If you have comments disabled on your blog, chances are I won’t spend my time reading it. If I spend the time reading your blog, then you should spend time reading the comments on your blog.
To disable comments on your blog is like saying, “screw you” to your readers. You are saying, “I don’t care what you think.” You are saying, “Even though I don’t care what you think, I want you to care about what I think.”
Some bloggers use the excuse that there are too many spammers and haters out there. Please. Then just delete those comments as they come up. Is it work to delete them? Yes. But it’s worth your time moderating comments, because you should show that your readers you are interested in what they have to say.
The next excuse given is that bloggers will say, “there’s lots of other ways for people to get in touch with me. Email, twitter, facebook.” Yes, all true. And I’m happy if you actually respond to people who spend the time sending you a message on those platforms. However, comments on a blog post aggregate everyone’s comments together. You establish a community around your blog. People will find more value in being able to leave their comment alongside other people’s comments. To have people comment via twitter or email leaves those comments in isolation from the rest of the world.
Give your readers the opportunity to share their thoughts with you and the world by enabling comments on your blog.
A blog without comments is like a book with no margins.
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As copyblogger shut down comments on their blog, @markwschaefer shares some great insights: