1. Backup! Backup! Backup!
Always backup my database and WordPress files before updating to the latest version of WordPress, even if it’s a minor upgrade. WordPress can be a temperamental little b***h if I don’t do so. If I backup, there are no problems. If I don’t backup, sure enough there will be problems. I think mine just hates me for not following the routine.
2. Have a blogging mentor
Having a blogging mentor helped me so much in my blogging journey. Someone who knows more than me, someone who is honest enough to tell you that “hey, there’s something wrong with your blog, go fix it“. Or “hey, that background is a tad busy. I think it distracts your content from all that’s going on in the background“. Someone whom you can go to when you have issues with people and your blog. Someone who can tell you the truth without worrying about stepping on your toes. You know who mine is. I highly recommend you have one too.
3. Not nominated for a blogging award? It’s OK!
It’s okay to be disappointed if I wasn’t nominated for a proper blogging award and other blogs I know are. Come on, I know you secretly think this too! 😛
4. It’s OK to live-tweet during events
Never apologise on Twitter when tweeting during a blogger event, about the event. It’s an expectation of the brand for me to spread the word to the public when I’m invited to such events. It’s something I learned recently. Do bloggers live-tweeting events bother you? Would you do the same if you were invited to the event too? Serious questions, not rhetorical ones. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.
5. Meet other bloggers
It’s important to meet and get to know other beauty bloggers. Blogging can be a lonely hobby (despite having a million friends and followers on Twitter and Facebook). Social media and chatting online is one thing. Actually interacting with people in real life is a whole other matter. I highly recommend also doing the latter. Plus it’s fun chatting makeup with people who love them too.
6. A fancy-schmancy camera does not guarantee awesome pictures
I don’t need a fancy DSLR camera to take nice pictures for my blog. I’ve seen a few blogs whose bloggers took pictures with DSLRs, and to be brutally honest, just don’t quite make the cut. It hurts me to see photographs taken with a DSLR that are blurry, over-exposed, taken with lots of flash, etc (Tip: Play around with the manual mode in your camera. You can do so much better than just sticking to the Auto mode. Start with Aperture Priority and play with the numbers). I also follow blogs who captures most of the photos on their mobile phones, and while they’re not crystal clear, they look really good. I’ve learned that it’s how you tell the story, not just what you tell it with.
7. Focus on the positive especially with loyal readers
There will always be people subscribing to my blog for giveaways, and then unsubscribing once they’ve realised that they did not win. It was very annoying and plenty disheartening at first, but in the process have also captured and retained loyal readers. It’s better to focus on the latter with positivity than be frustrated with what I cannot control.
8. Take all press events seriously
Press events will come and go, but a simple faux pas can tarnish your reputation. If you’ve already RSVP-ed to an event, found out you were invited to another event at the same time (and you really prefer to go to the second one), don’t fob the first event’s organisers off with a lame excuse and go to the other one. I almost made that embarrassing mistake once. Thank goodness for bloggers who subsconsciously reminded me that people will be tweeting about the event. If the people at event A found out I was at event B when I was supposed to be away for a “family emergency”, there goes my reputation.
9. Maintain editorial control at all times
There’s no need to have to submit review drafts to brands for perusal first before publishing. Don’t be bullied into thinking it’s necessary to do so, especially when the products are provided for consideration. We’re the editors of our blogs, not the PRs.
10. Mind your Ps & Qs
Always be polite and respectful when communicating with PRs and brands, even if they don’t extend the same courtesy to you. I believe in killing people with kindness, even if they don’t deserve it (a very important lesson I learned from my mother). You catch more flies with honey. Don’t burn bridges unnecessarily.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned in your blogging journey?
Great tips Tine! 🙂
I’ve always said that tweeting during an event is annoying – I’ve more than once tweeted “You’re at an event. We get it. Stop tweeting every second thing” – particularly when BlogHer12 was on. However, brand events, I can understand and I tend to not get so grumpy about it. I mean, if I was invited, I would be expected to take the information I was provided with and share it, and twitter is a great way to do that without 10,000 blog posts.
