Top Five Tips for New Bloggers.

Nov 9

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By Sarah & Robbie TrippToday's blog post topic is one of two questions we get asked about most frequently. (The other most popular question is how we make money off our blog/social media platforms so be sure to read our How We Made Over Six Figures Our First Year Blogging Full-Time.) So we thought we'd share a whole post containing the info we pass onto others about starting a blog! We hope this helps those of you who are just starting out as any type of aspiring blogger/influencer. If you find this kind of blog post interesting or helpful, we'd love to know! We'd also love to expound on certain topics that interest you as well, so feedback is welcome! Shoot us a DM on Instagram.Related: Sarah and Robbie Tripp Featured in Forbes: Tips For Entrepreneurs Who Want To Turn Social Media Into A BusinessWithout further ado, here are our top five tips for new bloggers:

1. Be True To YourselfThere are a million types of blogs out there. So ask yourself: How do you stand out? You must be true to who you are! Now, there's definitely so much to this topic, but start out by not posting anything you wouldn’t actually wear/use/decorate with/consume/etc. Don't give into trends if you wouldn't really wear/use them and especially if they aren't really flattering. It's so important that you figure out what your niche is! For me, it wasn't until two years into blogging that we decided to center my platform around body positivity and honoring my curves. It took me two years to figure out we needed to incorporate that into my brand, and that was two years we spent not gaining traction because I was just doing what every other fashion blogger was doing. Sharing my self-love journey was scary and vulnerable, but I took the leap of faith and it resonated with my audience. It was at that time that I set myself apart from all the other bloggers that we started seeing success. Even if it wouldn't have seen my numbers grow, it was important to me to make my blog something more inspiring than just the latest trends. Be authentic and find something you're passionate about!

2. Post ConsistentlyIt’s important to keep to a schedule. I'm sure many of you know I try to post 2-3 times a week here on my blog and twice a day on Instagram. My followers know when to look for content and visit my site accordingly. When you're just starting out, figure out when works best for you, even if it's only creating enough content to post once or twice a week on your blog! I promise your audience will start figuring out when you post and they'll look for new content at those times! I naturally visit my favorite blogs on certain days because I know when those ladies are uploading new content. If you're wanting to work with brands, showing them you post consistently is important. That way a brand sees you're serious about what you do and aren't just looking to get free stuff. Sporadic posts every couple of weeks doesn't look very professional. Now, that's not to say that life doesn't happen and things come up where you can't get a post up, but consistency is key to growing your blog and social platforms.

3. Post Quality PhotosThis is SO IMPORTANT. Not only does it look more professional, but brands want to work with bloggers who have quality photos. If you can't afford to hire a photographer just yet, save up for (or even borrow) a nice camera and have your significant other, roommate, friend, or sibling shoot you! I can't tell you how many bloggers start out (and still to this day) have their husband/boyfriend shoot them. In this high-tech generation, you don't have to spend thousands of dollars to buy a great camera that takes beautiful photos. iPhones take great photos and I know so many bloggers who shoot almost entirely on their phone and have a gorgeous feed. (It's all about knowing how to edit for lighting!) As for lens, the 50mm lens is such a good one to buy for those crisp shots with blurry backgrounds all bloggers have, and it's fairly inexpensive! I use a 35mm lens and really like it. Don't get overwhelmed, you can watch hundreds of YouTube videos about how to use a nice camera and how to edit photos beautifully. There's a reason that the top bloggers have pretty, creative photos! Aesthetic is so important when it's the first thing people see.

4. Stay PassionateBlogging is hard work. Sadly, most people don't realize that. It costs lots of money, time, and effort to get just one blog post up. Not to mention continuing to do it for years and years. At one point or another, you're going to want to give up. I can't even tell you how many girls have contacted me over the years with excitement for starting a blog, only to see it completely abandoned and inactive within 6 months. It's exhausting to come up with new content, grow your social media, and continually network. If you're starting a blog, just remember that like anything else, it’s going to be hard and you’ll get burnt out at one point or another! But passion will pull you through lulls. If you love what you're doing, keep going! Don't give up!

5. Be PatientSuccess doesn’t happen overnight. I get so many emails asking how to grow an audience on a blog or social media. I think a lot of people forget that the biggest bloggers in the world have been doing this for 6-7 years. I once heard one popular blogger estimate that it takes six years for a blog to become successful. It's easy to say that these women have large followings because they started when the fashion blog market was new, but guess what? They aren't successful just because they throw photos up on their blog. They are successful because they are smart entrepreneurs who have worked tirelessly to create a brand with engaging content. They built their numbers by being genuine and attracting people who are genuinely interested in what they post. Buying likes or followers is obviously the opposite of this and won't help you in the long run. Any successful business takes time and there's no real shortcut, remember that! We started Sassy Red Lipstick in September of 2013 and it was only after three long years of consistent work that we actually started to see the success we'd been working toward. It takes time, but if you love it, it's worth it!

We hope this was helpful! We'd love to dive deeper into certain topics of interest, just let us know! As always, thanks for reading!- Team Tripp hunter green sweater leopard blanket scarf {similar here}Strom dark wash denim Valentino Rockstud kitten heels c|o LuisaViaRoma Tory Burch hunter green handbag Le Spec sunglasses Caramello liquid lipstick