What I did in 2015 to grow my blog

2015 really was a successful year for me. As far as blogging goes, it was incredible. Much better than my first year, but hopefully not as successful as 2016 will be! In the last year I found an increase in followers, page views, social media followers, and engaged readers. I'm sure this was all a result of my different strategies implemented last year. This is what I did. What really worked and helped me as well as my blog:

I told people at school - once I started to become proud of my blog, I was of course, more open to talking about it. I wanted people to know, and I wanted them to tell people about it as well. Once I started to get the word out around school, my readers, Instagram followers, and Twitter followers grew! My teachers also somehow got word of my blogging side, and would stop me in the hall to tell me about a small grammatical error or a picture they liked... Ect.

I really got into scheduling tweets - it shouldn't surprise anyone that the way I got more views in 2015 on my blog posts, was by utilizing social media. I didn't really realize before about July 2015 just how much of a help Twitter could be. I scheduled tweets through Hootsuite and Tweetdeck, and would share new posts & old posts all throughout the day at random times

I posted on Instagram daily - I'm not really sure how this helped my blog grow... If I had to guess I would say it was probably me always promoting my posts, sharing photos from a post, or just posting something semi artsy that a follower would want to check out this blog that I was always talking about. Whatever it was... It worked!

Constantly commenting - I did this a lot last Summer. Every morning before really starting my day, I would go through my bloglovin' feed as well as the select blogs I had posts delivered to my inbox for. As I read each post, I would try my best to leave a meaningful comment along with a link back to my own blog. Even if no one clicked on it, I was still getting my name out there! The same goes for Instagram.. I would comment on at least 5 posts each time I checked Instagram. Even the simplest of cat heart eye emojis and direct people back to your account. Also on Twitter, I replied to every #replytweet, question, ect. 

Hosting linkups - I co-hosted a crap ton of successful linkups with some amazing gals (all y'all know who you are ;)) it's always fun when you get to interact with other bloggers around the Internet to collaborate under one topic! The best part of linkups is sharing other people's posts... Sometimes they'll shout your post out in return which is always nice too! 

Participating in linkups - Not only did I co-host a lot of linkups, I participated in a bunch too. They are amazing opportunities to connect, build relationships, gain inspiration, as well as share some creative posts of your own! 

I told random people about my blog - It's really fun to be 15 and be able to have a formal, business like introduction when meeting adults and strangers. I love it! When I met people while I was helping at the flood relief center and we had some downtime for lunch... I found myself talking about it. While visiting craft fairs and Christmas bazaars I gained new Instagram followers. My mom's friends follow me on Instagram and Twitter. Casual things like that... You just can't be scared to throw it out there! It's actually really cool that you're a blogger, so be proud of that and tell people! 

Hosting Twitter chats - Twitter chats were somewhat scary to me at first. I felt intimidated. Honestly, it was probably because of my age and lack of experience compared to other bloggers (the comparison trap sucks to fall into). My first one was honestly probably the wrong type of chat for me... It was more for the entrepreneurial type, which is something I am not - in my defense, it was advertised completely wrong! The next one I tried was fun, but I couldn't exactly answer all the questions. I felt my answers were "unpopular" (I'm a very honest person) so I decided to keep looking for another more fitting chat. When I couldn't find one, I immediately brainstormed ideas and did a bit of research. Shortly after, Jamie and Nicole and I teamed up to host #bloggerblab (which was insanely successful) and there's also #galpalchat which is a heck-a-lot of fun too! 

Completely being myself - there is no one else out there on the internet that is 100% like me. I can promise you that. I can also promise that there is no one else with the same voice, intentions, ideas, ect. As me. Which keeps my content interesting - at least that's what I've been told. I set myself apart from the basic blog in my "niche" (wow I hate that word) and it worked to my benefit.

I hope this helped you, fellow bloggers, in your strategy planning for 2016. Please share with me your tried and true strategies and what has helped you achieve success! 

The Comparison Trap

I've asked a few friends why they quit blogging. Their answers fall somewhere in the lines of: "I wasn't good enough." "I'll never have as good pictures as her" "I'm just not a good writer... She writes so much better than I do" "I just don't have as much time as she does" "I was a hot mess... Everyone else was so put together and mine stood out from the rest". I'm writing this post as one who was caught in a comparison trap as a 13 year old, but I got out and have moved on to accomplish many things that I'm almost positive I wouldn't have been able to do if I was stuck in a giant "not good enough" pit.

