Here is an awesome article that was sent in by my good blogger friend, Tish. I would like for everyone to give her a warm welcome! I really enjoyed reading this offline and I am sure you will enjoy reading it too! Be sure to drop her some comments and before you head off west into the blogosphere, be sure to stop by her blog and bookmark it and subscribe to her RSS feed. Enjoy! and thank you Tish for such an awesome article!

If you would like to also guest author on GarryConn.com, take a look at this post here.

Using Offline Networking to Strengthen Your Online Identity
By Tish McQueen

As bloggers, we thrive on getting our words out to the masses. After all, loyal readers can provide friendships, partnerships, and technical knowledge. And for those interested in blogging for financial gain, readers are a necessity.

Garry has done a wonderful job of providing tips and tricks for building your online presence. I’d like to talk about building your offline presence – something that few bloggers do, but that will greatly benefit both you and your blog.

I have had the pleasure of meeting dozens of bloggers, and I regularly socialize with a number of them. Some of my readers have expressed interest in doing the same, stating that I am “lucky” to live in a city saturated with bloggers. There is no luck involved. It is through my own efforts that I have become a part of such a large blogging community. With a little patience and determination, you can do the same. Bloggers are everywhere. You just need to know where to look.

Discovering Local Blogs

To establish “real life” blogging connections, you first have to locate the blogs your area has to offer. One of the best sources is the online version of your newspaper. Reporters and columnists often have blogs. By reading through the comments, you’ll find even more area bloggers. My newspaper, The Knoxville News Sentinel, publishes a weekly link love column that highlights a sampling of posts from area blogs. The website also contains a feed aggregator containing all area blogs that the newspaper staff is aware of.

You can also utilize the power of Google to search for blogs in your hometown. A search for “Knoxville blogs” returned 1,840,000 results. Of course, many of the listings are duplicates, but it’s a search well worth performing.

Checking out the blogrolls of each area blog you discover will often lead you to additional local sites as well.

Meeting the Bloggers

When you discover an interesting blog, subscribe to the feed. Leave a comment. Let the author know that you live in the same town. Online friendships will naturally evolve into “real life” ones.

If you regularly read a number of local blogs, opportunities to meet the bloggers will present themselves. You may become aware of social and/or technical groups who meet on a regular basis. And if not, organize your own!

Local businesses have begun reaching out to the blogging community. The Knoxville Symphony Orchestra recently gave free tickets to bloggers who were willing to review the show. They even hosted a bloggers’ reception following the concert. I had the opportunity to hang out with old blogger friends as well as make new ones. My Technorati Authority experienced a real boost that night after the show! Take advantage of such opportunities. Perhaps you can even reach out to the blogging community through your own business by offering free products or services. The online advertising you receive will be well worth the investment.

Please keep a few tips in mind when venturing out to meet other bloggers for the first time. Consider your safety. Meet in a group setting, and take a friend if possible. Introduce yourself and your blog to everyone in the party. Take a genuine interest in the other bloggers, and remember their URLs. I recommend carrying blog cards that you can distribute to those you meet. It’s an inexpensive way to ensure that people will remember your web address. My blog cards contain my name, blog name, URL, email address, and cell phone number.

Cultivating Friendships

So you’ve met a few bloggers. Now what?

At your first available opportunity, subscribe to the feeds of those bloggers you’ve met. Waiting a few days will give you the chance to forget their URLs. Comment on their blogs to let them know that you enjoyed meeting them. Post about the event, linking those bloggers who were in attendance. This is a great way to help others in the group remember who they met.

Going out for a few drinks one night? Invite the bloggers! A microblogging tool such as Twitter will allow you to send brief messages to a large group of friends – all from your own cell phone!

A little creative offline networking will make you more than just another name on a blog. Your readers will develop a genuine interest in what you have to say. You’ll see more return visitors, a higher Technorati Authority, and an increase in comments. And if you’re lucky, lots of new friends. In essence, by building your offline presence, you’ll strengthen your online identity.