Comments

Even if you haven't installed analytics on your blog, there is a sure fire way to check your progress. Comments help you gauge reader's responses to your blog or lack thereof. From experience, I've learned that readers won't comment on your posts unless you give them a reason to.

Most readers see comments as a way to respond to an issue or opinion with their own opinion. Whether or not you're a fence sitter, the best way to blog on an issue is to state a strong opinion. Say you're writing about creationism versus evolution. Make sure readers know where you stand on the issue. Part of blogging is putting yourself out there. If you write a strong opinion, you can bet someone reading it will let you know they disagree by commenting on it.

Comments can be positive or negative. I've had readers tell me I make them sick to their stomachs, that I'm an ignorant hack, that a specific post enrages them to the point that they're ready to sue me. Great! If people are leaving you negative comments it means at the very least that they care just enough to burn you. Don't delete negative comments unless you absolutely have to.

Its up to you whether or not to allow anonymous comments. I recommend that you do because it allows readers to respond more openly to your posts than if they gave their identity.

A great way to provoke comments from readers is to ask their opinion about your blog. How am I doing? What content do you like, what don't you like? How can I improve? As Linda Ellerbee so eloquently said on Nickelodeon, "if you want to know, ask."

Finally, consider adding a disclaimer to your blog. A disclaimer explains the rules to the readers. The disclaimer for Columbia Blog Project tells readers that I can and will delete any profane or innapropriate comment as well as any comment that doesn't pertain to the post. Placement of a disclaimer on your blog is key. Place the disclaimer below your blog archives and blog roll but above widgets and other non-essentials.