A couple of days back, I wrote a guest post and proposed an idea for bloggers to take part in a 30 in 30 challenge where each day we make an effort to reach out and meet a new blogger. The thought here is to make this a blogging goal that is simple and trackable. If you invest 15 minutes each day to focus on forging new blogging relationships this will have a major impact on the success of your blog.
I have found this little exercise to be working quite well and I am having a lot of fun with it. Yesterday, I interacted with Eleanor at Give a Brick , which is a unique blog that you should really check out.
Today, I am reaching out to Cori from Big Girl Branding , who actually reached out to me based on the post I published on Blogger Luv.
If you are looking for ideas to help you break the ice and approach new bloggers, here are:
5 ideas to break the ice and meet new bloggers
- Comment on other blogs – This is self explanatory. Make sure that your comments are helpful and help further the conversation. If you can find a way to add value and get noticed you will be on your way to breaking the ice.
- Retweets - If you are looking to build a relationship with a certain blogger it would be a good idea to follow them on Twitter and make a practice of retweeting their posts. They will be sure to notice as most bloggers check their mentions on Twitter daily, I know I do.
- Write a Link Luv post – Every week on Sunday’s I used to write a post and link to the top blog posts that I read that week. This is a great way to meet new bloggers and get on their radar to showing them that you like what they are doing.
- Use your blogroll – Again, this is a good way to link to the bloggers you want to network with. They will get pinged (alerted) and in all probability will stop by your blog and say Thanks. Mission accomplished, ice broken!
- Get active on Social networks – Find out where the bloggers interact online and join in the network. If you are the one voting up their post on sites like Blog Engage and MMO Social Network they will definitely take notice and will allow a relationship to blossom.
[stextbox id="info"]What other suggestions do you guys have to make new blogging relationships?[/stextbox]
We don’t have a blog yet, but decided it would probably be beneficial to add one to our DUI website since there are probably a lot of people that would want to participate in conversations on there since there are plenty of idiots in this world drinking and hurting others. Not your typical route for a blog but definitely will consider it. We liked what you had to say, good write up.
Don’t forget to ask them whether you can guest post on their blog.
@will, Oh! And perhaps the most obvious (and overlooked) way to initiate conversation, contact them thru their Contact or About page. Just drop them an email saying Hi and introducing yourself.
Some great tips here. I do do most of them already. But like others have stated, working full time and trying to build sites it really is difficult to keep up with the socializing.
.-= Denise@How to Make Money Online at Home´s last blog ..Making Money Online is Boring =-.
I’m still curious though, what do you consider a “connection”? Just commenting and getting a response, or a 20 minute chat on messenger or what?
.-= Dennis Edell´s last blog ..WANTED – Keyword Research Expert(s) =-.
My thoughts here are simply reaching out to a new blogger that you have never interacted with and having a two way conversation, whether over email, blog, twitter, im, phone or anything else. Once the connection is made then you can build upon that. Out of 30 new contacts maybe 1 or 2 will become long term relationship.
Sweet ideas here Dan, I bookmarked this. This is something I’m really going to try to focus on moving forward, I’ve learned a few lessons from my blogging experiences so far and I’m trying a ’round 2′ with a new blog, where I plan to put things like this into practice (as well as on the current one, of course!).
Oh and if I could ask a completely off-topic question; how do the google ads right at the very top of your page do? I’m thinking of trying something similar
.-= Warren@Distance Learning in Psychology´s last blog ..Flowers = Happiness? The emotional impact of plants =-.
Nice tips. Really useful to get noticed by other bloggers and build good online relationships.
.-= Selurus´s last blog ..Google Reader =-.
Great ways mentioned, however, joining discussions on related forums is also a great way to meet co-blogger, just add meaningful contribution to the on going discussion especially if its very helpful, its will add more ton your reputation..
Great ideas! Blog commenting is the easiest ways to get to know other bloggers, but I have found success in doing track backs as well.When I write a new post I link out to other bloggers, they will get an email that someone linked to them and most likely will check out my post and leave a comment in return.
The co-blogging is actually a good idea. I’ve done something like that before and my co-bloggers and I are really cool with each other.
Well.. I’ve got an idea.. maybe it’s not that new, but still..
What about a co-blogging, where you are the team of 10 bloggers, who submit each other’s best posts.
The deal is to do that frequently and to vote for any team’s submission.
I am keeping this idea in my head for some time.. and I think I’m going to make it alive
Would you, for example, join such team?:)
PS. I’ve noticed your hidden internal links.. great idea!
.-= iWoodpecker@web traffic, promotion´s last blog ..Dynamic Sidebar Plugin: Certain Widgets for Certain Web Traffic and Pages =-.
@iWoodpecker@web traffic, promotion, that is a great idea and i would be interested in that sort of team approach!
Great article Dan, I think I’m following all these tips already, my advice to anyone reading this post is to follow these, they certainly seem to work. Must add your post to my weekly round up
.-= Karen @ Blazing Minds´s last blog ..Blazing Minds Interviews Dr. Rus D. Jeffrey =-.
I am trying to comment more on people’s blogs when I see something interesting or amusing. Look I’m doing it now!
Great tips though, because I am fairly new to the blogging world and sometimes it’s hard to get in there. Especially with 2 kids and my time is fairly limited on what I can do.
Thanks so much for the help!
.-= Alison´s last blog ..Free Chewy Lemonheads =-.
Interesting idea. I my self find many new blogger trough blogengage. It make me aware that there are many great blogger out there.
.-= Dana @ Blogging Update´s last blog ..How do I Use Google Buzz? =-.
Done! Did all your tips, all of them works for me and I’m sure works for everyone of us, bloggers, lol! Thanks Dan
.-= Latief@AnotherBlogger´s last blog ..Refresh Your Old Links =-.
Yes you do have a chance. You need to have the tools to get the word out and take action. I will include the links to some sites that maybe helpful. Read these and they will begin to give you the information you need. Don’t give up.
Really great article and a great idea. I honestly wish I could find more time to do networking in blogging, but if I did I wouldn’t be able to write as many articles so its a double edge sword (write content or network) each day I choose I have to optimize my time spent.
.-= Dragon Blogger´s last blog ..Work Out and Get Fit with Melt it Off! =-.
This is a great idea Dan as I mentioned on BloggerLuv. I try and follow of your ideas, and they do work. I have met some great bloggers following your tips.
.-= element321´s last blog ..How to Add a Facebook Fan Page Box To WordPress =-.
That is a really good idea. All to often we try to do blogging alone, but it is much easier and a lot more fun if we network.
.-= Tom@Market Samurai Discount´s last blog ..Market Samurai Review | Part 1 =-.