In the past couple of months I have felt like I've been churning out four posts a week of content that didn't include any passion. I felt as though how many times I blogged a week made me either a good blogger or a bad blogger. I've been posting four times a week for a little while now and at first I loved it however since then I've also started up my YouTube channel and got a job. These things along with the massive amount of college work I'm going to get next year I've decided to cut down a little. I'm going to see how three posts a week works for me as I don't want to keep churning out mediocre content which I don't really like. I want to write more detailed posts and reviews that are going to really help people. Once I go back to college in September I may have to re-evaluate again as at the end of the day it's make or break time and if I mess up this year I'm not going to university. I really hope you guys understand and continue to enjoy the (hopefully) improved content that I'm going to be putting out.
Showing posts with label blog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blog. Show all posts
Monday, August 08, 2016
Thursday, July 07, 2016
Blog ¦ The changing face of Blogging
Recently I've seen a whole tonne of negativity floating around the blogging community on twitter and I just wanted to take a minute out of my usual posts to talk about it. I've had my blog for around three and a half years now and in the past year or so the amount of negativity I see on a daily basis has massively increased. When I first got started blogging wasn't small however it was definitely a hell of a lot smaller than it is now. When I first got involved in the blogging community Zoella had well under a million followers and I'd never seen a youtuber bring out a product with a big mainstream brand (I'm talking Two faced, Tarte, Becca etc here) No one had books and no one had product ranges.
Now don't get me wrong I'm not saying these things are bad things at all. The community is changing and bloggers and youtubers are getting the recognition for all the hard work that they put in. But along with the growth of the social media influencers comes the people who hate on others. However recently I've begun to see bloggers turning on other bloggers, follower numbers become irrelevant here as at the end of the day it's just one person picking on another. I'm not saying that everyone has to get along, in a community that is now as big as the blogging community is today there are going to be people who's personalities clash and people that don't like what other people do.
I feel like the community has become one big competition it's now all about blog followers and page views and how many PR packages a certain blogger gets sent every week. A community that was once so supportive and so kind has now been tainted by jealousy and bitterness. I mean don't get me wrong there are still thousands of amazing, lovely kind bloggers however I feel like blogging is getting a bad rep for being bitter. I sometimes feel like the rise of blogging has had a negative impact on the community as people now feel more pressure to put out content that they feel will attract new readers rather than putting out content that they really care about.
Maybe it's just me but I sometimes wish that it would all go back to the way it was before?
I'd love to know your thoughts on this subject,
Cole xx
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Blog ¦ Do I need a product directory?
So I have had a product directory on and off for about 2 years so today I though I would write about it for all you lovely bloggers who are thinking about creating one. So first off if you aren't sure what a product directory is, it is a collection of links from all the products that have been reviewed on your blog. I currently have mine backdated to January 2016 as I'm pretty rubbish at keeping it updated.
One thing I do find it really useful for is to track what I have reviewed and when I go back when writing a post it makes it very easy to find a review if I want to link it in a post I am writing, in terms of increasing traffic I don't find it has a massive impact however I do find that when I first go onto a blog if I enjoy the posts I always check to see whether they have a product directory.
Overall I think if you are able to keep up and remember to update your product directory I think it is a really fab way to both keep track and to help drive a little extra traffic to some old posts. Mine is //here// if you fancy a nosey. I'd love to know if you have one and if you find it to be useful or just a pain!
Saturday, April 09, 2016
Life ¦ Attempting to get myself organised
So I am one of those people who really likes to pretend they are organised but in fact in my head I am actually panicking over how unorganised I really am. So today I thought I would talk you through some of the things I've been doing to try and get myself a little more organised.
So starting off I purchased a desk planner which I am so in love with and I have found that it's really helped me get a little more organised. As it is on my desk I've been looking at it and writing on it all the time meaning it's urging me on to be more organised. This was only £6 from paper chase which really impressed me. I've also been writing down all of my blog posts on it meaning it's also helped keep track of all that.
I also purchased myself a new Filofax planner. In the end I ordered a Filofax clipbook which is an A5 size and the reason I picked it up was I was finding my Filofax mini was super heavy and carrying it around all day was a bit of a pain. So I'm now using my Clipbook as my day to day planner and I've been using my mini Filofax as a blog planner. So I've racking all my stats as well as noting down all other things blog related.
I've also been writing a lot of lists and by a lot I mean at least one a day for my everyday bits and bobs that I need to do as well as extra blog related ones and everything in between. I feel like not only are lists a great way to relax a little bit.
So there are a couple of ways I'm attempting to get myself organised. If you guys have any tips I'd love for you to leave them in the comments!
