Today your task in the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog is to Find a Blog Buddy.
While I’m an introvert and get energy by spending time alone – I’ve found that it is when I work together with other bloggers that my blogs grow fastest. Let me start with an illustration that some of you will be familiar with to help show the power of working together.
A Lesson from Geese
Scientists have found that geese flying in formation in a flock can travel around 78% further in a session than geese flying solo. Working together on the task of flying is beneficial in a number of ways:
- Aerodynamic Formation – The V formation of geese is a way that maximizes the energy expended by those flying as part of it. The bird at the front of the flock breaks the air for those flying behind it and creates a slipstream for them to be dragged along in. The birds behind also help those in front as the upward motion of their wing also creates an upward draft that propels them forward. This push/pull relationship ensures all birds in the formation benefit from the work of others.
- Rotating Leadership – Even with the pushing effect of those behind it – the front bird uses the most energy and becomes tired more quickly than others. The geese know this and instinctively rotate leadership of the flock – allowing tired birds who have used a lot of energy for the sake of the flock to take a rest and be dragged a long for a while until it is their next turn up front.
- Dropping out of the Flock – as a result of sickness or injury a bird will occasionally begin to fall away from the flock – unable to keep up. Instead of allowing this bird to fly on alone – at least two others will always drop out of the flock with it. This ensures that the injured bird will be defended and cared for until it is ready to resume flying – and that it will fly on with the benefit of flying in formation.
- Power of the Honk – From the ground the V formation of the geese is a beautiful thing to watch – serenely gliding across the sky these birds look quite majestic and peaceful. However get up into the flock and you find its quite a noisy affair with the geese constantly honking at one another. There are numerous theories about this honking and it could be partly about letting each other know where they are so there is no midair collisions) but many believe that this honking is actually about creating an environment of success and mutual encouragement. It reminds me of when I used to play football at school and before the game would begin all the boys would gather in the locker room to whip themselves into a frenzy – shouting meaningless stuff about what they’d do to the opposition, slapping each other on the back (and bums) and basically creating an environment where we thought we could conquer the world.
As a result of some of these dynamics the geese can fly amazing distances without stopping for rest – so much further than if they tried to do it alone.
Advantages of Working Together as Bloggers
In the same way – I’ve noticed that bloggers who work together often last longer and have more success in their building of their blogs. There are many benefits of finding another blogger (or a small group of bloggers) and committing to work together for the common good of your blogs.
Here are 10 benefits (taken from a great article in which each point is expanded upon in our archives The Power of Collaboration in Today’s Blogging World by Eric and Sean):
- You can feedback on posts, prior to pressing publish.
- You can have someone to vent to, who understands your situation.
- You can work on projects together.
- You can share link love.
- You can share each others posts through social media and with other bloggers.
- You can share communities.
- You can help each other stay motivated as you share encouragement.
- You can guest post for each other.
- You can share each others talents.
- You’ll have twice the blogging power at your disposal.
How to Find a Blogging Buddy
So how does one find a blogging buddy? Let me suggest two things:
- First go and read this article which is written on the topic – How to Find a Blog Buddy (there’s no point me rehashing those 7 points here).
- If you’ve not already joined the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog Forums – head over there and start networking. There are 1300 or so bloggers already signed up and interacting and we’ve set up a special area specifically for Collaboration. Just keep in mind that this forum is for 31DBBB participants so if you join you need to be committed to the daily tasks and working together around them.
My dream with the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog challenge is that participants not only come away from the 31 days having learned and done a few exercises – but that they come away feeling connected to other bloggers who have shared the experience and who are looking to work together.
Together we know and can achieve a lot more than any single one of us.
Parting Advice in Building Blog Buddy Relationships:
As you head off to start connecting with other bloggers let me leave you with a few words of advice:
1. Make it Mutually Beneficial – these types of relationships are best when both parties come out of the interaction better off. It’s a give and take thing so make sure both parties contribute and benefit in tangible ways.
