What makes people comment?
Its always seemed to be a bit of an oddity to me the way that people comment on blogs, photos, product reviews, and any other site which allows user comments. In the past, I haven’t been one to comment, and have had to force myself to do so in order to understand it better. Now that I’m trying to build my blog, I’m trying to encourage more people to comment! So now the big question: why DO people comment on things? A journal article I read recently suggested the following reasons based on their research.
Social interaction
It’s no mystery that interacting online fulfills a need for social interaction, at least for some people. Commenting can make one feel a part of a community. Many people are motivated to comment based on the social benefits they receive. Its interesting to hear what people think, and when you comment, you can also hear what people think about what YOU think through their responses.
Desire for economic incentives
I’ll be the first to admit that I have re-tweeted, commented, and posted links in Facebook in order to be entered into a drawing or other contest. Many sites offer prizes to entice people to comment or share marketing information about their site.
Concern for other consumers
The place I appreciate seeing comments the most is in product or vendor reviews. It is incredibly helpful to read others’ experiences with a product or company to help me determine where to take my business. More often than not, I base my purchases off of customer reviews rather than technical data.
Potential to enhance self worth
I have to be honest with myself and say that very few people read my site (so far). I remember looking at my Google Analytics report and seeing a spike in visits one day. The source responsible was from a website that I had commented on. I had used my “Avatar” which includes my website’s link, and that was it! I had several people see my link and click it. My worth was increased!
The opportunity to enhance self worth likely goes beyond this simple example. As you comment, people can see your knowledge, personality, and communication skills. Already, people are able to assess the kind of person you are. By making good comments, you can enhance your image to the online community!
What this means for site owners
By recognizing the motives which cause people to comment, you can build a website which facilitates those needs or desires. Popular sites can build a community environment where people can interact. Others can give away rewards, motivating comments. High quality posts can encourage debate and commenting to continue the discussion you start.
I’d be interested to learn any other reasons you comment on webpages! Do you have any ideas for encouraging users to comment on your posts? What kinds of comments are most helpful to you?
