Learn how to make your blog beautiful with my Beauty Blog School series.
One of the best parts of being a blogger is the blogging community.
If you’ve started your blog, then welcome! You’re already in the blogging community.
When I started, I never expected to connect with such a vibrant, talented and inspiring group of people online.
Networking and collaboration sound like business buzzwords but they mean more in the blogging community.
There’s a real and authentic connection that can be formed. And those connections start with the smallest actions, usually a retweet or a comment.
Last week I spoke at a blogging event for General Assembly and I’m speaking again tonight to another room of people who want to be full-time bloggers. My advice is that you need to get off your blog if you want it to grow into a full-time business.
Being part of the blogging community makes for a richer experience online. So many step-changes in my blogging career have come through the network of bloggers I’ve met.
Here are three simple tips on how to make the most of blogging and be part of the blogging community.
- Read widely, and read outside of your niche. Comment and share great content when you find it on other blogs.
- Send a blogger an email to say how much you enjoyed that post. Maybe it inspired you to write a follow up post so you can send them a link.
- Go to meet-ups and blogger events. The magic really happens when you take the relationship offline.
This third point really is the game-changer. Networking in person has had the biggest impact in growing my blog.
I remember my first blogging event. I was so nervous as I didn’t know anyone going (though I felt like I knew some people from their blogs). It was raining so I totally had an excuse not to go. But I pushed myself and walked through the door.
That one event was the start of some amazing professional connections and personal friendships. I even got my first speaking gig because I turned up.
This experience has led me to create Little Blog Big with fellow full-time blogger, Carly Jacobs of Smaggle.
There are some great online courses for bloggers (such as Secret Bloggers’ Business and Clever Cookie) but we felt this real life interaction was missing from e-courses.
If you’re in Melbourne you can still grab a ticket to our Little Blog Big workshop here and new dates will be announced on our Facebook page.
Wherever you are in the world, look for local meetups. If you can’t find one, then I encourage you to start one yourself. You never know where those connections will take you.
Have you made friends through blogging that you now know in real life?
PS. Smaggle has some great tips on how to make friends online without feeling like a stalker.
PPS. Worried about going to a blog event? Here are 10 tips for networking with bloggers.
PPPS. Can’t wait to see you at Little Blog Big!
I really would love to get into the blogging scene. Probably hair and beauty blogging, specifically. Possibly even photography. Thank you for these suggestions, I think they’ll help me when I get started with my own blog.
Thanks Veronika 🙂
A supportive blog community makes a ton of difference. Great tips! Reading outside your niche is a wonderful way to expand and boost creativity.
Thanks Lori! Great tip xx
Since getting off the blog, I’ve met some amazing people, had some wonderful experiences and made some great friends, both on and offline. I love your tips and can’t wait for you to bring Little Blog Big to Sydney!
Thanks Sammie! Love seeing how you and your blog have grown 🙂 and we should have an announcement about Little Blog Big very soon…xx
Oh, me, oh, my, what a fab post and Little Blog Big sounds wonderful. Let me know if you end up taking it on tour to Sydney x
Thanks Bele! Watch this space for Sydney dates…xx
I am LOVING your tips and bloggy advice posts C.
Thank you for sharing them.
Cx
Thanks Claire! I wasn’t sure about writing about blogging on Hair Romance but I’m really enjoying this series. Just hope non-bloggers aren’t too bored with this content x
I’m so looking forward to meeting you on Saturday! I have a feeling I’m going to learn rather a lot!
oh yay! So glad you’re coming and can’t wait to meet you 🙂
Oh I don’t think you guys have met yet! You’re both awesome. Saturday is going to be SO RAD!
I know, SO EXCITED! xx
What a helpful and inspiring post! I have been struggling to make blogging connections but want to stay positive and aim to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
http://www.medicaminablog.com
Thanks Jillian! Stay positive because there are lots of bloggers out there and you’ll find ones you totally connect with. Have you heard of the Beauty Blog Coalition? http://beautyblogcoalition.com/