Increasing reader comments on your blog

Q. How do I get more comments on my blog?

A. Good for you! You’ve decided that comments should be welcome on your blog, to build community and encourage reader participation. That’s one of the things that makes a blog a blog, in my view. Here are some ways you can encourage readers to comment often:

1. Make sure you aren’t putting up barriers such as arduous log-in/registration requirements. While it provides a bit of commenter accountability to ask for the minimum name, email address and optional website URL, requiring readers to solve CAPTCHA riddles or even pass through moderation can be seen as significant barriers. Of course, these tools also help ensure that commenters on your site are human and not automated link-depositing “bots,” so do try them if you feel they are warranted, and see what works.

2. Comment on and link out frequently to other blogs – authors and readers there are likely to come check you out and leave their own comments.

3. Take a risk and be more controversial – or at least opinionated. Strong opinions generate responses. Even disagreement is healthy if it’s constructive, and can push your blog into the limelight.

4. Promote a controversial or opinionated post using Facebook, Twitter, Digg, Or StumbleUpon.  Don’t post your masterpiece and then sit back, waiting for traffic to find it. Get out there and actively promote it using other social media sites and tools.

5. Email people who have commented on your blog in the past and invite them to comment on a particularly high-quality post. Sometimes people are shy about being the first to comment. Your proven commenters can help you get the conversation rolling.

6. End a post with a question. If someone’s going to answer, I’ve noticed they’re just as  likely to answer a yes or no question as they are an open-ended one.

Michelle Rafter has more thoughts about getting more comments on her WordCount blog. Which of the above seems most do-able to you? Any other ideas to add to the mix?