Do you dream of making a living as a freelance blogger in Thailand?

Let’s get this straight off the bat: Thailand is not only the Land of Smiles, but also the Land of Silk and Money. Getting the relevant visa AND a work permit (and making it as hassle-free as possible) will cost you a tidy sum.

This is a pain, particularly for writers who are just starting out.

I’m guilty of not playing safe. Holding a valid business visa but not a work permit, I took my first freelance actions in a grey area.

As time was marching on and the expiry date of my visa coming dangerously close, the prospect of ending up in the notorious Bangkok Hilton felt throat-tightening. It was about time I arranged for a new visa, and this time a work permit as well.

If you’re moving to Thailand or are blogging here already, why take the risk of the grey area becoming black-and-white?

I know an ironclad way to cut through Thailand’s red tape. Hang on, I’ll pass you the scissors in a moment.

Have you ever watched longingly as other bloggers flaunt their engagement with their audience, while you cry alone in an empty comments corner?

Ever wonder what you’ve been doing so wrong when you try to boost blog audience engagement for your clients (or for yourself)? Chances are, what you’re doing isn’t wrong, but it may just not be enough.

Maybe you’ve been admiring your audience from afar. Pull them close.

Perhaps you’ve been flirting coyly for a while from your blogging balcony. Take them by the hand.

But you just haven’t mustered the right energy to compel your readers to take the plunge. Kneel down and put a ring on it.

Keeping an audience engaged with your writing is a key skill that all clients need you to possess. It’s also the foundation upon which a deeper writer-reader relationship is built, which can be particularly important with ongoing projects and retainer clients.

It takes consistent commitment to deliver on your promise of engaging content, ensuring that your readers can comprehend it, relate to it, learn from it, feel something about it, and do something with it.

If you’re ready to hear your audience shout, “We’re engaged!” then you need these five tips:

It’s finally happened. You’ve landed your dream gig.

You’ll be writing for an existing business blog in your favorite industry. The work is consistent, and the pay is amazing.

Then, when you’re in the middle of discussing potential blog topics with your new client, it happens.

You discover they have no idea who their company’s audience is.

Your stomach drops as you realize this gig isn’t going to be as smooth as you envisioned. Your dream job is quickly turning into a nightmare…

As a fellow freelance blogger, I’ve been there. And the truth is that while there is a way to solve this issue, you need to be cautious. Learn from my experiences in how to build a blog audience for a client who’s been doing it all wrong: