We all know that comments play a crucial role in fostering community and enhancing conversations within the blogging world. When someone takes the time to engage thoughtfully with you, the impact is significantly greater than mere participation. But how?
Imagine meeting a friend for coffee and hearing the same thing from them every time you meet. It would soon get boring, wouldn’t it? That’s what leaving the same comments on the blogs you visit can seem like.
I remember the first time somebody left me an engaging comment. I felt like they were not only listening to me but were interested in what I had to say. They were taking an interest in me instead of trying to get me to take an interest in them.
The benefits of leaving engaging comments, as opposed to short, non-engaging ones, are not only startling, but they help propel those receiving those types of comments into a whole new dimension of blogging.
Let’s examine some of the ways leaving thoughtful, engaging comments helps.
1. Enhances Community Interaction
Engaging comments foster a vibrant community atmosphere, often sparking discussions among commenters. When readers share their thoughts, experiences, or questions, it sparks conversation and encourages others to participate; even those who would not usually want to speak may be tempted to talk. This collaborative environment is crucial for fostering relationships among readers and between bloggers and their audience.
Short, non-engaging comments tend to have the opposite effect, creating off-page questions such as ‘did this person really read the post?’ or ‘is this person interested in my content or just proving they visited?’
2. Provides Valuable Feedback
When readers leave detailed, constructive comments, they provide valuable insights into your content. This feedback can help bloggers refine their writing and tailor future posts to better serve their audience. This is especially true for those who write fiction or poetry, in helping them become even better at what they write.
Short comments like “Great post!” “Great story,” or “These are lovely photos,” may be easy to type, but they don’t offer the depth of feedback that engaging comments can provide.
Next time you want to tell a blogger that their story, post, or photos are great, explain why you think they are wonderful. By doing so, you’ll be providing them with much higher quality feedback and likely brightening their day even more.
3. Boosts SEO and Visibility
Did you know that certain comments, especially those containing valuable feedback and questions, can enhance a blog’s SEO rankings? Search engines not only favour blogs with dynamic content, but an active comments section filled with meaningful discussions can improve visibility. Engaging comments indicate to SEOs that the blog is active and has a thriving community.
4. Encourages More In-Depth Discussion
Thoughtful comments often contain questions or points that invite further discussion and exploration. This creates an opportunity for dialogue and deeper exploration of the topic at hand. As discussions develop, so can connections and friendships. After all, trying to make connections with those who keep telling you the same thing can be much more difficult when all they are doing is taking you down a dead end every time they leave a comment.
5. Builds Blogger Credibility
When a blogger responds to engaging comments, they can demonstrate their expertise and invest in their readers. This back-and-forth not only shows that the blogger values their audience’s input but also positions them as knowledgeable in their field. Leaving engaging comments or questions can help boost a blogger’s confidence and encourage them to write and share more content.
Disengaged comments may go unnoticed and fail to establish any genuine connection between a blogger and their reader. When this occurs across all their posts, it can leave the blogger feeling disconnected from their audience, which may result in the blog being abandoned or deleted.
6. Increases Reader Retention
Readers who leave engaging and thoughtful comments are more likely to attract new visitors, encourage them to return, read future posts, and join in the discussions. They develop a sense of ownership and connection to the content they’ve interacted with. When other readers see their comments, they are more likely to view that blogger as friendly, engaging, and interested in expanding their audience. Their blog will seem like a fun place to visit.
Many visitors who encounter the same brief, uninspiring comments from the same individual are unlikely to wish to connect unless they, too, post similar comments.
Time isn’t the enemy!
Many will say that they don’t always have the time to leave thoughtful, engaging comments. Instead, they tend to leave numerous short, unengaging comments across the site. However, if they invested the time they spend leaving all those unengaging, brief comments to write just one thoughtful, engaging comment each day, they’d make a significant difference to the blogs and bloggers they visit.
Blogging isn’t a sprint to dash through all the blogs you follow, leaving brief, disengaging comments; it’s a space to take your time, enjoy what you read, and show other bloggers that you are genuinely interested in the content they create by offering valuable feedback that will help them craft and publish even better blog posts. Moreover, other visitors will perceive you as someone who seeks to engage with others.
Absolutely, you should feel free to engage or not, based on your desire! Always share your thoughts if you have something valuable to contribute to the conversation. Your insightful comments will be warmly welcomed and cherished by those who receive them.
And remember that there is nothing wrong with not leaving a comment if you have nothing of value to add.
