Community is one of the most important things in the blog world. When you break everything down to its most simplest parts – you, people, and the internet remain. You see, without readers your blog is a journal and thus really not a blog. HOWEVER there is no magical number of readers that makes your blog real. Your family who reads to stay updated, your friends from college who love looking at your little ones, the community of other bloggers who read yours for daily inspiration, the stories you write for your kids to read when they are older, the pageviews & comments, no matter how large or how little, are all part of your audience.
Today I want to talk to you about networking and encourage you reach out and build your community. This is not to blow up your pageviews or skyrocket your bloglovin’ followers but to truly connect with others. I want to encourage you that your reach is valuable. That the people who read your blog, comment on your posts, and pin your pictures are important in your community. Authentic growth means so much more than any artificial numbers or scams. And people LOVE blogs that a “real” because we can trust them. While trying to grow your blog, don’t lose yourself. Because you matter and your readers matter. Here are some tips for authentic networking & growth!
COMMENT ON OTHER BLOGS
PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY EVENTS
SWAP BLOG BUTTONS & ADVERTISE
- Only ask to swap with blogs that are around your same size, smaller, or who have a similar audience & are open to swaps. Some blogs who have large readerships (blogs like A beautiful Mess, CaseyLeigh, Living in Yellow, etc. ) only can do paid advertising because of the large number of brands and blogs who want to work with them. They put a lot of hard work and effort into getting their blogs to where they are today. Don’t under value their work by asking for a free $100 advertising space.
- If you want to work out something with larger brands, you can ask if they would be willing to give you a discount on advertising in exchange for a free ad on your blog. This way you acknowledge that their readership is much larger but that you are still interested in working with them.
ADVERTISING: The other way of getting your button out there is by purchasing advertising space. You may see this as “selling out” or “buying your readers” but I strongly disagree. First off, you are never making anyone follow your blog so you are not really buying anyone. Secondly, how are people going to find you if you are not around? Advertising puts you in front of a whole new readership and is a vehicle for you to connect with new readers and friends. There are many different advertising packages and the vary depending on the blog.
Related: Purchasing Advertising Space
ALWAYS RESPOND TO EMAILS & COMMENTS
I know this one sounds a little legalistic and the truth is that I don’t even do this all the time. I wanted to say always to emphasize the importance. If people are in your little corner of the world interacting with you, you need to acknowledge them or they will leave. As I have grown it has been harder to reply to every email & comment but I made it a priority when I was a smaller blogger to respond to every comment and I try to do it as much as I can even now.This does not need to be an instant thing or even a day of action. I give myself a week to respond to emails and comments so that I don’t go crazy trying to reply to all my comments as they are coming in. This also does not mean that every comment needs a reply but it does mean that if someone comments on your blog every day, you should have interacted with them at least a couple times.Your readers understand that you are busy and you don’t just sit at home waiting for an email or comment to come in to reply to and they will give you more grace than you do yourself! But if you want to create a life giving & inspirational community, you need to give life and say hello.
REACH OUT
Don’t let the no replies or the “I am sorry but not this time” get you down. If you never ask, than you never know! I am finding this out more and more – people are excited about being contacted and usually are up for something fun. Be creative, organized, and confident in your requests and people will jump on board!
WHAT ARE YOUR TIPS FOR GROWING COMMUNITY?
Obviously you cannot do it all, but you can take steps toward growing and nurturing that community. Take care of the people who are already there and invite others in! I believe in you and I know that you can do it!
xoxo, elizabeth
Great advice and some helpful reminders!!
I am so glad you were encouraged and inspired!!!
Excellent advice! Putting tip #1 to good use right now 😉 Thanks for sharing!
Cissy,
Thanks for commenting! It really is a great start to building community!
Great tips!
Thanks! I am so glad you were encouraged!
I had no idea I was looking “spammy” posting my URL – thanks for the candid honesty, Elizabeth! <3
Elise!
I am glad you were encouraged – and it is not necessarily spammy… it just looks like you are only commenting to leave your blog address. If you make sure your blog is linked to your comment (like yours is) I can click over if the comment encourages or inspires me but I don’t feel like you are only commenting so that I go to your blog. Does that make sense?
Absolutely! Thank you, friend!
These are some great tips! I have been trying to grow my blog recently, and these are super helpful. I didn’t even know where to start at first, and this really breaks it down, making it seem less scary. Thanks for sharing.
I am so glad you were encouraged! Let me know if you have any other questions!! XOXO
Love, love, love! Networking has got to be the biggest factor 🙂 Aside from actually doing a project & writing a post, networking and commenting on other blogs is my favorite part about co-authoring DIYJC. I am constantly inspired by the things people write and do and it always reminds me that there are tons of people going through the same things I am. Also, I think I may have mentioned this before, but I absolutely adore the way you do the graphics on your pictures.
Thank you so much! I just finally started trying to be consistent with them! And yes! Interacting with other bloggers and commenting and sharing was the best way to authentically grow! (and I still love meeting new friends!)
Super helpful! Love this series of Blog success posts.
http://www.backwardsnhighheels.com
YAY! I am so glad you are encouraged & inspired by them!!
Great tips! Thank you for this helpful post. My husband and I started a blog a couple years ago, but took some time away to start our own business and start a family. I’m just now getting back into the routine of writing weekly, redesigning our blog, and hoping to form more community thought it.
Also, I hear we have a mutual friend? David Galvan told me about your blog a few weeks back when he and Renee were at our house. I’m so glad he did! Maybe one day we can connect 🙂 hope you’re enjoying this chilly fall day!
Hello Autumn! I
Yeah! That is so fun. I’m really excited for you and this next stage of life! I’m glad that this encouraged and inspired you 🙂
Also, I love that you know David & Renee! David is my boss at work so I’ll have to thank him for the free advertising 😉 It is so great to meet you and another Colorado Springs blogger!!!
Elizabeth,
I’ve had my blog for about a year and a half now and it definitely was one of those blogs that was really more of a journal than anything else. But in the past six months I’ve really been wanting to get serious about blogging and my writing. This article has given me some great insight into ways I can grow my blog! Thanks for writing this and of course everything else on your site! I always enjoy your posts!
Candace!
Thanks so much for stopping by! I am so excited to see what the Lord has planed for your space as you grow and focus on your writing!! I am so glad this post was an encouragement to you!!
Great tips Elizabeth! I have been considering reaching out to others about doing a blog button swap but I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea! Thanks so much for the good information!
I am so glad you were encouraged to do so!!! I say just go for it!