Just last week I got together with a few other Tucson bloggers for sips and sweets at our local Kendra Scott. We had a blast shopping for jewelry we didn’t need and chatting over champagne and wine, which brings me to my point: building a blogging community is so important.
Whether your community is online or in-person, blogging can be difficult without having others who understand what you’re doing. Even though your family, friends, and significant other might be supportive of your blog, they aren’t the same as the people who are hustling like you are. The support you get from each group is simply different.
Sometimes, when I’m blogging, I feel very alone. It’s a hard feeling to describe, but people will not always understand what blogging entails. Some people think you just take pretty photos and get free stuff. Some people will try to use you for your influence. When brands reach out to you for brand deals, people won’t understand the frustrations of trying to negotiate deliverables and compensation. Influencer marketing is still really new and it’s foreign to a lot of people.
My boyfriend, my family, and some of my friends are great. They love reading my posts and tell me the things they’ve tried and love from my site. But, they aren’t bloggers.
I’ve met some amazing blog friends online and in-person and they are the best. They tell you when your Instagram feed is straying from your brand image. They’re honest about your blog theme and logo. The truth is – when you have blogging questions, they are your go-to people.
When I talk about a possible rebrand or Instagram theme switch, my blogging girls are the first people I call. That kind of support is what is necessary. I will be honest; my blog didn’t grow at all before I had a blogging community to rely on. Now that I have these girls, I can turn to them for advice and answers.
So, when you think about starting a blog of your own, you can struggle through it alone or rely on others for help. All I’m saying is, that support system sure makes it a heck of a lot easier.
Jacket: Ashley Mason // Dress: Gentle Fawn // Shoes: Target // Earrings: Kendra Scott
