It was 4 years ago to the day when I first opened the doors to the Blog Engage community. October 26th 2007. This was the day I started Blog Engage and today it has grown into one of the largest and most active blogging communities on the internet.
Take a look around and you see many sites trying to be like Blog Engage, starting their own community and even copying the majority of my marketing ideas. As you know these sites go as fast as they come and provide no longevity for their members. I like to think Blog Engage is here for the long haul.
The road has been long with many learning curves. I’ve had my ups, and I’ve had my downs. When it’s all said and done I wouldn’t change it for anything. I’m proud to be the owner and founder of the Blog Engage community and I’m proud to have met so many new friends.
I remember when I first started Blog Engage I was doing a lot of forum marketing. In one specific forum I was challenged with the question. “Why should I go and join Blog Engage there’s no one there, what is the benefit for me?”
In all honesty at that time there wasn’t much benefit to joining the Blog Engage community. Perhaps you could build a few backlinks and well… get to know me lol. Blog Engage was brand new and maybe had only a handful of members submitting articles. I don’t know why I continued promoting at that time but I just felt the internet needed a better place for bloggers to market and promote their content.
I’ve thought about giving up many times, frustration kicks in, there’s tons of work to do and I also work full time. Managing Blog Engage has been very hard and at times really demanding on my personal life.
The decision to keep moving forward and to keep building the community came easy. I look at the friends I’ve made, and relationships I’ve built online and I wouldn’t change that for anything. The reason I continue moving forward is because of you; our blogging members. I enjoy reading and tweeting your content and I enjoy having you as part of the Blog Engage community.
You are the reason I keep moving forward and continue building the Blog Engage brand. You are the reason we are all still here and I thank you all for this.
So today isn’t about me, it’s not about Blog Engage it’s about you and how you all came together to love the Blog Engage community. Today is a celebration of commitment, team work and dedication. Today we celebrate you; our Blog Engage members.
Share your experiences in a comment below
So please take a moment and share with us why you joined Blog Engage. Share what you have learned and your overall experience using the community. Let us know how you feel about Blog Engage and how it’s affected your blogging career.
Be sure to add me as a friend, bbrian017
Twitter, bbrian017
Thanks,
Brian
Andreas Pazer (152)
abhibalani (136)
Jafar Dhada (128)
Holly Jahangiri (101)
bbrian017 (62)
Justin Germino (51)
Kris Edison (47)
James Pruitt (46)
Rahul Kuntala (31)
Hajra (26)
Twitter: dragonblogger
Happy Anniversary, I didn’t know BE was started a year before I even started DragonBlogger
Justin Germino recently posted..What Tech Gifts Are You Getting This Holiday Season?
Twitter: bbrian017
Hi Justin, actually I didn’t know that either lol. Time sure flies by when your having fun huh? Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
bbrian017 recently posted..Inspired by Woo Themes
Twitter: davelucas
Happy B-Day Blog Engage!
I don’t use your services as often or effectively as I should (my pet excuse: “I don’t have time!”) but I recommend your services to every blogger I meet!
Great Job, Brian!
BLOG ON!
Dave Lucas recently posted..#Wordless Wednesday
Twitter: bbrian017
Hi Dave, I’m thankful for all the support you have shown me. You always try and promote our community on your blog and I don’t forget these things. Thank you for everything and I look forward to building on our relationship as we move forward nearing the end of 2011.
bbrian017 recently posted..New Features for Business Plus Customers
Twitter: sandipan23
Congrats Brian…You are doing a great job….
Happy Birthday Blog Engage….
Sandipan Mukherjee recently posted..WordPress – The Best Blogging Platform
Twitter: bbrian017
Hi Sandipan, it’s been a pleasure knowing you and hope we continue working together and helping one another here on Blog Engage. Thanks for all your help and support!
bbrian017 recently posted..Where To Go To Grow Your Profits
Twitter: sandipan23
Hey Brian, I have learnt a lot from you and this community. So it has been my pleasure that I have been part of this community.
Sandipan Mukherjee recently posted..How to Market Your Blog Using Social Marketing
Happy Anniversary Blogenage.
I am one of the regular user of blogengage service and i must say that it is helping me to connect with new bloggers and readers.
Great work bbrian.
