Blogger 101: Things Nobody Told You About Blogging

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Blogger 101 is back with another interesting post that I'm sure a lot of bloggers can relate to. When people hear the word 'blogger', there are pre-conceived notions as to what being a blogger is about. Oftentimes, these are negative notions that put blogging in such a bad light. But that does not nearly define what blogging is about or what it entails. Don't be fooled by the top fashion bloggers out there - they might make it look so glam, but they're hustling behind the scenes, some working up to 12 hours a day or more!

To break the cloud of mystery surrounding fashion blogging, I'll break down four things that nobody told you about blogging:

You're more than just a blogger. Even though we got called as "blogger" there is more to blogging than meets the eye. We become photographers, photo editors, content editors, social media marketers, SEO analysts, marketers, and web designers, to name a few. In fact, a lot of bloggers invest a great deal of money on online courses that will help them acquire the skills needed to be all these. It's no joke! It isn't something that you decide to do one day and then wake up the next expecting to be successful. You have to put in the time and work.

Competition is stiff. As I've mentioned in my post about fashion blog opportunities, it can be tough to compete for opportunities as there are thousands of other fashion bloggers out there. And all of you are doing your best to make a break. It can be daunting when you realize exactly how much competition you have. But competition can be viewed both ways: you can either let it get you down, or you can use it as fuel to excel in what you do. Competition makes blogging more fun, but also means you have to work doubly hard.

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A post takes more than an hour to be ready. This is one of my biggest peeves about brands or potential collaborators. Some of them make ridiculous requests when sending out items for review, or posting about a product launch. Hence, I had to turn down some of them because I feel exploited. From the outside looking in, a blog post is just that, a blog post. You write down a few words and then hit publish. Easy, right? Unfortunately, writing a blog post takes more than hour. In between taking photos to writing the post and then sharing it all over social media or linkups, time can easily slip away.

You're human. In life, you have your highs and lows. There are instances wherein life gets in the way of blogging and it makes keeping up with your blog schedule a little tougher than usual. But some people are left to wonder when there are days wherein you just can't seem to update your posts as often as you normally do. You have to understand that we do have a life to live and attend to. Blogging is a priority for most of us, but the people in our lives always come first.

As a blogger yourself, what do you think is one aspect about your blogging journey that is often misunderstood?

Blogger 101: Blog Linkups - Are They Worth Your Time?

Blogging can take on different values in a blogger's life. Some consider it as a hobby while others make a living from blogging. Whatever your long term goal might be, we all strive for a common thing: to get readers! Blogging has evolved into not just a one-way form of communication; it is more interactive now with readers sharing their thoughts on blogs they read through comments. And social media has opened up more possibilities for making blogging a shared experienced between the blogger and the readers. 

Based on my own experience, joining linkups or blog hops has helped me grow my readers. It has also enabled me to tap into a reader base that I normally would not have had access to. If you have not heard of linkups before, it is basically a venue wherein bloggers can share links to their posts for other bloggers to see. You can therefore get exposure for your blog posts and see posts from others as well. All bloggers who join linkups are encouraged to visit other blogs and interact. That's what linkups are for. 

Participating in linkups might seem like a lot of work (and time-consuming as well); for the most part it is! But if you want to reap the benefits, then you have to make that investment of time. It has personally helped me grow my blog. To be honest, I don't think I would be able to have a steady stream of readers if not for these linkups. As I've mentioned above, it allows you to reach out to readers that might not even know your blog exists. At the same time, it helps you to find new blogs to read to connect with or get inspiration from. 

You can maximize linkups by sharing posts that you think others will be interested in. Or, if you find posts from others that will pique your interest, go ahead and visit their blog. Leave a comment if you're compelled to. Let them know that you enjoyed reading their post and you can even invite them to your blog. Just be polite in doing so. The worst thing that you can do is to leave your links and not interact. It dilutes the essence of the linkup. 

The more you join these linkups, the more interesting and fun you will find it to be! Go ahead and give it a shot. You might even be rewarded with new readers or blogger friends. It's a win-win situation! 

To see which blogs I am linking up to, visit this page. Have you joined any linkups before?

