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Engagement Blogging

This post was most recently updated on June 25th, 2014

https://www.donnamerrilltribe.comThere are many styles of blogging.

Many people blog in order to build authority in a certain niche.  Others try to introduce their product or business, promote affiliate offers, or share their expertise on a particular topic.  There are still other reasons people blog.  I’ll bet you’ve seen some of them.

Another reason people blog is to build engagement with their readers.  These bloggers then cash in on the engagement by converting folks into fans and followers.

This is what engagement blogging is really all about.

Do you work to build engagement on your blog?

To build a loyal following takes a bit of planning and consistent execution.

Here’s a short list of things you’ll need to master:

  • blog inside of clearly defined target niches
  • put your blog posts in front of people who WANT to see them
  • write blog posts packed with valuable information, updates and strategies
  • engage your readers in what you do, and involve them in it on a regular basis

If you want to build engagement with your target audience, you need to involve them in your blog.

Give them action steps they can implement.  Ask them questions, challenge them to take specific actions, encourage them to get involved.

You’ll also want to build a list of your followers.  Use that list to keep in touch with them.

Let them know what you’re doing on a regular basis.  Let them know how they can follow you more closely. Encourage them to become part of what you’re doing or offering.

The implementation of these strategies may involve putting together a variety of things, but the idea is still pretty simple.

In fact, you can really start putting this model into practice today.

Instead of just writing blog posts, gear them toward building email or Facebook lists of people who are interested in your niche.

Once they subscribe to your lists, give them good content on a consistent basis.  At various intervals, ask them to step up and join one of your groups where they can learn even more, or get something of further value from you.

After you start building lists of people interested in your niche, organize them into groups of casual followers, active participants, buyers, clients, members or whatever pertains to your business model.

Continually deliver helpful and high-value content, both on your blog and for your lists of followers.

Always find new ways to encourage folks to make a commitment to something you are doing, and keep bringing them deeper into the engagement process.  They will form a base for your business.

You can build any kind of online business with your blog using this model.

I think one of the best is a paid membership or subscription type of business.

I’ll be teaching all about it in my upcoming webinar.

Click here if you’d like to attend.

A membership/subscription business is a perfect fit if you’re doing engagement blogging.

That’s because people who have learned to engage with you on your blog and on the lists you build as an offshoot of your blog, will be very likely to commit to becoming paid members of your group or website, or a subscriber to your ongoing trainings.

Once they become “members” or “subscribers” rather than just readers or visitors, they get even more engaged in what you’re doing.  Then, they are likely to follow you wherever you lead.

This is where your business plan or process funnel kicks in.

See how it’s done on my webinar training.

The point is, that you can lead your followers anywhere that will continue to add value to them.  The sky is the limit.  Actually, the only real limit is your imagination and vision.

Knowing how you can use your blog to build a following that you can then convert into a subscription group can change the whole focus of your blog.

It can totally reorganize the way you blog as you get better and better at engagement blogging.

Let me know what you think.

Do you build engagement on your blog?

Do you consider your business model to be based primarily on engagement blogging? Or would you like it to be?

Or does your blogging take you along a totally different path?

I’d love to get your feedback in the comments below.

Donna Merrill
Donna is a well known blogger and creator of "Blogging Magic" - an intensive guide to blogging. "Blogging Magic" is for beginners who are trying to figure out how to bring their blogs to life with tons of visits, comments and social media interaction. It's even for advanced bloggers looking to reach new levels of authority and engagement with their audience.

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68 Responses to Engagement Blogging

  1. Jackson Nwachukwu
    Twitter:
    September 16, 2014 at 10:07 am #

    Hi Donna,

    First time I heard about you was at a friend’s blog and I said I was going to check you out. Coming to your blog today really made a whole lot of difference!

    Two things you mentioned in the post that I really want to talk about are the following:

    1. put your blog posts in front of people who WANT to see them

    2. write blog posts packed with valuable information, updates and strategies.

    I really do think these two covers the basics of engagement blogging. People will not fail to engage with you when you bring to the table what they are hungry for. I mean if I am really hungry and I want to eat pizza and you set it before me, I will gladly eat it and shake hands with you.

    Another thing worth doing to bring about engagement blogging is offering nothing but value. In my years of blogging, I have come to know that value contributes to the growth of every concept you introduce into your blogging system.

    I must confess that your post on engagement blogging is superb and is worth bookmarking for future reference. I am glad I finally visited.

    Cheers!

    Jackson
    Jackson Nwachukwu recently posted..How I Went from a ZERO Blogger to a Worth BloggerMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      September 19, 2014 at 2:53 pm #

      Hi Jackson,

      Welcome to my blog! So glad you came on over and written a wonderful comment to enhance the meaning of this post.

