February 16, 2008 46 Comments

Blog Comments Need to Be Simple

Twice in four minutes, I ran across an interesting blog post that caused me to want to comment, and extend the conversation, and in both cases, it was just too difficult to jump through the right hoops. This baffles me. Why would you make it difficult to comment? Why would you make it hard to invite participation?

It’s like icing down the sidewalk, locking the door, and cutting the phone line in front of your store.

Make it easy for people to reach out to you. Please.

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Anonymous

Indeed. I’m seeing this happen more and more. I’m all for making it harder for spammers – but don’t make it harder for people. Another trend I’ve been seeing is people who don’t have comments at all on blogs. While I used to think that was okay, when I see people posting something I want to contribute to, especially if it’s to offer a correction or add something from my experience. I was in the camp of blogs without comments were fine, but now I don’t really see the point. Plus, it annoys me personally ;)
http://www.chrispian.com chrispian

Indeed. I’m seeing this happen more and more. I’m all for making it harder for spammers – but don’t make it harder for people. Another trend I’ve been seeing is people who don’t have comments at all on blogs. While I used to think that was okay, when I see people posting something I want to contribute to, especially if it’s to offer a correction or add something from my experience. I was in the camp of blogs without comments were fine, but now I don’t really see the point. Plus, it annoys me personally ;)
http://twitter.com/chris24 Chris Thomson

I agree. One of the best examples of easy commenting is at Mashable. They allow users to post comments as guests, or to create a myMashable account, or to login to their account. I think this is excellent.

One of the worst options in WordPress, in my opinion, is the “Users must be registered and logged in to comment”.
http://chris24.ca Chris Thomson

I agree. One of the best examples of easy commenting is at Mashable. They allow users to post comments as guests, or to create a myMashable account, or to login to their account. I think this is excellent.

One of the worst options in WordPress, in my opinion, is the “Users must be registered and logged in to comment”.
http://www.internetbusinessblogger.com Internet Business Blogger

Actually it is interesting that oyu mention this today as I have just setup one of my top blogs to automatically accept comments, of course aksimet does a great job of filtering the apam first.

Next step is to dofollow on that blog although I went that way with my internet marketing blog a long while back and am glad that I did.
http://www.internetbusinessblogger.com Internet Business Blogger

Actually it is interesting that oyu mention this today as I have just setup one of my top blogs to automatically accept comments, of course aksimet does a great job of filtering the apam first.

Next step is to dofollow on that blog although I went that way with my internet marketing blog a long while back and am glad that I did.
http://www.babilonia61.splinder.com Rino

Hello,
interesting topic. Often, i want to share my ideas, but, sometimes, some blogs have comments or disabled or in moderation.
In my blog, all can comment and all say their opinions.
May be it’s platform problem?!
Rino.

p.s.: sorry my bad english.
http://www.babilonia61.splinder.com Rino

Hello,
interesting topic. Often, i want to share my ideas, but, sometimes, some blogs have comments or disabled or in moderation.
In my blog, all can comment and all say their opinions.
May be it’s platform problem?!
Rino.

p.s.: sorry my bad english.
http://www.chrisbrogan.com chrisbrogan

Hi Rino- You speak English much better than I speak Italian, so don’t apologize.

Yes, in some cases, it’s a platform decision, but then, I’d say the people might try a new platform. For it’s not the tech that matters; it’s the conversation.
http://www.chrisbrogan.com chrisbrogan

Hi Rino- You speak English much better than I speak Italian, so don’t apologize.

