Hi Rich -- consistent commenting and posting.  It's not overnight...it takes time in my opinion.

Work it, blog, respond, and post comments thanking those who take the time to comment on your posts.

Rich,

I agree with Michael Jacobs and write interesting posts.  And when you comment, be sure you have read the post.  A

By reading others blogs and leaving comments

Write good blogs and comment like crazy. I will comment on about 30 blogs a day if I have time. Do it little by little and you will get a following. Like Michael Jacobs it does not happen over night, and Rome was not built in a day. Do not give up, it is give and take.

I am going to read one of you blogs right now.

Rich,

Relationships you form with people here in the rain will get them to follow you here. You build those relationships by commenting on the blogs of others while consistently blogging here yourself. You should also reciprocate with a comment of those who leave a comment on your own posts. I literally have hundreds of friends I made here.  Over 100 of them I have met in real life at least once. I also meet and brainstorm with a group of friends I met here annually. It's a great place to learn and make friends with folks in the real estate industry.

I too think writing interesting posts will attract more followers.   Return the comments that you get and interact. 

Rich Levin, Michael Jacobs summed it up nicely. Consistency is the key.

Regularly read & comment (genuine comments, not copied & pasted) on a variety of bloggers. Follow them and if you write compelling blog posts, they may follow you, too.  Reciprocate comments whenever possible.

Great question Rich. You need to comment on posts done by folks you have an interest in following. I am very strategic in those that I follow, I follow each for a reason, but really have no interest in the numbers.

write interesting content that they have use for within their business.... newbies are prime .... 

Blogging & answering questions in a concise way.

That's a good question and one I don't have the answer to at this point.

Just follow them. They will.

Scott nailed this one!

Lots of comments and follows for other people :) 

Write something someone wants to read.

And when I polled both of my followers, my Mom and Sister agreed.

Continue to comment on teir blogs and follow them.

It's not the ActiveRain Members I am after, although I do enjoy the friendships.

I agree with content and commenting has help to gain followers. 

Write interesting content; comment on the posts of others; respond to the comments of those who comment on your post.

When you follow someone they will generally follow you. Another way is to write a post and ask for followers. It actually works.

Rich..I have found that if I follow someone that I find interesting, they usually reciprocate.

Post comments and Follow other people.

Be consistent in your posting. Do it everyday for a while. Also make a lot of comments and do it regularly. Comment on the people you subscribe to everyday. 

Delivering insanely useful content regularly! 

And

Following up actively. I see a lot of blog posts where the blogger does not acknowledge comments or respond in any way.

Rich, I don't have any formula to increase followers.  Just be yourself and always take time to engage anyone who comments on your post, and then be sure to go over and leave a comment on their blog.  A mixture of sincerity and humor works for me, because that is who I am.

I have noticed a lot more people following one another since AR stayed with the 20 comments.   It would appear people are looking for more options to comment on.