Bloggers need other bloggers. If you’re really wanting to dive into all that blogging has for you, you need to get involved in the blogging community and make blog friends.
I have been blogging for over 4 years now and some of my closest and best friends are ones that I have met through blogging! Blogging has served me in so many ways over the years but by far some of the best things it’s brought me are the blog friends I have.
[bctt tweet=”How To Make Blog Friends ” username=”SummerTelban”]
Just like any friendship, blog friendships don’t happen overnight. They take time to create and form, just like “in real life” friendships do. After joining some Facebook groups when I got serious about blogging, I started making friends with some pretty amazing people. From commenting on each other’s posts and finding out how much we have in common, it’s seriously so neat to see how many friends I’ve made all because of blogging.
It’s important to make friends with other bloggers because like I said, bloggers need other bloggers. Most of our friends and family who are not bloggers don’t totally “get” what we do all of the time and sometimes that can make us grow encouraged. When you have friends who are also bloggers themselves, you already have an instant connection and understanding between each other. You share the same passion and that’s huge in a friendship!
Since I’m such an advocate for bloggers to make blog friends, I thought that I’d share some tips with you on how to do that. I’m also going to share some of my own stories on how I made some of my closest blog friends that I have today!
WHERE TO FIND POTENTIAL BLOG FRIENDS:
- Facebook Groups For Bloggers – Many of the initial connections and conversations that I’ve had with other bloggers have happened in Facebook Groups. There are TONS of blogging groups on Facebook where you can network and connect with others. Some of my favorites are linked in THIS blog post!
- Twitter – I know, I know… not many bloggers enjoy Twitter but it’s one of the best places that I’ve met blog friends. Twitter is so down-to-earth when you use it for more than just promoting blog posts. You can meet so many like-minded bloggers from Twitter.
- Instagram – Instagram seems to be a favorite of most people looking for blog friends. I have connected with some local bloggers because of Instagram!
- Blog Conferences & Events – If you have some blog conferences or events that are local to you – totally go! I don’t live in an area where much happens in the blogging community (mountain problems, haha) but I have been to other events for general creatives and they were great for connecting. I can’t wait to go to some blogger conferences!
[bctt tweet=”Where To Find Potential Blog Friends” username=”SummerTelban”]
HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS WITH OTHER BLOGGERS:
1. Reach Out First // If you want to be friends with another blogger, reach out to them! It makes me sad to hear that so many bloggers are too intimidated to reach out and make the first move. If you want to be friends with someone and you really think you gals would hit it off, then give it a go! The worse that could happen is the relationship not take off far. And if that happens, that’s okay. If a deep friendship doesn’t happen with one blogger, it just means there are going to be better opportunities with other bloggers in the future. Regardless, you can’t let your thoughts on you back. If you want to be friends with a blogger, simply reach out and say, “Hey! I really love your blog and mission. I think we have a ton in common and I’d love to chat with you, girl!” Short, sweet, and simple! It works. 😉 I’ve done it!
[bctt tweet=”If you want to be friends with another blogger, reach out to them! ” username=”SummerTelban”]
2. Stop Trying To Get In With The “In” Crowd // While the blogging community as a whole is pretty close-knit, there are always going to be some “in” crowds. You have them everywhere! I think it’s awesome that there are such tight groups of bloggers who have fun and do everything together. I have seen so many bloggers try and try and try to get in with who they think are the “it” bloggers, but so many times they’re left feeling empty because they were unnoticed. I have been one of these bloggers before! I have tried to keep up with some bloggers and tried to stay a part of the group but you know, it just wasn’t for me. I came to the realization that I’m worth more than chasing people to get “in”. Realizing this was so freeing for me and the best part was that it opened the door for me to make a core group of my own.
[bctt tweet=”Bloggers, you’re worth more than chasing other bloggers to get into the ~in~ crowd. It’s not worth the energy and time. Do you. Rock out your blog. And form friendships of your own!” username=”SummerTelban”]
Don’t chase attention from other bloggers. It’s not worth the energy, time, and frustration. Do you. Rock out your blog. And before you know it, you’ll be making some really strong, key connections with other bloggers on your own!
3. Offer Help & Support // One of the really great things about Facebook groups and Twitter is that many bloggers will turn to those resources when they’re in need of help. This is something both new bloggers and seasoned bloggers do. If you see someone asking for help on something and you know the answer, take a couple minutes and respond to them. Not only will it mean the world to them but it’ll make you feel good that you were able to assist them.
Another great way to offer help and support is when another blogger is discouraged. Blogging is not easy and if you’re a blogger, you know that. The going can get tough. If you see another blogger out there who’s feeling down, extend an encouraging word or just let them know you’re there to listen.
[bctt tweet=”Bloggers should be about helping and supporting one another. Lend a hand when you can!” username=”SummerTelban”]
4. Collaborate, Collaborate, Collaborate! // If you’re not collaborating with other bloggers, you’re missing out on so many opportunities to form friendships. Collaborating with other bloggers is one of my favorite ways to build friendships in the blogging world. There are so many different ways you can work together – giveaway, guest posts, and all the way to “follow Fridays” on Instagram.
Collaborations open up the door to both meet new bloggers with a similar focus to yours, as well as deepen the relationships with the blog friends you already have.
Related Reading: 7 Ways To Collaborate With Other Bloggers
5. Share Other Bloggers’ Content // It’s time for some real talk… Why do we bloggers hold back from sharing other bloggers’ content?! This is something every blogger has struggled with at some point in their journey. The list of reasons is forever long… from not having enough time all of the way to being scared that if we share others’ content that we’re taking away from our own. Sharing another blogger’s blog post is NOT going to take away from your own. It never will. In fact, if anything, it’s only going to boost your own content because you’re showing support to the blogging community. Never hold back from sharing fellow bloggers’ work. Cheer one another on.
[bctt tweet=”Sharing another blogger’s blog post is NOT going to take away from your own. It never will. In fact, if anything, it’s only going to boost your own content because you’re showing support to the blogging community.” username=”SummerTelban”]
On Twitter, this is how I’ve met many bloggers. Whether it’s been from them sharing a blog post of mine or vice versa, it’s been an amazing way to connect and form relationships.
I have met so many friends through blogging over the years so it’s impossible to name them all, but I wanted to give a few examples here!
I met Sheila of In Search of Sheila on Twitter. We struck up many conversations and ended up going on a beach trip with a couple other bloggers last summer. She’s not only my friend but she’s also someone I admire and look up to in the creative biz world! She is seriously rocking it at her biz right now!
Kristin of The Peculiar Treasure blog is one of my dearest blog friends and we met through blogging groups on Facebook. She has the sweetest spirit and I’m so glad that she’s one of my closest blogging buds. We haven’t met in person yet but we talk almost every day through the Marco Polo app!
One of my newest and closest blog friends, Laura of This Northern Native, reached out to me via email for some blogging advice months back when she was starting her new blog. We instantly connected because we’re both New England natives! We have Facetimed and text all of the time, and in a month I’ll be hopping on a plane to go visit her in Dallas!
[bctt tweet=”Where To Find Blog Friends & How To Deepen Those Friendships” username=”SummerTelban”]
We all need blog friends! Reach out, collaborate, and connect with one another. You can’t do blogging alone. Let’s chat!
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