This is the kick off to our annual January Blog Challenge: 31 Days To Clean Up Your Blog. What better time than January to sit down and review your blog? Over the 31 days we'll be sharing 31 tips, ideas, and strategies for you to deal with all those pesky maintenance tasks, take steps to grow in the new year and make blogging easier. This is Day 14.
After getting up our courage and reaching out to some established bloggers back on Day 12 you had to guess that this was coming. When was the last time you took a few minutes to reach out to a blogger who was just starting out - even if for no other reason than to say hello!
Here's some real talk coming at you. Somewhere out there is a relatively new blogger (or not-so-new blogger) who loves your writing, adores your photos and appreciates you letting them in to your little online world. Just like you have bloggers that you look up to, someone out there is looking up to you!
That's not meant to freak you out - it's just the truth. Now, we don't expect you to know who these people are, we're just reminding you that those people are out there.
Reach Out To Somebody Just Starting Out
Think back to when you were starting out - remember how much it meant to you to get a comment or a bit of encouragement from somebody who's work you admired? It could lift you right up and make you feel like you could do this!
And what about all the questions you had? How often should you post? How should you reply to a brand? Which plug-ins should you use? Remember how grateful you were when somebody more experienced gave you some advice. Or maybe nobody replied and you felt a little defeated or like you didn't fit in...
We're big believers in giving back to the communities that supported us before we were successful - where we learned the ropes, made new friends and received help from others.
One of the great things about FBC is that we have bloggers who've been around since the inception of the internet (or close to it!) and bloggers who just put up their first post. Find some bloggers who are in the early stages of their journey and reach out to say hi.
A great way to do this if you're an FBC member is to check out the FBC Member group on Facebook. We regularly welcome groups of new members - it's easy to wish them well. Take a few minutes once a month to stop by the group and answer questions from newer bloggers looking for a little help. You have a wealth of knowledge that you can share with the group - probably more than you realize - and it will be so much appreciated by those who are learning the ropes.
If there are other blogging groups you're part of, do the same thing there. Or take a moment to comment on a blog post or instagram post of a newer blogger. If you have an off-line, local group you meet up with regularly, invite a new blogger in your city to join you. This is another great way to make new friends.
Everyone remembers the people who were kind and generous to them when they were just starting out. Pay it forward and do the same for another blogger today.
So go ahead, reach out to someone new and let's continue to grow and strengthen that amazing Canadian food blogger community that's already out there!
More Reading
- The 31 Day Blog Challenge Day 12: Reach Out To Five Established Bloggers
- In Your Face: The Value of In Person Networking
- Blogger Collaborations: Great Ideas to Connect & Create
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What a wonderful idea! While I have no hesitation to leave comments, I didn’t think of contacting bloggers directly just to say “hi”. Thanks for the encouragement.
It’s such a huge boost when somebody does that – especially when you’re starting out!
Love this! I have been intentionally trying to leave more comments this year on blogs I enjoy (for both established and newer blogs). Stats are good to get a sense of your readership, but comments really help you understand specifically what engages your audience.
I’m really enjoying this Blog Challenge series!
So glad you’re enjoying the series – it’s been fun to put together and fun to see every one taking part!
Yes to all of the above. It’s so fun to make a new connection and I’ve always found bloggers (new or established) to be so friendly and open.
It can be so intimidating when you’re new to reach out but it’s worth it – and it’s worth it when you’re established and can give somebody that little confidence boost!
I’m not a food blogger exactly, though food is a growing topic in my blog. But I’m learning so much from this challenge. Agree with the ladies above! I’ll try to comment and hope others with visit and give me some feedback too! Looking forward to connecting with more of you.
Glad you’re learning lots – and feedback is gold!
I love this series of posts and specifically this one. <3 Lets connect!
Glad you’re enjoying them. We thought this was a pretty important one!
G’day Another great tip and I have reached out today to food bloggers to say G’day! Thank you! Great reminder too!
Cheers! Joanne