5 Plugins For Drastically Increasing WordPress Comments
Come on, the WordPress comment system kinda sucks. It’s very basic, quite frankly ugly, and gets very little use. If you’d like drastically more comments and user activity, you need to improve the WordPress comment system. I’ve been playing around with plugins, tools, and systems that supposedly boost comment activity for years. Very few have worked, but here are the ones that do:
1. Comment Luv
Comment Luv is one of the more popular plugins for the WordPress comment system. It’s been around for years and because of its powerful features as well as good marketing; everyone uses it. Essentially, what it does is allow commenters to leave a link to their LAST blog post. When a user selects the comment luv box located directly below the WP comment “submit” button, it brings up a list of their most recent blog posts. Automatically selecting the most recent post but allowing you to choose which post you want to link to. Very simple SEO/exposure incentive for blog readers.
2. WP Threaded Comment
Another cool, useful, and interactive plugin for increasing activity and building a community. WP Threaded Comment allows blog readers to comment on other readers’ comments hence “Threaded”. Packed with a bunch of options and features; this is a must-have plugin for any blog serious about building a community. It allows readers to comment on each other’s comments in a nested way, therefore making them able to communicate with each other easily – plus creating a sort of forum feel.
3. Subscribe To Comments
Subscribe To Comments is an extremely simplistic plugin that allows commenters to subscribe to other comments. By clicking “Subscribe To Comments” when posting their own, they’re instantly subscribed to any other comments that get posted on the post they commented on. In other words, whenever another comment is posted after theirs, they’ll get an email about it. Personally, I don’t use this plugin, because I think another plugin coming up is more useful and does a better job. But it’s really personal preference.
4. Top Commentators Plugin
This plugin is again; a great community builder. It adds a little competition to your comment system by adding a widget to your sidebar. The widget displays a short list of the top commentators, with links to their sites and comment count. This encourages readers to comment and to compete with other readers to be in the top commentators widget. Being in the widget means they get site-wide links and massive exposure (supposedly lol).
5. Disqus Comment System
The Disqus Comment system is a fully-fledged comment system, an alternative to WordPress; it replaces it. With something crazy like a million downloads; it’s popular to say the least. I’ve played around with alternative comment systems and decided to stick with WordPress. However, if volume is what you’re after then Disqus is definitely for you. For some reason it gets a lot more action than the WP comment system; maybe it’s more social in appearance; who knows.
In Prosperity,
David Wood
P.S. Leave me your thoughts, comments, and questions below. Also opt-in to the email list on the right for more cool blogging tips, tricks, and secrets.
Comments (carried over from the previous site)
RCONNORIII, August 23 2012, 14:45
Disqus is my favorite and I hope the last post will be added soon like what Comment Luv has. Have a great day on purpose!
gpartners, August 23 2012, 15:13
Excellent information. Thanks for spending the time. Genuinely enjoyed the post.
veganlogy, August 23 2012, 15:45
Hi, after I changed to Disqus, my website’s comment became less and less. Besides, when I use Disqus as a comment system on other websites, will it consider a backlink for me? (I don’t think so, since I have been commenting around but don’t see any).
Thanks.
