The first time one of my favorite bloggers responded to a comment I wrote, it changed everything.
It may sound juvenile, but it was the first time I realized that online writing– just like print writing– is a deeply human pursuit. Behind our screens and perfect snapshots, these articles can feel a bit distant, cold. Their polish and perfection is at times too intimidating to approach as one of many readers.
I could go on about how blogs capture only a sliver of one’s life, or how writing, like art, is a reimagining of reality that strikes at the core. We all know that books, blogs and articles are not their creators’ whole self, only a part.
So, given the authority that we ascribe to the written word, we can forget that there’s an interactive aspect to online writing that is wildly precious. We can interact with that writing in very real ways: and provide an opportunity for the writer to interact with us.
What am I getting at here? Simply put, connecting with your favorite bloggers and writers is not only a real possibility, but an opportunity you should seriously consider.
Awhile ago, I explored why you should comment on blogs— whether you’re a blogger or not. I’d like to push those points again, and you can read it if you haven’t yet, and emphasize that this is NOT about building your blog. This is about developing a real connection with the person behind the words you read and love. Because, why not?
My biggest realization in one year of blogging
That’s right– I’m coming up on renewing simplicityrelished.com as a domain, which means a year has gone by since I switched to WordPress.org and started blogging consistently.
And what have I learned? Well, a lot of things: I’ve learned about what it means to create useful, relevant content; how to grow a platform; what the heck SEO is; the truth about marketing and selling; and how to be patient and flexible with my work.
But most importantly, I’ve learned to connect with strangers through similar interests and similar dreams. This may sound trite, but the blogging world brings together people who live far away from each other and would never otherwise cross paths.
What a reward it’s been– to receive snail mail from a blogger I admire, to chat on the phone with a blog friend, or to meet in person over coffee and encourage each other’s work.
So today I want to encourage you– whether you’re a blogger or not– to actively engage with the writers and bloggers you love. And if you happen to be a writer, it can only help you grow and improve your own work, and perhaps feel encouraged along the way.
6 Ways to Personally Connect with Bloggers and Writers
1) Subscribe to their periodical newsletter (here’s mine).
I’m really protective of my inbox (remember how I told you to delete promo emails?), but I like receiving newsletters from writers I enjoy. There’s usually an extra personal touch to these mailings that I just don’t get on their blog. The glimpse into their projects or personal lives is a privilege I enjoy, and sometimes they’ll even mention where they’ll be available for chatting or questions.
Shameless plug: I’m starting a weekly newsletter!! You can sign up using the link above, or there’s a form down below too. I plan on sending weekly encouragement, personal reflections, pretty snapshots, and other blog-related goodness. Sign up so we can stay in touch beyond this blog!
2) Ask them an on-topic question.
It’s one thing to send people “fan mail,” and another to really engage with their ideas with a thoughtful question. They’re more likely to respond to the latter– perhaps they’ll even answer it with a post or a video.
I’ve done this in the past, and you can write a respectful and casual email titled “Quick question from a reader.” This is effective, because if they’re serious about writing, they want to know what their audience is curious about.
For bloggers who are maybe less busy, this can be the beginning of a friendship! My emails with blogging friends have turned into phone calls, handwritten notes, and coffee dates. It’s been nothing but fruitful and fabulous.
3) Engage (thoughtfully) on social media.
My favorite platforms for interacting with bloggers are Twitter and Instagram. I’ve found that popular bloggers who are pretty busy– and don’t always respond to blog comments– will sometimes tweet back if I mention their posts. Other times, they’re the ones asking a question, and I’ll respond.
Social media is not the space to be self-promotional towards other bloggers– big or small– but to foster interaction outside of the blog page. So go ahead and try following their account on your platform of choice, and check it often. They might just respond to you!
4) Sponsor or guest post on their blogs.
This is for us who are bloggers and writers. The best way to get to know your favorite blog better is to ask if you can support their endeavor. Some bloggers offer sponsorships, which usually include a sidebar ad, social media promotions, and other blog-growing perks.
I’ve learned so much from sponsorships; I wish more bloggers offered them. The opportunity to interact with another writer and her readers is precious!
If you can also guest post for that blogger, even better! This will allow you to discuss your content with her, which often leads to conversations about other things.
One more shameless plug: I’m offering sponsorships on Simplicity Relished now! If you’re a blogger and are ready to grow your blog, check out the options on my sponsorship page!
5) Ask for their feedback.
Again, this is something to do carefully and purposefully. Writers and bloggers love to hear that they’ve encouraged someone else to produce great work. It’s always worth sharing your work with them.
Personal story: A while back I wrote a post on why I shrank my closet. I felt pretty happy with it, so I sent it along to one of my favorite minimalist bloggers. I wanted him to know that he inspired me to think about simplicity in creative ways, and to show him the fruit of his effort.
Not only did he respond quickly with kind words, but he actually tweeted it! I was elated.
