Blogging: Then + Now

Today's post is about some of the changes that I've noticed throughout my almost five years of blogging *my little blog will be five in May, I feel like a proud parent!*. It's a collaborative post with The Lifestyle Blogger UK; this is not a sponsored post.

Ok, I started blogging in 2012 and I started because I was procrastinating from university essays, as you do and at the time I was constantly watching beauty 'gurus' on youtube, most of which had blogs so I thought I'd give it a go as I was already writing  on review websites so a blog was a natural progression for me. At first it was all about writing beauty reviews, you can go back through my reviews to see my earliest and most cringing posts *they are all very cringingly embarrassing, especially the photo quality!*.

For the first two years of blogging I had absolutely no idea what to do, I didn't even know there was a blogging community five years ago, SEO was a completely foreign concept to me and I was studying at university full time so I didn't put nearly as much time, energy or effort into my blog then as I do now. I feel as though blogging five years ago was such a unknown concept to everyone, even bloggers as it was so new and it definitely wasn't viewed by brands or the media as a useful tool for advertising or promotion as it is now.

My first brand collaboration was such an exciting prospect and I know it was around the time that my blog turned two years ago or just after. It was squealing out loud level exciting about collaborating with a brand for the first time and no I didn't think I'd be the next Zoella, mainly as Zoella wasn't the mega youtuber back then as she is now and secondly as that wasn't my aim. My main aim at that time was graduating with the best grade I could, which I did, if you're wondering *go me!*.

It's only in the past two years that I've taken my blog seriously and considered it as a kind of business, albeit a very small one. I've been buying my own domain name every year since, I put so much time and effort not just into my blog but in learning and reading about all of the other aspects that make up blogging, contrary to popular and ignorant beliefs, it's not all taking pretty pictures and writing about lipsticks but it's learning to use a DSLR which isn't easy, it's learning how to network, communicate with brands/PRs, learning to use social media to your advantage and making your blog stand out in a sea of blogs. It's also about writing skills, how to edit photos, connecting with other bloggers and readers, working with brands and trying to unravel the complexity of SEO, blog analytics and everything else non-bloggers don't have a clue about.

I think even in the five years that I've been blogging, it has changed so much that it's almost unrecognisable from what it once started as and bloggers who have been doing this longer than me will probably agree. I think the change from wholesome, raw and unedited *kind of* writing and thoughts to a more brand orientated, view count obsessed and numbers game style of blogging has it's bad points and good points too. Blogging will always have to change, as any industry does and whether you like the changes or you think it has ruined blogging, that's your opinion but what I think is that the brand focused side of blogging has opened the door to a new and exciting media, one that's more human compared to older print media that is just a faceless and expensive glossy magazine.

I am so grateful for the amazing opportunities, products and emails I've had from super lovely PRs and I'm really proud of my little blog which has grown so much in five years - I had no idea when I started that I will have worked with Harrods, Newlook, Boots, Debenhams, House of Fraser and so many other incredible brands! There are so many amazing blogger opportunities out there now, which can be a double edged sword but I think it's amazing how many brands and the media are finally looking to bloggers although there are still some that mock blogging as the new media on the block that isn't as formal, structured or traditional as other forms of established media. Blogging is such a fast pace, dynamic new media that I think the world is finally recognising, although I still have moments where I have to explain what a blog is to people...

There are so many options for bloggers to connect with brands and have amazing opportunities and if they come your way why not take them! I'm all for bloggers working with brands and earning money, as long as bloggers are clear and honest about it. One of my current favourite sites for great blogging opportunities is definitely The Lifestyle Blogger UK website which has such an easy, no-fuss way of allowing brands to connect with bloggers and for bloggers to apply for amazing campaigns with brands such as Superdrug; definitely check out their site!

Have long have you been blogging? What are the main changes you've noticed in the blogging world? What do you think about the more brand focused nature of blogging now or is that not what you've experienced? 

*collaborative 

Read More

Three Years Of Blogging: Q+A Part One

I asked on twitter, Instagram and Facebook for your questions all about blogging as I have been blogging for over three years now and I thought it would be a great post to share! The bloggers who asked questions have their own blogs linked below so definitely check them out. The second part of this blogging specific Q&A will be live within two weeks time; also I will have a couple of general Q&A posts soon too!

1. If you could only pick one social media channel to use to promote your blog which would it be/which drives the most traffic? (question from Sally Says Beauty)

I would definitely pick Twitter! I love the twitter chats, it's so quick and easy to get blog feedback and to promote new posts. Also I *rather controversially* love the #prrequest hashtag as PR's advertise blogger opportunities and I've been able to take part in some fantastic blogger opportunities from it.

2. What have you learnt since starting your blog? (question from Pint Sized Beauty)

I have learnt how to use my camera well, how much I LOVE writing and even how to apply makeup better as well as how to network. There are more things I've learnt but the list would be SO long!

3. What has been your favourite blogging experience or most exciting blogging moment in the 3 years that you've been blogging? (question from Ellis Tuesday)

I would have to say that being invited to the St Legers Ladies Day was the best experience/event and I was able to take my non-blogger friend Yasmin along too. It was a great experience for both of us, it made me feel like a 'professional' blogger and it was something I never thought I would be able to attend. 

