Writing in a vacuum can be a terribly disappointing experience and when you write and write but no one comments that can be exactly what it feels like. All visitors will have a reaction to your content. Your job is to extract that response in the form of comments.

To ignite a discussion amongst your readers you must first engage them. Engaging a reader can be done passively or actively.

1) Passive: Posing a potentially controversial, or even just unusual, response to a situation can be enough to launch a series of comments. Presenting your opinion may be enough to draw out theirs or even an affirmation of your own.

2) Active: Be direct. Ask the implied question: “What do you think?” Close your post with a highlighted exit question that you want your readers to answer.

I prefer the active approach. I like to engage my readers by directly posing a discussion point and letting them run with it. This can be made even easier by linking that question directly to your post’s “Add your comment” link. No matter where a reader may be viewing this content the link is there and in front of them just begging to be clicked and answered.

Often the first comment is the hardest. Just like in grade school, no one wants to go first. When you feel this might be happening I would recommend getting the ball rolling by adding that first comment yourself. You might be surprised how much that can help.

One last thought: if you are using WordPress for your blogging software then be sure to disable the option which requires readers to be logged in to leave comments. There are many excellent methods to prevent comment spam. Forcing your visitors to register just to leave a thought isn’t one of them. In fact, that’s the best way to prevent comments.

Discussion: Why do you hesitate to leave comments on the sites you visit?

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