Blogger 101: How to Support Other Bloggers

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Whoever said or thought that blogging is a competition is dead wrong. I might sound hypocritical but never did I ever feel like I had to compete with any blogger. I guess I am lucky to be able to get that kind of perspective; after all, it was primarily after reading a fashion blogger that I got inspired to start my own so maybe that is where most of the feeling is from (and I am so glad I have retained that kind of feeling about this whole fashion blogging venture). As I said in my previous Blogging 101 post on Fashion Blog Opportunities, I think most of the blog jealousy and competition springs from the sense of having to compete with other bloggers for these opportunities. But I beg you, don't. The world wide web and fashion industry combine to offer an endless array of opportunities for everyone. You might not get the same opportunities or collaborations that one blogger is having, yet you also have your own set of collaborations that they don't have (and maybe even dream of having).

I would like to steer this conversation towards a more positive light - let's all show support towards our fellow bloggers. Here are some of the ideas I've thought of:

Talk About Them in Your Blog

I used to do a segment here in my blog called "Style Crush" (you can see my latest installment here). From reading fashion blogs every week, there are a few looks that stand out in my mind and I get so inspired by, which is how I come up with the list of bloggers to feature in this series. There are several other ways you can share the love on your blog and help your fellow blogger gain exposure. One of the fun things I was able to take out from doing this series is when other bloggers leave a comment saying they've never heard of the bloggers I've featured and are excited to read more from them, which is exactly the whole point of doing the post in the first place. 

Read Their Blogs (and Comment)

This is the easiest way to show support for other bloggers and I do this often. Every day, I read about 10-20 blogs on my free time (or I try to squeeze it into my schedule). It is fun and a great way to immerse into the blogging community, or meet blogging friends!

Join Their Linkups

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I do have a few bloggers hosting linkups that I regularly join in. Again, like blog commenting, this is a great way to become involved in the blogging community. You can see the full list of linkups I join in regularly here. 

Share Their Content

If you liked a blog post that another blogger wrote, share it on your social media accounts. Or, you can also re-tweet or share their other posts. If you find something of value to you and to your own followers, this is a worthwhile move. It is also a great way to capture the other blogger's attention and they would be more than happy to reciprocate. Just don't forget to mention them when sharing your post!

Buy Stuff They Blog About

Contrary to what is being written about fashion bloggers (maybe it could be true for select bloggers), but we don't earn six-figure income from our blogs. Most of us, like me, do this for a hobby only and any other earnings are considered a bonus. Therefore, it is a good way to show support to your favorite blogs to buy through their affiliate links, especially if you intend to buy the items they featured anyway. You are still going to get the item you intended to buy and help out a blogger in return!

In this world where the comparison game is as strong as ever, it is your turn to change the tides. We all need cheerleaders. But before you can get a cheerleader, we have to become a cheerleader first. 

How do you support your favorite bloggers?

Blogger 101: How to Overcome Instagram Pressure

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If Instagram was any evidence, keeping up with the Joneses is not easy. It never was. Today's society has become so engrossed with materialism and social media was no help at all. In fact, it only encouraged social approval and fueled desire for validation based on what is seen aka the material things. If you are a personal style blogger, like myself, who had to use the app (Instagram) to promote your blog, you might have felt the pressure to keep up as well. 

Therefore, I felt the need to share my thoughts about Instagram and this whole social media culture. Remember the time when catching up on each other's lives meant inviting your friends over for dinner at your own home and showing off your photos to them until they're bored? Things have changed dramatically in this era. Now, you can update your friends and even strangers who follow you about every detail of your life in real time. It sounds creepy but that's how most Instagrammers function. 

If you are on the other end of the spectrum, there is a huge pressure on your back when it comes to living up to the pressure of Instagram. How do you keep up with top fashion bloggers who are constantly jet-setting? One day they're posting sunset shots of New York City and then the next they're posting photos of the gorgeous beaches in Cancun (with a cocktail in hand, of course!). Or, maybe they're rubbing elbows with fashion designers at a fashion gala? There is no doubt a seemingly unattainable standard that celebrities, models and other famous personalities have set for Instagram. 

