Online friends are REAL friends.
A wild concept, isn’t it? This week we’re going to talk about how to make bloggigng friends because admit it, we’re all just a bunch of nervous cucumbers pretending to be humans. Now, either you get a cool looking scare & dub yourself the chosen, or you can simply reach out! So, here are five ways you can interact with people and find a band of friends to defeat the dark lord with!
Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings where I discuss a wide range of topics from books to blogging. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog.
Twitter is THE go-to for finding blogger friends. In fact, many bloggers I know I only came to know through Twitter. On Twitter, not only do your find new bloggers to follow and book recommendations but you also have the chance to follow a bookworm’s reading experience, interact with authors, and it’s always such fun to get a sort of behind the scenes look at bloggers. It can get a bit overwhelming sometimes but after the initial anxiety, I find many people are open to talk.
FACEBOOK GROUPS
I don’t see this mentioned often which I think is because not everyone is comfortable with sharing their Facebook profile. Even as one who is anxious with social interactions, Facebook groups are a wonderful hub to belong to. My favourite group is the Indie Fantasy Addicts group. It’s a common ground where readers and Indie authors not only interact but also have readalongs and challenges for everyone to join in!
COLLABORATION
Building relationships online can be hard but are very fulfilling. As book bloggers, working on a collaboration helps us understand the work ethic of other bloggers. Approach bloggers who you adore. If time permits, prepare a post together. HAving differing opinions on a discussion post makes for a thoughtful read. Or settle into a buddy read and share your reading experiences.
AUTHENTIC SUPPORT
Many book bloggers are not commissioned for their work. We do what we do for the love of books. To have support from even one person means to world to us. Promote other bloggers; help build traffic to their blog by liking, commenting, and sharing their posts. But above all, always remember to be authentic. Never promote a blogger only because you want them to do the same for you. It does not and will never work that way. Be genuine in your comments, add value and motivation to the work your fellow bloggers do. Your online interactions are just as important as face-to-face ones.
BE PROACTIVE
This is one aspect where I will admit that I fall short of. As a blogger, it’s important to put yourself out there. I have anxiety which oftentimes makes it hard for me to interact because of self doubts. If this is something you also worry about, then know that I had learn to take time away for my mental health, and to come back when I can. This has worked well for me. Be proactive by taking advantage of the community – reply to questions, recommend books, join hashtags, tag people, ask questions. The book community is filled with people who are ready to help, so don’t be afraid!
What’s your advice on making blogger friends? Name some bloggers you admire!
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I have a question regarding Facebook groups. What are some worldwide YA groups? I cannot seem to find them 😦 Anyway, this is an interesting article!
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Hi Laurie! So sorry I’m only getting to this now! But my favourite YA groups on FB are Indie Fantasy Addicts (https://www.facebook.com/groups/indiefantasyaddicts/) and YA Fantasy Addicts (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yafantasyaddicts/).
I hope you’ll join us!
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Thanks, joined the 2nd one!
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Awesome! Maybe we’ll cross paths 🙂 Hope you enjoy ❤
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I think my biggest advice is the.. most basic one and that’s actually responding to comments and replies to your own comments? There’s been a couple occasions where I found a blog I absolutely ADORED but then noticed the blogger never EVER responding to my comments and that made me feel.. ugh.. There’s been so many conversations that started on a blog post and then went on in a private chat – whether it be Twitter or Instagram – and became friendships so I always feel bummed when I notice people not even taking the time to talk to their followers, haha.
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Aaw, yes. I understand that. I get that sometimes bigger bloggers get busy but a once in a while interaction should at least be done. Ah, I love it when comments lead to more private convos! I get extremely shy about approaching blogger personally though hehe
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I get that as well, but blogging is all about connecting with your readers after all. Can’t really be a one-way street all the time. But maybe that’s something other bloggers have a different opinion about, haha.
Awh! You shouldn’t! You already have one passion in common, being blogging, so most of the time conversation simply.. flows naturally haha.
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Thanks, Kathy! I’m definitely working on being more open with people ^^
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That’s all you can really do! At least you’re trying. ❤ Go you!
