Wednesday, November 11, 2015

6 months of blogging


I started my Instagram account for this blog on May 11 2015, so today marks 6 months of blogging. Today I want to share 5 things I've learned over these months of blogging regularly. :) There will be no sugar coating here- just telling it like it is!

1. Remember why you're blogging.

It's easy to want to give up, especially when you start playing the comparison game. Don't compare your blog to other people's blogs because they will have more followers than you, more likes, more comments, more page views, or whatever else. You didn't start blogging to "beat" other people or have some bizarre competition with other bloggers. Have fun and make connections with those other bloggers instead. It is so much better in the long run. Focus on the fashion, the DIY, the decorating, or whatever else it is that you love :)

2. Watch your wallet 

I know it's easy to have to, want to, need to buy that "thing" that everyone else has and is wearing and is getting 3k likes on, but you can't just rush in and buy everything that everyone else has. For one, they're already showing it on their blog and copying isn't really a good way to stand out. Secondly, the average person (in terms of paycheck!) can't afford every piece that the big time fashion bloggers have anyway. That's okay! In fact if you're an average girl you have an advantage of knowing how and where other average girls shop. Lol!

3. Blog posts = page views

In July I was not in school and was in blogging heaven. I posted regularly on Instagram and Love.Haight and my page views were good for my small blog. Then when school and coaching started in August and September I posted way less and my views went way down. October I tried to pick it up a bit and it did work. This month I have very specific goals and I'm trying to find ways to reach those. Speaking of goals....

4. I disagree with most other bloggers about making goals for your blog.

I usually don't. In 6 months of blogging November is the first month I set goals for. Blogging and Instagram and Twitter and BlogLovin and everything else are a mystery to me. Sometimes I just straight up don't know why my posts or photos aren't successful or its impossible to find new people to follow you on things. (PS I'm looking for new people to connect with on BlogLovin' I will follow your blog back over there!) So sometimes setting goals about followers or how many Collabs you would like to do in a month is somewhat worthless because you are setting a goal over something you have no real control over. If you are going to make goals do it over something you can control like how many blog posts you will do a week! 

5. Collaborations
If you are a newer blogger like me, you probably only get contacted by businesses every once in a while. If that's the case and you like doing Collabs, I have 2 tips.
1. Give 100 percent to every collab. Even if it's small, or inexpensive, or whatever else. That doesn't matter! What matters is that you are representing your blog and brand in a proffesional manner. When those posts are great you can show them off to other potential collab partners. Which brings me to tip 2.
2. Get some feedback about your work from your collaborator and post it somewhere on your blog. That way you have an easy way for new businesses to check out your work. Show them what you're capable of. Nobody "deserves" anything for just having a blog. Prove that you have earned this job/collab/sponsorship by all the hard work you've put in for all your posts with past businesses. :)


Oh man! That was really honest! If you read this all the way through please leave me a comment below if you related to any of this, or you found it helpful! Not sure if people are interested in these types of posts. 

Thanks for reading! 
Victoria 

12 comments:

  1. I started bogging about a month after you... Very relatable and honest post! Best advice I took was not to compare... Have a great day! ~Sara / Loftycloset.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment!! You totally got this- your blog looks amazing!

      Delete
    2. Oh you're too sweet. Thank you so much! My hubby is very techy so he helps me a lot!!

      Delete
    3. Lucky you! Mine can barely be persuaded to take the photos! heehee

      Delete
  2. Honestly Victoria I started blogging regularly over a year and a half ago and I just want to give up sometimes. You're right. We average girls don't have the money to keep up with every "it" item. And I know I shouldn't compare my blog to others but my main comparisons come when I see a blogger who hasn't been blogging as long as I have and they are way past the followers and amount of page views I get. And then I think what's the point. I love blogging, but if the audience isn't there then why keep going. It's a struggle everyday, I think the best advice you gave is to not compare. I'm totally grateful for he few people that do read my blog, I just get caught up in focusing too much on the numbers. Hopefully I can change that. Have a great day girl! --

    Xan @
    Charmingxanadu.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Girl,
      There is so much truth in what you say! I have struggled with all of those things as well. But don't give up! Keep doing what you love. Eventually that part will fall into place. :)

      Delete
  3. Great, great post!! All so very true! If you let it, comparing your progress with other bloggers can eat away at your soul! Lol! I've learned to not spend too much time 'stalking' any particular blog. We ALL have our own personal style/ perspective and bring something unique to the blogging world! Ok, off to try to practice what I preach! Haha! Keep up the great work!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love that advice!!! I have totally done the blog stalking! Thanks for the sweet comment. We got this Ms. January !
      :)

      Delete
  4. Congrats on six months of blogging! This post we so relatable having just marked 6 months myself, and I agree with all your points! Stay true to yourself! I love everything you represent!

    Molly | www.stylemissmolly.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Molly! I loved reading yours! Your blog has really taken off! I'm so happy for you. You are more than deserving! Xoxo

      Delete
  5. this was sooooo helpful for people like me!!! thank you for sharingggg!! plus i followed you on bloglovin bec you see really cool!!!

    http://ninetrackmind.blogspot.com
    celina

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Celina
      I'm so glad it was helpful! I will have to go find you on bloglovin!!

      Delete

I'd love to hear from you!! <3

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...