| kind of response do you get from your readers? Is it | | | | possibly using them to increase the interaction that |
| good? Is it bad? Chances are good that you | | | | takes place on your blog. |
| can’t honestly that question, because you | | | | 1.Using a custom designed form field for where your |
| simply don’t get any feedback at all. In fact, only | | | | readers input their comment. Make it fresh, catchy, but |
| a very small percentage of online users will normally | | | | clean in design. |
| take the time to respond to your carefully crafted blog | | | | 2.Use “reply” buttons or links for every |
| post. But why? What can you do about it? If they | | | | comment that is posted to encourage more |
| don’t want to participate, then they just | | | | comments. |
| don’t want to participate – right? Not true. | | | | 3.Use clean, web 2.0 style buttons and tasteful |
| There are things you can do to engage them more | | | | graphics to remind or ask readers to comment. |
| effectively. | | | | Reward your Commenters |
| You don’t want to pass up on any opportunity | | | | You can let your readers know how important they |
| to get your visitors to speak up and visibly interact. | | | | are and that you appreciate them taking the time |
| Why? If your blog has an active readership, then your | | | | interact on your blog. After all, they are taking time out |
| blog, your business, and you come across as more | | | | of their day to construct their comments, post, and |
| trust-worthy and credible. If a visitor reads your blog | | | | probably subscribing to keep up with the conversation. |
| and another one that has similar content, similar length, | | | | They deserve a pat on the back! You could do a |
| similar quality, but one of the blogs has a lot more | | | | weekly round-up of interesting comments made, top |
| comments than the other, they’ll probably | | | | commenters, regular commenters, or whatever. This |
| disregard the one with fewer comments. | | | | shows a personal touch, as you are taking time to |
| One of the main things that you should consider doing | | | | write and publish the post. You can somewhat |
| is hiring an excellent web designer who understands | | | | automate this on a similar level by using a plugin like |
| the need to make the design user-engaging. | | | | gravatars or the top commenters plugin. |
| There’s more to design than putting the right | | | | Give Back |
| color scheme together and coming up with snazzy | | | | The possibilities here are endless. You could offer |
| graphics. Web design also includes planning the | | | | them something for free when they interact on your |
| structure and how your visitors will interact on the blog. | | | | blog. You could run top commenter contests. You can |
| If you’ve done your searching and have come | | | | have the designer ensure that comments are |
| up with a San Francisco web designer that you feel | | | | do-follow so they are able to get some link love from |
| comfortable with, here are some things to ask them | | | | your blog. You could give them a special little place on |
| about. They’ll be able to talk with you about | | | | your blog where they can post their profile or their links. |