1. Advertising
    y u no do it?

    Advertising (learn more)

    Advertise virtually anything here, with CPM banner ads, CPM email ads and CPC contextual links. You can target relevant areas of the site and show ads based on geographical location of the user if you wish.

    Starts at just $1 per CPM or $0.10 per CPC.

Comments Vs. Social Shares ... Which Do You Prefer?

Discussion in 'Blogging' started by Andrew M. Warner, Nov 3, 2014.

  1. #1
    I was just wondering which one would you be more excited to have if you could only have 1.

    More comments? Like 100+ comments to each of your blog posts?

    Or more social shares? Like 1000+ social shares for each blog post?

    And why would you prefer the one you choose?

    For me, it's probably comments because it's more engaging, how about you?
     
    Andrew M. Warner, Nov 3, 2014 IP
    luanatf and aidanriley629 like this.
  2. aidanriley629

    aidanriley629 Banned

    Messages:
    429
    Likes Received:
    23
    Best Answers:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    175
    #2
    Comments! Sharing is what you do when you have nothing to say. (Same as retweeting! :p)
     
    aidanriley629, Nov 4, 2014 IP
  3. Hefaistos

    Hefaistos Active Member

    Messages:
    194
    Likes Received:
    14
    Best Answers:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Digital Goods:
    1
    #3
    Social shares, because this will bring more new traffic to your website. I do not mean that the 1000 shares to be yours, but from visitors interested in your website content. More shares would mean that you have high quality content that is appreciated by others.
    With more traffic, the comments will come automatically.
     
    Hefaistos, Nov 7, 2014 IP
  4. Brent Jones

    Brent Jones Active Member

    Messages:
    64
    Likes Received:
    8
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    #4
    I would definitely choose comments.

    I published a new article on my blog the other day. In its first day, it was shared almost 30 times on LinkedIn. Do you know how many visits I got from LinkedIn that day? Less than five.

    Shares are more of a 'social proofing' mechanism than a way to generate real, live, engaged traffic.

    Comments on the other hand indicate some level of interest and engagement. And for me, I use the Facebook Comments plugin, which often means my commenters are posting a link on Facebook to my article at the same time. I'd rather have 100 engaged readers than 1000 shares.
     
    Brent Jones, Nov 13, 2014 IP
  5. Girdas

    Girdas Member

    Messages:
    15
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    36
    #5
    It depends on what is the purpose the blog. Personally I am trying to make money with it, therefore, i would appreciate 1000 shares more. My income depends on how many people sees the page. But having a comment or two is pleasant :)
     
    Girdas, Nov 13, 2014 IP
  6. H0stZealot

    H0stZealot Active Member

    Messages:
    327
    Likes Received:
    33
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    70
    #6
    If you provide a truly high quality content, it will make people think and lead them to commenting your text to express their emotions. And if they agree with your point of view - they may share your content further. It works this way for me.
     
    H0stZealot, Nov 13, 2014 IP
  7. Girdas

    Girdas Member

    Messages:
    15
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    36
    #7
    that's also a good point! I only share the thing that I think other people should know. Things worth attention. And the shared content comes from the author and me at the same time.
     
    Girdas, Nov 13, 2014 IP
  8. Alex Toll

    Alex Toll Active Member

    Messages:
    103
    Likes Received:
    29
    Best Answers:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    98
    #8
    Definitely comments. These people actually took the time to respond to your content. And this is the best thing. Your content actually moved someone enough. These people are more likely to convert (subscribe, buy from you or order your services).

    Social shares are mostly empty - I could get you 50 Facebook likes, by simply sharing through a ton of Facebook groups. And those are usually filled with other content spammers, just like you.

    Although, I must admit, the social factor kicks in at a certain point. When someone sees your article with zero reactions (likes, shares, tweets, etc.), they're less likely to actually share your content themselves. In this case, you might actually lose out on new audience.
     
    Alex Toll, Nov 20, 2014 IP
  9. inkBlogger[Dot]Com

    inkBlogger[Dot]Com Member

    Messages:
    41
    Likes Received:
    2
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    38
    #9
    Comments.. Comments give me some personal satisfaction that it made some impact on the mind of the readers and who the readers is. By knowing him, i can help him further in that particular topic.. Also comments will be helpful to other readers, who may have to ask the same question asked by someone else already. Comments also help me to add more "useful" information to an existing content, as the readers demand and i will get an idea on how my future content should be.. This will help me to make a brand image for my Blog.

    For me social shares are like people who pass by in front of me while i am waiting for my best friend to arrive.. means that there is no engagement .. without any engagement we can not improve ourself or our Blog and take the business into next level.. but it is true that social shares can give you new readers who may turn into a client in near future.. but the probability is less compare to comment... When a 100 shares can bring you a "new engaging readers" , an already engaging readers can bring you several new "targeted readers" to your Blog. Also remember that comments can give you the opportunity to include more keywords in a page and rank better in search engines.
     
    inkBlogger[Dot]Com, Nov 20, 2014 IP
  10. Active

    Active Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    212
    Likes Received:
    9
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    125
    #10
    Social shares win when you have a strong social profiles. Otherwise comments are okay, I think.
     
    Active, Dec 8, 2014 IP
  11. crick3t

    crick3t Active Member

    Messages:
    217
    Likes Received:
    8
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    78
    #11
    Social sharing is the TRAFIC from one or more social media networks.
     
    crick3t, Mar 1, 2015 IP
  12. lofuji

    lofuji Greenhorn

    Messages:
    30
    Likes Received:
    6
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    23
    #12
    I couldn't give a toss about people sharing any of my posts, because most recipients of a share ignore it entirely. I certainly do. On the other hand, I welcome comments, and I especially appreciate comments that the writer has obviously spent quite a lot of time over.
     
    lofuji, Mar 17, 2015 IP
  13. ITeachBlogging

    ITeachBlogging Member

    Messages:
    39
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    38
    #13
    I have been thinking more and more about this question and I think that at this point in my blog, I would prefer comments. Comments are great as feedback and encouragement that I am on the right track.
     
    ITeachBlogging, Mar 23, 2015 IP
  14. Rocko Berry

    Rocko Berry Active Member

    Messages:
    117
    Likes Received:
    3
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    78
    #14
    I would prefer comments. Like and shares can be brought through service providers but comments looks natural and come from real people.
     
    Rocko Berry, Apr 10, 2015 IP
  15. RogerDale

    RogerDale Greenhorn

    Messages:
    46
    Likes Received:
    2
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    8
    #15
    I prefer comments but only if they refer to the content in the post. I like to see that people really read my posts and want to discuss them... even if it involves criticism :)
     
    RogerDale, Apr 23, 2015 IP
  16. KatnissEverdeen

    KatnissEverdeen Active Member

    Messages:
    241
    Likes Received:
    10
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    53
    #16
    If I only was able to chose one I would chose Social Sharing. I would chose this because with each social share you will reach out to people that you might not be able to reach on your own. Each share will drive traffic to your website, forum, blog, or whatever you want traffic sent to.
     
    KatnissEverdeen, Apr 23, 2015 IP
  17. Hostname.club

    Hostname.club Active Member

    Messages:
    165
    Likes Received:
    3
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    90
    Digital Goods:
    11
    #17
    With each topic I share on twitter, I got a few clicks, but it displays to around 200 twitter accounts. Is it good?
    I will prefer blog comments for better discussion with other :)
     
    Hostname.club, May 4, 2015 IP