It is a lot of work to manage and promote a blog. Comments are one area that requires your attention. In wordpress there are several settings for managing comments. There are upsides and downsides to each of them.
First, in the options tab you have 2 checkboxes.
Anyone can register
Not sure if this one actually has a downside, unless you don’t want people to make comments. I check this box on most blogs.
Users must be registered and logged in to comment
Upside: You know only people that subscribe to your blog are making comments. Downside: You will decrease the number of comments because people do not feel like logging in at the time. They just wanted to add a quick note.
In the options tab under discussions there are a lot more options to help you manage comments.
Usual settings for an article: (These settings may be overridden for individual articles.)
Attempt to notify any Weblogs linked to from the article
Upside: People know that you are commenting on a story that appeared on their blog and they may in turn pay you a visit and comment. Downside: Slows down posting, but not that noticeably.
Allow link notifications from other Weblogs (pingbacks and trackbacks.)
Upside: The trackbacks and pingbacks become comments on your blog post and bring you more traffic. Downside: Uhhh . . . none?
Allow people to post comments on the article
No-brainer. Check the box.
E-mail me whenever:
Anyone posts a comment
Upside: Helps you monitor the activity at your blog and allows you to answer back to them faster. Downside: Puts more email into your inbox. If you are on your blog every day, it may be enough and you could uncheck that box.
A comment is held for moderation
Upside: Again, allows you to moderate the comments quicker. If you have your blog set to always moderate comments, then I suggest you check this box so you can reduce the time it takes for a reader’s comments to be approved and visible. Downside: More email to deal with.
Now the last threee are the ones that can change how you manage your blog.
Before a comment appears:
An administrator must always approve the comment
Upside: You keep drive-by spammers and bots from posting a bunch of junk on your blog that you have to come and delete later. Downside: Readers like to see their comments appear as they post them. Also more email and time spent moderating comments.
Comment author must fill out name and e-mail
Upside: You know who is commenting. Downside: More trouble for readers to comment. I don’t find that this reduces the number of people willing to comment.
Comment author must have a previously approved comment
Upside: If you do not have your blog set to approve all comments, this makes it easier for your regular posters.
Downside: New users won’t be able to see their posts right away.
I hope that helps you review your settings to see if you can find a balance between controlling spam and making your blog reader-friendly.
Managing Blog Comments
It is a lot of work to manage and promote a blog. Comments are one area that requires your attention. In wordpress there are several settings for managing comments. There are upsides and downsides to each of them.
First, in the options tab you have 2 checkboxes.
Anyone can register
Not sure if this one actually has a downside, unless you don’t want people to make comments. I check this box on most blogs.
Users must be registered and logged in to comment
Upside: You know only people that subscribe to your blog are making comments.
Downside: You will decrease the number of comments because people do not feel like logging in at the time. They just wanted to add a quick note.
In the options tab under discussions there are a lot more options to help you manage comments.
Usual settings for an article:
(These settings may be overridden for individual articles.)
Attempt to notify any Weblogs linked to from the article
Upside: People know that you are commenting on a story that appeared on their blog and they may in turn pay you a visit and comment.
Downside: Slows down posting, but not that noticeably.
Allow link notifications from other Weblogs (pingbacks and trackbacks.)
Upside: The trackbacks and pingbacks become comments on your blog post and bring you more traffic.
Downside: Uhhh . . . none?
Allow people to post comments on the article
No-brainer. Check the box.
E-mail me whenever:
Anyone posts a comment
Upside: Helps you monitor the activity at your blog and allows you to answer back to them faster.
Downside: Puts more email into your inbox. If you are on your blog every day, it may be enough and you could uncheck that box.
A comment is held for moderation
Upside: Again, allows you to moderate the comments quicker. If you have your blog set to always moderate comments, then I suggest you check this box so you can reduce the time it takes for a reader’s comments to be approved and visible.
Downside: More email to deal with.
Now the last threee are the ones that can change how you manage your blog.
Before a comment appears:
An administrator must always approve the comment
Upside: You keep drive-by spammers and bots from posting a bunch of junk on your blog that you have to come and delete later.
Downside: Readers like to see their comments appear as they post them. Also more email and time spent moderating comments.
Comment author must fill out name and e-mail
Upside: You know who is commenting.
Downside: More trouble for readers to comment. I don’t find that this reduces the number of people willing to comment.
Comment author must have a previously approved comment
Upside: If you do not have your blog set to approve all comments, this makes it easier for your regular posters.
Downside: New users won’t be able to see their posts right away.
I hope that helps you review your settings to see if you can find a balance between controlling spam and making your blog reader-friendly.
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