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30 Blog Post Ideas for When You're Feeling Uninspired.

Writer's block. It happens to the best of us. There's nothing more frustrating than being in the mood to write and nothing creative coming to your brain. Luckily, my friend, I've come up with a list of potential blog post ideas for you to get your creative juices flowing. Here are few blog post ideas for when you're feeling uninspired.
1// Try out a new (to you) restaurant Share your experience and take lots of pictures.
2// Do a reverse bucket list It's awesome to look to the future and figure out some things you want to do before you kick the bucket, but what about all of the amazing things you've already done? Share a few of the things that you've already crossed off.
3// Make a travel itinerary Whether it's for a place you've already visited, a city you've been dying to go to, or the city you live in, come up with a travel itinerary for someone else who may want to visit one day.
4// Do a favorites round-up You can make it a themed round-up such as your favorite beauty products or favorite things about an upcoming holiday. You could even do a general round-up of things that you've been loving lately.
5// Share a playlist What music have you been loving lately? Share it in a playlist or with some YouTube music videos. You could even theme it with the season, an upcoming holiday, an activity (such as working out, your morning commute, or going to sleep), or with a mood (such as happiness, lass, or angst).
6// Scour Pinterest and try some projects or recipes You spend all that time pinning great content and tutorials, so why not put it to good use? Try out a few projects or some recipes and share your experiences. Were they successes or failures? Did you follow the tutorials step-by-step or take your own spin on them?
7// Write about something you're really passionate about Even if it's controversial, share your thoughts on a subject that you're knowledgeable on and are passionate about. Ask others to share their opinions and get a discussion going.
8// Write an open letter It could be for a celebrity, a close friend, someone who's inspired you, your future self, or even your dog!
9// Do a 90's quiz I love nostalgia, and traveling back in time with a 90's quiz is the perfect reason to share your favorite things about the past.
10// What's your most embarrassing moment? Share the story on your blog so the world can laugh along with you!
11// Share your experience from a show you've attended Have you ever been to an awesome concert, play, opera, or other kind of show? Write about it and any pictures you have.
12// Take a photo every hour for one day From the moment you wake up, snap a photo every hour then share the stories behind each photo.
13// Write a letter to your childhood self What lessons would you teach your younger self?
14// Write about a cause or charity that you're passionate about Spread the word about it, and who knows? You may get some other people to be as passionate about it as you are.
15// What lessons have you learned from your favorite character? Think of your favorite character from a book, TV show, movie, etc. and think about the lessons that they've taught you about a subject. It could be general lessons or lessons about love, blogging, friendship, life, etc.
16// Share your firsts It could be your first crush, your first kiss, your first pet, you first best friend, etc. Share some of your firsts in a blog post or make it into a series.
17/ Do a get-to-know-me post Even though you're sharing little tidbits of your life on your blog, why not dedicate an entire post to help readers get to know you? Share some random facts, tell a story from your childhood, find a random quiz and answer the questions. Let your readers get to know the person behind the blog.
18// Review something What's something you love or something you never want to use again? Review it on your blog and tell your readers why you love or hate it. It could be a book, a movie, a beauty product, etc.
19// Write a story Let your creative juices flow and write a fictional story and share it with your readers.
20// Do a Throwback Thursday post Take advantage of the popular hashtag and travel back in time to share a story from your past.
21// Who is someone who inspires you? Write about them and talk about why they inspire you. How have they changed your day-to-day life? Share some specific examples.
22// Create a gift guide Is there a holiday coming up or a birthday of someone in your life? Create a gift guide for the holiday or a group of people, such as 20-something women, dog lovers, sports fanatics, bookworms, etc.
23// Create a wishlist What's something you've been longing for? Share those things in a wishlist. This is an especially good post if your birthday or a gift-giving holiday is coming up.
24// Share what's in your handbag What essentials do you have to have with you everyday? Share those things in a post!
25// Share some of your favorite quotes What quotes never cease to inspire you? Share a few of those on your blog. You could also do quotes that make you laugh or even ones that make you cry.
26// Do a post from the perspective of someone else It could be from the perspective of your favorite book character, movie character, or even your dog!
27// Have someone in your life guest post Who is someone that you're always talking about on your blog? Your best friend, your significant other, your siblings? Let them guest post for you!
28// Share your blogging journey How did you come up with your blogging name? Why do you blog? What things do you wish you had known when you first started blogging? Share it in a blog post or even create a blog series with some helpful hints.
29// Do a book to movie comparison Has your favorite book been made into a movie or is a book you've read becoming a movie? Write about what you liked or didn't like about the movie adaptation. If the movie hasn't been made yet, write about what things you hope they keep in the movie, what you're nervous about them taking out of the movie, or just your general feelings about it becoming a movie.
30// What is your biggest dream? Share it with your readers and your journey to achieving it. What have you done to try to make your dream become a reality? What things are still on your to-do list to try to achieve your dream?
Have you ever experienced writer's block? What things do you do to overcome it?

