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| Our beautiful host, Rebeca! |
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| Joelle From La Petite Noob |
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| Sabrina From My Miaou |
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| Kaylee From The Blondie Locks |
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| Tara From The TL Blog |
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| Me |
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| Gabriella From Pastels and Pastries |
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| Jackie From Something About That |
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| Kristin from The Delilah Blog |
As much as I love creating my own content, another thing I love about blogging is collaborating with other bloggers. I am so fortunate that I am situated in Toronto which essentially has become a hub of such creative individuals when it comes to the blogging industry. Self-made success stories of bloggers that were once blogging as a hobby and are now full-time bloggers. Makes you feel pretty inspired. Collaborating with other bloggers is definitely an essential aspect of blogging not only in escaping your safe zone, but also in creating new and amazing friendships. You can read more about How To Make Friends In The Blogging Community in a previous post that I had written about the importance of being part of a niche and the importance of being part of the blogging community.
What Collaborating with other Bloggers is Not
Doing a giveaway with other bloggers is not the type of collaborations I am talking about. I am talking about creating fresh new content that you can post on your blog about. I have done a couple of collaborations in the past like Blogger Christmas Pink Party,How To Host a Pool Party With Your Girlfriends a la Blogger Style,Girls Staycation in Toronto so that you can get an idea of what kind of collaborations I am referring to.
Why collaborate With Other Bloggers
1. Helps to get out of a creative rut.
2. You can create fun content with bloggers that inspire you.
3. Your blog will be exposed to new audiences and followers because all the bloggers that are involved in the project will promote each other.
4. You will build stronger friendships and relationships with the bloggers you collaborate with.
5. You learn new things.You’d be surprised how many things you can learn from collaborating with other bloggers. Like taking pictures from a different angle, or a new app you may not know about, also insight about brands.
6. Sometimes it is better if you pitch to a brand and there is a group of bloggers that are participating in the project than just you. This is because the reach will have a much greater impact than just one person.
Brainstorm Ideas
Before approaching bloggers brainstorm ideas of what you would want to collaborate on. Don’t just email a blogger and say let’s collaborate. Give them an overview of what your vision about the collaboration entails. You don’t need to go in great detail about the collaboration, but some important aspects to highlight are: main idea of collaboration (ie making flower crowns), potential dates you are looking at, location, other bloggers that will be a part of this collaboration, monetary value or any sponsors that will be part of the photoshoot if applicable. Regardless of what industry you are in people love being pitched ideas that have a solid ground. You can figure out little details of the project once the bloggers you approach are on board, but the foundation of your collaboration for the things I mentioned above should already be figured out before you reach out to bloggers.
Be Unique
The best collaborations also happen to be unique collaborations. Intend to post about a topic that is different and unique or if you do collaborate on topic that everyone posts about take a unique approach to it or a more creative and in depth angle.
Blogger Friends vs New Bloggers
I am so thankful to be part of a group of Toronto bloggers that I have come to now call my friends and also consider them my daily inspiration to get out there and be creative. If you want a successful collaboration with other bloggers my suggestion is to do it with a group of bloggers you already know. Most of the blogger collaborations I have done in the past have been with bloggers I already knew and was friends with. This is definitely not necessary. If you already know the blogger then you already know if they will be a good match for the vision you have in mind and also if they are reliable. The last thing you want is a flaky individual that will bail on you a couple days before the collaboration which believe me happens. When you collaborate with bloggers you already know chances are you will also get a yes as an answer when you approach them to collaborate much easier and faster as oppose if you were to approach a blogger you have never met. I do prefer to collaborate with bloggers I know when I am approaching bloggers, but if the right blogger was to approach me I would definitely say yes. I value new opportunities and meeting new people, so for me this would be of value. You need to know how to evaluate each collaboration.
Establish a relationship
If you are approaching a blogger you have never met in person, a suggestion is for you to follow the blogger you are pitching to before hand. Go on their social media channels and make yourself known before you approach them. Even if the blogger says no at this time, do not take this as a total failure. It takes time to establish a relationship with other bloggers and at least now you are able to build that relationship. Maybe next time you approach them they will say yes. You also have to realize that some bloggers do not want to go outside their comfort zone so they prefer to collaborate with bloggers they already know. Establishing this relationship will bring you a step closer to having a successful collaboration.
Evaluate blogger fit
I also find establishing a relationship with the blogger beforehand helpful to determine if the blogger is the right fit. Not only in terms of niche, but also how you can incorporate their brand into the collaboration. For example, you want to approach a blogger that mainly focuses on food but is vegan. You would cater and make the collaboration appealing to them by putting together an idea that highlights vegan fashion items. The blogger you collaborate with does not have to be the same niche as you, but the idea does have to be the right fit.
Be Professional
Obviously if you pitch to bloggers you are already friends with, you are more prone to have an informal proposal rather than a formal one. This is why it is also much easier to ask bloggers you already know to be part of your collaboration. My latest blogger collaboration has all been arranged via Facebook messages, which comes with the territory when you are collaborating with friends. If you do decide to pitch to a blogger you do not know you will have to be professional in your email as if you were pitching to a brand. Introduce yourself and clearly outline what this collaboration is all about as I mentioned above. Also very very important, search some things about the blogger first. Look through their blog to get an idea of what they like and do not like.
What are your tips for collaborating with other bloggers?
*Special thanks to the talented Rebeca from Wishbone and Clover Media that put together this dreamy, girly filled day with delicious food from Ufficio and beautiful floral crown creations we made at Wild North Flowers.
Photography By: Pond Send Productions
