This post is by Songy Knox of Style Discovery
How cheesy is this post title? I kid you not, this is exactly what happened. What I’m about to tell you may or may not be helpful for novice bloggers.
Two years ago I started blogging without much aim. I was bored with my job and I had to do something to keep myself entertained. As you can imagine I started out just like as anyone else. I visited other blogs and formed relationships with bloggers all around the world. My claim to fame could be that Susie Bubble visited my blog a few times to leave witty comments and I got to talk to (exchanged emails) with Jane Aldridge from Sea of Shoes. Well, that’s that.
As I continued to research what others were doing in the Fashion Blogging world, I strived to have my own niche. I’m not an inventive, crazily creative Susie Bubble. I’m not a pretty-faced young spunky Jane. I’m not an edgy and daring Kingdom of Style. I’m a normal 30 something year old woman who likes shopping and wearing nice things. What is my niche? I wasn’t sure but I managed to get invited to several local fashion events – Perth Fashion Festival and local colleges’ graduate fashion events. During that period I got to know a professional runway photographer (Stefan Gosatti) and I started taking decent photos from fashion parades. One of my photos even got featured on a full page cover of a local paper’s fashion section.
I did have a little hiatus – mini crisis – early this year. I got exhausted and couldn’t continue. As you’d agree, keeping up with a daily post of something fresh requires an enormous amount of work. As part of my regular career change I also took up a very high paying and stressful job last year and it had taken a toll. I had to make a decision. Is blogging just a simple hobby or something more?
Two years on, my blog has more information on local fashion events and designers than any other online media in Western Australia. I managed to get a job in the digital media industry earlier this year because of (thanks to) my blog. Now I’m back with more energy than ever.
Now I’m care free. I say what I want to say. I’m direct and I’m public – you search my name and the blog address you’ll see that I’m all over the Internet. There’s no where to hide being a blogger. I even deliver regular breakfast talks to my company’s prospective clients on Social Media Networking.
As part of Style Discovery, I got to know so many local designers, fashion models and creative people. That’s totally different from what my network was like two years ago (IT and project management). However, the most important thing is that I found myself, my true voice that’s been buried under conventional and critical voices.
As you’d agree by now, my blog did change my life. It helped me to find my passion. It also helped me to accept myself. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not famous or making lots money monetising my blog. (I made a conscientious decision not to). What I have is my authentic self and relationships with interesting people in the fashion industry. You never know where this may take me. In another two years, I might be running an international fashion house! Ha.
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I used to read Style Discovery all the time when I had my other blog, Sweety P Style Files. I always enjoyed how you left engaging comments and I like that it was simply you telling your audience what you like. I’m happy to see that you are back to blogging and I love the way blogging has changed your life. Just added your blog to my new Reader thingy so I can keep up with it again. I launched a new blog because I started to build relationship with people in my hometown and it’s cool to showcase the talent in my “underdog of fashion” hometown.
Congrats on hitting the 2 year mark! I recently celebrated 4 years a couple of weeks ago, and it’s really exciting to see how far I’ve come in that time. Blogging has definitely opened a lot of doors for me too, and I’m happy to hear that you’ve experienced something similar.
“What I have is my authentic self and relationships with interesting people in the fashion industry.” <— i love this! glad to see you have such a realistic approach to blogging and it shows in your success!
there are so many things in this post that I think are true for most bloggers. blogging is very time consuming, but it can also be very rewarding, and I completely agree that it is also life changing
I’m a bit like you I must say, and Susie Bubble was the main influence for me to start my blog. Your post was really earnest and I look forward to reading your blog as well.
This is a great story. So many things can come from maintaining and keeping a blog. I love how you touch on losing the fire for your blog as well. Sometimes you just have to step back to realize how much blogging means to you.
You’re an inspiration! It’s so good to have passion in what you do, and with passion comes success
What an inspiration you are ♥
i’m so very happy and proud of my blog. it would be great if it was able to lead me to other productive opportunities. i am also looking forward to “personally” meeting some great people in the industry. congrats to you and your success.
xo jpearle
Sounds like a great story….unplanned with a great ending…..or should I say “beginning”?!
great inspiration! thanks for sharing!
I’ve read this entry twice (the second time by accident). I really appreciate your journey to this point–thank you for sharing!