Building Blogging Relationships – Positioning Yourself at the Watercooler

This is another post in the building blogging relationships series.

I remember reading two studies a number of years ago that taught me about the power of positioning in social networks when it comes to relationships.

One study did research into who the most well connected, social and relational people were on a floor of offices. The study found that people whose desks were close to highly trafficked areas in an office were those who were best connected with others on the floor. Generally these people were close to entrances, elevators, water coolers or recreational areas etc.

The second study did similar research into which household on streets were most connected in the neighborhood. Once again the research found that it was people who lived on the corners of two streets that disproportionately were more connected and relational than others in the street.

I’ve been pondering these two studies recently and wondering how they might give us some clues about being connected and relational bloggers. I’m not sure exactly where these ‘water cooler’, ‘street corner’ places are in the wider blogging community – but I suspect they exist and are emerging. I’d be very interested to get your opinions on where such places might actually be?

Perhaps some of these places might include:

– discussion forums – I know I’ve started some very interesting relationships with other bloggers through forums – they are a place where people actually come to learn, discuss, share etc

– other blogs – Some of my best blogging buddies were made as i read other blogs comments sections. Sometimes something someone says makes so much sense that it’s worth checking out there blog and getting in touch. I guess it’s some of the bigger blogs where you can make the most connections with others.

– group blogs – I’ve not really gotten to involved in these – but blogs like linkfilter and blog critics seem to be places where community can be built and bloggers get to know each other.

It strikes me that these sorts of places might help position you to be more visible as a blogger and lead you into some interesting communities where relationships with other bloggers might emerge. Where else would you suggest?

Read the rest of the building blogging relationships series.