When someone leaves a comment that shows me they actually read (and hopefully enjoyed) my content, I always reply to their comment with something that tries to extend the dialogue -- in other words, something beyond "Thanks for stopping by and reading," etc. Twice I also tried to point them to past content I thought might interest them. One link -- although I might consider two at the most -- because I know the past content on my own blog far better than anyone. (Plus it's a lot to expect people to mine down through the links for very long looking on their own. Time for everyone is so precious!)

Also, I'd only put a link in a reply on my own blog, never on someone else's. In a perfect world, putting a link in someone else's blog would be a legitimate way to "add to the conversation." To me though, it always looks like an attempt to hijack the commenter to the link-dropper's benefit. Someone well-known to the community might be accorded more latitude for than than a newcomer. I'd like to hear how others feel about this.

Sadly, I have to say this practice hasn't returned the results I was hoping for. IMO, Steemit doesn't make it easy for people to find replies to their comments -- and the replies I made to comments, both on my blog and on others, went so consistently and resolutely ignored, I got a little paranoid after a while. (I honestly began to wonder if I were somehow invisible ... or if I were violating some unwritten rule about replying to comments.) But to date, I have no indication anyone ever saw, let alone read (and certainly never acknowledged) what I wrote to them in reply.

In theory, it sounds like a great idea ... but in practice, YMMV.

Tw, G+ and even the dreaded FB make it much easier for a person to leave a quick word of thanks without having their motives questioned. But then there's also no incentive there for spamming the comments section.

Apart from replying to comments, I also do check out the person's blog, UV anything I find there worth having and resteem it if there's something really nice. (Also, that lets me find their post again on my own blog -- another issue Steemit needs to address!!) I acknowledge that none of this does them much good. My UV doesn't even register yet, even at 100%, because I'm so new. And I'm resteeming to less than 100 followers so far who don't even engage my content, let alone someone else's. So I feel pretty helpless when it comes to expressing gratitude, but that's about all there is -- or all I've found.

Again, I'd love to hear useful suggestions, because the issue of proper courtesy here does trouble me. So many people feel unseen and neglected. But that's what I've come up with so far ... and it sure doesn't feel like "enough." I hate to think how long it will take to grow my status enough to make a difference.

I'm not really as cranky as I sound in this comment. It's that your subject really hit a nerve tonight. I've read the posts and headlines of many people desparing over the lack of visibility and the grossly unbalanced relationship between effort and "reward" in many cases. I also know a moment of genuine appreciation can be an incredible morale-boost, and since I do spend time reading and I do find marvelous undervalued posts, I wish there were a way I could do more.

(I've given this matter some thought and my husband and I are working on our own project to "be the change we want to see in the world." We haven't launched it yet, but again, your subject rattled my cage tonight big time. Thank you for the chance to answer. Thank you especially for listening. And, oh, Dear Lord, @walkingkeys, thank you for doing this series!! Y'know, anyone else dubbing himself "the most interesting man on Steemit" might be considered anything from full of himself to downright delusional, but after some weeks of reading you and your antics, I must admit, you make your point. And the idea of cinnamon on your buns ... Mmmmmm!)