Twitter: Kharim
Its nice to know that you are still blogging after all these years. Keep up the good work Brian and thanks for what you have done for us as bloggers
Kharim Tomlinson recently posted..How To Use Social Media Platforms Effectively
Twitter: bbrian017
Hi Kharim, man we have come a long way huh? Things are working our great here and I’ve seen your blog grow tons as well from exposure here at blog engage. Thanks for all the support and I wish you best of luck in the 1000USD contest!
bbrian017 recently posted..Welcome To David-Wood
Twitter: Anklebuster
Hi Brian,
Happy Celebration! I joined BE due to your generosity. Then I fell into a ten-feet deep pool called Surviving the Blog. I’ve been swimming against the tide, ever since.
Soon as I reach land, I’ll see what going on over here!
Cheers,
Mitch
Mitchell Allen recently posted..Flight of Fancy
Twitter: bbrian017
Hi Mitchell, I’m not sure why your twitter is adding a URL to a page not found… Odd. Anyway I’m really happy you decided to join the community. It’s been a pleasure watching all you guys on the we blog better contest. Best of luck and I hope you continue suing the community as we move forward.
bbrian017 recently posted..Happy Anniversary Brian And Blog Engage
Twitter: Anklebuster
Hi Brian,
I used the box near the end of the post. Is Twitter doing mind-control, re-shortening your your shortener? Maybe you can try a different shortener.
Let me know and I will help test.
Thanks for well wishes – I LOL at your typo: I never sued anybody!
Mitchell Allen recently posted..Marxist Internet Propaganda
Twitter: HollyJahangiri
It’s been so long, now, Brian – I don’t remember the why or the how, at all. I really don’t. Probably someone asked me to help them get votes on a post for a contest or something – I just don’t remember. Age, y’know. Blog Engage is only 4, but I’m a bit older than that.
Why I STAYED? Why I came back after I left? Easy. Your persistence and the open door. It’s a good site – good for promoting your blog, and good for discovering other bloggers and what they’re writing.
Holly Jahangiri recently posted..She Rocks: An Interview Kristi Hines
Twitter: bbrian017
Hi Holly, we sure like having you around so I’m glad you decided to come back and stick around. It’s amazing how many bloggers come and go but only a few are still blogging strong since I’ve started. I know you have been blogging a lot longer then I even started blog engage. I love having you here and hope to build on our relationship.
bbrian017 recently posted..A Site That Will Surely Set Your Mind Ablaze
Twitter: sweetsfoods
Happy Anniversary Blog Engage!
Four years this is an eternity online!
Big congrats Brian and for a lot of years coming
All the best,
Gera
Gera recently posted..Promoting Your Blog & Promote Your Business
Twitter: bbrian017
Hi Gera, Thanks for coming by and showing your support! The last four years has been amazing and I’m ore then excited to see what the near future brings us.
bbrian017 recently posted..Inspired by Woo Themes
Twitter: HotBlogTips
Happy Anniversary Brian and to all the other members. I joined Blog Engage several years ago and didn’t take advantage of all it has to offer. After taking a long break from blogging and deciding to come back for good, I plan on being a very active member of this community. I’m just glad you didn’t delete my account when it was sitting inactive for all that time. You’ve done an awesome job here and I’m proud to be part of it.
Brian D. Hawkins recently posted..Blog Engage RSS Service – Is It Worth Investing In?
Twitter: bbrian017
Hey Brian, you know it’s funny you mentioned old members. Blog engage has over 6000 registered users in its database and many of these people don’t even blog anymore. Could you imagine if even half of them came back and started blogging again? I’m glad you decided to jump on board and engage with us! the more bloggers we have active the better the community is. Thanks for the business Brian and I hope we can build on our relationship moving forward.
bbrian017 recently posted..Luscious Child Theme For Studiopress
Twitter: growwithstacy
Congratulations Brian! BE is a great community, I haven’t taken full advantage of it yet but it is a place that I appreciate and I want to spend more time looking into what all is offered here. I know that here is a lot more than I’ve been participating in.
Thanks for all of your hard work!