Conclusion
- Engaging comments are more than mere feedback; they are an essential part of the blogging ecosystem.
- While short, unengaging comments have their place with some, the advantages of leaving thoughtful, engaging comments are much more powerful.
- When you leave a thoughtful, engaging comment, you are not only enriching the conversation, but also enhancing SEO for that blog and providing valuable feedback for the blogger.
- A blog with a comment section full of thoughtful and engaging comments is viewed by SEOs as having a thriving community.
- As readers, taking the time to contribute meaningfully can transform a blog into a vibrant hub of interaction and knowledge sharing. It can also help boost the author’s confidence in their writing.
- The next time you read a blog post, consider the impact of your comments—make them count!
How do you feel about the quality of the comments you receive? Do they inspire you to write more? What strategies do you employ to create engaging comments on other blogs? Have you ever felt discouraged by short or generic comments, and how did that affect your motivation? What tips would you offer someone who struggles to leave meaningful comments? How do you balance leaving thoughtful comments with limited time when visiting multiple blogs?
I’m getting tough with non-engaging comments. Comments such as ‘Nice post’ are marked as spam.
The featured image in this blog post is taken from Pixabay. AI checked spelling and grammar mistakes.
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Yes, it is good to leave more than a one or two word reply. Sometimes I don’t know what to write, but I want to write something to let them know I was there, ‘thank you for posting it/it was a good read’ is at least something/better than nothing. You are current: a little bit more than that does a great deal of good.
It does, and those short non-engaging comments don’t prove that you have read their post. Mentioning something from the post goes a long way in building confidence for the author of that post.
Another great how-to post, Hugh, or rather “should-do.” I didn’t know that comments lead to better SEO. Makes sense. As a challenge host, I always comment on the post linked to mine. Good etiquette. I even “like” the comment they leave when I’ve replied. I guess I’m completion oriented 😁
Also as a challenge host, I like to see comments, of course, but sadly some just link and run without commenting. To me that’s a cardinal sin! But as a good host, I grit my teeth, read their post and comment but keep it fairly short…a little more than “great post” 😆
I’ve also noticed that the few I’ve encountered who leave a short comment likely dont speak the blog host’s language well. Some I’m suspicious of…
I always appreciate the amount of time and research you put into your posts. Thanks again!
No worries, Terri.
As a challenge host, I can understand why you treat some comments differently and comment back even if the person leaving a link runs or just links with the same short, non-engaging comment everytime. But it’s the ones who do not link and who always leave the same short, non-engaging comments that I find difficult to understand. Honestly, I can go to the comments section of a blog and, without looking, know what some bloggers will have already said. Those are the types of comments I have almost managed to stop being left on my posts. They cut you off with what they say, and there is little you can say back other than a ‘thank you,’ but who wants to keep saying that?
As for those you mentioned who may not speak the language of the host, there is the WordPress translator block, but I guess many will not know about it.
It’s only courteous and right to reply to a fellow blogger when their post resonates with you.
I think it very much depends on their comment, Jennie. If you can not reply with anything but a ‘thank you’, I think a ‘like’ is sufficient.
Well said!
Thank you, so much Hugh. Many times, I just get ‘like’, whenever I comment on somebody’s post, I am not sure whether I should be happy that they’ liked’ me leaving a comment. More happiness happens, when they leave a relevant reply. Is this behaviour of just ‘liking’ our comments is appropriate ‘etiquette’?
I suppose it depends on the type of comment you leave. If it’s an engaging comment that asks questions or encourages further discussion, then it’s not very helpful if all they do is press ‘like.’ That’s equivalent to cutting you off mid-sentence. However, if your comment was brief, such as ‘Thanks for sharing,’ there’s not much they can do except press ‘like,’ since you’re the one who ended the discussion early.
I hope that helps.
A great help indeed Hugh.
Thank you.
Short comments on my posts haven’t bothered me as much as they have you, but, then again, I don’t nearly have as many followers and commenters as you do, Hugh. So I totally understand the lack of tolerance with them and not wanting to waste time.
When I read a blog and I have nothing to add to the conversation or I have no time to do so, I “like” the post. When I read the title of a post as it sits in my inbox and sounds interesting, I save it there and leave it until I have time to read it and leave a comment.
Real friendships are created in the comment section of an engaging blogger!