4. How much time do you spend per day on different tasks such as photography, writing, answering emails ect and do you have a blog plan for the future? (questions from Sweetpea London)

Answering emails doesn't usually take too much time but photographing products can take a long time and I sometimes have to edit photographs for ages! Writing time depends on the post, some only take an hour or less but others can weeks and weeks if I am testing a product for a long time *such as the HPL system I reviewed a couple of months ago*

For the second part of the question, I would love to continue improving my blog (with regards to my content, design and photographs) and hopefully gain the confidence to attend more blogger events. Also I would love to have more giveaways for my readers.

5. What's your ultimate blog tip? (question from Hannerking)

That's a very difficult question to answer, I would say that be honest and write about your passions! 

6. How do you find inspiration for posts and whats your best tips for overcoming blogging block? (questions from Your Almost Alice)

I find inspiration from other blogs, pinterest, magazines and even the seasons and magazines. I honestly don't get blogger block as I'm always thinking of new post ideas but I would say that if you have blogger block, check out some of your favourite blogs for inspiration or have a little break from blogging - whichever works for you!

7. In your 3 years of blogging, what has been your favourite / most memorable blog post and why? Congrats on turning 3!! Your blog is fab! (question from Holly at Rock On Holly)

My most memorable posts are my milestone posts (1/2/3 years and follower milestones) as it shows the progress of my blog. Although special blog events, such as the St Legers Ladies Day Post, is also very memorable as I never thought I would be able to attend a ladies day! Oh and the TGI Fridays event post is memorable as it was the first blog event that I attended. 

8. Wow, congrats on 3 years! My question; What's your biggest blogging mistakes and what was the best blogging decisions you made - with regards gaining followrs/people enjoying your content etc? (questions from Yay Interiors)

I think my biggest blogging mistakes (apart from not adding the follow widget to my blog) is not learning to use my camera. My photos from 2012 to 2013 were SO bad! 

The best blogging decisions I've made:

- Getting a pre-made and then custom blog design!!

- Joining twitter 

- De-cluttered my blog and started to comment regularly on other blogs

9. What influenced you to begin blogging? (question from Melissa at Beauty And The Little Lady)

I didn't really have many influences, apart from knowing that a lot of youtubers started out as bloggers. I didn't put much thought into starting a blog, I just did it and I knew nothing about blogging when I started!

10. What changes have you found have happened within the world of blogging over the 3 years? And how have you adapted your blog to embrace the changes? (questions from What Emma Did)

Blogging has become so much bigger, more popular and there are so many more bloggers than there were when I started back in 2012. I try to make my content as wide ranging as possible to reach as many people and keep my blog up to date with fashion trends, new homeware styles and upcoming/new cosmetics. 

Thank you to all of the bloggers that asked questions! If you have any questions leave them below and I will answer as soon as possible!

Read More

My Blogging Essentials ft. Askborg

I have been blogging for almost five years, my little blog is five May and yes, there will be a big blog birthday giveaway to celebrate! Over that time, I have learnt so much not just about blogging and writing but photography, SEO, networking and emailing with PRs and having to know new terms (keywords, domain authority, page authority and the guidelines associated with blogging were all new to me) as well as trying out so many products that I might not have if I didn't have a blog.

I've come to the conclusion that there are some blogging essentials that I need on a daily basis as well as items that make blogging that bit easier (as it definitely isn't!). I think the items I've mentioned will be a perfect starter kit (remember those old days of Youtube when makeup starter kit videos were a thing?) for new bloggers.

Charging Cable 

Ok, this first one is pretty basic and it is an item that everyone with an iPhone or iPad needs - a good and reliable charging cable. I have gone through so many official apple and...*cough* not so official 'apple' charging cables and every single one breaks on me within a few months but this one feels so durable. Mine always break at the ends because of the wire twisting but this *Askborg ChargeTube with Lightening Connector (£9.99) is made of braided nylon and the ends feel really stiff so they won't twist and break. I've been using this charging cable for the past couple of weeks and it's perfect; it's one of those basic items that you just need and it works so well.

iMac/iPhone

Another pretty basic item but both are so essential for me, my iMac which I blog and edit photos on and my iPhone where all of the social media promoting, editing and scrolling happens, far too much scrolling. My iMac is just perfect for blogging because of the massive screen, easy to use apps and it's super reliable as we've had this one for about eight or nine years.

Back in the old days of the Nokia 3510 and the wonder that is Snake, I never really used my phone and I'm known by my friends and family for never answering or having my phone on me but all of that changed when I received my iPhone 5C as a present a couple of years ago and now I can't be without it. I use the various photo editing and social media apps on my iPhone and I use it to take part in the #lbloggers (7pm on Wed/Sun), #bbloggers (8pm on Wed/Sun) and #TheGirlGang (6pm on Mon) chats on Twitter.

Blog Props

There's one aspect of blogging that I'm always trying to improve and that is my photography. I am never 100% happy with my photos, don't get me wrong some are gorgeous (if I do say so myself) but I always want to make them look better. One thing I never used in the first couple of years of blogging were props but now I always use them. My favourite blog photo props including: books, blankets, towels/fluffy jumpers, candles, fairylights and of course flowers. I like props that looks right with the products, I've seen some photos with props that look odd with the product but I think you can never go wrong with fluffy blankets, candles , fairylights or flowers.