2015 Blog Goals.

On New Year's Eve, I shared a few of my goals for the new year, but I have been focusing so much on my blog lately that I wanted to share a few more of my goals associated with Endless Bliss, especially since several of the goals I spoke about have already been accomplished. Yay me! (If you got that reference, comment below and reminisce with me.)
So the blog goals I shared on NYE were:
~~Create a blog group~~ // The Blogging Elite has officially launched, and we're currently working on week two. Come join us!
~~Create a media kit~~ // I made a simplistic media kit using Word, and I really love how it turned out. You can check out my media kit on my sponsor page.
Attend a blog conference or meet-up // I'm really thinking I should just take a roadtrip to Dallas and meet up with some Dallas bloggers. As I'm sure you've inferred, this one hasn't happened yet, sadly.
~~Get blog business cards~~ // I ordered business cards, and I just got them in this past weekend. I'm so in love with them. I even handed them out to my co-workers because I'm shameless.

Is it normal to be in #love with business cards? 😘📇

A photo posted by Tiffany Khyla White (@tiffanykhyla) on Jan 10, 2015 at 5:46pm PST

~~Utilize my blog planner~~ // I've actually been doing really well with this. It's pretty messy and colorful in there, but in the best way possible. This goal is technically ongoing, but I'm crossing it out as a reward to myself since I've been doing so well with it.
So crazy, right? I've already accomplished 4 out of the 5 blog goals that I set for myself. Am I an overachiever or what?
Naturally, I had to add to my goal list since I checked all of these off so quickly. Here are a few more blog goals that I'll be working on accomplishing this year:
Double my blog profits from 2014 // When I added up the amount of money I made from my blog last year, I was floored, and when I thought about it, I didn't start monetizing my blog until very late in the year. I'm hoping that my blog becomes a significant source of income for me in 2015, hence the business cards and the media kit.
Start a vlog // I've already recorded my first video, and I setup the YouTube channel I've been using for ages. Unfortunately, I'm unable to change my URL to match all of my other URLs, but that's okay. So if you want to see me be awkward, you should totally subscribe to my YouTube channel. I'm hoping to publish my first video this week!
Have 2k followers on all of my social media accounts // I've never had a goal like this as far as followers are concerned, so I'm excited to see if I can achieve this goal this year!
Create more travel posts // In the future, I would really love to be a travel blogger for a living. I think a great way to do that would be to create more travel posts and start showing people what I can do!
Create freebies and printables // I love when bloggers share freebies and printables, and I would love to start doing that for my readers! I'm not sure what kinds of freebies and printables I would be dishing out, but I would love to do it.
What are your blog goals for 2015?

Link up your blog goals with Nina and me, and let's achieve our goals together!

