Why every blogger needs a tribe (and how to find it)

Have you ever been at the beach, pushing through the waves in hip-deep water? Leisurely, stepping through the wet sand, then suddenly hit a deep patch and end up sputtering salt water?

Blogging is like that. On the surface, it looks pretty easy. If you have something to say, you can start a blog and say it! The start-up costs are low when you take into account the low-cost introductory rate most hosting companies offer.

But blogging as a business isn’t as simple as it seems and can leave you sputtering and confused.

The overwhelm is real when you realize what online entrepreneurship entails.

• Photography skills
• Basic HTML knowledge
• Marketing skills
• Networking skills
• Data Analysis skills
• Videography
• Business management skills.

And oh yeah, writing skills help too.

That is why you need a blogging tribe.

Not only will you have a trusted support group that can give you business advice, you are in the trenches together.

I asked a few bloggers what they love about being in their tribes.

” Biggest advantage: it’s like having business partners, they support you, give feedback and advice. Non-bloggers don’t understand our unique business, so they can’t really weigh in on your business decisions. I was recently invited to join an established tribe and it has changed my entire outlook. I now feel like I have 14 new friends who care about my business and will lift me up when I am down and celebrate my successes. I do think that one way to have a successful tribe is for all the members to approximately be the same size and have the same (or close to the same) business goals.”  Tove Maren Stakkestad, Mama in the now

“The hardest part for me when I first starting blogging was actually MEETING a tribe. I eventually found my friends/tribe when I took a blogging course. The students were all in a private Facebook group and I became friends with a few people. I also commented on the same bloggers’ posts consistently, and that was helpful in meeting and forming my community. Tribes are SO important. They have your back, they guide you, they support you, and help build your following. Women empowering women is the single best thing to achieving growth. But it’s not a one way street. It’s so important to keep supporting your tribe, no matter how big your readership becomes!” Kristen Miller Hewitt, Mommy in Sports

“The tribe began as a support group to help one another achieve our blogging goals, but it turned into a group of close friends who help empower one another in all facets of our lives. From personal matters to professional, nothing is off-limits — and that includes both encouragement and constructive criticism. Having an honest group of people to be able to turn to at any time, knowing they have my best interests at heart, is invaluable. Each of us has had successes directly because of the advice and support of the group, even though many of us don’t even blog anymore.” — Kim Bongiorno, Let Me Start By Saying 

I am SO very glad that I started blogging with a tribe. My mentor invited me to one she was in, which was formed during the first Online Blog Con (which I didn’t attend but they all did). It was SO wonderful to ask them all the 1000 questions I had about blogging at the beginning of my monetizing journey. They were all so patient with me and taught me so many things about the world of blogging, sharing their knowledge freely. We left comments and shared each others’ stuff regularly, and supported each other in all the major and small accomplishments. We were all in different niches – beauty, lifestyle, food, family – and just starting out though some much bigger than others, or already making money, and others not so much, but worked hard to support and love each other. We even did gift exchanges one year at Christmas!

We don’t really have that little tribe group up and running anymore, but those ladies are my friends still and a huge part of my journey.

I have since been in a few other tribes and each one brings its own benefits of support!! I am a firm believer that everyone needs a tribe!” Katelyn Fagan, What’s up Fagans and What’s up Blogging. 

It sounds so easy and awesome but…

If you are an introvert or new to blogging finding a tribe is intimidating. For some, it’s an added layer of stress. Being in “tribe limbo” or “between tribes” can feel just as lonely.

So I wrote short and easy guide.  I tell you:

• what a tribe is
• what to look for in a tribe mate
• how to meet bloggers that you might want in your tribe
• how to start your tribe

and I give you real strategies to use with your tribe to grow all of your businesses.

My new book, Let’s Collab! is available on Amazon.

(Affiliate links are included in this post.)