Making Friends With Other Bloggers: How to Network in the Community

If you’re reading this and are new to blogging, welcome! If you’re reading this and you’re looking for new blogging friends, feel free to jump into any of my inboxes on social media! One of the biggest assets to have as a new blogger is a supportive community that’s not only approachable, but is willing to take the time and answer your questions. That is why this post is here to talk about why making friends with other bloggers and network within the community is so important!

Why the Blogging Community is so Great!

I can only speak from personal experience, but so far my time with this particular community has been phenomenal and up-lifting. The blogging community is essentially a group of people sharing their personal experiences (this can range from raw, emotional experiences, to personal uplifting journeys), teaching others how to do something (how to blog, how to apply makeup, how to build a website), and so much more.

Bloggers put their personal and professional selves out there everyday, braving the possibility that people may not want to read their content, or don’t agree with what they have to say. But the most amazing part of that is that despite the scariness of not being accepted, they do it day after day. AND, because bloggers face the possibility of rejection, they are more often than not open and welcoming to other new bloggers who are nervous about the same thing!

What is the Importance of Networking?

Like any other brand, your blog is your brand! And unfortunately for brands, they cannot just sit in a dark corner of a basement and hope that someone stumbles down the stairs and into that corner! Networking is key to making friends, establishing connections and making yourself known within the community!

By networking and putting yourself out there, you open doors for many things. To name a few, guest posting on other blogs, collaborating with others on blog posts, running social media pages and groups as well as having someone to turn to when your stuck are some of the things you may want to try in your blogging career! And to do that, you need to network!

Group Alert: Check out Blogger Babes Connect to join a supportive group of female bloggers (we share tips & tricks, support one another and grow together!)

Making Friends With Other Bloggers: How to Network in the Community

Below you’ll find tips and tricks for how I put myself out there into the blogging community and started making friends! Remember to be your authentic self, and you will attract like-minded people you will want to interact with!

Use Twitter

Twitter is a serious asset to network with other bloggers! There are plenty of accounts that are dedicated to re-Tweeting and sharing blog posts! By commenting on blog threads, this is a great way to interact with other bloggers and read great content posted by them!

This is a great way to find out who is a part of the blog community, as well as get a chance to read other posts and self promote (find out how to self-promote your blog on Twitter here)! Twitter is also great for engaging with other people! Find other bloggers you want to follow and respond to their Tweets! Send out tweets yourself asking questions for other followers.

Bold tip: Tweet that you are new to the community and would love to make new friends! I have seen other bloggers do this and have tried this myself! It’s a great way to see who’s in the community and have someone new to chat with!

Engagement Pods and Facebook Groups

Without spending all your time on these, it can be an important stepping stone to reaching out to other bloggers. These groups are designed for bloggers to come together and share content, follow each other on social media, support each other and ask questions! It can be a great way to meet other bloggers in your niche, or make a new friend!

Engagement pods are groups within several social media platforms that are focused around getting likes and comments on new posts! This can work for blog posts, Pins or Instagram Posts. Pods can be a great way to increase engagement on your latest posts, and network with other bloggers! (Try not to spend too much time on these, it’s important to engage but it can become easy to get sucked into spending too much time on them!)

Offer Something!

Do you have a group you created or a Pinterest Board that’s accepting followers? Let people know! Whenever I join a Pinterest follow thread I always let people know I am accepting contributors to my Pinterest Blogging Tribe Board! This is a great way to get other bloggers to join your groups and be able to share their tips and ideas!

If you’re looking to join a group of supportive female bloggers, you can check out Blogger Babes Connect!

Reach Out to Other Bloggers!

You can always find other bloggers on social media platforms! The trick is to reach out and introduce yourself. Send out tweets, join blogging groups on Facebook, discover engagement pods! If you like someone’s content, tell them! If you want to connect with them, try sending them a message or an email! It can’t hurt to reach out and chat with other bloggers. Most bloggers appreciate comments and love to hear that their work has touched someone else!

Share the Love!

If you really liked a blog post, share it! There is no better way to appreciate other’s work and help another blogger out than by sharing their work. Remember, there is plenty of room in the blogging universe. Share the spotlight. There is no need for competition, each blogger brings something unique to the table. Sharing another’s work does not make your work any less valuable or noticed. You can check out my top 3 favourite blogs below if you want to share the love:

1. Ell Duclos
2. Piece of Cake Parenting
3. Alexandra Quinlann

Interact With Others the Way You Want to Be Interacted With

When interacting with others in the community, it’s quality over quantity. If you leave genuine, engaging comments on other people’s blog posts, Instagram pictures and Tweets, they will be more compelled to leave comments of the same quality on yours!

Engaging with others is give and take, you can’t always expect comments and likes without being willing to give them. When you drop a post link in a thread, reciprocate. If you join an engagement pod, leave meaningful, well-thought out comments that pertain to the pictures posted. By truly engaging with others content, you will build relationships that will reciprocate your efforts.

Remember, engage with others the way you want to be engaged with. Like any friendship, blogging friendships are a two way street. Take the time to comment back on those who have been kind enough to comment on your work! Share the love and truly get out there to make relationships! I love talking to new bloggers and always love sharing ideas! Community over competition, always.

Takaways

Theres no law saying you have to engage with others in the community, but it’s better to have people to talk to than be an island! Blogging is tough, and it’s even tougher when you’re first starting and feel lost. If you can find a few friends in this crazy-supportive community, then all the better! Cherish the relationships you make, and take the time to make meaningful ones. My social media inboxes are always open to new friends!

Did you find this helpful? Is there something that I missed? Let me know in the comments!