Creating Your Thriving Community
I really believe many bloggers do not do their research; I think they crave a community on their blogs but just seem to go about it in the wrong way.
I see bloggers everywhere I go online. I see them on social media, blogs, and forums I frequent. They have a lot to say. So I get curious and wonder “what is all the fuss about? What am I missing out on?” So I head over to his/her blog.
And find nothing worthwhile. The posts are standard, almost cookie cutter, just like any other blog in their niche. The blog is chock-full of advertisements from vendors and Google. I can barely find the posts. No bother reading anyway because the writing is horrid.
What a waste of my time.
The blogger got my attention but I doubt he or she will build a thriving audience. I’m not coming back. It is obvious he or she is building a site not a community. They simply want traffic to click on the ads, because their content is boring and of horrible quality, not good enough to warrant even a bad comment just for the backlink. (Which is a horrible idea, by the way. I learned the hard way, but that is another post.)
As a blogger you need to attract visitors, yes, but don’t stop there.
Attracting visitors to your blog is just the first step in creating a thriving community. Once you get those visitors to your blog you need to keep them there. How? Let’s discuss that.
In this post I am referring to “blogs” or “bloggers” for simplicity. But this article can also be useful for business owners online and affiliate marketers as well.
1. The Attraction
Be Everywhere
This is the one thing the bloggers above got right- be everywhere and that they are. Is that enough?
You have read about being everywhere I assume. This is a hot theme in blogging and online income right now. You must be everywhere. What does that mean?
Be where your audience is
Often. All the time. Schedule it in. Do it.
- Other blogs in your niche
- Forums
- Social Media
- YouTube
You get the point. Only frequent where you know they frequent. Don’t waste time on LinkedIn if you know your readers don’t bother with that platform.
How do you know?
You analyze where they hang out. What they read. Get to know your typical reader. Picture them in your head. Know what they need and want. If needed find out what they like to buy, how much they earn or spend.
Yes, but how do I find this out?
Start off my doing a search online for your keywords or niche to find blogs they read. Visit these blogs. Follow the people they follow. See where those bloggers are. Start there. As you progress you will start to see patterns. You will find forums and Facebook pages they all like to frequent. Be there.
Leave Greatness Behind
It is your time to lure people back to your blog. When you visit those forums, blogs and pages leave intelligent comments. Converse with the natives. People like to flock where they believe they can feel welcome and find knowledge to solve their problems. Give them little bits of this off your blog.
I was on a personal forum the other day, looking for any ideas on how to get my son to do his homework.
He is a smart young man and gets A’s on tests but rarely does his homework. In high school this can bring down grades significantly. I have punished him by taking away everything he loves- computer, friends, TV. He sits in his room staring at the wall. And yet his homework is still not getting done. I am frustrated now.
So I went onto a forum for moms with teens. One mom says give him extra chores. The one thing teens want is to do nothing. DUH! My punishment gave him nothing to do, just what he enjoys anyway. I started giving him more chores, hard chores. Guess what? His homework is getting done.
The mom that gave me that tip did not have a blog but if she did you bet I would have gone to read it, followed her on Twitter and subscribed to her newsletter. She solved my problem and I would want to know if she could solve more.
Sure, this all sounds like a game or strategy, it is. But if you truly want to help others it will show in the words you leave behind. And that is when the magic starts to happen.
People will come to your blog.
2. The Love Affair
You got them to visit! Woo hoo! Now what do you do?
Show your visitors that you mean business and you want them to stay.
Content
Duh! We all know this one, right? Publish great content. I don’t need to go into details because this subject has been rehashed too many times online. If you care to make money and/or have a thriving community online, you know to create some good stuff people want to read.
But I have one more thing to add: Give away the solutions.
Write to people’s pain, worries and problems. And don’t even think about just ranting and raving. Actually give them solutions; proven solutions and/or your solutions.
Engage
Talk to your readers off and on your blog.
Get to know them.
I have to admit, this is quite the challenge for me. I have a horrible memory that bites me in the butt every time.
I was having a conversation with a woman not too long ago on Twitter. We were going back and forth about life and blogging. It was a nice talk so I told her that we should meet sometime. She said we did, at Blogher conference. I didn’t remember this and felt like such a heel! I was conversing with her, like I love to do and should, but didn’t remember her and the details of how we met.
Since then I changed my strategy. I needed to learn how to network better.
I started using Evernote online and on my smart phone. I noted everyone and wrote important details! Even people I met in crossing through offline friends for practice. Now when I know I am going to a certain blog, forum or meeting I can bring up that tag in Evernote and recall the conversation we had previously.