12 Things I Learned NOT to do After 2 Years of Blogging.

So as of yesterday, I've officially been blogging for two years! How crazy is that? As a mini celebration, I wanted to share a few things that I learned are faux pas in the blogging world, so here are 12 things you should NOT do when you decide to call yourself a blogger.
1 // DON'T EXPECT EVERYONE TO COME TO YOU Even though you may think you have a lot of great things you want to share in the world, you can't expect to just publish something on the web and expect people to magically find you. You have to do the legwork and put yourself up there, especially from the beginning. There are so many ways to put your blog out there:
-- Join in on link-ups: There are tons of link-up parties for you to choose from. -- Comment on other blogs: Share your blog URL so others can return the favor. -- Join a blog community (or a few): This a great way to meet other bloggers and make lasting connections. -- Share other people's content: When someone sees you shared their content, you're likely to become your new BFF. -- Sponsor other bloggers: Find bloggers with a niche similar to yours that have a good number of followers and commenters. -- Guest post on other blogs: Give people a preview of your blog content on other blogs.
2 // DON'T WAIT TO USE GOOGLE TOOLS All of the important things I learned about my blog, I learned from Google Webmaster and Google Analytics. There are so many great things you can see about your blog using these tools, including which of your posts are most popular, how people are finding your blog, what keywords are bringing people to your blog, and so much more. Analyze your Google Webmaster and Google Analytics frequently so you can learn about your readers and what works and what doesn't work for your blog.
3 // DON'T POST SPORADICALLY If you want to get serious about blogging, you should come up with a posting schedule. Instead of posting right after you finish writing a blog post, wait to post at certain time each day. All of my blog posts are published at 8 am CT. Scheduling your blog posts will help your readers learn when to expect blog posts from you.
4 // DON'T DO IT ALONE One of the best things I did for my blog was join a blogging community. I've met some of my favorite bloggers within blogging communities, and most of my blog friends are ones that I met through blog communities. If you're looking for an awesome blogging community to join, check out more information about The Blogging Elite by clicking here!
5 // DON'T CREATE SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS AND IGNORE THEM Having social media accounts along all avenues is super important, but if you're going to open the accounts, make sure you utilize them. Having social media accounts for your blogs helps give people options as to how to follow your blog. If you don't have the time to manage your social media account daily, you can use an online scheduling tool like TweetDeck, Buffer or HootSuite to schedule your posts ahead of time.
6 // DON'T FORGET ABOUT PINTEREST When I used Pinterest, I never thought of it as a way to get traffic to my blog. I didn't see it as a blogging tool at all in the beginning. The majority of my blog's traffic actually comes from Pinterest, which is why it's important to take the time to create pinnable images and share your blog's content to Pinterest.
7 // DON'T HESITATE TO INVEST IN YOUR BLOG If you're thinking about blogging long-term, you shouldn't hesitate to spend a few bucks to get your blog noticed. A few investments you can make for your blog from the beginning include:
-- Giveaways: The easiest way to get multiple people to discover your blog is to participate in giveaways. Buy-ins are usually about $5 per link, but can vary. -- Sponsorships: Find a few blogs to sponsor using the tips that I mentioned above. -- Layout: Aesthetics are a big part of a having a good blog. If you're in it for the long-run, don't hesitate to invest in a decent blog layout. Search in your blog communities for blog designers or do a search on Etsy for blog templates or design services.
8 // DON'T COMPARE YOURSELF TO OTHER BLOGGERS The easiest way to get discouraged about your blog is to compare yourself to other bloggers. Think about why you want to blog, and focus on that instead of trying to be like everyone else.
9 // DON'T EVER ASSUME YOU KNOW IT ALL There's so much learn about blogging, especially because the blog world is constantly growing and changing. Learn as much as you can by seeking out advice from other bloggers, pinning blog-related posts, reading tips from blogging books, or taking some blog ecourses.
10 // DON'T FORGET ABOUT YOUR AUDIENCE I know a lot of bloggers say that they blog for themselves, but if that were the case, they wouldn't worry about the numbers, gaining followers, or even having a blog at all. It's so important to keep your audience in mind when you're writing your blog posts. My favorite blog posts are those that make me say "me too" over and over again or those that I get something from, such as helpful tips or even free printables or other things.
11 // DON'T PUT YOURSELF IN A BOX Having a niche for your blog is important because you want to have a focus. Decide whether you want to have a lifestyle blog or a fashion blog or beauty, sports, travel, food, or whatever kind of blog you'd like to have. While having a niche is important, it's important to not limit yourself to just talking about one thing. Variety is the spice of life, and that should be the same for your blog too. While you should stick with your niche for the most part, every once in awhile, you should switch it up and post about something else you're passionate about. 12 // DON'T EXPECT TO BE AN OVERNIGHT SUCCESS Blogging is hard work, and you should treat it as such. Gaining loyal readers takes times and so does finding your blogging stride. Expect to make a few mistakes and to go up and down with followers. When it comes to blogging, you'll get out of it what you put into it.
What are your biggest blog faux pas? What advice would you give to new bloggers?

Come Join The Blogging Elite...We Have Glitter!

