Happy Galentine’s Day! Any day that celebrates friendship and special people in your life is totally a win in my book. You can celebrate friendship with your girlfriends regardless of anyone’s relationship status. Plus it’s a great excuse to indulge in rosé, chocolate, and other goodies. That’s exactly how I spent my Saturday. Over good eats and sips, I got to catch up with some blogging friends and meet new ones! Inevitably, I had to get my phone out and take some photos. Possibly one of the best things about hanging out with a bunch of bloggers is that they think it’s completely normal as you stand on your chair to get the perfect food shot. Or they will scout walls with you to take outfit photos in front of. You gotta do what you gotta do.
My favorite thing about blogging is the community. Hands down, it is the best thing that has come from starting my blog almost three years ago. I didn’t start my blog with hopes to build a community other than a virtual one, honestly. I didn’t even know that a real life community could even stem from a blog. Yes, there are a lot of perks like receiving lots of gifts and getting invited to fun events but hands down the people you meet from blogging make it so rewarding.
When I started blogging it was mostly a solo thing. I joined some Facebook groups but they consisted of members from all across the country. The thing that really put the idea of community into my head is actually when some fellow bloggers from my college started reaching out to me. Somehow, other people looked up to me and wanted to pick my brain when it came to blogging. I still consider myself a newbie so that was flattering, of course. But mostly it made me so happy that I could make new friends in a completely different part of my life. Now that I’m graduated from college, it’s harder to make new friends. Aside from work, how else do you meet people? People primarily stick to their existing friend groups! That’s why it’s so great to meet new people who share the same hobby.
My blog continues to be a passion project of mine but I see it as a vessel for building relationships as well. The friends I have made through blogging are inspiring and supportive. All these ladies understand the highs and lows of running a blog. They are also real people who work 9-5s, have relationships, own businesses, etc. That’s what makes the Seattle blogging community so unique. My friend Katrina and I were talking about how this community is all about building each other up. Community over competition is a real thing, guys. It’s not just an Instagram hashtag, promise.
So, to all the friends I have made through blogging: thank you for making this hobby of mine so much more fun. To all the businesses and PR gurus out there that also help build this community: thank you for the opportunities and your support.
All photos by Vivian Hsu Photography. Thank you Vivian for always capturing such beautiful shots! Big thank you to Bissinger’s, Jenn of Hello Rigby, and RevPR for hosting!
I love it!! It was so much fun to hang out with you during the event. :) Let’s catch up some more!
Always love seeing you!! Yes please :)
Hi Grace, I found your blog when I was looking for blogger events in Seattle. How do you find such a likeminded community? Blogging really become more popular when I was out of college so I don’t know anyone else in person who blogs and would love to find others pursuing their creative dreams together. Do you participate in a lot of seattle blogger groups or events like this? Thanks for anything you can share! :)
Hi Jen! It wasn’t overnight and I definitely had help. I would say it’s two parts – one is just reaching out or others reaching out to you via social media and starting to meet in person. Interacting and engaging with people through social media is a huge help. I would say that’s how most people meet their “real life” blogger friends. I don’t find blogger groups to be helpful but if theres a niche where you fit in, that would work. The other part for me has been chance I guess. When PR contacts start noticing that you’re a local blogger and start adding you to their lists for events, you just start meeting people at those. It’s totally ok to reach out to them first and let them know you’re a Seattle blogger looking to meet others and that you would like to go to events. Check out Gossip and Glamour (http://www.gossip-glamour.com/) – Sydney hosts some of the best events and you can shoot her an email or simply join her mailing list to hear about future events.
Grace, thank you so much for your thoughtful response! That definitely gives me confidence to keep connecting with others. Hope you’re enjoying London!