When talking about websites, it is important to make it easy for the reader, so they will continue reading. I call this website readability and have written a few blogs on how to allow the reader to scan or skim your content. Then, the hope is that they will comment and share the blog after, right?
Get them to comment and share
Of course we want them to comment because that begins some dialogue with the reader and helps to building the relationship. Plus, it’s good for search engine optimization (SEO) in that it tells Google, or any search engine, that the blog is interesting and relevant to others – providing a little authority. Then, after they comment, we want them to tell the world, hey, this was a super cool article about xyz, check it out.
You want your readers to comment and share, so why not make it easy?? Click To TweetWordPress plugins
I’m writing based on the premise you have WordPress, however surely there are means within other websites to do something similar, so check out your Help section. Otherwise, the rest of this is geared mostly to the WP user.
Make it easy to comment
You’ll have a plugin for comments but please make sure it is easy to find and easy to do. Nothing like reading a really cool blog and having to search for where to comment or having to register for yet another site that we won’t likely ever use again JUST to comment on your blog. Remember, the point, make it easy for the reader and they will be more likely to ‘comply’.
Don’t forget to thank them for commenting and reply to their comments with any answers to questions or additional information about their comment.
Make it easy to share
You will likely have a different plugin to share and there are many out there. I have actually been
through a few for various reasons but find one that you like, that works well with your site (theme and version) and more specifically one that you know how to use. You will want to click on the settings and check out all of the items that you can do, the icons you can use, the links to your social media channels and any other specific settings – size, placement, what pages/posts it shows up on and etc. Again, the point here is we WANT them to share, if you make it hard, they won’t be able to or won’t want to.
Tagging
Hopefully your settings were complete and they were able to tag you on Facebook (by adding a @YourBizName), on Google+ (by adding +YourBizName), on LinkedIn (by adding your name) or in Twitter (by adding @YourBizName). Now, keep in mind, it is not their job to seek your credentials to find you, but if you do see them sharing, please do thank them and engage in that post.
Twitter handle (ahem)
This one is kind of a pet peeve of mine, I must confess. FYI – the plugin settings almost always add the ability to add your Twitter handle and I believe most people share to Facebook or Twitter anyways, so why not make it easier? The cool thing about you adding your handle to your settings, you get notified of the share! What? That’s huge because you get your handle automatically added to the tweet and your reader didn’t have to do anything and you get notified. Score! Then, it is super easy to engage with them on Twitter. (Freebie Side Note: Click to tweets are awesome ways to get your reader to share and if set up properly as well WILL add your Twitter handle – SCORE!)
What do you think about this.. which would YOU prefer to see pop up when your reader shares?
I don’t know about you, but I prefer the last one!
Hopefully this has helped you to understand the importance of not only making your website easier to read, but easier to comment and share all the while giving them the opportunity to tag you. Remember, we don’t want to make our consumer work, that’s our job! The easier we make it for them, the better for everyone.
Let me know if you have any questions or need help. I am available for hourly consultation; I’ll even break it up in half hour sessions for you. Or, if you need help with your website readability or shareability, please do let me know.
~Kristen
I am learning all about WP plugins. My comment is easy to find but would love to learn how to offer something free if they sign up. Not sure my email plugin is working right.
That is awesome Rebecca, be sure you update them often. I would test your email form from start to finish to be sure it is properly set up.
Kristen, You always have the best tips for making things easier! I agree that it is very annoying to read a great article and then not see how or where to comment. It’s one of my pet peeves. Making it easy to share makes it much more likely that you will get that extra bonus of people you don’t even know seeing your priceless words!
You are the best explainer. Fortunately for us, our web developer/coach set these things up & I have some understanding but after I read your blog, yippee. I really understand it. I know we are set up the 3rd way, but I never questioned why this, not that nor do I notice on other people’s how it is. Love your main graphic which I will treat.
Awww shucks, thanks Roz, I really try and didn’t realize how well until I heard from all of my followers, like you! Glad that your web geek does your stuff for you, however also glad that you understand it now! 😉
Great tips, Kristen. The technological side of all this is truly physics to me, but you make it understandable! Going to check my handles now!
Awesome Susan.. glad that it is becoming more understandable to you and yes, please check yours, just in case. 😉
Thank you for this post COMMENT & SHARE YOUR CONTENT.. I am trying to figure out which plug in to use… I like how you have the box tweet this… what plugin are you using to do this or are you creating a picture and then hyperlinking to it? It has been a while since I have update anything on my WordPress and would love to know how to do this… thanks for a great blog by the way
There are several and it depends on your theme which would work. I have used ShareThis before and it was fine, but they get tweeted and put themselves on your stuff if you don’t change it. I use AddToAny now and it seems to work also. Had to seek out code to get how to change the Twitter handle tho. Better Click to Tweet is great.. makes sharing even better. Let me know if you need any help.
You really hit the target dead on, Kristen. When a customer can’t do something easily, they often give up quickly and move on. You have to set up your site to get the results you want. Really liked the share samples you included.
Thanks Meggie! You got that right.. if it is hard to find or too much trouble, they are moving on! Glad you liked the samples too! :0
It seems that everyone has their blog on WordPress, but my website is set up on a different platform and there is a blog page which I use to post my blogs. It’s not as versatile as WordPress, but blogs are not my main marketing tool right now. I also have Medium account, but I find Medium very limiting, unless there are some bells and whistles that I’m not aware of..
