I’ve visited a few blogs since I started blogging and over the last year my blog has grown in popularity and it’s comments, but the question is:
Is there a right or wrong way to display comments?
For those who are not sure what I mean by displaying your comments on your blog I shall try to explain…
On a Wordpress set up you have several options for your comments, one is that you can display your comments as the most recent comment at the top of the comments list or most recent at the bottom, another option which is useful for Website SEO is the option to split comments over pages, for example imagine you’ve got 40 comments on one post, imaging how big that page would look! So you can spread the comments over so many pages and does it make a difference in the SEO of your blog and help with the loading time with Google.
So now it’s over to my readers ….
- Do you prefer to have the comments with the latest at the top or the bottom of the comment list?
- How many comments per page do you think is just enough?
It will be interesting to see everyone’s responses about this 
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Related posts:
- Don’t lose out on comments when using Blogger!
- An Update To The Author Pages on Blazing Minds
- Check Your SPAM in Your WordPress Comments!
- My Favourite WordPress plugins Part 1
- How Can You Find Good Blog Content Worth Reading?
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A Question on Blog Comments?…
I’ve visited a few blogs over the last months and lately this blog has grown in popularity with it’s comments, but the question is, is there a right or wrong way to display comments?…
Twitter: arierich
says:
I like the comment list, with most recent on top. I have this on my blog page (kmpblog.com) and it doesn’t make your page too long.
KMP´s last blog ..The Providence Effect – September 25, 2009 (NATIONWIDE)
[Reply]
Twitter: symphonyoflove
says:
For me, I would like the recent comment to be showing at the top. But currently my is still have the most recent at the bottom. I have not tried to find any plug in that can make this setting. As for how many comments in a page to be just enough, I have not really thought about this question. But I don’t really like to click to next page to read more comments. I would rather stay on the same page and read all the comments.
BK´s last blog ..The More I Learn …
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Twitter: TechPatio
says:
By having the newest comments on top you can get around the problem with “comment snipers” just trying to get the first position.
But since it’s so popular to have newest at the bottom, it might be confusing to the readers when you’re reading from “new to old” – so you actually have to scroll to the bottom first in order to read in the correct timeline.
I’m not sure about the SEO effect of having multiple pages with comments, because your post content will still be the same, so in theory, duplicate content, but nothing you’ll be punished for though, but I also doubt that you will benefit *much* from it – but I have no studies to back up my theory
Klaus @ TechPatio´s last blog ..TechPatio Is A “Do Follow” Blog – Spreading The Link Love For Free
[Reply]
Twitter: computelive
says:
I prefer the recent comment on the top.. I had that setting enabled when I used DISQUS Comment System.. But I am not using it any longer..
And I think its better to spread the comments over pages rather than on a single page…
Shadow@Compute Live´s last blog ..Straight from Google: What You Need to Know – Matt Cutts
[Reply]
I’ve never given it some thought of how many comments should my blog display. But I don’t think that 40 comments look so bad.
Asswass´s last blog ..Where the Hell is Matt going to dance next?
[Reply]
Before displaying comments ,i think the blogger should set up a comment policy in his/her respective blog where in all the comments like “Thank you,Nice one ….etc ”
will not be accepted .This way it will filter out many unnecessary comments.
Now coming to the point ,i would go with recent comment list as it would increase the page loading speed and also a top commentators widget at my blog’s sidebar
Regards
Sunil Jain
Sunil Jain´s last blog ..Huge List of Comment Luv Blogs Updated Daiy
[Reply]
I sound like I am going against the pack here… but I hate it when bloggers display the newest comments at the top. I like reading in progression and if you listed the most recent comments at the top… I would have to scroll down to the bottom and read up
Seriously, I have been to a few sites that do it that way and it really bugs me… but as you can see… that’s just me.
As far as multiple pages… I have posts with over 60 comments and I like them all on one page… but that is up to you! I think I might try multiple pages if I get any posts that get over 100 comments
Doug Dillard´s last blog ..I Used to Be a Dotcom Millionaire, Well at Least On Paper!
[Reply]
Twitter: commentluv
says:
I prefer recent at the bottom so it’s natural to follow on from the post and I prefer one page for the comments (even if there’s 100) .
having the comments threaded like can be done with the latest wordpress keeps me on the page longer too.
