Wonder Twins, Activate! The 5 Cs Of Maximizing Blog Friendships

Today’s #SITS31DBBB task is all about finding a blog buddy. I wanted to expand on this topic a bit on my own blog.

If you’ve been blogging for any length of time, you probably found some “bloggy friends” organically. You start to gravitate towards certain people. You take turns commenting on each other’s blogs, promoting each other’s posts and supporting each other when a good blog rant is necessary (as they often are!). Hopefully, you’ve also got a strong fairy blogmother.

But as I alluded to briefly when I was interviewed by Nicole at Moments That Define Life for her bloggy idol series, blogging buddies can become so much more than just someone who you count on to comment every day. So today, I want to share 5 ways you can start thinking about expanding that blog buddy relationship to a new level.

Collaborate on a Project

If you’ve got a big idea in the works for your blog, consider adding in a blog friend to partner with you. Having two perspectives on how to launch a new project can improve upon your original idea in a big way. Plus, it allows you to divvy up the work and make things easier on you. Whether it’s starting a new meme, linkup, series or contest, everything is more fun when you do it with a friend.

Consult on Blog Design

It can be extremely valuable and enlightening to use your blog buddy as a sounding board for changes you’re considering making to your blog. Every time I add a new element to my blog, I run it by a few trusted friends first to get their feedback. It helps me see my blog through a different lens and helps me shape my decisions with a more complete picture in mind. You can do the same for your blog friends when they’re looking at changes or redesigns. Keep in mind that you don’t need to be a blog design expert – you need only to have your friend’s best bloggy interests in mind.

Combine Your Reach Beyond Blogging

Wondertwins, activate! Brainstorm ways that you and your friends can combine your reach to achieve something really powerful. Whether it’s starting a business or blogging for a charitable cause, think about what you + another passionate person can accomplish by joining efforts! The results can be exponentially greater.

Many bloggers have an entrepreneurial spirit, and it doesn’t take long for us to start thinking about how we can make a little more money doing what we love. The problem is time – it can be a struggle to get a business off the ground. You probably have a bloggy friend whose talents and strengths compliment yours.

Cultivate PR Relationships Together

If a brand rep contacts you for a potential opportunity, ask, “Do you need any other bloggers for this project, because I know someone who might be interested.” Usually, the PR rep is happy to have a blogger who comes recommended by another blogger. Even when a particular opportunity isn’t a fit for me, I’ll try to think of a blog friend who I might be able to pass it on to. That blogger will likely reciprocate for you, and you’ll have a steady flow of opportunities.

Create A Chain of Goodwill

If you’re interested in developing a freelance career from your blog, you may find that as your career grows, you will have to leave one gig behind to take another that is more lucrative. When you do, consider passing the old gig onto your blogging friend. You’ll impress your client by finding them your replacement, and you’ll help your friend out by giving them a gig. This creates a chain of goodwill that I truly believe is repaid back to you in many other ways. One of the biggest joys I’ve had in blogging is being able to pass on gigs to some of my talented friends and enable them to earn money.

So that’s it! Start thinking about your blog buddies and how you can make the most of your relationship!

Popularity: 11% [?]

Tagged as: blog tips