Confessions of a Six Figure Professional Blogger

Blog Comments And a HUGE Wasted Opportunity

February 16, 2009 | Feature, Marketing

We all know that list building is important. Especially because I have beaten the point to death here on this website. :) You want to capture leads all ways possible. However, most blogs have a big, GAPING hole in their lead collection strategy. What is it?

It is the comment form.

When you post a comment on a blog, what do you enter? Your name, email address, perhaps your URL, and your comment. What do you want when capturing leads to your email list? Name and email address. So, every commenter on your blog is handing this information over in order to post a comment. However, in most cases, it is completely wasted!

Wordpress does not include any way to capture these email addresses into a list. Wordpress only uses these emails for the purposes of moderation.

The answer I have found is called Action Comments. It is a Wordpress plug-in which will give your commenters a one-click option to subscribe to your mailing list while they are posting a comment. I set it up on this blog and it works like a champ.

When you install it, you will enter the opt-in form HTML for your mailing system into your settings. It doesn’t have to be formatted or anything. Whenever a commenter decides to subscribe to your list, Action Comments invisibly takes the name and email address they they’re already entering and submits it using the opt-in form code you enter.

The great thing about this plug-in is that your readers are not forced to re-enter their information just to subscribe to your list. They’re already doing it just to post a comment, so you just collect it (with their consent, of course).

Statistically, this blog has been collecting only about 75% less leads via Action Comments than via the opt-in form in the right sidebar. That’s incredible. That means that about 42% of all of my opt-ins to the mailing list (since I installed this plug-in) have come by way of Action Comments. That’s a GREAT increase in my opt-in rate!

Using Aweber, I recommend that you set up a unique web form just for Action Comments that way you can specifically track opt-ins that come in that way. But, don’t worry, if you’re not using Aweber, Action Comments will still work for you. It really doesn’t matter what system you use to collect your leads.

Action Comments is a paid plug-in, but it is a bargain at only $12.95. Seriously, don’t even think about it. Grab a copy.

If you enjoyed this article, you might also like...

  1. Action Comments Gets An Upgrade
  2. Inside Look: Action Comments Plug-In
  3. The Secret To A Huge Mailing List – EXPOSED
  4. Using Multiple Opt-Ins To Track What Works [Aweber]
  5. The Secret To Attracting More Comments On Your Blog

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  • I only use the Feedburner box to collect emails.
  • sindhu89
    At the core level, doing business means selling your things to the customers. As such, some degree of marketing skills is required for running all types of businesses---online or offline. Now when it comes to running an online home business, marketing skills become even more crucial for your business success. Internet marketing is a different ballgame altogether and you need to have a sound marketing plan right from the starting of business. To work out a marketing plan, you have to keep an eye on your competitors. This will give you an idea about the advertising strategies and current price ranges of the products.
  • Wonderful tip and sounds like an awesome plugin. I will download it soon. Great price as well. Over the past 5 years of working online, I realized I also lost a ton of potential subscribers through my contact form on my site. I had been using CForms plugin for wordpress. I'd receive so many emails with questions, comments and customer services issues. I used a helpdesk before, but it was a pain and not worth the hassle. So, I did what I saw other successful business owners doing by creating a domain like: www.replytoholly.com which contained a FAQ, list of my websites and a form.

    I removed all my CForms on my sites. I setup an autoresponder form which I created to specifically work as a contact form (rather than a normal subscribe box). So they'd fill out the form, double opt-in (and I explained it was necessary to prevent spam, which did help with that significantly) and then they'd receive a notification that the form was sent to me and I'd reply shortly. Each request and contact form submission meant that they were on my contact form list. I make it clear to them that they are being subscribed. It has worked very well and increased my list significantly. Sorry my comment is so long but thought I might share what has helped me and my business. I know I lost a ton of contacts by not doing this sooner.
  • David, this is a great tip. Thanks.
  • Just purchased and installed this on one of my sites, but it isn't working - as in, it isn't there. Just wrote to Robert and hope for a response, but since it's late at night I suppose I shouldn't look for it until tomorrow.

    Can't figure out what I might have done wrong, but since I'm a non-techie I suppose it's something. It LOOKED straight forward enough for even me, but... No comment form comes up on my site.
  • I was using Feedburner's email subscription for almost 15 months and total number of subscribers I had was around 1600.