Stacy
Stacy recently posted..Attaining Sweet Blogging Success at the Expense of Failure
Twitter: bbrian017
You know Stacy it’s not all about using the full site. Blog Engage has so many features many members will not use them all. It’s about submitting your content and voting for others. I appreciate having you as a member on any level you can fit into your schedule. Who knows what the future brings but one thing sure it’s nice to know I can count on your supporting the community as we move forward!
bbrian017 recently posted..Build a strong online brand with Blog Engage
Twitter: slbphoenix
Hi Brian,
You “DO” deserve to be congratulated because you ‘hung-in’ there and continued to mature an develop your dream. That is no easy task.
I first heard of BE from Justin Germino, who helped me with some of my technical blogging issues. (You certainly know how this is a struggle for me sometimes.) I came to BE a couple of times to read things he had written, and decided I should attempt to find out about BE myself. I asked Justin to invite me to the community which he did, but for the first few months, I became busy with other things.
Then, about 4-5 months ago I decided to put more effort into it. I am amazed at how dedicated you and many of the other bloggers here are to making BE a better place. I like the support, encouragement I receive here. I try my best to put that back into the bloggers I meet here and into BE it self.
I always support the things I believe in and BE is certainly one of these things. I’m so glad you stuck with this because I am really enjoying being here! I don’t think I would have felt at home any where else, because the bloggers here and you especially, Brian, have made me feel like a real member. I can’t say enough good things about BE as it has really helped me and my blog. Sally
Sally Brown recently posted..B.O.B Takes An Airplane Ride
Twitter: bbrian017
Hello Sally, your kind works really move my heart and mean so much to me. I’m glad our community has treated you so well and I can truly tell you love being here from your daily blog engage activities. It’s been my pleasure meeting you and now having you as a customer.
I see your tweets all the time here and there. You’re always engaging with our article and leaving comments. I love how you have become a solid ad positive influence to our members and community.
I look forward to working with you as we both move forward into the end of an amazing blogging year. It’s my pleasure to have met you and I hope to continue building on our relationship. Thank you for this lovely comment.
bbrian017 recently posted..Happy 4th Anniversary Blog Engage
Happy Anniversary Blogengage! Congratulations for your 4 years of blogging! Keep it up sir
Twitter: shurleyhall
Wow! I didn’t realize BE had been running so long. I’d been hearing about it for about a year before I finally bit the bullet and signed up earlier this year. I love the supportive community and the new features you keep adding. Keep up the great work!
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..Book Review: SEO Marketing by Brian Belfitt
Twitter: bbrian017
Hi Sharon, it’s been our pleasure having you here as part of the blog engage community. If I recall you got your account from Ivin correct? Either way you are a great addition to our community of bloggers and we are very happy to have you. Your talent in writing can help so many of our international bloggers so the value of having you here is great!
bbrian017 recently posted..A Site That Will Surely Set Your Mind Ablaze
Twitter: shurleyhall
Thanks, Brian. Yes, I joined the site via Ivin but also heard a lot about it from Ileane (the two of them are an awesome team!). I’m happy to be a part of the site.
Sharon Hurley Hall recently posted..Get More from Elance: Giveaway
Twitter: kirapermunian
I am so honored and so proud to be part of this community. Happy, Happy Anniversary Blog Engage! Warmest congratulations Brian! You’re doing so great! Keep rocking the blogosphere!
Kira recently posted..SEO and Social Media Presence with RSS Syndication
Twitter: bbrian017
Hi Kira, we are also happy to have such dedicated members like you using our services. Like you are happy to have us we are also happy to have you. I hope this is only the start to a long term blogging relationship between us. You have joined our contests, won prizes and really showed how blog engage can rock so thanks a lot!
bbrian017 recently posted..The Entertaining Blog Of The Technological Dragon
Twitter: harleenas
Congratulations Brian!
It doesn’t seem that long at all- and seems like just yesterday when I discovered about Blog Engage and just started connecting to it! Your hard work, dedication, and efforts have been visible to everyone, and that is the reason you and the blog have reached such great heights- so the congratulations with a big pat on the back go especially to you Brian. Keep up the awesome work
Harleena Singh recently posted..Developing Trust in Friendship
Twitter: bbrian017
Hello Harleena thank you for the lovely compliments. I’m very happy you can see all the hard work that goes into blog engage. I think this also allows our members to have a great respect for the community and all it offers.
bbrian017 recently posted..Welcome To David-Wood
Twitter: tomshark
Woo! Kick up your heels a bit!
