Website comment sections are often seen as a valuable tool for increasing engagement and improving search engine optimization (SEO) rankings. But beyond their marketing potential, comment sections can also play a crucial role in fostering meaningful conversations and building communities around online content through user-generated content.
In this article, we will explore the importance of website comment sections, their impact on SEO, the different ways they can be added to a website, and the benefits of enabling comments on blog posts. Whether you’re a blogger, a marketer, or a website owner, understanding the potential benefits a comment section can bring will help you create a more engaging and dynamic online presence with a stronger sense of brand loyalty.
Why Should You Have A Comment Section?
Having a comment section on your website is a great way to connect with your audience and get their feedback on your content. It creates a space for your readers to share their thoughts and opinions and helps to build a sense of community around your website.
Plus, having comments on your website can actually boost your search engine rankings! Search engines like Google love to see fresh, relevant content on websites, and user-generated comments can help to provide that while also helping to reduce your bounce rate and improve the average time on page.
But it’s not just about SEO – comments can also give you valuable insights into your audience’s interests and needs. By responding to comments and engaging with your readers, you can learn more about what they want and adjust your content accordingly.
So if you want to create a more dynamic and engaging website, consider adding a comment section. It’s a simple but effective way to build a relationship with your audience and get them more involved in your content.
What types of content should have a comment section?
Comment sections can be a great addition to blog posts, products and services, how-to guides, and Q and A sections of your website.
Blog posts are a popular choice for comment sections as they often cover topics that invite discussion and debate.
Including a comment section on product pages can allow customers to ask questions, share their experiences, and provide feedback on your products.
How-to guides can be complex, and a comment section can provide a space for readers to ask questions or share their own tips and tricks.
Q and A sections allow your website visitors to improve your SEO by creating a platform for user-generated content. Here your visitors can ask questions and get answers from other website visitors. If enough visitors ask the same questions you can consider creating a special FAQ page on your website.
How To Add A Comment Section To Your Website
If you’re new to website development or unfamiliar with the process, you may be wondering how to add a comment section to your site.
Let’s explore several methods for adding a comment section to your website, including using a comment plugin, WordPress’ built-in comment solution, integrating a third-party commenting platform, and building a custom solution.
WordPress Comment Section
WordPress has a built-in comment section built into its CMS. On most themes it is on by default but if not can be activated very easily.
Once you are logged into your wordpress dashboard go to your settings and choose the discussion tab. Here make sure the box “Allow people to submit comments on new posts” is checked. Once checked click save changes and you’re all set to use the default WordPress comment section.
WordPress Website Comment Plugins
There are several WordPress comment plugins available that can add additional features and customization options to your comment section. The most popular ones are Disqus, Jetpack Comments, WPForms, and CommentLuv.
Disqus is a popular third-party commenting system that can be integrated into WordPress websites. It offers advanced moderation tools, social sharing features, and analytics to track engagement and user activity.
Jetpack Comments is a comment plugin developed by WordPress parent company Automattic. It allows readers to leave comments using their WordPress.com, Twitter, or Facebook accounts, and offers features like email notifications and comment likes.
WPForms is a popular WordPress form plugin that also includes a comment form feature. It allows you to create custom comment forms with fields like name, email, and website, and includes anti-spam features to protect against bots and unwanted comments.
CommentLuv is a plugin that rewards readers for leaving comments by automatically adding a link to their latest blog post at the end of their comment. This can encourage readers to leave more detailed and thoughtful comments.
Comment Sections On Other Website Building Platforms
If you have a non-WordPress website, there are still several ways to set up a comment section and engage with your audience. Some platforms like Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify have their own built-in comment sections you can add to your website.
Alternatively, social media platforms like Meta allow users to embed comment forms onto their own websites and comment using their Facebook profile. To set these up you will need a Meta developer account and the ability to edit a page’s HTML. Here you can paste the embed code from Facebook to create a comment box on your website.
Some 3rd party commenting systems also allow you to embed their code. One of these systems is Disqus.
Lastly, you can build your own custom comment system using tools like PHP or JavaScript. This can be more time-consuming and complex than using a third-party system, but it can also offer more flexibility and customization options.
What Are The Benefits of Having A Comments Section?
Website comment sections encourage your readers to engage more deeply with your content and share their thoughts, questions, and opinions. This can help to create a sense of community around your website and foster stronger relationships with your audience.
Comments can provide you with valuable feedback and insights into what your readers like, dislike, and want to see more of. This feedback can help you to improve your content and make it more effective for your audience.
Another great thing about comments is that they serve as social proof. Seeing that others have commented on and engaged with your content can help to build trust and credibility with new visitors to your website.
Comments can even boost your website’s SEO by increasing the amount of user-generated content on your pages. This can help to signal to search engines that your content is relevant and valuable to your audience, potentially leading to higher search engine rankings and more traffic to your site.
To learn more about the benefits of having a comment section and user-generated content check out the rest of our blog.
Originally published . Last updated .
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