Honestly, I've never struggled with low self esteem. I know I am "fearfully and wonderfully made" and I have no need to doubt the reasons God put me on this planet. When I was first starting my blog, I knew I lacked the experience it took to be as successful or professional as the other bloggers out there. As quickly as I had left the gate and embarked on this new adventure, I slowed to a near stop. I had nothing to post. Any outfit I attempted to shoot would prove that I was not as pretty as the other girls. I couldn't write about high school or anything remotely helpful to other girls because well, I was in middle school. I really hadn't lived enough life to write. I constantly reminded myself that any post I did wouldn't really be read with interest and would be laughed at due to my lack of talent. 

This went on for a few months... I started January 2014, and I want to say it was close to my 14th birthday that July, that my slump came to a slow end. I would be starting high school soon and felt like I finally would have some sort of experience to write on. My dad let me use his DSLR which made me feel better about the pictures. My style was reflecting everything I had read for the past year and a half and was finally showing my slightly more mature style. I was finally escaping what I now have come to call The Comparison Trap.

Comparison is detrimental to a blogger. You're right. You might not have something that Carly Heitlinger has in her apartment, but that doesn't mean that you can't have an apartment as beautiful as her's. Don't let not owning anything from J.Crew or Lilly Pulitzer stop you from having a gorgeous preppy fashion blog. When you compare yourself to others, you eventually run yourself off a cliff. No content because you're afraid that anything you post will be viewed as a cheap copy for one of the greats, any idea you have is simply mediocre compared to others, and you just look awkward in photos so there's no way in heck you're going to share your adorable new shirt and how you styled it. Confidence, y'all! It's key! 

It's insanely easy to slip into this trap. One day you're fine, and the next you're worried that your page views are never going to amount to that of Gal Meets Glam. If you waste time comparing, your content will never be on the same level as another, and your page views will stay at a steady zero. How I got out of my 6 1/2 month slump? I realized that the more time I spend standing at the entrance gate to a wonderful adventure, the less time I actually have to take on this adventure for myself. Once I came upon this realization, I would find myself laughing about silly little comparisons such as: "wait that's her natural hair?  Dang.. Wish mine was that dark" or other stupid things like that. 

Looking at other people and feeling bad about yourself isn't worth the time, effort, or energy. It's too easy to slip into this pit of comparison, and takes way too long to get out. The time you're using to compare your success to another's, can be used instead to be successful on your own. So friends, you're perfect, okay? Others (including myself) aren't worth comparing yourself to. Look at yourself and use your own judgement on your blog. It is YOUR blog after all. Make this one of your goals for the new year. Strive not to compare yourself, and you're in for one successful (and less painful) year. 

What It's Like to be a 15 Year Old Blogger

I've been wanting to write a post like this for a while now. This post is for friends, teachers, other bloggers, and for myself. When I talk about blogging I usually wave it off as not a lot of work or effort or anything. But really, blogging is probably the most work-heavy project I've ever invested myself in. I never really think about just how much time I put into this site, or my social accounts so I'm breaking this down for me as well, so I can see just how important blogging is in my life. 

There's no other place to start than the beginning.. 

I started blogging January of 2014. I was in the eighth grade and all of 13 years old. Some people call 13 still a "tween" others who read my blog at the time (there were not many but definitely some) believed me to be a college student which was most flattering. At the time I was VERY secretive. No one at school knew about this at the time little endeavor. Months into it, my friend, Kate found out.. But still no one else really did. 

Why was I so secretive about it, you ask? I don't really know. Maybe I was scared. Maybe I was worried about how others would accept or not accept this. Mainly I think it was because I didn't think it would last. My Instagram barely had 200 followers, my Pinterest barely had 50, a Twitter wasn't even a possibility in my mind. I thought I wasn't good enough. I couldn't make it. Who would listen to the ramblings of a little 13 year old. I'm convinced that those beliefs and thought process is part of why it took me as long as it did to get my blog and I "out there". 

It doesn't happen over night. I can promise you that. Establishing yourself in the online world is tough as heck. You have to have the drive to press on and work as hard as you can. I was still off to a rocky start by July 2014 when I turned 14. Sure I had been blogging consistently for 6 months but the readers and followers I had dreamed of were nonexistent. There were some, and some of them are still following and keeping up with me on the reg today. And for you all I am forever grateful that whatever kept you following me, didn't go anywhere and that you're still coming along for the ride now. 

