I have been blogging for almost four years now, and while I am no expert at all to food blogging, I have seen a lot of things as the food blogging niche has completely exploded into something beyond belief. When I first started blogging, there was a small, intimate handful of us. Now, there are more food blogs than any one person can keep track of… it has gotten quite insane!
What I have noticed over the years, however, is there seems to be two different groups of bloggers. Neither “type” of blogger is good or bad… there are just two totally different philosophies on how they will build their blog.
One type of blogger is the blogger who is all about growth and development of their blog. It is all business and getting to the top of the mountain with ultimate success and financial reward as their main motivation. They are not in it to build friendships. They are not in it to assist others. They are in it for themselves and to become a brand name in food blogging. They believe the information they have is proprietary and they don’t really want to share their blogging tips, photography tips, etc. because it might help to make someone more successful than them. Twitter and other social media outlets are used as a marketing tool versus a chance to engage with others. This isn’t saying that they aren’t nice and kind… there are many bloggers who fall into this category who are some of the nicest people in the world. Their motivation when it comes to blogging is just purely business.
The other type of blogger is the one who thrives on building a community of people to help and support each other with their blogging efforts. They rally around each other, celebrate successes, promote each others blog posts, and do not see the other bloggers as competition. They look at working mostly with PR companies and brands that want long term, mutual relationship. Their first thought isn’t “what’s in it for me” but instead “what’s in it for us”? Sure, it may take them longer to make it to the top of the mountain, but more than likely they won’t be standing there alone…they’ll have a support network of people they’ve built relationships with standing around them cheering them on.
One of my personal goals with blogging is to help as many people as possible find their way along their own, authentic blogging path. This is one of the reasons why I started Adopt a Blogger a little over three years ago. I wanted people to have a person they could trust and count on to provide that sense of community in this big blogging world. Adopt a Blogger will be launching again this month with a new website and a new format! I hope, if you are new or experienced, you’ll join me in building up our blogging community.
I am also excited to announce that I will be speaking about the value of building a blogging community at the BlogHer Food 2010 Conference in San Francisco. I’ll be on a panel with some bloggers that I truly admire: Elise from Simply Recipes, Ree from The Pioneer Woman and Alaina Browne of Serious Eats (I know… pinch me now. I am so lucky to be paired with such a great group of talented ladies!)
So with that, I leave you with this thought (and a link to a killer banana bread recipe from Simply Recipes). What kind of blogger are you? Do the actions you do everyday in regards to your blog speak volumes to the world about how you want to be perceived as a blogger?
I am new to blogging for community. I have had a blog for years to communicate with distant friends and family but now I have a new blog and am interested in an outside audience. Since I did not really understand the way community building works I have made a few fumbles in both directions and do not feel I am strongly on either side of the fence. I have realized that because my target audience is so focused that I do need to stay away from trying to get followers just for the sake of building an audience. This is a great post and I am curious of the outcome.
My greatest goal as a blogger is to express my love of food… if that comes across in my postings, I’m a happy man. I’m not sure that I fall into any particular niche… but like everyone out there writing blogs, I have stories and experiences to share and I try to do it in a creative and articulate manner.
Love this post! I like to think I am a blogger who shares and is active in the food blogging community. I am not an expert, but I like to share what I do know. Blogging is not a competition, there is room for all of us out there:) I have made the greatest friends through food blogging. There are so many amazing food bloggers that I admire and look up to. I keep doing my best and learn a lot on the way. I love my blog because of the food blog community, my readers, supporters, etc. I had no idea my blog would mean so much to me when I started. I am loving the journey I am on and I love sharing it with others.
I can’t wait to hear you speak at Blogher Food. You are an inspiration! I appreciate your willingness to always share and support the food blogging community! You are a gem!
Okay, In a nut shell I am a “Fly by the Seat of my Pants” blogger. I started my blog to keep in touch with friends/coworkers out of state when I lost my job. It was my way to let them all know that I was okay. What I discovered over the past few months is that I have developed new friends along the way. I have always been big on family. Extended family, immediate family & work family. Family is what makes life all the more enjoyable for me. I now have a blog family and I wouldn’t change it for anything. So for me I guess I fall somewhere in the vicinity of your second group.
When I first started blogging, over 3 years ago, I was fortunate enough to have my (then) blog adopted through your Adopt-a-Blogger event. I learned from a very wise mentor the importance of blogging from the best of both worlds: to think ahead & see blogging as a business (in addition to being a hobby), as well as practice the art of giving back to both my readers and blogging community.
As I’ve grown as a blogger, rearranged and grown again (now into a multi-niche blogging platform), those earliest lessons still ring true. I think both aspects of blogging are important: blog with intent & purpose, but give back to your readers & community every single time you can.
wow, congratulations 🙂
I think I am the type of blogger who participates in community, at least I try to be. Unfortunately half the time I am so busy with life, etc, that I don’t have the time to participate that I would like. I have benefited from so many amazing bloggers over the past year, with photography tips, blogging tips, and most of all, cooking tips via twitter! Often I don’t feel like I know enough to be able to help others. My blog is still very small, I haven’t quite grasped how to build it, etc. but I love it. I love engaging in food talk on twitter, commenting on other blogs, building relationships, etc. so I strive to be the second type of blogger 🙂
I fall more into the second category with the exception that I am a blogger who is focused on helping my readers. My first question is always “What’s in it for my readers”. I wouldn’t have a blog if it wasn’t for them and won’t have a blog tomorrow without thier support so I try my best to put them first.
