3 Reasons Why Every Blogger Needs a Community + VIP Announcement!
Earlier this summer we announced that we were building a new Social Learning Community. Let me just say that it has been one busy summer as we’ve been working behind the scenes to launch this new platform to you, our community members! The official launch will happen during the week of September 12th. We sent a community email last Friday to notify you of some of the upcoming changes and how they will affect your current community profiles. Be sure to check your email for that. You can also read this information on our community home page. Stay tuned for more communications over the coming weeks about the transition. In the meantime, let’s talk about the top 3 reasons WHY community is so important for bloggers and BlogPaws.
1. Collaboration & Support
Blogging can be a lonely profession. We sit at home typing away with little to no human interaction. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that there are actually other human beings out there with the same passions and struggles. Life as a blogger can be a dream and oh-so-rewarding. Then, there are those days where no matter how hard you work, you just don’t feel good enough. Cue the evil comparison game! We all know how comparison slowly steals away your blogging mojo.
This is when you need a place to turn to for strength, encouragement, and support. A blogging community is that place. The BlogPaws community is that place. The BlogPaws community will connect you with other bloggers and influencers that have been in your shoes. The best advice you can get is from your peers that have been in your situation before. Use your community to ask for words of encouragement. Use your community to collaborate with other bloggers. Use your community for support on the good and bad days.
When we asked you in a community survey what you loved about BlogPaws these were some of the responses:
- “Informative posts and discussions!”
- “I love how kind and helpful everyone is.”
- “The ability to see and interact with other community members.”
None of this is going away! Our new community will do an even better job of fostering collaboration and support for you, the blogger.
2. Learning
A college degree is a great accomplishment. I fully believe in and support higher education. The thing about blogging is that there is no clearly defined path or degree program. A lot of us are figuring things out as we go! That’s why being part of a community is especially important if you want to become a successful influencer. I’ve done my share of trial and error when it comes to blogging and social media. I know the same goes for many of our community members. That’s why there is so much to learn from each other within our community.
BlogPaws IS a social learning community and we always have been. Social learning is not something that exists separately outside of everything else that we do. Education for bloggers is at the heart of what BlogPaws is all about. Our new platform will offer ongoing discussions, challenges, and courses to empower you to become a better blogger and influencer. We do this today outside of the SLC with our annual conference and our daily blog posts.
3. Networking & Relationships
You need other bloggers to help you grow your blog and share your message. Being part of a community gives you access to like-minded people who want to network with you. Blogging can be a big and scary world to navigate. It’s not so scary when you have a community of people who understand and are trying to do similar things. Use the community to build relationships. I can’t imagine not being part of the BlogPaws community. I’ve met so many amazing people just by attending the conference each year and interacting in the online community. In fact, I would never be sitting here typing this blog post and working on the SLC launch if it weren’t for becoming part of this community and attending the conference. Sometimes it starts with just one conversation.
Networking with other bloggers can help open your eyes to new ideas and relationships. We recognize that networking is critical to your success. In the community survey you told us that you felt the same way:
- “I’d like to see more networking and educational opportunities in a variety of offerings.”
- “Looking for a group where we share ideas, opinions, experiences and tips to help each other grow.”
- “Lots of interaction, sharing each others’ stories, and encouragement.”
- “Discussion is the key, I think. Discussion and the sharing of ideas, which I think the BlogPaws forum does achieve.”
There you have it. Three reasons why every blogger needs a community. Are you part of the BlogPaws community? If not, be sure to register today so that you will be included in our new Social Learning Community, which is launching the week of September 12, 2016.
Leave a comment down below to share your experience with the BlogPaws community. How has the community helped you as a blogger? What would you like to see more of with the SLC?
Aimee Beltran is the Director of Community Education for BlogPaws. She also writes two blogs, Irresistible Icing and Irresistible Pets with her Chihuahua, Chuy. Aimee is passionate about her mission, “create an irresistible life you can’t resist!” She loves anything with glitter, kayaking, and spending time at the beach.
Images: Stokkete/Shutterstock.com
