tips for starting a blog

I frequently get emails or messages asking me for tips on how to start a blog, and lately the number of messages with this question has increased significantly, so instead of writing the same thing over and over in emails, I thought it'd be more useful to have a post to refer people to here on the blog!

What people really mean when they ask for tips on starting a blog is, "how do I start a successful blog?" because really, just starting a blog is pretty straightforward:  sign up for a blogging service and just do it.  What happens after that is what determines whether or not your blog is "successful."  I put that in quotations because success is such a relative term.  It means different things to different people, especially when applied to blogging.  Some might consider their blog a success if they get 100 followers, some might not feel successful until they're partnering with huge companies or publishing books.  I think a lot of people have a misconception that as soon as they start blogging, tons of followers will instantly find their blog and think it's amazing and the blog will take off right away.  For me, I never experienced this and have only heard of a few cases where this happened.  In my understanding, gaining followers and presence online is a slow process.  So don't be super bummed out if you don't have hundreds of followers in the first few months.

Start with a great layout design.

I think most people skip this step because they want to get to the part where they start blogging, which is great- content is king, as they say.  But in a world where visual communication is becoming more and more paramount, the way your blog looks upon a reader loading your page will really speak more to them about whether or not they want to stick around.  If a blog is visually jarring or unpleasant, I will click away about 99% of the time.  Going to a blog kind of feels like entering someone's house, and if the house is unwelcoming and unkempt, then readers are unlikely to want to stick around.  Having a nice design also shows that you care about your blog.  You believe your content deserves a beautiful place to house it.  This alone will make readers believe the same, even if your content isn't as awesome as the content on an ugly looking blog.  Respect your content by giving it a nice house to live in.  The very first thing I did when I got my blog is customize the look of it to reflect my personality.  I know a lot of new bloggers don't have any knowledge in HTML, but there are lots of free online resources where you can find free blog templates that are better than the basic layout that comes with your blog when you first sign up.

Produce good content, frequently.

if you want people to come to your blog and stay, you have to give them something to stay for.  This is where the content of your blog comes in.  The design of your blog is the hook, but if you don't have great content, even the best blog design won't turn first time readers into subscribers.  And not only should you produce good content, do it frequently.  This doesn't mean you have to post every day, but consistently enough that your readers look forward to reading.  Plus, it's kind of annoying when the only thing a blogger does is post apologies for not having blogged in so long.

If you have pictures, make them good.

I think I would almost rather have no pictures on a blog, than pictures that are tiny and/or super poor quality.  This doesn't mean you need to have a fancy DSLR with a $400 lens.  Phones these days can take perfectly nice photos!  Obviously a nice DSLR will give you a higher quality photograph, but a good photographer can take a great photo with any camera.  A nice camera does not a photographer make, so don't use the lack of a fancy camera as an excuse for your bad photos.  Also, if you're a personal style blogger who doesn't have a boyfriend/husband to take your photos, don't use that as an excuse either.  There are plenty of personal style bloggers who are very successful who use a tripod and self timer set up.  No boyfriend necessary.  Again, caring about your images shows that you believe your content is worth reading.
And when it comes to placing your photos in your posts, make sure they are large enough and that they all have the same widths, regardless of whether they're horizontally/vertically oriented.  If your pictures are too small, it doesn't matter how great they are, no one can see them.  And in terms of standardizing your photo widths, that's mostly just my own personal preference as it bugs my eyes to have to keep jumping back and forth between wide and skinny photos.  Photos on my blog are all 600px wide so that when you scroll down, the width of the text and photos is consistent.

Join social networks.

If you want people to know about your blog, you have to actually go let people know about it.  If your blog is a personal style blog, you can join sites like Chictopia or Lookbook where you can post a look and then if people like it they'll probably want to see more over at your blog.  Connect with readers via facebook and twitter, too, since pretty much everyone is on those social networks.

Interact with fellow bloggers.

Start a clothing swap group or some other blogging group.  Go to local blogger meet ups.  Get to know other bloggers with a similar sized readership who have a similar blog to yours and maybe do guest posts on each other's blog.  Chances are, the other blog has readers who aren't yet reading your blog, and since you guys have a similar vibe and content, their readers will quite likely want to start reading your blog!  Or do a feature/interview of a blogger you like, then if they tell their readers about the interview, they might find that they like your blog too.  If you contact a blogger with a much larger readership and they aren't interested in doing a guest post or being involved with your project, don't be too sad or start thinking that they're cliquey for only interacting with other "big" bloggers.  Often, the appearance of a clique is usually just the result of what I was talking about earlier... bloggers interacting with other blogs of similar sized readerships with similar content.  They probably started interacting and sharing in projects when their blogs were much smaller, but because they've shared readers, their subscribers have grown together.  I found that this article discussed this quite well, and is a great read!

