Nowadays everybody is a blogger. Every person with a camera and something to say is out there trying to make a career out of what they love. If you’re thinking of maybe starting your own blog, than this posts for you. I hope it helps you out with some questions you might have or helps you understand this blogging world a little more in depth.

Here are 6 Things I wish I knew before I started my blog:

1. Blogging is a full time job. Blogging almost always goes into over time. I knew it would be hard work when I started, but I don’t think I knew how much hard work it would really be. As a blogger you are your own creative director, editor, manager, accountant..etc. Until you make enough money to hire team members you have to do everything on your own. Sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in the day.
Being an amazing multitasker is a must. Here’s an idea of what I do to keep my blog up and running throughout the week. Brainstorm story/concept, take the photos, edit the photos, decide which make the cut, upload the photos, write the post, upload, edit, share on all social medias, advertise it, answer emails, reach out to brands, keep track of finances/spending, attend events, answer questions from readers, research topics, check out showrooms, manage social media, create a content calendar, film video…  the list goes on.
2. Blogging is not easy.  Unfortunately there 1 million other people out there trying to do the same thing. Taking photos and uploading them is not enough to build a successful blog and get noticed by readers/companies. Most of the time, it takes a while before you begin to see any profit. I have been blogging professionally for about three years now and it wasn’t until year two that I really started to be able to call it a business. There were a lot of ups and downs, but if I would have quit I would have never made it to where I am today. Those that have made their blog successful never quit when things got rough.
People that get into blogging because they think it’s an easy way to make money or find fame are normally in for a rude awakening. Sure, you might end up having a super successful blog in the end, but blogging is a passion project and if you are not passionate about it, you can easily get frustrated by how long it could take to grow. You will need passion about what you are doing to keep moving forward throughout all the ups and downs.
3. It’s all about who you know. I’m not saying that you can only make it in the blogging world if you know people, I’m just saying you will get there a lot quicker if you do! Making the right connections will open so many doors for you. Knowing people not only opens doors, but also can help you understand how certain things work from somebody who has much more experience than you.This could be PR people, Social Media consultants, other bloggers.. anyone in the industry. I would have saved myself a lot of head aches if I had know another blogger in the industry in my earlier blogging days. Having someone to guide you and give you the 411 and possibly open even more doors for you is a game changer.
4. You can’t do it all on your own. When I first started I thought I could do everything on my own and figure it all out. Looking back I realize that it only made me take longer to get to where I wanted to be. If only I would have asked for help and admitted I didn’t know the blogging world at all. Truth is there are some things that you might not know and being able to ask for help when you need it is so important. Maybe you need a photographer friend to help with photos (if you know nothing about photography), someone to build you a website if you don’t know coding or anything about websites or you need advice on what SEO is and how to improve yours. Don’t be scared to ask! Start building your team of people you can rely on from the beginning and it will make your life much easier. A blog normally takes a lot of people to make it happen.
5. Finding your voice is number one.  Imitating other bloggers you see and trying to do what they do to “make it” is just not going to cut it. Finding your true self and who you are is the only way you will stand out amidst all the other bloggers out there. This should be a top priority. When I first started, I would just post photos that were heavily influenced by bloggers that had already made it. They were just so inspiring and it was all I knew! Years later I have found myself and use those bloggers I admire as inspiration to create a new story all my own. It’s easy to stand out if you are creating your own style and vibe.
Find out how you want to communicate to your readers, how do you want to present yourself on social media? Make sure that this voice flows throughout all your photos, writing, videos..etc. People should be able to feel like they know you. Finding your voice could take some time, but by being consistent and always keeping it in mind, your voice will show through.
6. Don’t blog for everyone. This one is a big one. Blogging for everyone is a huge mistake. The blog world is so big and everyone needs a niche. Find what you are passionate about and are good at then stick to that. If you are trying to please everyone you most likely will be pleasing nobody. You want your readers to know exactly what they are reading and what you are all about when they scroll through your blog/instagram feed.
When I first started, I was trying to merge my graphic design knowledge with fashion blogging. I would post graphic design tutorials one day and then the next day a streetstyle outfit post. I wanted to somehow combine the two, but it just made my blog look messy and I’m sure confused my readers! Was I a graphic design blog or a fashion blog? Find your niche, find your voice and stick to that throughout your blog. If it makes sense to branch out into new topics, by all means do, but just make sure it all flows in a cohesive manner.
Hope you guys liked this post and aren’t discouraged by it!  It’s all to help give you a better perspective into blog life. Would love to hear your thoughts below!
***  I’m going to be putting together a Q&A Youtube video next month so if you have any questions for me feel free to email, DM me on instagram @FrankVinyl or comment below!
xx F