When I started my freshman year August of 2014, my eyes opened. There were no other kids in my grade that had even attempted to do what I was doing. Sure there were One Direction fan accounts on Instagram and one senior who had somewhat of a fashion blog.. But no one my age was as committed to anything like this as I was. I wanted my blog to be the best that I and it could be. Then I buckled my seatbelt and took off like Lightning McQueen trying to win that piston cup (I still here Tow-Mater's voice in my head saying "you did what in a cup?!" Anyone catch my reference there?) 

Then came January 5th. My blog-a-versary. Basically just the celebration that exactly one year had passed since I created this blog. I was proud of myself for not quitting. For not giving up. I had made it to the one year point and I couldn't have been any happier. By now, probably 3 or 4 close friends had knowledge of what I actually did when I went home. I was so ready to blaze through another year.. My social media accounts were growing, my page views were growing, and i actually saw potential in myself and in my blog. I started to think, "dude, I could actually do this" and so I continued to press on and work as hard as 14 year old Cathleen could. 

As April and May rolled around, and my Instagram was doing pretty well as well as my Twitter (which I created a few months prior because I was convinced you had to have a Twitter to be successful) and Pinterest, I realized a lot of my friends were still left in the dark about my passions. I decided to go for it. What's the worst that can happen, I thought. Maybe I'll just have to find some more friends... Which turns out I didn't need to do at all. They were all super insanely supportive of me and my passions and shoutout to Brianna and Jordan who are still following me on Instagram and I'm almost positive that they like every photo I post. What was I scared of? 

At this point, and a while before that too, I had my blogging friends. I had a group of friends before them.. But let's just say I'm way better off with my girls now. You need friends like the ones I have. Girls that are in all different stages of life and blogging. People that are smarter than you, and come from all different backgrounds, and live in all sorts of places. People like Ashlee, Michaela, Sarah, Julia, and Caitlin. Blogging friends quickly become your blogging family. You love them and respect them and constantly are asking them for advice. 

One important thing to remember about blogging is that it's not about being in a clique. It's not about having your own personal girl gang from around the country. It's about building relationships that will not only help you and your blog but help you learn in life as well. In our group, I'm definitely the youngest. I learn so much from these girls it's insane. I learn never sleep with a guy in a foreign country (Thanks Michaela) as well as how far amazing pictures, a quality Instagram and investment can really take your blog from Sarah. These are connections and relationships that I wouldn't change for the world. 

These friends inspired me and filled me with motivation to keep pressing on. I'm convinced that I wouldn't have made it as far as I am now without them. 

When Summer 2015 came about, I knew exactly how I was going to spend my summer. Blogging to the max. Continuing to push myself farther and farther until all I could think and breathe about was my blog. Classycathleen.blogspot.com became www.classycathleen.com and my site design took a dramatic change for the better. I pushed myself to be the best I could be. To have a website that I would be proud to tell my teachers and friends about all sophomore year. 

I wouldn't have come even close to where my blog is now without amazing friends like Nicole and Jamie. These girls have challenged me and pushed me to be a better me past the point I couldn't believe was possible. I'm a better blogger and person because of these incredible girls and to them I am forever grateful. Together we have put together the #bloggerblab Twitter chat and together we have hosted and supported #BloggersBTS the MONTH long back to school linkup. I've "met" Nicole's sister and Jamie's brother, and they've met my mom and my older brother, Isaac who has pretty severe autism. I've ranted to the point there were tears, and we've laughed about countless things together and supported each other the whole way. To say I'm blessed is an understatement. We have been able to accomplish so much with each others help and we have bigger and better ideas to come in the future I promise. 

There's my snail mail gals. Faith and Sydney, Dani and Kayla, Sofia and Sarah Beth... They all encourage me to be a better me or to look at life in a different way. And just the classic handwriting correspondence is so much fun! 

There's Rachel who has taught me that I actually do have potential. The fact that she values my opinion and that we have something huge in the works is just so exciting and rewarding and yet another thing that I love about blogging. And Olivia who will forever motivate me to be my best self.. She's quite the inspiration. These relationships are worth more to me than the world. 

