Want More Comments on Your Posts? Do This!

~ Jordan Peters

We all tend to focus on catchy headlines and gripping titles. That split-second interest grabber is important.

But how you end your post depends on what you’re trying to achieve and what do you want the reader to do – the so-called call to action. When it comes to prompting reader interaction, how you wrap up your blog posts or articles may make all the difference between a few comments and an explosion of discussion.

Think about it: What urges a reader to write his comments? What gets him to talk about your post? What happens when the show’s over?

Depending on how you’ve written your conclusion, there’s a good chance that nothing happens. The reader mentally nods and thinks, “Good post.” They may even tell you that in a short comment. Or not. Regardless, he or she moves on to something else.

That isn’t going to create much of a sense of community or generate tons of commentary.

A conclusion that is too tight, pat and firm might just be the problem. A good wrap-up is vital to a great read, sure, but when you wrap up your content too tightly you shut down conversation.

Those who coach individuals on social skills encourage people to ask open-ended questions. Open-ended questions keep conversations going. These coaches promote getting the other person to talk about himself.

People love to talk about themselves. So be interested in what another person has to say.

Where can you show that interest? Where’s the best place for that open-ended question? The end of your post, of course.

Think about it when you sit down to write your next post. Did you ask that open-ended question to get the reader involved? Did you encourage discussion? Or did you just hand them an answer and shut down conversation so nicely that getting more from the reader becomes almost impossible?

They’ve heard you. They’ve moved on. It’s the fine-line difference between talking at someone and talking with someone.

So the next time you write, pay attention to your headline—and then pay just as much attention to your conclusion.

Wrap things up in a way that encourages conversation, comments, and discussion. Get your readers involved. Learn about their experiences. Ask open-ended questions. Have them talk about themselves.

Don’t you think it just might make a difference? Yes or no, let me know.

39 thoughts on “Want More Comments on Your Posts? Do This!”

  4. I enjoy the comments I get,more would be great. It may be hard though as sometimes the comments can be so funny people may feel they can’t contribute . Bearing in mind I am getting contributions fitting with a surreal aspect, as a response to posts which may be funny,strange with wisdom running though it. But yeh,community is a great thing to have. I even invented a word for it for my followers. But yes!

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  5. Thanks. It’s so hard to navigate this new ocean current. I’ve spent my whole life trying to hide and fit in, I’ve learned everything kind of backwards, and I still don’t know if I’m doing things forwards, but it’s not backwards anymore. If that makes sense? Haha, It’s like “damn it!” every time! I’m so good in real life, but *I keep screaming* because omg, it feels good to use the full range of my voice again. And I have just so much to tell you!

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  10. Kind of like two yummy and tasty pieces of bread that hold the sandwich together. It would fall apart one or both were missing! Thanks for posting. I think a good ending helps or encourages engagement with the person reading. Gives them a little push forward to get them to comment or at least to think more about what you wrote about.

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  14. I read somewhere to write with the ending in mind. That seems to work for me. Sometimes it’s the last sentence and title that come to mind first. I just have to fill in the space in between.

    I used to want a lot of comments until I began receiving them. I would struggle to think of a remarkable reply, so often times the reply was a simple ‘thank you.’ I find more peace when I don’t encourage comments. They are always welcome, but it’s not the purpose of the piece. xxx

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  31. Great tip! Just my thoughts here…. if we are blogging to provide solutions to readers, aren’t we to give the solution at the end of the blog? If so, do we end with the simple question of “what are your thoughts?” Or is there more to it?

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