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Blog ¦ Do I need a Niche?
I feel like the word niche is a term that bloggers throw around a lot. I have read so many posts about how to start a blog and so many of them suggest that you MUST have a niche and I have to say I'm not sure I agree. People say that without a niche you won't gain a loyal group of readers and then in the next breath say that it isn't all about stats.
What I don't understand is why some people think that people shouldn't mix topics on their blog, I understand that some readers like beauty and some like lifestyle but surely by writing posts that fit under both those categories you are widening who's reading your posts. Maybe those readers might not follow as you don't post enough lifestyle content for them but in the grand old scheme of things does it really matter. It doesn't matter what you post in my opinion if I like the style of writing, the photos and the personality of the blogger I follow, fair enough I might not read every post that they put up like I do with some of my favourite bloggers however surely my irregular reading is better than me not reading at all.
So when starting a blog if you want to start with a niche then that's cool but don't ever let that niche define what you post and force you to churn out content that you hate when there is something that you feel you could write so much more passionately about however you know it doesn't fit you niche.
I'd love to know what you guys have to say about having a niche! Let me know in the comments.
Saturday, February 06, 2016
Blog ¦ 5 things you actually need to start a blog
So today I thought I'd do a bit of a jokey post and talk about 5 things you actually need to start a blog. If you can think of any more leave them in the comments for me to have a giggle at.
1. The internet -
If you are reading this congratulations you are one step closer to writing a blog.
2. Something to get on the internet with -
Having the internet is all well and good but you need something to access the internet with is also essential it can be a 10 year old Toshiba or a brand new MacBook as long as it works it's good.
3. A blog -
When starting a blog having a blog is always useful. I personally use Blogger but I know a lot of bloggers also use Wordpress. Something I see a lot is people saying that you should get your own domain straight away however I would always suggest that you enjoy blogging before starting to invest in your blog.
4. Something to write about -
This ones pretty self explanatory it doesn't matter what you write about as long as you have something to write about.
5. Something to take photos with -
Again I'm definitely not suggesting that you need a brand new canon DSLR as long as it is something that takes a fairly good picture I always find it doesn't matter what you use as long as you have good lighting. So if you use a phone camera or something like that I'd suggest you take the pictures in a window so there is plenty of good light.
Monday, January 18, 2016
Blog ¦ Do you need a media kit?
So recently after seeing a post from the lovely Krystal Marie I decided to send her over a message as I've been thinking about making myself a media kit for ages however me being the technophobe I am I had no idea how to go about it. Krystal is currently offering a free Blog kit template over on her blog //here// she also offers a fully customised two page blog kit like mine for just $20. However if you aren't such a technophobe today I thought I would share with you all the things I think you should be putting in your blog kit!
So first off on the first page I'd suggest popping all your social media links and a little bit about your blog including your average pages views and a little bit about your blog. I also included how many times I post a week. On page two I'd suggest speaking about your previous work experience and the opportunities that you are willing to offer on your blog. I'd also suggest making sure there are lots of images from your previous blog posts and a picture of yourself. Overall however I'd definitely suggest that you keep the information clear but short as you want to keep people interested.
So if you'd like to get in touch with Krystal about a media kit you can reach her here on Twitter //here// and Instagram //here//
Do you have a media kit? What do you include in yours?
Friday, January 15, 2016
Blog ¦ The Blogger behind... Get Ready with Laura
I´m Laura and the girl behind GetReadyWithLaura. I´m 16 years old and live in Munich/Germany and am currently in the last school year. I blog over at Get Ready with Laura
5 Interesting facts about yourself.
1. I´m left handed
2. I Blog in English even though I normally speak German
3. I´m half polish
4. I love to go shopping and to travel
5. Don´t know another one, haha
A Favourite memory.
My first trip without my parents to London with my best friend. It was so much fun and I absolutely love the city, I really hope to get back soon!
How did your passion for all things blog related start?
I read a lot of different blogs and followed bloggers through social media and it seemed like so much fun, to be able to write about things you love and meeting people who are likeminded.
3 Favourite Posts on your blog
How long have you been blogging?
For nearly 2 years, it will be full 2 years in March
What do you love most about blogging?
Being able to express my love for beauty and makeup and letting other people join in
Do you feel like the Blogging scene has changed since you started?
I feel like the blogger scene has grown a lot and so many brands seem to appreciate that bloggers are actually the best way to promote their products which I love to see!
Current most lusted after item?
I don´t have a specific item but I really want to try stuff from Nars and Charlotte Tilbury.
