Why Should I Join a Blog Party?

Welcome back, bloggers! This post is part of my How to Blog Party series, which is written for new and experienced bloggers...lots of tips and tricks for joining and hosting a blog/link party. You can click here to start at the beginning of the series and see a round-up of all the posts so far. Last week, we defined what a blog party is.

This week's topic is: Why Should I Join a Blog Party?

There are lots of reasons why you should join a blog party, but the main reason that bloggers link their posts up to blog parties is to grow their blogs. 

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Growing a blog might mean different things to different people:

• Some bloggers want to increase their statistics or the number of Followers/Subscribers they have, or get extra "hits," so they link up to blog parties in hopes of winning new readers with their content.

• Some might be hoping that their use of a specific product might grab the attention of a brand or company. They could be hoping for an opportunity to partner with that brand in the future, and perhaps they see link parties as the avenue to make that happen through the extra exposure?

• Others are looking for community, so they join link parties with a goal of finding like-minded bloggers to connect with.

• Or maybe they just want to show off their latest project to a new audience, and don't particularly care about what else is out there.

You might relate to all four of those attitudes, and that is perfectly fine!

Linking to a select amount of parties each week that you know will bring you a good return on traffic is a great way to expose your blog and your projects/posts to an audience you might not normally reach. Suzie Blogger's readers might love your latest post about your Family Room Makeover, so linking up to her weekly Home Decor blog party is a smart move.

If your project used a stencil, stamp, or paint from a widely known craft company and it ends up being featured on Suzie Blogger's site after the link party, that craft company could be more likely to see your project. If they like the content you have on your blog, they may even contact you for a Giveaway or partnership. And, at the very least, you'll be on their radar!

In my opinion, one of the greatest things about link parties is that it introduces me to new blogs I haven't seen before. This is extremely helpful for me now, as I hunt for projects to feature with Kate for the Best of the Blogosphere series. As a new blogger, linking to a few blog parties every week helped me to make friends with other bloggers. This will come in handy for you because, as we discussed in my Commenting 101 series, building relationships with other bloggers can lead to guest posts, blog swaps, jobs, and most importantly--a loyal readership!

It's great to have lots of hits on your site, to be noticed by brands and companies, and to be featured on big blogs, but a loyal readership is what will continue to carry your blog, even when you don't have a chance to link up to blog parties!

When used properly, (rather than a "traffic crutch" you are dependent on), blog parties can be an effective tool for growing your blog.

I realize that this series may appear to be starting out on a very, very beginner level...and that's because it is. I want it to be a guide for people with blogs of all sizes, so I hope you'll stick with me! We'll cover all kinds of topics in more depth as we progress (technical tutorials, etiquette, tips, etc.)

When am I ready to join a blog party? Come back next week and I'll tell you. You may want to consider signing up as a GFC Follower on my sidebar or even Subscribing so you don't miss a post!

Any questions? Please feel free to email me or leave a comment below. I hope you enjoy this series.

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