Don't frown just yet. It is all but normal to feel that way. A tinge of envy is part of being human. But do I let it distract me from what is going on with my life? Even I can't manage to create the perfect flat lay. But who cares? 

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Try these three methods that I've used to overcome the inherent pressure that goes with maintaining an Instagram account:

1 – I do what pleases me.

Much of the social media struggle hinges on the need for validation, for social approval. I have let go of that idea when managing my social media accounts. I do whatever pleases me. I post whatever I like or enjoy doing. I refuse to be dictated by what would consider others click the ‘like’ button. I have attained a certain level of belief in myself that my existence is not validated by a mere ‘like’ or ‘follow’. In this social media era, it is understandably easy to be consumed by this type of appreciation but do not let it define you.

2 – I follow whoever I like.

This is another healthy step to overcoming the pressure of a seemingly glamorous social media life. Choose to follow people you genuinely like. When you follow someone because of their gorgeous photos or awesome flatlays, you could be easily swayed to look life through an ideal. You will look up to them as the ideal and be frustrated when you can’t live up to that standard. Instead, I follow people for the genuineness and for the stories that each photo has to say.

3 – I try not to spend too much time on Instagram.

On an average, I probably post 3-4 times a week on Instagram (or once a day at most). I do the occasional flooding of posts when I’m on a roll. But I try to live my life, not live a life that would look good on social media. There is a huge difference!

Have you ever felt the pressure to craft an idealized version of your life on social media, particularly Instagram?

Blogger 101: How to Simplify Your Blogging Life

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Most bloggers like myself have started off this venture as a hobby - something to do on your free time. Eventually, as you get more readers and more opportunities come knocking at your door, it requires a serious commitment of time and effort. Even when you are doing blogging as a part-time venture, your schedule can be pretty hectic fairly quickly. Blogging looks a lot like this:

* Outfit planning
* Taking photos of your outfit
* Writing the post
* Promoting the post (across all social media channels)
* Networking and blog commenting
* Publishing posts to your social network sites
* Checking and responding to your emails, etc.

Suddenly, what would normally take up an hour or so in your day-to-day routine will look like a full time job of its own. Not so easy, right? It's hard to fathom that these tasks are only scratching the surface as far as your long-term blogging goals are concerned. You have to make editorial planning, brand negotiations, handling affiliate and partnership programs, and many more. There is so much to do!

With so many tasks to accomplish (on top of a regular day job), you could easily get burned. Poor habits and procrastination won't help either. Here are a few tricks that I've used to simplify my blogging life and get more done (in less time):

Batch Your Tasks

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I do this a lot. And it has worked wonders. When you have so much to do at once, you could easily neglect a few duties that you need to take care of. To avoid that, I do my post scheduling, photo shoots, and blog writing at once. This will help me accomplish more in less time, especially when I get some free time. This will allow continued posting on your blog and social media even when a few unexpected things arise in your schedule.

Scheduling

As I mentioned above, scheduling posts is one of the best things to happen to blogging (and social media). There are a lot of websites or apps that allow you to schedule your social media posts in your preferred time and dates so you do not have to be on your Twitter or Facebook all the time!

Figure Out When You're Most Productive

Some bloggers are more productive in the morning while others prefer working at night. Figure out which time of the day you are most efficient. In some cases, you have no choice because you have to depend on what is available in your schedule, but get as much as you can get done when you are in the mood.

Plan!

I admit - I am a little obsessive compulsive. I plan my activities at least a week in advance because I hate cramming! I do keep a little spreadsheet wherein I create a schedule of my post for the next week or two. That way, I don't end up scrambling for post ideas and I can brainstorm without worrying about not having anything to publish today or tomorrow.

Got more tips to simplify your blogging routine? I'd love to hear them!

 

Blogger 101: Refresh Your Blogging Attitude

This year marks the 3rd year that I've had this blog. The thought inspired nostalgia. It has been fascinating to look back on the past years that I've had this blog; looking back on my earlier posts, I often cringe and maybe feel slightly embarrassed with some of my posts. But then I give myself a pat in the back because looking back also made me realize how far I've gone. Hey, we all had to start somewhere!