Even if you are like me and forget people (not a good trait in business so we both need to work on it) it doesn’t excuse us from engaging with others on our blogs. Be sure to:
Reply to comments. Keep conversations going. Like their Facebook pages and converse there.
3. Share the Love
You’ve got a community ready to hear from you. You know they do because you looked for them, attracted them back to your blog and gave them some solutions. And now they crave more.
Yes. More.
This is when you head back out there into the Internet, off your blog, and share other people’s stuff and give even more. You read that correctly. If done correctly it can actually be fun and very rewarding.
Share Your Community’s Stuff
Yep, remember where your audience hangs out? Maybe Twitter? Facebook? Your blog?
Give them some kudos and share their stuff. Mention them in your blog. Tweet their posts. Write a nice summary of their latest article and post it on your Facebook page. There is nothing more thrilling than being featured by someone else! (Ok, winning the lottery may be more thrilling.) Not only will they remember you but will love you too. Isn’t that the beginning of a beautiful relationship?
Share Great Content, not Just Your Own
Find relevant, meaningful, helpful posts and articles which your audience would love and then share the heck out of them. Your Twitter feed should be 50% other people’s stuff and 50% yours. Give or take a few percentages. The point is to not make your feeds all about you.
Be sure you share only what is relevant to your niche. Your readers do not want to read about ducks when you write about coffee. Unless the ducks are making the coffee.
Give Stuff Away
Yes, you do already give away great content. You need to give more.
Write free material like helpful ebooks, give them away. Give discounts to your most loyal readers. Hold a contest and give away something that will help them solve a problem like a great book you read or a tool that has helped you. Give newsletter subscribers access to special exclusive content and deals.
People online seem to expect free from new merchants and/or bloggers. There is so much competition online that companies feel the need to give stuff away to get your attention.
I downloaded a game on my iPhone called “Buster Bash”. It is SF Giants catcher Buster Posey’s app and was released this summer. In order to get the app up and going they held a twitter contest with a specific hashtag. Ten Buster Bash shirts were to be given away, and I wanted one. I tweeted my heart out. And won a shirt.
The company behind this app knows they could create a buzz by doing this and reward its loyal players by giving away t-shirts. It’s a win for everyone.
The Online Business and Blog
Keeping a thriving business and/or blog online is no easy task. It is a time consuming. Any relationship you want to thrive takes time and effort.
Take the relationship you have with your audience slow at first. Learn all you can about them before you comment on forums or blogs. Lurk a little, but not a lot because people start getting suspicious of you and may bump you from their groups or not talk to you when you do speak up.
Just remember getting attention is not the same as a fulfilled, engaged audience. Attention lasts 5 minutes. Engagement lasts a life time.
Ultimately…
Do what is best for you and your audience. There is never a one fit for all solutions. Did I just nullify everything I just said? Nah.
Follow some of what I just wrote, follow none. Start engaging now, not just attracting.
Resources I Have Found Helpful
Be Everywhere by Pat Flynn
Networking by Alan Chatfield
Networking eCourse by Life’s Too Good (Alan says more here about the eCourse.)
Don’t Listen to Anybody by SocialMouths
How do you engage in your audience?
Any more tips?
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Welcome! I'm Allie. I help WAHMs get their businesses noticed online. Feel free to look around. New here? Check out 
Thanks Allie. I learned this the hard way myself. I was running myself ragged trying to create good content that was only my own. Then I realized, I should be sharing other content as well as my own. It not only helped me to relax and not work as hard, but others loved it as well and more and more people are engaging now. Thanks for the post. Luv it.
Renae created this awesome post: 109 Giveaway Sites that will Market Your Product for Free
Renae,
I learned most of my stuff the hard way, lol. I guess I have to just experience things for myself to learn. But I think what is important is that we learn from any mistakes and move on.ww
BTW, I have been over to your blog and I believe now that you are crazy, lol. Vlogging and blogging everyday for a year!!! I can barely make every week. But if you can fulfill that challenge that is awesome!!! And I love your videos. I’ll be sure to share and comment.
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: Attracting Visitors to Your Blog Does Not Equal a Thriving Community
I would add nice graphics to break up the text, and not too many ads or popups. I like to land on clean looking blogs to read. You covered many other great tips Allie. You reminded me to get moving on forums too.
Lisa created this awesome post: Is Your Websites Seniority A Major SEO Factor?
