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Teamwork makes the dream work. Searching for tips on how to build your blogging network reveals how connected bloggers succeed and everyone else fails.
When Kelli and I spent 6 weeks in a remote Costa Rican jungle we observed a colony of army ants killing and consuming all insect life forms within a range of hundreds of square meters.
As this single living unit completed dominated the jungle it made me think of the power of networking.
Seeing a huge group of sentient beings united for one purpose inspired me to grow my blogging network more effectively.
Connected bloggers thrive. Everyone else struggles, fails and eventually quits unless they decide to network intelligently.
Connected bloggers:
- gain passive blog traffic
- increase blogging profits
- gain greater visibility
- grow their business through referral marketing
Learning how to network efficiently feels uncomfortable at first. Most bloggers put their needs before helping other people. Networking the right way requires helping people with no strings attached.
Thinking right side up in an upside down thinking world feels uncomfortable. One Google query reveals how most blogger outreach posts populating page 1 center on fear-based, manipulative, selfish strategies.
We do things differently on Blogging From Paradise.
Being generous, genuine and trusting allows friends to flow to you organically.
From there, your blogging network and overall success expands.
Follow these tips to learn how to build your blogging network.
1: Embody Generosity
BE generous.
Help bloggers freely. Cut the strings of expectation. Gain trust. Make friends. Build your network.
Connected bloggers are generous bloggers.
Practical Tips
- answer questions
- serve others
- promote others
- feature others
- do things from a heart-centered space
Shine the spotlight on other bloggers.
Gain trust.
Get connected by proving your interest in helping bloggers versus trying to get them to do things for you.
Get connected by proving your interest in helping bloggers versus trying to get them to do things for you. #blogging Click To Tweet
2: Surround Yourself With Master Networkers
Both blogging buddies of mine are master networkers. They are connected.
Observe how they do it. Connected bloggers leave painfully obvious clues of how they became connected.
Example; note how Donna comments on every one of her blog commentor’s blogs before she responds to their comment on her blog. She has followed this simple strategy for years to build her blogger friend network.
Learn from the best networkers to join their ranks.
3: Stop Trying to Take Networking Shortcuts
Say goodbye to the list of manipulative “hacks” bloggers share for trying to convince or coerce people to share your stuff.
Stop trying to use shortcuts to get people to do things for you.
No shortcut works as a long term networking strategy. For every blogger who tweets your blog post after a manipulative pitch email 30 bloggers will label your email as spam. Losing credibility in the eyes of 30 bloggers disconnects you from these leaders. How can you get connected if you spend your days disconnecting yourself from pros by spamming them?
As an example, bloggers often email shortcut messages like this:
“Hi Ryan, I saw you publish a post about how often should you blog. I wrote a similar post here (inserts link to their blog). Please read it and share it with your readers if you find it helpful.”
A stranger who:
- never helped me
- never built a relationship with me
- never earned my trust
wants me to pick their email from 1000’s of identical pitches to:
- click their blog post link
- read their blog post
- share their blog post with my tribe
Do you understand why the ego blinds the common sense part of your mind?
Every blogging short cut wastes your time.
Stop wasting your time.
Help bloggers with no expectations.
Build relationships.
4: Personalize To Prioritize
Personalize interactions to stand out from the crowd.
Every one enjoys being addressed by their name because being singled out in a good way makes you feel special.
People who feel prioritized tend to grow fond of the person who prioritizes them.
Spend an extra 1-2 seconds to add names to interactions. Build strong bonds.
Being mindful distances you from a largely mindless blogging world.
5: Buy Networking Resources
Invest money in resources designed to help you network effectively.
Shop from blogging manuals to learn how to network the right way.
Professionals teach you how to network successfully in great detail.
Access their rich knowledge to build your blogging network.
6: Memorize This Quote
” The richest people in the world look for and build networks; everyone else looks for work. ~ Robert Kiyosaki”
Professional bloggers build loyal networks to thrive as entrepreneurs.
Everyone else works jobs to get paychecks.
Connected bloggers go pro. Everyone else disappears.
Networking feels challenging sometimes. Meeting and helping new bloggers daily for months propels you outside of your comfort zone.
Remember why you network to coast through tough times. Connected bloggers drown out the voices of bloggers who do not network because large, loyal communities dominate:
- social networking sites
- niche forums
- Q and A sites
Bloggers usually fail because they have no blogging friends to help them out. Build your blogger network to bond with friends who help you out. Otherwise, you will be looking for work sooner than later.
7: Network with Bloggers from Your Niche
Network with bloggers from your niche to target your campaign.
Bond with like minded bloggers to accelerate your collective success.
I bond primarily with blogging tips bloggers. When we promote each other’s content to reach large, loyal communities of bloggers interested only in blogging tips. Capitalizing on this targeting strategy collectively promotes our success.
Network with bloggers from your niche to target your campaigns. When you promote fellow bloggers your community will be highly interested in their blog content.
8: Share Other Blogger’s Content on Social Media
Retweet other blogger’s posts.
Facebook Share other blogger’s posts.
LinkedIn Share other blogger’s posts.
Sharing other blogger’s content on social media sets the foundation for prospering friendships.
Help an increasing number of folks by promoting them through Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Other bloggers whom you help gradually promote your blog on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
9: Meet New Bloggers Daily
Meet new bloggers daily
Set aside time to find blogs for commenting. Publish genuine comments to build new bonds.
Master networkers leave their comfort zone to befriend new bloggers daily.
Meet new bloggers on Twitter by creating lists based on:
- the “blogging” keyword
- the “#blogging” hashtag
Bonding with new bloggers daily grows your blogger network exponentially over the long term.
10: Link In To Be In
Drop backlinks to credible blogs.
Get connected.
Build your blogger network by linking to respected bloggers from your niche.
How it works: when someone links to Blogging From Paradise on their blog and notifies me, I thank them, comment on the post and tweet it, laying the foundation for a friendship.
This is like the Spider Web Analogy of Being Everywhere in Your Niche. Click that link to see my explanation via The Warrior Forum.
Link to bloggers. Gain their appreciation. Build relationships by using your blog to shine the spotlight on fellow bloggers.
11: Engage Bloggers on Social Media
Engage bloggers on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Publish comments in response to social media posts. Reply to bloggers on Twitter. Message bloggers on Facebook.
Building your blogger network involves engaging bloggers persistently. Take an interest in bloggers. Patiently ask questions and provide answers.
Networking demands that you talk to bloggers genuinely on social media.
Set aside 5-10 minutes to visit social media sites a few times daily.
Chat with bloggers. Reply to bloggers who chat with you.
Build strong blogging friendships.
Conclusion
Building your blogging network requires patience.
Do not rush the process.
Lasting blogging friendships evolve organically.
Lose yourself in helping bloggers. Ask for nothing in return. Expect nothing.
Earn trust. Express a genuine interest in other bloggers.
Slowly but surely you will grow your blogger network.