Why I Shrank My Closet (And Quit Obsessing Over My Image) | Simplicity Relished —> http://t.co/Quq8j887VA (by @daisylinshih)
— Joshua Becker (@joshua_becker) July 20, 2015
6) Be persistent but respectful.
Can’t seem to get a response to your emails? Sometimes people are just too busy (or they’re not great with communication). Don’t take it personally; simply allow some time to go by before you try again.
Here’s what I’ve learned about most hard-to-reach people: they admire someone who can be respectful and persistent at the same time.
During my years in college, I had to chase a lot of coattails, some belonging to less-than-humble scholars. But I continued, kept an open mind, and remained humble and respectful. And a lot of doors opened because I didn’t give up.
How to get more out of Simplicity Relished
If you’re a regular reader here, I hope you know that I am so grateful for you. I’ll be putting out a reader survey some time in the near future, to get your thoughts on the work I’m doing here.
Until then, I do hope you’ll sign up for my weekly newsletter. I’ll be sharing more personal updates there, as well as anything that you might find encouraging or inspiring. Think of it as a free boost to look forward to at the end of your week!
And, as you’ve probably noticed, I’ve started selling ads for other bloggers here (check out the awesome ladies on my sidebar!). This doesn’t change anything about the content I post during the week, but it does mean that I will be seeking to support my sponsors in any way that I can. I hope you enjoy reading their stories and reflections too. After all, we’re all here to inspire and encourage each other.
Once again I just have to stand up and applaud!!! Such a wonderful way to address this topic, and I’m so glad you focused on it. For the first two years of blogging I didn’t consider myself a “real” blogger and just watched and read after my idols in silence. Breaking through the fourth wall was one of the best things that has ever happened to me — ever since I reach out to almost every blogger I find within a 500 mile radius and ask them to hang out (or at least become penpals for those further away). I’ve made so many amazing friends and I have such a more rewarding experience reading their blogs and interacting with them over the internet. I’m so glad you’re encouraging more people to do this ^_^
XO
http://www.threadandbones.com
Thank you Marieke! Yes, it really takes some time and quite a bit of dedication to figure out how blogging “works”– not to mention the fact that it’s changing rapidly. I encourage you to keep at it, and learn as you go. All of us are in different stages but we can all be community for each other together. Let me know if you ever have any specific questions too!
Thanks Jessa!! I really appreciate that.
And I’m going to see how the newsletter writing goes for me. I think it’s nice to write something a bit more personal and share good posts from the week! But I agree, it really is extra work.
Thank you Marla! It is so true that building relationships is a wonderful part of the blogging experience.
Hi Daisy, thanx for this very nice post! I’ve just started to read (and write) blogs very recently (as a generation x – y transitioner) and a whole new world is opening for me, it seems I’ve been living under a rock…
I have been learning a lot of new things about blogging lately, and your website and tips are a big inspiration. Fabulous how you have managed to create this within one year!
Although I’m not nearly far enough in creating a blog for most of your tips, I love your tip on connecting with other bloggers to learn from each other, that will be a good start! Thanx for sharing!
This is soo good. I am just starting back up my ads. I haven’t been a big fan of newsletters. I feel like that would spreading myself way too much. Maybe in the future.
Great post! Blogging is about building relationships. I enjoy connecting with other bloggers at meet ups and online such as Facebook groups.
Thanks Mayara! I completely agree. Thanks for stopping by my blog, I’ll come check out yours!
Aw thanks for your comment, Emily! That is really kind of you.
I was the same way– I blogged only very occasionally starting in February 2014, but never reached out, and actually never told anyone about the blog until half a year later. It’s transformed my approach to blogging and I really enjoy it now. It’s so much more fun to write for an audience.
Keep up the good work! Let me know if there’s any way I can support you in the meantime. 🙂
I love this!!! I love that the blogging world is so friendly, and such a wonderful community I am glad to be a part of!
This is so, so true. Actually, I was so thrilled when you commented on my blog! I’ve only recently started reading, but I’ve loved everything you’ve posted since. Your writing is so inspirational and motivating.
I stopped blogging for a year because I lost passion in it. I started again on a whim, but this time I started poking around Twitter. I never really understood Twitter, but now that I have a grasp on it, I’ve been able to connect with so many people. Blogging is so much more rewarding when you’re really connecting with others, and I’m so glad that I’ve finally realized that!
Very excited to watch both of us grow in this blog world. (:
Thanks Gema! Yes we can definitely lift each other up when blogging gets tough!
Absolutely!! Commenting is a great way to connect and to stay focused on your own work too! Thanks for reading, Marcella!
