A lot of people think that blogging will be a great job because they work better alone. But, should you blog if you don’t work well with others?
Yes you can work from anywhere. You don’t have to go into an office and technically work with others in the physical sense.
But, I’m going to tell you… You will work with A LOT of “others!”
You may not have to answer to a boss, but think about it this way, you are your boss. And if you’re not succeeding, you still have to answer to someone. Whether that’s just yourself, or maybe your spouse, when your blog isn’t successful.
And for your blog to be successful you need the others.
Share the love! Pin me for others!
Not only do I write two blogs, but I am the admin for a few Facebook groups of fellow bloggers. So I’ve seen a lot of people who wonder why their blogs aren’t taking off and honestly a big reason that I’ve noticed is that they don’t work well with others.
Maybe they are genuinely great people, but they might not stop to think about how they are/are not being supportive of others. Or maybe they don’t notice that rather than coming across as being a pro in their niche, they are actually coming across as a know it all and offending their readers.
What ways do you have to work with others?
So if you’re asking the question, “Should you blog if you don’t work well with others?” you probably want to know how you are working with others and why.
As a blogger you need the support of other bloggers in your niche. And that is especially true as a new blogger! Fellow bloggers share your work to their followers and that helps to grow yours.
How?
One way is through Blogging Facebook Groups.
These groups typically have days where you exchange articles and share work for each other. While some people just use these as another tool, I have built some awesome and supportive relationships through them!
Not only are they used to share each others work, they should be a place where you can ask each other for advice or help on a project, like Link Up Party’s or Round Up Posts. They will also look out for you and let you know if they’ve seen that your content is being stolen!
One BIG word of advice about Facebook Groups… Do NOT use them to criticize ANYONE! Even if you’re just stating that you don’t like a style of writing or a topic of interest, someone in that group may relate and you will offend!
Not everyone in your niche has the same opinion as you and we all come from different walks of life! You truly need to be able to respect the views of others if you want any support.
Another Social aspect is Pinterest Group Boards.
Group boards on Pinterest are crucial to success, as are Tribes in the Pinterest Scheduler, Tailwiwnd. My post written on A Chick And Her Garden explains more about what Tribes are and how they can grow your reach into the MILLIONS!
If you want to be included in group boards and Tailwind Tribes you need to have the support of your fellow bloggers. I have removed people from my boards and Tribes for not following rules, a huge part of working with others!
Building Relationships and Following Each Other on Social Media
As I said before, I’ve built some really great relationships through blogging, with fellow bloggers. We follow each others brand pages and comment on and share each others work, separate from share days in Facebook Groups.
We’ve built a respect and appreciation for each others work and just naturally give each other a boost.
Sometimes we disagree. We’re human. BUT one thing I STRONGLY advise is, DO NOT discredit each other in the comments on social media! We bloggers combat enough with that one reader, or Lord forbid more, that just wants to make you look bad.
If you think they are wrong send them a private message. Maybe they made an error and you caught it and it can be fixed, maybe you’re wrong and they can explain why what they have to say is different than your understanding or opinion, or maybe it’s just that, an opinion that you don’t share with them.
When you discredit a fellow blogger, you impact their followers. They may lose followers because you made them appear to not know what they’re talking about, and in the readers mind, if the blogger is said to be making false statements in one post, why should they believe anything else the blogger has to say.
Relationships with others is SO important in blogging!
BUT… There’s a bright side if you’re an introvert and still worried. Guess what… So am I!
Yes you need relationships and yes you need to work with others, but it’s not nearly as much as you would in a traditional workplace setting.
Like I said before, you are your own boss (and you should treat yourself like an employee with expectations.)
You don’t have to spend 8 hours a day working with others. Set some office hours for yourself that are the times when you participate in groups. With technology people forget that you don’t have to be available instantly (my mom seems to forget what life was like when we only had landlines!)
But most importantly, just remember to be respectful of others and remind yourself that we are more than the screen that you’re looking at. We are just like you, a real person. And if you build a relationship with others it can do so much for you both personally and professionally!
So what do you think? Should you blog if you don’t work well with others?
Think you’re ready to start a blog?? A great place to start is with my post What to do BEFORE You Start a Blog.
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