Blogging 101: What are your tips and tricks?

FREE IMAGES

During Blog Redesign Week back in April, we talked about everything from the blogging routine to the future of blogging, and it was great seeing all the discussions sparked by those posts. Well, I'm meeting with a recently retired woman tomorrow who wants me to give her an introduction to blogging, so I'd love to pick your blogging brain again today, friends!

I've been trying to come up with a sort of Blogging 101 list. A few things I've come up with so far...
*The basics of a blog post -- placements of text, photos, etc.
*Going social with your blog -- establishing a social media presence and connecting with other bloggers.
*Organization, organization, organization.
*Brainstorming ideas.

What would you add to this list, friends? What are some things you wish people had told you when you first started blogging? Have you ever received bad advice? I'd love to hear your ideas! xoxo

[Cartoon via Pinterest]

Blog Redesign Week: What are your thoughts on the future of blogging?

FREE IMAGES

Well, friends, we've talked about blogging misconceptions, my day-to-day routine, what I love most about blogging and my #1 piece of advice. But, really, when you think about it, no blogging FAQ series would be complete without a look to the future of this exciting and ever-changing medium.

For me, that's part of what's so exciting about having a blog...there are endless possibilities for its future. It's really what you make it. I feel like the new design has added a new, fresh voice to the blog and given it even more energy, making me even more excited about its future -- I know what you're thinking, "How can she be even more excited than this?"

Well, apparently I can.

It's inevitable that a blog is going to grow and change -- that's the nature of the medium. We all know my love-hate-mostly hate relationship with change over the years, how I'd avoid it like '80s shoulder pads and how just the mere mention of the word change has been enough to make me recoil in terror. But now? With my blog, this is the first time I'm actually unafraid of change -- dare I say that I'm embracing it? Walking (err, rolling...) toward it even. Scary, I know, but it's true.

My blog has grown and changed with me, and I'm really proud of that. As for the future, I plan on further developing my blog's voice and working toward expanding my presence in the blogging community. I hope you'll join me on the journey, friends! xoxo

P.S. You can read all the posts from last week's festivities here and my full bio, if you'd like. :)

[Photo via We Heart It]

Blog Redesign Week: What's your #1 piece of advice?

FREE IMAGES

One of the wonderful things about blogging is the fact that it such a reflection of its author. From the design to the topics covered, you can really make a blog anything you want it to be. There are no limits, and I think that's part of what's made the blog movement so appealing and successful. I try to do that with each and every one of my blog posts. I overshare. I write honestly. I don't hold anything back. After all, we all remember how this debacle went down, don't we? That's something people can relate to. With blogging, you can't Photoshop words to make them look pretty and perfect. Bringing your true self to each post is perhaps the best thing you could ever do. Be it raw and real and stripped-down emotion, like peeling back the lyrics of your favorite song.

As for advice, pick a topic you love and people will love it. Also, post consistently, and reach out to the blogging community to get your name out there. It takes work to build up your blog, but if you're persistent and determined, you can do it.

How do YOU do it, friends? What has worked for you? Do you have a blogging routine? What blogging advice would you give to someone just starting out in the blogosphere? xoxo

Blog Redesign Week: What do you love most about blogging?

FREE IMAGES

Oh, where do I even begin? I fell in love with blogging from the moment my first post went live. While I've loved writing for newspapers over the years, blogging is decidedly more instantaneous, which is something I love. With the click of your mouse, you can send a post out into the world and get instant feedback on your words -- both good and bad feedback. Plus, blogging is inherently a creative endeavor, and I've loved being able to put my own spin on things. There's really nothing like self-expression for a writer. And by far, the most rewarding aspect of blogging for me has been the sense of community and all the wonderful friends I've made. You think blogging is this huge, faceless universe, but really, it's a small, tight-knit community of people who really care about each other. We get involved in each other's lives. We cheer each other on. It's great to have those sorts of people in your life.

Over the years, I've experimented with different topics and have found that as long as you're passionate about the subject, your readers will respond to it. I love writing honestly about my life and my disability, as well as Letters To My Future Husband. And of course, I can't resist throwing some fun things in the mix, like music, shopping, food, design, home décor and fashion. I've always thought of my blog as an online magazine and like to post about a variety of things.

When I began blogging, honestly, I wasn't sure anyone would even read my blog or even care about what I had to say. There are millions of blogs out there, all vying for people's attention. But over the years, I've tried to write from the heart and write honestly about myself and my life. That, more than anything, has really resonated with people. Especially where my disability is concerned, I think it's made people think twice about all those ridiculous stereotypes they may have believed. Just thinking about that puts a huge smile on my face.

