Replying to Comments

How to you reply to comments left in your blog? I used to reply in the comment box itself but nowadays, I prefer to reply to their comment through the email address that they left; more personal touch. And nowadays, who has the time to return back to the post that they left comment to check out whether the blogger replied them or not. As for me, I definitely has no time to return. Leaving comment is also hard to do what more returning the post I left comment. I have became a silent reader now; leaving comment if I really have something good to share.