What are Comments in WordPress? (All you need to know)

Want to build a thriving community around your business, products, and services? Then offering comments on your website or blog is crucial. They serve as a platform for your readers to engage with your content, share their thoughts, ask questions, and connect with you and other visitors.

WordPress offers a robust comment management system that allows you to approve, reply, or delete comments with ease. You can customize the comment section in the WordPress settings to suit your preferences, like requiring comment approval, enabling comment nesting, and moderating spam.In this blog, you’ll learn how the WordPress development experts manage comments on the websites and blogs. So let’s begin.

Overview of WordPress Comments Section

WordPress offers a built-in comments section that allows visitors to interact with your content. When enabled, a comments section appears at the bottom of pages and posts. 

WordPress provides a user-friendly interface for managing comments. You can easily approve or reject comments, reply to visitors, and even mark comments as spam. Additionally, you have the flexibility to customize comment settings to control how comments appear on your site and how they are handled.

The ‘Comments’ section typically consists of four main fields:

• Comment: This is the main area where users can write their thoughts.
• Name: Here, users enter their name or alias.
• Email: Users provide their email address, which is not publicly displayed.
• Website: This is an optional field where users can enter their website URL.

Each comment, once submitted, awaits approval based on the WordPress comments settings before it appears in the comments section. Remember, you can customize these settings to suit your needs. You can enable automatic approval, manually approve each comment, or even disable comments entirely on some or all posts.

Importance of WordPress comments section

A vibrant comments section is more than just an add-on; it’s a powerful tool to enhance your WordPress site. It’s where your audience can engage with your content, share feedback, and connect with each other.

• Enhancing User Engagement: Comments encourage interaction and keep visitors coming back for more. When readers see that others are participating in the conversation, they’re more likely to join in.
• Building Community: A thriving comment section fosters a sense of community around your website. It allows like-minded people to connect and share their experiences.
• Valuable Feedback: Comments provide invaluable insights into your audience’s perspective. You can learn about their interests, needs, and opinions, helping you refine your content strategy.
• Boosting SEO: Active comments can positively impact your website’s search visibility. Search engines often consider comments as fresh content, which can add more value to the SEO of the page or post.

That’s why an active comments section is encouraged alongside the primary WordPress SEO practices. It will help you create a more engaging, interactive, and successful WordPress website.

Remember, maintaining an active ‘WordPress comments section’ requires regular moderation to filter out spam and ensure a positive environment for your users. For that, you can consult with our WordPress development experts.

How to Manage WordPress Comments?

The best way to manage WordPress comments is through the WordPress admin dashboard, under the “Comments” section. Here, you can view all comments left by users, approve or disapprove comments, reply, edit, or delete at your discretion.

For better management, remember to:

1. Regularly check and moderate your comments and ensure their relevancy.
2. Reply to comments for better engagement with your users.
3. Use WordPress plugins like Akismet to help manage spam comments.
4. Leverage ‘WordPress comments settings’ to set rules for comment posting.

With these considerations in check, you can go ahead and manage the comments effectively.

Enabling Comments in WordPress

By default, comments are usually enabled in WordPress. However, if not, follow these steps to enable them.

For All New Posts

Step 1: Log in to your WordPress website and navigate to your dashboard.

Step 2: In the left-hand sidebar, click on “Settings” and then select “Discussion”.

Step 3: Under the “Default article settings” section, check the box that says “Allow people to post comments on new articles”.

Step 4: Click the “Save Changes” button at the bottom of the page.

This will enable comments for all new posts you create.

For Existing Posts

Step 1: Go to “Posts” in your dashboard.

Step 2: Edit the post you want to activate comments for.

Step 3: Scroll down to the “Discussion” meta box on the right side of the screen.

Step 4: Click on the “Comments” option and then select “Open”.

Step 5: Save your changes with the “Update” button.

Then, people will be able to comment and add replies to your posts.

For Pages

By default, comments are disabled for pages. If you want to allow comments on a specific page, follow the same steps as enabling comments for an existing post.

While it’s possible to enable comments on pages, it’s generally not recommended as pages are often used for static content like about pages or contact pages.

Note: To enable comments on specific posts or pages, you can do so within the ‘Discussion‘ box on the ‘Edit Post‘ or ‘Edit Page‘ screen.

Disabling Comments in WordPress

Disabling comments on your WordPress site is just as easy as enabling them.

For All New Posts

Step 1: Log in to your WordPress website and navigate to your dashboard.

Step 2: In the left-hand sidebar, click on “Settings” and then select “Discussion”.

