Engagement from Scratch!: How Super-Community Builders Create a Loyal Audience and How You Can Do the Same! Paperback – November 9, 2011

I am totally brand new to blogging and online marketing of any kind. Engagement from Scratch is one of the first books that I came across on Amazon that seemed to fit what I was looking for. I'm really glad I bought it!Engagement from Scratch is groundbreaking; pulling together some of the foremost successes and authorities on engaging your audience is a brilliant idea that Danny Iny totally nailed. It gave me a lot of confidence that I could do the same thing, even though I am literally starting with nothing. I felt comfortable, not intimidated, reading the articles and understanding the information. Each of the contributors was genuine in their approach to sharing their techniques and you can really sense that. With 31 expert articles to choose from (including Danny's) there is everything you could want on the subject.It was interesting to see the similarities and differences with the articles. Some of the information overlapped, confirming that those principles are what everyone should use. Other information contradicted itself; not that these techniques don't work. But rather that something that works for one person may not work for another. You need to determine what will work for you and implement those strategies. I also love how the resources for each author (website, twitter, blog, etc) is included at the end of their article. I will be checking out many of these blogs to get even more information that can help my business.This is a great book for anyone who wants to engage with an online audience, for whatever reason. I felt I could apply any of the advice as a beginner and not get overwhelmed. As well, the concepts are advanced that anyone could take away something valuable to add to their business and take their audience engagement to the next level.This book is a must have!

Danny's collaborative approach to creating this book make it a unique and comprehensive read. The knowledge of experts across industries makes the book a do-read for anyone concerned with building an audience, online or off. Following Danny's advice through webinars, newsletters, and the Firepole Marketing blog has changed the way I see my online business and given me the blueprint to realize my vision for it. I'd have bought the book simply as a Thank-You for that, but it's also a valuable tool in its own right, and one I'll keep on hand as I grow my business in the coming years.

I'm going back into this book to read it again and I'm taking notes this time.There is so much terrific information, and from such a range of internet business owners who have contributed, that I couldn't take it all in the first time around.I got myself the Kindle version of Engagement from Scratch! How Super-Community Builders Create a Loyal Audience and How You Can Do the Same! and there's a Paperback version of Engagement from Scratch!, as well.The 'real world' examples given inside this book are incredibly valuable. Each author writes as if speaking to you personally, based on a wealth of personal experience, each having built their own large communities online.The information is not technical and is written in easy to grasp layman terms. Suitable for start ups and for anyone with many years of online experience.This book is not full of cliches and glazed over information. Every article is written from the heart with a clear intention of making a difference to all web owners.Whether you write a blog or build web content on your own site(s). This is one purchase you won't regret.It has REAL information for REAL internet businesses, for long term growth and connection with your audience. The book gives you more than just a way to think, it also includes many practical tips and examples.

I gave this book 3 stars because I have not completed it yet. My impression of this book is that each chapter is a way to sell the "authors" other books and gain more audience for their respective blogs in order to increase their "authority" in the field and then sell their premium content (add copious exclamation points! for relatability and some set-backs to sprinkle in the "everyman" experience).From the authors' actions you build an audience for your blog by:1) Giving away lots of good information (in the world we call that sharing)2) The more your name is out there the more people will "think" you're an expert (how does an academic get paid for others to contribute to their book? - this does not scream expert)3) Get "experts" to share some advice and shill their expertise (re: blogs and books) in an "authentic" manner4) Write your own book (increase your expert standing - you wrote a book! requisite exclamation point added for emphasis and relatability)Of course you have to reach critical mass (look at these reviews - mission accomplished!!).I can't help but feel that this is just a huge "authentic" info.periodical. The new, new marketing. Sell people the means to sell to them. It's almost meta, but mostly weird. How uniquely entrepreneurial to profit from what communities have been doing for time immemorial. Happily there is a stop gap method for this pillage and ironically it's what this book lacks, authenticity.If you have gotten this far in the review I would like to share something with you (without linking you to my blog). After purchasing many kindle books there seems to be a correlation between the number of pages and quality of content. Anything under 300 pages is questionable (this applies to non-fiction books and is simply anecdotal).