As you may have noticed I switched “mid” the 30 day blog challenge to the Disqus comment system. Ok, it was only 5 days in, but considering in the years that I have been using WordPress this is a major change.
What made me change?
Someone needed a plugin for a specific function. Being the WordPress Rockstar, I was asked what plugin was needed, and during that time I found several posts about Disqus. After a bit of research I decided to try it. Now I am changing all my blogs to the Disqus comment system.
What is Disqus?
Pronounced Discuss, Disqus is changing the way blog comment systems work. Actually according to their site they allow “you to add next-gen community management and social web integrations to any site on any platform.” This means that it allows more social interaction via comments. Social interaction allows for a community to grow which is of course good traffic for your website.
Reduce clutter with Disqus
Many bloggers use plugins such as Akismet to block spam. CommentLuv to give love to comments. Subscribe to Comments to keep updated. While all these plugins allow for greater communication with your readers, the more plugins you use the greater the chance of blog problems. With Disqus readers can like a comment, subscribe to comments, find out more information about a commenter, and subscribe to that person’s comments.
Why should you use Disqus?
Your readers can log in with Facebook or Twitter which will allow them to quickly repost their comment. Your blog will show on their Twitter or Facebook wall which will increase promotion of your blog. Readers can send their comments to other sites as well again increasing your publicity. And when your readers comment on another blog, if someone likes their comment they can see what other blogs that reader comments on, which includes yours, which is a great cross promotion for you. So the question may be why would you not try Disqus?
I've never heard of Disqus. Now I must investigate. Thanks once again for great info, MJ.
Today is going to be how to install it. It's not quite as “cut and dry” as other systems. However I have had 2 blogs that have gone from daily spam to none. I am loving that. And right now I am in Disqus, I can reply to any comment quickly and easily. I like that
Hey MJ,Glad you're enjoying Disqus! If you have any questions just shoot me a message.-Giannii
Thank you Giannii. Hopefully with today's post I explained in enough detail how people can get started with Disqus. Looks like your influence is growing, as I see more and more blogs using it.
I always thought it was convenient on the blogs I've commented on. Never thought to compare to all the other options. I just liked it from the get go and thought it was the standard.
Wow! That sounds really great. I'm going to check it out. Appreciate your recommendation… now to read the “How To” you wrote today. You ROCK!
I made the switch recently also, on the Principled Profit God Business Blog. So far, quite happy with it.
Shel, There are people on the opposite side, who preach of the disadvantages, but like you, I am happier with it than having 4 plugins and getting bombarded with spam. ~ MJ
Ooops, osrry, that should have been “Good Business Blog,” not God.
Having just gone through a bunch of comments on Disqus as well as some that were posted to older pages of my blog and required dealing with manual approval in WordPress, I like Disqus MUCH better.
I am glad you do! The ability to go back and see where you commented? It’s wonderful. You follow a trail of blogs and the people who comment on them, and suddenly you are 5 blogs away from the one you started. A week later you may remember you commented, and may remember the one of the 5 blogs but not the one you commented on. That is annoying.
Thank you!
MJ Schrader