What has decades of blogging experience and lots of blonde hair? Why the Blonde Squad of course! We’ve had fun getting inspiration from each others’ past outfits for summer, fall, and winter, and sharing our fall staples. Instead of outfit inspiration this season, we are sharing our background on blogging and sharing blogging tips in hopes it may help you! We’ve all been blogging a long time, but we come from different perspectives. We have different things we focus on and different organizational methods. Make sure you check out Jill, Kathrine, Andrea, and Caroline to see their blogging tips and read about their blogging experience!
Introduction & Background
- How long have you been blogging?
- I started blogging in May of 2013! Next month will be my 9 year blogging anniversary. I can’t even believe it’s been that long. Blogging is so much a part of my life and big hobby and enjoyment of mine. I can’t imagine stopping anytime soon.
- Why did you start your blog?
- I was always interested in clothes, but didn’t have the knowledge to mix and match my wardrobe. Typically I would purchase outfits and wear them the same way over and over again. I started blogging around the time pinterest became popular. Through pinterest I found some fashion bloggers I began following. At the time, I was a new mom trying to motivate myself for a reason to get dressed and revamp my closet. So I began a blog to help document and give myself a little encouragement to remix my closet.
- WordPress or Blogger? Or something else? Pros/cons
- I started blogging on Blogger. At the time I had absolutely no idea what I was doing and I knew Blogger was free. I didn’t even know what other platforms were available. It seemed easy to get started and learn since there was the most information on how to use at the time.
- After using blogger for around 8 years, I had my posts migrated over to WordPress, but self-hosted. Overall, I’m very happy I made the switch. After using both platforms for a while I currently prefer WordPress, but I do see the benefits of Blogger
- For a newbie blogger, Blogger is straightforward and easy to get up and running. WordPress takes a bit longer to navigate. However, WordPress is easier to make changes to your theme and customize your colors and layout to your liking yourself. There are plug-ins to add to help with SEO and other things if you are looking to improve your views. If you have a bit of extra time to learn the ropes, I would recommend self-hosting on WordPress so you own your content.
- What is your niche or blog focus and why?
- I have difficulty pinning down my blog focus. But over the years I have tried to primarily focus on life and style content on a budget. Budgeting has always been important to me. My parents always instilled money management skills and saving into me as a child. I believe saving is important for the future. It’s how we ensure we are able to travel, save for big purchases, also put money aside for retirement and continued education for our children. However, I do not think that we need to scrimp and do without in the present day to save for the future. There are plenty of ways to save by ensuring you aren’t paying too much for services, shopping sales, getting creative, DIYing, or buying secondhand to get great home decor, fabulous outfits, and more.
Planning/time management
How do I even share any tips on this when it’s something I struggle with?! I often try to get posts written a few days prior. However, my schedule is often changing so I may be ahead one week and frantically trying to get a post written the night before the next week!
Most nights, I blog once the kids are in bed, about 2 hours a night. Throughout each day I will try to catch up on emails, comments, linkups, or writing posts as well. It’s all so hit or miss, I just try to be as efficient as I can and take advantage of whatever time I have.
Regular series
- What regular series or features do you have on your blog?
- Monthly Purchases-I always do a monthly budget post. It shows what I’m spending and how I’m wearing it.
- Life Lately- I like to include a monthly post to update you all on life happenings that don’t necessarily fit neatly into other posts. It’s a fun post to write and many of you have said it’s one of your favorites to read!
- Confident Twosday- I would be remiss if I did not include my weekly linkup! It started years ago and is every Tuesday.
Engagement
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- Link ups- I do participate in daily linkups. Although they certainly are not what they once were. Linkups are still fun and I have found some newer blogs that way.
- Comments- I have regular blogs I try to comment on with each post. When other bloggers are kind enough to comment on my posts, I also comment back. For other engagement, I try to promote my posts via social media and use good SEO.
Connecting with partnerships
I have been exceptionally fortunate to work with some incredible brands throughout my time as a blogger. I’ve worked with thredUp, Aventura, Shein, Teddy Blake, and The Walking Company. I was able to interview social media coordinators for brands for tips on how to pitch a brand.
Often I work through intermediary social media businesses to promote brands and not directly with the brand itself. There are many such social media businesses all which operate a bit differently. I have used Minisocial, Mavely, Sofab, Octoly, and Brandbacker just to name a few. These days most of my partnerships come through instagram and finding me there.
Photography
I am very lucky that my hubby takes my outfit photos. We do them on the weekends and try to take around 5 at a time. We use a DSLR and then I edit the photos with the general photo app on my Mac. I only really edit to alter the light, nothin major. If I could control the weather, photography is best on sunny days, but taken in the shade during the golden hour before sunset. It gives a beautiful golden glow in photos. Of course life does not always work out like that!
Most other photos for instagram or Simply Earth I take with my iphone. The cameras have gotten so much better in phones and I got the better camera specifically for that purpose. SO much more convenient!
In Conclusion
I hope you found this background and tips helpful for you. If you have any questions about any of this or anything I may not have covered, feel free to leave it in a comment or email me. I’m an open book and happy to share!
Now, go check out all of the other lovely ladies of the Blonde Squad and learn about their experience and read their blogging tips!
Last week’s favorite post was from Shauna at Lipgloss and Lace. Make sure you see her beautiful Easter dress!
LINKING UP WITH WALKING IN MEMPHIS IN HIGH HEELS AND FASHION CANVAS, STYLE WITH A SMILE, TURNING HEADS TUESDAY, SPREAD THE KINDNESS, CURATED BY JENNIFER, JERSEY GIRL TEXAN HEART, STYLE ON THE DAILY, WOW ON WEDNESDAY