Canon 750D

Cameras for blogging have been the topic of numerous blogger debates and chats and here's my view of it: you need a descent camera to get the best photos you can and also to progress, develop and work with brands, in my opinion. I can't imagine using my iPhone for my blog photos! I bought my Canon 750D last year with money I'd earned just from blogging which was a fantastic milestone for me and I now couldn't live without - it's by far the best camera I've ever used. Before I had the Sony DSc H200, the Nikon L110  and the Nikon L120, which are pretty good and I'd recommend them all but I adore my Canon 750D! Just look at my photos now compared to two years or even three years ago to see the massive difference in quality, sharpness and clarity.

Notebooks

Another basic, inexpensive and definitely essential item, notebooks and stationery! I have far too many notebooks but I do use them constantly along with memo pads and to do lists that I use to keep track of items I'm expecting in the post, tasks that I have to do and notes, blog ideas or recipes. I always have at least two notebooks/pads on the go!

Storage

The penultimate essential is one that isn't really discussed or thought of but it's so important! I use various storage boxes, drawers and crates to store blogging items - I have drawers next to my desk for general office/iMac items, stationery, blog prizes (yes, I do have a blog prize drawer) and for items that I need to post about in the next week. I also have a box filled with items I need to photograph which helps me to stay organised, especially around christmas when I'm lucky enough to receive small mountains of products and gifts. Additionally I have a canvas bag that I use for cardboard and paper recycling which is one of the many unglamorous aspects of blogging. SO. MUCH. RECYCLING.

Numbers/Excel 

Last but not least, another organising tool that has been helping me organise my blogging schedule - Numbers which is the Apple/iMac version of Excel. Spreadsheets are so useful to plan out and organise blog posts; I usually plan a month or so ahead and it lets me see if I have space to post about new products or if my schedule is too full.

What are your blogging essentials? Do you use any of the products that I do? 

Read More

Three Years Of Blogging: Misconceptions

Todays post is the another blog posts all about my experience of blogging as my blog has just turned three years old *cries like a proud parent* so I thought it would be a great time to share my experience and tips! This post is all about the perceptions and misconceptions go blogging. 

Even though 'big' bloggers have branched out into mainstream media and more people know about blogging, especially brands. It is still relatively unknown to the average person and if you are not a blogger yourself then you may have some misconceptions of what blogging is all about. First up, the biggest misconception, in my opinion:

- It's not easy! Don't start a blog expecting to be the next Zoella within three months. There is so much time, work and effort that goes into blogging and I don't think most non-bloggers or new bloggers realise that; I always see blogs that haven't been updates for months or ones that have been abandoned. I've worked hard for three years on my blog even while writing my university dissertation. You also learn so much, for example, I had no idea about PR/digital marketing, SEO, editing photos, the technical side of photography or networking before I started blogging. It's a steep learning curve and there is always more to learn but if you stick with it, it can be incredibly rewarding in the end. 

- Blogging consists of a massive community of people from all around the world and even just through twitter chats or commenting on blogs, it's such supportive and a friendly community to be part of! It's not a very lonely or exclusive hobby to have. 

- I don't get 'freebies', this is one misconception that really annoys me. Yes, I didn't physically pay for certain items or experiences but that doesn't mean I don't work for those products/experiences. So much time, effort, work and dedication goes into blogging. 

- We are not all hysterical girls that are crazy about makeup, I do love makeup but it's not a stupid or frivolous passion. A lot of bloggers, such as myself are university graduates; others are university students or professionals with the fields of PR and digital marketing. Also some bloggers have made blogging into a full time career (which is something I would love to do) and it's a great addition to your CV. 

- Blogging is not an unknown, uninfluential hobby. So many brands and PR companies recognise the influence, popularity and relatability of blogs. Blogs have a specific audience and relationship to consumers, unlike any other media so products can be advertised to their specific consumer market. 

If you are a blogger what are some of the blogging misconceptions you deal with? 

*I'm on the Dreams site along with other bloggers talking about overnight beauty treatments and tips* 

Read More

Three Years Of Blogging: Q+A Part Two

I received more questions than I thought I would so I have had to split the questions into two posts. If you haven't seen the first post, click here. 

1.  If you could go back to day one of your blog, would you do anything differently? (question from Lay It Bare Lifestyle)

I would learn how to use my camera and how to edit photographs! Most of my photos from the early days of my blog were cringingly embarrassing and I wish I could go back and change that! Also I would not add my blog name to my photographs, it looks amateurish (to me) and no-one would have wanted to steal my photographs back then anyway!

2. How do you keep your blog posts fresh? (question from Ashleigh's World)

I like to think I keep my blog fresh and different as I love to talk about so many different topics from lifestyle, fashion/ootd and posts about all things beauty, even hair removal and being a vegetarian! Inspiration from other bloggers, magazines, products, seasons and social media helps to my blog ideas flowing. 

3. What are the brands you have loved working with the most? (question from Mon Petit Billet)

So far I have loved working with (individually and through PR's): Makeup Revolution, Newlook, Jurlique, Manuka Yoga, Clarins, Debenhams, Essence, Brodie and Stone and so many more! I am so lucky and grateful that I have been able to work with a lot of brands, some of which I have loved since I was a teen! You can check out the list of brands I've had the pleasure of working with, here.