I’ve managed to keep those who keep leaving those short, non-engaging comments on all my posts away, so they no longer bother me, Lisebet. I don’t mind the occasional short comment, but when the same person consistently leaves brief, non-engaging comments, it raises many questions, such as ‘has this person really read my post?’ They obviously don’t have the time to engage with me, so I try to make it easier for them. After all, nobody needs to prove they visited my post, let alone read it.
You make a great point about blog post titles. If a blog post title doesn’t interest me enough to want to find out more, I simply skip it.
Friendships are indeed formed in the comments section of blog posts, especially when those comments are engaging and show that the person leaving them has taken a genuine interest in what you have written.
I’m smiling as I try to come up with the perfect comment, especially on a post like this. Hugh, you’re spot on. It’s important to write thoughtful comments, and I’m sure many of us can relate to sometimes struggling, especially in a lengthy comment section where it feels like we’re repeating what’s already been said. And also, skimming over a post quickly can make commenting even more challenging.
Never feel you are repeating something somebody has already said, Suzanne. Your engaging comment is much more important and shows those who read it that you are an engaging person and somebody they could engage with.
You should never struggle with leaving a comment. If you have something of value to add in a comment, then that comment will come naturally. If you are struggling, then you may simply be leaving a comment just for the sake of doing so. Nobody needs to prove they read a post by leaving a short, non-engaging comment. One genuine engaging comment every now and again is worth a thousand of those short, non-engaging comments.
I should rephrase what I meant by struggling to leave a message. It’s more like finding the right words. Doesn’t happen too often for it to be an issue. The more blogging a person does the easier it becomes.
Exactly, Suzanne. And that goes for writing genuine, engaging comments, too.
Hugh, another excellent post, on an important subject. I enjoy comments that show interest in what I write, and I attempt to leave more than just a ‘thank you’, depending on the situation. Most one word comments are deleted, unless it’s the norm for some of my regular followers, which I make an exception. Interaction is what makes WordPress special.
I’m pleased you agree on the importance of engaging comments, Eugi. Unlike you, I don’t tolerate short, non-engaging comments from anyone, regardless of who they are. Nobody needs to prove they’ve visited just by leaving a like or a brief comment. It’s much better to leave a genuine, engaging comment every now and then.
You’re correct, Hugh, but I feel guilty deleting one-word comments from faithful followers. Sigh.
Now, there’s a world that does not belong in the blogging world, Eugi – ‘Guilt.’ I see so much of it in the blogging world. It doesn’t belong here.
I completely agree, Hugh. Blogging is supposed to be fun, and I seem to make it more like work. I still love it, though.
I hadn’t thought about the impact of comments on SEO but I’m sure you’re right that they contribute to a blog’s overall rankings. I get LOTS of comments and I adore it. People tell me things, in real life and in blogland.
I’ve been blogging for a long time so my community has developed/evolved over the years and part of that is because I’m motivated to leave comments on other bloggers’ posts. That’s definitely an element when it comes to receiving comments. If you want a friend you gotta be one.
SEOs, like Google, see blogs with high engagement as active, so they rank them higher. This may or may not bring additional traffic to those blogs, as it largely depends on the content of the blogs.
Engaging with other bloggers is key to getting comments back, but they should be the kind of comments that prove you have genuinely read the post and not keep leaving the same short, non-engaging comments on every post that only prove you visited. I receive numerous comments that simply say ‘Nice subject,’ but that doesn’t tell me they’ve actually read the post. If they continue to leave me the same comment, I will now send them to the trash bin or mark them as spam. It’s engagement I want, not something that shows somebody just dropped by and ran. Nobody needs to prove they visited.
I don’t mind going off-topic in comments, but if it’s something I consider others don’t want or need to know, then I’ll suggest we take the discussion offline.
Excellent advice, Hugh! Comments are the life’s blood for any blog. People who leave short, generic ones clearly don’t care about engagement. It’s a numbers game to them! I only have a few hundred followers, (and I’m fine with that – quality over quantity), but most do leave engaging comments. Another annoyance is people who consistently click the like button, but never say anything. Did they even read the post or did they just fly by? 🤔 And yes, commenting is a two-way street, but sadly, some bloggers only want to take without giving anything back.
I agree with you about those who leave short, non-engaging comments and do not care about engagement, Debbie.
