When I started blogging, first off it was with zero plan of pursuing it as a career, I was just having fun sharing my thoughts on the interwebs. However, about a year in, once I graduated from school (and had way more free time on my hands) I really started taking my blog more seriously.
At that point I truly believed that success was measured in numbers. In pageviews, in the number of comments, in shares, likes, sessions, click throughs, you know, the metrics. I scoured the web for tips on growth hacking, figuring once I hit x amount of pageviews I would feel like I had “gotten there.” I think you can see where this story is going…
Focusing on the numbers didn’t make me feel great at all. I didn’t feel like my blog had developed its soul yet and as a result I wasn’t seeing any meaningful growth.
That’s when I stumbled across a post on minimalist baker about tribes. I won’t say it was a lightbulb moment of “oh duh I’ve been doing it all wrong.” But it definitely planted a seed in my mind that I was measuring my success in a way that didn’t map to my purpose or my happiness. It was also at that time a blogging acquaintance politely pointed out that I sucked at reciprocating in the comment/engagement department.
Those two events together made me realize how selfish of a blogger I was being. My posts served me, my actions served me and as a result I had no loyal audience. I was following an arbitrary formula for blogging that really served no one.
It wasn’t until the beginning of 2015, a full year and half into my blogging journey, did I actually understand the most valuable currency of blogging (and communication really).
That’s connection.
Connecting with other people. That’s it. That’s everything. That’s your foundation from which everything should grow.
Here’s why connection is the most important part of blogging
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From this singular idea stems all of my current beliefs and subsequent measures of success for blogging: a reader first mentality, generosity without expectation, always add value, the importance of being vulnerable in your writing and content, all of it comes from a belief in the power of connection.
Connection transends online/offline boundaries too. Once I learned to fully be myself on my blog, I could also make valuable connections offline because I was confident in what I was creating.
These beliefs and desire to connect helped me start the Bloggers Gonna Blog community. Which connected me to Christina. From there, we’ve thrown our hearts into connecting, learning and growing in everything we do.
We were beyond honored when Nicole Culver, the entrepreneur and podcaster behind Blissful Eats Granola and the Blissful Bites podcast asked us to speak at her virtual Food Entrepreneur Summit. Suprise, surprise – the theme of this summit is all about connection.
Christina and I are speaking about how to figure out what it takes to stand out in an industry full of makers and shakers, and how you, too, can grow an audience by maintaining a balance of vulnerability and upholding a uniform brand image.
The summit is a week long series of 20 masterclasses complete with videos, pdf guides and access to a Facebook group with all 22 speakers. In addition to Christina and I you have the opportunity to learn from Lee and Davida from Fit Foodie Finds and the Healthy Maven, Ali from Inspiralized, Jessica from How Sweet Eats, Alexis from Hummusapian, Erika creator of Wild Friends Nut Butters and so many more amazing speakers.
You can learn all about the summit here
Today is the last day for early bird pricing so if you’re a blogger or food entrepreneur and are looking for a chance to connect with so many amazing inspiring female entrepreneurs this is a crazy awesome opportunity.
The Food Entrepreneur Summit
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