By Hilary Rushford, of Dean Street Society
Thirteen months ago I launched my business and blog, Dean Street Society. It’s been overwhelming & stress-filled. Plus amazing and joy-filled. Here’s the cheat-sheet I’d pass any new blogger hitting publish for the first time.
1. You will have more ideas {& awesome outfits} than there are hours to blog them. It’s the curse of being a creative genius {cue back of hand draped dramatically across brow}. Focus is hard because to say “yes” to one thing, means saying “no” to another. And most of those “no’s” are to something awesome. Keep a Google Doc or iPhone album of your ideas. You’ll have a 2nd year of blogging to get them out.
2. It is humanly impossible to do everything you’re “supposed to do.” Blogging 5x a week, photo shoots, outfit boards, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, every new style site, blog commenting, networking events, fashion research — they’re all brilliant ideas to build your brand. It’s just not possible to do all of them at 100% in your first year. I finally realized that I wasn’t failing at my to-do list for lack of hustle and hard work, but because the list was more than even Oprah could do all alone!
3. Your blog is the outfit you put on every day. They say it takes 10 seconds to decide a first impression. What does 10 seconds on your blog lead us to think about your style, professionalism, brand? Your header is the dress, with everything from your font to your about photo as the accessories. The #1 thing that allowed me to succeed in my 1st year was my branding. If design isn’t your thing, look to bloggers like Atlantic-Pacific for inspiration that simple is chic. Have a Photoshop friend show you just 2 tools to mess with so your photos can have a consistent vibrant, glowy or over-exposed look that’s “you”.
4. Be a businesswoman. If want to be. If blogging is just a hobby for you, awesome! Politics is just a hobby for me. But if you have aspirations of monetizing, then study business. You don’t have to start reading the Economist, but pay attention to how your favorite graphic designer or baker is growing their business. Understand marketing, PR, customer service, ROI. Take yourself seriously as a blogger and others will take you seriously too.
5. The internet is big. There are lots of talented people. There will be other bloggers who get big sponsors, features, followings. But there’s enough love & respect to go around. If you truly believe in your brand, your vision, that you have something unique to say that will bless people — trust that inner voice and do your best to sing really loudly every time the gremlins of doubt, jealousy or dismay get you down. Everyone has a first year. If you make it past the first year, then throw yourself a party! I threw myself two.
Great advice!
Simply Kim
http://simplykimross.wordpress.com/blog