My Tips for Blogging

One of my most frequently asked questions is “How do I start blogging?’ or ‘What tips do you have for beginner bloggers?’. I completely understand why. When I first started blogging I literally had no clue what I was doing, I didn’t even follow any fashion blogs religiously. I remember one of my best friends saying ‘What are you talking about? Are you just going to write about yourself everyday??’ I wasn’t mad at her at all, I really didn’t even know the answer. What was I going to post about? Did I really have to take pictures of myself? [I wanted to style my friends and photograph them, not me! I am still camera shy believe it or not] I spent a couple of days Googling what to do and then I decided to wing it. 

Before you read my tips please remember, I am not saying this is the only way to do things or that it works for everyone. This is what works for me and I hope this helps you out! If you have any specific questions please feel free to email me rileybrahm@icloud.com. 

1. Who? What? When? Where? Why? First thing first you need to plan everything out. Will you be blogging alone or with a friend or two? Who will take your pictures and do you need to invest in a camera? When will you post? I suggest posting 2-3 times a week in the beginning and be consistent. What will you be posting about? Are you a fashion blogger? DIY? Food? Beauty? or All of the Above?  What will your blog name be? Be creative, be original and make sure it reflects your personality. What  platform will you use for your site? (I use Blogger but a lot of girls use WordPress) I think it’s also important to figure out why you want to blog. There are so many days where I think ‘this is useless’ or where I feel like quitting but I remember why I started in the first place and I keep going. 

2. Create Social Media platforms to go along with your blog I created a new Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook page for Chacos&Chanel so that I could leave my personal pages on private. There are pros & cons to creating a separate page. Looking back I often wish I wouldn’t have done this but it is nice to have a certain level of privacy. Complete personal preference but definitely something to think about. Someone once told me you need to Instagram 3-4 times a day. I think that is a little much but definitely post at least once a day if possible. I can tell a difference in my reader’s engagement when I am more active vs. when I am MIA for a couple of days. I enjoy following bloggers who share every aspect of their life so I try to do the same. 

3.  Content Obviously content plays a huge roll in your site. Images are the most important for my blog because I am usually styling an outfit and I want to make sure every piece is visible in the highest quality. Don’t be afraid to shoot pictures in front of strangers, I couldn’t count the amount of times I have taken blog pictures in front of total strangers. It’s definitely embarrassing at first but you will get used to it. As for Instagram photos my biggest tip is shooting in Squaremode on your iPhone. It will already be ready for IG and won’t have to worry about cropping later on. I also think it is important to maintain a variety on what your posting. I try to mix it up between outfit shots, OOTD selfies, mirror selfies, food pictures, landscapes, my pups, ETC.  

4. Collaborations One of my favorite parts of the whole blogging process is collaborating. I have met SO many new people through my blog and I’ve learned so much from each of them. The blogging world is a community for interacting, not comparing. Starting out it’s nice to reach out to other new bloggers and companies to collaborate. It’s a great way to grow and meet new people. 

5. Be Yourself It’s easy to get caught up in what other girls are posting and try to post similar to what they’re doing. I’ve done it before and I always end up unhappy with the outcome. Posting your own thoughts and ideas in your own style will garnish the best results. No one else is you so it will guarantee your blog is one of a kind! 

6. Do NOT Give Up When I first started I blogged for about two months and then quit for almost six months and there are still days where I think that I shouldn’t blog anymore. I’m so happy I didn’t/don’t listen to that little voice in my head. Growing your blog and gaining readers is hard, it takes a lot of time and doesn’t happen overnight. It’s easy to see girls with 100k+ followers and think it’s impossible but you just have to remember she was in your exact spot at one point as well. 

Blogging is so different for each blogger but that’s what makes it unique. I most likely do things completely different from another girl but it is what works for me. You cannot compare yourself to others and never give up. It’s not all pretty pictures and fashion shows. It’s hard work but it’s definitely worth it! Also, a huuuuge thanks to every single one of you who follows along, I couldn’t do it without you! 

xo, Riley