2. Attempt to Find someone Within or in a Similar Niche – this won’t be possible for everyone (there are a few people blogging with quite narrow and specialized focuses) however where you can – try to build relationships with people in similar niches to you. This will open up great opportunities for you on many levels. If you can’t find someone in your niche all is not lost. You can still learn a lot from one another when you have different topics.
3. Find other bloggers on your level – when I’ve suggested this in the past I noticed a lot of bloggers approaching just successful ‘A-list’ type bloggers. While there’s nothing wrong with building a relationship with a larger blogger – there’s also something really powerful about finding another blog at a similar stage to you. This means you’ll be both going through similar challenges at the same time and can worth through them together.
4. Make Each Others Blog Better – my parting advice is to commit to make each others blogs better. While most of us are committed to making our own blogs better (and should be) something quite powerful can happen when we take that attitude with another persons blog too.
“Synergy is the highest activity of life; it creates new untapped alternatives; it values and exploits the mental, emotional, and psychological differences between people.” – Stephen Covey
PS: see the forum discussion of this task and teaching here.
Want More?This task is a sample of one of the tasks in the 31 Days to Build a Better Blog Workbook – a downloadable resource designed to reinvigorate and revitalize blogs. Join over 14,000 other bloggers and Get your Copy Today. |
Wow! I completed this challenge before it was even presented ;) I found some blogging buddies when I first started my blog and I definitely feel that this has helped me become a better blogger.
I live in Jaipur,Rajasthan,India. I held a Jaipur Blogger Meet one Soul turned up(15 signed up I think).So it him or somebody from the thousands who have signed up for this course. And I am ASKING! More the merrier.The Net has shrunk the Globe.
Who wants to be my buddy?
http://www.thomsinger.blogspot.com
Having a personal/weight loss blog, I look for others who offer personal experience/breakthroughs and know how to write content that allows the reader to apply the material to their life. Their topic doesn’t have to be the same as mine (weight loss vs. mommy blogger, foodie, fitness), but they’re able to convey a message to works for people in and out of that realm.
Looking forward to working with some of you to build great relationships and great material!
Great advice. The power of team work has been known to work wonders. Greater than the sum of their parts and all that.
That said, I guess I should get to work finding a Blogging Buddy. Thanks a lot.
I LOVE the analogy of the geese! I tell my kids all the time that one of the most amazing things to see is a flock of birds dip, dive, and fly!
I’ve been looking for something along these lines for a while, but unsure of how to go about it. I’ve definitely felt like I was on my own island and I hate that feeling.
Thank you for adding this as one of the tasks to complete for the challenge! I think this is my extra added push to make it happen.
As a former mediator, I find collaboration irresistible. Great idea, Darren, for building real, long-term sustainability into this. I bet you still get some of your best inspirations from your first ‘blog buddies’.
I’d love to get to know other bloggers in the boomer-midlife/mommy/personal-transformation space.
Sounds vague, I know. It’s hard to drill down because I’m trying to fit an attitude- genuine, thoughtful, snarky, real, optimistic, doer- rather than a group or category per se.
Because I tend to read more women bloggers ,I’d love to add more male voices to my conversation,too.
Like probably many of you, I’ve been in these types of groups before. I found it was most useful and inspiring when everyone was devoted to taking action and being accountable, even in the most informal way. Just works better when everyone’s rowing and in the same direction.
If I haven’t now scared everyone away, I invite anyone interested to contact me at [email protected] Thanks,
Dina
thanks for the hint on twitter to find a blog buddy – I asked one in my niche, and here we go! This should help tremendously. My main difficulty is getting readers – I can come up with content, do great giveaways, but all is pointless unless readership grows.
Some might say this is stupidity but partnering with all the competing blogs is one of the best ideas.
