I try to engage with the readers as people, and to check out what they are up to. I've connected with some great writers and interesting people just by following back readers on Twitter or Medium. Readers are so often writers themselves! Here's an example: many years ago I was really into Pinterest and there was this person who was always commenting on my pins and reposting them and whatnot. I checked out her Pinterest profile and turned out she was a writer too, she just hadn't published a book yet -- but she published a novel the next year I think, and anyway, her name is: Celeste Ng. !!!!! So! You never know who those readers/followers/commenters are -- stay curious about their work and engage with them, and it may prove creatively fruitful for everyone involved!