      Indeed, we need to put our blog in front of people who want our content. Love your analogy about pizza lol.

      And we must always give our content the best we can, using our unique “voice” to relay a message that will be of help to someone.

      We must always blog for others and keep that mindset.

      So glad you enjoyed this post,

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Take The Next StepMy Profile

  2. harish July 25, 2014 at 11:04 am #

    hi donna,

    this is my first visit of your site,i learn a useful stuff from your blog today.you way of explaining the maintaining the relationship with the viewers is very nice.yes i too agree with you in this point engagement blogging,we should maintain a good environment at our blog for our blog viewers .and we have to create friendly environment at our blog to express their views regarding our posts,by that we can improve our knowledge of writing articles.thank you for your post ..
    harish recently posted..How to Earn Money from FacebookMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      July 26, 2014 at 3:55 pm #

      Hi Harish,

      Great to connect with you and welcome to my blog.

      Relationships are the key to marketing I believe. People do buy People! Once we start making relationships, we can then start running a good business.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Why Is Google Like My Ex?My Profile

  3. Liz Delaney
    Twitter:
    July 18, 2014 at 10:33 pm #

    This gave me lots to think about Donna. I agree with everything you said. I am trying to improve with my blogging all the time. It takes time and commitment, but I am starting to enjoy contributing to conversations such as this. Some conversations take me way outside my comfort zone – that is so good for me. We need to stretch our minds. I am still delving deeper for my target niche. As I said, it all takes time and effort, which I am enjoying. Thanks again for your suggestions.
    Liz
    Liz Delaney recently posted..Friday Findings – CanvaMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      September 19, 2014 at 2:58 pm #

      Hi Liz,

      Oh those conversations that take us way out of our comfort zone I know too well. I too have many blogs that I visit that are so technical, I have to read them twice or even three times in order to give a decent comment. And yes..it is so good for us to do because it does stretch our minds. I find that the best thing about being a blogger! Always learning.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Take The Next StepMy Profile

  4. Rachel Lavern
    Twitter:
    July 16, 2014 at 10:53 pm #

    Hi Donna,

    As usual, I enjoyed your post. My engagement blogging has lots of room for improvement; however, I do segment my email marketing campaigns so that I can tailor my email content. I do that because I have different types of customers with different needs and challenges. I demonstrate that I am engaged with them with my different messages that are targeted to those needs and challenges. Every message is not relevant to every person receiving the email.

    Sure, it take much more time to tailor my content for each segment but the rewards are increased click-through rates, increased engagement and increased profit.

    Some of the segments are those I met in my brick-and-mortar business, online visitors, by location, past buyers, their stage in the sales funnel, to name a few.
    Rachel Lavern recently posted..6 Toxic Thought Patterns That Cripple UsMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      September 19, 2014 at 2:56 pm #

      Hi Rachel,

      I think that your email marketing deserves more time and energy than blogging itself. When we do blog and engage the main goal is to get people on our email list.

      That being said, there is where we really get to engage and then offer a product and/or service to people.

      I know you are one savvy marketer and know how to segment your lists. It is important to and it is a huge job.

      Keep up the good work!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Take The Next StepMy Profile

  5. Sarupa Shah
    Twitter:
    June 30, 2014 at 8:38 am #

    Great post as ever Donna – surely every blog has an engagement focus…or at least ought to? Blogs that are just showing up more and more that are one affiliate post after another – really are passion killers for me (well blogging passion killers) – however if they managed to weave in better engagement – it may make it better – I get people need to earn money however engagement is a surefire way… look forward to your webinar!
    Sarupa Shah recently posted..5 secrets to selling with heart and soul [video]My Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 30, 2014 at 12:00 pm #

      Hi Sarupa,

      Oh those affiliate bloggers! Some have the correct idea of how to do it, and some just don’t have a clue!

      Content is what’s needed on a blog post to help others, then engagement from our blogs to the social site arena.

      Engagement to me, is like the good old word of mouth. It is solid and never fails.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Fear Is Just Business As UsualMy Profile

  6. Gregory Smokey Bowen
    Twitter:
    June 29, 2014 at 10:11 pm #

    Hello Donna …..I have found that when I started getting involved with more social media that my number of followers grew….. and i discovered that most of my blog followers would rather engage with me on facebook than leave a comment on my blog….the engagement with my followers is the biggest reason that I blog……Plus it is fun!…..Thanks for giving me more Ideas on how to organize and increase the engagement……very good article …..Smokey
    Gregory Smokey Bowen recently posted..I Have Some New Stuff Happening Here….Take A Look!My Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 30, 2014 at 11:57 am #

      Hi Smokey,

      I find that happening to me too. Lots of my followers rather engage with me on Facebook too. Sometimes it is because they may be new and not have a blog. Sometimes the engagement is so deep that it comes to me from a PM.