First off, thank you Darren for bringing this great idea into fruition. I am learning so much from 31 DBBB. I finally caught up to some of the lessons this weekend and made a hybrid post that I would love for people to give me feedback with: Top 5 Social Media Lessons from a Taco Truck http://idek.net/7wa
That being said I am looking for a blog buddy to partner with. Anyone interested? Leave me a comment on my blog or Tweet me http://www.twitter.com/grachececilio.
Just yesterday I asked a friend of she would do some guest posts on my Zoology
We complement each other; she does birds, I do mammals, she draws amazingly well, I take photos.
Of course if anyone else is interested in being my blog buddy just let me know!
Help Darren: I can’t get into the forums. I’ve registered twice. Both times it says it’s going to send me an email with the password and it never does. Then, I try password retrieval… still no email. I’ve checked the spam folder. Nothing. I’d love to participate.
[From Lara: Alisa, I’ve emailed you on this, let’s try to figure it out! :) ]
If anyone here wants to bud up with a relationships blogger (mostly regarding marriage), please hook up with me via twitter @alisabow or thru my site http://www.projecthappilyeverafter.com… or thru FB or channel me. Whatever your favorite form of communication is. Would love to team up.
Hi there,
I usually get the mails from this challenge late at night (I live in Europe!) So I’m on my way to bed! :-)
BUT I love the idea of having a buddy (buddies..?)
My blog at:
http://www.clausdjensen.com
is about successtrategies in life and business. Personal and financial growth. And about my life.:-)
Visit my blog (it’s quiet new) and see if you think we could be buddies..
Greetings,
Claus
I did this with a group of friends from round the world – we formed a blog called Watermarks http://watermarks-art.blogspot.com/ – specifically about painting water in any form
Readers from each of our blogs have joined and readership is snowballing.
A fantastic idea. I’m a huge believer in achieving through collaboration. We humans love to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. What better way than to collaborate with each other or better still as a group. Loved the geese analogy too.
Another smashing suggestion for our group … I will be happy to collaborate with others. I did add a box in the collaborations forum and will go over there to see if anyone responded to the challenge.
I see myself as an eclectic bloggist even though I am a motivational speaker/writer and tend to frame my work in that vein. My recent piece on twitter was well received and I am open to new ideas and inspirational writing.
Thanks again for this excellent assignment; I love the geese analogy Darren.
Have a terrific week ahead!
Thank you once again for those uncomplicated yet beneficial points. The metaphors that you used are very effective in communicating to us the lesson you were pointing out.
I am grateful to you for patiently sharing with these past 15 days, your expertise in “blogging”.
Looking forward to the next lesson,
Jason
http://www.internetmarketing.com-seemore.info/
I started out with a blog buddy. It works well! We are not in the same niche but I find always get tons of support. We go to WordPress meetings together. Promote each others blogs. We edit each others work. In fact we got together the other night and each one of us figured out the next step forward. We help each other find solutions and cheer each other on.
Loved the geese analogy!
Thank you for the great advice, Darren.
I am very fortunate in that I have had a blogging buddy since the day 31DBBB started. She and I have been reporting on the assignments and linking to each other’s blog.
It has already made a significant difference in keeping me focused and accountable – speaking of which, I owe her an email regarding the last two tasks – oops!
If anyone is looking for a buddy in the Expat niche, feel free to contact me – the more the merrier!
Emmanuelle
Another great post. I also love the geese analogy. I’m afraid that because I am working full time (with more and more responsibility), I don’t have time to be as participatory as I’d like to be and tend to become isolated. Often retreating alone to write.
So, for now, I tune in when I can… market here and there and always take heed to your sound advice.
btw, thanks for following me on Twitter… I am also notoriously scant on Twitter, contributing here and there. Hopefully, this will improve in the near future. I follow you as well.
