LADY GIRLS: Blogging Tips Series

How to Write a Successful Beauty Blog

April 20, 2017 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><img alt="How to write a beauty blog " border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyaDtXn3KeuF_ER7BRBp_fTPC2k3WyBEFSLQOJ_O0edAW82a8zPXc_hG0XKWQ54awGq3_WssKs6IKip-CbQ5gBT9LUveDLTnRpoEUxe0a6au9GU5tstfsj0dBm7TE19oMZMVJ4UBV-rOk/s1600/how-to-start-a-beauty-blog.JPG" title=""> Seven years ago I decided to start Makeup Savvy to share my love of makeup and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I've ever made! Which is why I thought it as about time I sit down and write about how to write a successful beauty blog. Or should that be "How to write/start a successful beauty blog in 2017"? Because there's no denying the idea of blogging with any kind of success is daunting right now (I'm currently in the process of setting up a new blog... and I'm feeling it!). Especially in the saturated genre of beauty blogging. However, that shouldn't hold you back if you feel passionate about it! Below, I have covered the basics; from the initial set up a blog (which platform to choose, buying a domain, deciding on a template) to the do's and don't of blogging and what your long term focuses should be if you plan to write a successful beauty blog. Whether you are new to beauty blogging or already write an established blog I hope you can find a few helpful tips here. <a href="http://www.makeupsavvy.co.uk/2017/04/how-to-start-a-beauty-blog.html#more">Read More</a>

Seven years ago I decided to start Makeup Savvy to share my love of makeup and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I've ever...

How To Write Killer Blog Content

April 11, 2017 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><img alt="Writing Good Blog Content" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRLHgJsy2DoUcf_MUaf7_J1Fd-guIaypmMqsR9ZUoMmcUsEeW02_aZcVcPsqmiV1DjRCouNHt6pjWsvm4sZ7tXlE-SPWVmZmOZhxBcBfUlx0zLE0yse_br4D8RjnbU_DGKGxwulgJQ8Gw/s1600/blog-post-ideas-spring.JPG" title=""> I'm currently in the slow process of creating a 2nd blog, focusing on blog tips for fellow bloggers growing their blog! But with so many ideas flowing right now I decided I couldn't hold them all in until I launch Blog Savvy. So today I'm not talking pretty makeup, but how to write killer blog content! With weekly blogging, content can easily become throw-away and get buried in your blog archive receiving very little page views, if any! But with mindful blogging, keeping the below blog tips in mind, that doesn't need to be the case for all of your content. Even implementing just a few of these tips can see blog posts continuing to get views years down the line and even result in a few strong posts going viral! <a href="http://www.makeupsavvy.co.uk/2017/04/how-to-write-killer-blog-content.html#more">Read More</a>

blog tips Blogging Tips Series featured SEO How To Write Killer Blog Content

I'm currently in the slow process of creating a 2nd blog, focusing on blog tips for fellow bloggers growing their blog! But with so many...

How To Blog Successfully When You Have No Time

March 09, 2017 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQdChdC4PlruxJK1xVHpQmYkZVGrMtoUv5o11mFHkZCkgNe6rd2keTs3dwWZGP5ys_E3IosynQECQrpmRgxVHRQDy9eI2dukuB8hO7yaegfZcpBgEu6IEhf6Y89D-0eOSHeV2LVPMDbk/s1600/Beauty-blog-tips.JPG"> When it comes to blogging I have time on my side, generally. And I'm thankful for it! Blogging is my main career and the only thing I have to deal with is an ageing dog that wants to constantly sleep on my lap as I blog. I have no distractions, other than my procrastinating ways and my introvert personality means I'm never needing to juggle an active social life with blogging... there just isn't one!! Side note: I'm fine with this, I have Netflix. But there have been more than a handful of times when I've felt like I've had no time to sit down and blog. From life commitments to periods of being ill and having zero energy... which isn't a lack of time as such but I'd saw my time was taken up by being in bed! However, through these times I've learnt how to get sh*t done as it were and plough through blogging like a champ. I don't think I've ever used the word 'champ' before. I've now come to realise that I like to blog in this way (detailed below) most of the time. It's productive, it cuts out the chance of procrastination and it frees up my time to watch more documentaries and tell my dog how much I love her! So, below are some time-saving blogging tips that you can hopefully take on board and put into action when time is limited. Here's to blogging efficiently and never worrying about not blogging or going off schedule, again! <a href="http://www.makeupsavvy.co.uk/2017/03/time-saving-blog-tips.html#more">Read More</a>

blog tips Blogging Tips Series How To Blog Successfully When You Have No Time

When it comes to blogging I have time on my side, generally. And I'm thankful for it! Blogging is my main career and the only thing I h...

eBay Bargains #74 - Blogging Essentials

February 27, 2017 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFhzTeVo7Kt4TUELaWJdzRT1p0FKSdhGvpY2f19cq-xJM9TilddPdS1swqBTOOTkRLbSD2CUwE6BoCsPL2A3j_TTFRXgy2gIja9Ew6Jq_lcgc-sJ_XGOKYmJh04ENA7bDSbTa5x4Lzx5Y/s1600/ebay-blogger-essential-tools.jpg"></div> It's been more than awhile since I've put together a blogger themed eBay finds post and as it went down well last time I thought I'd create a more updated version! I've made sure to include items that I already use for blogging and UK items where I can - fast delivery! Hope you find a few bargain buys here! <a href="http://www.makeupsavvy.co.uk/2017/02/ebay-bargains-74-blogging-essentials.html#more">Read More</a>

Blogging Tips Series ebay ebay finds eBay Bargains #74 - Blogging Essentials

It's been more than awhile since I've put together a blogger themed eBay finds post and as it went down well last time I thought I&#...