      Yes, I do agree that it is a heck of a lot of fun! Wherever we can engage…be there!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Fear Is Just Business As UsualMy Profile

  7. William Earl Amis, Jr. III
    Twitter:
    June 29, 2014 at 8:55 pm #

    Well, we would all love to wake-up each morn. Then, go fishing or just lay back and have a hot cup of tea. I love doing just that each morn, if I feel like it. Yet, got to get to that blog and keep it updated, manage the articles and respond to each person who comes.

    If we do not have interaction on our blogs. It is like having a radio on an am station with static. Nothing happening, is dead. We have to keep that rhythm up on our blogs. Make it about the readers and not you. That will keep them interacting each day.

    Love what your are doing Donna. Keep us on our toes, per say.
    William Earl Amis, Jr. III recently posted..Where do I begin?My Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 30, 2014 at 11:55 am #

      Hi William,

      I love the analogy you have given here when you said that we have to keep up with our blogs or else it is like a radio station on am with static.

      I particularly love it because I used to do radio about 20 years ago and know that that dead air space is one thing to avoid.

      Yes, we need to make it about our readers and try as best as we can to keep up with our comments in our blogs.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..Fear Is Just Business As UsualMy Profile

  8. Erika Mohssen-Beyk
    Twitter:
    June 29, 2014 at 2:59 pm #

    Hi Donna ,
    there is a lot to learn from here.
    great advise .
    You are the Master 🙂
    Thank you
    Erika Mohssen-Beyk recently posted..Are You In Pain? What To Do If We Have Neck PainMy Profile

  9. Sue Bride
    Twitter:
    June 29, 2014 at 2:29 am #

    Receiving comments on my blog and being able to answer questions asked in them is what really motivates me to continue writing. I find out what my readers want to learn about so it’s the best way for me to learn what topics to write about.

    I know that you should take account of what people search for most. If I did I’d be constantly writing about image tools and image quotes. I’d soon bore regular readers that way though, not to mention myself!

    Your own blog has it’s own little community and visiting sites of those who comment means you become part of their communities too. Your little community is not so little any more.

    Once you engage with people via your blog I find that its easier to engage with them on other social media sites.

    I just realized I said “other” social media sites, but left it as is, because a blog is a kind of social media site too, don’t you think?
    Sue Bride recently posted..What are Hashtag Chats – How to Join or Run OneMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 29, 2014 at 2:16 pm #

      Hi Sue,

      Thanks so much for adding such value to this post. I agree that I too would be bored out of my mind if I searched to see what people are searching for and then wrote about that topic.

      What kind of writers would we be if we did that? You are writing for your readers and giving the answers that they need. As long as you enjoy it, it all works out.

      I don’t thing that was a “Freudian sip” Sue when you said “other” social sites because our blog is the biggest social site there is. We own it..and then we share things on those social sites that we don’t have any control of. So Yes, I do thing our blog is a social site too!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..4 Essential Steps Of Affiliate BloggingMy Profile

  10. Sue Price
    Twitter:
    June 29, 2014 at 2:21 am #

    Hi Donna

    I agree with everything you said here.

    The one crazy thing I did when I started was not targeting my audience properly. Over time why I blog has changed but I was taught right up front to get engagement.

    There are people we all know who do not necessarily engage but have huge followings but then they are the gurus I guess. For most of we need to engage.

    I only wish I had started building a more targeted list when I started but hindsight is a waste of time.

    Thanks for a great post Donna.

    Sue
    Sue Price recently posted..The Vision for Your BusinessMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 29, 2014 at 2:12 pm #

      Hi Sue,

      Oh boy, I made the same mistake when I started blogging. I think we all struggle with that if not lead by some kind of mentor.

      I too was told that engagement was important when I started blogging, but no one told me now to target an audience. Instead, I was targeting people to go to my sidebar and join a network marketing service.

      It wasn’t until that light bulb shown above my head that I was doing so much hard work to lead people to someone else.

      But, a good lesson learned, and I found my way through those so called “mistakes” I have made years ago.

      Now this had developed into a passion of mine because I don’t want to see others that I meet waste their time.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..4 Essential Steps Of Affiliate BloggingMy Profile

  11. Mark
    Twitter:
    June 28, 2014 at 8:15 pm #

    Count me in Donna!

    Without a doubt, the more engaged your readership, the deeper their commitment and loyalty will be!