Lisa,
I know! Graphics please!! I’m a skimmer when I read and if the text just runs on and on, well, I leave. I need bullets, bold, sections, graphics, etc. I’m with ya sista!
And honestly, i am done with pop-ups. I stopped visiting blogs with popups. I know they say they are useful and successful but I don’t care.
Forums are kinda new to me. I have signed up for a few but forget to get over there. I’ve been making my rounds lately and have loved it! I learn so much and I get to spread the word that I exist. Win win.
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: How to Take a Blogging Break and Get More Traffic
This is probably one of the absolutely hardest things for me. I love blogging, I love writing, but I have never been much of a “people person”. I have mild Asperger’s, which sometimes makes it difficult for me to know if I’m being too pushy in a relationship. So I end up not connecting when I should and waiting for other people to make the first move. Your tips here are all things I can feel comfortable doing, allowing me to reach out in a way I might not have before. Thanks!
Kelly created this awesome post: 5 Foods That Are Packed With Dietary Fiber
Kelly,
I am proud of you for getting out there. Many people in your situation would simply shy away and stop what they love.
I don’t know any adults with Aspergers but I know a couple of children. I know it can be rough being around people when they are ignorant and impatient. But when we know the situation we can adjust. And then things run great for both parties.
I hope you find working online fruitful and fun.
Thank you for rising to the challenge.
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: Attracting Visitors to Your Blog Does Not Equal a Thriving Community
Hi Allie,
It’s so important to have blog visitors to keep coming back. I just discovered your blog today and I LOVE it!
Thanks for sharing this wonderful content that makes me hungry for more of your expetise.
Many Blessings,
Stacie Walker
Stacie Walker created this awesome post: Financial Education: 4 Simple Money Saving Tips to Help Your Financial Budget by Tomas Briner
Stacie,
Thank you so much for the nice words. Hope to see you often!
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: Affiliate Marketing with a Twist: WAHM Style
Hey Allie,
Sorry but this part really made me laugh… ‘I have punished him by taking away everything he loves‘.
What a great article.
Creating my website has certainly been a very different experience for me than expected, not least because of meeting great people such as yourself sharing articles such as this one.
Thanks so much for the mentions above. I should perhaps point out that the networking course still has an insanely low ‘early adopter’ price of only $27 (I’ve been told I’m probably losing business setting the price that low even for an early adopter price) until the end of the month – the price goes up to $97 on Oct 1st – which is still going to be very good value as there’s a lot packed into that course.
Anyways, I thought that was worth mentioning, didn’t mean to be ‘salesy’ but in case anyone is thinking about it, now would be the time to come & be part of it.
p.s. you won’t be seeing any ads on my site any time soon, it’s all about the reader, so I 1000% agree with your sentiments above!
Alan | Life’s Too Good created this awesome post: How Your Memories Can Trick You – and What To Do About It…
Alan,
Why did that make you laugh?
I linked your comment above near the mention I made so people can see the price, etc.
Ads are fine but I’m referring to those people that have their blog covered in them. Heck, I can’t find their content.
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: Masking Your Links is Not Dirty Business
Hi, I’m a newbie so have a lot to learn as yet. One thing that rang true for me was your advice to take my relationship with my audience slow at first. I must admit I was rushing ahead too fast. Learning about them before commenting is brilliant advice, I am from south america and we are friendly with everybody, we tend to forget that other countries area a little bit slower to making friendships….thanks.
I think we all need a reminder to share materials of others. There is so much good stuff out there and sharing just improves relationships. In the first few years of my business I felt like an island. That’s because I was an island. I’ve learned since then and now I try harder to build community.
Suzanne created this awesome post: Marketing Question: How do you target a specific audience in your marketing?
Suzanne,
The island metaphor is perfect. When we begin blogging, even if we are commenting and sharing, we feel like an island. But those that get out there and move about, spreading good content and talking to others will build a community stronger and faster than the ones that don’t take action.
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: Attracting Visitors to Your Blog Does Not Equal a Thriving Community
Hi Allie,
Over the years I’ve noticed something about the type of bloogers you referring to.
It’s one thing to be giving great value in forums and other public places to attract people JUST TO SELL THEM, and it’s another to REALLY give value and help people because that’s what you do – that’s your nature.
I wasn’t born yesterday, and I sure don’t fall for that anymore for a long time, but some people sure still try to put their baits out there trying to catch some unsuspecting preys(people).
However, as you said, it doesn’t mean that they will keep on coming, because nobody is stupid enough not to realized that they were being sold and that’s there really nothing for them there.