Chelsea recently posted..Aromatherapy Associates Anti-age Skin Care Introductory Set
Chelsea: Thanks for your insight on the tweeting thing, Chelsea. It’s something I wanted to know because I found it interesting that there were complaints on Twitter about event tweets from a few bloggers who would tweet during the events they do attend. I know what you mean about the BlogHer tweets; when it got a bit too overwhelming, I muted the hashtag on my Twitter app, and my timeline was clean and tidy again. The Mute function is a fantastic one for, the lack of a better word, shutting up the tweets you don’t want to read without unfollowing the person 😛
Thanks for the great tips, its always good to hear advice from experienced bloggers.
bbBeauty recently posted..The Golden Girl Strikes Again
bbBeauty: My pleasure lovely 🙂
Great tips there Tine. I do tweet when I’m at an event and I usually “alert” my followers that I’ll be tweeting about the event beforehand. I’ve never found everyone else’s event tweets to be annoying because I do learn a thing or two. I do understand that it comes with the territory when you’re a blogger. As for maintaining editorial control, I state in my media kit that even if it’s a sponsored post I will be writing in MY own voice that reflects what I feel and think of the product/event.
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Norlin: I just wanted to thank you for that Direct Message you sent me on Twitter that day about the Twitter thing (you know what I mean). It was a very good reminder for me. I never even thought it was necessary to alert anyone about the incoming event tweets, but I suppose, like you said, it does come with the territory as a blogger. It used to be okay when people tweet during events. Suddenly, people don’t like them anymore. Oh well. It doesn’t bother me because I don’t get to go to every event (especially the ones in Sydney), and the pictures people tweet were interesting. When it does begin to bother me, I use the almighty Mute button. Easy as.
god i love bloggie wednesday. this is a great topic.
1 – im naughty with this, must rectify
2- id love to have a mentor, I’ve been dying for someone to critique constructively my blog just don’t know who to approach.
3- meh not everyone can be winners & as i see it as there is always next year or another to enter & try my luck.
4- i flipping love live tweets. As I’m not there the mrs mangle in me still wants to see it all & have a front seat view as to whats going on with my butt on my couch.
5 – like all good relationships things need to progress naturally, not forced. I m slowly having “play dates” which are fantastic. I’m still quite shy & see bloggers at work all the time. i just need to make that first baby step & introduce myself. They like me I’m sure will not bite. (i saw you in daiso a week or so ago, panicked and hid in another isle, i feel so stupid now)
6- when my bf springs for a new camera for “life” things not blogging thing i’ll improve my photos then, for now it is what it is. ( not great!)
7- i see this as they are missing out on up coming things & getting to know my blog better. Totally their loss.
8- these are like gold to me. If i cannot go i am upfront as to why (usually work or geographically impossible) and i always wish them a successful event as you never know they might flag you for something else later on down the track.
9- i haven’t experienced any of this yet but i am pretty clued up as to how to approach the situation thanks to loads of advice from other bloggers i have read.
10- i use the same premise as i use at work. I may on the inside want to smash some people in the face for the way i am spoken to or treated in rare circumstances but i love my job, need my job and loosing it because of a customer is so not worth not being able to go to work as i have been fired for bitch slapping someone who cannot get through their head that it’s not my intent in life to keep her from her fav lipstick as its out of stock! I totally agree with your point & view here.
Wow, sorry I’ve had way too much coffee this morning it seems
Madam M recently posted..H & M – RASPBERRY SMOOTHIE PORE CLEANSING MASK
Hahaha Mel, this is the longest comment I’ve gotten from you ever. I love it! 😀
I love how you say #4. It IS like front seat of the house without needing to move our butts of our comfy couches! It’s exactly how I felt when I was watching the live streaming of the David Jones fashion show a couple of days ago. Why go there and watch the show from a shitty seat when I can see everything clearly whilst still sitting on my comfy couch instead of a hard chair? 😛
Ahem so I’ll be looking forward to more lengthy comments from you from now on, yes? 😉 😉 😉
Fabulous tips Tine!! I would have to say MBBE are definitely my blogging mentors 🙂
Jess @ Miss J. Shopaholic recently posted..My June & July 2012 Beauty Favourites!
Jess: Hear hear! MBBE rules! 😀
Re: Tweeting during events, I had a hard time doing that though I know the brands will appreciate it. Why? Well I kinda find myself chatting with fellow bloggers and catching up!! hahahah
I agree with all your key points and guess what? We have the same mantra: ” I believe in killing people with kindness” Way to go Tine! No wonder we’re friends! 😀
Nikki recently posted..This Is How I Do It: Contour the Face for Daytime
Nikki: Haha I know what you mean. Usually the bloggers tweet during a press presentation though, ie getting the word out immediately when the bloggers receive them. After that, it’s all about chatting, no more tweeting! 😛
PS: Well, duh Nikki. That, and the love of makeup! 😛
I love Bloggie Wednesdays! I’ve read every single one twice and I find them so useful as a relatively new blogger. What would your suggestions be on finding a blogging mentor? Is it awkward to just ask someone?
