Building Networking Relationships
After posting how I marketed my news breaking post, I had a few questions via EMail about how to properly address other bloggers and create networking opportunities.
So let’s jump into how you can start to build a networking relationship with other bloggers.
Know the Blog
This is probably the most important factor. Before contacting a blogger, know what they talk about and if they have any posting schedules. For example, if you’re asking for a link you might want to first know if they do a weekly round-up of links or when the blogger might be making a post that is relevant to something you have talked about.
Make Yourself Known
Tread lightly when putting yourself out there. Be a regular visitor to the blog, leave comments, join the community, and associate your self with what the blogger is doing. I’m more inclined to do something for those who come around, make themselves known, comment, and interact with me on my own blog.
Keep coming up with ways that you can make yourself known to the blogger without being a problem. You want to be seen and treated as a valuable member of the blog’s community. Stay up to date with good commentator traits and practice them when commenting.
Social Network
I have always said, if you like a post at any time you should be taking the time to submit posts to social bookmarking sites: StumbleUpon, digg, Reddit, Deli.cio.us, etc.
With the growing popularity and wide variety of social networking sites they’re becoming more and more valuable for bloggers to have their blogs within these networks. By bookmarking posts you’re doing a favor for the blogger.
As an added bonus, when you submit quality posts you’re building your own networking profile to gain more attention.
Seek Friendship
Networking sites make it really easy to become a “friend†with anyone. If you enjoy a blogger, seek out their social networking profiles and add them as a friend. If you get them to add you as a friend in return then you’re a step closer to creating a networking friendship.
Share quality links with blogger friends that have nothing to do with you.
Read that sentence again and again!
Human nature says that we’re more open to contact with others when we see how it is beneficial to ourselves, not other people. If you can step outside of those bounds and genuinely share quality information with other people that do not lead them to your own blog you’ll build a lot of trust, respect, and authority.
Learn what your friends enjoy on networking sites and share content with them that you believe will be of interest, helpful, or entertaining. Quality information is appreciated by a lot of people and you’ll be throwing yourself out there to be a source of a wealth of information.
Personal Approach
Once you have done what you can to get to know another blogger, you’ve already got your name in their minds. Here’s your moment to ask for a favor…
- Be respectful and polite. Remember those manners your Mom taught you! Please and thank you go a long way and will get you far!
- Expect nothing. Of course we’d love for people to always do what we ask but they won’t so understand if your request for a favor is declined.
- Briefly explain why you’re making the request (my post is relevant to a recent conversation on your blog, because of your recent interest in one post; I thought you might enjoy my post on the subject, etc.)
- Know who you’re talking to. For heaven sakes don’t tell me you’ve been reading my blog for years and then call me Kathy or spell my name as Katie.
When sending off an EMail be respectful of the blogger’s time. I’ve got less than a minute to read and reply to a lot of my EMail. If you can get to the point and take up just a very brief moment of my time I’m much for faster to help.
Suggest a return of favor: “If there’s ever anything I can do for you…â€
If you add that statement to any EMail sent to me, believe me that I complete your favor I’ll be calling on you for a favor of my own. Once you have created this connection with me the first time, it’ll take very little for you to get the next favor from me.
Some Thoughts
Not all bloggers are into networking. You’d be surprised how many want to sit back and do their own thing and if they never have a StumbleUpon account it’ll be too soon. Ensure that you recognize this kind of blogger. They’re great for reading and talking to but consider others when seeking out networking opportunities.
Use favor requests sparingly and never forget what did in the beginning to build a relationship. Just because you had a favor request successfully completed doesn’t mean they’ll be happy to do the same thing the next day. Take it easy!
Keep networking and communication lines open. Don’t get what you need and lose touch, keep at it. Building a strong networking relationship holds a lot of value and the more that you can create these relationships, the better place you’ll be in.
Your Strategy
How do you start out a networking relationship and seek the attention of other bloggers? Have you ever sent off a request for a favor from another blogger and got something you weren’t expecting. And from your stand point, how would you like to be approached by other bloggers?
[Image By thijsone]
June 27th, 2008 at 5:18 am
Good advice, Katy - I’m not a ‘natural’ when it comes to networking, but as with all things internet related, it’s a constant learning process. I have got a stumbleupon account (not sure how that happened) so consider yourself stumbled!