Oh, thank YOU, Madison! 🙂
Absolutely!! I have LOVED meeting up with blogging friends– some I’ve met up with several times and it’s even better– and I always walk away more inspired and grateful for this space online.
yes Julie!! It’s hard for me to imagine because I try to be as on top of email and communication as possible. But sometimes, when I’m randomly searching through my inbox or notifications, I realize I missed something that I could have sworn I never saw before. It happens even to people like me who don’t get a ton of mail! I say keep trying to get in touch– unless of course you’ve tried more than 10 times… 😉
Haha yes yes!! Our conversation yesterday actually inspired some of the thoughts I shared here, so thanks, friend! 🙂 And your encouragement really truly means so much. So glad we’ve found each other’s blogs and can cheer each other on in this strange and exciting journey.
Yes!! I think there’s a way to be persistent in a manner that shows dedication. And I’ve only seen good things come of it!
Thanks Becky! I’m so glad you found this helpful. I think the community around blogging– as well as individual friendships that I’ve worked on building– helped me persevere with my blog when I felt discouraged or uninspired. So keep at it! It’s worth the effort. 🙂
Thanks Brittany!! Yes– I think a lot of people expect connections in writing/blogging to happen immediately, but sometimes they do take time!
Aw you are so kind Kiki! I really appreciate your words and presence here. I also love checking in on your blog and your life! Here’s to more years (hopefully) of our blog friendship!
Yes!! I’ve been surprised at the genuineness of the friendships I’ve made from blogging too.
Yes!! absolutely. I think with bloggers who are present in all those different mediums are the easiest to connect with, which I love.
Thanks Renee! I love that too!!
Thank you so much Christina!! And thanks, it was so kind of him to tweet. And connecting with others makes blogging so much more enjoyable. Glad you and I have connected!! 🙂
Love all your tips. I also love connecting with bloggers because they simply share the struggle and building community is important for us. Thank you for sharing your wonderful insight!
Totally 100% agree! I loveeee connecting with other bloggers and following them around on their travels and fun activities etc, it makes blogging so much more personal and rewarding too 🙂 I’ve made some great blogging friends through commenting and connecting, it’s the best!
This is great, Daisy! I loved how we became friends through a series of emails! You have always seemed to have great relationships with bloggers and I love that about you!
Connecting with bloggers has changed my whole world. I didn’t meet up with another blogger until I was already a year into blogging. But now, I have grown connections with some of my favorite creatives and gosh, it’s a lovely thing! As bloggers, I feel like we completely understand each other. Our hobby obviously takes up a good chunk of our life and has become who we are as people. It’s so important to surround yourself with those who share similar interests. I’ll never get sick of talking blogging with other bloggers! 🙂
I love the community that blogging brings and of course finding like-minded friends around the world! Your reminder to be persistent is especially pertinent to me. I oftentimes find myself getting discouraged when I don’t think things are going well or I’m not getting a response. I have to remind myself that just staying consistent and persistent with it is so important, and with time, great things will happen!
I’m sure you already know how much I LOVE this post! Connecting deeply with other bloggers is one thing I did not expect when I started blogging, but it has quickly become one of my favorite parts of this endeavor! Especially connecting with bloggers who have similar content, goals, and dreams. You’re so good at encouraging other bloggers, and you are so thoughtful in your own writing and sharing. I really appreciate your voice in online writing world!
We find it really fun to connect with our favorite bloggers, through comments, tweets, and sometimes emails. Thanks for the encouragement to continue, as we’ve hesitated to bug busy bloggers with emails.
Thank you so much for this. Connecting with other bloggers is something that I am really starting to work on now that I’m getting back into blogging. I am definitely pinning this post for future reference – you have listed so many good points!
Thank you for this Daisy! I’ve been looking for ways to connect more personally with those I met through my blog, and your tips are spot on! Being persistent, yet respectful is a big one. Patience is virtue, and if you can apply that to blogging, your golden!
Crazy to think I’ve been reading your blog for almost a year. I believe I stumbled upon you in October and I’ve been hooked ever sense. Your writing is refreshing. You have a thirst for travel I could never imagine and I feel your spirit through your words. It’s been so great getting to know you through the blog world. Though I have no been blogging as long, I too have had the privilege to “meet” so many fabulous people through these experiences. I love seeing you in my news feed no matter what the day’s topic consists of. Keep up the amazing job Daisy! (:
Connecting with other bloggers is one of my favorite things about blogging! I feel the same excitement when one of the “bigger” bloggers I admire emails me back or responds to a comment. Your ideas for making connections are great! I’ve used a few of them, and it’s turned into really great connections and even friendships.
Engaging on social media is SO KEY!! I’ve made great connections that way. Also through commenting and blog sponsorships!
Love this post! Communicating with other bloggers and creating special blogging friendships has been one of my favorite parts about starting a blog! The only way I interact is through commenting on their posts though (I don’t have any social media platforms!). But I always feel a jolt of excitement when I see my favorite bloggers respond to my comments! 🙂
Renee | Lose The Road
Wow this is a great post Daisy. I’m kind of fan girling that Joshua Becker tweeted your post, I LOVE Becoming Minimalist. That is so neat! You have some wonderful points to make here about how to connect. I agree that it’s my absolute favorite think about blogging/writing, being able to connect with others through it 🙂