Andy Bailey´s last blog ..JSKIT goes to Echo and so does CommentLuv
[Reply]
Hesham
Twitter: FamousBloggers
Reply:
June 21st, 2010 at 1:10 am
In my experience thread comment has no bad effect on the conversation as each comment is stand a lone conversation, I set my blog to newest first, smart guys capture that will come back for a comment on a post after it’s killed!
setting 50 comments on a page should be the ideal thing because it’s not good to have more than 100 links on a page, this is how you make a room to your other links like your related posts and other links on the side bar and footer to take place without exceeding the 100 links!
I am not sure about this 100 links thing but I see that most firefox SEO addons give warnings when you exceed 100 links on one single page!
Hesham is hoping you stop by and read The Critical Keys to Start A Conversation With Your Blog
[Reply]
Twitter: ExtremeEzine
says:
I’m going to get Doug’s back and go with the same logic. By default WordPress lists comments in the order they were posted. When you have conversations within the comments (very common) it’s all but impossible to follow. It’s so ‘backward’ I find myself just skipping the comments all together on blogs that have reversed the comment order. Just my two cents.
Brian D. Hawkins´s last blog ..Extreme Ezine – Social Edition | Aug09
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Twitter: extremejohn
says:
Love this, I am with Doug I hate the newest comments at the top it bugs me, not exactly sure why. It just does.
As for splitting comments on to additional pages, I would probably consider a split at 50 comments, not a place my blog is at so not something I even consider. I have to like something before I will do it for SEO ya know.
Extreme John´s last blog ..U Comment I Follow Blog List
[Reply]
Twitter: BlazingMinds
says:
Wow! Thanks for your responses everyone, I think I will leave my comment system as is, it certainly seems the most popular
Now I’m off to visit all your blogs …
[Reply]
Twitter: HichamMG
says:
I prefer the normal way where new comments come at the end. As for no. of page, I think 50 is OK. Anyway you’ll leave it as is, which I notcied in the previois comment
Hicham´s last blog ..Lockerbie: Who deceived Who?
[Reply]
I like to see comments on the bottom of the post with NO need to click on the comments link. This way, I think is more comfortable!
OnionBuzz´s last blog ..Giant Size Microbes!!!
[Reply]
I prefer to have the latest comments at the bottom, because that way I can read through them in chronological order (since I too read from top to bottom, I read the oldest ones first and so I know what’s been said before).
About how many comments on one page I too think that 50 would be a decent number of comments to show at once.
Kay´s last blog ..Sunday Sales
[Reply]
Karen
Twitter: BlazingMinds
Reply:
August 24th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
I find it difficult to “go with the flow” on recent comments first, I agree with you that reading comments in chronological order is so much easier.
[Reply]
Twitter: TruAnaGoncalves
says:
Hey Karen,
So glad to be here.
I found you via Serradino’s blog.
I have my most recent comments at the left hand side at the top.
This is not a preferred option, it is mainly for visibility and to go in balance with the way my blog is set up. Also, captures your eye when you visit the site when you see the replied comments up there.
In each entry post, I have a page filled with comments, and that’s in order of when it was written, till it reaches the bottom for new. That is good thinking in regards to have new comments at the top, in the exact post, but I figure if a reader has taken the time out to read the post, than they would appreciate reading the comments that go with it, from when they were first written.
Lovely site you have here.
Wish you well.
[Reply]
Twitter: TruAnaGoncalves
says:
To add, I think 50 comments per page in blog entry is reasonable. I think if you have over this, you may not be as willing to scroll down as when you see your first couple. But then again, each person is different encoutering that experience alone, so I may not be correct on this. Lovely to stop by. I attempted to edit the previous entry, so I could add this into it, but I didn’t get the chance as it counted down. The screen was grey, but the cursor wouldn’t go into the edit box. Regards
Ana´s last blog ..An old sketch taps into delight
[Reply]
Karen
Twitter: BlazingMinds
Reply:
August 28th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Hi Ana, many thanks for commenting, twice
Must check out this edit option, to make it a big longer 
[Reply]
My personal preference is to have the most recent at the top!
[Reply]
1. Lastest comment at the bottom so we know clearly about the article.
2. 20 comments per page is enough i think.
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Twitter: simplehomeorg
says:
I like the normal order of most recent comments at the bottom. Doesn’t that reward the people that comment first, too?
It confuses me and I end up having to look at dates when it is reversed. I don’t have a preference on how many per page as it doesn’t effect what I read, though I think over 50 probably needs a new page.
Melinda is hoping you stop by and read 15 uses for toothpaste
[Reply]
Karen
Twitter: BlazingMinds
Reply:
June 21st, 2010 at 9:24 am
Thanks for your input Melinda, I think 50 is a nice number of comments as well
[Reply]
Twitter: andrewrondeau
says:
I with several of the commenters here – newest comment at the bottom. I can then read in sequence.
Andrew
Andrew @ Blogging Guide is hoping you stop by and read How To Sell Your Product Online
[Reply]
Hesham
Twitter: FamousBloggers
Reply:
June 21st, 2010 at 1:04 am
I agree is makes more sense, but newest comment on the top makes more comments! (I could be wrong but this is how it is with me!) because when commentators find out that their comments will be on top they probably come back and add another comment to be n the top!
By the way, the sequence is need more if the blog has not thread feature ON! then this must be a “newest on the bottom” or then no one will actually understand anything!
I also think that 50 comments per page is quite fine! this to give a room for other links on your sidebar, related posts and links in the article itself, I see a lot of recommendation that pages shouldn’t have more than 100 links!
Hesham is hoping you stop by and read The Critical Keys to Start A Conversation With Your Blog
[Reply]
Karen
Twitter: BlazingMinds
Reply:
June 21st, 2010 at 9:26 am
May just have to give it a try to see if it makes any difference here on Blazing Minds
[Reply]
Karen
Twitter: BlazingMinds
Reply:
June 21st, 2010 at 9:25 am
I sometimes get a little confused with the newest a the top, seems to break the flow
[Reply]
Twitter: jonharules
says:
I like it when there’s a whole box for all the “Recent Commenters” and the number of comments that they’ve contributed to the community but just like Doug, I don’t wanna scroll down just to follow how the whole thread progressed (though it may be worth it at times).
Jonha @ Happiness is hoping you stop by and read Stay Away from Philippine Prudential Life Insurance Promos as they are Scammers!!!!
[Reply]
Twitter: FamousBloggers
says:
Karen, I have no idea why this post is not in our bogging contest!
Hesham is hoping you stop by and read The Art of Leaving a Comment
[Reply]
Karen
Twitter: BlazingMinds
Reply:
June 21st, 2010 at 8:59 am
Hi Hesham, it’s a classic Blazing Minds post that I have updated and re-posted
Karen is hoping you stop by and read Hello Mr Twitter Fail Whale! [Updated]
[Reply]
Twitter: cks1988
says:
I prefer to put the recent comment at the bottom of the comment list if i wish to show the whole list in one page. I think this is more convenient to the readers to trash back what is happening in the discussion.
KS Chen @ Blogging Guide is hoping you stop by and read Monday Blogging Amoeba – 21/06/10
[Reply]
Twitter: jorgensundberg
says:
I really like the latest comment to be on top, mainly because I am always the last one to comment on posts, ha-ha!!!
Jorgen Sundberg is hoping you stop by and read Why You Should Rearrange Your LinkedIn Profile Sections
[Reply]
Karen
Twitter: BlazingMinds
Reply:
June 21st, 2010 at 6:43 pm
Now that would be a bit of favouritism wouldn’t it
[Reply]
Twitter: colleenlane
says:
I like the most recent at the bottom. Mainly because that is what most blogs (at least the ones I visit) do so I naturally go there when wanting to read the most recent comment posted.
Colleen@Kennewick Real Estate is hoping you stop by and read Full Disclosure
[Reply]
Karen
Twitter: BlazingMinds
Reply:
June 26th, 2010 at 10:15 am
Thanks for you input Colleen
Karen is hoping you stop by and read 2?? A New Dimension in Music! A Crossover of Electronica and Pop Rock
[Reply]
Twitter: catalinadrian
says:
I like it the way it is. It is much easier for me to scroll down and see the comments in order after reading the post. I visited some blogs that have it the other way and it’s annoying to have to scroll down to the first comment in order to come up again on the latest comment. Leave it the way it is
[Reply]
Karen
Twitter: BlazingMinds
Reply:
June 26th, 2010 at 10:16 am
Thanks John, it certainly seems to be the way people prefer
Karen is hoping you stop by and read Love Comedy? Then Watch It Online With SeeSaw TV
[Reply]
Twitter: 15 Jan 2009
says:
like it the way it is. It is much easier for me to scroll down and see the comments in order after reading the post. I visited some blogs that have it the other way and it’s annoying to have to scroll down to the first comment in order to come up again on the latest comment. Leave it the way it is
sridhara is hoping you stop by and read Eight Most Detrimental -amp Prohibited Practices
[Reply]
Twitter: roezer
says:
I think first come first served they should be at the top you could install comment length set the length to a maximum of just say 150 word per comment and make your comments page contain 20 about comments making all your pages look much the same.
roezer@open dns netopia setup is hoping you stop by and read Is Yousaytoo a Scam
[Reply]