Sunday, March 8, 2015

Beauty Influencer’s Sunday Column Vol. 3: If You Could Start Your Blog Over

bisc-ft-vol3-group1-ft
If you could start your blog all over again, what would you do differently?
bisc-ft-vol3-group1-colored
RAE | Canada | the Notice: a beauty blog
If I could start my blog all over again, I’d skip the first few years of terrible product photos! And I’d start on WordPress this time, tagging everything extensively, so that none of my old posts would be weighed down by unchangeable Blogger styling and old posts would be easier to find. Day to day, however, I think it would be run much the same as it is right now — it would just have a better archive.
SARA | Germany | Color Me Loud
This is a hard question because I am not blogging for a such long time (less than 2 years). I believe I would invest in a light box a little earlier than later. I am still struggling to find the right lighting for product and portrait photography. Since my lights are not bright enough, it takes longer to edit the photos. I have just installed a new banner this summer. I wish I could have done it before because it changes the website a lot. But the most important of them all, I would write PR of the companies before the first year is over. I always waited for the right moment, the right page hits etc. only to find out much smaller/newer blogs keep the available slots occupied. Another thing I would do would be starting with social media as early as possible, because it takes time to build it up. But whatever you do, do things you like because it is your hobby and not a job.
MELISSA | Switzerland | Kiss & Make-up
I’d probably think things through a lot better. When I started my blog I really didn’t have a clue what I was doing. It was so cringe… My lay-out was a nightmare, my photos were embarrassingly bad and I just basically had no idea what having a beauty blog really meant. Of course over the years I learned a lot and I’m very happy with where I stand now with the blog, but if I could do it all over again I’d definitely do more research before launching myself as a beauty blogger and I’d try to approach it all a lot more professionally and less than a hobby.
LAARNI | Philippines | Xoxo Laarni
This is a funny question because I already started my blog all over again. My #1 reason was my old blog’s niche was too broad. It was running for five years but I eventually got tired of it. Also, it was penalized by Google because of sponsored posts so buying a new domain name was my best option.
KRISTEN | USA | Glambunctious
I’d focus on spending money on products that are exciting to me, even if they aren’t new to the market, and not go broke trying to keep up with every new release.  There’s no sense in spending so much money on each new collection when there are already blogs upon blogs that cover these releases that receive the items gratis from PR.  I also started out posting 7 times per week which quickly became exhausting (blogging is not my full-time job).  I decided to only post when I was inspired and that decision has led to 2 years of happiness!
JAA | USA/Thailand | Hello Jaa
I’d start experimenting with portrait studio lighting sooner. My older posts would have been more complete. I’d also make sure to choose a layout that accommodates larger picture size because I believe larger photos create higher impact. Another thing would be to tell myself to not be shy and connect with other bloggers sooner! It is more fun to have someone with the same interest to talk to and you just learn so much from them! Last thing would be to implement a Pin It button on all my photos right away because Pinterest is among the top three social networks that drive traffic to my blog the most.
[Interested in joining BISC Network? Send your request to jaa*at*hellojaa.com]

10 comments :

  1. I love this! So much great advice!
    Xx
    Torey

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love your response here! When I first started I also stressed about getting all the new product releases. I finally said, WHY? I have so many other products I love that I think should be shared, so now I do what you do, share what I want, when I feel like it. It's made blogging so much more fun :)

    xx

    Jenny // Mish Mosh Makeup

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is a great question and everyone had awesome responses. I agree with all of them. Loved your response K, you can't always keep up with the latest and greatest. To be honest, your blog is one of the only I'd turn to for product reviews.... OF ANY release date! It could be a 900 year old product, but if Glambunctious says it's a keeper, you know I'm gonna handle that!!!


    MUCH LOVE!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kristen, I loved your response. Someone in your shoes is probably constantly pressured to stay "on trend" and up to date with all the new products out there. Admitting you do this for fun, not for the business aspect, makes your reviews genuine and trustworthy. Such a great read. (:
    www.accordingtokiki123.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Nice answer, Kristen! It's true. We will be in great debt if we buy every releases that these brands offer! haha! I've always believed that blogging is an extension of my life. I don't treat it as a job. I blog when I feel like it! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks, Torey! Jaa is brilliant at asking thought-provoking questions!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks, Jenny! I'm glad I'm not the only one who struggled to keep up with the Jones when it came to new releases when they first started blogging! I can completely relate to your stress! One of my favorite type of posts that you do are FOTDs, and those are made up of stuff you already own!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wow! Thank you so much, Stephanka! Really so sweet of you to say! And you crack me up about the 900 year old product! You = BOSS!
    Much love back actha, girl! :*

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you, Kiki! Your comment means a lot to me! I want my blog to be all about the fun, and not get bogged down trying to ski through products in order to get them posted before the product sells out! I would lose my marbles -- and my wallet, LOL! ;D

    ReplyDelete
  10. Ha ha, thanks Laarni! Yes! No one has enough $$$ to keep up with every new release! Blogging as an extension of your life is so brilliant! Blogging when you feel like it is TOTALLY THE WAY TO GO! #SoulSisters ;)

    ReplyDelete

I love your comments! Thank you for leaving me a little note!