So I've been over the beginning, and everyone important to me that I've met through blogging, and now what it's really like to be 15 and running my own blog.

What started as a hobby, a pastime, a fun creative outlet has turned into a business. A business all about me and my life and my opinions.. Which I love. Most 15 year olds don't have the social media outlets with the followers that I do or even a blog that people even give a tiny look at. In those ways I am blessed. Blessed to have the readership, followers, and friends that I do. 

It can be tough though.. Don't get me wrong. Blogging is one of my very favorite things to do, but it is challenging at times and can take a lot of time. Pouring out all my energy into writing a blog post, or sharing on social media, hosting a Twitter chat, planning the next week's posts.. Just keeping up with fresh and new content can be a struggle. But because I love blogging, even the struggles are exciting and fun.

Being a 15 year old blogger, I can't be as financially invested as others. I can't shop every sale I blog or tweet about, I can't participate in all those loop giveaways, I can't do quite all those brand sponsorships that others can. I just don't have the money because well.. I'm 15. But even though I'm not financially invested, almost every ounce of who I am goes into my blog and social accounts. Well, every ounce and then a few get set aside for things like I don't know... My GPA and schoolwork. But every ounce other than those goes straight into you guys, my reader friends, and follower friends, and taking photos and coming up with fresh content. 

Even though I only really get around to blogging once or twice a week nowadays, I'm still always thinking and making lists and taking pictures for future blog posts. All my thoughts are basically dedicated to blogging and creativity. Sure I'm thinking about pizza and football like other 15 year olds, but moment of truth: I'm way more interested in what all my Instagram buddies are up to and what they're blogging about. 

I have countless scraps of paper in my bookbag and literally 80% of them have a post idea or something that inspired me on it. Maybe an account to follow or something to mention in my next FriYAY links. The lists are everywhere. Every notebook, every homework assignment, my agenda... Everywhere. I'm always thinking of ideas even at lunch and in the shower to make my blog the best it can be.

I'm totally open to talking about my blog with anyone. Is it awkward? Yes. Explaining something that I'm completely devoted to and interested in to someone who doesn't know the difference between blogger and Wordpress and j.crew and old navy is insane. But it's so much fun at the same time! It's my true passion so to anyone at school reading this: ASK ME. WE'LL TALK. 

Now that I'm coming to the end of this post.. I don't even know why I wrote it. Maybe because I haven't done a post about blogging in a while? I'm not sure.. But what I do know is that I'm gonna grow up. I'm going to change and grow and mature and develop and move on with my life. But blogging will never leave. I don't know what the future has in store for me, but I do know that I'll be blogging every step of the way. 

I'm thankful for the experience I have received from blogging. I'm thankful in advance for all the other doors in the future that will open because of this little blog. I'm thankful for my Instagram followers, I'm thankful for my Pinterest followers, and I'm thankful for all my readers. You all are the ones that have truly made and will continue to make this experience the best it can be. 

So again, what is it like to be a 15 year old blogger? Nonstop seeking new information, living life to the fullest, and snapping pictures each and every step of the way. Not being scared to be honest, wearing whatever I throw on, watching Hallmark movies at 3 AM and crying because of how perfect the unrealistic situation is, and eating/instagramming way too many s'mores. Staying up at all ungodly hours just to finish the next day's blog post, making your siblings wait before they can eat their frozen yogurt because taking a picture is top priority, running to and from the tripod just for a couple outfit posts, and making ice cream and cookies so you can post them on Instagram. Going to school but never really having your mind on your school work, having to ask your teacher for your test back because you wrote in the margins a couple ideas for a post, skipping out on a whole year's worth of football games to establish yourself as a blogger, and always being in search of a white background and good lighting. That's really what it's like. 

Hey Bloggers Be Yourself

Heads up this post is gonna be all over the place just like me -- my true self -- my real self -- y'know what, just keep reading...

This is me. A s'mores eating, sweat pant and water proof birks wearing, relaxing by the fire in a rainbow striped hammock 

I was scrolling through Twitter lately.. 

Might be weird to say this as a blogger, but sometimes I really hate blogging. Not the act of it, but the community & stigma around it ...

— Jamie (@fashionnewcomer) July 6, 2015

... People are 2 different people on their blogs & in real life. Why is everyone trying to fit into one "type"? Be yourself ...

