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A Better Blog Comment System: Disqus

Published by Joseph Ferrara (2) June 18th, 2008 in Blogging Tips. Comments

You will notice a new comment system on Sellsius. It’s called Disqus. It allows replies to be displayed beneath the applicable comments (along with your snazzy avatar). It looks like this:

Disqus is a plugin. It’s pretty easy to install. If you want to try it, here’s what you do:

First, sign up for an account at Disqus. Continue to Add your blog URL, blog name and subdomain name. Then choose a download (JavaScript or API)

I installed the JavaScript version. Vlad uses the API for SEO purposes (javascript comments are not indexed by the search engines). Disqus says the API is out of date. Thus, is does not support recent enhancements, like the Seesmic video integration. Alas. Undecided on which one to install? Read this post and decide.

Upload the files to your blog, and activate the Disqus plug in from your Dashboard Plug in section.

After activation, go to Manage Settings and add your Disqus Forum URL name and choose a comment option. Pick the middle setting that says “replace all entries with no comments (including future posts)” or you will be surprised, as I was, when all your old comments disappear– no worries, change the setting and they reappear– whew.

Overall, I think the Disqus comment system is the best way to follow a conversation. Friendfeed does it this way too and it’s one reason I prefer it over twitter (although I do think twitter has enormous value). Another neat thing about Disqus is that you can post a reply to a comment via an email reply — just remember to delete the comment you are replying to in the email.

Downside?

As I see it, the downside is the comments are hosted on Disqus– which means you risk losing the comments if Disqus goes down. The precaution is to set up an RSS or XML feed from your Disqus account and have a comment backup (thanks Vlad for that tip). But even with the backup, you’d have to manually add them back, no?– that would be a bummer).

Anyone out there using Disqus that can allay my worries about losing comments/ re-attaching comments from the feed?

In any case, I am going to run with it for awhile and see how things go.

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  • Disqus has ability to import existing comments as well as export comments. I didn't lose any comments when I moved to Disqus..
  • test
  • Hey, cool! I've never heard of this plugin before, but i like! It's not just easier to follow the conversations, but it adds a little "style" to your comments. :-)

    Thanks!

    ....jp
  • My problems with Disqus:

    First, the first time I tried to submit this comment, I got a lovely error: "Firefox can't find the server at Disqus.com". We'll see if I can recover via the back button. This happens fairly often when I comment on Disqus enabled blogs.

    Maybe I'm a control freak, but I don't like the idea of comments on my blog being hosted somewhere else.

    It blew up my theme when I installed it.

    I completely lost the "subscribe to comments" functionality. Yes, people could in effect do that buy getting a Disqus account. But I don't like to force people to sign u p for anything.

    How's the spam control? Do the standard WP spam filters, (Akismet, Spam Karma, etc) still work with Disqua, or do *they* now filter comment spam?

    I'm also curious... say I move my 4,000 some odd comments over to Disqus, and then I wake up one day to find that Disqus is now a pay service..... what then?

    There are plugins available to support threaded comments. I *think* some even have a "reply" feature. What's the advantage of Disqus over something like that?
  • Good points Jay. Worried about losing comments and them being on another site. I may have to ask the Disqus guys to create an option where the comments are in both places. Then I'm in. No idea about the Spam controls-- haven't seen the usual suspects since switching over. Thats a good thing. But I wonder if Im losing any legit comments. Ah..technology
  • While I see some benefit with the whole cross blog ID thing if it is just threaded comments you want then you can achieve the same effect with BriansThreaded Comments for wordpress. You can see it on my site (just start commenting and replying)

    Here's a question: What happens if Discus dies? Do the comments die too?
  • Thanks will.. Ill check out your site.

    I think if Disqus dies so do the comments. And even if saved, who has the time to put them back on the posts.
  • Hello. I'm from Disqus.

    Reliability and performance is top priorities for us. I see that you're using the JavaScript plugin. The next release of the API plugin will definitely address many of your concerns.
  • Hi Daniel. Thanks for stopping by.

    So, with the next release of API, which would you suggest? The SEO benefit plus the video enhancements would indicate going with the API. Am I missing something? Also, I am concerned with comment spam (I run Spam Karma2)-- any version have issues with spam comments?
  • The next plugin release will entirely focus on the API.
  • Let us know how it works out for you. I would be interested in what you think after you have run it a few weeks. Looks like it would be a plus for a blog:)
  • Wow, great link to ownership of blog comments...thanks zszendro
  • Joe: Saw this on FeedPot. FOREM is using now Disqus. Valid question thoguh. Robert Murphy shared a good post on Twitter about comment ownership: http://snurl.com/2jwvz
    Makes the topic even more exciting (technical and copyright issues as well)
  • Joe,

    Disqus already has an option to import your comments, you can choose which one you like (XML or RSS2). Go to "Configure" tab in your Disqus account and then there is a button "Export/Import". I should have explained it better. Sorry.
  • Ok ill check it out. Thanks again Vlad.

    BTW, if you ever want to post about any new tool or technology, you have an
    open invitation to do it on Sellsius (I understand you have a lot on your
    plate right on). You have a wide knowledge of online tools.

    Joe
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