Be yourself.

A lot of bloggers who are just starting out often think that they have to do things how other bloggers do them, or make their blog just like this other successful blogger they know.  While it's probably true that a successful blogger has figured out ways of growing readership/creating great content, how they do things isn't always going to make your blog great.  You might end up losing some of your own personality in the efforts to make your blog a success, just like so-and-so's blog.  The best thing that you bring to the blogosphere (which is enormous), is YOU.  Your unique perspective and experiences.  You can bring something to the blogosphere that no one else can, simply by being you.  It seems so obvious when you think about it.  And don't let this make you feel bad about yourself if you don't get a ton of readers.  Some people are just way more accessible or are interested in things that are popular right now, but that doesn't mean they're better than you.  If you don't like vintage clothes and mason jars, then don't pretend you like them just because it's the hip thing to do in the blogosphere right now. Maybe your blog doesn't have mass appeal, but it will have appeal to the people who find it and love it.   Not everyone wants the same thing in a blog, which is why your unique voice is important!

If you're interested in some more in-depth information about blogging, you can sign up for INDIE!  INDIE is an e-course focused on blogging with an emphasis on personal style blogging, which features seminars including Blogging 101, Photography, Blog Design, HTML, Community and Monetizing. You'll get videos, how-to tutorials, links to other resources, plus bonus content about organizing your wardrobe and other style blogging tips!  Click here to find out more, and if you want a discount, use the code IM-NEW at checkout to get 20% off of INDIE! (valid through 11/5/12)

scatterbrain

Happy Halloween!  This post is very un-halloweeny, unless you count the pumpkins.  I'm not sure what I'm doing for halloween tonight.  I haven't bought any candy for trick or treaters yet, and I might go to a show tonight, not sure.  I feel like last weekend was really halloween party central.  I'm not big into spending money on a halloween costume, especially since my closet is full of quasi-costumey garments. I guess that's a perk of having sort of quirky, vintage style.  Are you guys pulling any costumes out of your closet?  I didn't take any photos of my costumes this year (bad blogger?), but sort of got some snippits on instagram.

On Saturday I was planning on going to a friend's Halloween party, but I got kidnapped and taken to a hip hop show downtown, which actually turned out to be completely awesome.  I realized that I'd never been to an actual show in Tacoma... meaning not a coffee shop show.  I'd love to try and be a better Tacoman.  It's so easy for me to just be an ultra introvert and live my life from the comfort of my tiny house, but I remember how much I fell in love with Spokane after emerging from the "pinecone curtain," as they called it, of the comfort zone of my college campus.  Even though not many people seem to think much of Spokane, I really loved its unique vibe and culture that it had and there were so many wonderful local businesses, shops, bars, and restaurants.  Sometimes I think I'm drawn to the underdog cities.  I read an article yesterday in the Seattle Weekly that was so incredibly condescending to Tacoma and it really made me salty.  Even though I still feel like a Tacoma newb, I feel a kinship with this town and its amazing people and businesses.  I think one of my 26 before 27 goals will be to really become a better citizen of this city.


dress/modcloth :: top + jacket/courtesy of asianicandy :: leggings/target :: scarf/h&mboots + bag/courtesy of minnetonka :: hat/northface via REI
I live a relatively sedentary lifestyle, and I've been trying to work towards including more activity in my life. Since most all of my work is on the computer, it's super easy to just sit on the couch all day doing all kinds of computer work, whether it's on the internet, or doing design work and editing in photoshop.  Over the past few months I've been trying to workout on a regular basis, since we stopped climbing (lame, I know, but hopefully we'll get a membership again in the next couple months). I like being active, and I feel better when I incorporate activity in my life, rather than just sitting in front of a computer all day long.  Even though the combination of pinterest, facebook, and twitter have made that way more difficult in the past few years (so many sites to keep up with!).  Do you guys feel the same way?  Have you come up with any strategies for keeping active, while still doing all your work on the computer?  One reason I really enjoyed being a barista was that I spent the whole time on my feet.  Even if I wasn't "working out" per se, I was still on my feet and moving around, rather than melting into the comfort of a couch with a laptop perched atop my legs.Even though working out is hard to get excited about, I always feel way better after doing it.  It's helped that Dan has also been trying to be more active as well.  We don't work out together, partly because our house is way too small for both of us to be able to work out at the same time, and because I like working out with videos and Dan doesn't.  Still, it's nice to have the solidarity of us both being sore together!