As I mentioned last week, I have tons of goals for the new year, and one of my blog goals was to create a blog group, and I'm pumped to say that it's officially live!
The Beginning Way back in November, I asked my blog friend, Nina, if she would be willing to help out with creating a blog group. I knew I couldn't do it alone, and Nina and I vibe on so many things (interracial relationships, Harry Potter, etc. etc.) that I knew she would be the perfect person to work with. We had previously been in a blog group together way back when, and then the person running the group just kind of shut it down without telling anyone, and I was sad because a lot of my favorite bloggers were in the group, and I hadn't followed them properly (sorry, I suck). Thus, The Blogging Elite was born.
What can you find in The Blogging Elite? I'm part of a few blog communities, and they each have their own problems, but they also have elements that I love! I took the elements that I love, and mashed them together to make this awesome group, plus added a few features that Nina and I brainstormed on over the past two months. Here are a few things you'll find in The Blogging Elite:
// Daily engagement threads In most of the blog groups I'm in, there is a place for you to share your latest blog post. Simple, easy, and duh, we want that, but what about everything else? What about Facebook and Twitter? We want all of the things we're putting out there to get some love, not just our blog posts. In The Blogging Elite, you'll find daily threads for engagement on blog posts, Facebook posts, tweets, Instagram posts, and pins.
// Daily follow threads I want The Blogging Elite to be a place of discovery. Whether you're a newbie or a seasoned blogger, there's tons of blogs and bloggers to connect with and so many different ways to do so. That's why, every day, we'll bring you a follow thread where you'll be able to share your social media pages and discover other elite bloggers like yourself.
// Monthly themed giveaways Giveaways are a great way to gain exposure for your blog and give something back to your readers. Every month, Nina and I will host a themed giveaway, and only members of The Blogging Elite will get to co-host with us.
// Weekly prompts Do you want to learn how to monetize your blog? Do you want to find someone who's a crazy dog lady like you? Do you want to know what shows to watch next on Netflix? Each week, we will ask members of The Blogging Elite a question where they can share information and meet like-minded people. We want to get the conversation going and help our members learn more about each other, discover new blogs, and make friends.
// Birthday and blogiversary recognition Birthdays and blogiversaries are two very vital dates on every blogger's calendar. In The Blogging Elite, you can share your birthday and blogiversary, and we will celebrate the momentous occasion with you. Organizing a giveaway? The Blogging Elite is the perfect avenue for you to find co-hosts!
// A collaborative Pinterest board Pinterest is pretty vital when it comes to blogging, which is why we wanted to make it an important part of The Blogging Elite. Become a member of our collaborative Pinterest board, and you can discover new content as well as share content of your own!
// A sense of community The blogging world can be a lonely place when you're just starting out. We want to help bloggers meet new people, make new friends, and grow their blogs. We want The Blogging Elite to be your safe haven to speak your mind and just be you!
Does The Blogging Elite sound like something you want to be a part of? Check us out on Facebook, and join in on the fun! If you want to bring a buddy (or 5) along, we'd love to have them too! Everyone's invited!
What are you waiting for?!

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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/thebloggingelite/" title="The Blogging Elite" target="_blank"><img src="http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x78/tiffyd1215/bloggingelitebutton90_zps07ed6125.png" alt="The Blogging Elite" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Blogging (Part 2).