4. Advice for new bloggers, how would you say you can get your blog seen by more people?  (question by This Is She Dates)

Here are my personal pointers to a good basic blog to start with and how to get more traffic as a blog beginner; although keep in mind that it can be a very slow process and I am definitely not an 'expert' in this topic:

- A simple but unique blog design and clear bright photography will always attract readers

- Comment on other peoples blogs (don't spam though) as it has personally brought so much more traffic/page views and followers to my blog

- Blog about what you are passionate about

- Make it easy for your readers to find your social media icons so they can follow if they want to

- Link your blog to all of your social media accounts and join in with twitter chats, follow bloggers and generally just interact 

5. What has kept you motivated these past years? What tips would you give a beginner blogger? (question from Neenys Little Blog)

My personal motivating factors are: wanting to grow my blog and I want to share my opinions of all things beauty! Reading other blogs keeps me motivated too! I've already noted some tips of blog beginners above but another point I would emphasise is not to give up!

6. What is your favourite blog post type to read? (question from Haileys Workshop)

I love reading reviews, bloggers are fantastic enablers! I have bought quite a lot of makeup and some accessories based on bloggers reviews and recommendations. I also love reading hauls, especially Primark hauls as it can be a great way of seeing what stock they sell currently. 

7. Did you have any initial misconceptions about blogging or the blogging community? (question from Life Of a Thinker) 

When I started my blog I didn't know about the blogging community or about blogging generally. Blogging wasn't nearly was big/popular as it is now, it was a small community so I did't really have any misconceptions. 

8. What's the best thing about blogging... please name just ONE (question from Suede and Symphony)

That's a difficult question as there are so many amazing things about blogging but I would have to say: the blogging community. The blogging community is SO supportive, whether I reached a new blogging milestone or if I'm having a bad day, the blogging community is always there to help, support and celebrate. Also twitter chats are a great way of talking to bloggers with the same interests - I always look forward to them, especially the #lbloggers chat!

9. Why did you start your blog? (question from Fizzy Peaches) 

I have received this questions about so many times on social media and on my giveaway post (here). I started my blog because I wrote on review websites. I loved writing about beauty products and testing products so starting my own blog was a natural progression for me - although I didn't think about what having my own blog would entail at the time. 

10. What piece of advice would you give to me as a fellow blogger either about my own blog or blogging in general (question from Beauty Queen UK)

My advice for bloggers would be: keep doing what you are doing, don’t get disheatened by negative comments, keep supporting one another and don’t be scared to contact other bloggers to chat/ask questions. Also my advice for everyone (as photography is a passion of mine) is to experiment with your camera, try different settings and locations as well as props/lighting. 

If you have any other questions for me about blogging (or anything else) leave them in the comments below and I will reply as soon as possible - make sure you click the box next to the comment section to receive an email when I reply to your comment!

*make sure you check out my blog giveaway (here) and my twitter exclusive giveaway (here)*

Read More

*SEO: A Blogger's Perspective

Image from Bloglovin via Pinterest

I started my blog back in 2012 which seems like a lifetime ago and when I started blogging it was nothing like it is now! Blogging in 2012, for me, was a huge learning curve and it still is but one aspect of blogging now that I didn't even know about in 2012 was SEO, working with PRs and the myriad of technical aspects that go into blogging such as photography, SEO and statistics.

As I've said, SEO and everything that goes along with it was something I never knew about when I started but now it's something I do without thinking almost and it is also a side of blogging that cannot be ignored if you want a 'successful' blog - obviously success in any form is very different to each person and working with brands etc isn't the only form of blogging 'success'. I've been very lucky to work with some amazing PRs such as Click Consult SEO Agency and brands including Harrods, The Hut Group, Degustabox and many more which I'm very grateful for but there's so much more to learn and improve upon.

Guest Posts & Increasing Your DA

Let's start with one of the simplest ways of promoting your blog, receiving backlinks and increasing your DA (domain authority). Firstly, domain authority is a measure of ranking for a website and predicts how well a website/blog will rank on search engine results pages. The higher the number the better and the more likely it is that your blog will be viewed through searches which is why it is an important metric for brands/PR collaborations. There's so much more to it than that but that's my basic understanding!

Blogging can seem like a numbers game at times, and in 2018 it definitely is, but don't be disheartened if your blogging statistics aren't what you want them to be as there are things you can do to improve. A simple way to improve your DA is by getting backlinks to your blog from other reputable websites such as a brands website or another 'well ranked' blog so if you can write guest posts with links back to your blog then that will probably improve your DA.

Keywords 

Now onto an aspect of SEO that is the most confusing to me, keywords. Keywords are words and phrases that you use in your post (sometimes without even knowing it) which make it easier for people to find your blog/website via a search engine. If you use popular and relevant search terms/keywords in your posts then it's more likely that someone searching for information based on those keywords will find your post/blog/website. I believe that keywords are a main part of SEO and something bloggers could look into but the main aspect that I find challenging is the keyword researching and knowing which to use. Using keywords that stand out from your 'competitors' and updating the keywords you use can help. You can use keyword tools to help you find keywords for your topic. I think for bloggers, it might be mainly intuitive and by trial and error in terms of knowing what keywords to use. I need to research this much more!

