers a reason to ditch social media chats for commenting on your blog. Care. Listen. Engage. Bond.
Carefully read and mindfully reply to all comments on your blog.
5: Use a Spam Plug-In
Handle the increased number of comments flowing from social media to your blog with a spam plug-in.
Akismet is a trusted solution.
Expect to see an increase in spam the moment you fully commit to boosting engagement on your blog. Plug-ins keep spam in check. Plug-ins also keep your spirits high by lessening your spam-checking workload.
6: Comment on Blogs Versus Solely through Social Media
I erred for many years by commenting primarily on social media.
Since where your attention and energy goes, grows, my social media engagement increased but blog comments never skyrocketed on my blog.
Commenting primarily on blogs while pulling back on social media commenting brought the discussion to Blogging From Paradise.
Spend most blogger outreach time commenting on respected blogs from your niche. Comment sparingly on social media updates.
Give attention and energy to genuine blog commenting. Register comments on your blog by giving what you intend to gain.
Capitalize on the mirror effect of blog commenting. Whatever you put out there freely comes back multiplied.
Comment authentically on blogs from your niche daily instead of engaging primarily on social media. Boost blog comments because where your energy goes, grows.
7: Ask Readers 1-2 Questions at the End of Blog Posts
Ask readers a few questions at the end of each post to keep the discussion on your blog.
Engaging readers with questions keeps community members on your blog by influencing them to answer. Any time spent engaging on your blog prevents followers from hopping over to social media to comment and message.
Asking questions puts the ball in your reader’s court. Give them the microphone. Ask them questions frequently. Increase blog engagement to gain comments.
Consider dropping 1-2 pressing questions at the beginning and middle of blog posts. Scanners tend to see and reply to these questions with comments, here and there.
8: Guide People through Social Chats to Bring the Discussion to Your Blog
Guide people to bring the conversation from social media to your blog.
Explicitly goad social media chatters to continue the discussion via comments on your blog. Simply ask users to drop a comment on your blog post instead of lengthening a social media comment thread.
Sometimes, people just need a clear nudge to cease social media chats in order to begin commenting on blogs. Don’t be afraid to ease people in this direction. Ask them to comment on your blog versus chatting on social media. Boost blog comments.
9: Help Frequent Commentors with Email Support, RTs or Blog Mentions
Ask your frequent commentors how you can help them.
Retweet their high quality blog posts. Mention their credible blog on your blog.
Email non-blogger commentors to offer help.
Commentors who feel appreciated tend to become loyal readers and commentors who keep the conversation going on your blog versus social media.
10: Address Concerns Related to Blog Commenting
Readers often fear to comment on blogs for:
- receiving greater exposure in front of a large community
- being open to increased criticism from a large group of readers with varied viewpoints
Commenting within small, tight social media circles on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter feels safe. Brining the discussion to blog comment fields feels intimidating.
Address their commenting-related concerns. Create a safe commenting environment. Approve only civil comments. Delete combative comments.
Assure readers of your tight-knit, compassionate blogging community through both your example and through the behavior of fellow commentors.
In a word, allow people to feel safe and they will move the chat from social media to your blog.
Conclusion
Blog comments can increase your credibility, traffic and business as treasured user generated content.
Follow the above tips to bring social media discussions to comments on your blog.