Looking for a blog buddy in the creativity/fiber/art/Photoshop areas. I always welcome new ideas!
marbledmusings.blogspot.com
twitter@ArtsyLinda
Hi Darren,
WOW!! do I need this bad..lol I been trying to put google ads on my blog last couple days, but I tried to get verified and so lost. I switched to wordpress and it must be me. I did have blogger, but it was easier on some things. Guess I can’t make up my mind. @Thom singer…If you don’t have a buddy yet, I need one…lol i know our blogs are way different.I just started mine and like yours.
Today’s part is the most significant and meaningful lesson among last 15 days learning from Darren. As a new blogger specially who wants to make their blog as a income source they should read it several times with full attention.
Sorry forgot to add this…Darren, the password you gave me does not work for the forum section. I tried to recover a new one, but didn’t get an new email for it.
Thanks
Tony
Sorry forgot to add this…Darren, the password you gave me does not work for the forum section. I tried to recover a new one, but didn’t get an new email for it. I tried it atleast 6 times.
Thanks
Tony
I started blogging when I lost my job in real estate management last summer. I used to have journalism aspirations, and I’m hoping to replace my full time job with a career in blogging. I write about Cleveland, Brazil, mystery shopping, money saving, cooking, job hunting and more. My husband and I are moving to Brazil this year so I have two blogs, Tricia’s Dish and Move to Brazil. I’m interested in having a blog buddy. One of my biggest problem these days has been staying on task! The 31DBBB has been very helpful.
Tune in for weekly giveaways starting in May on Tricia’s Dish
Hey Darren,
I really loved this post and after reading it I am eager to a blogging buddy (or buddies). Thanks for a great post.
Mohammad Afaq
http://afaqtrafficblog.blogsopt.com
I can honestly say that I had never thought to team up with someone and blog together. In my 9-5 job I deal with people all day everyday (staff, customers, suppliers) and even though I love it I do somewhat enjoy the solitude and ‘peace’ of being able to work on my blog.
Having someone to work with would definitely make you more accountable and help to keep you on track. I’m off to the forums to see if I can find someone like-minded who is at a similar stage to me.
Thanks for the tips
Steve
Thank you for the great article and advice! It’s really inspiring!
Hi, I’m blogging on copywriitng, branding and life for the past 8 months, but active for about a couple of months, though. I like to seek a very good friend who is in my niche and grow with mutual support, enthusiasm and energy. I’m really down sometimes for not having a constant buddy to get me going as I’m not so tech-savvy.
Have a look at my blog:http://creativesolomon.blogspot.com/
I invite you all to visit my blog and give me your invaluable encouragement.
If anyone specifically wants me to visit their site, I’m just waiting for you!
I can’t thank Darren enough for this support!
Solomon
My wife is a blogger – and taking this challenge – and so we give each other daily (or more than daily) feedback. Additionally, we are constantly offering post / interview / audio / video ideas to one another.
But most of all, having been together for 20 years, we can be critical of each other’s work and the other knows it’s coming from a place that is wholly supportive…and always thrilled for the other’s success.
We both have other blogging buddies as well and through your advice today, it makes perfect sense to take those relationships to a higher level – a blogging critical think tank, as it were. :-)
Not making associates or buddy only from this 31DBBB forum we can make it our shopping center too. To help new bloggers we can purchase any product through our blogers affiliated link from his blog.
http://cellphonecentre.blogspot.com
Thanks for the post Darren. It’s good to see that we are halfway through the series.
In the last few days I have updated the layout of my blog and am much happier with the style and theme overall. I feel this will dramatically improve my readership as time goes on.
I would love to see an “I completed the 31d2bbb” badge for our blogs to help us show that we are committing to our success.
Thanks again Darren.
Hello,
this is one of the best challenge,
hi i am from Singapore http://www.abangabu.com
and i alooking for buddy blogger here from this challenge….
anyone want to be my buddy blogger.
I always work with this concept in mind, so let’s push again a bit further here!
I’m a fast growing new SEO blog, anyone who wants to connect with me for mutual benefits, and sharing of knowledge and experience is more than welcomed!
