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

There 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.

• Bio
• Blogging Magic

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.