Regarding the like button, I have a love/hate relationship with it. When used correctly, it’s great. For example, I might not have anything valuable to add in a comment, so clicking ‘like’ works. But when it’s misused just to prove you visited and haven’t read the post, it’s not helpful. Sometimes, I notice people pressing like on numerous posts and comments in quick succession. They clearly haven’t read any of the posts and are only trying to get me (and others) to notice them. I find that a desperate tactic. It never succeeds on my blog.
As for those bloggers who do not reply to comments or do so in a way that cuts the discussion straight away, I stop leaving comments on their posts.
I agree about the like button and use it the same way as you. What I find odd is that a handful of specific people always like my posts but never leave any comments, yet they comment on other blogs. Makes me wonder if there’s a problem with the form, or something. Having a self-hosted site seems to have a few downsides when it comes to engagement.
There may be many reasons why they don’t comment, Debbie. They might have nothing valuable to add. They might even have not read your post but click ‘like’ hoping you (and others) will notice them. They may simply not have time to comment by the time they read your posts. I often refer to these followers as ‘Ghost Followers’ because they never engage. However, only about 20% of followers will ever engage with the host of the blog they follow. If that number is higher, then that blog is doing a terrific job at encouraging their followers to engage.
“Ghost followers” is the perfect description! Interesting statistic about the 20% as well. Thanks, Hugh!
This is as usual , really great advice. I’m actually contemplating to stop responding to all of those “you’re welcome” comments I get, and instead just give them a like. Most of my readers leave longer comments that’s engaging and I appreciate that a lot. I, myself try to leave long comments, but sometimes it’s hard to do so. If I leave a short one, I at least make sure that I mention something relevant to the post in question, so the author will know I’ve read the post.
It’s not so much about the length of a comment, but more about leaving the same short, non-engaging one all the time. I can visit some blogs and know how some bloggers are going to comment before even looking at the comment section. They leave the same comment all over the blogging world and the same comment on every post.
Leaving a comment that mentions some of the content of what you have read means you’ve taken an interest, and I believe that gives back much more to the author of the post than saying nothing at all about the subject/content in a short comment.
I’ve managed to remove almost all of those short, non-engaging comments from my blog. Those who left them have either unfollowed me, just stopped visiting my blog or continue reading without commenting. I prefer the latter.
Oh, I see. As usual, I read a little bit too fast 😂.
I absolutely agree with what you say, Hugh. I also find that some spam and bots are amongst those who leave minimal comments. I find them in my spam all the time.
But I have a few people who really read and make good, insightful comments. These, not unusually, are those who I decided to follow back, trust and consider friends.
Yes, I liken those who leave those short, non-engaging comments everywhere to bots, V.M.
It can be challenging to build a community of those who want to engage with us, but it’s worth it. I value those who leave an engaging comment every once in a while, much more than those who attempt to leave short, non-engaging comments on every post I publish.
I read a lot more posts than I comment or like – sometimes, it’s the process cos WP doesn’t accept that I’m real and won’t post the comment so I give up. Sometimes, it’s the arthritis in the fingers that says it’s enough for the day. Sometimes, I have to open the feed in new tabs to be able to comment or like and with a dud mouse and dud hands, it gets too hard. But I read ’em.
It’s not that WordPress doesn’t recognise that you are real. It’s more likely that the blogger you’re trying to leave a comment for has settings on their blog that only allow those who are logged into WordPress or have a WordPress account to leave comments. There is nothing wrong with reading posts and not commenting. The occasional comment every now and then is much better than leaving lots of non-engaging comments on every post you read.
It is a wonderful compliment when someone takes the time to leave salient comments. If someone takes the time to read our work, the least we can do is respond with an equally meaningful response. Those who write something like, “Good article. Please follow me at . . .” is one of the quickest ways to discourage others. Building an audience requires active engagement.
I agree, Pete. I never respond to anyone who leaves a comment like that with a link to their blog. Those comments always get marked as spam.
Building up a community of bloggers who leave engaging comments can be hard work, but it’s worth it. I’ve banned in several ways all those who leave short, non-engaging comments not only on my posts but also on the blogs of other bloggers. It may seem unfriendly, but they obviously don’t have the time to read my posts, for me or the majority of other bloggers. Many have got the message.
You always provide such interesting content, Hugh. You make some great points here. On the other hand, I am put off if I take the time to read a blog, engage with the blogger, then never receive any acknowledgment. It’s definitely a two-way street. Great stuff!
Thank you, I’m glad you think so, Jan.