June 27th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Great post, Katy :)
I network, it seems, for the friendship. I prefer to make friends more than contacts. Yeah, doesn’t boost the readership, but hey, the ones I do get, I get to really know :)
Might have to try a few tips, though, and see if I can make some more new friends :)
June 27th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Actually your great advice could relate to many other types of networking too. I admit that when I first started my business 4+ years ago I didn’t understand the concept of brining value to a potential relationship first. I went right for the sales pitch as I thought that is what I was supposed to do!
As a much more seasoned entrepreneur now, I fully soak up and enjoy the knowledge I am gaining from reading blogs like yours and think “share and network” first and foremost.
If a fellow blogger contacted me to offer me valuable information or share an idea with me, I will always remember them…
June 28th, 2008 at 6:04 am
Excellent advice Katy, and Taryn is spot on. A lot of this can easily be tweaked to fit multiple network situations…another sign of a great post. ;)
I admit with a little embarrassment that from time to time (not often mind you) ‘ve forgotten to add the “Suggest a return of favor” aspect.
To be honest, even if I forget I’ve always taken it as a given…if you help me, of course I’ll help you. I realize though that it’s not always shared or known on the other side.
June 28th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Nicola: I wasn’t a natural when the huge wave of networking came along either. And I still wouldn’t say that I am but it’s certainly a case where I have learned that practice makes progress. It seems to work. Thanks for the Stumble!
Sarah: Thank you! And like I have said, using networking like this isn’t right for everyone. So you hunt down new friends rather than networking partners. As long as it works for you and them, that’s all that matters.
Taryn: You may be right, some techniques could be applied in other areas as well but going too broad for this post didn’t seem like it would turn out to be a post worth reading. I’m glad the message was extended into other areas for you.
Dennis: The biggest reason that I mentioned one should remind with the “if you ever need anything…” line is simply so that it makes you more personable and interesting. Generally I would think most would assume that you were open to return the favor but by putting it in front of their face, you’re encouraging networking behavior rather than favor exchanges. It changes the mindset, slightly.
June 28th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Oh I wanted to add that I feel your pain. I’ve been “Denise” a few times on a forum where not only am I well known, but my name IS my user-name…..right there for all to see :-)
If I wanted to stretch benefit of the doubt real far, the forum is 90% female…but still LOL
June 29th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
Great advice, Katy! I wish more people would take this on board. It is HARD to find bloggers who like commenting and taking time to see others blogs. Have to admit, I’m a bit like that too, but when I do visit a blog I rarely leave without saying something, that’s just the way I do things.
The networking world is a whole new can of worms too, as you never know when you’re just another trophy on someone’s popularity contest show room, or are they actually interested in what you have to say or offer.
June 30th, 2008 at 5:51 am
@Sebastyne: You’re quite right, finding the right people to network with can be a challenge and even more so to get them to stop, visit, and comment. I love your analogy of being a trophy… reality is that is often the case.
June 30th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
This is great advice! Also, something I am working on. I created a folder in my Google Reader for blogs I want to comment on regularly and will schedule time in my day to spend an hour reading and commenting. I also have a rule that if I read the entire post, then I should be able to say something in the comments.
One of my regular readers Stumbled me last week and my traffic went up from that day on. Now I am anxious to figure out Stumbleupon and help others too. I have had the account for a while so I could bank my name, but I haven’t been active.
Also, in other networks like the Mom Blogger’s Club and Skirt I am trying not to be shy and ask people to be added to my friend’s list.
Thanks for the encouragement! :)
June 30th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Amanda, you have to spend some time stumbling - I hope you have installed the toolbar. Not only is Stuble great advertising for publishers, but it is fantastic from the other end as well - You’ll find sites you’d never know to look for! I am a big fan of Stumble! Of course it has to adjust to your likes and dislikes, but once it’s done, you rarely hit a page you’re not interested in. And that’s why it’s so good for bloggers too, you mostly get people who will be interested.
July 1st, 2008 at 6:19 am
@Amanda: Great rule to read an entire post and then leave a comment. But what makes it easier to comment is when the blogger has prompted thought and asked questions to compel you to leave a comment.
With Stumble, definitely take the time to get involved there. The traffic spikes you can get with quality content is awesome and there are a wide variety of users to really spend time networking and learning great information. (I totally agree with what Sebastyne said to you).
October 14th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
[...] up on the latest networking sites for your niche, get out and talk to other bloggers by leaving comments, and consider new ways to create networking relationships with your [...]