Yes, in some cases, it’s a platform decision, but then, I’d say the people might try a new platform. For it’s not the tech that matters; it’s the conversation.
http://www.chrisbrogan.com chrisbrogan

@Chris Thompson- I agree. Mashable has a nice interface. But then, I’m a Mashable fanboy.
http://www.chrisbrogan.com chrisbrogan

@Chris Thompson- I agree. Mashable has a nice interface. But then, I’m a Mashable fanboy.
http://jpickett1968.wordpress.com Jeff P

I can’t agree more with this post. I’ve been to far too many conversations and wanted to become a part but wasn’t a member of the blog community, etc.
http://jpickett1968.wordpress.com Jeff P

I can’t agree more with this post. I’ve been to far too many conversations and wanted to become a part but wasn’t a member of the blog community, etc.
http://sturlington.wordpress.com Shannon

I will unsubscribe from a blog if I find it too difficult to comment, if comments are disabled or if I am required to register an account to comment. My time is too valuable to waste on such a blog.
http://sturlington.wordpress.com Shannon

I will unsubscribe from a blog if I find it too difficult to comment, if comments are disabled or if I am required to register an account to comment. My time is too valuable to waste on such a blog.
http://www.donaldlafferty.com/about Don Lafferty

No comment.
http://www.donaldlafferty.com/blog Don Lafferty

No comment.
http://www.thattalldude.com Shawn K

Great post. Lately I’ve been finding the worst offenders to be WordPress blogs. I’ll have a comment formed in my head, go to comment, and BAM!, you need to be registered with WordPress to comment. I’m sorry, but I’m using Typepad right now. Grrrrrrrrr.

@thattalldude
http://www.thattalldude.com Shawn K

Great post. Lately I’ve been finding the worst offenders to be WordPress blogs. I’ll have a comment formed in my head, go to comment, and BAM!, you need to be registered with WordPress to comment. I’m sorry, but I’m using Typepad right now. Grrrrrrrrr.

@thattalldude
http://www.opinionatedmarketers.com John Whiteside

TypePad drives me nuts in this regard. They use CAPTCHA, which is fine, but it’s on a different screen than the comment form. I can’t tell you how often I’m multitasking, I leave a blog comment and click “submit”, and then half an hour later I find a CAPTCHA form waiting for me in an open browser window – which you have to fill out twice because it has some kind of time-out feature. Just irritating.
http://www.opinionatedmarketers.com John Whiteside

TypePad drives me nuts in this regard. They use CAPTCHA, which is fine, but it’s on a different screen than the comment form. I can’t tell you how often I’m multitasking, I leave a blog comment and click “submit”, and then half an hour later I find a CAPTCHA form waiting for me in an open browser window – which you have to fill out twice because it has some kind of time-out feature. Just irritating.
http://spap-oop.blogspot.com Tish Grier

Hi Chris…

one of the reasons that many people now require registration is that there was, for awhile, some hysteria over “incivil” and anonymous comments,and there was a general feeling that registration would help this. It was thought that moderation was slowing down conversation, and that instant registration would make it so that comments wouldn’t need moderation…

Lots of hyperlocal journalism bloggers, as well as some big-namers like Kara Swisher use registration vs. moderation. And, for what they do, it does keep down trolls and keep conversation moving better.

As for Mashable–personally, I didn’t appreciate being dumped into Mashable’s social network just because I left a comment. I don’t mind registering for a blog–mostly because those registrations don’t end up in search. My Mashable profile, which I didn’t find out until I did a search on myself, was something that I had to fill out and keep up to date with my other profiles. Now, it’s just another search result I have to manage.

If the blogger feels that in order to control civility (and comment quality) that they need registration, I’m fine with that. I’m not fine with being enrolled in a social network just because I left a comment.
http://spap-oop.blogspot.com Tish Grier

Hi Chris…

one of the reasons that many people now require registration is that there was, for awhile, some hysteria over “incivil” and anonymous comments,and there was a general feeling that registration would help this. It was thought that moderation was slowing down conversation, and that instant registration would make it so that comments wouldn’t need moderation…

Lots of hyperlocal journalism bloggers, as well as some big-namers like Kara Swisher use registration vs. moderation. And, for what they do, it does keep down trolls and keep conversation moving better.

As for Mashable–personally, I didn’t appreciate being dumped into Mashable’s social network just because I left a comment. I don’t mind registering for a blog–mostly because those registrations don’t end up in search. My Mashable profile, which I didn’t find out until I did a search on myself, was something that I had to fill out and keep up to date with my other profiles. Now, it’s just another search result I have to manage.

