Behind the Scenes: On Blog Events & Collaborations

Last July, I kicked off a brand new Friday mini-series called Behind the Scenes. I've only been blogging for 3 (!!!) years, but I figured it might be fun to share a little bit with readers how I do things around here. This is, of course, in no way meant to be a post telling you the right or wrong way to do stuff! It's simply an attempt to share the blogging process that works best for me. 

Previously, I talked about how I write blog posts, how I filmed + edited vlogs, how I stay organized and commenting & social media. In my last installment for this series, and still in celebration of National Friendship Month, I wanted to share a little about blog events & collaborations!

Personally, I adore getting the opportunity to come up with events & features with my blogging friends! Not only do we get an opportunity to bond over our fangirl feels, and to come up with awesomely creative things to do, but it's also just plain fun. For me, community has always been the most important part of blogging and working on things with my friends has definitely heightened that feeling.

It all starts with an idea.

With every single thing I do, whether in real life or on this blog, it all finds the same starting point: an idea. Everything starts with this, whether it's because we were flailing like crazy together in a spur of the moment fangirl session on Twitter (ex: the #MaasThirteen), or because we love an author/series so very much (ex: Incarnate Read-a-Thon & Something Strange and Deadly Surprise Party), or because we're passionate about something (ex: Mabuhay!), or because we just like the idea of sharing a blog feature (ex: Friends with ARCs).

Who are your partners in crime?

For me, I usually wind up collaborating with people who have expressed their enthusiasm for the project. It's a spontaneous thing, really! Take, for instance, the #MaasThirteen. It really just started as a fangirl Twitter session over Sarah J. Maas & Heir of Fire; by the end of it, the girls and I had decided we wanted to do something special to celebrate this amazing series, and the upcoming release of Heir of Fire. However, I do try to make sure that I wind up collaborating with people that I have actually chatted with or "know" to some extent.

How do you plan it?

Well, this one is dependent on a few things, but most importantly this: location. Now, if I'm planning something with my friend Rachel, it's easier for us to get together in person and discuss ideas in real life. But if I'm working with friends who live in different places (like Judith, Jaz or Katie), then it's always via email. 

I've found that the process is very similar for both. We start by tossing out ideas, no matter how crazy they seem! Then, we narrow it down based on (1) schedule, (2) the goal we're trying to achieve and (3) what's most feasible given the time frame. I'm usually a penchant for getting dates & types of post laid out right away, though I'm always flexible with changes.

Note: We usually decide the schedule first, especially how long an event will run. This determines the rest, including content and promotional plans.

Take, for example, how Rachel and I planned for our Something Strange and Deadly Surprise Party. We decided on our schedule first (5 days, starting the Monday of the book's release week). Knowing we had to come up with 5 posts, we were able to narrow down our ideas to the ones that felt most exciting and workable!

Note: You also generally decide whether to alternate the dates you post content, or whether to both have content up on the same days. It's really entirely up to you.

Tip: It's definitely easier to sort this all out with a calendar & notepad in front of you. That way you can see the schedule and write down a few notes on posts you need to do.

How do you split the work?

It really depends on what you're comfortable with! I usually prefer that I divide the work evenly with whoever I'm collaborating with, and that we share our content with each other as we go along. Or, if you're aware that one of you is good at one thing (like Rachel with graphics), then it's also a good idea to allow them to take care of the stuff needed in their area of expertise! As long as there's a clear idea of who has to do what, and as long as you can trust the people you've chosen to collaborate with, then it should all run smoothly.

What about giveaways? 

(Otherwise known as, 

how do you split expenses?)

This is really a tricky thing, so I'd say it's best left to you to decide. Usually, when I'm collaborating with someone, we pick out who pays and everyone else will pay her pack (and it's best via Paypal, as most people have access to that). 

And there you have it, y'all - a few thoughts on collaborating with other bloggers for features & events! Honestly, I've had nothing but wonderful experiences when it comes to feature & event collaborations, as the bloggers I've worked with are enthusiastic, talented, gracious and kind. I've loved getting to know many of these people more because of all the work we do together, and I certainly look forward to many, many, many more of them in my future!

Hope you enjoyed taking a peek "behind the scenes"! If there's any other part of my blogging process you want to hear about, please feel free to let me know!