Blog Networking
Posted: December 27, 2010 at 9:42 amThis is a compensated review by BlogHer.
I think you can safely say that I adore blogging and everything it entails. It has brought me such great pleasure to watch this baby blog of mine grow little by little over the past year. It has developed into a great passion of mine and I thoroughly enjoy working on it, meeting new people through it, and learning more about myself thanks to it all.
When I started this blog in January of this year, I never anticipated the reach it could grow to have and how much it would impact me. I am forever thankful to every person I have come in contact with through blogging and the opportunities it has presented me. When BlogHer asked me to share anything I enjoy about their site, I happily accepted to do so and knew exactly what I would discuss - networking.
Networking matters. I try not to view networking in the traditional sense of searching out people who can provide some sort of personal gain. To me, networking is finding venues that help open up relationships that otherwise may never have become available. Blogging relationships hugely depend on networking. How else would we hear about each other and build this amazing community of support? BlogHer understands that and has built a site dedicated to it. BlogHer provides a great networking resource for all of us women out there interested in blogging or reading blogs.
Anyone can become a member of BlogHer and in doing so, share their blog in a well-organized and extensive blog directory. I enjoy perusing the blog directory on occasion because I like finding new blogs to pop in and visit. It’s an easy way to see who else is out there or give a bit of support to another blogger. Also, we are people with many interests. I love that the BlogHer directory includes blogs from a variety of topics. It makes it easy to find other blogs in different areas of interest, such as motherhood for me or perhaps crafts and decorating for you. Plus, the directory gives others a chance to find YOU.
Another fabulous feature of BlogHer that can help broaden your reach in the blogging community is their option to share posts in the member section. Anyone signed up for BlogHer can publish posts to the site, which can help bring traffic to your site and introduce you to new readers. Back in September, when sharing my 30 Days of Self Love posts, I made sure to post each one to BlogHer as well. I wanted those messages to reach as far and wide as possible. Sharing there helped me make a few new blogging friends here!
Another great networking opportunity BlogHer focuses on comes in their numerous blogging conferences. These conferences are some of the largest out there to really help women connect. I have told you all before how badly I want to attend BlogHer ‘11 in San Diego this upcoming year! They also have BlogHer Food coming up in May here in my hometown, Atlanta. In fact, they are currently giving away a free conference past to BlogHer Food (see bottom of this post for a link to win).
I chose to work with BlogHer as a publishing network because I find them a great community of support and networking. I would not have readily offered up space on my blog to share about their site, unless I valued it myself. The site is fabulous for its networking opportunities and information, but they have so many other great things going on in addition to that. They readily have giveaways for prizes like $100+ Visa giftcards, Ipads, conference passes, etc. They also currently have an Own Your Beauty campaign that I fully support. I really hope you will check them out and see for yourself everything they offer.
Visit this week's Sweepstakes post on BlogHer.com for your chance to win the BlogHer Food conference pass!
Question of the Afternoon – What ways do you enjoy “networking” with blogs and making new blogging relationships? Do you use any forms of social media or blogging sites? Word of mouth or others’ posts?
Tags: blog conferences, blogging
Love this post – I am a member of BlogHer, but not very active. This really inspired me to get more involved in the community!@
I love blogging! I only started back in October but the networking that I have made since then is amazing. I have started to form friendships with some pretty amazing women!
Blogging has truly helped me off the web too. I am more confident in myself and know that if people in my day to day life don’t have my back, the people who read my blog, do and they support me.
I may only have a few hundreds hits a day, but I am planning to expand my site. I just bought my domain and have found a web host. I am hoping to reach out to more people and hopefully inspire them, and continue to network with people. You never know how these connections may come around full circle one day! 🙂
Oh, and I am so very thankful for you Tina for commenting on my site one day. Otherwise, I would have never found you (or it may have taken me a little longer ;))
Do you know if you have to be a member of BlogHer to attend the conferences?
Nope! Anyone can attend. I was actually surprised when I saw that Foodbuzz was free for publishers but like $400 for non-publishers.
I TOTALLY think you should go to BlogHer in San Diego. Ahhh…I am so excited for all my favorite bloggers to be in my town!!
If plane tickets were cheaper I would register right now.
I have never heard about BlogHer but am intrigued. I have found out about different blogs through word of mouth and by reading blogs. I am excited about looking through the different blogs that are on BlogHer.
Thanks for reminding me about BlogHer. I always forget about it, which may be good since I tend to spend WAY too much time on there when I start clicking around. I need to set aside some time just for that!
This is just the reminder I need to get more active on BlogHer. I signed up there when I first started blogging and have pretty much forgotten about it.
I use Foodbuzz right now, but to be honest, I am starting to look into perhaps thinking about Blogher instead!
I didn’t know much about BlogHer until now! Thanks doll 🙂 I love that you were able to see so much success with your blog in just a year.
Keep inspiring us girl!
xxoo
I started my little blog back at the end of October, and I already would not trade this experience for anything. The blog community is SO supportive and I really feel like I have an extended lovely set of friends in both readers and fellow bloggers!! It’s amazing!
Hey Tina, I hope you had a great Christmas! I am actually not a part of blogher, but have considered it. I like Facebook, but I am just now really getting into the social networking part of blogging. I am definitely looking into the conference that is coming here!
I hope you are feeling well!
I bet it would be fun! I wish I could go, but I’ll be gone that weekend. Luckily the two of us can meet up outside of conferences. 🙂
This is awesome, helpful information–thanks so much for sharing! I have to check them out.
I love networking, I love sharing what I have to say and also reading others’ stories, being inspired by them and offering my support in turn. I try to post my blog updates to twitter and facebook, but I think that a community like this would be wonderful too, especially with the cross-reference between different interests.
love
Ela
I looked at one blog after it was mentioned in a magazine, and from there, I’ve found some others in the comment section. And so on…
I will have to take a look at BlogHer. It sounds like a good way to connect. Thanks, Tina!
I love all the good networking through blogher! Its a great tool for women with a passion.
I love any network that brings amazing women (and a few great men) together.
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I didn’t know anything about blogher so appreciate learning more. I am going to check it out! For me, the connections I have made with blogging are the best part about it. I am slowly getting into Twitter but it still feels like a strange world to me. Facebook – I’m there with my blog persona but barely. Not enough time for it all!
I’ve often thought about moving over to BlogHer from Foodbuzz. Shhh!