Showing posts with label blog tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blog tips. Show all posts
First and foremost, Happy Birthday to my Dad! Another year older, wiser and more handsome. Thanks for being the best dad in the entire world and the best grandpa to Quinn. I'm so thankful for the time we got to spend together the last week. I cannot wait to see you soon! Have the best day! I love you!Writers block is real people. I cannot tell you how many times I want to write a post, but my mind is blank. Absolutely blank. I figured I couldn't be the only one who struggles with writers block, so in the nature of helping other bloggers, a list of 30 blog post ideas.
- Favorite beauty products
- Behind the blog scenes - what does blogging really look like to you?
- Your blog goals
- Favorite playlist
- Favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe
- Bucket list of fun things to do in your city
- A day in the life of you
- A day in the life of your dog
- Life Lately!
- Ask your best friend to guest post
- Write an "on this day in history" post
- What makes you happy
- How you met your spouse
- 5 books that changed your life
- Bucket list for the rest of 2018
- Share with us your dream day
- Reader poll
- Question and answer session with your readers
- Top ten travel destinations
- Tell us about your wedding day/engagement/dating
- Fall bucket list
- Share your favorite blog and bloggers
- Run a contest or a giveaway
- Take us inside your house! Show us around.
- Write a post to your younger self
- Show us your morning routine
- What are your 5 wardrobe essentials?
- Favorite podcasts
- DIY!
- Share your weekly fitness routine
Happy Monday! I recently had a girl reach out on Instagram and ask how I started my blog. While I was flattered, I was a little shocked because I don't really blog about blogging. There are a ton of people who do and make a killing, but its not really my vibe. We DM'ed back and forth a little bit and I thought, hey, how about a quick post to help you start.
Back story. I technically started blogging in college (2008!), meaning all my emo-blog posts are still on the archives here. But I really started blogging in August, 2014. That's when The Everyday Grace came to be. I've been blogging while doing the full time job thing since and it's hard but its the best.
These are some of the things I wish I knew when I started blogging.
You will meet the best group of blog support. Sometimes my best blog support comes from people I've never actually met. Take my friend Chelsea. I have never met her in person, but she constantly comments on my blog, my instagram, likes my pictures, picks me up when its a bad day and celebrates the good. I literally love this girl. Ps. go follow her. Sometimes your real life friends don't get how to support you as a blogger or don't want too and thats okay. Find your blog tribe, love them hard.
Social Media is a full time job. As much as I hate being glued to my phone, social media is what brings me the most business. Yes, I love writing and I love this blog, but my instagram numbers usually mean more to advertisers. People like numbers on a photo rather than comments on a post. Engaging with other bloggers, sharing your own content and managing it in between is a lot of damn work. I need an assistant/
Quality over quantity. Shoot, I still post stuff where I second guess myself. Write stuff you love. Even if you think you NEED to post, your readers will understand a day off for great content instead of reading crap.
Learn HTML or at least the basics. If you want to make this work, learn the basics. Watch the YouTube videos, take the classes. Don't rest on templates to carry you through. And don't ask for advice if you aren't willing to pay for it. I didn't take 50 hours of HTML classes online over the last 4 years to give you the cliff-notes.
Numbers matter. But they don't. But they do. Are you loving what you're doing? Then great! Yes, numbers matter to advertisers and brands. But so does passion, quality and engagement. Keep working, keep creating and the numbers will come, swear.
You will burn out. Maybe not all the way. Maybe not for a long time. But its okay to take a break. Its only to only put out a post twice a week and call it a success. Burn out is real, it happens to the best of us. Learn from it, take a break and pick back up.
You will compare yourself to others, it's natural, but don't let it control you. It will only hurt you. It's super easy to see someones growth and instantly feel jealous. But you don't know how hard that blogger is working, what they're doing behind the scenes or how they're growing. Supporting others doesn't lessen your own value.