3 Favourite bloggers
Rebecca = From Roses
Becky = Lipgloss and Lashes
Emily = British Beauty Addict
3 wishes for this year these could be personal or blog based
Improving my writing and photography skills
Travel to new places
Pass my finals
Your other links
Twitter: twitter.com/laura__xoxx
Instagram: instagram.com/laurakroczek
Pinterest: pinterest.com/kroczeklaura
Friday, January 08, 2016
Blog ¦ The Blogger behind... JordanCourtney
Hey Guys so today I've got the first post in my The blogger behind series. Today I'm talking to the lovely Jordan from Jordan Courtney. I hope you enjoy these posts, if your a blogger and are interested in getting involved leave me a comment with your email address and I'll get back to you!
My name is Jordan and I’m 20 years old (soon to be 21). I Live in England and I run the blog www.jordancourtney.co.uk which very simply is named after myself. I blog about a variety of things from food to beauty and even my personal life and anxiety.
5 interesting facts about yourself.
These type of questions are always the hardest to answer I think! Definitely made harder by the fact I’m possibly the least interesting person ever.1. I used to have my tongue pierced.2. I‘ve only ever visited 3 countries.3. I find it really hard to tell people ‘interesting’ things about myself.4. I hate to sleep without socks!5. I can’t actually swim.
A favourite memory
My favourite 2015 memory has to be being invited to the #WrenFamilyFavourites event and meeting Linda Barker! I’m still in shock! My favourite all-time memory is probably when me and my family stayed in Anaheim for a few days when we went to America - we had Dennys every day for breakfast and Disney California Adventure was so amazing!
How did your passion for blog related things start?
When I first started my blog I was certain it was to only be about beauty. I was in the ‘I want to be a beauty blogger' mindset and this was inspired by all the lovely beauty bloggers I loved to read. However, as I settled into my blog I realised I had a passion for much more than that - I love the lifestyle posts as I like to have something personal to look back on and my food posts started from one recipe post which turned out well and got good feedback!
3 Favourite posts on your blog
In no particular order my three favourite posts have to be:
Halloween: Cheesy Guacamole Lanterns - because of the photography (I really love the bright autumn colours) and the lovely feedback I got from the company!
#WrenFamilyFavourites with Linda Barker - because I know this is a post I am going to look back on in the future and smile at the amazing opportunity.
Paris - because this is the post which started my blogging journey and I really love the images!
How long have you been blogging?
Technically, my first ever blog post was published 19th April 2014 but I didn’t actually get fully into blogging (i.e. being consistent etc) until December 2014.
What do you love most about blogging?
I love the community! I love the Twitter interaction (for example in chats), I love the comments people leave on my posts and I love the events where you get to meet and chat to fellow bloggers.
Do you feel like the blogging scene has changed since you started?
When I first started blogging I feel like it was only just coming out to be something that was seen as normal. Prior to this lots of people would laugh if you wrote a blog or made Youtube videos and you’d be called a weirdo. Recently it’s become more the norm and I love that.
Current most lusted after item?
The Urban Decay ft. Gwen Stefani is top of my wish list at the moment! I am shocking at applying eyeshadow but this palette is just so gorgeous! I hate spending money on myself though.
3 Favourite bloggers
Again, in no particular order, my 3 favourite bloggers have to be...Rebecca - http://www.fromroses.co.uk/blog - I swear I’ve told her way too many times she probably thinks I’m so weird but I really do love everything about her blog! Kathryn - http://www.chaptersofkat.co.uk - I don’t think I have ever read a blog post of Kathryn's and disliked it. Such a lovely genuine person too! Becky - http://www.milkbubbletea.com- I’m not sure how I stumbled across Becky’s blog but I am sure it was one of the first I followed. Her photos are always so beautiful!
3 wishes for this year these could be personal or blog related
I actually wrote a blog post on my 2016 goals as I’m hoping this will motivate me a bit more! This year I would love to be able to pay off my credit card, get a new job and then finally a blog related one, I would love to be able to reach a few social media goals!
Your other links
I can also be found atTwitter - @jordancourtney_Instagram - @jordancourtney_Youtube - JordCourtney
Friday, December 25, 2015
Blogmas ¦ Day 25 - Merry Christmas
So It's the big day! I hope Santa bought all you lovely people everything you asked for. I just want to say a massive thank you for all the support I've received of everyone this year. I absolutely cannot believe this is the fourth Christmas I've had my blog. I don't really know what else to write so I'm going to sign off two sentences makes a blog post right?
I hope you all have an amazing day and a fantastic new years and here's to another incredible year of blogging!
