our thoughts on Blogland....

FRIDAY!!!


SO blogging is tough. Its a crazy world.....really though Blogland is like its own place & you really do not understand it unless you blog. 

via

However no matter if you have been blogging for 3 years or 3 months you can ALWAYS learn something new & you can always teach someone something new.



I know when I started out blogging I could have used all the advice I could get because being thrown into this crazy land can be intense....& sometimes a little scary.




SO today some lovely ladies and I have come together to give all you bloggers out there in Blogland our Top 3 BEST blogging advice since we started blogging. 



PLUS we have all come together for an old school group giveaway.....you remember those...a bunch of random prizes allllll to one lucky winner! 




So without further ado - Some blogging advice from some fabulous ladies!!!

The biggest thing I've learned about blogging is to just be yourself. It sounds simple, but it's easy to forget. Stay true to yourself, your beliefs, your likes and dislikes, and find your own personal style of blogging and go with it!


{ Giving Away: $20 to Target & 3 Months Ad Space }

The biggest thing that I've learned since blogging is honestly, more about who I am. Spending time writing posts daily, baring my soul (sometimes) to the unknown internet audience and writing about life experiences have let me get to know myself so much better- all through blogging! A tip that I would give all bloggers (old and new!) is to try to answer as many emails as possible, especially, when someone leaves you a heartfelt & thoughtful comment. The response goes a long way AND it helps create those personal relationships!

{ Giving Away: $20 to Maybooks }

Build relationships, not walls. We all put ourselves out there in blogging, so be open and enjoy the advice or help that you get. It doesn't mean that anyone is better than you... It proves that we are all in this together.

Social Media is about sharing your passions. Blog about what makes YOU passionate. Not everyone is going to like it, but more people will stick around if they can feel the passion in your blog.

If you are just starting out, make friends and join forces with bloggers that have a similar follower base as you. You will want larger bloggers as mentors, but having a group of bloggers that are on your level and have similar content is a perfect setting to feed off each other and grow together. Grow can mean follower numbers, but I think personal and content growth are more important.

{ Giving Away: Bohemian Handmade Bag }

Stay true to yourself. It's easy to get lost in the crowd by trying to be like other bloggers. But be YOU! That's what makes your blog different.

Have a kick ass blog design. A blog design is like a first impression and people will take you and your blog more seriously if you have a professional design.

Be nice! Respond to comments and tweets and help out other bloggers when you can... I believe in karma ;)

{ Giving Away: Medium Ad Space }

 I know it's said time and time again in Blog land but do not be a no-reply blogger. Blogging is about networking and interacting with others. How am I supposed to interact with you when I can't respond to the comment you left me?

Remember why you started. Don't get lost in the link-ups and blog hops. Stay true to yourself and make sure you're posting content that matters to you. It's too easy to only post about the good stuff. Post about the hard stuff as well. We're all real people and we know that life isn't always cupcakes and rainbows.

Be honest. It can be hard to come up with something 100% original in a space that thrives on sharing and re-doing. No one wants their ideas/plans stolen by someone else. If you were inspired by someone, give them a shout out. If you're doing something that was someone else's idea - give them credit. 

{ Giving Away: 1 Month Ad Space & $10 to Bath & Body Works }

*always be yourself...don't be afraid to speak your truth

*take quality pics...people like to look at pretty things

*post often...your followers like to stalk you so give them something to stalk 

{ Giving Away: lil' bows headband-  gray polka dot }

*Blog about what you love and are passionate about

*Be true to YOU

*Network not just to grow in numbers, but to make real connections

{ Giving Away: Your Choice at J & M's Eye Candy }

*Be creative with your post titles 

*Be yourself always

*Have FUN!

{ Giving Away: A Lia Sophia Bracelet }

No matter how many followers you have, don't lose sight of why you are blogging. 

Be humble and help out smaller blogs. 

A clean, eye-catching design will keep the attention of new and old readers!

{ Giving Away: XL Ad Space }

Reach out to bloggers outside of your comfort zone. You'll never know when you will find a new friend! 

Be as honest as possible. Don't be one of those fake "everything is perfect all the time" bloggers…absolutely everyone has ups and downs with life. The ups and downs are what make you accessible to your readers. 

Use common courtesy, people! Be respectful. Don't talk bad about other bloggers because of their religious, political, or other beliefs. Share the love, and it'll come back around to you! 

{ Giving Away: $15 Shop Credit to KO Jewelry }

Do not be scared to reach out to other bloggers for help....even the "big" bloggers....remember they are NOT celebrities, just regular people like you and me

Stand up for what you believe is right, even if it means not everybody in blogland will like you

Don't give a fuck....who cares what everybody else is doing or saying - its YOUR blog, so do what YOU want...if you want to have giveaways every single day - great! If you don't want to do sponsor posts, okay! - always participating in link ups? cool!!...doesn't matter - do what you want! 

{ Giving Away: A Spot on the MINI project {$20 Value} & DIRTY Girl Ad Space }

Prize Round Up:

*A Spot on the MINI project {$20 Value} & DIRTY Girl Ad Space on MessyDirtyHair

*$20 to Target & 3 Months Ad Space on Lulu & Sweet Pea

*$15 Shop Credit to KO Jewelry

*$20 to Maybooks 

*Lia Sophia Bracelet 

* lil' bows headband-  gray polka dot 

*Your Choice at J & M's Eye Candy

*Medium Ad Space on Jessica Who?

*1 Month Ad Space on Crazy Tragic, Almost Magic & $10 to Bath & Body Works

*Bohemian Handmade Bag

*XL Ad Space on WTF

a Rafflecopter giveaway

tgif lovers