Some sites use Disqus, some sites IntenseDebate, some use static pages with Haloscan, and others use what comes with their WordPress or blog platform.
The first two offer their own plugins so users can log in with it and you can be connected with others users. Apparently it increase visitors and even cuts down on spam. However, I am aware from some users through conversations via Twitter, email and instant messenger, that these two do not always cut down on the spam.
Haloscan, well… it was one of those things I used when I first started blogging – before I got into b2 and eventually WordPress. With Haloscan, you could have your comments hosted with them, but you would have to manually write your blog to your page and then insert the code from Haloscan. It was nifty and I actually liked it until I wanted to have my own, so I coded PixelledComment (I do not offer it for download like I use to. In fact, I took it off in 2006.) Same concept as Haloscan, but I could host all of my comments.
Since then, I have come to WordPress. I have tried Drupal, Joomla, Movable Type, CuteNews, and even GreyMatter. I shudder to think about the last two I mentioned…evil. If you are still using them…do not. In fact, I refuse to link them. 😛
My own opinion is that I really recommend using WordPress and playing with the coding. There are plenty of plugins available just for the commenting system alone. Askimet is not bad, but there are plenty of plugins you can include to prevent bots and spammers.
My suggestion is to try the comment system that WordPress offers if you are comfortable with coding. If not, choose a good system. Other things are to either harden your blog’s security and to make sure to keep your WordPress up-to-date.
What commenting system do you use? Why? If you use WordPress, what plugins do you use for your comments? Do you have any extra suggestions for others who are wondering what they should choose?
As tiny and usually pointless as my site is, Disqus was getting me some traffic. They seem to have quite the active community.
I wrote about this because I am actually considering using one. My issue is that I would rather prefer a authorization login button to put on the side like Facebook Connect, rather than go with the form I would get from Disqus or Intense Debate.
I just use LiveJournal right now. I’m gonna try WordPress.com before I get back into blogging again.
I hope that when you do decide to use WordPress that you like it. if you need any help…feel free to ask.
when I 1st started making sites on a sub domains/domains I liked using Haloscan but now that I have wordpress I don’t think I could ever go back.
I tried IntenseDebate, but didn’t like it after a few weeks.
@Kimm, I just integrated the Intense Debate. I liked that it allows me to choose what I want to do when using it so far. I usually give it a trial run, like 2-3 weeks. If I like it, I will blog about it. If not…same thing and state why.
I use Disqus on Charity-Lynn.com, but not on any of my other blogs – it can cause issues when restoring from backups as the SQL server will read each comment as being there twice. That was my only issue with Disqus.
I have not tried Intense Debate or Haloscan. As for blogging platforms, supposedly GreyMatter is more secure now, but I didn’t care for it when I used it. CuteNews hasn’t been updated for so long, it’s pointless to bother with it and it’s too limiting.
I didn’t care for b2 however, but love WordPress. 🙂 As far as spam goes, I use Akismet and Bad Behavior for that. I also use a comment timeout plugin to stop spam on older posts. 🙂
WordPress was birthed from b2…same person worked it. Coding is very similar.
Greymatter is still not as secure as it should be and it is still banned by many hosts, including myself. CuteNews… banned too, but Greymatter was one that has a longer history of lack of security.
I just put Intense Debate in. My only concern is making sure I do not have to alter my comment format. I coded it for a reason. Does Disqus allow this too?
Now that I am using WordPress for my full site I prefer wp & their plug ins. I used both cute news & grey matter way back when but there were a lot of security problems with both. Also they didn't catch spam which askimet does great on with WP. I also tried haloscan before going completely with wp and it just became a hassel. I guess I just really like the ease of the wp platform. They have come so far.
i don’t like disquss
it’s take a long time to me to load that page