Great post Kristin. It’s something every blogger should think about!
I originally started my blog as a natural extension of my business. But it has grown organically and has led to some of the most unexpected results. When I started, I never imagined it would have introduced me to amazing friends, gotten me invited to the White House or landed me a cookbook deal. Pinch me now – I still can’t believe some of that has happened. BUT, every day, I am grateful to people like you who are so generous with their time, support and friendship. I can’t wait to see your new website and help others as much as I can (even though I still have a lot to learn, myself!)
Thank you for your example. I am new to the community and really just started to share my recipes and record for my kids. I think food is a link to memories and family history. I love your blog and the inspiration it gives to me!
Well said. If I’m honest I vacillate between the two, having begun my blog as a creative outlet, but am now seeing opportunities pop up that could mean real growth in more of a business direction. It’s all new and confusing, and some days I get it right, other days, not so much. Regardless, community and friendships are super important to me and something I hope I never forget. Besides, how much fun would it be doing all this on your own?
I loved reading this post. It is so much more fun to be part of a vibrant food community.
I have been blogging for about a year and a half and I seem to be at a crossroads. I really enjoy it and plan to continue, but I am a little stuck on how to make my blog better. I have read blogs that fit both sides of the fence that you write about here, but what about the “little fish” like me that needs help with growth. I would appreciate any tips or hints you may have in that area and would love to know more about adopt-a-blogger. I will definitely check out the new website.
Maybe we set a course and then assess as we go along. My blog is a hobby. I enjoy the creativity of cooking, sharing what I cook and learning from what others are doing. I had no real understanding of the world of blogging when I started and I’m pretty sure I have little more now…because I’m always amazed at what I uncover each and every day that I interact with the blogging world. So, what if my blog became wildly popular (not something I expect or am driving towards)? I would have trepidations…I like the minimal rules environment in which I blog. Still, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I’d be unbelievably excited, too. Those of us who followed the IFBC content this weekend had a chance to see the business side of blogging. It was all amazing but it made me want to retreat a bit and go along my merry way–cooking, struggling with photos, thinking about what to write, fixing typos, wondering if the recipe is really OK or if anyone will comment or even try it. You know, just blogging and tweeting my way through one of the most fun things I’ve done in quite awhile. So, that’s it. I do it for the sharing, and helping, and for all that I get in return—community, conversation, feedback, and friendship.
Kristen – awesome post … food for thought. I love coming across posts that make me think. I think right now I am just a food blogger that wishes I could give more time and attention to it 🙂 Maybe there is room for a third category!
How completely wonderful you will be sharing your wealth of knowledge at BlogHer Food. I am really excited for you. It is a well deserved recognition of your sweet nature and talents. You will rock it!
Kristin
I really really really enjoyed this post. It got me thinking about what kind of blogger I am and it makes me want to be a better one! Thanks 🙂
Wonderful post! I created my blog to be an expression of several of my hobbies – baking, writing, photography, helping others learn how to bake/cook (and learning myself!)…and I do it because I enjoy it. The food blogging community really has grown to become an incredible resource, and I love contributing to it and have made the most wonderful friends through my blog! I agree with what Alice said at the Big Summer Potluck about being authentic and working together. 🙂
Wish I could hear you speak at BlogHer Food! Maybe if it ever comes to the East coast. 😉 Hope you have a great time!
I absolutely LOVE the blogging community. It has what has made me love blogging so much and rediscover my passion for writing!
Definitely a community blogger. Though I’m very new to the whole blogging thing – as evidenced by the pictures in my blog, for sure. I love sharing recipes and why I cook the things I do, and hope that even one person can find something new that they didn’t know they’d enjoy – and that’s what I hope to get out of other’s blogs as well.
I truly enjoyed reading this post. My goal is to be in that second category. I know that I want to share my journey through cooking and have lots and lots to learn.
So to play the devil’s advocate- are we not preaching to the choir here, as I doubt there’s anyone who would actually take the time to properly write a thoughtful reply in a comments section who fits the type-A blogger personality?
I really think that if you take your blogging seriously (i.e. treat it like a business), you’ve got to be ‘the blend’ and bridge the two personas. Otherwise, you’ve just got a hobby with no real motivation to do better.
/steps down from soapbox/
Tastestopping had a great read re: being the blend –
http://tastestopping.com/every-blog-is-a-business-here-are-the-top-10-reasons-to-start-minding-yours/
Love this post Kristen! I could feel when we spoke at the BSP that you really do want to help others. I started my site because I have always loved to cook and had wanted to do something like this years ago, but I had babies..Now I have a bit more time in my life…so I did it for me, I did if for my kids to have a piece of me with stories and recipes later in life.
Funny I really haven’t a clue about the whole food blogger world and have done what I can to help others just beginning – I did it a bit backwards…I wrote a kids cookbook, got on QVC with it and multiple news shopws papers etc…THEN had to quick get up a website…so now I have my personal food blog that I began under a year ago just for me and a newly launched kids food website and what I really need is a blogging coach! I am so going to look into your adopt a blogger program, because believe me I could use the help. I want it to be fun, I want it to be about helping folks who either don’t cook much themselves, or think they can’t or don’t cook with their kids or eat family melas to be inspired…at the end of the day to me that is what it is all about!
