FAQ of Blogging

Here is the thing: I am asked the same blogging questions about once a week. They aren’t crazy, out-of-this-world, or even trade secrets. These questions are easy to answer and deserve to be known! Instead of keeping all that I have learned the past two and a half years to myself, I have compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions right here.

Think about what niche you would like the most! There are so many to choose from: fashion, lifestyle, cooking/baking, mommyhood, beauty, fitness, reading. The list could literally go on forever! Choose one thing and go with it. Some niches can work well with others, and that’s okay to choose both! If you find you’re wanting a little of everything, stick to lifestyle. The next thing you need to do is name it.

Get a Blogger account. If you’re feeling adventurous, try WordPress. Once you have made a name for yourself (and you know you are sticking to it!), get yourself a URL.

This took me a long, long time to realize– bloggers make money! There are three ways for a blogger to get paid (the 3 P’s): product, payment, or posting a link. A company can send a blogger a product/item/treatment to try out and review on their blog. They keep that as a form of payment. A company can pay a blogger in the form of cash for posting about a product. Or, a blogger can make affiliate cash. This means that they have tacking links in their posts that pay them either commission based on sales, or pay-per-click. Bloggers can always have a combination of the three going on! A company can send a gift, pay for the post, and allow for affiliate links throughout the post. The last type of payment is the best kind!

 In the beginning, you contact them! Tell them about yourself, why a collab between you two would be better and different than the ones they have had before, give them your following stats, and always give them your various links to social media. The bigger you get, the less reaching out you have to do, and they more companies will contact you. In order to stay on top of it and find companies that interest you, eat a piece of humble pie and keep up the initiation!

Talking back and forth with a company: 30 minutes (added up)

Styling an outfit and steaming it: 20 minutes

Driving to photoshoot location and back: 1 hour

Taking pictures (for one outfit with a change in clothes): 20 minutes

Editing 5-8 photos: 2 hours

Writing blog post: 1-4 hours (depending on effort)

Meta-tagging for SEO: 30 minutes

All together: 5 1/2 – 8 hours

Extra Promotion:

Instagram post: 1 hour

Twitter post: 5 minutes

Facebook post: 5 minutes

Pinterest post: 3 minutes each

 Heck no! My photoshoots work like this: I show up with 3-5 outfits pre-styled, washed, and ironed (typically, all of my shoes are in one huge duffle bag and I keep my clothes on hangers, complete with the jewelry of choice). Each outfit takes about 15 minutes to shoot. I run back to my car, flip the passenger seat as far forward as possible, and change in the back. It is a sweaty, rushed, and very un-fancy event. If I am swapping photos with another blogger, meaning I take their pictures and they take mine, this can take up to three hours! It is much easier to shoot outfits all in one day rather than shooting on a day to day basis.

Oh no, they are definitely worn! The outfits featured on my blog have either been worn before or going to be worn soon in real life. However, I love to live in workout leggings! Dressing up like I do on my blog is left for special events, work, or when I am going out! Typical errands are run in a tee and jeans or workout clothing.

I wish I was the expert in this category! My camera gets more outdated by the day (I use a Canon Rebel T6i). Many bloggers that I know have the Canon Rebel T3i or better! If you want your pictures to have the bokeh (blurry) background, spend some money on a 50 mm or 35mm lens! This will give you that effect (be warned, it does not zoom). Other things to consider when getting a camera: A tripod helps if you plan on taking photos yourself,  and invest in a camera remote. Cameras that have touch screens are easier to use. If you plan on taking video, get a camera that readjusts the focus by itself and that you can flip the viewfinder forward. Get a bag to keep your camera in so that it is safe! Bigger memory cards are going to do you better!

Check out Facebook for local blogger groups! I would search by your state and then your city and type blogger in the description. These are awesome for networking and finding out about various events. I have had many collaboration opportunities come through a group like this as well. Check for hashtags on Instagram and Twitter made by bloggers in your area! If you know someone else that blogs near you, see what they are tagging and hashtagging, or even better, reach out to them in a private message and see if they can mentor you!

Stay professional. Never reveal insider info about a company or their trade secrets; never give their contact information away to anyone else without the company’s permission. Proofread your emails– TWICE! And with that, remove the “sent from iPhone” from the bottom of your emails. Use professional language. Get a grownup email address. Don’t talk bad behind anyone in the industries back– it is smaller than you think! And, always, always, always over-deliver.

Do you have any blogging tips? If you do, or have any questions, please post them in the comment section below! I would love to hear what you think or answer your questions!