Join Facebook groups in your niche. This is not only a great place to learn tips, but it's a great place to share your blogs and meet amazing woman. There are tons and tons of facebook groups dedicated to all kinds of blogs.
Find your passion. I'm not saying niche per se, but your passion. Mom blogging isn't for us all, neither is fashion. But if you love it, your readers will see it, the advertisers will see it and you will see it in the success of your blog. I don't believe in the whole niche thing, but if you write what you love, it will be the perfect niche for you.
Blogging takes a shit ton of time. I think people look at blogs and think, Oh I could do that. I'm sure you could, but are you aware that most posts take anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours to draft. And that pictures are a day long event. An Instagram pic and caption is 10 minutes per, at least. I love blogging, but it totally takes its time.
When did you start your blog? What advice would you give newbies out there?
Ps. If you want some more tips, these are my 10 blogging commandments. See a theme here?
Back story. I technically started blogging in college (2008!), meaning all my emo-blog posts are still on the archives here. But I really started blogging in August, 2014. That's when The Everyday Grace came to be. I've been blogging while doing the full time job thing since and it's hard but its the best.
These are some of the things I wish I knew when I started blogging.
You will meet the best group of blog support. Sometimes my best blog support comes from people I've never actually met. Take my friend Chelsea. I have never met her in person, but she constantly comments on my blog, my instagram, likes my pictures, picks me up when its a bad day and celebrates the good. I literally love this girl. Ps. go follow her. Sometimes your real life friends don't get how to support you as a blogger or don't want too and thats okay. Find your blog tribe, love them hard.
Social Media is a full time job. As much as I hate being glued to my phone, social media is what brings me the most business. Yes, I love writing and I love this blog, but my instagram numbers usually mean more to advertisers. People like numbers on a photo rather than comments on a post. Engaging with other bloggers, sharing your own content and managing it in between is a lot of damn work. I need an assistant/
Quality over quantity. Shoot, I still post stuff where I second guess myself. Write stuff you love. Even if you think you NEED to post, your readers will understand a day off for great content instead of reading crap.
Learn HTML or at least the basics. If you want to make this work, learn the basics. Watch the YouTube videos, take the classes. Don't rest on templates to carry you through. And don't ask for advice if you aren't willing to pay for it. I didn't take 50 hours of HTML classes online over the last 4 years to give you the cliff-notes.
You will burn out. Maybe not all the way. Maybe not for a long time. But its okay to take a break. Its only to only put out a post twice a week and call it a success. Burn out is real, it happens to the best of us. Learn from it, take a break and pick back up.
You will compare yourself to others, it's natural, but don't let it control you. It will only hurt you. It's super easy to see someones growth and instantly feel jealous. But you don't know how hard that blogger is working, what they're doing behind the scenes or how they're growing. Supporting others doesn't lessen your own value.
Find your passion. I'm not saying niche per se, but your passion. Mom blogging isn't for us all, neither is fashion. But if you love it, your readers will see it, the advertisers will see it and you will see it in the success of your blog. I don't believe in the whole niche thing, but if you write what you love, it will be the perfect niche for you.
Blogging takes a shit ton of time. I think people look at blogs and think, Oh I could do that. I'm sure you could, but are you aware that most posts take anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours to draft. And that pictures are a day long event. An Instagram pic and caption is 10 minutes per, at least. I love blogging, but it totally takes its time.
When did you start your blog? What advice would you give newbies out there?
Ps. If you want some more tips, these are my 10 blogging commandments. See a theme here?
Perhaps you're a fashion blogger preparing for a shoot. You might be a working professional that's preparing for a good-looking headshot for your LinkedIn profile. You might be an actress who's looking for a few great photoshoots to use when you're featured in magazines.
No matter what the occasion is, it's always important to make sure you put your best face forward when you're preparing for a photoshoot. In order to get yourself together, it's wise to get started a few weeks in advance. Consider putting these tasks on your to-do list before the big shoot!
