I've said many times that blogging success largely depends on relationships. There are a few lone, superstar bloggers out there, but I think most successful bloggers would agree that relationships with others have played a key role in getting them to where they are. I know that's true for me.
For that reason, I highly recommend being part of a mastermind group.
What’s a mastermind group?
Generally, a mastermind group is a handful of people who work together to achieve a particular goal.
What does a blogging mastermind group look like?
Well, I'm sure there are lots of variations, but in my experience, they look something like this:
- A group of bloggers (maybe 5-10),
- Who are somewhat like-minded,
- With similar-sized blogs (not necessarily the same niche, but related niches work well),
- Who agree to offer support, encourage one another, bounce ideas off of one another and even promote posts or projects for each other when appropriate.
How do you find a mastermind group?
Someone might ask you to be part of their mastermind group, but if not, start one yourself! It doesn't have to be complicated or scary. A quick email to some bloggers you know should do it.
Bloggers you have already communicated with (maybe in comments, on Facebook, Twitter or in forums) are ideal. Some will accept, some might not (don't take it personally), but once you've got a handful, you're set.
How do they communicate?
The mastermind groups I'm a part of do most of their communicating via Skype and email (try Yahoo! Groups or Google Groups to get an easy email list going).
Are there rules?
That's up to you and what works for your group. I think it's good to provide a general explanation of what you're hoping to achieve in your group and what's expected of the members. Personally, I like informal without a lot of rules because it leaves a lot more room for genuine relationship.
Remember that bloggers are often short on time, so keeping things easy is nice.
What do you do in a mastermind group?
As I said, I'm sure all mastermind groups work differently, but in the ones I'm a part of, we:
- Brainstorm blogging ideas.
- Share victories and defeats.
- Ask for help promoting posts or products.
- Get together IRL (in real life) at blogging conferences, at the park or for dinner (if they live nearby).
- Forward opportunities that may not be good for one member of the group but a great fit for another member of the group.
- Shoot the breeze and share life.
For me, mastermind groups have made a huge difference in my blogging success in so many ways.
Also, check out Groups & Tribes {Finding Support in the Blogosphere} (ohamanda.com). She shares her experience and offers helpful advice.
What about you? Are you in a mastermind group? How does it work for you? Any tips?
I LOVE my mastermind group! I just emailed a number of bloggers who were local and asked if they were interested in providing mutual support. We communicate on Skype and used it to get to know each other with a few scheduled Skype chats. We've been able to do a few in-person meetups. I wouldn't be able to do it on my own – but I love my blogging friends.
How did you find out who was local? I feel like it could be "risky" to meet up without knowing first….did you just make a post about it our did you find a good local resource?
Yes, please exercise extreme caution. I would only agree to meet up with someone if I've been communicating with them on some level for a while and am quite sure they are who they say they are.
Also, always schedule to meet in a public place and don't broadcast the location and time (like in a blog post).
Awesome!
I totally agree Amy. I started my first website, and then a blog, over 9 years ago. There wasn't as much good info online at the time about how to create income from your site… and almost noone was blogging then! I joined a group called Mom Masterminds, which has been rebranded into SoloMasterminds, and cut years off my learning curve.
Oh that's such a great point—it really helps to be able to learn from each.
I am new at this…I would agree that a mastermind group would be a wonderful way to share and bounce items off each other…the question I have, being new to this, is how would you start one?? How would I even know any bloggers in my area?? These may be very naive questions, but, I am sure for new people, they are thinking the same…Perhaps any seasoned bloggers would like to give some suggestions??
Thank you!
I am not a part of a MasterMind group so I guess it might be up to me to start one
Thank you for this information.
I would love to be part of a Master Mind group, but I'm not brave enough to start one… LOL!
I'm actually very shy. Is it strange that I'm shy and yet I blog?
I'm shy too! I think perhaps blogging is a natural outlet for us reticent types…?
Oh not at all. I'm a total introvert.
Maybe the shy blogger could be a separate post, Amy!
Sometimes I think I'm my own worst enemy because I just can't bring myself to talk to strangers about my blog. Not a good way to grow it, I know.
There must be some strategies to help the introverted blogger!
I had a good website going but changed it over to self hosted and now I need to get it back up and running before starting one, but I plan to contact some people as soon as that happens! I can't sit back and wait to be contacted….grab life! Jennifer…not strange at all, blogging is a great outlet no matter WHAT personality type!
This seems like such a good idea. I've been blogging for four years, but only recently started trying to be purposefully in blogging. And honestly, I'm really shy too. I think blogging is the perfect outlet for shy people.
I'm part of too many groups! LOL
I love my mastermind group. It is so nice to have a group of people who understand blogging and all the craziness that ensues occasionally.
Great Article…..I would defintely be interested in joining a Master Mind Group. Do you have any established ones you know of that are accepting members?
I love this topic. I am just starting out and would love to be part of a Mastermind group. I am not sure how to go about it, but it looks like there are many wonderful women right here!
I just started blogging this year and haven't really made any other blogging contacts. I seem to blog mostly to my "Audience of One" – lol – I would love to connect with other christian women doing the same thing…how do you start?
I'd love to find one, too. I'd like a virtual one, since our kids keep me so busy with running around that I don't think I'd be able to get together much. It would be awesome to find bloggers who are at the stage I'm at.
What a great idea! I'm not shy, just don't want to bother anybody. Anybody here that might like to start one?
Thanks for the Mastermind article Amy, many thanks!
I love this. Did you get any takers, Lindsey?
Hi Amy,
I was in a mastermind ten years ago and it was great for a while. Then, it turned into a crying session where people would just go on and on about their issues. I had to get out. It was depressing.
