Reward WordPress Comments with the Top Commentators Widget

by Christian Hollingsworth on April 21, 2009

As you’ve probably already noticed – I’m making an effort to reward my blog commentators. Just recently I’ve activated DoFollow for all comment links, allowing the link-love to spread. I’ve also just recently installed the Top Commentators widget for Smart Boy Designs.

Following are some of my thoughts regarding this excellent plugin – and why you too should be using it.

The Specs

The Top Commentators widget plugin (found here) for WordPress blogs is an excellent way to reward blog commentators. It’s extremely simple to setup – and allows you to add the widget to your sidebar with a click of a button. There’s also some powerful features that come along with this widget. In your Top Commentators widget options area – you have the ability to set the following specifications, and more.

Whether or not to display comment count.
The ability to remove users from the list. I removed myself from the list – as I’m obviously going to be one of the top commentators. I’d recommend doing the same.
How many users should be shown.
Linkage of username to website.
Display list as bullets or numbered.
Whether to show a Gravatar.

As can be easily seen – the Top Commentators widget offers a vast array of features, with a very simple installation process.

Why use the widget?

There are many reasons to use the Top Commentators widget. First being that it’s important to show your appreciation for your readers participation. On my own blog I’ve marked that the usernames on the Top Commentators widget should be hyper-linked to the commentator’s blog. This is a perfect way to automatically “thank” your top comment creators with a traffic rich link to their blog.

Another benefit of using the Top Commentators widget is that it will help in driving up your comment participation. If you’re running a well-known, content rich blog – then most people won’t pass up the chance to get their name listed as one of the Top Commentators.

My Monthly Comment Contest

One more prize is in store for the Top Commentators on Smart Boy Designs. Every month – I’ll take the time to post a review of the Top Commentator’s blog. This will include a screenshot, background information, and my impressions of the blog. And, of course, a link to your blog will be promoted.

At the end of every month, the Top Commentators widget will be reset – allowing new readers to join in on the fun and link building opportunities.

Conclusion

As seen here – the Top Commentators widget is a very valuable tool for all blogs. It helps to drive up participation, and helps in bringing greater value of your blog to readers and comment creators. Take the time to check out the plugin – and see if it works for you.

Blogging isn’t a one-way street. Comments should be appreciated and praised – as they allow bloggers to interact directly with the readers they’re producing content for.

Remember – don’t horde comment links like a greedy little squirrel.

Photo by Strange Ones

Tagged as: comment, comments, plugin, reward, reward wordpress comments, top commentators widget, widget, Wordpress

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{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }

Elisabeth April 22, 2009 at 5:03 am

That’s very cool! I’d love to be able to reward my commentators with a review of their own blog, but at the moment I don’t think I have enough commentators or enough time to do so I think it’s great that you do though, and ofcourse spread the word that blogging is not a one-way street! I really enjoyed reading this, and it’s cool that you promote widgets that works for wordpress (because from what I’ve noticed wordpress is very strict – which is good but also a bit sad lol). Thanks for posting this!

suzen April 22, 2009 at 5:35 am

That sounds great! I’ll try not to have one of my techy-bimbo-scaredypants seizures here but I’m so new I haven’t mastered links and gadgets/widgets/thingys yet. I’m learning as I go along (sometimes with the help of a geek friend, truth be told) and I’m in for the ride as long as you are driving.

Smart Boy Twitter: smartboydesigns April 22, 2009 at 11:44 am

Elisabeth – thank you for the kind compliments. Glad you’re enjoying the features and posts. Glad to have you here on the blog!

As for Wordpress.COM, yes, it’s somewhat more strict than Blogspot blogs it seems. If you have a hosted Wordpress blog (like this one) then you have all the freedom in the world. That’s why you’re able to install any plugin you’d like.

suZen, I’m glad to drive. Where shall we go next?

My Used Cargo Trailers April 25, 2009 at 7:46 am

I’ve been posting comments on my friends WordPress blog for about 6 months. Now all of a sudden I am unable to. The comment “send” button is frozen. I press it, and nothing happens. I have Google Blogger. I am entering the same information as always. I have had no problem commenting on other WordPress blogs. She has no idea why I can’t comment either. Any ideas?

