When I first started blogging, I followed a lot of blogs just to follow a lot of blogs. As time has gone on, I?ve had to go through and unfollow a lot of blogs that I followed for giveaways or just to follow, but I continually skip reading their posts. So now I am always looking for blogs that are similar to mine who I can really connect with.
Why? First off, I love the connections I have built with other bloggers like me. There are plenty of blogs that I love reading, but have never interacted with. Finding bloggers like me who run blogs like mine make it so easy to connect! The other reason I am always looking is because the number one thing you can do as a blogger is to read other blogs. It?s good for inspiration and to always keep you bettering your blog.
I?wanted to share a few ways to find bloggers that are similar to you or to other blogs you follow and love!
Look at comments and sidebars
One of the easiest ways to find blogs that are similar to yours or ones you already read is to look at the comment section. Chances are if you love a blog and are always commenting on it and there?s someone else who consistently comments, you?ll be best friends, basically.
Looking at the sidebar to see who is sponsoring a blog you like (or doing button swaps for those blogs that don?t do sponsorships) is also a great way to find blogs you?ll most likely like. People try to sponsor blogs that are like theres, so you won?t normally find a fashion blogger sponsoring a food blog. ?Lifestyle? blogs are a little more difficult since that is a bit of a catch-all description for bloggers these days (myself included!)
Bloglovin?
Oh how I love Bloglovin! I remember when I used to read all of my blogs via the blogger reader. Bloglovin is so much more efficient for me. You can have Bloglovin automatically send you emails with?suggestions of blogs to follow that are similar to the ones you recently followed. This is great when you are first starting out as a blogger. Remember, bloggers need to read other blogs!
Also when you go to a blog?s profile you?ll see ?latest posts? ?# of followers? and ?similar blogs.? You can click similar blogs on blogs you already follow or even follow it on your own blog profile. Granted you should still check out a blog before you follow it but your odds are pretty great that you?ll find some new bloggy friends!
Passion Fruit Ads Marketplace
This is a recent discovery for me, but I love it! If you?re not familiar with Passionfruit Ads, it?s how a lot of bloggers run their sponsorships. It?s free to join as a sponsor and has low costs if you?re a blogger selling ad spaces. They also have a marketplace where you can search for blogs to sponsor. In my case, I wasn?t necessarily looking for blogs to sponsor but found that you can sort by certain key words to find blogs that you like. If you go to theMarketplace website, you can type in any search word and blogs that are labeled with that word will come up. It?s a great way to find new blogs just to read or to sponsor! Plus if you pay attention to their sponsorship prices you?ll probably be able to get a good idea of how they compare to you as far as size goes.
Pinterest is virtually ran by blogs, in case you didn?t know. Most of the pins originally come from some sort of blog-like website. When I first started using Pinterest I was only following people that I knew but inevitably you are going to end up with pins from people you don?t know since Pinterest is just a giant repinning circle. If you click through on a pin to a recipe, DIY project or something else, you may want to pay attention to the site you end up on, it just might turn into a new favorite blog! You can also pay attention to pinners? profiles to see if they have their website linked. Their pins may be similar to what they blog about! (also, side note, I created a blogging tips community board! If you?d like to be added, follow all of my pinterest boards?and email me at madisonlynn35@gmail.com to let me know you?d like to be added!)
Communities
To be honest, I think this one is both the trickiest and the easiest to figure out! There are TONS of blogger communities out there. Honestly, just google anything and you?ll find one. Mommy blogger community, bloggers of NC, bloggers of the south, puppy mama bloggers? I?m sure you?ll find someone out there who?s created a community group around your interest. There are also groups like SITS Girls who are more general groups but often have events that promote getting to know other bloggers. I have gotten pretty involved with the Southern Girl Blogging Community. They have a Facebook page with daily shares so you can get your posts out there! I definitely recommend finding some groups to get plugged into. You?ll find that some are worth your time and others aren?t your thing and that?s okay? blogging is just one big experiment anyway, isn?t it?
Chantel Klassen says
Ooh, I find myself doing all of these! I love coming across new-to-me blogs and “meeting” new people. 🙂
Madison says
Definitely, it’s my favorite part of blogging! Especially once you start to be commenting on each other’s blogs instead of it being one sided! 🙂
Chantel Klassen says
Ooh, I find myself doing all of these! I love coming across new-to-me blogs and “meeting” new people. 🙂
Madison says
That’s awesome that you follow up with the blogs on link parties! I don’t think a lot of people take the time to do that! Thank you for stopping by, I’ll go check out your blog now too! 🙂
jennifer prod says
such a useful post, and i can relate (perhaps a little too much) about the sometimes mysterious process of finding blogs and bloggers that you can relate to. it takes a bit of work, but isn’t it worth it when you’re connecting with blogs that really resonate with you? the comment section usually works best for me, but i’m going to try some of your other tips and see what happens 🙂
Madison says
I’m so glad you found it helpful! It definitely can be a bit of work but you’re right, so worth it! Especially with how profiles are set up on Disqus it’s really easy to find blogs through comments 🙂
jennifer prod says
such a useful post, and i can relate (perhaps a little too much) about the sometimes mysterious process of finding blogs and bloggers that you can relate to. it takes a bit of work, but isn’t it worth it when you’re connecting with blogs that really resonate with you? the comment section usually works best for me, but i’m going to try some of your other tips and see what happens 🙂
Prototype Mama says
These are some really great tips Madison! Thanks for sharing SGBC– sharing these on the community page!