If the blogger feels that in order to control civility (and comment quality) that they need registration, I’m fine with that. I’m not fine with being enrolled in a social network just because I left a comment.
http://www.jonathancoffman.com Jonathan Coffman

I’m testing out a new plugin on my own site (powered by WordPress ) that even ajaxifies the comment form, so that when you hit ‘submit’ your comment goes right on the page automagically.

Opening up the channels of conversation are so vital to the way we interact and communicate online that comment forms and reply notifications ought to be some of the *easiest* user interactions around.
http://www.jonathancoffman.com Jonathan Coffman

I’m testing out a new plugin on my own site (powered by WordPress ) that even ajaxifies the comment form, so that when you hit ‘submit’ your comment goes right on the page automagically.

Opening up the channels of conversation are so vital to the way we interact and communicate online that comment forms and reply notifications ought to be some of the *easiest* user interactions around.
Pingback: How to Get Your Posts Read « Blogging for Beginners
http://www.TheBlogArtist.com marti garaughty

Hi Chris… I just popped over to the posts/links you listed, no kidding!!!

It sort of defeats the whole purpose of blogging by cutting off or discouraging the conversation even before it begins. Not a great way to build a readership or a following.

The anti-spam thing has gotten way out of hand.
http://www.TheBlogArtist.com marti garaughty

Hi Chris… I just popped over to the posts/links you listed, no kidding!!!

It sort of defeats the whole purpose of blogging by cutting off or discouraging the conversation even before it begins. Not a great way to build a readership or a following.

The anti-spam thing has gotten way out of hand.
http://flowercast.net flowersjustin

Thanks for this post. I hadn’t thought about comments in a while, and was horrified to find, on my own wordpress blog, I had “registration required” turned on.

EEEEeeek!
http://flowercast.net Justin

Thanks for this post. I hadn’t thought about comments in a while, and was horrified to find, on my own wordpress blog, I had “registration required” turned on.

EEEEeeek!
http://www.dayngrzone.com Dayngr

I believe the number one reason people make it so difficult to comment is due to spam and anonymous comments. Personally, I don’t accept anonymous comments. If you have to be anonymous to comment then you probably shouldn’t be saying it to begin with. I hate capchas and having to regsiter just to comment. I use comment moderation to deal with these issues on my blog.
http://www.dayngrzone.com Dayngr

I believe the number one reason people make it so difficult to comment is due to spam and anonymous comments. Personally, I don’t accept anonymous comments. If you have to be anonymous to comment then you probably shouldn’t be saying it to begin with. I hate capchas and having to regsiter just to comment. I use comment moderation to deal with these issues on my blog.
http://facebook.com/marismith Mari Smith

Yes, I *totally* agree, Chris!!

Often I’ll stumble across a great blog post and I’ve typically always got something to say in response. I figure, if I’m going to take a few minutes to read someone’s blog, I may as well comment. But it really ticks me off when (a) it’s not obvious (like I have to search all over for the comment link/box!!) and (b) it’s like getting into Fort Knox to try and make a comment!

Oh, and another pet peeve – when people make it really difficult to be contacted!! I’ve seen this so often, I have to drill down and search… and end up with a form. That’s one of the things I enjoy about your style Chris – you make yourself so contactable!
http://whyfacebook.com Mari Smith

Yes, I *totally* agree, Chris!!

Often I’ll stumble across a great blog post and I’ve typically always got something to say in response. I figure, if I’m going to take a few minutes to read someone’s blog, I may as well comment. But it really ticks me off when (a) it’s not obvious (like I have to search all over for the comment link/box!!) and (b) it’s like getting into Fort Knox to try and make a comment!

Oh, and another pet peeve – when people make it really difficult to be contacted!! I’ve seen this so often, I have to drill down and search… and end up with a form. That’s one of the things I enjoy about your style Chris – you make yourself so contactable!
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But it really ticks me off when (a) it's not obvious (like I have to search all over for the comment link/box!!) and (b) it's like getting into Fort Knox to try and make a comment!
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