Utilise Social Media

Last but not least is something I again never really considered when I just started blogging - no wonder no-one was reading my posts! I had an instagram account which I used for my blog but I only created a twitter account a couple of years after starting my blog...I couldn't be without twitter now. Twitter is my most used and most popular platform with the highest number of followers so I always promote my posts on there with relevant hashtags and tagging the mentioned brands. One platform that I love and I know that it can be very effective for blog traffic is Pinterest; one of my blogging goals for the rest of the year is to try and use Pinterest for my blog. If you have any tips on the latter, let me know in the comments!

Those are just a few ideas and tips that might help you with your blogs visibility and SEO but there are so many other points such as linking to your previous posts in your newer ones, having an option to follow your social media accounts on your blog/creating a newsletter and if you mention brands or bloggers in your post - tag them and you might be lucky and get a link in return.

If you're a blogger, do you consider SEO when writing your posts? Do you check your blog statistics?

*This is a collaborative post
*Image from Pinterest 

Read More

The Unglamourous Side Of Blogging

Image from Career Girl Daily via Pinterest

If you aren't a blogger then you probably only see the 'pretty' side of blogging which admittedly includes rose gold of some kind, beautiful photographs, events, 'freebies' (note: not free) and on point candid photos but that's just one side of blogging, the other is...far less glamorous. Today's post is all about the unglamorous, tedious and behind the blog jobs that no one but other bloggers are aware of.

Recycling

I'm incredibly lucky to have been sent items from brands and PRs for years now but it didn't start off that way and it takes a long time to gain the skills to review, photograph and promote a product well enough and to create brand relationships. However, there is a downside, mountains of recycling especially during the christmas present buying months! Press releases, product packaging and boxes can all be recycled and I try to recycle as much as possible.

Spam Emails

Checking my emails is something I do multiple times every day as you never know when you'll receive an amazing opportunity but when one amazing email arrives, at least four spam email will appear too. Spam email can range from the annoying ones everyone gets and ridiculous brand 'opportunities' that are in no way equal to the plethora of newsletters that you never subscribed to, so glam.

Pressure, Comparison & Competition 

This next point is a little more personal but I'm sure that a lot of my fellow bloggers will have felt pressure to blog, the sadness of comparing yourself to a blogger with hundreds of thousands of followers or the feeling of competition in the blogging community. I have definitely experienced all three within my six years of blogging and I do have to admit that I have felt it often in the past couple of years compared to when I started blogging back in 2012 as it's no secret that blogging has become more of a mainstream media and with it will come competition of a kind.

Tax 

Lastly is a point that I think a lot of bloggers are a little terrified by or unsure of and with good reason! If you are a blogger and you receive money for an instagram post, sponsored blog post or something similar, even if it's only £10 then you'll need to declare it for tax purposes. I've been declaring payments as a self employed freelance writer for the past three years now and while the amounts aren't massive (sadly) you do have to let HMRC know if you're in the UK (I'm not sure about other countries).

Every year I have to fill in an online self assessment tax form which is an incredibly daunting task and I dread doing it each time as they seem to go out of their way to word the questions in the most convoluted way possible. Thankfully Talk Tax has a range of articles related to tax issues, queries and advice from guides to cancelling road tax, inheritance tax and how to spot a fake HMRC email to a council tax guide, benefits guides and more. They also have a range of HMRC contact numbers. Since I applied to become self employed and started filling in tax forms, I've found it a little easier but it is still such a stressful process so next time I have to fill in anything related to tax then I'll definitely check out Talk Tax for guidance!

What do you think the unglamorous sides of blogging are? Do you have any advice when it comes to tax/HMRC forms? As a blogger, do you declare payments? 

*This is a sponsored post
*Image from Pinterest 

Read More

*Blogging While Travelling + Working Without Borders

Image from Mathew Williamson by Pinterest

One thing the internet and blogging has done is to create opportunities where there previously weren't any. It has opened doors for us. Now, we can talk about the opportunities on the internet - job boards, freelance work including blogging and other roles that we can get paid for, or we can talk about the opportunities that the internet has actually created for us in the real world. These both merge, though - the internet has made a lot possible in the world of work.

The internet and blogging in general has helped us find cheap flights; it has guided us with online maps, it has sent us to new destinations in all four corners of the world and thanks for bloggers it has also made us want to go to places we haven't before as well as cafes, restaurants and sites to visit. Travel and opportunities come together though because the internet has made it possible for people to work without borders. You can operate your business or blog from your mobile phone and you can complete your work from anywhere in the world with a laptop. The opportunity might be there for you to travel and work or travel and blog at the same time? For freelance workers, this means the possibility of being a roving, moving worker is a reality. As long as you have the right gear, a strong and solid internet connection that won't fail you and an attitude of exploration, there isn't much that will stop you.

Working without borders presents a number of challenges as well. Also, what about accommodation - will you work from a hostel, will you find a luxury house to rent, or hotel? Or what about a road trip, I've seen so many bloggers over the past couple of years going on about Trek America - anyone interested? You might always be on the move - so remember to plan your steps ahead. Working while you travel, or traveling while you work is something that we can actually do now - they don’t need to be separate.

For me travelling and blogging is the ultimate combination, who wouldn't want to travel around the world being paid to do so or staying in gorgeous hotels for free! Blogging as a new media has been a bit of a rollercoaster journey, particularly in light on the recent bot drama but it's amazing to see the progress that blogging has made over the five years I've been blogging - from an unknown media to such a influential form of advertising, marketing, advice and more which allows freelancers and bloggers opportunities in all aspects that wouldn't have previously been available.