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This is such a great post, especially for me because I am a crazy introvert. I just started using Twitter, and it’s honestly my first time using it. I’m really not sure how it works, but I’m slowly trying to work my way through it all. It’s nice to see that the initial anxiety will wear away eventually. Thanks again for a great post 🙂
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I need to be more interactive on Twitter haha and get my IG back on track! Thanks for stopping by, Kat 🙂
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You just described my mood like, everyday.
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Fantastic post! You bring up so many wonderful points and suggestions. Thank you!!! 💜
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Thank you for stopping by!
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I think being proactive is the best piece of advice. You can’t just assume that people will find you. You have to put yourself out there, and the more you do, the more people will get to know you and you’ll get to know others. I think that’s how the best online friendships start! I know it can be hard, it was hard for me at the beginning.
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I still struggle with it a bit especially being open on Twitter, but I’m slowly getting there ^.^
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Great tips! I find a lot of bloggers through linkups. Top Ten Tuesday and The Sunday Post are my favorites. Also, COMMENT BACK! You can’t make friends if you ignore everybody who tries to talk to you.
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I love the Top Ten Tuesday posts! I love blog hopping through that 🙂 YES! At the end of the day, genuinely supporting other bloggers is what will help our own blog grow. ❤
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I think Twitter is the best way to meet bloggers, but collaborations are the best way to get to know them. I honestly fall short when it comes to widening my blogging circle at times. Must do better.
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Same here, Alicia >< but we take it a step at a time!
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These are all great tips! I’m super shy on Twitter but have been wanting to try to get better at it. I think commenting on both other people’s blogs and replying to comments on your own blog can be a great way to meet people, and it shows that you’re willing to engage as well. This was a really helpful post, thank you!
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Haha, I feel you but I find answering questions and doing small tags on Twitter help with that 🙂 I’m glad I could help, Mel!
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For sure going around other blogs, usually ending to comment on the usuals, help build a nice relationship, if not friendsgip. I’m generally very open but I never end doing much, especilly on Twitter. The first time I interecated I behaved not well, and when I tried to comment… I got a subtweet. So, I’m a bit hesitant.
But I found a super nice chat on Discord and there are always those four/five people with whom I activily chat. Do you know it?
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I try to be a regular on my favourite blogs, more so to support my blogger friends. It also helps with blog hopping when I scroll through the comments and come across some genuine ones. I’m not very good with Twitter, though I do try! I struggle to be open there.
Oh, what’s the name of the Discord group?
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New bloggers! If you want I can ask for an invite for you ☺️
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this is such a lovely post!! i don’t have a twitter, so i’ve made most all of my blogging friends just from commenting and replying to comments 🙂 the offering support bit is so true & necessary
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Yes! I read one post where it was adviced that we regularly check in with our blogging friends rather than wait for notifications to pop up 🙂 That’s something I do try from time to time & it helps alot with blog hopping ❤
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My #1 spot for making bookish friends is Instagram. Of course, not all of my Bookstagram buddies are bloggers but a lot of them are. I think it’s most important to just use care when engaging with posts. Be sincere when commenting, things like that. Sometimes you just have time for a quick hello, and that always helps too!
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Thank you for commenting! I’ve tried Instagram and have loved the platform! I do find it harder to make friends there though but still I’ve found so many wonderful bloggers from there!
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Great advice! You’re absolutely right. Thank you for sharing these helpful tips. Instagram is my favorite platform to get to know authors and bloggers. However, I look forward to branching out and finding more authors and bloggers like me. Blessings!!
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Oof I’m so happy for this post! I definitely struggle to make blogging friends, but Twitter is a huge help! I never thought of facebook groups before though, that’s a great tip!
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This is a lovely post! I started making friendships through commenting and having convos on my and other blogger’s posts, and the connections grew as I started to use twitter more and more. I am also in a discord group for book bloggers which has really helped form connections with some other bloggers.
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Ooh, which group is that?
I need to be less shy when it comes to starting conversations hehe 🙂 With regards to Twitter, I’m still working on being a bit more open there! Though I do reply to other bloggers’ tweets!
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Hi, thanks for this blog post!
I was wondering, if there are some twitter live chats for book bloggers/book reviewers? I haven’t found any good ones.
Thanks a lot!
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