Makeup // If you know how to do your own makeup, kudos to you and your awesome skills. Typically, a lot of women don't know how to do makeup professionally. Consider hiring a great makeup artist to take good care of you. For the close-up shots, make sure to use an eyelash brand like Sugar Lash Pro to make the eyes really stand out and pop. Furthermore, it's important to do the steps leading up to the application. A week before the shoot, make sure to stay incredibly hydrated. Drink lots of water because that impacts how well the makeup applies to your skin. Next to hydration, make sure to exfoliate and moisturize the skin.
Clothing // If you choose an outfit that's already in your closet, make sure it looks new. You don't want to take a photoshoot with tattered clothing (unless that's the theme). Make sure to choose colors that complement your skin tone. Be sure to iron the clothes and make sure there aren't any creases or stains on the fabric. You want to make sure you put your best foot forward when it comes to clothing.
Hair // At the very basic level, make sure that your hair is washed, conditioned and clean. You don't want to deal with flakes and dandruff in your shoot. Once you get your hair done, make sure to keep a brush or comb on hand so that you can make sure that every hair is in place. In fact, it's probably best to schedule your hair appointment closer to the time of your shoot. This way, your hair will look perfectly fresh.
As you get closer to the day, you'll be able to realize what you'll need more of. Be flexible and prepared on the day of the shoot. While you may get a little nervous about the whole experience, remember to be natural and do your best to get out of your own head.
In many cases, people think themselves into a conundrum. If you do your best to act natural and loosen up, eventually you'll get into the flow of things and feel great. When this happens, you'll create magic on a photoshoot.
No matter what the occasion is, it's always important to make sure you put your best face forward when you're preparing for a photoshoot. In order to get yourself together, it's wise to get started a few weeks in advance. Consider putting these tasks on your to-do list before the big shoot!
Makeup // If you know how to do your own makeup, kudos to you and your awesome skills. Typically, a lot of women don't know how to do makeup professionally. Consider hiring a great makeup artist to take good care of you. For the close-up shots, make sure to use an eyelash brand like Sugar Lash Pro to make the eyes really stand out and pop. Furthermore, it's important to do the steps leading up to the application. A week before the shoot, make sure to stay incredibly hydrated. Drink lots of water because that impacts how well the makeup applies to your skin. Next to hydration, make sure to exfoliate and moisturize the skin.
Clothing // If you choose an outfit that's already in your closet, make sure it looks new. You don't want to take a photoshoot with tattered clothing (unless that's the theme). Make sure to choose colors that complement your skin tone. Be sure to iron the clothes and make sure there aren't any creases or stains on the fabric. You want to make sure you put your best foot forward when it comes to clothing.
Hair // At the very basic level, make sure that your hair is washed, conditioned and clean. You don't want to deal with flakes and dandruff in your shoot. Once you get your hair done, make sure to keep a brush or comb on hand so that you can make sure that every hair is in place. In fact, it's probably best to schedule your hair appointment closer to the time of your shoot. This way, your hair will look perfectly fresh.
As you get closer to the day, you'll be able to realize what you'll need more of. Be flexible and prepared on the day of the shoot. While you may get a little nervous about the whole experience, remember to be natural and do your best to get out of your own head.
In many cases, people think themselves into a conundrum. If you do your best to act natural and loosen up, eventually you'll get into the flow of things and feel great. When this happens, you'll create magic on a photoshoot.
I teamed up with fellow bloggers to host this giveaway!
Enter to win a $400 Target Giftcard by earning points!
Blogging is literally my favorite thing in my world. It's my online diary that keeps me totally sane. It's a pain in my butt, it keeps me up at night, but mostly, it makes me so dang happy. It might be nothing more than my favorite Denver hot-spots, but there is something about telling my story that just feels damn good.
