Are you looking to build relations with your audience? Are you interested in allowing people to comment on your posts? In this post, I am going to show you how easy it is by configuring your WordPress Discussion Settings so can allow or not allow comments on your blog posts.
WordPress Discussion Setting – Artist Blog Tutorial
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You will want to decide if allowing comments is something that will help you to achieve your art business goals.
Allowing comments on your posts will give your readers a chance to share their thoughts on the topic you are covering. By responding back to the comments you will begin to build relationships with your readers and there will better chance your readers will return to your site.
On the other hand, there might be some reasons you will not want to allow comments on your blog. Review your goals and decide on what will be best for you. You will always have the option to change your decision in the future if need be.
WordPress Discussion Setting Overview
To get started you will need to sign into your WordPress Dashboard.
Once you are signed in, hover over Settings on the left-hand sidebar and click on the Discussions link.
Listed below are the options you will have in your WordPress Discussion Setting section.
Default article settings − Allows you to configure the three options listed below for your new pages or posts. The settings may be overridden for individual pages or posts.
Attempt to notify any blogs linked to from the article − This option if checked will ping a blog you are linking to as long as they allow pingbacks and trackbacks.
Allow link notifications from other blogs (pingbacks and trackbacks) − This option, if checked, will allow you to accept pings from other blogs. For example, if you write a post that links to Nevue Fine Art Marketing, upon posting WordPress will ping Nevue Fine Art Marketing which will allow me to know you are linking to my site. Pinbacks and trackbacks show as the commenter’s avatar.
Allow people to post comments on new articles − This gives you the option to allow or disallow other people to comment on your article using this setting.
Other Comment Settings − This section gives you the following options if you allow comments on your blog.
Comment author must fill out name and e-mail −If you check this box, it will be mandatory for visitors to fill their name and email address.
Users must be registered and logged in to comment − If you check this box, only registered visitors can leave comments. If you leave the box unchecked anyone can leave any number of comments.
Automatically close comments on articles older than days − This section allows you to decide on how many days you will allow people to have the option of leaving comments on a particular post.
Enable threaded (nested) comments − If you check this option, visitors can reply, have a discussion and get responses.
Break comments into pages with top level comments per page and the page displayed by default − This option allows you to decide on how many comments you will allow to be seen on your post. The other comments can be viewed on different pages of the comment section.
Comments should be displayed with the comments at the top of each page − This option allows to decide if you want the newer or older comments to be displayed at the top of the comment section.
Email me whenever − This setting allows you to be notified if someone has commented on your post.
Anyone posts a comment − By checking this box, you will be notified via email whenever someone comments on your post.
A comment is held for moderation − Click on this option if you want to review the comments before it is approved. This will help you to reduce spam in your comment section.
Someone likes one of my posts – If you click on this option you will be notified when someone likes one of your posts.
Before a comment appears − This setting allows you to have control of what posts are accepted or not accepted. Below are your two options.
Comment must be manually approved − If you check this box you will have to manually approve any comments prior it being posted on your page or posts. If you leave this unchecked comments will automatically be published.
Comment author must have a previously approved comment − This allows your readers to add additional comments to a post as long as they have been previously approved.
Comment Moderation − You can decide on a specific number of links that are allowed into a comment. This will prevent spammers from loading links on comments.
Comment Blacklist − This allows you to enter in any spam words you do not want your visitors to enter into the comments.
Avatars − An avatar is a small image that is located at the top-right-hand corner of your WordPress Dashboard screen next to your name. Think of it as your profile picture.
Avatar Display − This gives you the option to show your avatar.
Maximum rating − There are four avatar options you can use. They are G, PG, R and X.
Default Avatar − This option allows you to control what type of avatar will be displayed.
When you are finished click the Save Changes button to save your settings.
Conclusion:
You will have to decide if allowing comments on your blog posts and pages will be best for your goals.
If you decide on allowing comments make sure you take the time to go through all of your options.
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