*clinks glasses of bucks fizz at 9 in the morning because it's Christmas*
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Blogmas ¦ Day 15 - A little chat about free stuff.
I don't know about other bloggers but I feel like this question is bouncing round the internet far to much recently. There are so many people that when I tell them about my blog they ask if I get sent any free stuff. I get that to some people it's interesting but when they ask "If I start a blog will I get free stuff" a little bit of my soul dies (This is possibly a little dramatic) I understand that getting free stuff is good and it's definitely one of the perks of being a blogger. But we must also remember how much hard work we put into our content and we spend a hell of a lot of time and money on making sure our blog is the best it can be.
I was writing my blog for over a year before a PR contacted me and told me that they wanted to work with me, my hard work paid off and it was something that I was incredibly proud of. However if that is your only motivation for writing a blog then it shows. It does come across in your writing that all you want is free stuff. Don't measure your blogs worth through PR samples.
I'd love to know what some other bloggers think about PR!
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Life ¦ 3 years of blogging
So yesterday I passed my three year blogging birthday. When I first sat down to write my first post I never believed that I'd make it to three years. Over the past three years I feel like my blog has really helped me grow as a person (barf) I've spoken to and met so many lovely people. I've definitely come a long way since 2012 so today I thought I'd show you some of the posts from the past.
I had totally forgotten about this post, I absolutely love the nails and I'm definitely going to have a go at recreating it!
I loved writing this post as I love rooting through other peoples makeup bags I also found it super nostalgic as the whole reason I love makeup is because of my nana!
100 posts seems so long ago now I'm pretty sure that I'm on post 500+ I had to pop an old selfie in here somewhere and it seemed apt for me to pop in one of my milestone posts. (I think the bin really adds to this shot)
I love the photos from this post and I actually still use the one above on my blog facebook page. I'm pretty sure this was the first time that I was asked to write a proper post for a company rather than a review and I was really proud of it.
This is actually my most viewed post ever so I had to include it in this post. I remember this being so delicious and finding this post has definitely made me want to make it all over again!
I love this outfit and I forgot how much I loved my red hair I'm definitely tempted to dye it back!
I personally really enjoy reading jokey posts like this. I actually wrote a couple of these posts and they seemed to go down so well.
From Wednesday I'm going to be doing a super in depth makeup collection over the 7 days so I thought I'd pop this post in. I also love looking bac at my past makeup collection to see how it has changed.
Despite the fact I didn't do much exciting I loved writing this post. I must write more as I think they're super interesting.
When I read this review back I was actually quite impressed. It's super in depth and I loved the way that I went so in depth into the colours. This is definitely the best review I've ever written.
This is definitely the cleverest blog post title I've ever come up with. I love this post as it reminds me of my prom.
These where delicious and once again it's made me really want to make these again.
So I hope you enjoyed this post! Here's to another three years
Wednesday, September 02, 2015
Blog ¦ Must read blogs
I read a lot of blogs, a lot of really amazing blogs but today I thought I'd share with you the blogs that I could happily sit and read all day. I'd love for you to share your favourite bloggers and your own blogs in the comments and hopefully I will discover some new blogs to add to my reading list!
Stunning photography and amazing content Jasmine has the whole package. Her recommendations are always spot on and I pretty much want to try everything she ever talks about. Her blog is mainly beauty however she does sprinkle in the odd lifestyle type of post.
Adrienne's blog is the one I go to if I'm thinking about purchasing a product. Her reviews are super thorough and her swatches are fantastic for online shopping. I also love her series where her little sister takes over her blog and writes about teen beauty as I find it super relatable. Her blog is pretty much completely beauty. I also love looking at her blog for new and upcoming releases.
Helen's blog is the perfect mix of fashion, beauty and lifestyle. Her photo's are beautiful, her outfits are amazing and her beauty posts are nice and in depth without being to long. Oh and did I mention she is definitely the queen of giveaways.
I love how when I pop over to Molly's blog I don't know what I'm going to see as it could be anything from a beauty post to a food post and I love that. Once again I love her photography (Do you see a theme) I also love the fact that her posts aren't to word heavy. She's also just started youtube so I highly suggest you also check out her youtube!
Khila's blog is mostly beauty however she throws in a few lifestyle and fashion posts in every now and then. Her reviews are super detailed and I find them super helpful when looking into buying a product. I also really love both her budget youtube channel and her less budget channel. Also side note she has the most amazing taste in shoes #justsaying
Lucy has to be one of my all time favourite bloggers not just because of her fabulous content but just because she is so lovely. I love chatting to her on twitter as she's just such a friendly person. Once again her blog is a mix of a little bit of everything. I especially love her style posts as she wears the most beautiful outfits.