Step 3: Under the “Default post settings” section, uncheck the box that says “Allow people to post comments on new articles”.

Step 4: Click the “Save Changes” button at the bottom of the page.

This will disable comments for all new posts you create.

For Existing Posts

Step 1: Go to “Posts” in your dashboard.

Step 2: Edit the post you want to activate comments for.

Step 3: Scroll down to the “Discussion” meta box on the right side of the screen.

Step 4: Click on the “Comments” option and then select “Closed”.

Step 5: Save your changes with the “Update” button.

Now, the users won’t be able to post any new comments on your blogs. But of course, the existing comments will remain visible.

If you need help with the comment actions on your website, consult with our WordPress development company. We will ensure your website is at its interactive best.

How to Tackle WordPress Comments Spam?

Comment spam is a prevalent issue faced by most WordPress administrators. It refers to irrelevant or inappropriate messages posted in the ‘WordPress comments’ section, usually for promotional purposes or to create backlinks. While some of these comments can be manually posted by individuals, most are automatically generated by bots.

Dealing with ‘WordPress comments spam’ can be overwhelming, especially for popular websites that draw lots of traffic. It’s not only about maintaining the cleanliness and relevance of your comments section but also about ensuring your site’s security and the quality of user experience.

So, how can you tackle WordPress comment spam effectively? Here are some strategies:

• Use a Spam Filtering Plugin: The WordPress repository offers several powerful plugins for taking care of comment spams. Install a plugin like Akismet, which can automatically filter out spam comments based on certain algorithms. These plugins save you time and keep your comments section clean.
• Activate WordPress Comments Moderation: Activate the ‘WordPress comments moderation’ in your discussion settings. Then you can manually approve or reject comments before they appear on your website. This ensures that only relevant and valuable comments get through.
• Limit Links in Comments: Most spam comments contain multiple links. In your ‘WordPress comments settings’, you can limit the number of links allowed in a comment. If a comment section exceeds a specific number of comments, it can be held in the moderation queue to prevent spamming.
• Use CAPTCHA: You can use CAPTCHAs in WordPress websites to handle bot-generated spam comments. Then users will have to fill a simple task that only can be done by humans. It can be anything, including images, identifying objects and visible information.
• Blacklist Specific Words: WordPress allows you to blacklist certain words, IP addresses, or URLs, commonly found in spam comments. Comments containing these will automatically be placed in the trash.
• Limit Links in Comments: Spammers often include links to other sites in their comments. By limiting the number of links allowed in comments, you can automatically filter out some spam.
• Close Comments on Older Posts: Spam comments typically target older posts. By closing comments on posts after a certain number of days, you can prevent spam on these targets.

Remember, while it’s challenging to eliminate comment spam entirely, these strategies can significantly reduce the volume and impact of spam on your WordPress site. That ensures a clean and engaging ‘comments section’ for your readers.

How to Customize WordPress Comments Form for Better User Interaction?

A well-designed comment form can significantly enhance user engagement on your WordPress site. Here are several ways to customize it:

• Use a WordPress Plugin: Install plugin like Advanced Comment Form to modify fields, add custom fields, and change the form layout without coding.
• Edit the comment_form() function: This gives you granular control over the form’s structure, fields, and appearance. However, it requires coding knowledge.
• Change Field Labels: Modify default labels like “Name”, “Email”, and “Website” to match your site’s style or provide clearer instructions.
• Add a Comment Box Placeholder: Provide a hint to users about what to write in the comment box.
• Reorder Fields: Change the order of fields to improve user flow.
• Add Custom Fields: Collect additional information from users, such as their location, interests, or contact preferences.
• Adjust Form Layout: Modify the spacing, alignment, and overall appearance of the form using CSS.

Now, let’s take a look at basic customization code snippet:

function my_comment_form_args( $args ) {
    $args['fields'] =  array(
        'author' => '<p class="comment-form-author">' . '<label for="author">' . __('Name *', 'your-theme') . '</label> ' .
            '<input id="author" name="author" type="text" value="' . esc_attr( $commenter['comment_author'] ) . '" size="30" aria-required="true" /></p>',
        'email'  => '<p class="comment-form-email"><label for="email">' . __('Email   
 *', 'your-theme') . '</label> ' .
            '<input id="email" name="email" type="email" value="' . esc_attr(  $commenter['comment_author_email'] ) . '" size="30" aria-required="true" /></p>',
        'url'    => '<p class="comment-form-url"><label for="url">' . __('Website') . '</label> ' .
            '<input id="url" name="url"   
 type="url" value="' . esc_attr( $commenter['comment_author_url'] ) . '" size="30" /></p>',
    );
    return   
 $args;
}
add_filter( 'comment_form_defaults', 'my_comment_form_args' );

Create a comment form that encourages active participation and improves the overall user experience on your WordPress site.

