This next goal can apply to anyone that has a blog or a place for people to comment. These are your readers, don't ignore them!
Now, I understand you may not be able to respond to each and every single comment. Sometimes, the comments do not warrant a response. If the comment is a simple, "great post," there probably does not to be a crafty response to this. However, a lengthy comment or one with a question incorporated should get a response. I have seen both ends of the spectrum on this. Some bloggers (especially the mega-bloggers) do not comment EVER, while some make it a goal to respond to 100% of the comments. My goal states a reasonable, quantified response rate to blog comments to allow for that flexibility.
I admit, I have been guilty of neglecting comments when I was busy in the past. Even though I always appreciated comments and even begged and pleaded for them, I did not take the time to respond. I am working on this.
The other thing about responding to comments is it can get the ball rolling for other readers to comment. Commenting can initiate a dialogue. It is helpful to know how your readers feel and think about blog posts.
There's my two cents, now please comment!
