Replace Native WordPress Comments With Facebook Comments

There’s many plugins you can use to add Facebook comments to WordPress.

But there’s only one which works properly based on my testing.

The most popular plugin for this purpose is the Facebook Comments for WordPress.

The problem is it:

• Doesn’t work properly with all themes
• It was last updated: 2011-4-24
• Only Compatible up to: 3.1.4
• 6 people say its broken and nobody says it works

Another way to add Facebook comments to your blog is to use the code from the Facebook Developers website.

The problems with using this method is:

• You’ll need to edit your template files
• It adds the Facebook comment box but doesn’t remove the native WordPress comments box so you end up with two!

Best Way To Add Facebook Comments

The best way to add Facebook comments to WordPress and replace the native comments box is to install the official Facebook plugin.

This plugin has been developed by the engineers at Facebook and Automattic, the company which owns WordPress.

Plugin Settings

You’ll need to create an application i.d on the Facebook Developers site and follow these setup instructions first.

Once you’ce successfully completed the setup, navigate to the Facebook link in your dashboard and configure the settings under Post & Page Settings to your liking.

Save the changes and the native comments system will be replaced with Facebook comments system.

Why Use Facebook Comments

• Greater Social Relevance – You notice your friends comments will be displayed at the top of the comments box where the most relevant comments are displayed. You’ll also find more information next to the name and face of the person that left a comment which includes their occupation and connection to you as well as other info.
• Better Moderation Tools – You can also moderate each comment from the dashboard and change the settings so comments are only visible to yourself and your friends as well as blacklist certain words and users.
• Higher Distribution Rate – If the comment is posted to the wall of the user, the users friends can also comment directly from their Facebook wall. This spreads the conversation to the network of the person that left the comment and increases engagement and traffic directly from Facebook. It also leaves a link on Facebook back to the post on your domain.
• Non Facebook Login Options – Facebook is not the only social network you can use to login and comment with. There are others like Yahoo, Hotmail & AOL which you can use and more will be added shortly.

Comment Moderation Settings

Admins can moderate on the Comments Box directly or on the moderation dashboard.

The moderation dashboard, accessible from a link on Settings, aggregates comments from all Comments Boxes across your site and shows a public and admin view.

Here you can select to:

• Approve each comment before it appears on your site
• Use the standard Facebook Restrictions to blacklist certain words
• Automatically correct common grammar mistakes

What’s your favorite comment system and why?