I tried several times to get a mastermind group together with a bunch of people who all seemed interested and no one would commit. I finally gave up. Maybe it's time to start looking somewhere else. Do you have any suggestions?
Thanks,
Dave Drew
Ok it seems like a lot of us want to be a part of a group but nobody wants to start one. So here goes nothing.
I just set up a Facebook group called "the shy masterminds". We can change it later
Let's take a shot at it ladies.
Thanks for the inspiration Amy!
Woohoo, Sandra! Way to step up!
Hi there! I'm one of the members of "the shy masterminds" group that Saundra started. It has been a tremendous help! The only problem has been limiting the groups number, so many people have been interested. So, another member of the group and I have decided to start another mastermind group for those who are on the long waiting list for the shy masterminds. Erin and I are NOT leaving the shy masterminds, Saundra just didn't feel up to starting another group, so we volunteered.
Our new group is called Bashful Luminaries Online Group (B.L.O.G.). We will be adding from the shy masterminds wait list first, but then will open up the group to others as space allows. You can find us here https://www.facebook.com/groups/166667493443799/, on Facebook. Erin and I look forward to connecting with you soon!
Awesome! Thank you.
Sandra
Let me know when you do. I tried to find it already! I will keep checking back to this post! Great idea too…:)
Here is the link
https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/199260443474321/
Thanks, Sandra!
Thanks Amy for all the great info you give about blogging. I love the idea of a master group since I'm new to blogging and would like support from others. I've started to get to know fellow bloggers so it would be great to hit them up. I have a feeling they may already be involved in a group since they tend to guest post for eachother a lot. Sometimes I feel like I'm back in high school when trying to fit in with my blogging buddies. I'll let you know how it works out.
I understand what you're saying. What I've found is that everyone is very friendly for the most part and we all understand the feeling of trying to "break in." That's why interacting in comments, on FB and on Twitter is a good first step. I know there are a lot of bloggers that really do have a huge following and find it hard to keep up, so finding bloggers who seem to have similar-sized blogs is often helpful!
My mastermind group got started because of a post on a blogging blog encouraging commenters to talk to each other and find a few blogging buddies. It started as a comment swap and morphed into a weekly conference call. Each week, a different person is in charge of deciding on a topic to discuss. We discuss the topic and then each of us state a blogging goal to complete by the next week. The power of accountability! We keep our group limited to four people so it's easy to chat on the phone together without talking over each other.
Very nice! So, given how many people commented on this post, I'm thinking you all have almost created your own group already! You all just need to connect and make it happen.
Thanks for the good ideas. I'm new to blogging, and have been trying to figure out a way to network.
You're welcome! Thanks for stopping by.
Ugh, it is so hard in this very awkward beginning a blog stage, to even know where to start. It really feels like moving to a new state and having no friends :-/ Thanks for all of your tips Amy, you have helped me put so much into the behind the scenes work on my blog! Sometimes I feel like I spend way too much time tinkering on the look and style of my blog, and that I should spend more time commenting on other blogs and working on my content. How do you find a balance in that?
The timer. Set a timer and decide ahead of time how much time you'll devote to commenting, how much to tweaking, how much to writing etc. I'd say, at the beginning, I'd devote at least half of my time to writing great content and then other half I would split between the other tasks (just a rough, off-the-top-of-my-head estimate). Great question! Maybe I'll have to post about this a bit more in depth…
When I wanted to be in a group (about 18 months ago), I just emailed a group of bloggers I knew to see if they would be interested. I was so nervous that everyone would say that they weren't interested. I was shocked then when all but one person said they would love to do it.
Our group has been such a blessing to me personally and professionally. I can't imagine blogging without it now.
I love this story, Angie!
Thanks Amy for the advice. I am moving in the direction of blogging for income (at least, part time). I have been studying your approach and appreciate your insight. Thanks again. @aheartforgod
You're welcome. Thanks for stopping by. All the best, Mike!
Amy – do you have a facebook for dummies post that I can read?
I'm trying to figure out facebook so I can join this group, but have NO clue what I'm doing! I think I'd rather play with HTML code than try to figure out facebook. I guess I could wait until my kids get home from school LOL!
Try here.
Good gravy….THANK YOU!
I swear I looked for help!
I'm so glad you ended up joining us Johnlyn! I don't know where we'd all be without you.
Thanks Jennifer – still don't like facebook, but I LOVE our masterminds group.
I love this idea. We are always more powerful and strong as we work together as a team. That allows us to utilize our specific gifts. Kingdom building
Thanks for the awesome blogs, Amy. Everytime I check your blog (which is daily, now), I learn something new.
I'm not exactly shy, but I requested to be part of the shy masterminds group because I'm not sure how to start my own. I've been blogging for about a month and have had about 1,200 views, but have been struggling with some of the technical issues and would love to be able to have people to ask questions.
I hope I won't be penalized because I'm a man! Thanks again.
So even though this post is not recent, I would like to put this out into the blogosphere:
If anyone is interested in having a writing / blogging partner, I'd love to be on your team. We can help one another succeed!
Please feel free to contact me directly if you're interested and we can exchange more information! Thanks!
(Or if there are a number of people interested, we could have a group support system!)
I was just reading thru your blog, gleaning massive amounts of wisdom, as usual and ran across this post. And what to my wondering eyes should appear? A link to my blog!
Thank you, friend! A year later, thank you!
a
My pleasure!
I came across this post the other day in search of a group to join. I submitted a request to join the fb group mentioned here. I hope I'm not too late!
amy, thanks for linking back to this great post. i'd love to collaborate with some fellow bloggers {i'm in atlanta, for those looking for something local}. i just opened a facebook page, "Blogging Buddies," so that more bloggers can connect & create groups of their own. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Blogging-Buddies/480836245287276?skip_nax_wizard=true