That is what fuels my passion.
I got so into my answer that I totally forgot to say…CONGRATS on joing that wonderful panel – they asked the right gal!! Enjoy!
Although it would be nice to land book deals and paid writing assignments and such from blogging, I do it because I honestly like it. I am a freelance food writer who gets jobs the good ole fashioned way by “pitching a fit”. But I know that in order to continue to build an audience and platform I need an online presence. My biggest obstacle is not really content but more photography and making my blog more eye-catching so that is something I hope to work on in the coming year.
I started my blog initially in 2006 and then abandoned it because i was busy working on other things, now I’m back at it and the blogging community seems to be a little nicer this time around. I don’t know what it was but back when I first started I just wasn’t feeling the love.
Well I know I am a bit of both. I married and started a family pretty young which meant that I never had a chance to develop my own career. Blogging definitely started as something fun and creative but it’s also given me a second chance at a career – and it’s one that I can have while staying home with my kids. It was worth the wait to be in a career that I can honestly say I love vs just being out there in the workforce for a paycheck like every other nearing 30 college graduate. I know I couldn’t do it without the support of the food blogging community and my husband. I’m lucky enough that I don’t have to work and can stay home with the kids and work with something I truly enjoy even if I’m not making a killer at it.
I have already posted on facebook, but thank you so much for posting this article. I know I am a social blogger, because I want to stay away from the competitve side of things and enjoy the social interaction with like minded people. I am only pretty new to blogging but I love how encouraging and friendly everyone is. My motivation isn’t to conquer the world, it is to share what I find.
Wow, congratulations–how exciting for you!
I started my blog to have something to do, basically. My husband had bought me a gorgeous Nikon D40, and I needed something to use it for, other than snapping photos of the kids and the dogs. I was super nervous at first, but realized how much fun it was pretty quickly! I continue to do it because it’s fun, I love food and I love writing about it. I still have so much to learn–it’s an ongoing process.
I’ve recently been trying to figure out how to best monetize my blog, because let’s face it–making money from it is a very nice plus. But that’s not my top priority at all.
No matter what, my goal is to remain my silly self in my writing. I don’t want to fall victim to anyone’s idea of what I should sound like when I write. I want to be me, like it or leave it. I feel like I’m talking with friends when I write, and that’s how I want it to stay.
i just started my food blog this year, and i do it purely for the love of cooking and writing (and i have fallen in love with photography, too!). i live in seattle, and i have noticed (on twitter esp) that the seattle bloggers tend to be very insular and clique-ish, while the rest of the blogging world has been much more open and inviting. i know people say seattlites are that way in general, but i have been surprised to see it play out online. i think your adopt-a-blogger idea is a great one, and i appreciate the welcome i have received from many of you out there.
Kristen, you are admirable and I could not agree with you more! And I happen to love banana bread too. 🙂
I started my food blog after losing my cushy corporate job after Hurricane Katrina hit our area. At first it was just recording my recipes and sharing them, and then I realized that I could produce at least a part time income doing it, so now I consider it my “day job.” I’m a year into it now, and I hope that I fall somewhere in between the two you describe – building a brand and engaging, though I would love to spend more time {money} making my blog more professional. Everything that I’ve done on my bog has been me doing it, and I have much to learn yet.
I visit & comment on the blogs of the folks who visit me at least a couple times a week, plus I visit other bloggers who do not visit me. I repost content from the blog on my Facebook page – but I do not do that with an automatic feed, but manually, so that I can engage with people as they view the recipe and leave comments. I often post exclusive content there too and engage by posting and responding to recipe requests and generally conversing with those followers. I don’t have FB and Twitter set to repost content on each other – frankly I don’t care for that.
While I am not a Twitter junkie – meaning I do take time away from it – I try to be helpful, share tips and engage with those who follow pretty regularly – often-times with non-related food talk – though I try my best to stay away from complaining, criticism, religion and politics 🙂 and do promote my blog by tweeting my own content & recipe updates too of course. I retweet a lot of content by others, including major companies and other food bloggers, but it is rarely reciprocated. The ones who do retweet my content are usually those who don’t have blogs.
I think that’s part of that fear of competition thing you address and I’ll give you an example. I was honored to be a judge for a recipe contest with a national company recently and hosted a giveaway to go along with it to help increase awareness of the contest itself – one comment to enter, but a blogger could also have earned bonus entries for posting about the recipe contest to their readers. I only asked that they post about the contest itself with a link to the company’s website – no mention or linkback to my own blog at all. While quite a few active food bloggers took the initial entry, they did not share the contest with their readers for the bonus entries. I guess it has to do with that competitive fear, but to me, when you help others it comes back to you.
That said, I know I need to promote others through my blog better – something like what you are doing with adopt a blogger. For me it’s mostly just a matter of time crunch. I’m doing this full time now and just the recipe development and creation, photography, editing, and posting – and then all of the above interaction – it’s very time consuming as it is! Still… I definitely need to incorporate some regular features to help promote some of those awesome blogs out there!
Whew! Sorry so long – hope that insight helps somebody. I am fortunate enough to be attending BlogHer Food this year, yay! It’s my first blogging conference and I hope to meet you there.