— Jamie (@fashionnewcomer) July 6, 2015

... and your blog will be better as a result.

— Jamie (@fashionnewcomer) July 6, 2015

Jamie is one of my favorite bloggers. No doubt. She's incredibly good with words, and I thoroughly enjoy following her blog and her Twitter. She posted the above tweets on Monday.

So many bloggers focus on putting on this fake persona and they turn into this person with two personalities. The seemingly perfect one that has no struggles, no worries, no concerns, and is living and loving life. I don't know if they know this, but readers (I know because I am one) can pick up when things aren't 100% real. Honestly it leads to a more tense blog? If that makes any sense.. Like they have to hold themselves back from letting their true personalities, beliefs, and loves shine through.

When I tell people I'm a blogger, I get weird looks. The bloggers that make the news and get the huge page views in my opinion are slightly insane. When you try so hard for so long to keep up with your blogging self, and hide away your true self.. Yeah, you gotta be at least a little crazy.

Social media does not help this at all.. All the different platforms just give way for more fakeness to shine through. Of course there are those bloggers that I love that are so honest with their readers. They're not scared to put their true selves out there, and I love it.. And Jamie's so right! It for sure makes your blog better when you're honest and true.

Instagram can be a huge stress maker if you're doing it wrong. Instagram is about life. Creativity. Fun. Sometimes we bloggers get so wrapped up in perfection we miss out on life, really being creative, and really having fun. Instagram is part of why bloggers compare themselves to other bloggers ALL THE TIME. Honestly, I've noticed that when my pictures reflect me, THE WHOLE ME (like the picture at the top of this post) a. I get more likes and b. it's super refreshing just to share your real life. I think as a reader, we want to connect with bloggers. We don't want this one way window where we can see into your "perfect" life while we're on the outside really living life. Going through the motions, the struggles, and the hardships. We as readers don't want a window. We want more of a glass door. Where the blogger is open, inviting, and willing to share the ugly truths, the beautiful truths and well just all the truths with their readers. The blogger has to be willing to invite us in. It can be scary, trust me I write a blog so I get it, but you gotta do it. So refreshing to just be yourself.

So why should we have two lives? Our blogging self living the blogging life in the blogging world and our real selves doing and going through the same things as everyone else. Can I just say, my blog is me. That's what I tell my friends, family, readers and followers. If you like me and how I come across online and through social media.. Then we'll be the best of buds in real life too. There is no dual personality Cathleen.

ALSO, this shouldn't be a goal for anyone... I've seen on a couple Blogging Goal Lists that the blogger needs to be more real and be themselves with their readers. I mean obviously it should be a thought in your head and if you feel yourself slipping towards more popular culture, this is what everyone is writing, blah blah blah.... Stop yourself! But I wouldn't put this on a goal list... Should it be a goal to be yourself? Who are you if you're not yourself?

TO CONNECT THE DOTS HERE: Don't blend in.. Don't be like other bloggers. You are You and that's what makes you special, and as blogging goes, that's where readers come from. You want your blog to be refreshing for readers. Something that's different and doesn't blend in with everyone else's. You can't be scared to share your life with readers. Make sure you have that glass door installed so your blog is open and inviting for everyone who stops by your site.

I'd love to hear your thoughts below, both from readers and fellow bloggers...

*I'm totally not pointing fingers at  ANYONE with this post, so please don't take offense. That was not the goal of writing this post AT ALL!

Let's Talk About Instagram...

Follow me by clicking on the image above

Let's talk about Instagram.. Or actually.. I'll write, you read, and share your thoughts at the end! Is everyone familiar with Instagram? If you're not... YOU LIVE UNDER A ROCK. just saying. I don't know how anyone couldn't know about Instagram. BUT moving on! I have gotten a ton of compliments lately on my feed... which isn't that great honestly, and I've seen so many posts talking about how you need to find your "aesthetic" and I don't know I just really wanted to put this post together for you all!

Instagram is a way to share your life in photos on social media, and it's SO MUCH FUN! As you can see from my collage above, I post all kinds of things on my page... Paper, chai tea, plantation houses, quotes, outfits, ice cream and other food, and selfies. I really put a lot of time into my account, and it's always nice to hear complements from followers letting me know their thoughts on my feed. So see, I don't have a set in stone Instagram aesthetic. By that, all I mean is... all black and white photos, all edited with the same filter... ect. Basically it's just your photo style.