Madison says
Thank you Chene! Glad you found it helpful!
Prototype Mama says
These are some really great tips Madison! Thanks for sharing SGBC– sharing these on the community page!
Madison says
Definitely, it’s my favorite part of blogging! Especially once you start to be commenting on each other’s blogs instead of it being one sided! 🙂
Madison says
I’m so glad you found it helpful! It definitely can be a bit of work but you’re right, so worth it! Especially with how profiles are set up on Disqus it’s really easy to find blogs through comments 🙂
Madison says
Thank you Chene! Glad you found it helpful!
Caitlin says
Hi there, stopping by from Jack of All Trades link-up 🙂 I loved this post! So many great ideas… I never would have thought to use Bloglovin’ or Pinterest to find blogs similar to mine. Thanks for the great tips!
Madison says
Of course! I hope these tips help you find some new blogs to follow! 🙂
Katie @ A Beautiful Little Adv says
I found this SO helpful, I follow around 200 blogs and sometimes I feel like I have yet to find my “niche” that’s a similar writing style as mine. I typically just look at side bars but haven’t had the luck that I want. I’m making this my new project for the week! Thank you!
Madison says
I’m so happy you found it helpful, Katie! I totally know what you mean, I feel like I don’t connect with a lot of the blogs I follow but there are some I still love to read! I hope you found some new ones this week 🙂
Katie @ A Beautiful Little Adv says
I found this SO helpful, I follow around 200 blogs and sometimes I feel like I have yet to find my “niche” that’s a similar writing style as mine. I typically just look at side bars but haven’t had the luck that I want. I’m making this my new project for the week! Thank you!
Kiersten McMonagle says
Great post! I’m currently searching for more blogs to follow, and so far the Passionfruit marketplace has been my first stop. I didn’t know Bloglovin could send you suggestions, so I’ll definitely be signing up for that. I want to be able to find bloggers both similar to me, and not. I love reading other opinions and learning about people. Looking in the comments section is another great idea, and I’ll definitely be doing that!
Madison says
I really like using passion fruit too! I do think you have to do a little more sifting, but I love that you can search by any keyword! I know what you mean about finding blogs that are similar and not, you have to keep some variety 🙂 Thanks for your comment Kiersten!
Elizabeth Mayberry says
great advice! I love all these!
Madison says
Thanks Elizabeth! That means a lot 🙂
Elizabeth Mayberry says
great advice! I love all these!
Caitlin | The Siren's Tale says
Hi there, stopping by from Jack of All Trades link-up 🙂 I loved this post! So many great ideas… I never would have thought to use Bloglovin’ or Pinterest to find blogs similar to mine. Thanks for the great tips!
Kiersten McMonagle says
Great post! I’m currently searching for more blogs to follow, and so far the Passionfruit marketplace has been my first stop. I didn’t know Bloglovin could send you suggestions, so I’ll definitely be signing up for that. I want to be able to find bloggers both similar to me, and not. I love reading other opinions and learning about people. Looking in the comments section is another great idea, and I’ll definitely be doing that!
Ashley Nevis says
These are such great tips! Also, how exciting about the NC Blogger Meetup – I love connecting with other NC bloggers (especially in Raleigh!), so I can’t wait to see more info on this 🙂
Madison says
Thanks Ashley! Definitely follow along, I hope we will see you there! I can add you to our email list, if you’d like?
Ashley Nevis says
That would be awesome! Thanks!
Ashley Nevis says
These are such great tips! Also, how exciting about the NC Blogger Meetup – I love connecting with other NC bloggers (especially in Raleigh!), so I can’t wait to see more info on this 🙂
Ashley Nevis says
That would be awesome! Thanks!
Madison says
Of course! I hope these tips help you find some new blogs to follow! 🙂
Madison says
I’m so happy you found it helpful, Katie! I totally know what you mean, I feel like I don’t connect with a lot of the blogs I follow but there are some I still love to read! I hope you found some new ones this week 🙂
Madison says
I really like using passion fruit too! I do think you have to do a little more sifting, but I love that you can search by any keyword! I know what you mean about finding blogs that are similar and not, you have to keep some variety 🙂 Thanks for your comment Kiersten!
Madison says
Thanks Elizabeth! That means a lot 🙂
Madison says
Thanks Ashley! Definitely follow along, I hope we will see you there! I can add you to our email list, if you’d like?
Rebecca Lewis says
Hi Madison! This was a really helpful article for me! I’m new to the blogging world, writing about Jesus + my lifestyle of barefoot running and painting. I’ve had trouble figuring out how to find a community to fit into since I’m not strictly fitness, strictly art, or strictly faith-based in content! I hail from Texas so I should probably check out Southern Girls.
I write over at barefootthunder.com (slowly but surely growing my content!) so feel free to check out my new place if you ever have a moment 🙂
Rebecca Lewis says
Hi Madison! This was a really helpful article for me! I’m new to the blogging world, writing about Jesus + my lifestyle of barefoot running and painting. I’ve had trouble figuring out how to find a community to fit into since I’m not strictly fitness, strictly art, or strictly faith-based in content! I hail from Texas so I should probably check out Southern Girls.
I write over at barefootthunder.com (slowly but surely growing my content!) so feel free to check out my new place if you ever have a moment 🙂
David vil says
This guide is pretty awesome. Thanks Madison