I've done a few things:
I've looked in my feed for articles that get lots of comments. I see if the person is commenting back and upvoting back. If they are, I will start following them more. I will make insightful comments on their posts. I will ask questions. And I will engage them. Overtime, a relationship is built. It takes time, but it works.
I comment a lot in topic areas that I'm knowledgeable in so I can add insight/value to the conversation. I can add my opinion. I try to comment on sports posts (NBA, NFL) as well as WWE. I try to pick out a few topics so that I can also use the time I've allotted toward steem to reply back to my posts and write new posts. Over time, you start engaging with the same people and you build relationships.
Structure your blog posts in a series that gain the same users over time. I'm currently blogging about my dog Floppy and his back surgery - I'm trying to pay for it via Steem upvotes. I'll share my link...you can see in the votes section at the bottom of my article, some people have voted 30 or 40 times for my posts! I've built relationships with some of my followers in this capacity as well.
Not sure I'm telling you anything new, but that's just how I go about it. I went ahead and followed you.
Thanks for detailing this out for me. I totally get your point that we have to engage with same users again and again to build a strong and healthy relationship.
Love the point number 3. I have recently started a series to help new people on Steemit who are struggling to make waves here. But first I need to understand myself the whole system. I will post an article as soon as I learn a new thing.
Followed you as well. Cheers again!