As a blogger I’ll bet you’ve experienced the thrill of finding comments on your posts. It’s like finding gifts under the Christmas tree, but there never seems to be enough, does there? We would all like more comments on our posts after all, we work better when we recieve an affirmation for our efforts, it makes it all worthwhile. There is nothing more disappointing to us as bloggers, than a well-written post that gets little or no response from our readers.

Don’t be despondent my blogging fiends – uh, I mean friends, I bring you hope.

There are things you can actively do to help encourage your readers to post more frequently.

1. – Use a more relaxed and conversational writing style. Try to connect to your readers in a way that is less formal and more personable. This style of writing is more likely to create a connection between you and your readers. It makes your posts more user friendly.

2. – Ask questions within the body of your post text. Ask them what they think about this topic, offer your take on it and prompt your readers to reflect on what they think about your point of view. Readers who are actively thinking are more likely to engage in commenting.

3. – Establish a regular posting pattern and do your best to maintain it. Your readers will become attuned to the rythym of your posts, creating a sense of expection for them. They are more likely to stop by regularly if they know when and how often your posts will appear.

4. – Don’t be afraid to be controversial. If a subject is debateable, readers are likely to engage in a conversation with you and other commenters on your blog. Lively debates can be a very good way to elicit a response from your readers and give them a chance to interact in meaningful ways.

5. – Maintain a Do Follow blog. Make sure to advertise this fact by prominently displaying a Do Follow button or badge. When readers know that the link to their own site will be followed as a result of leaving comments, they will be much more likely to leave comments on your blog. Check Randa Clay’s to find more information on how to set up this feature on your blog and get a free badge to display for your readers.

6. – If you moderate comments, review and approve them promptly. It’s just not a good practice to leave unapproved comments hanging in limbo for days on end. Reader’s aren’t going to keep commenting if you are slow to respond, they’ll think you don’t value them. They may stop coming by altogether and you really don’t want that to happen.

7. – Reply to readers comments daily. Everyone likes to be acknowledged, don’t you? By responding to your readers promptly, they will be encouraged to return time and again. After all blogging allows for a unique experience with the written word. You usually can’t engage in a conversation with a book author, but a blog is much more social in nature.

8. – It may seem obvious, but ask your readers to comment. At the close of your posts invite your readers to share their responses to your article. Ask them what they think, prompt them to share ideas and insights with you and your other readers. And be prompt to respond to them when they do. A person who comments should be rewarded with your quick attention, after all, you will never build a strong community of readers if they feel snubbed.

In a nutshell, you should be making every effort to connect to the people who comment on your blog. After all, you will never build a close knit family of readers if they feel ignored and under-appreciated. Building your readers into community is what will lift your blog above the mediocre. Blogging is as much about making connections as it is about authorship. Take every opportunity to let your readers know that they are special and that you appreciate them, especially when they leave you comments.

For more on building a strong community around your blog, check out this related post: Is Your Blog A Thriving Community? – and get more great ideas for building strong reader relationships that boost your blog’s popularity.

How do you connect with your readers and encourage commenting? Please share you’re ideas or views in a comment. I promise I’ll moderate promptly and leave a response just for you.