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Comment Section Integration

This guide explains how to embed the Speakness comment section on your website or blog. We offer two primary integration methods to suit your needs.

At a glance
  • Audience: Media teams and developers embedding conversations.
  • Setup time: Minutes via script, a few steps via WordPress.
  • What you gain: Real-time discussion, moderation control, unified analytics.

Overview​

The Speakness comment section provides:

  • Modern commenting interface with voting and threading
  • Social login support (Google, Facebook, Twitter)
  • Moderation tools accessible through your dashboard
  • Analytics and insights on comment engagement
  • Responsive design that works on all devices

Integration Methods​

MethodBest forHighlights
JavaScript EmbedCustom sites, headless CMS, static deploymentsDrop-in script, full layout control, CMS-agnostic.
WordPress PluginWordPress-powered publicationsGuided setup, auto-embed options, per-post controls.

Method 1: JavaScript Embed​

This method works with any website where you can add custom JavaScript code.

Step 1: Get Your Embed Code​

The basic embed code structure:

<!-- Add this script tag in your article template -->
<script src="https://www.speakness.com/embed-comment-section-prod.js"></script>

<!-- Add this div where you want comments to appear -->
<div id="speakness-commentsection-embed" data-url="ARTICLE_URL_HERE"></div>

Step 2: Replace the Article URL​

Replace ARTICLE_URL_HERE with the actual URL of your article. This URL serves as a unique identifier for the comment thread.

Example:

<script src="https://www.speakness.com/embed-comment-section-prod.js"></script>
<div id="speakness-commentsection-embed" data-url="https://yoursite.com/article-slug"></div>

Step 3: Add to Your Website​

Place the embed code on your article page:

  • Best practice: Add it at the end of your article content
  • Placement: Usually just before the closing </article> or </main> tag
  • Template: Add to your article template file for automatic inclusion
QA checklist
  • Confirm each article passes the correct canonical URL to data-url.
  • Test with authenticated and anonymous browsers.
  • Inspect the browser console for CSP or mixed-content warnings.

How It Works​

The JavaScript embed:

  1. Loads the Speakness comment section iframe
  2. Uses the data-url attribute to identify the article
  3. Automatically adjusts height based on content
  4. Handles user authentication and interaction
  5. Communicates with your Speakness dashboard for moderation

Method 2: WordPress Plugin​

For WordPress sites, we provide a dedicated plugin that makes integration seamless.

Step 1: Download the Plugin​

  1. Log in to your Speakness dashboard
  2. Navigate to Settings > Integrations
  3. Click "Download WordPress Plugin"
  4. Save the .zip file to your computer

Step 2: Install the Plugin​

Option A: Upload via WordPress Admin​

  1. Log in to your WordPress admin panel
  2. Go to Plugins > Add New
  3. Click "Upload Plugin" at the top
  4. Click "Choose File" and select the Speakness plugin .zip file
  5. Click "Install Now"
  6. Click "Activate Plugin"

Option B: Upload via FTP​

  1. Extract the plugin .zip file
  2. Upload the extracted folder to /wp-content/plugins/
  3. Go to Plugins in WordPress admin
  4. Find "Speakness Comments" and click "Activate"

Step 3: Configure the Plugin​

After activation:

  1. Go to Settings > Speakness Comments
  2. Enter your Speakness API Key (found in your dashboard)
  3. Configure plugin settings:

General Settings​

  • Enable Comments: Turn comments on/off globally
  • Auto-embed: Automatically add comments to posts
  • Placement: Choose where comments appear (before/after content)

Manual Mode​

To add comments to specific posts:

  1. Edit a post
  2. Scroll to the Speakness Comments meta box
  3. Check "Enable Speakness Comments"
  4. Publish or update the post

Step 4: Disable on Specific Posts​

To disable comments on individual posts:

  1. Edit the post
  2. Find the Speakness Comments meta box
  3. Uncheck "Enable Speakness Comments"
  4. Update the post

Plugin Features​

The WordPress plugin provides:

  • One-click setup: No coding required
  • Automatic updates: Stay current with new features
  • Theme compatibility: Works with any WordPress theme
  • Per-post control: Enable/disable per post or page
  • Comment count widgets: Show engagement metrics

After Integration​

Access Your Dashboard​

Once your comment section is live:

  • Log in to speakness.com.
  • Open the Media Dashboard for your outlet.
  • Review conversations across every article.
  • Dive into analytics and moderation tools to manage quality.

Moderation​

Moderate comments from your dashboard:

  • Hide comments: Temporarily remove posts that need review.
  • Ban users: Block repeat offenders from future participation.
  • Suspend users: Pause activity while you investigate issues.
  • Restore access: Unhide comments or reinstate users at any time.

Analytics​

Track engagement metrics:

  • Conversation depth: Total comments, votes, and trending threads.
  • Audience reach: Visits, active readers, and recirculation patterns.
  • Top performers: Breakouts for both articles and comments.
  • Sentiment signals: Voting trends that highlight community mood.

Troubleshooting​

Comments Not Appearing​

  1. Verify the data-url: Make sure it matches your article's actual URL
  2. Check browser console: Look for JavaScript errors
  3. Disable cache: Clear cache and hard refresh (Ctrl+Shift+R)

Height Not Adjusting​

  • Ensure your site allows iframe postMessage communication
  • Check that Content Security Policy (CSP) allows Speakness domain
  • Verify no conflicting JavaScript

WordPress Plugin Issues​

  1. Plugin won't activate: Check WordPress version compatibility
  2. API key invalid: Copy key directly from Speakness dashboard
Fast debugging
  • Temporarily disable other plugins or scripts to isolate conflicts.
  • Use an incognito window to rule out cached or authenticated states.

Best Practices​

Security​

  • Always use HTTPS for your site
  • Keep WordPress and plugins updated

User Experience​

  • Place comments prominently but not intrusively
  • Moderate actively to maintain quality
  • Set clear community guidelines
  • Align comment prompts with editorial tone
  • Share highlight comments in newsletters or social channels

Support​

Need help with integration?

  • Documentation: Check this guide and other docs
  • Email Support: support@speakness.com
  • Status Page: Monitor platform uptime and incident history

Coming Soon​

We're working on additional integration methods:

  • Other Content Management System Plugins

Stay tuned for updates!