I do edit my photos before I post them to Instagram. Most the time I use the editor inside of the Instagram app, and if I still need my photo to be lighter or whatever I'll screenshot, back on out, and tell it to discard changes. Then I open up the screenshot and edit it accordingly. When Instagram is not enough, I'll use Afterlight. I've heard lots of bloggers use VSCO Cam. I have the app, but it's not one of my favs at all.

Typically when I am editing my photos, I adjust only a few specific things. Usually I always play around with the brightness, highlights, and shadows. If I had an "aesthetic" I guess it would be bright colors, sharp ish details, and always brighter than the original photo. Here's some examples of my editing in three's and how they change before I post:

Original

brightened up some..

Final: all cleaned up

original: taken on my dad's blackberry

Final: right before it was posted

original

lightened and rotated

Final

Original

middle stage

FINAL Lightened up even more... Upped the sharpness, messed with contrast. 

So that's editing... Let's talk finding followers and connecting with followers!

From the beginning... You gotta use hashtags. My major advice to you is don't use #cool #beautiful #day #love #instagood #i #love #spring #i #am #hungry. Like what? Write in complete sentences please! After you get basic sentence structure correct, move on to adding emojis and trending or large hashtags. Likeeeee #lillyfortarget or #preppy or #photography Sometimes you can get a couple likes from adding hashtags. 

Talk to your friends! Let them know about your account, and ask them to follow you! Make sure you have a good profile picture and bio with a link to your site. You will get recommended to other accounts, and you have to make sure your photo is interesting so that people will view your feed, and then decide on following or not! First impressions are everything. 

Go on liking sprees and then follow a few accounts.... But mainly: like other photos. People like you so much more when you like a bajillion of their photos, they might like some in return as well! 

Okay one speedy way to find followers would be to organize or participate in a loop giveaway. Loop giveaways are so good for getting a bunch of followers super fast. Just know that when the giveaway is over, you will lose a ton of followers. If you have any questions about how these types of giveaways work... dm me on Instagram, and I'll let you know!

So you always have to reply to comments on your photos... I'm not always the best at this, but I'm trying haha. Followers love it when you engage with them, thank them, send them snail mail.... y'know! Fun stuff like that...

Also, one really good tip to always remember: Put thought into your instagram photos PLEASE. I don't particularly like scrolling through my feed and finding totally random pictures of I don't know.. A trashcan you saw at marshalls. Or if it's in your house or room... Please make sure it's tidy and there's no noticeable clutter in the background. It's all in the details! Make sure they're sharp and on point and that the colors aren't too crazy. Be original and creative and take your own photos. Don't rely on Pinterest for all your posts. Don't just give shoutouts and use other peoples' photos. I like fresh, new content. 

The Importance of Blogging Friends & How to Find Them

So today is the *unofficial* blogger appreciation day linkup hosted by the lovely girls at NC Prepsters. I've had the idea for this post in my blogging ideas notebooks  for the longest time... Like probably for about as long as I've been blogging (a year plus). SO IT'S HIGH TIME I SIT DOWN AND WRITE THIS POST! 

Like I said just a few sentences ago-- I've been blogging for a year plus.. It was one year January 5th actually! Blogging has been a freaking incredible experience so far... *side note I'm not planning on quitting any time soon* But I'm serious y'all, it's been just so great. One HUGE reason my journey has been as great as it has been so far is because of my super special people in my life. Especially those that are bloggers themselves. In one day I might small talk, chat, rant, tweet, comment, reply, ect. ect. ect. to any number of bloggers from 5-35! But I have my go-to girls that I come to with any questions that I might have, blogging related or life related.. I honestly have to scroll sometimes through my messages to find some of my friends that I actually see in person on a daily basis to see where they are or ask for homework help. THAT'S how much I talk to these girls. Sometimes your friends that you've had for life just won't get this other side of you. They'll try, and be supportive, but they just don't really get it. Some bloggers try to bring their real life friends into their online world. It usually doesn't end well... Jealousy.. competition.. lacking motivation... But what I'm trying to say is that things like SEO, comments, retweets, follows, emails.... MEAN SO MUCH TO US BLOGGERS Am I right?? But your real life friends just can't support your online/blogger/social media savvy self. Aside from being some of the bestest friends you will ever have, it's imperative to have friends in the online blogging world as a blogger.
#instaworthy or nah? My blogging friends will tell ya.. I ask for approval on a couple instagram photos before posting. Sometimes it's good just to get someone else's eyes on it before it goes live! Or to have a little help with a caption.. or editing.. y'know!