Smart Boy Twitter: smartboydesigns April 29, 2009 at 7:26 am

Can “anyone” comment on her blog, or is it just you that can’t?

david May 13, 2009 at 7:41 pm

Great idea. There are a lot of blog to read out there and personally I only return to those that give me link love and set for Do Follow. I’ll be back to read and contribute.

Max Netten May 16, 2009 at 8:15 am

I love the Top commenter link. I don’t know why they call it commentator when you are commenting.

Max

muscle car forum May 17, 2009 at 5:37 am

i like the Top Commenter widget too. I use it in my blog and it seems to work out nicely

Used trucks June 18, 2009 at 11:55 pm

oh dats really cool..

so nw v top commetators will be rewarded.. I love the Top commenter link. am very excited for that..

enjoyed reading ur post, specially its good that you promote widgets that works for wordpress.

Thnx for the gr8 post! kp up the good work..

Smart Boy Twitter: smartboydesigns June 27, 2009 at 3:30 pm

Thanks all for reading and commenting. Glad to give back via links!

financial planner July 7, 2009 at 12:55 am

hi this is a nice article with a good article.thanks for have a nice post

Kaitlyn July 17, 2009 at 9:39 am

Do all the eco gadgets have rechargeable batteries ?

Cricut Cartridges Online July 28, 2009 at 12:46 pm

Smart Boy,

Great article. Admittedly, when I was learning about SEO and the benefits of nofollowing everything in sight, I was sceptical of this plugin – but have recently realised its potential – I am no longer a squirrel, but instead a, er, non-squirrel

Best Web Site Host September 1, 2009 at 12:20 am

I want to try the plugin but are a bit worried about spam, do you experience any problems and how do you prevent spam?

casting tele September 22, 2009 at 8:36 am

Interesting post. I have stumbled and twittered this for my friends. Hope others find it as interesting as I did.

Manie September 22, 2009 at 11:15 pm

What is the best way to find blogs that uses the Top commenter plugin?

Tony Brown September 23, 2009 at 4:25 pm

I don’t know If I said it already but …Great site…keep up the good work. I read a lot of blogs on a daily basis and for the most part, people lack substance but, I just wanted to make a quick comment to say I’m glad I found your blog. Thanks,

A definite great read..Tony Brown

Beagle Training September 29, 2009 at 1:11 pm

That’s pretty interesting. I hate how most blogs don’t allow their commentators even leave a dofollow link. I guess that’s thanks to all the spammers. I’m planning on installing DoFollow on all my blogs sometime soon as well. Going to look into the top commentators widget later on.

loans November 7, 2009 at 3:55 am

Awesome man! I posted some comments before anyway, because a lot of your stuff is really awesome.If interested in link exchange please contact me.

Smart Boy November 9, 2009 at 1:30 am

Thank you for all your thoughts. Glad to see that the posts are being enjoyed. Always wonderful to have such a supportive community of readers! Thank you.

Tatesjourney Twitter: TheESLChronicle November 17, 2009 at 8:34 am

I use the widget after seeing the benefits you have outlined above but recently it kept showing NA on my blog so I disabled it and when I did some tweaking and got it to work again, it started over on the commenting and this makes it harder to keep up with who is winning on my commenting contest. I use “WP-Top Commentator” like you do but is there a better widget or one that comes close that you know of? Thanks in advance.

Tatesjourney Twitter: TheESLChronicle November 17, 2009 at 2:34 pm

Delhi Hotels June 10, 2010 at 4:14 pm

This is a nice idea, since some of people use social media sites to promote their business, they have also a chance to share their idea and information about their site and business by looking on social media reaction that created by disqus.

fun days July 20, 2010 at 6:30 am

This is a great list Simon. I’ve gotten some nice back links myself using this strategy so I know it works. Do you see any traffic coming from your comments or just back links?

Nil jhonson April 29, 2011 at 8:18 am