Thank you for this interesting point, Allie
Sylviane Nuccio created this awesome post: Is Your Blog Content Mediocre At Best And How Can You Tell?
Sylviane,
How have you been? It is nice to see you! I’ll have to head over to your place right after this.
You know what is funny? This post actually started out as a rant with the sentiment you just wrote but I decided to change it a bit and not rant so much. Maybe I should have.
There is nothing more I hate when I am at a forum or blog and I find something someone said interesting so I head over to their site. But only to find a sales page or ads, ads, ads. And horrible content that I feel I read before. I hate wasting my time like that.
I think those are the same people that do not last online and disappear leaving us to wonder where they went. They leave because it is all fake.
What I want to find is a blogger that cares. I honestly don’t even care if there is a community there or comments. I just want to read good stuff that can help or entertain me.
I think I am beginning to rant, lol. I better stop.
Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting!
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: Attracting Visitors to Your Blog Does Not Equal a Thriving Community
Pretty good post, and I admired insight to this. I think this is considered to be the most challenging part of a blogger that they should able to master and learn more things into. What I’ve also learned in blogging is not only getting good traffic but also building up more relationship with your followers and to your readers, and showing them how they’re very special in some ways.
Ok, can I brag a bit?
I may not be regular with my blogging but I make sure I read so much more. Yes, I read and comment a LOT! More than I blog, much more than I blog. And I feel it works for me. Reading and getting around and knowing people through their blogs is such a great way of building audience and getting the recognition.
Hope you are having an awesome day!
Hajra created this awesome post: Two years and many blogging mistakes later
Hajra,
You do comment a lot and I have taken that advice. I just can’t get around as much as you do. maybe I need to learn to read faster and that would help me to visit more.
Congrats on your blogversary!
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: Attracting Visitors to Your Blog Does Not Equal a Thriving Community
Wow! Great article. Thank you for sharing your ideas with us and gave us a hint about improving our blogs.
Shane created this awesome post: Cirebon FM 89.2 Indonesia Radio Online
Great Article Allie,
I totaly agree with what you said. In terms of writing good content, i always struggle with what is good and what is not. A few months ago i almost gave up on twitter. Lately i’ve been going to forums and reading what peopple complain about in my niche. Find their pain points and when you look at it from that point of view it changes how you write.
I also recently decided to give away something free on my blog and suddenly i have regular people signing up to my blog. And as far as being everywhere, i defenitley need to make some more things automated. I like the buffer tool that adrienne talked about recently. For now, i just focus on one or two social media sites instead of spreading myself too thin.
Over all Allie, i think everyone has to go through the motions and make their own mistakes.
I know i’ve made more than my share.
One of the best things i’ve done so far in terms of networking is promoting other people through my blog posts like you do. This amazed me. I thought i would lose traffic but what happened was by promotoing other people, they also promote my article and so do their friends. One of my posts got over 150 shares on facebook this way.
Annie Andre created this awesome post: Free Travel Packing Checklist + Life In Our New French Town (Monthly Report#4)
Annie,
I think we are at the same place…I too have had that revelation about finding the pain point and solving it. If I don’t know how to solve, I find out how to solve it and then show them how I did it. It totally has changed the way I think about my audience and how I write. I love it! I am hoping I can move my blog forward with this frame of mind.
And yes, I am only on Twitter and Facebook primarily. That is where the moms are. I do keep my Google + active because, well, it’s Google and they are god. But my audience is not there. Google + to me is an experiment. Honestly, I don’t like forums, mostly just the format. But that is the one place I force myself to go because not only am I making connections but I am also learning from others.
Sharing rocks! That is awesome that you got so many shares and on FB!! I’m jealous but really happy for you.
Seems like things are really looking good for you right now, personally and business, and I am so happy!
I really like your videos! So keep them coming!
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: Attracting Visitors to Your Blog Does Not Equal a Thriving Community
I like how you said to talk to your readers…everywhere! This is one of the best ways to get your blog noticed. When I first started out, I talked to everyone, made friends, and eventually this helped me to build the blog that I have today.
Sure having great blog posts are important. But when you extend yourself to people, they remember that as well.
Wade created this awesome post: Your Blog is Too Fat
Wade,
Well, everywhere your audience is. I tried the everywhere approach and it got me nowhere. Now I get to converse with WAH people like yourself and learn from them. We help each other and I am loving it!
But you are right, we need to extend ourselves to people-a lot.
I love the title of your blog and feel the need to go read it.
