Zara Top | Gorjana Necklace | Crossbody

Off-shoulder tops are pretty much the most popular item this summer and with good reason. They are 100% adorable and typically pretty cool on a warm summer day. I found this top from Zara a while ago and it has been a favorite for a casual day out. This past weekend, I met up with my sweet friends Lauren (Fashionably Lo) and Sabrina (Simply Sabrina) for a coffee date at Corso and some The Blog Societies conference planning. During our meetup, I found myself thinking about a few things I wish I had known when I started my blog. This blogging world is crazy and you just can’t make it without a little help. I’m sharing my tips for how to survive the blogging world.

When I started my blog 3 years ago, one of the first things I did was try to find a blogging community. At that time, there weren’t that many Atlanta bloggers and I was desperate to find anyone I could learn from. I started following Jessica (My Style Vita) and reached out to her with a blog question during one of her blogging Q&A series and she was so kind and helpful. I quickly joined The Blog Societies (then Southern Blog Society, the network Jessica co-founded) and I still count this as the single greatest thing I have EVER done for my blog. It was the thing that changed everything for me. I sometimes think that if I had never met Jessica and joined SBS, I wouldn’t have been able to stick with blogging this long. The encouragement and support that I find in this community is unparalleled.

The Blog Societies has a conference every summer and I have been attending for the past three years. Attending this conference is probably the SECOND best thing I’ve ever done for my blog. It has led to so many wonderful relationships with my fellow bloggers and it has helped me land countless brand collaborations. I’ll be headed to the conference in Charleston next month and met up with my favorite blogger friends Lauren and Sabrina to do a little planning for our trip over the weekend. I love visiting with other bloggers.

HOW TO SURVIVE THE BLOGGING WORLD

I frequently get emails from people who are considering starting a blog or who have recently started one and are struggling to grow it. Usually, they just want some general advice on how to get started, but I’ve also had questions about how to “make it”. This can mean a lot of things to different people, but I think that no matter what your goals are as a blogger, there are a few things you can do to “survive.” I have a few tips that I find myself giving again and again and I thought I’d share them here for any of you who want to survive the blogging world.

There are plenty of tips out there on how to actually set up a blog and how to grow it through SEO and social media. This is not about that. This is more about creating a network of blogging people with whom you enjoy spending time. The blogging world is big and growing and it can be very easy to lose your way. Having a network of people you can trust and with whom you can discuss ideas will make all the difference.

1. Just Get Started

My first piece of advice is always to just get started and get some content out there. If you don’t just jump in, it can be really easy to convince yourself not to do anything at all. In the words of John Mulaney, “it is 100% easier not to do things than to do them.” Ha. But in all seriousness, we’ll talk ourselves out of anything if we can.

2. Hang Out with Other Bloggers

The second thing I tell people is to meet up with local bloggers. It may seem obvious, but I’m sometimes surprised by the number of bloggers I meet who have absolutely no friends who are bloggers. When I started my blog, I didn’t know ANYONE with a blog. But I’ve met lots of bloggers and some of them became friends. I can’t imagine doing this without them.

Instagram is a really great way to do this. I’ve met people by simply following them on Instagram and interacting with them. Atlanta now has a really great blogging community and I bet your town has at least a few, too. I usually use geotagging or hashtags to find local gals. Grab a coffee or plan to meet up at an event or something. Attending events solo is another great way to meet people. It was really hard for me to do this at first because I have social anxiety. Now that I’m more comfortable in this world, it’s not as bad, but I still prefer to go with a blogging friend. But just get out there and meet some bloggers if you haven’t already. You can collab together in the future or just share tips and advice. You won’t regret it. When you get together with other people who do what you do, it’s incredible what you can learn.

3. Join a Blogging Network

The third thing I tell people, which really could come before second thing chronologically, is to join a blogging network. My FAVORITE network (obviously) is The Blog Societies. I’ve just had such a great experience as a member and I can’t imagine where my blog would be without it. Jessica and Cathy are two of the most supportive people and I credit them with my perspective of blogging as a supportive environment. There are lots of catty diva bloggers out there. There are people who hoard information and won’t share with people. i think a lot of people feel like “well, I had to work hard to get here so why would I help make it easier for you?” Jessica and Cathy are not these people. They share what works. They give great advice. And they’ve created an incredible and supportive environment for bloggers new and old to find their way and make great connections (with both brands and other bloggers).

4. Attend a Conference

Finally, go to a conference. It’s a great way to meet brands and bloggers from across the nation. You’ll learn a lot and make incredible connections. It won’t just help your business (but it will do that), it will also help your spirit.

Hope you found this helpful! I could honestly write a post about the benefits of each of these little tips, but doing any of them will surely help you feel like you have a little more control in the whirlwind of blogging.

Let me know if you’ll be at The Blog Societies conference this year! If so, I can’t wait to connect!

xo,

[signature]

[line]

SHOP THE POST

Zara Top | One Teaspoon Freebird Jeans | Gorjana Necklace | J.Crew Crossbody | Flatform Sandals