I had reason to try and find something I’d written in my first year of blogging – 2011 – the other day, and I stumbled upon a post that mentioned something that I hadn’t thought about for many, MANY years. Something that was SO IMPORTANT at the time in the world of (fashion) blogging, but that almost no one knows about today.
I thought it would be fun to share with you a typical week from my 2011 blogging diary… however, I didn’t ACTUALLY write a blogging diary back in the day and this isn’t a real week – it’s just a bit of fun I’m sharing. I’ve imagined a week where all the things that I did, and thought, and battled with in my first few months of blogging all happened over the course of seven (pretend) days. Please note, however, that it isn’t strictly accurate either in a time sense (I can’t remember exactly when I joined Instagram, for example) or in a details sense. So some of the facts may be a little out, but names have been changed to protect the innocent and I’ve used a heavy dose of artistic licence.
That’s not to say I didn’t think all these things or experience all this stuff – I did! It’s just a tongue-in-cheek look back at how different the blogosphere was back then. So, let’s start with Monday…
*names have been changed…!
Published an outfit post. Really pleased with the photo, I feel like I’m getting the hang of posing at last!! I’m looking less awkward than I was in the beginning.
5 new followers on GFC [Google Friend Connect] today!!! Takes my total up to 76. It means I now have 8 more followers than Blue Seas* and only 20 less than The Portobello Place*. But Blue Seas usually gets about 20 comments on every post, I get 5-10 (if I’m lucky). I’ve read that you can get more followers by asking bloggers to follow you back in comments? Maybe I should start leaving comments. Can’t think of a way to ask people to follow you back without sounding desperate though.
Did a photo shoot after work, just what I wore to the office. David* [the boss] said I looked like a Victorian clown. Who cares, LOL.
Submitted my latest outfits onto Chictopia. Blue Seas got on the feature page AGAIN… what am I doing wrong? I don’t seem to get very many votes at all. But her style is very cool and she’s got those Jeffrey Campbell heels with the massive platforms I really want, so that’s probably why. Do I get the studded ankle boots or the peep toe sandals? Not sure, they are a lot of money.
I seem to do okay on Go Chic or Go Home, though. I need to spend time uploading all my looks on there. I’ve seen that really cool blogger Atlantic Pacific (Blair?) on there, she gets SO MANY VOTES. But she doesn’t leave anyone any comments for some reason.
I got 15 comments on my latest blog post! Woo-hoo!
Got myself on Bloglovin’ last night where you can follow people’s blogs. Never been sure how you really follow people on GFC so this is good. I have 3 followers already, probably because I followed a ton of blogs and 3 have followed me back.
Something else I wondered today… shall I sign up to Twitter? Not sure I want to, it’s probably just for celebs. I just signed up to Instagram, and I’m using my iPad to take the pictures and use the app (ooh get me, using apps)! Can’t get my DSLR pictures on there, but these are meant to be informal pics about anything. LOVE all the filters and borders. Found another app which will add fake bokeh in stars or heart shapes. So cool, the filters make them look like old Polaroid pictures.
Also – published my outfit post with me holding my new great nephew Alfie ♥. Seemed only fitting that I call today’s outfit post “What’s it all about, Alfie?” Love quirky blog post titles.
Had my first negative comment on the blog today: “May I give you an advice? Don’t mix 2 different patterns, that doesn’t look good”. Hmm – not sure where she’s been, but pattern mixing is a new thing and I like it. Might have to write a post about why I’ll always wear whatever I like even if other people don’t like it (like people at work). Don’t care whether people actually LIKE my outfits or not, but it’s nice to have comments. But do I want negative ones? I read a comment the other day and she called people who leave nasty comments “trolls”, haha.
Published another outfit post (though I did most of it at work when I was bored).
OMG exciting: just received an offer of free clothes from a site called She In. Just have to take photos of me wearing the clothes they send me (for free!!!!!!) within two weeks. And a link to the blog post. And put it on Twitter and Instagram or something… maybe I’ll have to sign up to Twitter after all. Anyway I get free stuff!! I’ve “made it”, I’m a proper fashion blogger now.
Did another photo shoot after work. Nothing too exciting, but I was wearing about six different colours.
Best thing I found this week: something called Pinterest. A blogger I follow said she uses it all the time for saving pictures from anywhere. Signed up for that. Spent 2½ hours saving pictures to ‘pinboards’ I created like fashion, interiors, landscapes, etc. Shit, that’s going to be a TOTAL TIME SUCK if I keep using it.
Messed about with my blog layout practically all day. Changed fonts, created a new header (I used Photoshop after Keith showed me how to do the basics). Found a way to add icons for my Instagram and Bloglovin… it’s a bit fiddly but you make tiny jpegs of the icons, upload them to your sidebar, add links. I’m getting the hang of this layout stuff. Also created an About Me page – made it a “fun facts about me” page with pics of giraffes and bongos and other things I like. Found the images on Google.
Took outfits photos at a get together at Auntie Carol’s*. Kelly* [my cousin] saw us taking photos (arghh nightmare – had to explain what it was for, wish we hadn’t tried to explain what a blog was). She asked if I’ll make any money from it – didn’t know what to say. I say Maybe? I don’t really know. Not sure who’s going to pay me to do anything? What would I do? The blogger What I Wore wrote the other day that she’s giving up her day job to work on her blog full time. How will she earn any money?! I’m confused.
Published an outfit post when we got home even though it was late. Got it done in 15 mins with today’s pic.
Did an outfit shoot today while out shopping (we found a quiet street where no one would see me). Keith’s very patient with me taking my outfit photos… though sometimes he seems cheesed off? He says he’s not, but I can’t tell. Need to get him to watch my outfit to check if anything is doing something weird, like a collar twisted round. We took a close-up detail shot today as well. Thought it would be nice to do more than just the full-length shot, that’s what other bloggers seem to do.
I’m really into loads of bangles and bracelets and watches ATM – I read it’s called an arm party (or was it arm candy)? Can’t remember. Anyway Atlantic Pacific does it, I love what she wears soooooo much. She wears loads of rings too. Make note: must buy more rings and pile them on. Had someone at work ask why I wear three watches the other day. I said, why not? I like watches.
Nearly forgot: Found another couple of bloggers in their 40s today. There are some out there, after all! Thought I was the only one in the UK but it seems there’s at least one other Brit. The few I’ve found are all in the US. Maybe there’ll be LOTS in the future and I won’t have to feel weird about being nearly 40 in the blogging world. Depends how long I do the blog for. Wonder if I’ll still want to do it after my one year project is up? Time will tell.
Gonna ‘pin’ some things to Pinterest then get to bed. Mustn’t be late as it’s work tomorrow, boo. At least Mondays are quiet, fingers crossed I can get a post written at my desk…
✷ ✷ ✷ ✷ ✷
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SHARE THIS WEEK – ANY OF THESE THINGS FROM 2011 RESONATE WITH YOU?? TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS!
LIKE THIS POST? YOU MIGHT ALSO WANT TO READ…
– What It’s Like Being Married to a Fashion Blogger, by an Instagram Husband
I may be lamenting the end of our glorious summer, but I'm excited about my…
A few weeks ago I brought you my can't-live-without purchases and promised my top health…
How many articles have you read that encourage you to have a closet clearout/wardrobe refresh…
Everyone loves a compliment, amirite? (Well maybe not everyone, I think half the British population…
In my Things I'm Loving This Month I have nuggets of wisdom Wes Anderson style,…
Here we are, my 13th blog anniversary (blogiversary) post, and it's all a bit of…