Talk traffic to me....

For a blogger, a huge spike in traffic (page views) is so exciting! Tracking links that lead up to your blog, finding out how people are getting to your site, counting re-pins and reblogs and screaming about how they link back up to your site! When I hit 100,000 views, my Instagram post had a good amount of comments from bloggers who were so excited and supportive. Thanks y'all :) That's what you need in blogging friends! People that you can get excited over for their accomplishments, and people that will get excited over your accomplishments.

What do bloggers do on Friday nights? 

Ice cream and musicals (hey Kath.. What' up?) pizza (because it's so good) and planning future posts... Sometimes your other friends just don't get it, and you need a blogger bestie to chat with. Also live texting while watching a favorite movie at the same time as your friend is SO MUCH FUN.

Social Media Presences...

A social media presence is crucial for any blogger wanting to grow their audience. Having these online friends can really help your social media following and engagement with followers. A simple little tag or retweet or reblog or facebook share or any sort of share honestly can really help. Also, it's a lot of fun to shoutout your favs on social media... Or at least I think it's a bunch of fun! And it comes back around to benefit you and your blog most of the time too.

Keeping an Eye Out...

You always have someone looking out for you online! I remember back in January I had to deal with something where a site was using my content in German?? I never would have noticed except Jamie tweeted at me and made sure I was aware of what was going on. She stuck by me and checked in to make sure that things were taken care of. That's what a good blogging friend does!!

Get Yourself Some #bbfs and #bestbloggerbuddies

Even if you don't have a specific person or people that are your #bestbloggerbuddy and you have cute little hashtags and nicknames and inside jokes.... you still need to have those bloggers that you do a daily run through of their social media and blog and make sure you are up to date. You repin their content, retweet it, and like their latest instagrams. There are tons of people that I don't text or email or connect with on a daily basis but I check in with their social accounts. Little nicknames aside, make sure you have some blogger friends to check in on and to check in on you throughout the week.

Creativity

Sometimes you just go blank. You need motivation. Your real life friends won't be able to motivate you to blog or make YouTube videos (Heyyyyy Ash) like your online friends will. Even if you have ideas, you might need help with a caption or post title or anything! Use their creativity, and help them when they need your creativity.

Comfort

Blogging gets rough sometimes.. You get tough criticism, rude comments, other people you gotta deal with, unsupportive real life friends.... Your blogging friends get it. They'll keep you sane. You NEED them. And they'll be there for you when you need them. You have to make sure that you're there for them when they need you too!

So I have my girls... Who are your blogging friends? Want to find some BBF (best blogging friends)? Here's some tips and ways to find your BEST blogging friends!

Open up your eyes

Are you on Instagram (if not what the heck are you doing with your life make one right now)? Take a look at those people with similar blogging niches as you, that like your posts, follow you, leave comments on your posts... ect. Once you open up your eyes and look around there are SO many girls that are blogging now. ALL ages too! Most of my friends are seniors in high school, college students, honestly it doesn't matter. Also check Twitter! Twitter is an amazing way to connect with great people and get to know them even better. Make sure you are staying present on all social media accounts and you update them on a daily basis. That makes you look like a person open to connect with anyone and everyone that wants to chat online!

Don't be scared

Think someone's interesting? Stalk their blog! Stalk their social media! *Don't really stalk them* Just do your homework basically.. Find out more about them, and then start up a chat! You just gotta be bold and jump on out there haha! Trust me, it's worth it!

Start sharing

Share other bloggers' recent posts, posts you love, helpful posts... ect. Twitter is a great way to do this! Use hootsuite to schedule a few of your favs, and make sure you tag their Twitter account too! You can go on a pinning rampage (I wouldn't know anything about this.... #soguilty hahahaha). Totally stalk their blog, instagram, everything and just pin it all!!! Facebook can also be used to share all of your favorite posts, and leave some comments! It's good to connect and do them a favor by sharing their content.

