How To Make Friends In The Blogging Community

From left to right: The Grey Canvas (Safinaaz), My Miaou (Sabrina), Something About That (Jackie), La Petite Noob (Joelle), The Delilah Blog (Kristin), Wishbone and Clover (Rebeca)

What Are The Benefits of Meeting Other Bloggers?

I couldn’t even begin to describe the benefits. Your blogging community will evolve into real friendships. These are the people that just get it when it comes to the struggles of blogging, the frustrations you deal with even when others think of them as superficial, and your blogging friends will also become your indirect way of being motivated to go out there and do things. There is nothing worse than being alone in the blogging community. Blogging is kind of like travelling. You want to discover some parts of this world on your own, but others you want to share with a friend, see the world through their eyes, and share experiences. So how do you do it? How do you build lasting friendships with other bloggers and how do you become part of a niche?

Where do you find bloggers in your niche?

Research! Instagram is a great space to discover local bloggers or any bloggers for that matter. It does not happen overnight. First step is to think about what kind of niche you want to create. Do you want to be part of a local bloggers community, do you want to be part of a larger community that is across the globe? For me it was important to be able to relate to other bloggers, and to have the support of local bloggers, so I concentrated on finding bloggers that were in the same city as me.

How to do it?

The best way to meet bloggers is by attending PR events. Another way is through Instagram as I mentioned before. Probably the most time efficient, considering attending events can be a sporadic process. Check what IG accounts some of the local bloggers follow on Instagram.This is a great way to start if you want to find local bloggers. In most cases local bloggers are already following a number of accounts that are from your own city. This is also a great way to discover new accounts you are not following.

Which Bloggers Do You Reach Out To?

Please, don’t go on a binge messaging every random blogger you find. Reach out to bloggers that mean something to you and not for the sake of reaching out to another blogger. Before I started blogging there were a couple of bloggers I was inspired by. Two were local (Suburban Faux Pas and La Petite Noob),  two were based in the US (Chronicles of Frivolity and Enchanting Elegance). These were the first people I reached out. Each one of them appealed to me for different reasons. I was inspired by Krystin’s style, she also lived in Oakville (my hometown) so I could relate to her on many levels. Joelle, a fellow Aries, loved her feed, Katie although sometimes I feel like she’s my long lost twin (I always get random messages of people telling me we look alike) I connected with her over religion and our devotion to God, and Amanda, was just the loveliest and nicest people I was friends with on Instagram and I am so lucky to also now call a friend. I am really lucky to have connected with these ladies from the start of my blogging career. These ladies were supportive and such a great help during my first steps of blogging. 75% of the bloggers I follow are in the same country as me. Even though chances are I will not ever meet all of them, it is nice to be able to relate to them.

Get in Touch

My top tip for building a relationship with another blogger or bloggers in general is to get in touch with them directly, instead of sending generic comments on their Instagram feed. Introduce yourself, let them know why you love their content, even set up a coffee date if that’s what you want to do. I still reach out to other bloggers sometime because it is nice to meet someone in person when you have been “Instagram friends” for so long.

Show Bloggers Some Love

If you want to build a relationship with a blogger, visit their blog, comment on their photos, like their postings. Show them some love. How will they know you love their work if you are off the grid? Plus, you know how important it is to comment and like things. Show them you care!

Visit Their Blogs Frequently

This has always been my favourite way to build a relationship with other bloggers. I will admit lately, I just don’t have the time to comment on blogs. But once in a while during my drop by, I will leave a comment as if to say “Hey I was here. I took the time to read your blog.” This is the most important aspect of interacting with other bloggers in the cyber world, but also the one that is extremely time consuming. People always tell me they love reading my blog, but I would have never known because they do not leave a comment. Taking the time to comment on another blogger’s blog is so crucial in building a friendship.

Don’t be An Information Hoarder

My number one pet peeve is when bloggers are information hoarders. Some examples to illustrate this. I ask you “Where is that location of that pink wall you posted last week”. You can go about this in 2 different ways. You either do not want to share with me or you share where the wall is. If you decide to not share that is information hoarding. You are not a sharer. Therefore you are not a team player. I understand you went through a lot of trouble to find that wall, but seriously don’t be that person because that is no way to build a relationship with other bloggers especially when these are bloggers you are already friends with. I will always remember you as the blogger that did not tell me where that pink wall was.  Always!

My policy for taking the non-responding direction is that I always evaluate. If someone whom I do not know or have spoken to before sends me a private message that only reads “Where is that pink wall?”. I will ignore. I am a blogger, but first and foremost I am a person of values and being polite is something I expect from everyone. Say hello first. Introduce yourself! You never know, we may be best friends in the making. But now, all you say to me is “Where is that pink wall” you killed our chance. Politeness will take you a long way. Information Hoarding will not.

Help Other Bloggers

Do not reach out to bloggers thinking “What can they do for me”. Building a community with other bloggers is a two way street. You help them out and they help you. Don’t be selfish. Even today, having blogged for 2 years I have noticed that even with these beautiful blogger friends our information sharing never ends. It is ongoing. If we discover a new app, or a new photoshoot location or a new restaurant, we always share with each other. That is what makes a community. You help each other out, that is what nurtures relationships.

Don’t Get Discouraged

Some bloggers will want to meet with you, some may not, some may not even respond to your email. Do not take it personally. Move on to the next blogger you look up to. If you want to build a relationship with a blogger that has a heavy social influence or is already well established, it will take a time and effort on your part. Especially since they already have so many people trying to reach out to them.

So there you have it ways to build a niche and be a part of a blogging community. It is not easy, and it sure takes time, but it is worth it. I have made some incredible friendships from my blogging community and I am so happy to call these girls my friends beyond the blogging world.

*All Photos taken by Ponds End Productions 

Special Thanks to:

Ufficio

The Ministry Group 

Royal Flower 

AG Macarons 

Smashbox Canada

Spark Candles 

Queen Margarita Pizza