the mundane transformed

This time of year even the most mundane of streets can become an incredible photo location.  This is just a generic neighborhood street, but the color on the trees and ground have transformed it into some sort of magical golden wonderland.  Even at night, the streetlights backlight yellow trees, making them glow in a most incredible way.  They become luminescent yellow paper lanterns, and fallen leaves reflect the light, gilding the ground even at night.  As Dan & I were walking to dinner the other night it kind of felt like we were in Narnia, because all the trees were glowy and the lamps were very Narnia-esque.  I half expected Mr. Tumnus to come trotting up.
Last night we had a big potluck dinner type thing with a bunch of friends and damn if it wasn't nearly a Thanksgiving dinner! I had baked a whole spice cake, and brought some other treats, and then there was pasta, chicken and ribs, this amazing sweet potato bruschetta type stuff (which I have to figure out how to make) on crostinis with goat cheese, homemade soup, chicken fingers with bbq/ranch dip (also have to figure out how to make that. bbq+ranch... why didn't I think of that?), and some shrimp cocktail.  Mmmm, so delicious.  I think we're going to Thanksgiving in Portland, so it was nice to have a sort of Thanksgiving here in town with all our friends.  

stylish ever crafter dress/courtesy of modcloth :: cardigan/gap :: coat/tulle via lulu e. bebe  scarf/thrifted :: tights/courtesy of asianicandy :: boots/courtesy of lulu's :: belt/thrifted
This is one of those outfits that kind of makes me feel like a crazy person.  There are a lot of elements going on, but everything makes me happy so I don't really care.  I liked the outfit better before the addition of the tights, but it's too chilly outside to go sans tights, and the boots... I don't know, they just spoke to me and told me to put them on, so I obliged.  I'm pretty sure if I was a celebrity and had websites like Tom&Lorenzo or Go Fug Yourself critiquing my outfits all the time they would just think I was kind of out of my mind.  I certainly don't have that chic sophistication that is acceptable for celebrity style.  I'm much more a fan of Helena Bonham Carter (bless her crazy sartorial heart) and Zooey Deschanel's style.  Even Taylor Swift seems to give traditional celebrity style the middle finger from time to time, and I dig that.  I already know how I want to style this dress again and it involves adding orange polka dots... pretty much confirming that I am in fact a crazy person. 

brinkle giveway

Hi everyone!  Today's giveaway is coming to you from my sponsor Brinkle, a cute jewelry company stocked with tons of sparkly arm candy.  For this giveaway one lucky reader will win a set of two half & half bracelets, which feature intricate twilled silken cords combined with a pretty 24kt gold plated chain.
To enter:  Comment on this post letting me know what color(s) you'd like your bracelets to come in if you win, along with a way for me to contact you.  You can find out what the available colors are here.
For a second entry, head over to the Brinkle facebook page and give it a "like," then come back here and leave an additional comment on this post letting me know you've done so (or it won't count!).
The giveaway will be open until Saturday, November 3rd at 9pm PST

And the winner of the Mokkafiveoclock giveaway is...

Congrats!

pumpkin cookies with maple icing

Yup, another pumpkin recipe.  Don't worry, I don't have any more planned... yet.  Pretty much everything I've cooked/baked during the past month has either been soup or treats.  For a while this past week I had all of these cookies, plus all of those pumpkin cupcakes sitting around the house tempting me... and then I got a box of halloween treat in the mail from my mom.  So much sugarrrr.  But I finally got rid of the cupcakes by taking them to a party on Friday night, and I think Dan put away all the pumpkin cookies.  We still have no bake cookies in the freezer though.  This time of year is like a mine field of sweets. So many parties, so many baked goods, so many holidays seemingly built around sweet things.

(Pumpkin Cookies via allrecipes // Maple Pumpkin Icing via The Sheen Bean)

Cookie ingredients
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.  In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, and salt.

2. In a separate bowl, cream together the butter and sugar.  Add the pumpkin puree, egg, and vanilla to the mixture, and beat until it's creamy.

3. Mix in the dry ingredients and then once you've got everything totally mixed together, drop spoonfuls of the mixture on your cookie sheet.

4. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven.  While your cookies are baking you can whip up the Maple Pumpkin Icing!  Once your cookies are all done, cool them and then drizzle the glaze over the cookies.


Icing ingredients
3 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
3-4 Tbs milk
1/3 cup of butter, melted
1 Tbs maple syrup
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1. Add all your ingredients to a medium bowl and mix. You can add additional powdered sugar or milk depending on how thick you want your icing.

2. Either fill a Ziploc bag with the icing, snip off the corner and pipe your icing over the cookies, or you can drizzle it over the cookies with a fork.  I opted for the ziplock method.