That is one panel I’d like to attend… Unfortunately, I won’t be at BlogHer Food. After IFBC this past weekend, I was really missing the community that I experienced at the Big Summer Potluck. I ended up writing a post about my feelings about IFBC (posted today), and I think it also really sums up how I feel about blogging lately. I love the community and I love to inspire and communicate with others. For me, if someone gets something out of my posts, then I feel that it was a success!
Interesting since we talked about this on the phone today. Great post. And I can’t wait to see you in SF and learn more from you. I think a balance between the two you described is good. But it’s interesting to see the ones who really nurture relationships and have awesome people skills (you), and the ones who don’t.
You’ve help grow a lot of women, my friend. Seriously … I”m so proud of you and happy to call you friend.
Cheers!
I started my food blog because my kids begged me to put my recipes and cooking tips online for them to use. (one of them lived in Denmark for a period of time) I now enjoy the food blogging community and instead of reading cookbooks like I used to, I now read food blogs! I am a grandma who is not very techy, but has a lot of love and experience to share!
I try to be the type of blogger who’s in it for the community. I’m always commenting, always sharing the love, because I know how much comments mean to me and also because everyone I’ve encountered through blogging has been so kind and generous. These are people who I would be best friends with in real life. Some of whom I have actually become best friends with in real life. And in reality the amount of fame and money you can make in the blogger world (unless you really truly give up everything else and work your butt off) just isn’t worth not having these relationships that lift my spirits on a day to day basis.
I hope I am a helpful blogger! I started blogging just for something to do to take my mind of off the stress of my job. I had no idea the wonderful people that I would “meet”. I don’t have the luxury of doing this full time or turning it into a money making career, for me it’s a way to express myself and find other people who like the same things I do.
so excited to hear you speak and meet you in person! counting the days ’til blogher food!
Let me just say YAY for community building! The part of food blogging that I have found most rewarding is the interaction with others, the helpful pushes and pulls that I’ve gotten along the way. I found that it was a little tough to break into, but once you’re in the door, the food blogging community has been incredibly warm and generous. For the most part. There are exceptions, of course – those who fit into the first category you mention. But, overwhelmingly, I’ve had nothing but positive experiences. So, let me say it again: Yay for community building!
Hi Kristin,
I am definetly the love to build commuity, share and support one another. I get so bummed when I find bloggers in the other group and it makes me think of high school bolgna. BUT, I will continue to try to improve and look to connect with others. TU for your guest post on my site, babble AND the time on the phone this month. Hope to see you soon 🙂
Excellent post Kristen. I like to think I fit into the community blogger side of blogs. My blog has always been my hobby and I don’t have any plans to change that. Blogging has definitely changed from back when I started in 2005. With less of us about, support was a major part of blogging. I still try to support blogs in my own region by commenting. Which was easy when I lived in NZ as there were only a couple of us. Here in Australia there are so many I, find I’m visiting blogs elsewhere in the world less. Which is a reason I find Twitter useful. If someone tweets a blog post I tend to go to it immediately.
Good luck at the Blogher event. I’d love to be there to attend. You’ll be great.
You are just a doll. 🙂
That’s all.
Great post! I guess I am more like the second example. I love meeting knew friends through blogging. I started as an avenue for my recipes and other things in my life. It’s been so rewarding!
Can’t wait for Adopt A Blogger!
As a three-time adoptive blogger, I guess I’m the community-building type! I’m excited that Adopt-a-Blogger will now have its own home. Thanks, Kristen, for all you do to make the food blog world a better place.
Wow – interesting points! I come from a marketing/design background so I’ll always have that with me. When I set up my blog I concentrated on that – the look, the branding, being consistent. Then I found myself focused on how many followers I had, etc. Then I realize how stupid all that was when the entire point of my blog was for me to explore and enjoy all the wonderful in my life (and to take more pictures or, rather, to have something to do with all the pictures I take).
In the past 2 years I have had to really look deep within myself and re-define my life and the words I used to describe it – first in moving from a career gal to a full time mom and second in finding my way with my blog. Just like I redefined myself from “stay at home” (passive) to “homemaker” (active) I needed to redefine myself from “producing” to “engaging” with my blogging. I’m ever working on things but I discovered a blog I really liked – I liked the way the blogger wrote from her heart and I realized that though I am generous (to a fault) in my personal life, I was holding back on the one thing meant to express my spirit. So it isn’t that I stopped caring but that I actually decided to care – and I decided to start writing with my real voice and from my heart. It all changed for me there and I hope that as time goes by it will help other people as well. I certainly would hope that my life on earth impacts someone in a positive way – and not just a someone I helped make!
Plus, I happen to think people are pretty awesome in general, and I would rather like to be part of that demographic!
Three cheers for you, Kirsten!! That is an impressive panel to be a part of. I love all that you do for the blogging community and am honored to call you a friend!
Kristin, I love how long the comments are for this post. It is fun to see how this community comes together and shares what is on their minds. We support each other and care. Those are the folks I want to surround myself with & the type of blogger I want to be. I have made friends around the world that I never thought imaginable.
I would love to take part in Adopt a blogger—-I enjoy helping the new folks and love talking shop with the seasoned bloggers too. No matter what, we all always have stuff to learn.