Quick story: My hubs is the cutest. On Sunday, I was busy running errands, doing laundry, trying to watch the Masters while cooking dinner and he stopped me and told me to go blog a little bit. He 100% knows my heart and he knows when I need a little me time. Granted a little me time turned in to 2 hours of undivided blog attention, but it was what I needed after a very long week.
Me time = Law and Order SVU, a closed office door and this space. It's the perfect time to just zone out. Oh blogging, the funny, amazing game you are. I love it, but man, it's a tough gig.
I've been around the block a little. I started this blog in August, 2009. Feel free to read my first post, it's horribly embarrassing, but honestly refreshing. I'd like to think I've learned a think or two about this business, so here ya go. But let's get this straight, I am no blogging guru. I just know what has worked with me.
1. Be kind. Blogging is hard. People are mean. Be kind to people. We're all just doing the very best we can. Imagine how bad a mean comment hurts, but how encouraging a good word is.
2. Comment, comment, comment. Engage with other bloggers. This community is so incredible. Don't expect to grow if you don't help others grow too. That goes for Instagram too. My favorite part of the day is when I get to sit, grab my inbox and read all my favorite blogs. It's like catching up with friends.
4. Spell check. People. There is a button that will do this for you! This always makes me laugh. It seems very simple/ But, my favorite Friends episode has the best quote ever. Basics: You=You, Your= possessive; You are = You're. I cannot tell you how silly it is to see people misspell the basics. I don't care if it's on Instagram, Facebook or especially a blog-post. People take high stakes in others ability to spell. Do not sell yourself short by misspelling a word.
6. Find your tribe, love them hard. Blogging BFFs are real. Love them, use them, encourage them, find them, believe in them. All those things you do, they'll do back.
7. Be consistent and authentic. These absolutely go hand-in-hand. Being consistent with crap isn't good and being inconsistent with authentic content will only get you so far. If it is post you would NOT read, do not post it. What's the point. Great, you have a terrible blog post but you made a hard-line rule to post every other day. Skip it. Save it for when you're motivated. I promise it will be worth it. With that being said, I'm still waiting to be sponsored for tampons, so it's all perspective I guess, ha.
8. Instagram is great, but don't neglect other forms of social media. There's a lot to keep up with. Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Bloglovin, did you schedule on Tailwind or Hootsuite? Is your ShopStyle linked to Insta? Sheesh, just writing all that out wore me out. But, if you wanna grow, you gotta grow everywhere.
9. Don't steal other peoples content. Hustle. Work hard. Stay humble. I do a lot of blog-surfing and recently I came across my EXACT post about Denver hot spots. It was from a small publication, sharing their "Local Denver Hot Spots" They even used my picture. Guys, at first I thought, holy crap, I've made it. Then I realized wait, I was never asked, my blog isn't mentioned and neither is my name. I emailed and demanded they remove the post immediately (the lawyer in me got a little feisty). And they apologized and took it down. But, come on people. I get we all share general ideas. Heck, I've seen the 10 blogging commandments 1000000x. But write your own stuff. Do not copy and paste. This applies to Instagram. There's nothing better than posting a picture and 5 minutes later someone posts the exact same. SMH. Apparently in kid lingo that means shake my head. Bottom line, work hard. Blogging takes work. If you're out to still others, you're in the wrong game. Blogging is hard, but so rewarding. Put in the hustle, see the reward.
10. Look to the mentors. I have been friends with Helene from Helene in Between for over 2 and a half years. She is my blogging mentor. I did her blog review over two years ago and she is still my go-to for all blog questions. There are blog-geniusus out there. Use them! Do not be embarassed to ask for help or advice. My recs: Kallie from But First, Coffee. Helene, obvs. Kaelene from Unlocking Kiki, Erica from Coming up Roses. Just to name a few.
What are your blogging tips? Tell me everything. Like I said in #10, I love advice rom others. We're all in this together peeps.
Happy Tuesday friends!