Tom Shivers recently posted..Best Money-making and Cost-saving Tips for Online Retail from Last Year
Twitter: bbrian017
lol hey Tom do you mean I should go out and have a bit maybe this weekend and celebrate?
bbrian017 recently posted..A Site That Will Surely Set Your Mind Ablaze
Twitter: tomshark
Absolutely, celebrating is what successful people do, right. Reminds me of a fable “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”
Tom Shivers recently posted..Top SEO Skills for 2011
Twitter: technicallyeasy
Congratulations on the BE anniversary, Brian! You start BE the same year I started blogging (June 2007). For me, when I look back at how much I have learned, an how my blog has grown over those 4+ years, it seems like a long time ago. I guess, in the tech world 4 years is a long time ago.
I don’t remember how I heard about BE, it was probably through Ileane, but I remember joining in September, and having to request permission to join. I was a little confused at the beginning as to wha t I was to do, but I slowly had a better understanding as to what BE is. While I don’t visit on a daily basis – time constraints – I do try to visit every few days.
Paul Salmon recently posted..The Storage Server – Not Just For Large Businesses Anymore
Twitter: bbrian017
Hi Paul, I like to think over the past 4 years we have managed to develop a great working relationship. I appreciate how you come to the site and engage when you can. Life is short and as we look back at the last 4 years you kind of realize this. I look forward to our future of blogging and I know with our dedication we will be successful.
bbrian017 recently posted..Luscious Child Theme For Studiopress
Twitter: maddencorner
Happy Anniversary Brian! Man time flies. I came to B.E. because I was looking for a way to get my post online. I believe I may have Stumbled Upon it. Either way I’m glad I did and I’ve been here 3 years now. Keep up the good work.
A. Tatum Jr recently posted..Beware of Smishing
Twitter: bbrian017
Hi Alvin, It’s been a pleasure meeting you and I’m glad you also found us. I’m very happy you have joined the rss service and ti’s my pleasure to have you as a custoemr! I wish both of us success in the years to come.
bbrian017 recently posted..Where To Go To Grow Your Profits
Twitter: GianFaye
Yay! Happy anniversary!!! The foremost thing I really liked about Blog Engage is how I got to easily connect with other members and to the BE staff esp. Brian unlike others where it’s like I need to dig up myself in order to get out of my grave.
Anyway, happy 4th anniversary! Blog Engage has so helped me in many ways. Can you believe that without BE I wouldn’t have my present job? Long story short, someone I met around BE referred me to the job I have now and I enjoy it a lot. Not to mention the previous contest I won which gained me some following and friends.
So thanks a lot Blog Engage and to the whole community as well.
More anniversaries to come!
Gian Faye recently posted..Work It! Express Business Suits: Your Career, In Fashion
Twitter: bbrian017
Hi Gian, it’s been so much fun working with you and watching your blog grow. I was very impressed with your efforts in our guest blogging contests and you deserved to win very much. I can only hope you continue with your online blogging as we hope to see you using blog engage for a long time to come.
bbrian017 recently posted..Inspired by Woo Themes
Twitter: Solarbenefits
Happy anniversary Brian!
It’s really nice that we have people that are legitimately handle such blogs like this one.
Congrats!
Radu recently posted..site down while ago
Twitter: bbrian017
Hello Radu, thanks for the compliment. I hope to see you using the site for a long time to come.
bbrian017 recently posted..The Entertaining Blog Of The Technological Dragon
Happy Anniversary Blog Engage! Just started the fun a few weeks ago, excited to see where my adventure takes me.
Twitter: bbrian017
Hello Shannon thanks so much for stopping by and posting a hello. It means a lot to see you visiting the blog and commenting. I hope to see you more active sometime in the future we would love to have you hanging out.
bbrian017 recently posted..The Entertaining Blog Of The Technological Dragon
Twitter: CrypticKris
Just read an e-mail about your anniversary. I am not that active here since I am just a new member. Yet I can see myself as active as others when I am not busy. I hope I can enjoy more years to BE community.
Happy 4th Year of engaging!
CrypticKris recently posted..What’s Common On Most Programmers?