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: Masking Your Links is Not Dirty Business
Punishment worked for your son, didn’t it?
You should also try positive reinforcement – like rewarding for doing more work (but, that can end up being a huge mess if not controlled).
Anyways, to the main ideas!
You are right, many people focus on driving traffic to their site (instead of thinking about building a community and keeping those visitors).
You have some great ideas here, Allie, especially the one about using Evernote to remember the conversations (I think I should give it a try, we will see
).
Right now, I am in the planning process of my new blog, and these ideas here gives me a lot to think about, especially on content and networking
Thank you Allie 
Jeevan Jacob John created this awesome post: The Last Piece You Will Ever Read On This Blog!
Jeevan,
I do both positive and negative reinforcement. He is a teenager who has the attitude that he doesn’t care and will get around me somehow. It can be so frustrating.
I read that you are starting a new blog, good luck with it. COnsidering you have experience, i am sure you will get this one up and running well in no time.
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: Online WAHM Journey, Two Years in the Making
Yes, I can relate back, after all I am a teenager too (or maybe not, I consider myself a blogger before a teenager. So my blogging personality seems to have taken over me – which is a good thing because I am doing way better at everything usually do – from studies to time management to blogging).
Thanks, Allie
Hi Allie,
this is so true: Attraction doesn’t automatically translate into community or let’s say, conversion.
If a headline attracts us and the content turns out to be mediocre, we will leave this blog disappointed and hardly ever come back.
But even great content is not enough because we need to engage – on other people’s blogs and on our own. We need to promote (a different word for ‘share’) our blog and other people’s blogs.
Great advice, thanks for sharing.
Best,
Oliver
P.S.: By the way, I love Evernote too
Oliver Tausend created this awesome post: Inbound Marketing Vs. Outbound Marketing – A Case Study Part 2
Oliver,
Thank you so much for coming by!
Yes, there is so much that goes on if one wants to have a popular, thriving blog community.
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: Online WAHM Journey, Two Years in the Making
Great post! “Give away the solutions” is something that I heard repeated over and over during this year’s Content Marketing World. Another version was: “You have no secrets, so don’t be afraid to share what you know.”
I find that the people who are most open are often the most memorable (not to mention helpful.)
Kelly Kautz created this awesome post: Hootsuite 101: My Take on the Social Media Management Tool
Kelly,
I have noticed that also. I really do believe people don’t just want to learn or just read online, they want to connect. When one is open and/or provides solutions then a connection can be made much more easily.
Thank you for coming by and commenting!
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: Online WAHM Journey, Two Years in the Making
Hi Allie,
I could appreciate your post, not because I have any great aspirations (my blog is just personal witterings!) but because I spend a lot of time reading other people’s blogs and know full well what you mean when you visit a blog that’s been set up purely to generate clicks and the bad taste it can leave in your mouth.
I enjoy reading good quality content with friendly blog owners who I like to visit time and time again, I may not have a community *on* my blog, but I have a community on other people’s – we’re a little group.
Roz Bennetts created this awesome post: My 60 Second Interview
Roz,
Sometimes I think it is just as important for people to have a community they relate to online anywhere. Some people do come online for that specific reason. Sometimes I wonder: did I come online to build a blog of my journey or to interact with like minded people? Maybe a little of both.
Thank you for coming by!
~Allie
Allie created this awesome post: Online WAHM Journey, Two Years in the Making
Hi, Allie,
Great article! I’m still learning, and still struggling. My 3-year anniversary with Hub Pages is coming up, and I’ve been so busy concentrating on that platform that my blogs have been totally neglected for the past year.
I’m going to have to start from scratch, if at all. I’m no spring chicken anymore–I become eligible for Medicare next March. I’m afraid my results are sporadic, because so are my efforts. You reap what you sow..etc…
I’m not complaining, nor finding fault with your suggestions; they are all right-on-target, from everything I’ve learned. I’m just worn out with all the personal issues we’ve had over the last half dozen years, and I simply lack the energy to put forth that effort, so I leave my blogs as just someplace to put oddball stuff–if it gets found, fine, if not, also fine.
I’ve always had a problem with having ‘too many irons in the fire,’ and that’s why I pretty much gave up on the blogs, and concentrate on Hub Pages, where at least, I’m now, finally, earning some pocket change.
Cheers, Liz
(P.S. I wish there were more locals for the meetup group….)
Liz Elias created this awesome post: Epilepsy–in Cats: What It Is, What It Is Not and What Causes It