Quick story: My hubs is the cutest. On Sunday, I was busy running errands, doing laundry, trying to watch the Masters while cooking dinner and he stopped me and told me to go blog a little bit. He 100% knows my heart and he knows when I need a little me time. Granted a little me time turned in to 2 hours of undivided blog attention, but it was what I needed after a very long week.
Me time = Law and Order SVU, a closed office door and this space. It's the perfect time to just zone out. Oh blogging, the funny, amazing game you are. I love it, but man, it's a tough gig.
I've been around the block a little. I started this blog in August, 2009. Feel free to read my first post, it's horribly embarrassing, but honestly refreshing. I'd like to think I've learned a think or two about this business, so here ya go. But let's get this straight, I am no blogging guru. I just know what has worked with me.
1. Be kind. Blogging is hard. People are mean. Be kind to people. We're all just doing the very best we can. Imagine how bad a mean comment hurts, but how encouraging a good word is.
2. Comment, comment, comment. Engage with other bloggers. This community is so incredible. Don't expect to grow if you don't help others grow too. That goes for Instagram too. My favorite part of the day is when I get to sit, grab my inbox and read all my favorite blogs. It's like catching up with friends.
3. Be authentic. Do you like the post you're about to hit Publish on? If so, post away. If not, re-think what you're doing. People will see through the crap. I used to follow a blogger (for yearss) and recently all she blogs about is stuff she's selling. And it's not good stuff, it's bad stuff. I feel a sense of loyalty to her, but the blogger I knew is gone. Stay true to yourself and your readers will stay true to you. Trust me, I have blogged some weirddddd stuff. Sometimes I wish I hadn't hit publish. But we live and we learn.
Stay true to yourself and your readers will stay true to you. #everygracetips— Everyday Grace (@kristengrace1) April 10, 2017
5. Do not partake in follow/unfollow. It is a losing game. And it's annoying. There is a blogger who legit follows and unfollows me on Instagram every day. How do I know? No, it's not because I have an app that tells me. It's because every single day I get a new follower notification from her. Really?
6. Find your tribe, love them hard. Blogging BFFs are real. Love them, use them, encourage them, find them, believe in them. All those things you do, they'll do back.
7. Be consistent and authentic. These absolutely go hand-in-hand. Being consistent with crap isn't good and being inconsistent with authentic content will only get you so far. If it is post you would NOT read, do not post it. What's the point. Great, you have a terrible blog post but you made a hard-line rule to post every other day. Skip it. Save it for when you're motivated. I promise it will be worth it. With that being said, I'm still waiting to be sponsored for tampons, so it's all perspective I guess, ha.
8. Instagram is great, but don't neglect other forms of social media. There's a lot to keep up with. Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Bloglovin, did you schedule on Tailwind or Hootsuite? Is your ShopStyle linked to Insta? Sheesh, just writing all that out wore me out. But, if you wanna grow, you gotta grow everywhere.
9. Don't steal other peoples content. Hustle. Work hard. Stay humble. I do a lot of blog-surfing and recently I came across my EXACT post about Denver hot spots. It was from a small publication, sharing their "Local Denver Hot Spots" They even used my picture. Guys, at first I thought, holy crap, I've made it. Then I realized wait, I was never asked, my blog isn't mentioned and neither is my name. I emailed and demanded they remove the post immediately (the lawyer in me got a little feisty). And they apologized and took it down. But, come on people. I get we all share general ideas. Heck, I've seen the 10 blogging commandments 1000000x. But write your own stuff. Do not copy and paste. This applies to Instagram. There's nothing better than posting a picture and 5 minutes later someone posts the exact same. SMH. Apparently in kid lingo that means shake my head. Bottom line, work hard. Blogging takes work. If you're out to still others, you're in the wrong game. Blogging is hard, but so rewarding. Put in the hustle, see the reward.
What are your blogging tips? Tell me everything. Like I said in #10, I love advice rom others. We're all in this together peeps.
Happy Tuesday friends!
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