    Of course, when it comes to generating consistent engagement methods, you wrote book! And if you haven’t yet, you definitely should!

    While it’s not the easiest thing to accomplish, it’s certainly one of the most profitable and long lasting activities, that you should invest their time in!

    Thank you for being such an excellent leader Donna! You and David have taught me and so many others the correct way to get it done! Thank you!
    Mark recently posted..How To Market Your Business Using An Effective Marketing Strategy!Part SevenMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 29, 2014 at 2:08 pm #

      Hi Mark,

      Thanks so much for your lovely compliment. I remember when I first met up with you and we focused on engagement issues.

      Within a short time, I see how you put it right into action and are doing so well. Your engagement rates are growing and that makes me happy!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..4 Essential Steps Of Affiliate BloggingMy Profile

  12. Arleen
    Twitter:
    June 28, 2014 at 6:42 pm #

    I have to say when I first started blogging I had no idea what the purpose was for. I was reading all kinds of blogs and had no idea that they were selling something. I am still trying to increase the engagement on my blog. I am starting to see many are coming to my blog as subscribers which really has made me feel good. I am trying to change it up a bit and start focusing on and also focusing on my target audience, which is anyone who wants to buy and promote themselves. I am working on several different social media platforms.

    Your community has grown from when I first stopped by. You are such a supportive person that I wish everyone would follow what you do for the fellow blogger. Thank you for supporting me, it is much appreciated.
    Arleen recently posted..BIC Crowdsourcing Promo to Create a Universal TypefaceMy Profile

  13. Leslie Denning
    Twitter:
    June 28, 2014 at 2:17 pm #

    Hi Donna. I’m enjoying this series very much. I think there is a tendency to think blogging is blogging is blogging, but that is obviously not true. These are very good suggestions. I am constantly sculpting my blog, and it’s helpful for me to look at things in a new way.

    Thanks for sharing this info.

    All the best,
    Leslie
    Leslie Denning recently posted..Day 12: Wax On – Wax OffMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 29, 2014 at 2:03 pm #

      So glad you liked this series Leslie!

      Yes, we can get caught up in that thinking of “blogging is blogging…” But, with a marketing mindset, we can create our blogs into a prosperous commodity.

      Common sense, ethics and writing gracefully, will get us further than anything!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..4 Essential Steps Of Affiliate BloggingMy Profile

  14. Nanda Rahmanius
    Twitter:
    June 27, 2014 at 4:46 am #

    Hi Donna,

    Of course, I want to build engagement blogging. I think, it’s one way to be successful in the world of blogging. By inviting readers also get involved in our blog post, they will feel appreciated and we will get a good impression of them.

    In addition, if the reader has more knowledge than us. We can learn a lot from them and vice versa. It sounds wonderful though 🙂

    Thanks for sharing this with us, Donna.
    Nice share!

    Nanda
    Nanda Rahmanius recently posted..6 Best Places To Advertise Your Small Business OnlineMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 29, 2014 at 2:01 pm #

      Hi Nanda,

      I agree with you there…the first place we want to build engagement is on our blogs. We “own” our blogs and no matter what is going on social sites, our readers will be there with us.

      They also will subscribe to our emails or offers. Then they are in our email list…another thing we “own”

      So, that in mind, we cannot loose the people we are connected to via our blogs.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..4 Essential Steps Of Affiliate BloggingMy Profile

  15. Chery Schmidt
    Twitter:
    June 27, 2014 at 12:15 am #

    Hello Donna. What an Awesome Post my friend. We all want a blog like yours LOL Where you have all of this engagment going on.. OH YEH When I grow up I want to be just like you LOL

    Yes Of course I would like it to be?
    Thanks for sharing..Chery :))
    Chery Schmidt recently posted..Why Do You Do What You Do?My Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 27, 2014 at 12:44 pm #

      Hi Chery,

      Engagement on my blog is only one part of where I hang out. There is my email list, and of course social media platforms.

      So when you grow up you want to be just like me? He He…you are doing great Chery! Your engagement on your blog is rock’n!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..4 Essential Steps Of Affiliate BloggingMy Profile

  16. Andy Lockhart
    Twitter:
    June 26, 2014 at 11:21 pm #

    Donna, Great advise, so many people write a block and wonder about the purpose. You gave some excellent point in here for people to focus on. The Email follow up is also very important and needs quality content. Sometimes people forget the blogging is only part of the overall deal. Thanks for sharing Andy
    Andy Lockhart recently posted..5 Tips for Your Social Media Profiles When Business NetworkingMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 27, 2014 at 12:42 pm #

      Hi Andy,

      Oh yes, that email follow up is where we need to put our effort into. Once someone opts in to our list, that’s where our full attention mus be before any other place.

