I hate being asked how to increase a number of followers, readers, etc. Whether it’s a marketer asking me how they can get more followers on Twitter or Tim Ferriss asking me how to get 50,000 new RSS subscribers overnight, it’s a request I simply don’t want to accommodate.
You need to engage and embrace the community you have and let it grow organically. Getting thousands of people to give you a sliver of their attention and none of their support does you little to no good.
You need to focus on blowing people away, turning casual observers into rabid supporters.
That is how you build a valuable community.
Something I was always taught which I feel is appropriate here is – Think of a tree. Nobody can build a tree. The only way to get a tree is plant it, nurture it, and be patient. If you do these things, you will eventually have a tree.
Which is pretty much what you said above, to be honest. But I thought you’d like another look at it :)