I’ve skipped comments analysis at half year blogging mark because I wanted to reach nice round number. Took one more month but I am there at last and it is time for some statistics and thoughts.
Numbers
- 463 comments by yours truly, no one will get away without an answer;
- 2 trackbacks – very low with 250+ blog reactions at Technorati, either tech is failing or concept is dead;
- which leaves 534 comments by 154 visitors;
- approximately 1.2% of total unique visitors made a comment;
- 126 visitors filled an URL field;
- 2.44 comments per post;
- 10% of commentators made 60% of comments;
- 60% of commentators made single comment.
Overall most visitors won’t touch comment form with a pole. Out of few who do – less then half will go beyond single comment.
People
Took me a while but I started to recognize few distinct types of commentators.
Occasional commentators are those who drop on post by link or Google and they are in the right mood to respond. Then they most probably bounce. Number of these directly depends on traffic and this is type that makes high-traffic sites look so lively.
Lurkers can read blog for months until rare mood swing or topic exactly hitting their interests makes them leave a comment. Converting lurkers to commentators is good sign for a blog. I think it is important that readers understand that they not only benefit from reading posts but from asking questions and making suggestions as well.
- Yan of Thou Shall Blog
- Martin of gHacks
- Jonny of Jonnys Blog
Raiders comment on numerous posts in single sweep. They can be both one-time visitors or long-time readers that find it easier to read in bulk. They value blog overall but it may be not exact fit for their taste.
- Nihar of Nihars World.
Listeners come to see what I had written about their site or product. Best listeners pay attention and keep in touch for future feedback and opportunities, worst plug their “we are awesome” line and disappear for good.
- Calvin Yu of Skribit
- Melanie Baker of PostRank
- John of John’s Adventures
- Paul Schottland of Microsoft
Community commentators read blog consistently. They pay more attention to topics that are interesting to them but will consider rest of information because they have high level of trust in blog overall.
- Lyndi of nice2all
- Ben of frogstr
- Diego of Talk Binary
- Donace of Nexus
- Lax of TechZoomIn
- MK of Sembang Komputer
- Squeaky of Madmouse Blog
- Angelo R.
Probably missing plenty of nice people I hadn’t seen for a while, be sure to show your face in comments if you are still around. :)
Posts
I still have trouble predicting which posts will get discussion going. Some good topics get links but no discussion here. Some simple filler posts get numerous comments. It is easy to give opportunity to talk but no way to make visitors grab that opportunity each time.
I also understand that daily posting schedule is hardly good for long discussions. More focus on recent and less on posts pushed down.
Overall comments are very important part of blogging experience. They turn publishing into dialog. The type of dialog that becomes part of the posts.
Revisiting Wakoopa to track my regular software
Remote access to PC with TightVNC
1000 subscribers milestone
Do you read any sites for comments alone?
Three months blogging milestone
Few words to comment marketing scum
Just by seeing my name mentioned makes me want to post another comment! Woo! :)
Keep up the good work!
@Diego
Wow, what a fast response. :) Practice makes better I guess. Thanks and will do.
Not seeing my name – is not gonna make me leave and stay-a-away….
Will keep coming till ya mention me…. oh… and after that I will keep coming… ;)
Nice posts – nice statistics.
Not going to do this (yet) – would be sad…. all kinds of low numbers.
@Sjeltur
I couldn’t fit 150+ names in the post but that doesn’t mean I am less glad to have rest (or even those who don’t comment at all). :)
Well, the point of doing statistics showcases is having some stats to show. :) And it sure takes time to get those. I am sticking to three months milestones for general stuff but wanted more specific post for comments.
Rarst, I am again here. Raider! Will now read lot of pending posts and leave comments :)
Adding one more point. I would like to also become any of the above category for my blog. I don’t see you at all on my blog.
Come on. I don’t post cricket content always.
Wow, that’s one detailed explanation. Maybe I should do this on my blog too, show some appreciations..
Congrats Rarst, on the milestone. And thanks for the trackback :)
What a nice way of doing this. I have noticed that many celebrate their first 1000 comments in some or other way. You have added some interesting facts about the commenters here. You have gone to a lot of trouble to collect this information.
@Nihar
Gosh, you did that again. :) On your blog I am long in the lurker category.
@MK
Yeah, I know I am boring. :) Thanks for sticking with my blog!
@Lyndi
Yeah, took some time to put it together. But not hard post to do, it’s good to relax and pitch some stats once in a while. Thanks for always being around and commenting! :)
Excellent Milestone – Nice to have my name in there too! I’m not lurking so much anymore. :)
@Jonny
Yeah, but you was. :)
congratz on the 1k mark!i’m still only at 380ish, though my last few posts have been getting 20 comments each so on my current rate so in 42 posts I should get 1k! lol
Congratz and thanks for the link!
@Donace
Thanks. :) 20 comments per post is pretty good, I rarely get that much.
Then again Rarst I post once a week; you post every day, not to mention half of those 20 is me replying!
@Donace
Yeah, I am thinking of reducing posting rate bit more. I do 6 posts per week at moment. When I am in a mood it’s easy, when not – it can suck. :)
so when are you making on to my blog?
@Nihar
I had my lurking raid there this month. :) btw I had added you in GTalk.
@Rarst First off, thanks for the mention! I feel bad though, cause I’m the only one who doesn’t link to a blog or anything.. makes me want to get my old one up and running again.
Secondly, with regards to posts, maybe you should accept guest posts as well.. maybe once a week you could review them and put up a good one. It’s good PR for those who are looking to push their own blogs as well and it’s fun for those who just like writing about software.
I’m sure with the great caliber of commenters that you’ve accumulated, you’ll be rolling in great content in no time!
@Angelo
Thanks for awesome extensive comments! :)
It’s not that I don’t accept guest posts – just never asked for those and no one offered. Blog is really far from caliber when people want to get on it for promotion. :)
I can’t believe I didn’t comment in here when you link back to me…Sorry mate and thanks a lot for the link!
As for what posts drive comments, I find it difficult to predict. Sometimes I write post I’m sure will get Retweeted, receive lots of comments, etc and they almost get no exposures. Sometimes I write a post I think doesn’t deserve much attention and traffic to it skyrocket… Anyway. Straight to the points articles about popular subjects seems to work well. But then again, do I want to be like everyone else? That’s another question!
Thanks!
Ben.
@Ben
Yeah, hadn’t seen much of you lately (and you talk about work all the time). :)
And we definitely are far from good at being like everyone else! :)