When I got serious about blogging, I had no idea that there was a whole vast world behind it. Once I finally dove in and got serious about blogging, I realized that I had so much to learn.
As I always say, I'm definitely no expert, but I do like to share things that I have helped me grow as a blogger, so I want to share a few things that I wish I had known before I got serious about my blog. To see part 1 of this this series, click here.
Disclaimer: I'm no expert by any means. I just like sharing the things that have worked for me, and I'm crossing my fingers that if you take my advice, it will work for you too!
[11] BLOGGING IS AN INVESTMENT This isn't something I wanted to accept at the beginning. I was determined to do everything on my own without paying a dime, but it doesn't always work out that way. If you want to get your blog noticed, you are looking at an investment. Just like any business, you have to put money into your blog in order to get what you want out of it. Things you'll be investing in for your blog:
1// DOMAIN NAME. There are tons of sites for you to purchase a domain name. I purchased mine through GoDaddy for $1.
2// DECENT BLOG DESIGN. You don't need to dish out hundreds of dollars from the get-go. Do your research and compare prices and designers to find a designer that you'd feel confident spending your money on. You can also try your luck at entering giveaways where bloggers are giving away designs. Also, take advantage of designers who are having design sales!
3// SPONSORSHIPS. If you want to get the word out there about your blog, invest in sponsorships with other bloggers to help drive traffic to your site.
[12] PEOPLE WILL TAKE YOU LESS SERIOUSLY WHEN YOU HAVE A .blogspot.com OR .wordpress.com AS PART OF YOUR BLOG URL As mentioned above, blogging is an investment, and the first thing you should invest in is a domain name. Having a domain name and dropping the blogspot or wordpress in your site will help people realize that you're serious about your blog and are more apt to take you seriously.
[13] LEARN TO TAKE DECENT PICTURES There are tons of tutorials out there to help you take good pictures for your blog. Even if you just have a camera phone, there are tons of ways for you to edit your pictures to make them look decent. Check out tutorials on Pinterest or from other bloggers. People are drawn to photos and visuals, and that's especially true with blogging. Like the saying goes, a picture is worth 1000 words.
[14] BE CONSISTENT If you want to be serious about blogging, then you should keep a blogging schedule. Blogs that post once a month or once every other week sporadically are less likely to get engagement compared to blogs that have new posts consistently. If you only have time to post once a week or a couple times a week, try to post on the same day(s) each week. Also, try to post at the same time each day. This makes it easier for your readers to know when to expect new blog posts from you.
[15] QUALITY > QUANTITY Don't just post to post; post because you have something to say. As great as it is for your blog post numbers to climb, it's even better to publish posts that are quality material. So don't worry about putting blog posts out every single day; publish posts of substance.
[16] MAKE IT EASY FOR PEOPLE TO CONTACT YOU Nothing is more frustrating than trying to get in contact with a blogger who doesn't have their contact information prominently displayed. I hate when I want to contact someone, and I have to search all over their blog for an email address, and sometimes, I get so frustrated, I just give up. Sure, you can comment on their posts, but not all bloggers reply to posts, and sometimes, replies aren't delivered to your own inbox. If you want people to contact you and engage with your blog, make it easier for people to do so. I suggest having a "Contact" tab on your navigation bar where you include an email for people to contact you and also display your social media sites in case they're more comfortable with contact through social media.
[17] LINK BACK TO OTHER POSTS It's so easy for older posts to get lost in all the hubbub of new posts. Linking back to your past posts in your new posts will help drive engagement to your older posts.
[18] WATERMARK YOUR IMAGES This is especially important if you plan on pinning your images to Pinterest. The internet is so vast, and with images, articles, and hashtags going unpredictably viral, you never know if your photos or blog post may become the center of attention. Watermark your images with your blog name or website to attract people to your site, and they can enjoy all of the other awesome content on your blog. People are always stealing images, so if you want to allow people to use your images, at least take the initiative to take ownership of them.
[19] DON'T STEAL OTHER PEOPLE'S CONTENT Just like you don't want people to steal your photos, you shouldn't do that to others either. If you use other people's photos, try to get permission and always, always, always site the source. Also, you know that whole plagiarism thing they talked about in school and how not to do it? Same goes with blogging.
[20] AS SOON AS IT FEELS LIKE AN OBLIGATION, STOP Why do you want to blog? Whatever your answer is, hold onto that during your blogging journey, and when that statement starts to fall to the wayside, and you're no longer having fun or enjoying blogging, take a break from it (or stop altogether if you don't feel like continuing). Blogging usually starts as a hobby, which means you should have fun doing it. When that isn't true for you anymore, don't feel like you have to keep doing it.
There's a reason no one is a blogging expert. It's because there's always something to learn. The blogging world is always growing and adapting, but hopefully these tips will help you make a smooth transition into it.
What blogging tips do you swear by?

Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Blogging (Part 1).