      These are the people who became interested in us, so we do have to provide them with the very best we can.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..4 Essential Steps Of Affiliate BloggingMy Profile

  17. Mary Austin
    Twitter:
    June 26, 2014 at 5:51 pm #

    Engagement is the big keyword these days especially if the conversation is about social media. We don’t think of it so much regarding our blogs but it is even more important there. You give good information and this is an area where I need improvement. Thanks
    Mary Austin recently posted..Quickly Fix How Your Blog Posts Appear In Facebook Updates, With Facebook DebuggerMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 27, 2014 at 12:40 pm #

      Hi Mary,

      Engagement needs to be spread everywhere, from our blogs to social media. And speaking of social media, the many changes of Facebook needs to be considered these days. The engagement on our FB Pages are currently being considered by Google.

      When we are on any social media platform a like or a plus doesn’t cut it anymore. We do have to leave a comment on those social media platforms too. Not for Google’s sake, but for our own because this is all part of the engagement we need to do in order to communicate with others.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..4 Essential Steps Of Affiliate BloggingMy Profile

  18. Mi Muba
    Twitter:
    June 26, 2014 at 3:10 pm #

    Hi Donna
    One of the biggest art of management is to engage people into an activity. But here managers do have advantage of their position and they just order their team to engage them in an activity and they get so. For quality of work managers influence their team with their leadership skills.
    To engage a set of audience with your blog is very very difficult task. Here first you communicate I can do this then prove your expertise on a subject by writing awesome contents. Then hit the right audience and attract it to your blog and make it read your contents.
    For this you need to use social media and once visitors get impressed by your authority you must have installed various plugins to make them your subscribers and followers. This is the whole process of engagement blogging.
    You mentioned all the points very clearly and one does have very clear concept of this type of blogging after reading this post.
    Once again thanks a lot for sharing this wonderful post which do have a lot of value.
    Mi Muba recently posted..10 mistakes you should commit to become a successful bloggerMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 27, 2014 at 12:36 pm #

      Hi Mi,

      Thanks for running us through the “engagement process”.

      I want to point out, also, that building engagement and creating involvement does not need to be a crazy complex thing, either. It’s really as simple as asking people to opt in to your list, and then, in a series of emails… getting them to take some action that involves them in what you’re doing.

      That action can be as simple as clicking to view your video or answering 3 questions on a survey, to joining your business or attending your webinar.

      I like things personal and simple, so I try to avoid making people jump through too many hurdles before they can become part of what I’m doing.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..4 Essential Steps Of Affiliate BloggingMy Profile

  19. Steven Wilson
    Twitter:
    June 26, 2014 at 1:28 am #

    Hey Donna,

    I think these types are perfect. I am all about engagement blogging. I feel bloggers are starting to take many shortcuts trying to be everywhere and are missing out on an important factor, engagement.

    This is one of my favorite topics because I feel that sometimes people forget about the power of connecting with your audience on a personal level. Getting remember, more social shares, comments etc is easier started with engagement.

    Awesome post Donna! Have a great rest of the week.
    Steven Wilson recently posted..Infographic: How To Respond To Negative Comments On Social Media and Blog PostMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 26, 2014 at 12:30 pm #

      Hi Steven,

      The more we engage with others, the stronger our business becomes. It is all about go-giving and taking each person that connects with us to the “next level” of their growth.

      To me, it is like the old word of mouth….You help one person, they get all excited because their business starts growing. They start to share their experience with their friends….on and on it goes.

      Pretty soon, you find yourself with more people than you thought possible. As long as our heart is in the right place, things start happening!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..4 Essential Steps Of Affiliate BloggingMy Profile

  20. Nathaniel Kidd
    Twitter:
    June 25, 2014 at 12:22 pm #

    Hi Donna,

    This is an awesome article and a very timely one. I am almost complete with my membership site (The Frugal Blueprint). I have been working on this quite a while because I too wanted to have more of an engagement with my following.

    Blogging is truly a great platform to be able to engage your followers, find out what it is you can do for them, try to provide what they are missing, and then encourage them to take the next step so that their problem is solved.

    I do need to work on finding a better way to organize my lists into groups so I stay organized and able to provide information specifically targeted to my groups, based on how I have them organized. Your post has encouraged me to do so.
    Nathaniel Kidd recently posted..Why You Should Save MoneyMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 26, 2014 at 12:26 pm #

      Hi Nathaniel,

      It is great that you are creating a membership site. There is so much we can do with our blogs, but adding a membership site will help feed your followers with great information. There you can step up and lead via webinars, questions and answers, etc.

      Organizing is key to set things up. It takes some work, but once things are all in place, you will have more free time.

      Glad to be of help here,

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..4 Essential Steps Of Affiliate BloggingMy Profile

  21. Neamat Tawadrous
    Twitter:
    June 24, 2014 at 11:31 pm #

    Hi Donna,

    Great post indeed about engagement and I can say you and Adrienne are top notch leaders when it comes to engagment.

    I am working my way up to increase the engagement on my blog and also build my list but I sure want to do that focusing on my target audience.

    I am sure by now, the webinar is over and I can wait for the recording. Will you be sending it by email or how will you be sending the link if otherwise??

    Thanks Donna and appreciate all the value and the tips your provide in your blog. Have a great rest of the week.

    Be Blessed,

    Neamat
    Neamat Tawadrous recently posted..7 Reasons Why You Need A Blog for Your BusinessMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 25, 2014 at 12:44 am #

      Hi Neamat,

      I know you signed up but couldn’t make it. It will be in your email tomorrow..Wednesday! We did cover a lot….more than we thought we would, but once we started to roll, we couldn’t shut up he he he.

      I thank you for joining us and will be around for your free consultation as part of the purchase of this webinar.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..4 Essential Steps Of Affiliate BloggingMy Profile

  22. Marquita Herald
    Twitter:
    June 24, 2014 at 6:31 pm #

    Terrific article Donna! I make a point of responding to every comment, though I will be the first to admit I focus my of my “engagement” efforts on my subscribers and I love that the way they respond. I actually do plan to introduce a “limited” membership program in a few months, but there are half a dozen other projects ahead of that – I’m shooting for Sept 1st.

    I’m also planning an experiment for my blog FB page and July 1st I’ll be launching an exclusive feature that will only be available on the page. No clue how that will go but it will give me something “special” to promote and drive people to the page. We shall see!

    As always you inspire me 🙂
    Marquita Herald recently posted..How to Streak Your Way to ConsistencyMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 26, 2014 at 12:40 pm #

      Hi Marquita,

      Seems like you have a great plan that you are putting into motion! FB pages work wonders and you can get a lot of mileage out of it. I am sure that once you start, you will be successful at it.

      A membership program is great! It does take a lot of work building that “machine” but once you do, you will find that the engagement there will be your key focus.

      Wishing you many blessings on your new journey,

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..4 Essential Steps Of Affiliate BloggingMy Profile

  23. Enstine Muki
    Twitter:
    June 24, 2014 at 3:32 pm #

    Hey Donna,

    First, I had to make sure I watch that video to signup to your list and get that access. I don’t know if I’m on your list yet but that’s what I’ll find out just after this comment.

    Secondly, the phrase “Give them action steps they can implement” is the core of boosting engagement on ones blog. Without those steps or tips that trigger engagement activities, your blog will just be like some printed news paper where most people read and trash.

    I can see real value in that Webinar event! Good luck to you and David 😉
    Enstine Muki recently posted..Monitor Backlinks ~ Best Backlink Checker for better SEOMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 25, 2014 at 12:42 am #

      Hi Enstine,

      If you didn’t get access, notify me because we did record it. It was supposed to be an hour long, but…it did last almost two hours. That’s the way it goes when you do webinars and want to get as much information across as possible.

      And yes, the core of boosting engagement is giving action steps. We want to encourage people to comment. You will be amazed at so many people who may be reading your blog and following you, but never comment.

      Thank you for your well wishes, we appreciate it.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..4 Essential Steps Of Affiliate BloggingMy Profile

  24. Carol Amato
    Twitter:
    June 24, 2014 at 1:07 pm #

    Hi Donna,

    Awesome post and a very thought-provoking article! While I do some of the things you mentioned, I need to improve in some.

    Specifically, giving them action steps they can implement, asking them specific questions and challenging them to take specific actions. I do this somewhat, but reading your article has inspired me to do it really well!

    I agree that memberships are a perfect next step for folks that are engaged on a blog and want more…

    I’ve limited myself due to limited thinking, and that has to stop, as I determined last week. This post will spur me on to achieve that goal, so thanks much!

    Have a blessed week. 🙂

    – Carol Amato
    Carol Amato recently posted..How To Change The Permalink Structure For Your WordPress SiteMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 25, 2014 at 12:32 am #

      Hi Carol,

      It is so great to know that this has inspired you in many ways. Yes, that call to action will do the trick at the end of each post to prompt engagement. People love to put their opinions in and we as bloggers welcome that.

      As for membership sites…it sure is a great way to coral your followers and give them good value. It’s not an easy task, but once you set one up and start doing webinars and Q&A’s once a week, you sure will get your people rock’n!

