Fashion, Beauty, Friend Friday: Rules of Engagement or You Gotta Have Friends!

Thanks to Katy Rose of Modly Chic for another round of awesome questions.  I am looking forward to reading my fellow bloggers answers.  I am new enough that I am still figuring these answers out in real life.

 "Rules of Engagement is this week's title and it comes from all the bloggers who have asked Katy Rose how to deal with Tweets, emails, DMs, etc. from people who seem to be only pushing their own blog.  She says, "For a new blogger, the rules of engagement with others in the blogging world is uncharted territory.  We learn a lot about how to do it from trial and error."  I'm hoping to learn from your guy's posts so maybe I'll have a little less trial and error.  Here's what I have learned so far:

1. Guest posts are a good way to gain new exposure. What do you think is the appropriate way to go about securing a guest spot?  I've never guest posted or had a guest post since I've only been blogging a little over two months.  However, it seems to make sense to me that guest posting ought to arise naturally from the relationships you make in the blogging world.  If you're not comfortable asking someone to guest post then maybe you should take that as a sign that you need to develop this relationship a little deeper first.  If I had gotten to know another blogger through their blog and they asked me to do a guest post, I would be flattered because this would seem to mean that they like my writing voice.

2. Leaving comments is essential to growing your blog. But how can you leave a comment without coming across as ‘Follow Me. Follow Me!’?  Being new,  I've had other new bloggers say "follow me and I'll follow you."  So my practice has been to check their blogs out and then follow if I like what I see.  But in all honesty, it puts the other person on the spot and I think Miss Manners needs to step in here and be our guide!  For me personally, what I have done is two things.  First, I comment on blogs that I have come upon naturally and genuinely like.  Second, I always try to comment back on someone's blog is they have left a comment on my blog, or contacted me in some way on IFB.  Lastly, all my comments are positive.  I have found something on each blog that I can comment truthfully on in a positive manner.  There is enough darkness in the world...let's be the light.

3. We’ve all gotten a mass email at one time or another asking for blog exposure, a link exchange, etc...But the mass emails don't work.  How do you make your email stand out from the crowd?  I haven't done any emails yet to promote my blog, so I will be learning from others on this one.  I think, though, that being authentic will show through whatever you do, be it a blog post, a comment or an email.  Know your voice, know your "brand" and know how you are different from the rest.

White trench from Sarah Jessica Parker's Bitten line at Steve & Barry's before they folded.

4. In interacting with other bloggers where do you draw the line between seeking support and begging for exposure?  I don't believe I have begged for exposure!  To increase traffic, I comment on other blogs and at IFB.  I started a group for Kentucky bloggers and I joined a couple of groups that tied into my blog.  For support, I have asked questions of other bloggers that I admire because there are still yet so many things I need to learn.  One blogger, in particular, was very kind to email me detailed explanations of some of the things I didn't understand.

5. What’s one rule of engagement error you made and how have you remedied that?  I am already following way more blogs than I can keep up with.  And I keep adding new blogs as I find them.  If I see a blog I want to be able to look at again, I follow it so I don't lose it.  After adding a ridiculous number of blogs to follow, would it be considered impolite to go through your list and try to figure out which ones you are actually going to take the time to read?  Are you a bad blogger if you unfollow a blog?  I would love to hear some feedback on this and find out how others handle it because I am guilty of having a happy trigger finger on the add button.

It seems to me that what this all comes down to is relationship.  Because once we get to know one another, the rest will come naturally.


Time to get out there and make some friends!

 What I'm Wearing:
THAKOON navy top, thrifted, $2.50
Old Navy Jeans, Old Navy, $20
Bucket Hat, Target, $10
Red tennis shoes, Target, $10
Red watch Walmart, $5
Bitten white trench, Steve & Barry's, $7

Total Cost of Outfit:  $54.50