Comments on your Blog?

**Gamermk** · Mar 23, 2007, 13:41

Do you allow people to comment on your blog? If you don't, why not?

I currently don't but that's more out of laziness than anything else. I think by not allowing commenting you lose out on a lot of the blog experience. (not to mention free content)

**macfoto** · Mar 23, 2007, 13:57

I do allow people to comment on my blog, though I don't have very many. One just needs to make sure one has methods in place to keep the spam from appearing.

**Bleys** · Mar 23, 2007, 14:42

Some people have argued that if you don't allow comments, it's not really a blog (i.e., some people say Google's blogs aren't really blogs--though they do at least show trackbacks). I'm not so sure about that, but I think the true power in blogging is in the opportunity to interact on a personal level with your readers. Can't really do that without comments!

I do allow comments on my blog, but thank god for Askimet... or else spam would probably make me want to turn them off.

**RetroNetro** · Mar 23, 2007, 14:57

I allow comments on most of my blogs, but on the metal review site I do not on the main section but do on the blog section. Though I do not get very many comments at any.

I do not allow comments at the main section because I am trying to avoid arguments/spam and such. I have toyed with the idea of changing the site around to make it more user participation friendly.

**Dark Tranquility** · Mar 23, 2007, 15:31

I allow moderated comments!
I believe that comments actually enrich the content of your blog

**richrf** · Mar 23, 2007, 15:44

All comments on my blog are moderated. About 99% are spam.

Rich

**gnarly** · Mar 23, 2007, 16:07

I allow comments, but I also employ Spam Karma - without that (or something similar) I simply wouldn't be able to.

**Dark Tranquility** · Mar 23, 2007, 16:10

Originally Posted by gnarly

I allow comments, but I also employ Spam Karma - without that (or something similar) I simply wouldn't be able to.

Yep! I use Akismet for spam and it catches ~2000 spams per month

**Tyssen** · Mar 24, 2007, 00:58

Originally Posted by Dark Tranquility

Yep! I use Akismet for spam and it catches ~2000 spams per month

I'm using Akismet now too. Used to use Spam Karma but it kept giving commenters errors and I couldn't work out how to fix it. Akismet's also requires far less hands-on intervention too.

**asp_funda** · Mar 24, 2007, 02:12

Originally Posted by Dark Tranquility

Yep! I use Akismet for spam and it catches ~2000 spams per month

lucky you!!

**Lars-Christian** · Mar 23, 2007, 16:29

Comments are the heart and soul of blogging in my opinion, as it's all about two-way communication. If it wasn't for that, there would be no clear definition of a "blog" as opposed to just a traditional news driven website. Actually, one might argue that there really is no difference these days.

EJ · Mar 23, 2007, 20:38

I allow comments on all of my blogs/websites. Akismet has caught over 12,000 spam comments on my main WordPress site (PhotoshopStar)

**SeanMcK** · Mar 23, 2007, 22:14

Yes I allow comments, the first comment by a user of a certain IP is only added when it gets moderated, but then after that they are allowed to post freely, I have had 0 spam this way.

**Ulchie** · Mar 23, 2007, 22:43

I believe all blogs should allow comments.

However, wordpress can be used for far more than just blogs. Using wordpress as a nice content management system for a pure information website can be done, and comments would not be wanted on some information sites.

**ses5909** · Mar 24, 2007, 03:22

I definitely allow comments. I like to think my blogs are just about me and are more about the conversation that can be had.

If you allow comments though, don't forget that you need to read those comments and respond accordingly!

**glenngould** · Mar 24, 2007, 04:15

I would like to allow commenting, but I really don't have enough time/knowledge to write a commenting module for my blog. Does anybody know, or used before, a handy module that we can integrate to our custom made blog script?

**Patrick** · Mar 24, 2007, 07:35

I allow comments, but we have tight guidelines under which they are moderated.

**charlesgan** · Mar 24, 2007, 10:43

hi guys, how to allow comment for anonymous user without need to signup??
i cant find the setting to do this.

will get the spam karma plugin after enable the anonymous comment enabled.

**Ingoal** · Mar 24, 2007, 10:55

I certainly do allow comments, although I use different forms of antispam-solutions to keep the spambots from hammering my blogs...

**bcmtouring** · Mar 24, 2007, 11:29

I allow comments as well on my both blogs, recently I started using Akismet and it works great.

**KeithLDick** · Mar 24, 2007, 16:24

I used to allow comments then some idiot kept posting links to a bunch of Porn sites each time I updated my Blog... I might turn them back on sometime in the future...

**Rikki** · Mar 25, 2007, 04:00

I dont at present as my blog part to my website is only one week old though I may introduce it in the future.

I do have comments active for other areas of my site using my own system that integrates with my phpBB forum so only registered users can comment - this works well to weed out idiots as if they mess up they not only loose access to comment, they loose their forum access too.

Not convinced that comments are the way forward for me though as the kind of blogging I am doing is mainly just "hey check this out..." style at the moment with nothing really indepth yet (just getting my feet and building a database).

R

**HAWK** · Mar 25, 2007, 16:28

I love reading people's comments on my blog. I wish there were more.

Occasionally they spark debate, which is cool. I like to know what kind of reactions I'm triggering in my readers.

**dannyh** · Mar 25, 2007, 16:31

Comments on my blog are moderated, but definitely allowed and encouraged.

Building reader loyalty is very difficult if you do not have a good means of communication. Blog comments are a great way to learn about your readers and make them feel appreciated, thus more loyal and willing to spread the word about your content.