When I started my blog it was simply to help people make better food choices and to demystify the whole idea of cooking for the family. At first there were no comments & hardly any views. I wanted a two way conversation. Today I have that and I am forever grateful. xxoo
You are every bit as talented as those ladies, so it’s quite an enticing line-up for the food conference! You each have interesting blogs and write in unique, engaging ways. Would love to be there and hear your session! Maybe in my next life (aka – after pregnancy! ha).
Hi Kristen,
What a great discussion you have going here! And congrats on the BlogHerFood panel. One more reason I wish that I had a ticket in my hot little hands!
In a recent post on TasteStopping, I declared my mantra to be “Food Blogger Resource,” so I guess I have my flag firmly planted in the community building camp. In fact, I don’t consider myself a food blogger at all! I don’t have the talent or the commitment. I simply love being part of the community and finding ways to make it more inclusive and bring more positive experiences to those who work so hard to share their passion for food. (Don’t get me wrong, I love food. I just can’t do justice to an actual food blog.) Thanks for your support of my efforts along the way and for inspiring us all to realize what is important as we grow ourselves and our blogs.
Best,
Casey
I’d like to think I’m more of the latter, but I’m definitely a mixture of both. I go in spurts, to be honest–I’m all over the place and commenting here and there, but I know I need to be better.
Great post–it’s clearly inspired a lot of thought and much conversation!
When I started this blog of mine, I was completely oblivious to the number of food blogs that existed. I did mine as a bit of a joke…because I’m really not that great of a cook, but am always aspiring for better. Then I joined wordpress and an entire world of bloggers, photography, food, you name it opened up to me. With that I became a part of a community. Friends were made, ideas were shared, and creativity blossomed.
I never knew there were so many like-minded people all bellied up to their computers doing the same thing. Slowly meeting them has made this whole blogging experience a part of my daily life. And has given me something to look forward to after work is all said and done.
With all of that said though, I think the longer you do this, the more you start to wonder the “value” of your blog and just how far you can take things…
Then again, based on the rest of the food blogging (talented) world, I think I’m probably best suited for the community support group.
(great post by the way.)
I think all the comments by all these amazing bloggers is a testament to the type of blogger you are. and kristen, I’m sooooo grateful to count you not only as one of my food blogging “community members” but a true friend…don’t know what I’d do without you!!!
Hi, Kristen. Great post! I did enjoy your insights here. I am definitely the latter (in small part. because I don’t really know how to make the big time!). However, this is a dichotomy which tends to apply to people in most fields, I’d say.
Thanks,
Dan
Kristen, I really appreciate this post and I am excited that you will be speaking at BlogHer Food. Well-deserved acknowledgment of your many, many blogging talents.
Awesome post!! While I am interested in the business side, I am COMPLETELY on board with helping others and I so appreciate the help that I have recived from fellow bloggers!
I LOVED the idea of your adopt-a-blogger program. It came when I needed it most. When I started I NEEDED help, I had no idea how to do it. Unfortunatly, the blogger I was paired with didn’t respond to me at all. Oh well, I figured a lot of it out and I still have bloggers helping me out!! Yea them.
I look forward to your new adopt a blogger and I hope I can be there to share my “limited” knowledge with others. There is still SOOOOO much more I need to know, especially the business side of it. But I never want to lose touch with the personal side of it, that’s what I ENJOY about it!
Your blog has helped A LOT with questions and I thank you!!
Love this post Kristen! I definitely try to be the latter although it can be hard to keep up with a full time job and trying to have a life too 🙂 It’s interesting to see the growth of food blogs and how each person chooses to tackle their own.
I started out as the first type, solely in it for the money, with no direction. All I wanted to do was make from home what I had previously made in a day and a half for the whole month. (So could that really mean a money hungry food blogger wanting less than 2 days pay for the whole month? Is there actually ANY money in food blogging? Even if I had a successful book, there’s no way I could replace my previous salary, and it would be SOOO much more work) I wish I could have kept working one day a week, but the childcare problem made it impossible. Finally, this month, I was short 10% making my goal. Through the process, I have made a ton of friends, alot outside of the blogging community. I did find many food bloggers don’t share tips and tricks, can be passive aggressive, unthoughtful, and even leave rude comments (why?). But we all know who the exceptionally sweet ones are, and you are of course one of them. I would now like to think I’ve moved to the other type of blogger. I’m so glad I did this. I am a much better photographer and cook because of it. I also have fallen in love with the community, it’s especially important to me since I have no family and feel like an outsider in most circles. I wish I could spend more time on twitter, facebook and commenting on other blogs, but we all do what we have time for. Congrats on being on the speaking panel! Wish I were going this year, but I’ll be there next year cheering you on!
Great post, Kristen. For me, blogging is definitely about community–I can’t believe the number of wonderful friends I’ve made through this in the past several years. And I can’t wait to see what you have in store for Adopt a Blogger. =)
My blog just went public a week and a half ago, so I’m still in the overwhelmed-and-trying-to-figure-out-what-in-the-heck-I-am-doing phase. Your post is such good timing for me to read so early in my blogging days. I’m just starting to get my feet wet with social networking and making new friends online. That is definitely important to me and a big part of what drew me to blogging. I’ve been “between jobs” for awhile and I love how quickly blogging is making me feel connected with other bloggers and readers. However, I also hope to ultimately find at least some financial rewards from blogging. So, I guess I’m striving for a balance between the two. As with most successes in life, if you focus on other people first the other rewards are more likely to follow. So, I guess that’s my approach as a newbie blogger. And, if I could also add a blanket “THANK YOU!” to all of the generous, smart, witty bloggers out there who have already inspired me.