Are you a travel blogger? Do you blog while travelling? What do you think about the new opportunities of working without borders? 

*This is a collaborative post

Read More

Blogging Essentials #2

Earlier this year I published a post all about my current blogging essentials and today's post is a continuation of it with some new items and more general blogging items that you might not initially think of! Check out my previous post if you want to see more of my blogging essentials that are perfect for beginners and seasoned blogger alike.

Blankets: Cosiness is key

I know the obsession with hygge is pretty much gone, it went the way of Pokemon Go and we are still in summer but I cannot stop thinking about autumn - well, let's be honest and say that my mind is aways thinking about autumn and all things related to being cosy, baking, cooking and autumn clothing/activities because it's the best time of the year. Fact.

As my mind is constantly in autumn mode, blankets and being cosy is key to me being productive. Give me a blanket, candles, a gingerbread latte and my iMac and I'll be able to get so much done, whether it's answering lots of emails, editing photos or video clips, typing up posts and guest posts or researching. The blanket in the photo above is one I actually made using the arm knitting method and for my first attempt, I'm so happy with it as it's so incredibly soft, cute, versatile and it keeps me surprisingly very warm!

*Penclic Mouse R3 (£59.99)

This next essential is definitely a new addition and despite a few teething problems, it's become a desk staple for me. I have an iMac which is going on for eight years old now (I need a new one ASAP) and it has a traditional corded mouse although recently as the iMac itself is failing so is the mouse.

The Penclic Mouse is a wireless, pen like mouse that is definitely unusual and innovative! It can be used if you're left or right handed, it connects wirelessly to your iMac or PC using the USB dongle included and it is such a unique concept that I personally haven't seen before. The set up was a bit confusing as nothing seemed to happen but thankfully it's now working. I'll be completely honest and say that it definitely does take time and patience to get to grips with as it's such a different style and shape to a traditional mouse but I find it a bit more comfortable to use, especially as I'm on the iMac for most of the day, pretty much seven days a week.

I love that it's wireless, as there is no annoying cord that gets wrapped around other things on my desk, it feels natural to hold as it's a pen shape and I love the scroll wheel which is really useful, particularly as the scroll function on my Apple mouse is broken! If you're thinking about getting a wireless mouse then check this one out!

One thing to note when it comes to blogging and desk jobs in general (as well as nurses, builders and many other jobs) is that repetitive strain injury can be a cause of concern. It is estimated that 73% of those who work at a computer are at risk of repetitive strain injury due to typing but it can be easily prevented. To help prevent repetitive strain injury, it is advised that you should take regular breaks from your desk and it is worth sticking to regular breaks because repetitive strain injury can in some cases result in physiotherapy or even surgery.

Bookshelves, Storage & Canvas Bags 

The first essential in this section is more of a book blogger problem and that's too many books! I'm lucky enough to be sent books occasionally from publishers and I'm very quickly running out of space but these gorgeous floating book shelves from Red Candy are perfect and you can store other things on top of the books too, if the aren't too heavy.

Storage is a general life essential but as a blogger I have specific drawers for tax documents, press releases and product information, products that need to be photographed and other drawers for blog prizes, packaging and even blog photo props.

One thing they don't tell you about blogging or that isn't shown is the amount of recycling that you have to deal with. As I said, I'm very lucky in that I get to work with some amazing brands and PRs so very regular packages and boxes means that around once a week I end up with a big stack of recycling and canvas bags are perfect to store and sort out paper recycling!

Earphones

A good pair of earphones are very hard to find, especially as for me, most of them are actually quite painful to wear but these gorgeous wireless earphones from Sudio Sweden are perfection in earphone form! They're white and rose gold (tick), wireless (tick), the sound is fantastic and clear (tick) and they are so comfortable to wear (tick). I honestly cannot recommend these earphones enough! I use them for editing videos, watching youtube, listening to audiobooks and they even work as ear plugs on a noisy train...

Those are more of my personally blogging essentials, what are your blogging essentials? 

Read More

My Blogging Experience: Brands/PRs

Todays post is a another in the 'My Blogging Experience' mini series that I started last month with my 'blogging pet peeves' post (here). As my blog is coming up to it's 3rd birthday (which is in May and I will have a rather exciting international giveaway to celebrate) I thought I would create a few blog posts to share my experience of blogging over the years including what I have learnt, my experience of working with brands/PRs, blog photography and more. 

This post is all about my personal experience and approach to working with brands and PR companies. When I started my blog, I didn't think that I would really work with brands as it was just a creative hobby for me rather than blogging for money or samples and it still isn't. I started my blog mainly as I always bought quite a lot of makeup and I wanted to share my views and I already wrote on two review websites (Dooyoo and Ciao) so my own website was a natural progression for me. It wasn't until almost one year after creating my blog that I was approached by a brand to work with them. The brand was The Skin Regime and I was so excited when I received Dana's email, especially as it is an American company. I remember feeling quite overwhelmed when I received my first product to review as I didn't want to disappoint the sender as they had sent me a product from America and I wanted my blog post to be amazing. Although I feel obliged to be up front and true to my readers and followers, even though I only had 30 or so at the time but every reader should be provided with the necessary information if they want to purchase as well as an honest review of the product. 