Blogging Networks

Join a couple big sites that you can mix and mingle and chat with new people and bloggers. You'll learn a few things.. or more.. and meet so many great people. After you are exposed to a great many bloggers, think email chains in this as well, you might even want to add a few people as facebook friends! But blogging networking sites are so great for getting to know some amazing people.

Suggest a Collaboration

I get a ton of emails in a month for collabs, linkups, guest posting.... most of which I never end up participating in... life gets in the way I guess... but that's how I got to know my good friend, Kathleen! We have the same name, share a love for Disney, Sofia the First, and Lilly Pulitzer. She's so much fun to chat with and I reached out to her suggesting a collab... I knew immediately from her reply that we were gonna be great friends! You can't be scared to reach out.. Just go for it!

Instagram Giveaways

When you get invited to participate in a loop giveaway on Instagram, there's a ton of other girls involved too! HERE'S YOUR CHANCE!!!! Follow all the girls, comment on their posts, comment on their blogs, follow across social accounts... Just go for it! Engage in conversation! Ask questions! Just go chat and mingle with some new people.. You can't be scared y'all just go for it.

Don't wait

Trust me, it'll only hurt you in the long run. It's so much easier when you're growing amidst a group of your friends to grow and help them to grow then it is just to get yourself up in the world. Don't wait for your blog to be 100% perfect, trust me it will never be. Don't wait for the hundreds of thousands of followers you dream of. Just start finding some friends RIGHT NOW. Like stop reading. Go find some BBF's.

Why You Should Blog

I really enjoy writing these kind of posts where I get to share my advice on the things I've learned in my blogging experience so far. I am younger compared to other high school bloggers.. and all bloggers. And I started a year ago when I was even younger. I've learned a lot so far, and I can't wait to continue to learn even more, and continue to grow and share my thoughts with people from all over. So today's post is all about why you should start a blog. I feel like so many bloggers now-a-days are starting their blogs for all the wrong reasons. And, honestly.. It kills me. 

I know you've seen the infographics and images sharing people's stories about how many thousands of dollars they made in a month just from blogging. Those words spark ideas in people's minds. "hmm.. maybe I could do that! How hard can it be? Just sharing a few pictures.. writing a couple words.. and hit publish!" WRONG. NO. DON'T DO THAT. If those thoughts go through your mind, do us all a favor and don't start a blog. 

It all starts with a love for something. For me, I love writing, creativity, photography, and fashion. I found a way to bring all of my loves together into one blog! That's why I started blogging.. You have to be passionate about what you're doing. You have to have that drawing feeling to your laptop or computer to go write 50 maybe even 100 posts about whatever the heck you're interested in! If you don't have those feelings or the drive or the will to focus on your blog and work on it.. Maybe blogging isn't for you. 

I had seen a ton of bloggers get free stuff (that ever so lovely c/o was calling my name) and I wanted that. I wanted companies to want to work with me! Of course, I didn't want to put any effort into it.. so in the beginning my blog posts were honestly sucky. I'm not proud of them. I reevaluated myself after about three months of suckiness.. And I slowly started putting more time and effort into my blog. It deserves more.. but I'm doing alright right now. 

But anyways, where I was going with that.. I signed up for the affiliate programs, brand reps, all those reviewing sites, EVERYTHING. And nothing worked. I knew then that the way bloggers find these bigger companies is because they are really dang good at what they do. And the reason they are really good at what they do is because of all the passion that they have for their blog, readers, and a love for what they write about. That's honestly the only way you can make it in the blogging world. I haven't "made it" yet but I know that with even more hard work.. I'll be on my way. 

If you go into this wanting to make some quick and easy money, or get free stuff.. You won't be as successful. Trust me, I know. It's all about focus. If you think about blogging as a chore, that's really not a good way to think about things. Your blog is your very own corner of the internet. It's YOURS. You should take pride in your writing, your site design, and sharing your interests. 

I'm sorry this is kind of short, but honestly it kills me how many people run copy-cat blogs with content that is just like all the others, and ads all over the page trying to get money. Please, Please, PLEASE DO NOT BLOG JUST FOR THE MONEY! If you go into it with that mindset.. You won't find any money okay? You just won't. People want to see what you're interests are and read your thoughts and ideas. 

Wow okay this is shorter than I wanted it to be.. But I think I got my point across right? Blog with a purpose, and don't let that purpose be to make a profit. Make sense? Good.