There are a few statistics bloggers seem to be obsessed about: page views, new visitors, views per visit, time on site and the number of comments.
Now even though the obsession with the first four can border on unhealthy at times, they are legit indicators of how your blog is doing. But personally, I don’t get the obsession with the number of comments.
When blogging was new, comments were a sure sign that your blog was being read and that people were responding to it. That made it a somewhat valid indicator of a popular blog.
The True Reasons for Commenting
But the times have changed. Commenting became a way of getting back links to your site or of getting ‘your blog name out there’. Many people would comment on big sites for the sake of that, thus losing sight of the true purpose of a comment. There was even competition of being the first to comment on new posts on big sites, knowing that those were the most visible.
Even when the comments became ‘no follow links’, it still was primarily a way of getting known, not of interacting with the author and/or the post itself. A lot of people who comment have other motives than just letting the author of the blog know how they feel about the post. That makes these comments far less valuable in my eyes.
Most bloggers still consider a lot of comments as a good sign, an indicator of being popular. I agree that when I see a post on a blog I haven’t read before with no comments it makes the blog ‘feel’ smaller and less popular than it may actually be. In that sense, comments do contribute to the overall look and feel of a site. But that doesn’t mean they are realistic indicators of the quality of the blog.
I am not obsessed over comments on my blog. That doesn’t mean I don’t value them, it just means that getting comments is not a goal in itself. With all the statistics available, I can see how my site is doing, I can tell which posts are doing well and which not. I don’t need comments for that.
What Comments Really Mean
What comments do tell me is what has resonated with my readers and that is truly valuable to me. For it to be a good indicator however, the comments have to stay spontaneous. If I in any way lure, force or cajole people into commenting, the comments don’t have as much value, now do they? I’m not interested in people commenting just to get their name out, to promote their blog or to be seen. I’m interested in people truly interacting with what I’ve written.
In my opinion, focused blogging means focusing on the quality of your posts, on offering true value to your readers. If you do that, the comments will come. Maybe not in the same amounts as on other blogs who make getting comments a big priority, but when people comment, you know you did something right. Or wrong. Or controversial.
Anyway, at least you got them to care enough to take the time to comment. And that’s what truly matters.
If you are a blogger, how important are comments to you?
Do you agree with my view or do you see it differently?
[Editor’s Note: Be sure to read more awesome tips and tactics in the Focused Blogging series!]
ryan says
I think that the goal drives the author’s reaction to the responses. For instance, I hope to drive conversation with my content. So to not have comments is a bit disappointing (granted, I don’t ask leading questions but I hope that the content will illicit a response). For a purely informational site, I think that views would be a more appropriate measure.
If all you are doing is filling the stream with content without any measure of validation or anyone holding you accountable for your content then you become and expert unto yourself.
In short – the “new web” is dying. You say: “When blogging was new, comments were a sure sign that your blog was being read and that people were responding to it. That made it a somewhat valid indicator of a popular blog.” I would argue that people used to be excited about the interchange. Then all comment/forum systems devolved into sarcasm, anger and hate. Now everyone wants to be heard, but no one wants to respectfully challenge anyone else. Everyone is special and everyone is an expert. Soon, you’ll see the stream start to go dry as people get tired of hearing everyone talk talk talking at no one and everyone all at the same time.
AND SO I COMMENT… to keep the dream alive.
Ryan says
I’m going to presume that the lack of responses validates my comment above.
Rachel Blom says
What the lack of my response indicated was that I’m in a different time zone and thus sometimes need a little longer to reply 🙂
Anyway, I appreciate your line of thinking. I do wonder of blogging is still a suitable ‘method’ for conversations. Not that I have an alternative, as the many social networks I’m on seem indeed to be more focused in being heard than on hearing.
Not sure if comments count as validation or as being held accountable, I still think the stats will do that for you to some extent. I for one am not focused on being an expert, that is not my goal and I don’t want to be seen as such. I love conversation, I just don;t take it personally when it doesn’t happen 🙂
But you keep on commenting man, I love idealists!
Ryan says
Rachel, Wasn’t necessarily calling you out for not responding. Just saying ANYONE in general. You’re right that it’s not the solution, but I don’t know of a suitable one either.
Eric Dye says
Dude. Glad to hear it! I thought, “It’s been less than four hours–sheesh!”
But you’re right. I try my best to reply to every comment. If I guest post on a blog without some type of comment notification, it’s a little harder, though; but I try.
Great tips, Rachel, keep’em comin’! 😀
Ryan says
Yeah, Eric, again, I wasn’t pointing the finger at your fine site administrators.
As you can see by my picture, I’m just befuddled by the state of the internet in the wake of the “web 2.0” revolution of just 4-5 years ago.
Rachel Blom says
I wasn’t taking it personally, no worries 🙂
As for the rest, all I can say is that we can only set an example and hope others will follow. I do comment regularly, at least once a day but considering how many blogs I read that’s not much at all. I do value the conversation and interaction, but I;m happy with the quality of a few rather than the lack of quality in a lot if you know what I mean!
Eric Dye says
Yeah. I can always count on quality with your posts. 😀
Eric Dye says
I agree, Ryan.
Dan (Truth On Cinema) says
Being an avid movie blogger since 2008 I have LIVED off comments on my site. Since my site is one that promotes movie news and opinion pieces, and is essentially ALL based on my opinion of film, what others think and feel is SUPER important for my site validation. Ryan is one of my great friends who I talk to on a daily basis and 9 times out of 10 our conversations end up about our site’s validation/hits/comments/engagement of readers.
I live for the discussion, the conversation, the debates that happen from within commenting systems. But I think what has hurt the comment world is the invention of the +1 or thumbs up or the “LIKING” of certain comments above others. So, now we’ve taken a nice forum of differing opinions and made it into a competition. Let’s see how “good” my opinion/comment will be to the moderators or other people. Not that I’m concerned with the quality of my comment, but that I can get a +1 on what I say.
Comments? Thoughts? (the irony is just dripping)
Rachel says
Hmm, not sure if I can do justice to your irony there 🙂
I agree that the like and +1 buttons have changed the game. But for me that’s not the biggest issue. I have a much bigger problem with the fact that people can’t see to be able to play nice in the comments and that is often ends up in a more or les dignified version of mud slinging. If it were able to differ from opinion in a friendly and respectable way, I’d love to see it but unfortunately, it’s rare…