Since then I have been very lucky to work with some of my favourite brands that I bought from before I even started my blog such as Debenhams, Yves Rocher, Burts Bees and more; as well as being introduced to brands I never would have tried which is one of my favourite things about working with brands/PRs. The college above shows some of my favourite products that I have received for review recently, one of which I never thought I would own - the Silkn Glide HPL System.

Working with brands/PRs is a controversial topic in the blogging community but my personal view bloggers working with brands/PR companies that is the norm however honesty and transparency are so important. I also think that bloggers approaching brands/PR companies themselves is perfectly acceptable and I do it myself on occasion, it is just the way in which you approach the individual on the other end of the email which is what makes it controversial, in my opinion. For example, when I approach a brand I email something along the lines of: 'Hi, I'm emailing to ask if you work with bloggers' etc so they can say if they do or don't. What I do have an issue with is that some bloggers may think that brands owe them products to review because they are a blogger and have X number of followers. No brand/PR owes any blogger anything and what may need to be taken into consideration is that PRs are real people and they are just doing their job. I have been fortunate enough to have positive experiences with all brands/PRs, some of which are so lovely, especially the team at Media Hubb, Media Works and Total Media who work within digital marketing and media buying as well as blogger outreach - I would love to work in PR/digital marketing! 

On the other hand, I do receive emails from PRs that basically ask me to publish a post about a certain product, campaign or app/website with no benefit to myself or my blog - that's not ok. I didn't work hard for almost three years on my blog to provide brands with free targeted advertising, in my opinion. If I did publish their posts I would feel as though I am providing my readers with information they don't necessarily want and I would be lowering the value of my own blog; I wouldn't want to that as bloggers do work so hard. Some of my family and friends have described my blog and their experience of starting a blog as a 'part time job' and a 'mini business' and I think that sometimes bloggers are undervalued although with the rise of 'big' bloggers in the mainstream media, it is becoming much more valued and important as a new media outlet for consumers, brands and PRs. 

I have put so much time and effort into my blog and one of the perks is working with some fantastic or not so fantastic brands but it shouldn't be the reason anyone starts a blog, you have to have a interest and passion for your chosen topics. I love blogging and after almost three years I cannot imagine stopping! There are controversial topics within blogging, as there are with everything, which can take some of the enjoyment out of it but if you are thinking of starting a blog I would suggest you do it. It is one of my best decisions I have made, not only because of the lovely perks such as events, samples to review and meeting new people but on the whole it is a fantastic, supportive community that I love being part of.

Just a little note, there was a #lbloggers chat last week I think about sponsorship and disclaimers which I was too late to join but I read through some of the chat (definitely look out for the blogger chats on twitter) and I wanted to be completely transparent regarding sponsored posts. For example, this post is sponsored and I personally have no problem with bloggers accepting sponsored post opportunities as long as they are honest, labelled as sponsored and are relevant or helpful to readers and followers which I hope this post is.

*this is a sponsored post*

If you are a blogger, what are your opinions on working with brands/PRs? Also what are your thoughts on sponsored posts? 

Read More

2018 Highlights

Today's post is a little late but I've been enjoying a mini break from blogging, spending time with my family and getting ready for a new year. I was contemplating not publishing this post but I had quite a good year on the whole, one of the best years for a while actually and there were so many firsts in 2018, from going on my first girly holiday with friends, being a bridesmaid for the first time and visiting the gorgeous countries of Germany and Belgium to going on a hen party for the first time, watching my first stand up comedy show and visiting so many new sites around the UK.

January, February & March: Ancestry, Visiting Famous UK Sites & Photography Course 

2018 began with a fantastic reading month, redecorating our home and going to one of my best friends baby shower. Within January 2018 I managed to visit one of the oldest libraries in the UK, Chethams which is actually in my home city of Manchester. I also visited Manchester Cathedral which is where a couple of my ancestors were married!

Speaking of ancestors, in February I started my ancestry research again and this time I focused on my mums side of the family and while we knew that we had a lot of Scottish relatives (great grandparents etc), I didn't know just how many there were - there are a lot of them! I utterly adore the areas of Scotland I've visited including Fort William, Oban, Isle of Arran and Mull so it was very interesting to find out more about my large army of Scottish relatives. Also in February I continued my goal of visiting more local sites and I visited the beautiful John Rylands Library and Ordsall Hall, both for the first time.

Another goal I had for 2018 was to take part in a photography course and after searching I found one which wasn't too much money with the Open University and the Royal Photographic Society which I started in March. March 2018 also consisted of being featured on the Metro website, loosing more weight and visiting the ridiculously busy Ramsbottom chocolate festival for the second time.

April: Blogger Mail, London + Bridesmaid Dress Fitting

April was quite an exciting month as I was sent one of the most expensive items I've ever been sent to review which was my amazing Magimix and I had a quote from a book review of mine printed in the final paperback book! Also I visited London again in April 2018 and visited a few sites that I hadn't managed to before including: St Pauls Cathedral, HMS Belfast and the British Museum, all of which I loved, especially the British Museum! Lastly, for April I also had a bridesmaid dress fitting which is something I haven't experienced before.