How long have you been blogging, friends? What is your favorite part of the process? Writing? Meeting other bloggers? Snapping photos of your travels -- or of your adorable kitten? What are your favorite kinds of topics to write about? xoxo

 

P.S. Catch up on this week's blog-related posts.

 

[Photos via We Heart It] 

Blog Redesign Week: What is your day-to-day routine like?

FREE IMAGES

Some people have a long commute to get to work every morning. I zip down the hall to our kitchen table. Some people are stuck inside a stuffy office -- or worse, a tight, cramped cubicle -- all day. I can go out and about with relative ease. Some people have lots of co-workers to bounce ideas off of. If I try to bounce ideas off my co-workers, they just stare at me and tilt their head quizzically.

Ahh, such is the life of a blogger. When I started blogging nearly five years ago, I never realized how much a part of my life it would become. At the time -- way back in 2008 -- I was working as a college newspaper adviser and was looking for an outlet to showcase my writing. I didn't have much experience with writing for the Web, but it had always been something I'd been curious about. And since the media industry was going digital, I thought starting a blog would be the perfect way to keep up my writing and explore this new medium at the same time. Plus, I had chunks of free time on campus during the day to write and play around with this new-fangled thing called a blog.

Well, as they say, the rest is history. It worked! I started blogging and, obviously, never looked back. Before I knew it, four years had gone by, and I found myself in the zone -- my own personal groove, if you will. Over the years, I'd developed a pretty solid work schedule (that's my #1 tip for being a freelance writer -- make a work schedule. It will make your world a happy one. Trust me), and despite some gossip you may have heard, said schedule did not include me sitting in my long underwear and eating bon bons all day. Surprisingly, my schedule is probably a lot like yours, just without the pesky commute to the office. My day-to-day routine typically looks something like this...

9 a.m.: I've been trying really hard to get up by 9 a.m. Every morning (confession: some mornings are easier than others), so I can get dressed, get ready and eat breakfast and start working.

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: I'll usually have scheduled a post the night before to go up in the morning. This way, I'm not scrambling to throw something together mid-morning. I'll do a quick check of my email to make sure there's nothing pressing that needs my attention right away. If not, I'll start working on the rest of the day's posts. If I've made out an editorial calendar for the week, it helps me to visualize things.

Fun fact: I've been know to sing along -- quite loudly -- to my favorite songs when I'm working. I find that it actually helps me write better...who knew? Lately, I've been listening to lots of Taylor Swift, Fleetwood Mac, Hanson and Bruce Springsteen.

2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: OK, full disclosure here: This time of day is my one luxury. I've always been a fan of long, leisurely lunches. I love taking a break during the day to watch a favorite show or two when I have my lunch. I'll spare you my guilty pleasure TV shows for now, but don't worry...I'll be sure to do a post about them later.

3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.: Usually, I'll have the final post of the day to finish up. Once that's done, it's time for the "outreach" part of my day: Commenting on blogs and engaging in social media. This is one of my favorite parts of the job. I'm so inspired by all the beautiful blogs I read every day, and I love how bloggers really give you a peek into their lives and thoughts.

8:30 p.m. to between 10 and 10:30 p.m.: I've been trying to go to bed earlier lately in my grand attempt to defy nature and become more of a morning person, but I haven't had very much success yet. More often than not, you can find me at our kitchen table after everyone else has gone to bed. I like to get a post done and get it scheduled for the following morning, so if anything comes up, I won't leave you, my dear friends, hanging.

10:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.: Since I've become addicted to 7 Little Words, I've been playing a few rounds on my mom's iPad before I turn out the lights. I know, they say that you should turn off all electronics before getting into bed, but I just can't help myself.

And, here are some general thoughts about working from home...
*Separation of work and personal life is key: Sometimes I find it hard to just "clock out" at the end of the day; after all, my laptop is always nearby, which means I can work any time. That's usually great, but it does make it hard to "leave the office" sometimes. I'll say to myself, "OK, we'll just finish this and close up shop (translation: close the laptop), and two hours later, I'm still commenting on blogs and laughing at GIFs of kittens.
*Getting out of the house a few times a week is also so important: A few times a week, I'll sometimes go to the university library for the day. Shaking up my scenery every once and awhile really gets those creative juices flowing; plus, the cafeteria in the student center makes the best taco salad. Ever.
*You have to be very disciplined and focused: That means setting your own deadlines and sticking to them.
*I always try to stay away from the blog and work on Sundays: I've designated Saturdays as the Business of Blogging Day, where I catch up on everything that has to do with the administrative and business end of running So About What I Said -- things like choosing giveaway winners, answering emails, sending follow-up emails, uploading new ads, researching and seeking out potential new sponsors, updating sponsor records, etc. Sunday is a good day to rest and recharge.

