How to Display the Most Liked WordPress Comments on Top
As a WordPress site owner, you understand the importance of fostering an engaged community through your blog's comment section. However, managing and organizing these comments can sometimes be a challenge, especially when you have a high volume of feedback.
One common issue WordPress users face is the default display of comments, which often shows the oldest comments first. This can make it difficult for your readers to quickly find the most valuable and insightful feedback. Fortunately, there's a simple solution that allows you to sort comments by the number of likes and display the most popular ones at the top of each post.
In this article, we'll walk you through the step-by-step process of how to achieve this, helping you create a more user-friendly and engaging comment section for your WordPress website.
Step 1: Change the Default Comment Order
The first step is to change the default comment order in your WordPress settings. By default, WordPress displays comments in the order they were submitted, with the oldest comments appearing first. To change this, follow these steps:
- Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.
- Navigate to "Settings" > "Discussion".
- Under the "Other comment settings" section, find the option that says "Comments should be displayed with the older/newer comments at the top of each page".
- Select "Newer" to ensure the most recent comments are displayed first.
- Click the "Save Changes" button at the bottom of the page.
This simple change will ensure that your readers see the newest comments at the top of the page, making it easier for them to engage with the most recent discussions.
Step 2: Sort Comments by Likes
Now that you've set up the default comment order, it's time to take things a step further and sort the comments by the number of likes they receive. This will ensure that the most popular and engaging comments are displayed at the top of each post, allowing your readers to quickly identify the best content.
To implement this, you'll need to modify the code in your WordPress theme or plugin that handles the comment display. Here's how you can do it:
- Locate the file in your theme or plugin that contains the code for the comment section. This is typically found in the "shortcodes/comment-form.php" file.
- Find the following line of code:
$results_arr = $this->get_comment_enable_disable( $status , $id , $post->ID , $per_page , $offset , $order_by , $pin_arr['exclude_ids'] );
- Change the
$order_by
parameter to 'like'
. This will sort the comments based on the number of likes they have received.
$results_arr = $this->get_comment_enable_disable( $status , $id , $post->ID , $per_page , $offset , 'like' , $pin_arr['exclude_ids'] );
- Save the changes to the file.
By making this simple code modification, your WordPress site will now display the comments with the most likes at the top of each post, making it easier for your readers to find and engage with the best content.
The Benefits of Displaying the Most Liked WordPress Comments on Top
Implementing this feature on your WordPress site can provide several benefits, both for you as the site owner and for your readers:
-
Improved User Experience: By displaying the most liked comments at the top, you're creating a more user-friendly and engaging comment section. Readers can quickly identify the most popular and valuable feedback, making it easier for them to participate in the discussion.
-
Increased Visibility for High-Quality Content: When the best comments are prominently displayed, it encourages more readers to interact with them, leading to a higher level of engagement and discussion. This can help to elevate the overall quality of the content on your site.
-
Incentive for Readers to Engage: Seeing their comments receive a lot of likes can motivate your readers to contribute more thoughtful and insightful feedback, as they'll know that their comments are valued by the community.
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Easier Moderation: By prioritizing the most liked comments, you can quickly identify and address any problematic or low-quality feedback, ensuring a positive and constructive discussion environment for your readers.
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Increased Social Proof: When your readers see that certain comments have a high number of likes, it can serve as social proof, further validating the content and encouraging others to engage with it.
Conclusion
Displaying the most liked WordPress comments at the top of your blog posts is a simple yet effective way to improve the user experience and foster a more engaged community on your site. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily implement this feature and enjoy the benefits it brings.
Remember, the key to a successful comment section is to create an environment that encourages thoughtful and valuable feedback. By prioritizing the most liked comments, you're not only making it easier for your readers to find the best content, but you're also incentivizing them to contribute their own high-quality comments.
If you have any questions or need further assistance, be sure to check out the Flowpoint.ai website, where you can find a wealth of resources and tools to help you optimize your WordPress site and improve your overall user experience.
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