May: Hen Party, Dunham Massey, Weight Loss Milestone, Comedy Show

I tried so many new things and visited so many new places in 2018 and May was the month, along with August, that seemed to have the largest number of firsts including: the first hen party I went to, first Lush party, first stand up comedy show (the Frog and Bucket in Manchester), first time driving my friends and I visited a couple of sites in the UK for the first time including the beautiful Dunham Massey and Gawthorpe Hall. I also reached my two stone weight loss goal in May which I was extremely happy with so naturally I celebrated with pizza...Additionally, I became a member of the National Trust in May and I've been able to visit a few sites for free with it and I want to visit even more in 2019.

June: Blogging Milestones & Bridesmaid Duties

June was yet again another busy month and one with quite a few milestones in it with my dads retirement, a wedding rehearsal and then the big day for one of my best friends! I have to admit that I was equal parts very happy and also terrified about being a bridesmaid especially as I was the first, along with a fellow bridesmaid, to walk down the aisle but it was an amazing experience.

June also featured a few blogging milestones as my blog reached over 3,000 followers on Bloglovin, I reached over 8,000 followers on Twitter (I'm @ofbeautyand) and my DA reached 44 which is incredible and the highest it's ever been - that made me very happy, if I'm honest!

July: Food Festival, Heatwave & Highest Paid Blogging Month Ever

I live in Manchester and it's a place known for rain but in July we had a ridiculous heatwave in which it reached 31 degrees celsius which is unheard of in Manchester...and on that day I went to the Manchester Eats food festival (the first food festival I've ever been to and I saw Marco Pierre White!). I also passed my photography course with the Open University and the Royal Photographic Society in July.

One of the most exciting things about July was blogging related as I reached over 900,000 blog views and I had my highest paid blogging month ever! I never expected to earn anything from my blog so to earn more than enough for rent and bills (if I lived on my own) in one blogging month was just amazing! Additionally, I finished my 100th book of the year in July.

August: Girly Holiday, Lake District, My Birthday, Chatsworth & Cruise

August has always been a very busy month as it's the summer and my birthday month - August 2018 was no different! I went on a girly holiday for a couple of days with two of my best friends at the beginning of August and we went to the beautiful Lake District. We visited Penrith, Lowther Castle, Ullswater and Aira Force. I paid for us to stay in a restored post office (which was built in 1713!) in the picturesque village of Dacre and it was such a lovely experience which hopefully we can do again in 2019.

For my birthday we visited the very impressive Chatsworth which was an amazing day, the house was utterly gorgeous and the grounds were so nice to wander round but sadly we didn't get to explore everywhere in just one day. We also went on a family cruise with Royal Caribbean at the end of August to Germany, Norway and Belgium as well as the port of Southampton. Royal Caribbean and P&O cruises are just incredible and cannot recommend them enough!

September: Cruise, Belgium & Lush Showcase

I started the month of September with the end of the cruise and visiting the amazing city of Ghent, Belgium which I definitely want to visit again as it was just gorgeous - sadly we only had one day there. Also as one of my birthday presents, I visited the Lush Showcase which was in Manchester for the first time and it was wonderful. We went to the showcase on the second day so it wasn't as chaotic as the first, we made some Lush products and saw all of the new products. I actually managed to restrain myself and only buy a few items from the showcase. They had the worlds largest bath bomb at the showcase too! If you want to see my stories from the showcase or anything I've mentioned in today's post then check out my highlights on Instagram (@ofbeautyand).

October: Liverpool, Halloween, Grandads 80th + Christmas Blogger Mail

October is one of my favourite months as halloween is my favourite holiday but sadly due to my skin flaring up, I couldn't create nearly as many halloween looks as I wanted to. Also I kind of missed out on halloween in 2018 as Christmas seemed to start even earlier than normal. I received so many Christmas blogger mails packages and gifts in October (I'm definitely not complaining about that). Within October I also visited the nearby city of Liverpool for the day which included visiting the Maritime Museum, Museum of Liverpool and the World Museum, all for the first time. We went to see the limited Terracotta Army exhibit which was amazing but also very slow and very busy!

November & December: Leeds, Christmas Markets, New Tattoo, Christmas Blogging Rush

Another busy month for blogging was November as the Christmas preparation and posts increased even more and I was lucky enough to receive a lot of gifts and sponsored posts in November (as well as December). Also at the beginning of November I got another tattoo which was my first for seven years and my biggest as well. Mine was created by Zu at Flesh Tattoo which is based in Manchester city centre and I cannot recommend it enough; I definitely want more tattoos from Zu in 2019. November also consisted of visiting Leeds, visiting Dunham Massey (again, I love Dunham Massey) and visiting the extremely busy Manchester Christmas Markets - don't go at the weekend unless you want to be crushed!

December was a bit of a blur if I'm honest as I had a stall at my primary schools Christmas fare and made more money than I thought I would; I spent time with friends, had so many last minute Christmas posts to write and then it was Christmas Day. For Christmas Day I made a vegan Shepards pie for myself and my grandad as well as a chocolate cake which went down very well. We also visited family and exchanged gifts on Boxing Day, I spend too much in the sales and I finished my 190th book of the year!

I was very lucky work with so many amazing new brands in 2018 including: Whittards, Ryman, Co-Op, The Book People, Baileys, We Are Knitters, BakedIn, RSPB, Hotels.com, Little Greene and many more which I'm so grateful for!

You can see so many of the sites, milestones and more on my Instagram highlights (@ofbeautyand).

What were your highlights of 2018?

Read More