There’s one thing every blogger needs for long-term success.

It’s not having great ideas. It’s not a flawless writing style. And it’s definitely not professional writing experience. (Although these things can help!)

What every blogger needs is a loyal audience.

I’m not just talking about your following count or monthly readers. I’m talking about an engaged, dedicated fanbase. Once you’ve established that platform, pretty much anything is possible.

A loyal audience:

• Follows you anywhere, no matter the platform.

• Trusts you as an authority figure on certain topics.

• Engages with your content to give feedback and ideas.

• Guarantees a baseline of views and support on everything you publish.

Sounds pretty good, right? Here are six ways to build a loyal audience. Whether you’re a beginner trying to reach your first readers or a seasoned pro wanting to deepen the relationship with your audience – these are for you.

1. Think about the “second click.”

When most beginner writers start out, they only think about the “first click.” They want one story to generate as much traffic, money, and views as possible. So what’s the quick solution? Short-term strategies like clickbait or jumping on the trend wagon.

But here’s the thing: to build a loyal audience, you need to think beyond the first click. You also want the second click, the third, the fourth, and the thousandth. And that means you have to think long-term. Don’t try to copy a viral article from someone else – write about what you love. Write high-quality content. Deliver on any promises you make in your title.

Give your readers a reason to return.

2. Juice up the emotion.

Why do you care about this thing? Why should you, specifically you, write about this? What’s the article that no one but YOU can write?

All these questions have one thing in common: emotion. And honestly, that’s the best booster for anything you write! Emotion helps you craft a powerful story that will resonate with people not just while reading but also afterward. Which means they’ll remember you and tell their friends about you.

3. Establish trust.

The best way to generate trust with your readers is to rely on authority. And ideally, this authority is you! Injecting your personal experience into your articles makes them unique, increases relatability, and simplifies the writing process.

But obviously, you don’t have to be an expert in everything you write about. Just bring in external authority. For example, cite reliable books, articles, or studies. You can also use a famous name from history or pop culture that people will recognize.

This authority element helps overcome any initial doubt someone might have when first discovering your work.

4. Get a stage that’s all yours.

When you post your content on platforms like Medium, you’re at the mercy of an ominous algorithm [cue spooky music]. So even if your audience wants to read your stuff, a huge fraction won’t see it. I have 55k+ followers, but I don't often get a story with 55k+ views.

Additionally, there’s always the chance that platforms shut down unexpectedly and your following disappears.

Your answer to that is a mailing list. It gives you direct access to people’s inboxes (hi), sparks conversations, and provides more exclusivity. (If you’re wondering how to set up a mailing list and what’s the best platform, check out this video.)

5. Engage with your audience.

I don’t always respond to all my comments on Medium because I don't have the time and Medium's commenting setup is a touch janky. But I have such a nice community on YouTube, and I get a ton of great emails. And although I may not always respond immediately, I answer every question I receive.

This really helps me get to know my readers, build a more personal connection with them, and understand their interests. If that’s not your style, tell your audience where you hang out. LinkedIn? Twitter? MySpace? Anything will do as long as the communication is not a one-way street.

6. Find out why people follow you.

This can require some detective work, but it’s so worth it. The easy way is to check your stats and look for patterns among your best-performing stories. Is it a certain topic? A writing style? An emotion?

If you want to take it one step further, check your comments and your highlights. Is there anything that sticks out? Try to pinpoint it and use it as a hypothesis for your next article. If your assumption confirms, shamelessly double down on it. You're here to give the people what they want!

And remember, that can change. I didn't start out as a writing/side hustle/blogging blogger!

Building a loyal audience is NOT easy. It takes a lot of dedication and hard work over a long period of time. And simultaneously, it’s so tempting to put your head in the sand and chase after views. I know because I’ve been there!

But at the end of the day, blogging is not just about writing. It’s about sharing your message with real people. Getting real reactions. Making a difference. So rest assured, every minute you spend deepening the relationship with your audience will pay off invaluably.

Happy writing!

Zulie