      It is a great way to stand out in the crowd.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..4 Essential Steps Of Affiliate BloggingMy Profile

  25. Donna Merrill
    Twitter:
    June 24, 2014 at 11:22 am #

    Hi Sherman,

    I like the way you mentioned that when you get people going, it is like creating your own blogging talk show! It is so true.

    People love to have their say. If they are taking the time to read your blog, they will want to have a chance for some input.

    You will be surprised how many people read comments! They will read your post, then continue down to read comments and sometimes reply to others, or mention that they agree with so and so in the comment section.

    I would say it starts with your call to action at the end of the blog post. Encourage people to have their say by asking a question.

    -Donna
    Donna Merrill recently posted..4 Essential Steps Of Affiliate BloggingMy Profile

  26. NT Izuchi
    Twitter:
    June 24, 2014 at 9:59 am #

    Loved the early point about giving your readers actionable steps to take after reading your work. Truth is people won’t do things unless you tell them to and if the content is on point, good chance they follow through with your calls to action! Great read Donna!

  27. Sherman Smith June 23, 2014 at 11:54 pm #

    Hey Donna,

    You are right on point with this blog. I haven’t realize that there are different reasons to blog. I actually thought it was a process and engaging is step one. But I guess it depends on the audience.

    But I do have to admit, I believe my blog needs more engagement. Yes sharing tools, tips, and stories is one thing, but being able to get into the minds of readers and getting their opinions is another. I really gets them more involved in the topic and lets them know how much you value their opinions.

    This will definitely help create a strong following! There are quite a few people that love to get their point across. When you get those people going, then it’s like you created your own blogging talk show! 🙂 Thanks for the tips Donna!
    Sherman Smith recently posted..Why It’s Good To Lower Your Bounce Rate?My Profile

  28. Sylviane Nuccio
    Twitter:
    June 23, 2014 at 8:26 pm #

    Hi Donna,

    I wish I had known those things when I first started blogging those years ago, but back then I had no clue about building a community with my blogs. Now, I do, but I have to admit lack of time and at times lack of energy make it tough for me to engage as much as I would like.

    As you may know, I’m a morning person, so basically when I have more time is also when my energy goes down. But I’m really working at freeing myself financially so it will fix all those problems once for all 🙂

    Thank you for pointing out how important it is to engage with people when you have a blog.
    Sylviane Nuccio recently posted..5 Fundamental Comment Tips That Will Send The Right Message About YouMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 24, 2014 at 11:08 am #

      Hi Sylviane,

      With so many new bloggers coming into my fold, I just had to write this post. There is a saying coined by Mari Smith: “Content is king, but engagement is Queen and she rules the house” Mari is a social media specialist and I remember that saying from long ago.

      Engagement takes time, I know, but when we set up a schedule for our own time management and stick to it, we can be more productive when it comes to engagement.

      I am sure you will get to that point of freeing yourself financially so that you can put all your efforts into your business. It takes patience and persistence as you well know.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..4 Essential Steps Of Affiliate BloggingMy Profile

  29. Barbara Charles
    Twitter:
    June 23, 2014 at 8:23 pm #

    Hi Donna,

    Engagement has always been the goal as far as I know when it comes to blogging, but it is so damn hard with all the competition in blogging and in all the various niches out there. Sometimes I know I feel overwhelmed. Yet I try very hard to give the readers good information, pertinent to them and hopefully they leave me comments and interact with me. It’s good so far, but not has much engagement as I want.

    I do not consider my business model to be based primarily on engagement blogging, I would like it to be and am working on it now.

    Or does your blogging take you along a totally different path? Yes, unfortunately, and as mentioned above I am working on it and building a new strategy that will be launched shortly. I had identified this issue a while ago, but am now just getting to resolution here.

    Definitely made me thing more that I need to get it completed. Thanks for the boost. Good article.

    Barbara
    Barbara Charles recently posted..How I Grew A Papua New Guinea Network Marketing Team Of 300 In 3 MonthsMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 24, 2014 at 11:03 am #

      Hi Barbara,

      Firstly I would say don’t worry about competition. There is so much on one topic out there in the internet world, it really doesn’t matter at all. Once you switch your mindset to focus on your readers, then reach out to more. By that I mean other blogs in your niche, Social media, etc.

      The more you reach out, the more people will find you. They may not even come to your blog at all….but they will peek at it for social proof that you are putting out good content.

      It’s all about strategy and our blogs are one piece of the puzzle. It is good to know that you are working on it!