Yes Verushka, because it is so versatile. However, depending on what you have yours on and the back end, will determine your capabilities. I’d likely start with the Help section of yours. Let me know if you need help. (BTW, blogs should be your main marketing tool.. HUGE value! 🙂 )
I am so with you on people not having their twitter handle in their social sharing and I actually search it out and add it! Thanks again for helping me with the code for the new plugin you suggested too. 🙂 I see you have two Google + options in your sharing setting under your post, and am curious why. I also see you haven’t activated the FB like button, which I thought was important to offer as an option. Agree with you Kristen about making it easy to find the person on social media and also easy to share their content. What is the point of creating a great read and then having it to difficult to share? You’ve covered the whys in a very easy to understand post!
Yes, it is one of my pet peeves Bev… but sometimes it is a plugin update that knocks it out of whack or folks just don’t know.. so we will help educate them, right?! 😉 You are welcome on the code… I had to seek that lil bit out.. but found it fairly easily. The G+… I have one that is to share (standard icon) and the other is more for +1. It’s like a FB ‘like’. Which leads me to your other question… I don’t have the FB like because the like in FB is so devalued now and I would prefer a share, so I don’t give that option, however it’s still has some value over on G+… (it’s Google, they are kind of a big deal. lol) And so, sharing is caring and we need to make it easy for peeps. Thanks Bev!
Great post! I’m with you about the Twitter handle. It would be nice to not have to hunt down the Twitter handle for someone. I feel like it wastes so much time especially when I just started sharing that person’s content. I remember years ago that people would have their social media links right on the front page, now I have to hunt for them too. =( Thanks for bringing this up.
Agreed Sabrina, I don’t like to have to work for it, especially when I do everything I can to make it easy for my fans/readers.
I need to look into an easy way for my blog to be shared. I always copy the link and paste.
Share plugins would be awesome for you Kim!
Kristen – thanks for the great article. Since I am not yet savvy at web design & social media, I assume that if I can’t share a post, it’s because of something I’m not doing correctly. The thing I like most about your article is to show me that it might not be my fault after all! The thing is, I feel “other” when this sort of thing happens (when I can’t share a post) – like I’m not part of the in-crowd whose members exchange info with ease. How much better it would be to sell an idea or product if clients felt if not savvy, at least not irritated. Again, great post!
That is most likely Joan, if you have a share plugin, then you should be able to share any of your content as it will likely show up on all posts. You don’t have to be the ‘in’ crowd but to know how to help your readers, who is your target! Thank you!
I have to go back and figure out how my Twitter works. I hit to tweet button and it automatically sends the tweet out before I can even comment. Very good advice. I’ll just have to make time to make sure things are working correctly.
Hey there Joyce, just want back to yours, you don’t actually have a sharing feature, so you will want to add the plugin. You only have icons for people to see your social profiles and then follow you.
I have been getting better at implementing everything on your list but of course there’s room for improvement. I know, with your help, I keep getting better!!! 🙂
I am so glad that you are Lisa, it will improve your site in the long term. Great job!
The best thing we can provide is access or accessibility. The easier it is for people to comment and share, the better for you!
Oh yes, so true Liz, keep it simple, we win too!
You always have such great information that I can immediately put to use, Kristen!
I am so glad Carol, thanks so much!
This is great info, and it’s really important. It’s imperative to tweak out your sharing platforms. It’s important to personalize everything, actually. It’s the only way you’ll stand out.
Thanks so much Melisa, glad you understand the value too!
Not making it easy to comment is one of my biggest pet peeves. If you really want comments (which most bloggers do), then why would you make people jump through hoops to do it?
Ummm, YES Stacey! I can not agree with you more.. why not make it easy?
My posts are easy to share and comment on. I am always checking that my share buttons and commenting system work so that my readers can easily share my posts.
I have noticed that Heather, great job! Always double check when that plugin updates too
True, it is really a good idea to make it easier to comment and share. And I read an article by Mark Schaefer where he mentioned how important it is to include your Twitter handle in the tweets one can share from your blog article also in order to make it easier for the reader to share your content. And to not need to sit looking up your Twitter handle via your profile etc. 🙂
OH yes Katarina.. having the handle already in there helps so much, the readers aren’t always going to hunt it down!
I think one of the biggest things we forget is to ask for it. Yes, ask for the comment or share. Women, in particular, have a hard time doing that. Time to get over it!
Yes Jackie and you are so right.. women of all people are the worst. lol
Your pet peeve is mine too! When people don’t have their Twitter handle added automatically in their share plug-in I will often try to find it and add it manually (especially if they have included my link in a round-up, etc.) but I am sure the average reader would never bother to do that!
Another pet peeve are CAPTCHAs to leave a comment or having to solve a math problem to leave the comment. It’s not that I can’t do math, but I really don’t want to have to go through an extra step just to leave a comment. Don’t make me work for it – hat is what spam plug-ins are for!
I have to agree Chrysa, signing in and silly captcha are kind of annoying but the twitter handle thing or making your consumer work to share or comment.. just crazy.
Great ideas, I need to get better at some of these things. I’ve tried to make it as easy as possible on my blog, but I’m still on blogger so there’s that. I also hate CAPTCHA, and have it turned off. I’m pinning your post to follow up and make sure I have done everything I can to get my readers more engaged. Thanks for sharing.
Yes Molly, familiar with the blogger ads so that isn’t always that easy for readers.. stopped following recipes on Pinterest for that reason.. took forever to load them. Glad you are seeing the value in my blogs.
I had never thought of that! I love the idea of the Twitter handle! Thanks for sharing!
It’s even easier if you use a plugin on a WP blog Renata!
Agree, always better when people include their Twitter handle in the tweet to share, as it is a bit too much work to sit looking up the Twitter handle yourself. And then you taught me to not forget it in the tweet to click either. :-))
Yes.. that is exactly right Katarina.. why make them work for it?