How to Get More Comments on YouTube: 9 Tactics and 9 Prompts

To get more comments on YouTube, first check that comments are switched on and not held for review, then ask viewers one specific question in the video, pin a starter comment that repeats it, and reply to the first comments quickly. Hearting, pinning and answering with a Short show viewers that commenting gets a response.

Below: what YouTube actually says about comments, the settings that silently kill them, nine tactics that work, nine prompts you can copy, and what to avoid.

Why comments matter on YouTube

Comments are where viewers tell you what they want next, what confused them and what they liked. They also make a video look alive to the next visitor: a lively thread invites more people to join in.

Be careful with the “comments boost the algorithm” claim. In its explanation of the recommendation system, YouTube lists clicks, watch time, survey responses, shares, likes and dislikes as the signals it uses to predict satisfaction. Comments are not named. Treat them as a sign of a video that connects with people and as the base of a community, not as a ranking shortcut.

Step 1: make sure comments are actually on

Many channels with “no comments” simply have them blocked or held. YouTube’s comment settings let you set comments to On, Pause or Off for each video, and add a moderation level on top.

Two more checks. First, videos set as Made for kids have comments disabled, so only use that label when your content really targets children. Second, you can limit comments to subscribers or members; that protects you from drive-by spam but cuts comments from new viewers. Held comments wait in YouTube Studio under Comments, in the Held for review tab, for up to 60 days. Our step-by-step guide on how to turn on comments on YouTube covers every menu.

How to get more comments on YouTube: 9 tactics

1. Ask one specific question

“Let me know what you think” gives viewers nothing to answer. “Which of these three setups would you pick for a small room?” does. Ask a single question that can be answered in one line, tied to what you just showed, and ask it at a moment of high attention, not over the end screen when half the audience has left.

2. Pin a starter comment

YouTube lets you pin one comment to the top of the thread. Use it to repeat your question, add a choice (“A or B?”) or share a detail that did not fit in the video. It is the first thing people see when they open the comments.

3. Reply fast to the first comments

Early replies turn single comments into conversations that later viewers can join. Block 30 minutes after publishing to answer the first wave, and ask a follow-up question when it makes sense.

4. Heart the comments you like

According to YouTube’s tips for building community with comments, viewers may get a notification when you heart their comment. It costs one click and rewards people who take the time to write.

5. Reply with a Short

You can answer a comment with a Short: the comment appears as a sticker in your video. It turns a good question into new content and shows everyone that comments can end up on screen.

6. Feature comments in your next video

Read one or two comments at the start of the next episode and credit the author. Viewers write more carefully when they know the best answers get a mention.

7. Choose formats that invite answers

Some formats produce comments naturally: rankings people disagree with, “myth or fact” videos, tutorials with several methods, before/after results, and Q&A episodes built from previous comments.

8. Answer the questions you get

Unanswered questions teach viewers that nobody reads the comments. YouTube Studio lets you filter comments by questions and by whether you have already responded, which makes it easy to catch them.

9. Keep the thread clean

Nobody wants to comment between crypto scams and insults. Add blocked words, hold comments with links, and hide repeat offenders from your channel. Our YouTube comment moderation guide and our article on spotting bots in YouTube comments explain how.

How to reply to YouTube comments so people keep commenting

The way you reply decides whether a comment stays a one-off or becomes a thread. A reply that closes the topic ends the conversation; a reply that adds something or asks back keeps it going.

Keep replies short, specific and in your own voice. If the same question comes back ten times, answer it once in the pinned comment or the description, then point to it.

9 YouTube comment prompts you can copy

What not to do

• Buying comments or using comment bots. YouTube’s fake engagement policy bans content that artificially increases engagement, including comments generated by automated systems or bought from third parties. Channels can lose content or be terminated.

• “Comment for comment” swaps. Off-topic comments from other creators do not build an audience and fall under the same policy.

• Giveaways without official rules. “Comment to win” contests must follow YouTube’s contest policies, including rules stating that YouTube is not a sponsor.

• Hold all comments, then forget to review them. Your thread looks empty and genuine viewers feel ignored.

• Copy-paste replies. “Thanks for watching!” under every comment reads like a bot and ends the conversation.

How to keep up once comments start coming

For a deeper look at replies at scale, read our guide to AI for YouTube comments, and our YouTube Studio guide for the native tools.

Where Blabla fits

Blabla connects to your YouTube channel through the official API and brings comments into one inbox with Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. Its AI replies answer recurring questions in your tone, based on your own FAQ, either as suggestions you approve or automatically. Spam, scam links and insults can be hidden automatically with keyword rules and AI filters, so the thread stays readable. Blabla does not write comments on other channels or generate fake engagement: it helps you answer the real comments you get. If you receive a dozen comments per video, YouTube Studio is enough.

Conclusion

More comments on YouTube come from three things: comments that are actually open, a clear question worth answering, and a creator who visibly replies. Check your settings, ask one specific question per video, pin it, reply early, and keep spam out. The thread will grow with your audience.