Well, there you go, friends! I'd love to hear what your typical day is like. Does it vary, or is each day pretty consistent? xoxo

 

[Bottom two photos via We Heart It]

So About What I Said's new design!

FREE IMAGES

That, friends, was my tweet from last night when Jenny emailed me to let me know that she was installing my new design. Remember when you were little, and you used to wake up like 10 times on Christmas Eve to see if it was morning yet? Well, that's exactly how I felt last night! After a few months of designing a layout, choosing a color scheme and deciding on a header, everything has finally come together in the new design you see on your computer screen right now! I'm so excited to debut lots of cool new features, so I thought we'd take a little tour this afternoon...

1. The new header is my favorite part of the new design. I wanted something that would be easily recognizable -- something that people could look at and immediately go, "Oh, that's So About What I Said..." Another one of my favorites: Drop-down menus for easier navigation. They're just below the header and will direct you to the most popular categories, including Love Lounge, Dream Vacation and In The Pursuit of Happiness.

2. A new mini bio on the right-hand side as well as my full bio under the About Me tab at the top. Also under the About Me tab? Sponsor info -- all in one place, making it easy if you'd like to advertise.

3. Simple sidebar titles with a touch of pink -- don't you love the paint splash effect? And, social media buttons with big pops of color! I love how they just jump off the screen!

 

4. You can still follow by Bloglovin' and RSS, of course, but now you have the option of having posts delivered right to your email! Pretty fancy, huh? Looking for an old post or a specific topic? You can now search the blog easier, too, or jump to a specific month with the drop-down archive menu.

5. Dying to share a post on your favorite social media site? Check out the three colorful share buttons under each post -- you can LIKE it on Facebook, Tweet It or PIN IT to your heart's content.

 

**PLEASE NOTE: There have been some hiccups when trying to view the blog through Internet Explorer, so make sure you're using Google Chrome, Firefox or Safari as your browser.

I'm so happy the new design is (finally!) out in cyberspace, and I can't say enough wonderful things about Jenny and everyone at Maiedae Designs for all their hard work and patience -- even through all my revisions! From the beginning, I knew I wanted a sleek, fresh and modern design, and Jenny took my vision and ideas and really brought them to life in the most perfect way. I've always envisioned my blog as a magazine, and I think we definitely achieved that feel here. Collaborating with the ladies of Maiedae was such a wonderful experience and so much fun!

I hope you like the new look, friends! We're doing a few final tweaks, but if you notice anything, please let me know! Thanks, as always, for being the wonderful, most amazing blog readers EVER! I love you all! xoxo

Blog Redesign Week: What are some misconceptions about blogging?

FREE IMAGES

I sometimes find myself trying to explain blogging to my mom and what it is that I actually do for the majority of the day on my trusty (new!) laptop. She nods her head, says "Oh" occasionally, but that's about as far as I get. And then a few months ago, I was on the bus and the driver asked me what I'd been up to lately. I said that I'd be working on my blog, and he just sort of looked at me and got this look on his face as if to say, "Well, isn't that nice. You have a little hobby to keep yourself busy."

To me, blogging is sort of like crafting an experience. A blogger, just like any good writer, is a storyteller. You're sharing a story, a piece of yourself -- and that's nothing that can ever be taken lightly. Still, there are a slew of misconceptions floating around beyond cyberspace. Here are my top three misconceptions about blogging...

It's easy -- there's no skill involved and anyone can do it
Some people think it's merely a matter of writing a few sentences, slapping on a photo or two and, boom, you're done. But really, it's so much more than that. Blogs have become a great vehicle for so many people to do so many different things. One of the things I love about blogging is how customizable it is, and how people can tailor it to their specific needs. It can be a way to keep your family up-to-date on your life if they live far away. It can be a good vehicle for documenting a memorable time in your life, like your first year of college. If you want your blog to be just a fun hobby, that's totally cool. But blogging can also be a job, and that's how I've always looked at it. If you think about it, you favorite blogs probably have a few key things in common: A professional look, quality writing and lots of interacting with readers, just to name a few. While I love blogging, it all takes time. Just like any other job, there's a lot that people don't see all the behind-the-scenes, including brainstorming and planning blog posts, working with graphic designers, answer email, respond to blog comments and comment on other blogs, keep up with news in the industry, work with advertisers and companies, maintain the business side of the blog (getting ads up, keeping track of payments, etc.), establish and maintain a social media presence, guest posting...it's more than just playing around on the computer all day.

Since they don't have a 9-to-5 job to go to, Bloggers can work whenever they feel like it
Actually, one of the biggest things I've learned from blogging is that being a freelance writer takes an incredible amount of discipline. You don't have a boss telling you what to do, so you have to make sure you're keeping yourself on track. And contrary to come pesky rumors, bloggers don't sit around and do their work in their PJs. Well, some might, but I don't.