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..4 Essential Steps Of Affiliate BloggingMy Profile

  30. Willena Flewelling
    Twitter:
    June 23, 2014 at 8:07 pm #

    You are so right, Donna. Blogging for engagement is the best way to blog, and makes it so much more rewarding and meaningful. I believe that, but my blog doesn’t always bear it out because I let life get in the way of *answering* comments left in a timely manner, if at all. That is one of several steps you’ve given me as a way to improve my blog. Thank you. 🙂
    Willena Flewelling recently posted..Baby StepsMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 24, 2014 at 10:59 am #

      Hi Willena,

      When we have a blog, we do carry the responsibility of answering our comments in a timely basis. This gets the “juices” flowing. There are times that we may miss a comment or two, but hey, we are only human.

      You will be surprised how many will be following your RSS feed, and look to see if they want to come back when we answer their comment for a continuing conversation.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..4 Essential Steps Of Affiliate BloggingMy Profile

  31. Susan Cooper
    Twitter:
    June 23, 2014 at 6:50 pm #

    Creating an engaging blog is so vital for success in this crazy blogging world. While some blogs are primarily for reading information, I find that the ones that encourage me to contribute resonate with me much more. This is all about creating relationships with my readers and what better way then to converse with them. 🙂
    Susan Cooper recently posted..Twisted River Winery Primitivo: #WineMy Profile

  32. Monna Ellithorpe
    Twitter:
    June 23, 2014 at 2:31 pm #

    Hi Donna,

    Great post and good advice. I believe that once a person is able to determine what their purpose is and focus on that, the rest will sort of follow (you have to continue to work at it) but I believe it gets easier.

    Have a great day, Monna
    Monna Ellithorpe recently posted..6 Part Social Media Series -Cross Posting -YouTube vs IBOTube #3My Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 23, 2014 at 3:05 pm #

      Hi Monna,

      Yes, things do take time when we are engaging with others, but it is sure worth it. By building relationships with others, we do earn that know, like and trust factor. To me, that is the backbone of any business.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..4 Essential Steps Of Affiliate BloggingMy Profile

  33. Adrienne
    Twitter:
    June 23, 2014 at 2:29 pm #

    Hey Donna,

    So you want to know what I think? Well you know that I think you’re just spot on my friend. Yep, I totally agree with what you’re sharing here and you know that building a community through your blog is to me the best direction to go.

    I know there are so many different ways you can go about this like you’ve mentioned here but when you have this great following of people who are interested in what you have to share because you’re providing such value then they will follow you almost anywhere.

    Start building relationships with them and we know they’ll stick to your side. They love people that want to help them and support them and they’ll do the same for you. We all definitely love learning and crave following someone who knows their stuff and can help us grow.

    I have no doubt that what you’ll be sharing on your webinar is top notch and filled with some great tips. You are doing such a great job helping others Donna so I for one want to say thank you. 😉

    Keep it up girl and thanks for this awesome information. Have a great week.

    ~Adrienne
    Adrienne recently posted..My Favorite New Addition On BufferMy Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 23, 2014 at 2:42 pm #

      Hi Adrienne,

      I sure do know what you think and we are both on the same page with this one! Engagement has always been the strong point. It’s the only way to go! No matter what kind of blog we have, engagement is the key.

      Just like anything in life, it takes time to build relationships, but once we do, it is so powerful. Helping one another by the relationships we build is imperative no matter what we do on line.

      My objective is not to attract a bizillion people, but rather to keep on having strong relationships with others.

      I love quality….not quantity! It is the greatest joy to be able to help someone on their journey.

      Thank you for your kind words about my webinar. Doing them once a month is my key focus.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..4 Essential Steps Of Affiliate BloggingMy Profile

  34. Ravi Chahar
    Twitter:
    June 23, 2014 at 2:25 pm #

    Hi Donna,

    Again the post worthy to read and follow.
    For bloggers if they want to get success then it is required to engage their readers in their blog posts. Asking questions to them, making them feel as their opinions are valuable and we are ready to help them anytime may lead to an engagement blogging strategy.
    I am also trying to make a list of followers so that I can connect with bloggers like you to learn something better.

    Thanks for reminding me.
    Enjoy your day.:)

    ~Ravi
    Ravi Chahar recently posted..How To Transfer SEO Data From SEOPressor To Thesis Quickly?My Profile

    • Donna Merrill
      Twitter:
      June 23, 2014 at 2:56 pm #

      Hi Ravi,

      We surely need to engage with our followers on our blogs and on our social sites. I always say that our blog is our “home” and that is where we start to make good relationships.

      Being there for our followers is most important of all. We want to encourage our readers to ask us questions, for this is how we start building good relationships.

      When we engage with others, it is the strong point of any business.

      -Donna
      Donna Merrill recently posted..4 Essential Steps Of Affiliate BloggingMy Profile

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