Don’t miss the comments – WP Tip #007
Comments are a big part of blogging. Comments let you join in the conversation with your readers when they give you feedback, and it also lets you expand your horizons by listening.
Make sure you set a system in place that will notify you when you get a new comment on your website. This will help you reply to your guests in a timely fashion. A good comment notification system also allows for other people to subscribe to the comment thread in the post so that they can get notified of what other people have to say.
Subscribe to Comments is a pretty good plugin that helps you with this tip. If you'd like to use something a little more sophisticated, perhaps you should look into a full-blown comments system like Disqus or Intensedebate. Both of these will be covered in a blogpost soon.
Sometimes the comments generate a discussion that is more interesting than the original post. Depending on your subject, you run the risk of attracting comments from trolls, but it is a risk worth taking to get the often insighful comments your topic can generate.
Definitely Susan, sometimes the comments are way better than the blogpost. Trolls can be a pain, but sometimes they help get momentum going. But Don’t Feed The Troll!
Seems appropriate to comment on the post about comments, don’t ya think? 🙂
That’s right! Thanks for coming by Stacey!
LOL very appropriate!Â
It’s interesting to you use DISQUS for your comment plugin. I used to not be able to sign into DISQUS and wonder if others have that problem…?
Well, I used to have some problems with DISQUS a while a go (years), but it seems that they’ve gotten their act together. I like them because you can let people sign in with many different accounts.
I want to help here, Jeanette, however, it would seem that you have indeed signed up 😉
Excellent post, Oscar!!
Thank you Sally!
I personally respond to all comments that are on my blog and think they are an important part of social media engagement. Â All comments are automatically posted which is also a very important part of blogging and social media. Â
JMM
Very good Jessica! I think it’s a good thing to allow for comments to be posted quickly. It fosters communication and debate!
Great tips, Oscar!
I personally use Disqus, however, I do like the Intense Debate plugin, platform, whatever you want to call it, and I have an account there as well.
Thank you Batman!
Oscar thank you for this post. I desperately need to update my commenting system and will look into  Disqus. You are always on top of things and make us look so bright and shiny. Thank you for your great advice and for sharing it with us.
You’re absolutely welcome  @twitter-10691812:disqus I’m glad that you find these tips and other stuff I talk about useful. I love being helpful and I really enjoy testing out new apps and services that come out so that my friends and clients don’t have to. I like to sift through the stuff to find the best ones available!Â
Since you did a post on COMMENTS, I feel obliged to LEAVE you one now 😉Â
Why, Thank you Stacey!Â
I never heard of intensedebate before, like the name but not for comments unless the topic is reason for debate. Interesting that you use the term guests instead of visitors. Good tips
Bonnie, Intensedebate is actually made by the same company that makes Akismet, Poll Daddy and WordPress.com, Automattic. Some people really like it and I think it’s a good system but I prefer Disqus.Â
I’ve used several systems, but I find myself gravitating towards simpler commenting systems. But the  Subscribe to Comments tip is a good one to keep in mind. Keep those WordPress tips coming!Â
I agree and use Disqus. It’s a plain and simple format and has worked so far 🙂