At the same time, the earlier years of blogging provided a wonderful insight into my blogging attitude. I was blogging for me. I wasn't out to impress anyone. There was no inherent pressure at all. Today, the growth of the blog has added pressure of trying to "maintain" the integrity of the brand. There is also an added pressure of coming up with regular posts. Although this pressure has not pushed me to the point of having to take a blog break, it is no doubt a lot of work! 

It is therefore important to constantly refresh your blogging attitude. It makes the experience of blogging novel. It also fights any boredom that might arise from having to constantly brainstorm ideas. 

Step Outside the Comfort Zone. Weariness from blogging can often arise from doing the same thing over and over again. Introduce novelty in your blog, not just in terms of the posts you write but also in the processes you use. Read other fashion bloggers who exhibit style that is totally different from yours or the ones you normally read. This could spark up a new idea that will inspire you to try something different in yours. Your readers will appreciate your effort to change things up.

Share Blogger Love. One of the things I loved about blogging is the opportunity to meet new people outside of geographical boundaries. This is the best thing about the world wide web - I can talk and be friends with someone from halfway across the globe where I live! In fact, there are a few bloggers that I have gotten close to such as Janine from A Blissful Blog (who is based in Cebu), or Lauren from Exploring My Style. I love both of these ladies' styles and the fact that we've had conversations online. I would love to meet them one day!

Stop Comparing. According to a quote I once read, "comparison is the thief of joy". Therefore, do not discredit your own blog success by comparing yourself to another blogger. We all have different timelines to follow in our blog journey. Just because someone got to where you want to be first, it does not mean that you haven't made any progress. Give yourself credit where credit is due. If you look back, you will be inspired to keep pushing forward. 

What other tips can you add to refresh blogging attitude? How do you keep yourself motivated?

 

Blogger 101: Am I A Blogging Addict?

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Before I put you off, I'd like to confess right here and now: I think I'm addicted to blogging. A couple or more years ago, fashion blogging was not such a big deal to me. I started it to provide an outlet for my love for fashion and all things related. In fact I probably posted about once in two weeks, or a week (if I'm not being lazy) at that time. I'm sure the blogging gods will despise me for that but hey I've come a long way.

Today, I am grateful and thankful for the steady stream of readers. And I do love the interactivity that comes with the whole blogging experience. Even though I do not promptly respond to the comments on my blog (or social media), I do read them as soon as I am notified on my e-mail (thank you, from the bottom of my heart). This and more have accumulated to develop more enjoyment for blogging. What was once a hobby has now become an extension of myself. As of now, I cannot imagine taking out blogging from my routine - which is impressive given how busy I already am with work. I still manage to squeeze in time to write posts for my blog.

You can therefore call me a blogging addict and I wouldn't argue with you on that. So, how do you know if you are addicted to blogging? Here are tell tale signs:

1. You find yourself constantly planning about what you want to do with your blog within the next 6 months or a year. Okay, this could just be me. My OCD strikes again. But yes, I do have short- and long-term goals for my blog. And I believe that any serious blogger should to. You've already invested so much time and effort into your blog, so why not dream big and aim for the next step, right?

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2. You are constantly thinking up possible blog ideas. You might be at work, on commute or just reading other people's blogs - it will always go back to your own blog. What posts should I write this week? When will I shoot the photos for m post? The posts are the heart of your blog. Hence, you find yourself constantly brainstorming ideas.

3. You are worried about dud posts. It's embarrassing to admit but there are times wherein your posts prove to be a dud. It can be frustrating, too, given that you spent hours putting the post together... but then your readers do not share the same level of interest as you do about it. Just move on from it. It's not the end of your blogging career!

4. You are always on social media - either connecting with other bloggers or promoting your blog. It's fine. Social media has become somewhat of an extension to your blog.

If you pass the criteria above, then you are a certified blogging addict. But don't fret - if you enjoy every minute of the blogging experience, then it's still a good thing. As the famous quote says, "Do what you love and never work a day in your life." While it is true to some extent, blogging is undeniably a lot of work. But being happy with it and enjoying the experience that you get to share with your readers make every work you've put in worthwhile.