It's a blogger-eat-blogger world out there
I'd heard of the word blogosphere before I even started blogging, and honestly, I never really understood what it meant. Then I started blogging, and everything -- I mean everything -- became crystal clear. Bloggers are some of the nicest, sweetest, friendliest people that you'll ever meet, and it's really true that bloggers do look out for one another. There's such a sense of family and community, no matter how far apart you live. I've received so many touching emails from people in places like South America and Europe, which completely blows my mind -- and is soooo exciting at the same time. The friendships I've made are one of my favorite parts of blogging.

I'll be posting about my day-to-day schedule tomorrow. I'm excited, friends! xoxo

Blog Redesign Week: Why did you start blogging?

FREE IMAGES

Well, here we are, friends! It's finally here. The. Big. Week. Can you believe it? After what seemed like years (but in reality was only a matter of months...) of planning and sketching and revising, I'm so excited to roll out the new blog design this week. As I've mentioned before, I've been working with Jenny from Maiedae Designs, and she'll be installing the new design tonight. I told my mom a few days ago that I literally feel like a child on Christmas Eve. And in the spirit of merriment, I thought it only appropriate to dedicate the entire week to my own version of Behind The Blog -- a behind-the-scenes look at my life as a blogger, what drives me and of course, the nitty gritty of some things you might not even think about when you think of a blogger and their career.

Here's the plan: I'll answer a FAQ-type question each day, and if you have any questions of your own, I'd love to hear them (email mellow1422 [at] aol [dot] com). First up: Let's go back to the beginning, shall we? To where it all began...

How did you become a part of the blogging world? Why did you start a blog?
I actually wish I would have come to the blogging world a little earlier than I did. I started my blog in November 2008, and by that time, the medium was alive and thriving. As a freelance writer and newspaper columnist, I felt like starting a blog was the next logical step. I've always said that all writers should have a blog -- it's a natural fit, plus, it's a good way to showcase your writing and keep your name out there. Because I was starting a blog as part of my career, I wanted it to be as professional as possible, so I did lots and lots of research before I even hit publish on that first post. I read blogging books. I read other blogs to see how other bloggers did things. I wanted to have a plan in place and at least an idea of what direction I wanted the blog to go. I think all my prep time comes through in the design and presentation of my blog, even now, nearly five years later.

Sneak Peek: Blog Redesign Week!

FREE IMAGES

I know I can't start my own blog (I may be all things awesome, but I'm realistic too, of course!).

 

I was looking through some of my old Facebook posts today and came across this startling assertion I made in June 2008. Back then, I thought I had a long way to go, but little did I know that I would hit publish on my first blog post a mere five months later. So, friends, unless you've been living under a rock, you know that I'll be rolling out the new blog design next week!! To celebrate the milestone, I've got lots of blog-themed posts planned for next week -- what I've learned over the years, advice I wish someone had given me in the beginning, a look into my daily routine as a blogger, blogging misconceptions. It's going to be an amazing and fun week, and I'm really excited to finally show you all my ideas and Mike Brady-like sketches come to life.

For now, here's the new header. I love how the flowers and colors come together. What do you think, friends?

Which blog header do you prefer?

FREE IMAGES

Guess what, friends? We're in the final stages of the big blog redesign, and I couldn't be more excited. A few days ago, I was thinking that I feel exactly like a child on Christmas Eve, full of all that anticipation and frenzied excitement. As you know, I've been working closely with the super-talented Jenny from Maiedae Designs; she's been amazing in bringing all my ideas to life. It's been such a fun collaboration!

Yesterday, Jenny sent me two possible blog headers. I love them both, so I thought it would be great to get your input too. Here are the two options...

Blog header #1: Flower background

Blog header #2: White background

Well, friends, which one is your favorite? Thanks so much for all your help!! xoxo

I want you to be a part of the blog redesign!

FREE IMAGES

I promise the official unveiling of the new blog design is coming within the next month; I've just been slowing down and taking my sweet creative time with it...you know how fussy I can be, friends. One of the things about the new redesign that I'm most excited about? The new About Me page. I've read some really awesome bios by some of my favorite bloggers, but when I sat down to write mine yesterday? Nothing. I wasn't at all sure about what I wanted to say or how I even wanted to say it.

And then, my genius friend Justin came up with an equally genius idea: Make it interactive. So, that's where you come in, friends. I thought it would be fun to get you involved in helping me create this page. If you had to write my bio for me, what would you say?

Here's how it'll work: Send me your ideas, and I'll share them on the new About Me page (with credit to you, of course...). Sound like fun? Are you game? Email your thoughts and ideas to mellow1422 [at] aol [dot] com. I can't wait to hear from you, friends!