When I got serious about blogging, I had no idea that there was a whole vast world behind it. Once I finally dove in and got serious about blogging, I realized that I had so much to learn.
As I always say, I'm definitely no expert, but I do like to share things that I have helped me grow as a blogger, so I want to share a few things that I wish I had known before I got serious about my blog.
Disclaimer: I'm no expert by any means. I just like sharing the things that have worked for me, and I'm crossing my fingers that if you take my advice, it will work for you too!
[1] PICK A BLOG NAME THAT YOU LOVE Before you start blogging, think long and hard about a blog name that you want to keep long term. I changed my blog name about three times before I settled down on this one, and now I can't imagine changing it to anything else. Starting off with a name that you don't plan on changing down the road will be easier for so many reasons.
1// When you create your social media accounts associated with your blog, you don't have to worry about changing your tags or social media URLs.
2// You won't confuse your followers. There are some blogs I followed that changed their name with no warning, and I assumed the fell off the face of the earth, come to find they just changed their name.
3// You don't have to worry about buying a new domain name. I've never had to switch over a domain name because I didn't buy one until I settled on this blog name (luckily). I can only imagine how big of a hassle it would be.
[2] DON'T EXPECT MONEY OR FREE STUFF If you're looking at starting a blog for a get rich quick scheme or just to get free stuff, then blogging may not be for you. I you want to blog, you should do it for other reasons like your passion to write or share your thoughts on certain subjects with others. I never thought as blogging as a full-time job or anything like that. I didn't even know that was a thing until I really started dedicating myself to my blog. Earning money or getting free stuff from your blog is a perk if your blog does get to that point, but don't expect it all to happen right off the bat.
[3] YES, YOU SHOULD HAVE MULTIPLE SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES FOR YOUR BLOG One of the beautiful things about social media is that there are so many of them, meaning that you can communicate with others in the way that you're most comfortable to do so. One of the burdens of social media is also that there are so many of them. It may seem inconvenient to have to keep up with so many social media accounts, but having accounts on the major social media sites gives your readers options. Most bloggers have Bloglovin, so that's a great way for bloggers to keep up with each other, but what about the people that aren't bloggers? Take the time to maintain social media accounts on all the major sites, namely Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. This will help further your blog's reach and gain readers from different avenues.
[4] BLOGGING ISN'T A COMPETITION It's so easy to get carried away comparing everything about your blog to other blogs. Whether its their layout, their content, their 'about me' section, or even the blogger, you're always going to feel like someone out there is doing it better than you. The important thing to remember is why you started blogging. Focus on yourself, your content, and growing your blog rather than trying to do what other bloggers are already out there doing.
[5] DON'T BLOG FOR EVERYONE ELSE Question for you: Why do you even want to start a blog? Once you answer that question, make it your mantra. Focus on that every time you sit down to blog. Remember that when you're blogging, you're blogging for yourself and not the rest of the world. Don't focus on the numbers, how many followers you have, how much money you're making. If you focus on that, your passion won't shine through, so focus on blogging for yourself, and you'll be surprised how quickly other people will connect with you.
[6] DON'T APOLOGIZE FOR MISSING A DAY OF BLOGGING Sometimes, you won't feel like writing. Sometimes, you go on vacation and you're away from a computer. Sometimes, you're having a grand time living your life. That's okay. You shouldn't feel obligated to blog every single day. You should want to want to blog every day. There's never any reason to apologize for missing a day.
[7] KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FOLLOWERS AND READERS I've seen blogs with 1000, 3000, or even 7000+ followers, but their blog posts only have 1-5 comments. It's great to have thousands of followers, but if no one is actually reading your content, then your followers aren't a legitimate representation of your blog's success. In my humble opinion, I would rather have lower numbers and more comments rather than higher numbers and little no comments. I love engaging with my readers, but if no one is commenting on my posts, then there's no one to actually engage with. So you have to decide what's more important to you: growing the number of followers you have or growing your actual readership.
[8] SHARE THE LOVE I've always said that blogging isn't just about sharing things that you want to say; it's also about connecting with others and reading about what others have to say too. If you really want to have a successful blog, reading and commenting on other blogs should be a part of your blog routine. Networking is key when it comes to running a successful blog, which brings me to my next point...
[9] JOIN A BLOGGING NETWORK Or join a few of them. Most networks have a minimum amount of followers or page views in order for you to join. There are also lots of Facebook groups that you can join that don't have a minimum requirement. Look into joining those and start connecting with bloggers. Join networks that apply to your niche or join them based on location, age group, etc. This makes it easier for you to connect with bloggers that have the same interests as you.
[10] SIGN UP FOR GOOGLE ANALYTICS I didn't even know what Google Analytics was for several months after I started blogging. I based my stats on my Blogger views, which I later learned was pretty inaccurate (ironically enough). When you're working with or trying to work with other brands, they often ask for stats, and many times, they request it from Google Analytics, because it's the most accurate. Sign up for it as soon as you start your blog to ensure that your blog's statistics are up-to-date.
Be looking out for part 2 of Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Blogging tomorrow!
What things do you wish you knew before you started blogging?

The Ultimate Source for Awesome Stock Photos.

Stock photos can be a lifesaver when you're a blogger who isn't a very skilled photographer. Finding high quality stock photos is an awesome way to take your blog to the next level. These are a few of my favorite sources when it comes to finding stock photos that are my favorite price: FREE!
Unsplash: This site adds ten new photos every ten days. While you have to scroll through all of the photos on the site, you can usually find a large array of different types of photos.

PicJumbo: While you can't search through the PicJumbo site, the photos are separated into several different broad categories, so it's definitely easy to navigate.

New Old Stock: If you're looking for gorgeous vintage-looking photos, this site is perfect for you!

Gratisography: This site is full of beautiful photos taken by two photographers. They add new photos weekly.

Super Famous: All of these pictures are from a Los Angeles-based studio by designer Folkert Gorter and are all free to use with the proper credit.

SEARCH ENGINES Sometimes you don't have time to scroll through a bunch of different stock photos. Luckily, there are plenty of sites with stock photos that are actually searchable.
Photo Pin: This site offers the option to choose whether your photos are for commercial or non-commercial use and also gives you the ability to sort photos by most recently posted photos, the relevance of your search, and how interesting the photos are (aka interestingness).

photo credit: kevin dooley via photopin cc

Pixabay: This site allows you to search through the photos and also upload your own if you'd like to share them. It's also available in 20 different languages in case you want your photos to be shared internationally, not to mention you can browse through photos uploaded worldwide.

