Jeff Chandler writes about launching a new business blog:
As I get ready for the launch of my own project, I’ve discovered that there are many people who have been willing to lend me a hand. Many of these individuals operate websites within the same niche that I plan on launching my site in and it struck me as odd to see competitors offer their support. However, it would seem that after spending a year and a half within the community, I’ve developed relationships with key individuals.
Jeff’s experience shows us the effectiveness of turning your competing bloggers into partners and even friends.
What did Jeff do to develop relationships with his competitors? He wrote posts for them. He networked on Skype and Twitter. He emailed bloggers directly. He left many blog comments.
Because of these activities, he predicts that his launch will go well. He continues:
Thanks to these relationships, I’m able to plan out a successful launch of my blog through guest blog posts, articles on high trafficked blogs, and individuals offering to lend me a hand with anything I need help with. I’m in a pretty good position thanks to the year and a half I spent building relationships with notable figures.
Following Jeff’s Example
Even if you’ve already started blogging, you can still benefit from following Jeff’s example. The blogging community is usually open and helpful. As long as you’re willing to take the initiative on building the relationship and then follow through with something of value (like blog comments, guest posts, or links), most bloggers will help you even if you’re both targeting the same audience.
Therefore, don’t be afraid of competitors. Instead, reach out to them and see if they would be willing to partner up with you.
Related Posts:
- Blogging Allows You to Create Profitable Online Partnerships
- 5 Partnership Opportunities for Business Bloggers
Over to You
How do you see your competitors?
Have you ever partnered with another blogger in your industry?