If you need customizations with comments and more, our WordPress development services will be outstanding.

WordPress Comments Notification and Moderation

Managing a thriving WordPress community requires staying on top of the conversation. Timely notifications about new comments and an efficient moderation system are indispensable. Let’s delve into the importance of these components and how to implement them effectively.

Importance of WordPress Comments Notification

WordPress comment notifications are crucial for maintaining an active and engaged community on your website. Here’s why:

• Building Relationships: Promptly responding to comments shows that you value your readers’ input and are invested in building relationships with your audience.
• Resolving Issues: If someone raises a concern or asks a question, a timely response can help address their issue efficiently.
• Monitoring Conversations: Keeping track of comments allows you to monitor the tone of discussions. And you can address any potential issues or conflicts promptly.
• Encouraging Engagement: By participating in conversations, you can stimulate further discussion and create a more vibrant community.
• Gathering Feedback: Comment notifications help you identify areas where your content resonates or falls short.
• Quick Action: Being notified of new comments allows you to quickly identify and remove spam, protecting your website’s reputation.

Managing the comment notifications will help you create a positive and interactive environment for the users.

How to Do WordPress Comments Moderation?

An unmoderated comments section can quickly become chaotic or filled with spam. Setting up comment moderation is the best way to avoid comment spamming.

Here is the most effective way to moderate the WordPress comments:

• Comment must be manually approved: Check this box if you want all comments to be approved by you before appearing on your site.
• Comment blacklist: Add specific words or phrases that will automatically send comments containing them to the moderation queue.
• Hold comments in moderation: Determine which comments should be held for moderation. You can choose to hold comments from new commenters, comments containing two or more links, or comments that include blacklisted words.

Regularly review the comments, be responsive, and clear the comment guidelines.

With these settings in place, you’ll be able to maintain a clean and civil comments section on your WordPress site. Moderating comments might seem like a demanding task, but it’s a necessary one if you wish to foster a vibrant, engaging community.

Gravatar in WordPress Comments: Creating a Personalized Experience

Gravatar stands for Globally Recognized Avatar. It’s a service that allows you to create a profile and associate an avatar image with your email address. This image will then appear on any website that supports Gravatar whenever you use that email address.

Role of Gravatar in WordPress Comments

Gravatar is essentially the profile picture for your email address. In the context of WordPress comments, it plays a significant role in enhancing user experience and community engagement.

Here’s a breakdown of its importance:

• Visual Identity: Gravatars provide a visual representation of commenters, making the comment section more engaging and personal.
• Recognition: Users can easily recognize familiar Gravatars, fostering a sense of community and trust.
• Professionalism: A professional Gravatar can enhance the credibility of a commenter.
• Consistency: The same Gravatar will appear across different WordPress sites where the user comments, creating a consistent online identity.

Essentially, Gravatar adds a human touch to the often text-based world of online comments. By displaying a visual representation of the commenter, it helps to create a more interactive and engaging comment section.

How to Enable Gravatar in the WordPress Comments Section?

Gravatar is automatically enabled by default in WordPress. However, you can customize its appearance and behavior.

Here’s how to manage Gravatar settings in your WordPress dashboard:

Step 1: Log in to your WordPress dashboard.

Step 2: Navigate to Settings -> Discussion.

Step 3: Under the Avatars section, you’ll find the following options:

• Show Avatars: Check this box to enable Gravatars.
• Maximum Rating: Choose the maximum rating for avatars displayed on your site (G, PG, R, X).
• Default Avatar: Select a default image to display when a commenter doesn’t have a Gravatar.

To appear using Gravatar, it is essential for the user to have an account with Gravatar.com using the same email address they use to comment on your site. Once they have set up an account and uploaded an image, the Gravatar will appear next to their comments on any Gravatar-enabled site.

WordPress developers enable Gravatars in the comments section to ensure a more engaging and personalized experience for your users.

Utilizing WordPress Comments Plugin to Enhance Discussion

In the vast digital landscape of WordPress, comments play an integral role in creating interactive and engaging platforms. To effectively manage these comments, WordPress provides a range of plugins designed to streamline the comment-handling process, introduce new features, and thereby enhance overall user discussions. Let’s delve into the utility of these plugins and understand how they can effectively help manage WordPress comments.