Hi this is a good article and very usefull.Keep doing the good job.
Thanks again.
This series has been very informative and a lot of fun to read. However, this post is golden. We all need to help others and receive help to succeed. Cheers!
@Samuel I write a sex advice and intimacy blog – it seems we might be in a similar niche.
A blogging buddy is a great idea – one I wish I had a year ago!
Thats Right Darren,
Now its time to find the Blog Buddy…
Is here anyone want to be a blog buddy in designing niche??
I am about to hop over to the collaboration section of the Forum, but wanted to put out a shout out here too. I am trying to really get my blog focused, although there are a few other topics that creep in occasionally.
The main topic is Cooking With Kids
I also talk a lot about how to do that in a sustainable way, how to deal with family mealtimes, and how to cook with kids as a means of doing community service.
Thanks!
Michelle
Fabulous story about the geese. I love it when people realize they actually can benefit from working together rather than by taking advantage of someone else.
oooooo, i like this one. ok, people- i’m coming to check your blogs.
Thanks so much for the forums. I’ve made some great connections so far that may turn into blogging buddies.
I do have a blog buddy, and it really helps. I will interact more in the forums as well!
This is just what we all need. If we stick together and support one another and each others blogs, it will help us grow within the wonderful world of blogging. I really liked the reference to the V formation. Nice Work!
Thanks for this Darren:
I am looking for ‘Blog Buddies’ and other blogs to link to:
Modern Living – Cybercafé, Internet Café, Net Café eMagazine Life “Sometimes On The Edge”© … Modern Living – Cybercafé, Internet Café, Net Café eMagazine Life “Sometimes On The Edge”© … [http://sometimesontheedge.blogspot.com/]
Diet, exercise, computer, medicine, mental health, physical health, best of the internet, photography. People who are passionate about their pursuits are also positive in the rest of their lives. They know that meaningful activities, a positive attitude and a joyful perspective on life makes us healthier, happier, more productive and more fun to be with. Laughter is necessary to a healthy lifestyle.
Email [email protected]
Please also note that I am looking for ‘Blog Buddies’ and other blogs to link to in Web [Web 2.0+© (web2u©)] … [http://web2plus.blogspot.com/]
Blogs, Computers, http//www., Internet, Web Design and Development, Web Pages, The World Wide Web, Web 2.0+. Education and Free Courses about Web 2.0+ Applications. With such heavy topics we try to inject a bit of humor.
Email: [email protected]
I like to follow the concept of co-operation rather than competition in my own life, but I’m quite a lone wolf because working in a team has never worked out for me.
I really need to think about this and see if it could work for me. Although I understand it, I’m not sure I feel it at the moment. A lot of soul searching for me with this day’s challenge!
Thanks for providing me with brain fodder for the day :)
I sure am anxious to start building relationships with other friendly bloggers. Currently, I’m a sponge and trying to put it all together for a proper launch in May. Talk soon folks!
SoberDanimal
We love the quote from Eric and Sean in the reading for this task.
TIP
As Sean and Eric note, it’s important gauge the background of potential blogging buddies. A way to find potential blogging buddies is to a search in google like the following.
Reason being that people seem to write what their most passionate about on their "about us" page.
Luckily, I have some blog buddies from my previous blog efforts that I’ve stayed in touch with over the years. But I’d love more!
Just to put it out there – I’m a 30-something who loves to sing. I probably act younger than my age quite a bit. I hate corporate BS. I’m not the most successful person in the world, but I’m trying my best.
Feel free to check out my blog and connect with me if you’d like!
10 Days behind the task, but has already been in contact with my blog buddy from Problogger,Keith Jenkins http://www.velvetescape.com. He also suggested to team up with another travel passionate blogger, and will check the site now. By leaving comments on each other post is also part of supporting our blog buddy!
Agree with @Josh Moore : When I completed my 31DBBB Challenge, I want that banner/badge too on my blog!It’s also encouraging people to join.