Refe Photos: While there are some photos that are available for a price, several of them are free to use. The photos are not only searchable, they're also categorized. Once you "purchase" the photos (no payment info needed!), they're delivered straight to your inbox.

Comp Fight: There are tons of searchable images on this site. They're free to use as long as you give the proper credit.

Photo Credit: marfis75 via Compfight cc>

Flickr: Not all images on Flickr are free to use, but if you specify your search in the License section to "Creative Commons," then these images are available to use on your blog or website.

Public Domain Archive: The owner of this site collects public domain photos from the web and puts them all in one place. The site is set up like a blog, and it has a search bar on the sidebar.

MorgueFile: This site is super easy to navigate with its search feature.

WEEKLY/MONTHLY EMAILS When you sign up for these sites, they'll send you a zip file with several stock photos for your blogging pleasure. Death to the Stock Photo: They send you gorgeous photos every month. These have been some of my favorite stock photos to use.

Little Visuals: This site sends you seven images in a zip file every seven days.

What are your favorite sources for stock photos?

12 Ways to Grow Your Blog Community.

When you first start blogging, it's so easy to get discouraged if your blog doesn't immediately take off. When I first started, no one, including people in my personal life, even knew my blog existed. Nearly two years later, I'm still working to grow my community and spread all the happiness I can!
One question that everyone has when they're trying to gain a following on their blog is "how?" I've learned that, unfortunately, there isn't one surefire way to grow your blog. It takes a lot of hard work, dedication, and a combination of several strategies to get your following to where you'd like it to be. These are a few methods that have worked for me, and I hope they work for you too!
REPLY TO ALL COMMENTS This is key! If someone takes the time to comment your blog, then you should take the time to thank them by replying to it. Sometimes, this may even lead to a dialogue, and maybe even a new friend!
Additional tip: Note that if you use Blogger as a platform, if you reply directly on your blog, the person who commented won't know that you commented back unless they keep checking back. It's usually the same on Wordpress too. As a commenter, I would recommend either installing Disqus (if someone replies to your comment, you will get it in your email. A Disqus account has to be created to comment on a blog with Disqus, but many people have it now, and it's pretty convenient) or you can check the box below the comment area that says "Notify me of follow-up comments," and you'll be able to see when someone replies to your comment.
ENGAGE WITH OTHER BLOGGERS ON SOCIAL MEDIA Bloggers love keeping up with other bloggers on social media. Show your blog pals some love with a retweet or a favorite. Like their post on Facebook or repin their image. Spread the love to other bloggers, and hopefully that love will be reciprocated.
UTILIZE SOCIAL MEDIA Because there are so many different blogging platforms, just allowing people to subscribe to your blog only through GFC or Wordpress probably isn't going to cut it. Even if you have a Bloglovin account, most non-bloggers don't even have Bloglovin. And sometimes, even those that do may not use it as their primary way to keep up with their favorite blogs. The best thing to do is to give your readers options. Some people are obsessed with Twitter or Facebook or Instagram or Pinterest. Create social media accounts associated with your blog to give your readers options on how to keep up with your posts.
SPONSOR OTHER BLOGGERS Sponsoring other bloggers is a great way to get your name out there. Before choosing which blogs you want to dish money out on, check out their blog perks, and make sure you're getting the most bang for your buck. Opt for sponsorships that include features or spotlights, social media shout outs or guest posts. Sidebar ads are great, but it doesn't always lead to exposure if there are no perks attached. If you're on a budget, swap buttons with other bloggers and brainstorm ways to grow your blogs together, such as a collaboration.
HOST GOOD SPONSORSHIPS If people are paying for an ad spot on your sidebar, you want to make sure that people think it's worth the money. Make sure you have great perks included with your sponsorships. Here are a few ideas:
-- Sponsor feature or spotlight (in a blog post, newsletter, etc.) -- Social media shout-outs (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) -- Social media engagement (pins, +1's, retweets, regrams, etc.) -- Offer for them to guest post -- Free entry in a giveaway -- Comments on all their posts
Hosting a good sponsorship is a great way to create loyal followers. They'll tell their friends what a great sponsorship they had, and that may lead to even more people in your blog community.
PARTICIPATE IN LINK-UPS Link-ups are a fun way to engage with other bloggers. Most link-ups are themed, and in order to participate, you have to blog about a certain thing, such as a recipe, music, an outfit or even your weekend. Rules of link-ups include visiting other blogs in the link-up and leaving some love. You can expect people to come and visit your blog, and you may even create some loyal readers out of the experience.
