Did you know that 33% of Americans follow brands on Facebook and Twitter?

That number has doubled in the past 2 years. It’s clear that a company’s online presence is more important than ever. Brands that transcend social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter see a strong following on blogs. This happens because blogs offer more thoughtful and carefully curated content. Building a successful blog isn’t an easy task, and followers will only join if there’s a benefit for them. There are, however, ways for bloggers to improve their sites. The key is is look from inside out. At the Blog World & New Media Expo, a talked called “Building an Authority Brand” touched upon the must-do’s for serious bloggers.  We’ve recapped some of the hot topics at this exclusive event:

It pays to understand the blogger culture

• Bloggers feel they aren’t treated as professionally as media. Be aware of this, and be respectful.
• Not all women bloggers are mommy bloggers. It’s almost a derogatory term these days.
• Don’t think campaign. Focus on relationships when reaching out to fellow bloggers. Having mutual respect for bloggers will enhance your community. So, give a little, and you will benefit in return.
• Bloggers deserve respect, especially when pitching. There’s no lack of ideas about what to write so keep that in mind when pitching.

Interactivity is key

• When you find a great blog, comment on the posts you like. Comments are “blogger crack.” If they comment back on one of your posts, thank them, and keep the commenting going.
• When you get a “no” to the right idea, it’s a no to your approach. You don’t yet get what they need. Switch up the approach to enhance activity on your page.
• Keep a spreadsheet of bloggers with details about their blogs and any follow-up activity. Note things like: Where did they come from? Why are they on your list? This might help you reach out to and understand prospective followers.

There are plenty of budding blogs and blogger tools to learn from

• BlogPaws, an online pet community for learning, networking, and fun is a great way to learn niche blogging.
• Babble, a portal for talks between those who make up a new generation of parenting, is an excellent example of community growth.
• Technorati, an internet search engine for searching blogs can help you to find blogs that host your ideal followers.
• Google Alerts can help you track content identified by keywords to inspire new posts and keep you up with community trends.

Thanks for the insight, @CENTURY21, @tamadear, and @rzazueta!