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Phoebe: Yeah I know it’s going to be awkward just simply ask any ol’ person. I suggest selecting one whom you admire, become a loyal reader, and then ask. Funny story, Paris B and I were bloggie pals first before she became my mentor. It’s not a formal mentor-mentee relationship; after all, we are first and foremost friends. As time went on, when I had issues with my blog, she’s the first person I go to for advice. When I developed one of my blog designs and launched it, she told me that the background was too busy and perhaps it might be better to get rid of it. I wasn’t at all offended. That’s how it works, I suppose. Someone who can help you as much as possible, who can give you honest critique without you feeling small.
Good luck in your search for a mentor 🙂
Oh goodness I would love a bloggie mentor! Clever Tine. I agree that face to face time with other bloggers is a win, I love spending time with people with similar interests to me (goodness knows Chris is sick of hearing me babble about eyeshadow finishes and new brushes!) I love it when bloggers live tweet, if I haven’t been lucky enough to score an invite to an event I can still be kept up to date and join in the excitement 🙂
Emma: Haha Tim can’t be arsed with my “ooooh lookit that gorgeous blush!” comments anymore. He looks at it once, “okay nice” and goes back to his phone. So much more fun to talk makeup with people who enjoys it. Bag talk too 😉
4. No. But it would be helpful if hash tags were used so if I get bored with it, I’ll just mute those. So, to those who blast bloggers about “advertising” and “spamming” their timelines with a certain event, get thee a good Twitter client and mute those tweets with the hashtags. If one is savvy enough to use Twitter, one needs to be savvy enough to manipulate Twitter to not achieve info overload.
LeGeeque recently posted..It’s My Cake Day!
LeGeeque: Spot on! Of all the functions on Twitter apps, the Mute is the most important. Goodness knows how many I’ve muted. I don’t have to complain, people don’t have to hear my complaints, I don’t have to see ’em. And the world is peaceful once more 😛
#2 – Thank you <3 I'm not sure I have a mentor myself although I do sometimes run things through with a few people – but mostly from a human relations pov 😉
I don't live tweet myself and I must admit that sometimes it can be a little distracting seeing a whole timeline of tweets about an event that is happening in a different country. Thing is, twitter is quite international. So I prefer to just tweet one or two interesting points.
And finally yes, manners. Its so important and so often overlooked from both sides of the fence. I go your route too and be overly polite. Better than being rude.
Paris B recently posted..The Dior Golden Savannah palette brings out the animal in you! (with Copper Brown Serum for good effect)
Paris B: Thanks for your insight on live tweets and for reminding us that Twitter is international after all. I still have a lot to learn when it comes to live-tweeting. I’ve noticed that during the Meet Michelle Phan event that several bloggers tweeted the same pictures at around the same time!
I still say that the Mute button is your best friend when it comes to keeping your Twitter timeline clean and mess-free 😛
the most importnat I have learnt is to write and write and write only what you believe in!!!
Swati recently posted..Forest Essentials Mashobra Honey & Vanilla Bath & Shower Oil {Product Review}
Excellent point, Swati. Write what you know, write what you believe in. That’s the essence of blogging, isn’t it? 🙂
I’ve learned to become a better writer. My husband James proof reads all my posts and in the early days he would tell me to re-write entire sections as they didn’t make sense but now everything seems to flow and I notice more when it doesn’t. That’s not to say I’m perfect but the more you right the better blogger you become.
I’ve kind of used you as my blogging mentor btw, maybe not to ask loads of questions but when I’m in doubt about something I always refer to your blog to see how you’ve done it.
Annabella Freeman recently posted..Weight Watchers week 3
Annabella: It’s my pleasure and honour, Annabella. Happy to answer any questions you have 🙂
I have a friend who checks my posts too. I don’t send her drafts, but she checks my blog daily for typos and grammatical errors. She’ll text me immediately if she finds any (and believe me, she has discovered a lot!). It does slowly make me a better writer. Not necessarily a good writer in the eyes of many, but certainly better than before I first began 🙂
I just starting a new beauty blog as well. I mostly review products. The question is should i approach the brand now or i should started with my own products and money
Thanks for your question Kiara. I always find that with new blogs, it’s best to start reviewing your own products first. It builds credibility on your part. Give it at least 6 months or so before you begin approaching brands. You wouldn’t want brands to misunderstand your motives for blogging if you approach them too soon when you’ve only been blogging a short time.
Hope that helps 🙂
I’ve just discovered your blog (via Twitter) and am SO excited to read all your tips(beauty reviews too!). I’m building my blog, and the technical stuff is really overwhelming! Thanks so much for sharing some easy tips! 🙂
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Hi Amber, and thanks for visiting! Hopefully the Bloggie Wednesdays tips help you in your blogging journey 😀 x