This post is a sequel to the 4 part post series I concluded last Saturday. In that series, I focused on presenting my preferred approach to evaluating a blog’s ability to help the owner make money – be it directly or indirectly.

In this post I provide a review of other blog owners’ posts that, in my opinion discuss the role played by “comments” from a reasonably articulate, and balanced perspective.

Like I mentioned in my 4 post series on comments, I’ve done a bit of research online to get a feel for the range of opinions on this theme. My research was of course not exhaustive. However, I did get a feel for what the major views seem to be.

The posts that really stand out for me argue from different sides of the divide. Below, I review arguments made by four of them, stating my opinion or perspective where relevant:

1. Title: How to Get More Blog Comments

Who: Matt Smith

Where: http://onlineincometeacher.com/tips/how-to-get-more-blog-comments/

When I first saw the above title, my stubborn brain instantly asked: “Should I want to get more blog comments, if I don’t NEED them to succeed?”

Matt accurately points out that not getting comments does not mean anything is wrong with your blog: certain blog types attract comments more readily than others. And he’s right.

In response to his own question about whether or not comments are important, he submits that:

a. they "aren’t particularly that important …though you can use them to build relationships" (I argue that for building relationships, email does a better job!)
b. they make no "specific impact on your SEO…"
c. and they do not affect your website traffic volume.

Then he sums the above up by saying comments have no direct impact on your site’s performance.

My naughty brain pipes in: If that is so, why on earth should I care about getting them at all? Sounds like a good question to me…what about YOU?

In the rest of his post, Matt however points out that some visitors use volume of comments a site gets as a measure of popularity. And if low, they could lose interest.

Well, if you’ve read my 4 post series, you know what to think about such views. In life losses will always happen. Readers and fans will come and they will go – no matter how hard you try.

The way I see it, if anyone chooses to pass up a useful read on my blog, because no one has commented on a particular post, that would be his loss!

As for me – and to paraphrase Matt – I will ALWAYS judge a website by the quality of its content. And it’s people who share a similar outlook that I’d like to welcome as visitors to my blog or website.

2. Title: 5 Reasons Why People Won’t Comment On Your Blog

Who: Adrienne Smith

Where: http://adriennesmith.net/5-reasons-why-people-wont-comment-on-your-blog
(Psst: If you’re wondering if she’s related to Matt Smith, mentioned immediately above, I have not the slightest clue. In fact, it was only when I started to type out her name here that I discovered she shared the same last name with Matt…lol).

Adrienne starts by noting (as I did in my first post on comments) that it’s a sensitive subject. Then she asks if the reader has ever “wondered why” his/her blog was not getting more comments.

Once again, as it did when I read Matt’s post, my non-conforming mind asked: “Why would I want more comments, if I don’t NEED them to succeed?”

Interestingly she goes on to explain how she diagnosed the “problem” with some blogs she visited which she was surprised to see had few or no comments on their posts.

I argue – as does Matt above, and Amy in the post featured at no. 4 below – that the absence of comments does NOT imply anything is wrong with a blog. You’ve got to look deeper than that, and understand what kind of blog you’re dealing with in the first place!

Adrienne goes on to recommend five remedies in her post (click here to read them), and at the end says “”Make these few changes and additions and watch your comments pick up.”

Hmm…I can tell you – as will Amy in her post, that certain blogs serve audiences that will rarely relate with blogs via comments, even with such changes.

Other interesting perspectives supporting my position exist. And I’d like you to read them in Amy’s excellent post below, so you can be better informed.

Adrienne’s post was an entertaining read. However, I think she needed to have included a note that NOT all blogs can be correctly judged for performance using comments. By failing to do so, her post commits a serious error of blanket generalization. I guess you could say, we agree to disagree on that point

3. Title: How to Get 80+ Comments on Your Next Blog Post

Who: Blog Tyrant

Where: http://www.problogger.net/archives/2011/01/12/how-to-get-80-comments-on-your-next-blog-post/

The Blog Tyrant is a savvy blogger. I’ve come across a number of his posts on some top blogs and can confirm that he knows how to use his posts to get results.

This post was no different. In explaining how readers could get more comments on their next post, he got even those who disagreed with his ideas to comment – thereby adding to the volume recorded for his guest post.

That’s exactly what happened to Andrew G. Rosen, who was brave enough to voice a divergent opinion from the majority who commented on this post. Virtually every other commenter before him had commended Blog Tyrant for his expressed views on the importance of comments.

Then came Rosen: He pointed out that certain blogs had quiet communities and that he he would keep reading a “comment-less” blog if he felt it offered good quality content. Very wise words indeed!

The fact that no one else towed Rosen’s line of thought (at least none that I read after his in the comments), says a lot about the potentially dangerous “herd mentality” that blog comments can create.

People wrongly assume that the idea favoured by the largest number of people is always superior. But that’s not always the case. Anatole France, the shipping magnate understood this truth, and was credited with voicing this quote:

“Even if 50 million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing.” – Anatole France

The courage to follow our convictions when they differ from what majority hold to be true, can sometimes determine how successful we ultimately become. This truth applies to the pursuit of success in blogging, just as it does to virtually every area of life.

4. Title: Do You Really Need Comments On Your Blog?

Who: Amy

Where: http://amyafrica.com/strategy/do-you-really-need-comments-on-your-blog

Amy and her impressive community of results-focussed experts certainly offer useful information and education. Through this post, they clearly demonstrate – with powerful data and facts – that comments based popularity is NOT a reliable measure of blog profitability!

In other words, you’re better off doing what works for you. This post  – and it’s high quality comments thread – provide valuable insight into practical ways to measure a blog’s productivity or success. There is also plenty of experience based wisdom about what importance to attach to comments under different situations.

I urge you to read, bookmark, and re-read Amy’s post. It’s an excellent resource put up by a lady who knows what she’s talking about!

Final Words

On a final note, let me assure you of one thing. By the time you’ve read the above posts – especially no. 4, you WILL know whether your blog is productive, or just plain busy…and which "mode" (i.e. productive or busy…with comments for instance) is better, for you, as a business minded and results focussed person.

Comments?

What do you think of this post? Do you have any personal experience to share on this subject? Are there some other points you feel can be added, to help persons looking for answers? Post your thoughts below.

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