So that's it for my favourite blogs I hope you enjoyed this post and I hope that you enjoy having a look at the blogs I've talked about today.
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Blog ¦ Bloglovin #3
Hello lovely people,
today I'm back with another instalment of bloglovin' I really hope you guys enjoy reading these posts as I love putting them together. This is all about sharing the love so feel free to leave your latest posts in the comments and they might even end up in the next instalment.
Sunday, March 15, 2015
Blog ¦ Bloglovin #2
Hello lovely people,
It's once again that time when I share with you some of my favourite blog posts from the past couple of weeks. This time I feel like there is a good mix of different posts. As you may notice the lovely Elsie has ended up on my list twice this month as i've been loving her blog in the past couple of weeks. I seriously urge you to head over and have a little nosey. Also a massive shoutout to the lovely frances who runs my current favourite foodie blog The spoon and whisk, if you are a lover of food you seriously need to check out her blog her recipes are drool worthy and her photography is gorgeous!
London beauty queen - Bloggers & the ASA
Microscope beauty - How to create new content without new products
Aztec mess- Books, blogs & magazines
Lauryn's notebook - Why you should shoot film
Fizzy peaches - 5 tips to avoid blogger stress
Media marmalade - Tips & advice for upgrading your blog
The spoon and whisk - Top with cinnamon's cappuccino cake
Elsie Dopson - Zero effort nude lips
Microscope beauty - How to create new content without new products
Aztec mess- Books, blogs & magazines
Lauryn's notebook - Why you should shoot film
Fizzy peaches - 5 tips to avoid blogger stress
Media marmalade - Tips & advice for upgrading your blog
The spoon and whisk - Top with cinnamon's cappuccino cake
Elsie Dopson - Zero effort nude lips
Friday, February 20, 2015
Blog ¦ Keeping organised
Something I wasn't aware of when I first started my blog was how much hard work it takes to keep it organised and regularly updated. Today I thought I'd talk to you about some of the things I do to keep myself organised.
Blog post calendars
This is a quick and easy way of finding what I've already written about and making sure I have a nice balance between my posts. By using these I can see easily how many of each type of post I've put up. It's also just nice to look back on my previous posts and see what I liked writing about 6 months ago.
My Filofax
I wrote an entire post about my filofax //Here// I find it so handy as I can write ideas down whilst i'm on the go but I also put in all my posts and any blog achievements like 1200 followers on bloglovin and so. It's really nice to be able to flick through and see when I hit big milestones and I also find it really handy for if I'm out and I want to know what post has just been published. I also have a little section for my blog where I write down all the series I have going so I always know what number I'm up to and a little section to write down all of my favourites.
A post planner
This is something I started at the beginning of January and I've found it's really helped keep me organised. Before I had a habit of taking photos for a blog post and then never actually writing said post. This way I write down the post idea take the photos and then I can see what posts I have to write, it's also good for if I have a bit of bloggers block because I know if i've got any post ideas already! I can also mark on here if i've put reviewed products on my product directory as I tend to forget to do that.
Ideas bubbles
I tend to go through stages with ideas for posts, for one month I'll have 50 ideas and then for the next I will only have 5. I never used to write down my ideas and by the time I got to taking the photos and writing the posts I had either forgotten them or decided I didn't like the idea. By writing them onto idea bubbles I've realised I can now easily go back to the bubbles if I'm feeling a little uninspired but it also helps sift out the good ideas from the bad ones.
I'd love for you to let me know if you have any blog organisation tips and if you've written a post like this i'd love the link.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Blog ¦ Bloglovin #1
So I've decided I'd like to share the love a bit more on my blog so today I decided I would start a new little series where I'm going to share my favourite posts if the month before with you! I hope you enjoy these kinds of posts and more importantly find some fabulous blogs to read!
Image source - Google
Saturday, December 27, 2014
A Little Change
So firstly apologies for failing epically at my own blogmas challenge. I have mock exams as soon as I get back in january and I didn't take into account how much time that revision would take up. Despite failing to get to the end, blogmas has made me realise that I am beginning to churn out content just to fill slots. So I have decided to cut down to three posts a week rather than four. I'm hoping in the new year that my posts are going to be written better, more informative and they are overall going to be nicer to read. I'm now going to drop Monday's post and post on a Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 12 pm. As for my This week posts if I have a busy week I will put one up but I'm not going to force content out of revision and binge watching sky go!
I hope you all had a brilliant Christmas!
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