First off, congratulations on being selected as a speaker for Blogher. They’re lucky to have you!
I definitely think bloggers should support one another. I’ve seen a few really good bloggers become unsupportive of others/ hoard support and it makes me less likely to read their blog.
Of course, good bloggers do get busy and can’t always keep up with the traffic and/or comments. That happens to everyone.
I’m pretty new to blogging but I actually think people reveal a lot about themselves as bloggers through Twitter. I love when people do something positive and others Retweet, and provide positive reinforcement. Why not? Share the love! :>)
Congratulations, Kristen, on being selected to speak at BlogHer! I think the people who guard their “secrets” are missing out. The more you share, the more people see you as an expert and as someone to turn to. This increases your standing in the community – any community – and that leads to greater success. Karma is more than a concept!
I would be in the second category and I’m looking forward to your new website for Adopt a Blogger. I’ve only experienced positive interactions with fellow bloggers so far. I’m in this for the fun of it. I believe in creating art with whatever you choose to do be it typing up a report at work or writing about and photographing my latest recipe.
You are truly an inspiration! I loved this post.
I have been putting recipes online for 15 years. It’s true! I started in 1995 with a website with just recipes, no photos. It was the very first website I developed before starting my web business and the intent was simple…put my skills to a practical use in a way that would benefit me, my family and friends. So much easier to send someone to the web for a recipe than having to write it down and mail it, etc.
I was surprised at the number of people who found recipes and contacted me as a result but it always remained within my original intent…a recipe depository.
I decided to revise the format 2 years ago and have been both transferring those older recipes without photos and creating new posts with the requisite photo piece and during that process and my use of Twitter have found this huge world of food blogging that has become a source of friends, inspiration and yes…business.
It’s been an interesting experience as my primary focus remains the same; sharing my cooking experience with others. To be perfectly honest…I was pretty amazed at the focus on doing food blogging solely to make money and as you mention…those in it just for that purpose are evident. I find no sense of community with them so I applaud your initiatives as I see the sense of community as the best way to insure success for anyone. Call it community or synergy or whatever; that ‘no man (or woman) is an island’ holds true here too.
I’ve started a new blog for that purpose, inviting others to participate in a monthly roundup of recipes made from the RSVP section of Bon Appetit. I’ve limited it to that one section because I love the restaurant recommendations but also because they never have photos included so thought this would be a fun chance for those interested to provide that missing piece of the puzzle.
Please join if you’re interested at rsvpredux.com – it’s open to all! And I’m looking forward to the Adopt a Blogger program; sounds wonderful!
What type … ? Interesting question. I started solely as a convenient way to pass photos on the grandparents. Somewhere along the way, we made a Lulu Press cookbook as a Christmas card for family and friends, and that morphed into an online repository for recipes. Nothing more.
But I haven’t noticed something. My family is on the Luddite side, not really into conversing digitally. And my Facebook friends have this thing about venturing outside of the FB world — they just won’t do it. So the three worlds don’t mix: the real family, the blog world, and the FB world.
Congratulations on your speaking engagement. I enjoyed reading your post on the subject of community in the blogging world, it’s something that I have given a lot of thought to as well:)
Oooooh! Adopt a Blogger! What a great idea! I feel that everyone should take someone under their wing–no matter what business they’re in.
Another piece to giving back to others moving up in the world is being humble. When you seek out people to help along the way, you may find that their innate talents are even bigger and better than yours. So be willing to be generous and giving as well as humble. Sometimes your best “students” become your best teachers.
Thank you for an awesome post! I have been looking forward to info on your next Adopt A Blogger opportunity, hungry for some healthy mentoring. I’ve only been blogging for a short time and welcome the wisdom from those who are willing to share their experiences, and are happy to see others succeed. Having seen both sides of the spectrum you talked about, I definitely know that I want to be mostly in Category B, with a healthy & respectable balance of Category A. I’ve reached out to a couple bloggers I have deep respect for, who I think do a nice job with this balance, but have had little to no response. I do enjoy the community so very much and try to participate as much as I can. However, it’s not easy, and often times it leaves me exhausted while I’m just trying to keep up with regular ol’ life! I am constantly reminding myself of the core reasons I started the blog = my passion for food & sharing it, my love of photography, and my desire to document/scrapbook my family’s life. It has been a fun ride so far, reconnecting me with people I haven’t talked to in years, plus creating new relationships with people I never knew existed up until this blog. Just knowing how much enjoyment this has brought to my grandma, family, and friends, it’s all so worth it.
Congrats on your speaking engagement at Blogher Food – I know you’ll do a spectacular job, and I look forward to hearing about it. I only wish I could hear you in person! You are a very special example of admirable blogging. I am very thankful for you and what you do. Thanks for starting up this conversation!