See the comment from Paul Ariss. He mentioned the same thing about those bloggers who neither reply nor reply with an engaging response, which can only lead the person who left the original comment into a dead end. When that happens, I stop leaving comments on those blogs.
I think often it can work the other way too. I have sometimes left comments that show I have been interested in the points made in a blog, or add my own experiences to what has been written about, only to get a ‘thank-you Paul’, or something similarly brief. It ends the conversation dead and can make me feel they saw no value or interest in what I said. It doesn’t happen too often, but often enough to be annoying.
Hi Paul, I knew of one such blogger who did that. He’d respond to all the comments left on his posts with a ‘Thank you for leaving a valuable comment.’ I stopped leaving him comments, as did many others, because he obviously wasn’t valuing my input. It wasn’t long before he disappeared from the world of blogging. His blog suddenly disappeared, sparking much speculation about what had happened to him. I think he grew tired of the only response he ever gave.
Blimey. Sounds like the speculation should have inspired a blog site in itself.
It generated a lot of speculation, Paul. And I would not be surprised if some wrote posts about it.
You’re very right, Hugh. It’s easy just to write a one-word comment, like ‘wonderful’, which is good to know, but it doesn’t really give an insight into why it’s wonderful and what the reader enjoyed about it. It’s so helpful to know why something is enjoyed and equally, why it isn’t. That’s how we learn and improve. It also makes you feel so much more a part of the blogging community. Thank you for reminding us of the importance of leaving engaging comments.
Esther, I’m so pleased you understand what my post is about. When I used to receive those brief, unengaging comments, I’d often wonder if what I was doing was worthwhile. Then I started asking those who left such comments to provide more feedback, asking why they thought it was nice or good. Some responded, but most did not. Most no longer leave their short comments because they know I will ask them to expand on their remarks. It’s a relief not having to deal with them anymore.
I completely agree. You now have followers who you know read and engage with the content of your blog, and they’re a great group of bloggers.
They are, Esther. And I value them (and those who read my posts without commenting) much more than those who only comment to prove they visited.
I so agree, that interaction, through comments is the way to go. the give and take and connection means so much.
It does, Beth. Those engaging comments make all the difference in so many ways.
I tried earlier to leave an engaging comment on your post today. I guess I wasn’t logged on. What I wanted to tell you is that you are correct about thoughtful comments. Some of my regular commenters respond to one another which is satisfying. I find the comments section inspires me to do my best.
Ruth, that’s great to hear about what you said regarding the comments section of your blog. Seeing a comments section full of engaging comments gives the majority of bloggers not only a boost but also confidence that what they are writing is entertaining, informative and working. Seeing a comments section full of non-engaging short comments can have the opposite effect, especially when those comments are from the same bloggers all of the time.
You are so right. Commenters engaged with one another is the best. Glad you were able to read my comment today. ❤️
Thank you for pointing out that it was you who left that first comment, Ruth.
I see those blogs where the comments sections are full of short, non-engaging comments as places where people just pop in to say ‘hello’ and nothing else. Some people don’t have a problem with that, but those blogs aren’t for me. It’s all about proper engagement, not just saying a ‘hello’ and then running.
I was able to like your post and my pic came up as the second like so when my first comment seemed to disappear I tried to rewrite it after ensuring I was logged in. Glad you knew it was me.
I am leaving an engaging comment on your thoughtful and thorough post. I have a small band of regular commenters on my blog and they interact with one another, which is satisfying to see. It does take time to read and respond with meaningful words . Comments inspire me to do my best.
That’s great to hear. When a blogging community engages with each other via the comments section of a blog, it demonstrates that the blog has a thriving community. And don’t worry if you can’t think of anything valuable to add in the comments section. Leaving no comment is far better than leaving a comment that merely indicates you visited.
This seems to answer the question I had. Is it appropriate to comment on another reader’s comment? I imagine not to answer on behalf of the blogger, but much as I’ve done here?
And yes, I have few readers who always leave me thoughtful feedback, insights and questions and it does make me feel connected to them, and so grateful to be here enjoying a depth of interaction that doesn’t seem to occur on FB or Insta.
Certainly, I see no issue with commenting on another person’s comment, even if it is to answer a question. Most bloggers will welcome your response (they might add more details), and the person who asked will also be glad that you took the time to reply. I have never encountered anyone who was upset that I answered a question from another reader. Sometimes, it’s all about helping each other out.
Those short, non-engaging comments I mentioned in this post are the ones you often see on social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky, among others. And that’s where they belong.