    After I started using Aweber in Nov 2008, I added another 3800.When I started out I was spending only for shared hosting. Then I moved to private server(after 1 year), then Aweber (after 16 months).
  • Not sure about spending money on comment plug-ins - especially for new blogs, right? Doesn't it make more sense to spend as little as possible at the start?
  • Action Comments plugin works great. I installed the code you had sent. It works great. I had put in so much thought if I have to pay for Email list building, but when I tried Aweber for 1 month, my traffic, page views, time spent on site increased by 30%. Action Comments certainly is worth spending. Not all visitors know how to sign up for news letter. So, finding all possible ways to increase the opt-in rates will help in long run.

    Robert - Good job with the plugin. I totally love Action Comments, now I'm adding more subscribers to the lists. For the price you are offering its a steal. I would have even paid more for that.
  • Hi David,

    This may be a great invention. Got to check it out soon.

    Cheers
    Vincent
    Personal Development Blogger
  • Raghu, we have spoken over e-mail. I got your latest reply late Friday night but I won't have access to the computer where I can check on the script until tomorrow (Monday). I am only on that computer on weekdays.
  • I installed Action Comments plugin last night. I couldn't get it to work with Aweber default form. Not sure what is wrong. I have sent email to Robert for support. Waiting to hear from him.

    Check box is getting displayed below the comments and Display count in Aweber form is increasing, but no verification mail is sent after submitting the comment.
  • I always wondered why something like this wasn't around about a year ago. Makes it easier for people. I suppose some folks who comment might think it's devious.

    While I'm down here at the comment form (so I don't have to scroll back up and around to find other opt-in forms), I would like to see a check box for your report that is advertised at the top of the page to. Maybe 3 check boxes:

    1. Subscribe to blog updates only or...

    2. Subscribe to blog updates and newsletter or...

    3. Subscribe to the whole Enchilada - "Yes, I want everything that comes out of David Risley's head - blog updates, newsletter and free reports - even the free reports that David does in the future. Count me in and just keep the goods flowing."

    There, how's that. :)
  • I am using the luvcomment plugin now, it's great idea!
  • Hey David, great article and even better video over on the other page :-)

    I'll and make it so people can have the checkbox unchecked by default without hacking the code.

    I was wondering where all those sales from pcmechdave were... I should have thought to check my referral stats :-P

    I capture the e-mail in three ways on the blog: popup, sidebar, comment form.

    I just subscribed to YOUR list from your comment form. :-)
  • WIllie
    Dave, thanks for this great tip and helping with building my email list!
  • Excellent tip. I always wondered if people manually captured these emails and used them later...
  • "I think the subscription box absolutely needs to be unchecked by default. " - Yes, I agree with that not all the people who commented are interested to receive emails, I have incidentally subscribed certain blogs in the past.
  • Dinesh Mathia
    Hey Dave, This is quite a good idea and you got me in the mailing list just because of this plugin. Its good, I can vouch for that.

    However, I would ask you check with the developer, as I couldn't find an option to contact him - if they can modify it work either with - Intense Debate or Disqus - bcuz I am planning on using one of these commenting systems and so are many others, and if it doesnt work with them, that wud be unfortunate -is there a way to check if this works with Intense debate or Disqus??

    Please Let me know!!
  • It is really a great plug-in for WP. I need to find a similar component for my Joomla! site.
  • No wonder I am getting back here over and over :)
    Thanks for sharing, I will manage to install it on my blogs, great idea!
  • Sorry, I realize I'm jumping the gun here. I haven't tried it to see how how the opt-in works, etc. etc. . And I see that on subsequent comments, the box doesn't appear, so it's not as intrusive as I thought at first look.

    I shall await more enlightenment. BTW, I love your newsletter, and I signed up just fine via the sidebar.

    Carry on...
  • Man, that thing is a trap!

    I think the subscription box absolutely needs to be unchecked by default. Otherwise, you'll catch people accidentally -- such an option in a comment box is the last thing I'd personally ever expect, and I for one might easily overlook it. It also adds an extra step to leaving a comment.

    I'll bet it generates some ill will, too. Seriously, the damn thing bothers me. Fix it, and I'm in.
  • I'm going to get my copy right now and install it on my site. Thanks for pointing out this plug-in David.
  • Wow, this is probably one of the best plugins i've seen lately. Thanks for pointing it out.
  • Stuart, I don't believe so however I bet it can *easily* be hacked in the code (if you know how).
  • Honestly this subscription plug-in looks just about perfect. My only question is there an option for the check box in it to not be checked by default?
  • Good one

    I've been looking for this kind of application called Action Comments...

    Will bookmark this page and refer back to it when i build up my blog first..I mean getting a domain name and more post on the blog..

    Thanks
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