Brief about Popular WordPress Comments Plugin

Among the multitude of available options, some WordPress comment plugins have gained significant popularity due to their unique features and ease of use. Here are a few notable ones:

• Akismet Anti-Spam: Developed by Automattic, Akismet is a go-to plugin for combating comment spam. It automatically checks and filters out spam comments, saving you hours of moderation time.
• Disqus: This globally-used plugin replaces the native WordPress comments system with its own, providing a more interactive platform. It offers features like social login and voting systems.
• wpDiscuz: wpDiscuz creates a more dynamic and responsive comment section, with features like real-time comments update, multi-level comment threads, and social sharing options.
• Jetpack: Besides its multiple other functionalities, Jetpack offers a robust comment system, enabling social media login options for commenters and delivering a smooth commenting experience.

How Plugins Can Help in Managing WordPress Comments Effectively?

WordPress comments plugins provide a suite of tools that make comment management more efficient and user-friendly. Here’s how they can enhance your site’s discussion capabilities:

• Anti-spam Measures: Plugins like Akismet protect your site from spam comments, ensuring that your comment section stays clean, relevant, and conducive to healthy discussions.
• User Engagement Features: Some plugins offer social login, like or dislike options, and voting systems that encourage user interaction and engagement.
• Moderation Tools: WordPress comments plugins can provide advanced moderation tools, allowing you to approve, disapprove, or mark comments as spam easily. This makes the management of comments a breeze.
• Notification Options: These plugins also come with customizable notification settings. You can choose when to be notified, such as when a comment is posted or awaiting moderation, keeping you up to date with your site’s activity.
• Layout Customization: From simple changes like font style and color to the arrangement of comments threads, you have control over the visual appeal of your comments section.

In summary, utilizing WordPress comments plugins is an effective way to enhance discussions on your WordPress site. By automating tasks like spam detection, providing improved user engagement features, and giving you control over comment layout and moderation, these plugins can significantly uplift user interaction and engagement on your website.

WordPress Comments Not Showing? Troubleshooting Tips

While WordPress is an incredibly versatile platform for blogging and website management, like all technology, it can sometimes encounter problems. One common issue many users face is WordPress comments not showing. If you’ve discovered that comments have disappeared from your posts or perhaps they’re not showing up after users submit them, don’t worry. There are several reasons why this might be happening and several strategies for resolving these issues.

1. Check Your Discussion Settings

The first thing you should check is your WordPress discussion settings. From your WordPress dashboard, navigate to ‘Settings‘ and then ‘Discussion‘. Look for the checkbox that says ‘Allow people to post comments on new articles’. If this box is not checked, comments won’t appear. Even if it is checked, remember that this setting only applies to new posts. For older posts, you’ll need to enable comments manually in the post editor.

2. Investigate Individual Post Settings

WordPress also allows for more granular control of comments on individual posts. In the post editor, look for the ‘Discussion‘ box, usually beneath the text area. If you can’t see it, click on ‘Screen Options’ in the top right corner and ensure the ‘Discussion’ box is checked. Within the ‘Discussion’ box, make sure ‘Allow comments’ is checked.

Moderate the Comments Queue

Sometimes, comments may not be showing up because they’re stuck in moderation. Under ‘Settings‘ > ‘Discussion‘, you can control whether comments must be manually approved. If you have a lot of comments, it can be easy to miss some that need approval.

Compatibility Issues with Your Theme or Plugins

Your theme or certain plugins may interfere with the display of comments. To test this, temporarily switch to a default WordPress theme and disable all plugins. If comments show up, enable everything one by one until you find the culprit.

Issues with the Comment Form

If users can’t see the comment form in the first place, they may not be able to leave comments. Make sure your theme includes comments_template() in the single post template.

These are some of the most common solutions to the WordPress comments not showing problem. If you’re still encountering issues, you may want to seek help from WordPress forums or professionals specializing in WordPress website management. But with these troubleshooting steps, you are well-equipped to tackle this common WordPress issue head-on.

To Summarize

WordPress comments offer a dynamic platform for interaction between you and your audience. By effectively managing and customizing your comment section, you can foster a thriving community, gather valuable feedback, and enhance your website’s overall engagement.

Remember to prioritize timely responses to comments. Plus, monitor discussions for engagement and potential issues, and adjust your comment settings as needed.

So, need help with comments on your website? Then consult with our WordPress professionals today!