Do you consider yourself a blogging addict?

 

Blogging 101: How to Deal with Blogging Block

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Blogging block. I just coined this term or read it somewhere. I'm not really sure. However, it is the blogging world's counterpart to writer's block. And it is something that I know too well. Do you have those days wherein you sit in front of your computer or laptop and you wanted to write but nothing, absolutely nothing, is coming out? You're just staring at a blank space. You doodle some words but nothing makes sense. Hence, you end up deleting everything you've written. 

In the world of fashion blogging wherein regular update and posts is of the essential, this can be doubly frustrating. And it's not for the lack of trying. There are some days wherein you simply feel uninspired to write anything... and yet the deadline is closely ticking on you. You have to produce something!

Here are some of the tricks that I've used when dealing with blogging block to produce new content and keep the blog going:

1. Seasonal posts. If you are literally out of ideas to write, think of the season and its prevailing trends. Then, write a post around a generic topic or zero in on a specific topic that you love about a season. For example, during specific holidays, you can create a gift guide or tips for shopping, etc. It might seem like a common post idea but we all love to hear your insight on these topics, so don't be scared to jump in!

2. Do your research. What are the things that people are talking about on social media or search engines? This is also a good way to optimize your blog content - write about things that people want to read or know about!

3. Read! Like I've said before, the best way to generate new ideas and be inspired to write is to read, read, and read! I read at least 10 blogs a day (on a really busy day!) to get some new inspiration or to promote my blog. You'll never know where the next source of inspiration will come from.

4. Take a break. Do not beat yourself up in an effort to produce new content. If the inspiration won't come to you, take a short break. This will refresh your mind and give it a re-boot, so to speak. It is better to take a break rather than force yourself into producing low quality content.

Have you encountered blogging block before? How do you produce fresh ideas all the time? 

 

Blogger 101: When To Say NO to Sponsorship or PR Offers

As a small-time blogger, most of us earn from our blogs through sponsored posts or PR campaigns. Hence, it can be tempting to say "yes" to every offer that comes your way, especially on those times wherein there seems to be little to no PR activity on your blog. But I advise you: DON'T. That is if you care about the long term goals for your blog. 

This is not to say that you have to be snobbish either. Instead, this is a simple reminder that you have to take good care of the credibility of your blog that you have worked so hard to build. Thankfully, I haven't had weird or ridiculous emails from brands or PR companies. But in case you do, use these guidelines I follow to be able to assess if a particular offer is good for your blog or not:

Check Their Website


Most companies that reach out to you via e-mail will leave their URL for you to check out. This is great because you not only get a chance to know what products and/or services they have, but also use this opportunity to assess the quality and credibility of the company itself. As bloggers, we like to put our best foot forward by enhancing the look and theme of our blog. After all, it is a visual representation of you, as a blogger! The same goes with online companies or brands. You can assess their quality and credibility based on their website.

This is not to say that companies with less than impressive looking websites are not credible or honest. However, if you find that the website is shady, has spammy content or do not provide contact information, you need to be wary. The least you want to do is promote a fraud company on your blog. You would not want to be associated with them.

Keep it Niche-Related

This is a very simple guideline to remember: you have to stick to your blog's niche when working with companies or brands. Ask yourself these questions:

Will I consider writing about this topic even without this company contacting me?
Is this product or company something my readers will be really interested in?
Will I be using these products myself? 

The whole idea is it should reflect your personal interests, as well as that of your readers. If not, then there is no point in writing that sponsored post in the first place. It will no doubt stick out as a sore thumb.

Staying Control of Your Blog

There are instances wherein a PR opportunity is too good to resist. A company with products or services that you think will be in line with your blog's niche offers you a really good price. However, the company wants to bombard your post with links and keywords. It's no good for your SEO. Even if they pay you a good amount of money in exchange for the post, the long term drawbacks on your blog's SEO performance can be worth more. 

Do not fall for the bait. Set your own rules when working with companies on sponsored posts. Remind them that it is your blog and you make the rules. You are doing them a favor, not vice versa.

How do you evaluate offers from online brands or PR companies?