COMMENT ON OTHER BLOGS I've found a lot of great blogs through people that have commented on my blog. If you use Disqus, most people have their blog link on their profile. Also, some people leave their blog links on their comments. If people do this, it's a great way for you to visit other blogs and return the favor by commenting on a few of their blog posts too. Just like responding to comments on your own blog, this could create a dialogue between you and another blogger, which could create a loyal reader.
JOIN NETWORKS A good chunk of my followers came from blogger networks that I'm a part of. Networks are a great way to meet other bloggers, especially if they're specialized networks. These are a few blog networks that I am a part of:
Southern Girl Blog Community: From the name you can tell that this is a network for female bloggers living in the south.
Blog Life Chose Me: This is a relatively new blog network based on Facebook. A few of the members in this group are bloggers that I'm actually pretty close with, and this is one of my favorite blogging communities.
Blog Love: I actually just joined this network recently, and I've found a lot of great bloggers through it. It's also based on Facebook, and it's a fun group to engage with other bloggers and spread the blog love.
HerCampus Blogger Network: I've met so many great bloggers through this network. One of my favorite things about HerCampus is that the members are all around my age, so a lot of them are going through the same struggles as me. #thestruggleisreal
GIVEAWAYS If you're looking for a way to gain followers fast, participating in a giveaway is probably the easiest way. There's no guarantee that these people will stick around after the giveaway is over, but some of them may turn into loyal followers.
THINK ABOUT YOUR AUDIENCE What will your audience gain by coming back to your blog? Give people a reason to keep visiting. Analyze what your most popular posts are (I like to use Google Analytics), and try to create posts similar to that one. Everyone knows something about something that other people know less about. Don't be selfish with it. Share it!
Additional tip: Make it easier for your audience to keep up with your posts by sticking to a blog schedule. When I first started blogging, I used to publish my posts whenever I felt like it. Later, I learned that it's better to post at the same time every day that you intend to publish a post. Personally, my posts go up at 8 am central time, even though I usually write my blog posts at night. It's super easy for you to schedule your posts for the same time each day. Consistency is key! If you blog consistently for a month and then disappear for a few weeks, post a couple times then disappear again, it's unlikely that your followers are going to stick around. If you want to create a blog community, try to be consistent with both the timing of your posts and the frequency. I try to post every day Monday through Friday, but even if I can't I usually post at least 2-3 times every week.
GUEST POST Help get exposure for your blog by guest posting on other blogs. Make sure that anything your write for someone else's blog is something that you would want to put on your blog. Be authentic, so that when people visit your blog from that other person's blog, they'll know exactly what they're getting. Ask the other blogger to include clickable links to your blog and other social media.
SUBMIT ARTICLES TO OTHER WEBSITES There are tons of other websites looking for contributors that already have a huge following, such as Thought Catalog, BuzzFeed, and Hello Giggles. In order to post on these sites, you usually have to create a short bio where you can include a link to your personal website. Take advantage of these sites by submitting your articles.
Even those these methods have all worked for me, every blog is different, and it's important to note that things that work for my blog may not work for every single blog out there. Like I said before, there isn't one surefire way to grow your blog. If you want to grow a loyal community, try out a few different methods, and see what works for you! Remember, what you give is what you get.
What methods have you used to grow your blog community?

Photoshoot with Southern Aire Photography.

When I was freshman at Louisiana Tech, I met a super fun girl named Hannah who lived on the same floor as me in Adams. Flash forward five years later, and Hannah invites me to like the Facebook page for her new photography business, Southern Aire Photography. Hannah is working on her portfolio, and I'm working on revamping my blog, so I was super excited to team up with her to get some photos taken!
Outfit one:

Shirt | Forever 21 Jeans | Forever 21 Kimono | Charlotte Russe, similar
Check out the rest of the photos on Facebook!
If you aren't convinced of her amazingness by the photos above, then you should definitely check out Hannah's portfolio. She's super talented and fun and easy to work with. If you're ever in north Louisiana and in the market for a photographer (hello fall photos!), then Hannah is your girl!
I also want to give a shoutout to my friend, Jenny, who prettied me up by doing my hair and make-up. And of course thanks to Hannah for being so wonderful and making me look so beautiful through her lens.
For more information about Southern Aire Photography, check out her Facebook page or contact her by email at southernairephotography@gmail.com.

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