Even though I’ve been blogging for nearly two years, I am still most definitely a newbie! I started blogging because my best friend was, and it seemed like a fun, creative outlet. I don’t expect to be the next big thing. I just want to have fun! I’m learning as I go. Learning the etiquette, photography skills, honing my baking skills, etc. I’ve become a little more obsessed lately with being a “good” blogger, whatever that means. Of course it’s fun when someone you don’t know reads and comments on your blog! But I’ve tried to keep myself from looking at stats and such. I don’t want my blog to become my business. I want to keep it like it is, something that I enjoy and (try not to) worry about.
I would love to attend a blogging conference, not as much for getting the name of my blog out there, or learning about SEO or any of that (though there are definitely some things like photography and such that I’d love to learn more about) but more for community. I’d love to meet the authors of blogs that I read and admire, or at least be in the same room with them!
I’m just tickled to call you my friend, Kristen. {Along with the 60 something other ladies that have commented before me} You are just some kind of awesome on steroids.
I’m a relatively new blogger who started when I left my corporate job to come home and take care of my son. We started homeschooling shortly after and I began blogging as a way to journal our homeschooling life. That quickly morphed into more about writing, cooking, and sharing along with our homeschooling journey.
I’m a people person at heart and blogging has definitely allowed me the ability to *meet* and spend time with people while still being able to fulfill my true love of being home with my family.
As to the which type of blogger I am, I honestly am looking for a successful balance between the two. I began my blog as a hobby and my creative piece of the world, now I see there can be more to it and am interested in all that it could bring.
I can’t wait to hear your session at BlogHer Food! You are a perfect person to be on that panel, my friend!
Robyn
It’s really interesting to hear your thoughts on this! For me, this is a hobby. I don’t mind making a few (measly) pennies while I am at it (thanks, Foodbuzz!), but this is not my life’s goal. It’s something I enjoy doing, and want to keep enjoying. It can be frustrating at times, as when one keeps getting shot down by Foodgawker, but I take a deep breath and remind myself why I am doing this. To become famous? No. To make loads of money? Hardly. It’s simply to put something out there, to connect with the world, and to share my love of all things food.
I am up for adoption if anyone wants me!!!
I can’t lie. I would love to make money with my blog, either through the blog itself or through some other avenue. Who wouldn’t? But I know that’s a long, long ,very long shot. Ultimately, I started a blog about something that I am passionate about and enjoy doing, whether I’m getting get paid or not. I have to be — it’s what I do at the end of a long day, when everyone else is in bed. If I didn’t love it, I would just fall into bed myself without turning on the computer.
I have been so, so thrilled with the community of supportive, curious, like-minded people I have found online. I am a newbie bread baker, and whenever I have a question, I can turn to Twitter or my blog, or the blogs of others, and I know I will get lots of great, helpful answers. I am ten times the bread baker I would have been if I had been doing this alone. Now when I’m in my kitchen I never feel alone.
It’s a long way to the top of the mountain but I Stumble all the way! I dont want to be loney at the top!
Cant wait for the adopt a blogger event again! It’s always nice to make a new friend!
Congrats on the Blogher panel. See ya in SF! 5 more weeks 😉
That would be lonely at the top, not loney!!! I am loney, but I dont want to be lonely at the top, if I ever make it. LOL
Well, I suppose I remain somewhat in the middle of all of that, though I’d certainly never say that I’m “all business” or “never willing to help others.” Just the opposite, really. I’m trying hard to make a living doing this food blog thing, and because of that and a busy home life, it’s tough to find a whole lot of time for interaction and fun. I do find myself on Twitter more than I should be… chatting away w/ internet friends, and I am always willing to help fellow bloggers and give advice along the way. Elise was/is that person for me, and I’ll always remember how much time she took to chat w/ me about my blog and give out great advice. She tells you everything she knows bc she wants everyone to be as successful as she is. I love that.
You’re doing a great thing w/ your “Adopt a Blogger” program! And congrats for speaking on the panel- you’ll be great!!
I would be the latter. I was never in it for the money, or to be popular, or to be number one. It was an archive for my recipes, originally for my family to use, but it seems I have more blog friends visit it than family now. And that is OK!
Wow what a great post. I totally agree with you. I am going to check out Adopt a blogger now, hopefully i could be adopted 🙂
Very interesting post! Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I definitely fall into the second category. I love being able to share and besides it’s a hobby for both my and my husband, actually it was his idea. I cook/bake and write, he is the photographer. Looking forward to reading your new site. 🙂
I’m excited about the new Adopt-a-Blogger website. I’ve had so much fun doing it the past few times. Really helped me feel comfortable in the culinary blogosphere when I was a newbie and since I’ve met some great people!
What a great post, Kristen. And while I do think it would be a nice side benefit for my blog to make some money, it is not the reason I blog. Because I do work a full-time, 8 to 5 job, I can only manage to post about twice a week and I find that what I enjoy most of all is the interaction with other people. It excites me no end when someone comments that they’ve made one of my recipes and enjoyed it! This is what it’s all about for me.
I think adopt-a-blogger is an awesome idea! I am new to blogging (Jan ’10), have a great time doing it, and get a lot of great traffic from around the world. I am also a stay at home mom to a 1 year old and a 2 year old without any assistance. That doesn’t leave me with much time. I’ve had multiple companies contact me regarding advertising and giveaways, but because I’m not sure what is the normal compensation, I keep turning it all down until I become “better educated”. The feedback I get on my recipes is amazing and I would love to know how to better share my knowledge with others. I just don’t know how to make it all happen. I’m up for adoption! If anyone wants to mentor me, please let me know!
