@Wendy – Oh yeah, that was why I delayed removing the What Would Seth Godin plugin for a while. In the end I just found it so annoying I just had to remove it no matter what others thought :)

@Derek – threaded comments are cool providing your template copes with them well

Along with the plugins already mentioned by others, I found the Threaded Comments to help as well since that allows for more of a dialog to take place between people.

I always try to respond to each comment on my site and if the comment doesn’t really warrant a response, I try to send an email thanking the person for their comment.

Also, I try to end each post with a question or reason for people to add their feedback. But it’s funny to look back at posts I thought would generate a bunch of comments don’t and vice versa.

I got a couple of requests for it, so I installed it – WOW. BIG impact.

Good lesson learned to remember that just because I don’t like or use something, doesn’t mean it can’t/won’t be very useful to others! Now I’m wondering where else I’ve made that ASSumption! ;)

Another thing that seems to help is to post responses to commenters so they know that their input is noticed. It can be frustrating to add a comment to an entry and then go back days later and there’s no indication that the comment was read even by the original author.

I agree that the manner in which you present or write can invite or discourage comment. The topic should be in keeping with your theme. Outrageous topics for the sake of notoriety will not attract long term visitors.

The best way is to write something of value and leave it off with an open ended question. A blog can be an open view of your daily thoughts or a conversation with the world. How you form your content indicates which style you have chosen.

Rajesh Shakya

Topics: Controversial topics can attract lotsa comments but you may get all stressed out from the flamers and arguing.

Welcoming environment: answering comments work too, people like it when you respond to them.