Twitter: bbrian017
Hello CrypticKris, we have to of new members joining so you will fit in just perfect when you decide to use the site more often. You know if you don’t have time to submit your content you can easily sign up to our rss services. http://www.blogengage.com/rss-syndication.php Enjoy and Engage!
bbrian017 recently posted..Build a strong online brand with Blog Engage
Twitter: Ben
Happy Anniversary BE.I just have read the email.More power!
Twitter: buyrightstocks
Congrats Brian, you have done a great work in BlogEngage. I have changed my blog for several time, and BlogEngage is still there.
Dana recently posted..A Story about Technical Analysis (TA)
Twitter: bbrian017
Hi Dana, thanks so much for the support and comment. I appreciate everything you do and hope to see you engaging more with our members and community.
bbrian017 recently posted..New Features for Business Plus Customers
Twitter: Ileane
Brian you certainly deserve all the wonderful things that have come your way because of Blog Engage. Happy Anniversary my friend! Continue to grow and prosper and thank you so much for having this vision.
Ileane recently posted..Keeping Readers Interested In Your Blog
Twitter: bbrian017
Hi Ileane, it’s been such an amazing pleasure of mine having meet you. You have helped blog engage grow and I think members such as yourself are detrimental to the success of any community. I’ve learned so much from you and I hope you can equally say the same. We have been friends for a long time now and I have the most respect for you and your blogs.
I know you don’t get to spend much time here anymore but I still love ya and hope someday we can see more of you again. I know your busy growing your blog and empire and I wish you the best of luck with this. Thank you for the business and friendship!
bbrian017 recently posted..Inspired by Woo Themes
Happy Anniversary! Wish you to be always inspired for writing such interesting, urgent and exciting posts! I visit your blog not for a long time, but still it became obligatory for me to visit it every day! It says a lot about your reading!
Twitter: bbrian017
Hi Jeanie, thanks for the compliment and I’m happy to see you commenting and engaging with me here on blog engage. I hope you enjoyed my latest articles and perhaps more are to come that you will enjoy.
bbrian017 recently posted..LeanBiz – Premium WordPress Theme by Elegant Themes
Twitter: stevescott1
Brian,
Happy Anniversary and a big Congratulations. I had no idea that BE has been around for such a long time. You bust your butt on this site (it shows) and deserve every bit of success you have had, as well as a ton more success going into the future.
Congrats and Bravo!
Steve
Steve recently posted..71 Web Copywriting “Hidden Gems” (or How to Create the ULTIMATE Copywriting Swipe File)
Twitter: bbrian017
Hi stave in all honesty I hope someday blog engage can bring me an early retirement. I figure if I can get my rss services up to 1000 customers 840 more to go LOL I will have an easy breezy gig going here. Business has grown so fast over the last 5 months I can only see more growth in the near future. Perhaps when this happens I can actually focus more on blogging. I would so love to do that.
bbrian017 recently posted..The Entertaining Blog Of The Technological Dragon
Twitter: budwalkr
I admit I haven’t been able to visit BlogEngage for quite some months now. But as what I can see it, BlogEngage is definitely the best community for bloggers alike. Like it was the very place where I get to meet other bloggers which have been doing best in their fields and the most is, I have been able to gain a substantial amount of exposure for my blog as well. Thanks a lot Brian for bringing this up. I can see what BlogEngage will be in the future time. Happy 4th anniversary!
Twitter: bbrian017
Hi Argie, it’s been a pleasure of mine meeting and engaging with you as well. I like to think it’s dedicated and loyal bloggers like yourself that have made blog engage what it is today. I know you haven’t been around but hey we are all human and have live to live and jobs to work at. I hope when you find more time maybe we will see you here a little more.
bbrian017 recently posted..Searching The Globe With CommentLuv
4 years is really a nice number for any blog, few reach that far in this business.
)
You must be doing something right, do share the secret
Marcie recently posted..Never Bad Mouth Former Bosses
Twitter: bbrian017
No trick Marcie, simply provide excellent customer service and engage. It requires hard work and dedication. I’ve been up and I’ve been down but the point here is to keep moving forward.
bbrian017 recently posted..Who’s not following me? Does it matter? Hell Yeah!
Twitter: writingc
Happy anniversary BE!
Sarah recently posted..Writing Consultation on Facebook
Congratulations Brian, You are perfect in the best blogger.