Love Love Love your post I think I am a combination of all 3 types trying to grow plus using twitter and building a network slowely but surely.
Those 2 types seem like they’re true for people for whom blogging is their job. I think there’s a third type that is people for whom it’s just another thing they do on the internet – people like me. PR companies couldn’t be farther from my mind!
I’ve been blogging for about nine months now and really am interested in being part of the community of bloggers! Please include me in Adopt a Blogger! I think you have come up with an amazing way to connect people 🙂
I don’t know if it’s really that rigid, the division. For instance (and I can only speak for myself) – I am mostly interested in blogging as a way to share what I believe I have to offer and also to get out there as much as possible given my (admittedly rather mild) publishing ambitions, but I also very much enjoy other bloggers and am delighted to interact with them and promote their posts. While community-building specifically in is not my goal, I enjoy engaging with the community that already exists. Promoting oneself as a primary motivation does not have to include trumping others, don’t you think?
What a wonderful post. I agree that creating a community is really important and enjoying the process of blogging. For me, the aspect of meeting new people, learning new things and expressing my creativity is the most rewarding. I participated in “Adopt of Blogger” last round and was paired with an outstanding blogger, Lindsay from “Love and Olive Oil”. She was super helpful and wonderful. To this day, I know that I can reach out to her and she would be right there. Love to be a mentor this time! 🙂
A provocative post. I can’t help but wonder who the heck you are talking about, these “business” food bloggers, since you don’t mention any names…
I’d really love to be a community-type blogger, as I see more value in it. But I have a hard time getting away from the “what’s in it for me” attitude. (Just being honest here.)
Thanks for providing the Adopt-a-Blogger forum. My pairing this year didn’t work out. Hopefully next time will be better.
Yup I’m definitely a community driven blogger – in fact that’s one of the things I love most about blogging – the wonderful people I’ve met (both IRL and online). Sure I use twitter as a marketing tool, but I engage in conversation and other randomness much more than just spamming my own links. I even tweet about other people’s posts – there’s a LOT of audience to go around, so why not?
Thank you for such an interesting post. I’ve only been blogging for a couple of months and was new to all this sharing. I have to admit that I find it very encouraging when people leave comments and inspiring when people share their ideas. 😀
Interesting..never thought of it that way! I’m a newbie & trying to figure this blogging stuff out! I love to share recipes & love how everyone has different twists on them! I also made Banana Bread that week! We must of been on the same wave length!:) But I was too impatient to wait for the hour..so I made muffins instead! Turned out nice!:)
great post as always! 🙂
Although I would love to make a few extra bucks to help pay for school, its more important for me to have a supportive group of foodie friends! 🙂
However, I seem to be having some problems with that. I’m not quite sure what it is that I’m doing wrong, but I havent been able to create those kind of special relationships I see that many food bloggers have. I’m intrigued to know how people get to know each other? I’m thinking it may be because the majority of food bloggers are either moms or are a few years older? Perhaps some tips on that? 😉
Anywho, I will be one of the first to sign up for the next round of Adopt a Blogger!
Wow, you raise some good points. I agree that I’ve seen both kinds of blogs, but I think I’m drawn more to the blogs that are in the latter category – wanting to build community & sharing what they know. That’s how I feel too. The more we can do to help others around us, the better we’ll all be for it in the end. Thanks so much for this great post…and the banana bread recipe is a nice bonus too!
Great post. I would love to see you at BlogHerFood. I didn’t get a ticket this yr. Which totally bums me out since I live in SF. I learned so much last yr and met so many cool peeps – including you! And thanks for mentioning adopt-a-blogger. I better check in with mine!!!
I have definitely seen people who are only in it for the money, the sort of people who only tweet links to blog posts, and never respond to comments.
I’ve been blogging for a year now, and I find it interesting to find new ways to increase traffic to my blog. But I always try to focus on community, I would rather have a small number of people who comment on my posts And take the time to interact with me than hundreds of people who just view!
This is a very true post. I started blogging 6 months with my normal blog, where talk about all kinds of stuff. I have been fortunate to have forged a blog friendship with three wonderful bloggers, and I get to meet them next months for the first time; but they embody everything everything that made me join blogland: friendship. eventually I started posting more and more about food to the point that I decided to open a food blog a month ago. The myriad of blogs is amazing! They are all beautiful blogs but I have noticed the distinction you make. It is very palpable. I think though, deep down we are all after the same thing: making more friends, and sharing our recipes or whatever food topic we have.
I have a confession to make. I have grown online communities for a living for almost 15 years. I rock at it. I can whisper to a board or a group and have the community grow and respond.
Here comes the confession: I haven’t nurtured my blog community much at all. I have no excuse. I could do it. I need to do it. After Friday, I REALLY need to do it. I know how, but somehow my blog, built as a gift for the ones I love, never has reached out to build the online community for which I have passion.
Brand new blogger and I just stumbled upon this. Thanks for your insight! I began my blog as a creative outlet as I start my professional career in consulting. I’m looking to become part of a larger community to build relationships with others w/ similar passions. If you still run you’re adopt a blogger program, I’d really love to participate 🙂
Best,
Kaitlyn
I’m definitely loving the information. I’m book-marking and will be tweeting this to my followers!
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