FREE Printable Daily Planners - For Readers & Bloggers

February 25, 2017 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tzTULsbTnAmeXpgky3X4RECpruvWepqi1eP8Wa4XpYABKsd5CyAKxY4CFte6K8cry5w4Z1uHJvYWwtIGIDUUrHjGrUHbiEO_2IqXfhmRZrHfPJgJPidLMKGBj1N7Z5pIMlzudgkfekE/s1600/Free-daily-planner-blogger.jpg"></div>It may not seem it but I'm a super disorganised person! I generally write blog posts the night before and I never seem to be able to keep on top of emails - even important ones, eek! However, in the past 2 years I've become a daily planner fan! I have a whiteboard, a tear-off planner notepad, a swish ring-bound desk planner and I even have my own personalised planner sheets... just because! It's all a bit obsessive, but it keeps me on track (kind of)! So I thought I'd share the love and create some free printable daily planners for anyone that wants one! <a href="http://www.makeupsavvy.co.uk/2017/02/free-printable-daily-planners-for.html#more">Read More</a>

Blogging Tips Series Freebies FREE Printable Daily Planners - For Readers & Bloggers

It may not seem it but I'm a super disorganised person! I generally write blog posts the night before and I never seem to be able to kee...

Could Bloglovin' be Doing your Blog a Disservice? (and How to Change it!)

February 17, 2017 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zFzc-h9ot6d5ow7XNX1at8pl9cQkePpLzItbVvZFDMmv9-rWkdR4_inRujqnd8kobSN-G75xkyiIhkISDaPKnWoThx2waP4HgQfjkN_UESbJeyRjt9VdbI0seAleTyG_MBU53I_3BH8/s1600/Bloglovin-rss-feed-frame-problem.JPG"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div> If you told me last year that I'd be sitting down to write a fairly negative post about Bloglovin', I really don't think I would have believed you. You see I've been using Bloglovin' for over 5 years now and it brings me a decent amount of traffic due to the 90,000+ followers I've accumulated in that time. So I'm pretty grateful! Plus, I use it daily to keep up to date with blog posts from all my favourite blogs. But recently there has been a massive shift in how Bloglovin' are conducting themselves as a platform that is potentially harming a lot of bloggers hard work. And the strange thing... it seems to have gone unnoticed! <a href="http://www.makeupsavvy.co.uk/2017/02/could-bloglovin-be-doing-your-blog.html#more">Read More</a>

blog tips Blogging Tips Series Could Bloglovin' be Doing your Blog a Disservice? (and How to Change it!)

If you told me last year that I'd be sitting down to write a fairly negative post about Bloglovin', I really don't think I woul...

How To Become Your Own Professional Photography Stylist

January 23, 2017 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2_TyO1vCeMPG5pkCRudEscIOHlBMLx-ZQbfnf-alI0YWs3SAMmXK19oNiFLo-5DUzDhsxO9ETYQf0hzg-Ra6rwoJDEDMoF_n2MnXBgfjdGYA0Zc9rVVulrxw6SX1o7HziQMKplNlqlss/s1600/1-vert.jpg" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of key elements of blogging is the visual aspect. Of course, not all blog niches focus on it so heavily, but on the whole photography alongside well-written articles can set your blog apart from others. Thus attracting more readers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I absolutely love to get creative with my own blog photography, so today I thought I would share my own tips and tricks on how to style and shoot your blog images like a pro.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><h2 class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Basics </h2><h3 class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Photography Backgrounds </h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Starting at the beginning we need to talk backgrounds. The most popular choice for bloggers (myself included) is a plain white matte background or faux marble. Both of these work well as they don't overpower the subject matter. However, taking inspiration from editorial still-life images can help to broaden ideas. Matte pastel backgrounds (bought from craft stores) can work well even using more than one colour either joining them together or overlaying them. For richer images try out more detailed backgrounds such as aged wood or slate. If you can't get your hands on anything, finding wallpaper samples in your local DIY store can be just as effective! Reflective surfaces also have their place, I especially like acrylic sheets (eBay <a href="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Colour-Perspex-Acrylic-Sheet-Plastic-Material-Panel-Cut-to-Size-A5-A4-A3-/301477137398?var=&hash=item4631700bf6:m:m1EqLw3R0A0o6iGzAoZc5tA" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>) which are inexpensive and can be bought in any colour, you can see an example of how I used a black acrylic background <a href="http://www.makeupsavvy.co.uk/2013/05/my-top-3-moisturisers-for-combination.html" rel="" target="_blank">here</a>. To add interest or to give a certain feel to the image, material can work well. Not only is it more fluid in appearance but you can style it to work with the objects you are photographing.  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">EXAMPLE: Effective use of wallpaper as a backdrop <a href="http://www.makeupsavvy.co.uk/2016/10/affordable-autumn-beauty-picks.html" target="_blank">here</a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">EXAMPLE: Favourite use of material as a background <a href="http://www.makeupsavvy.co.uk/2016/10/is-charlotte-tilbury-magic-foundation.html" rel="" target="_blank">here</a> </div><h3 class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Creating a Prop Box </h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Having a large variety of props on hand for your images is essential. These can be anything from notebooks and stationary to plates, ribbon and dried flowers. Flowers and even food can also work well to dress up a shoot into something more interesting. As you can see in the above fragrance image I used leaves and water from a spray bottle to create an autumnal/winter feel. Though my personal favourite props are satin ribbon (you can find a cheap listing on eBay <a href="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Double-Sided-Faced-Satin-Ribbon-9-25-38mm-x-2-10-Meters-/272158402395?var=&hash=item3f5de7a75b:m:mXw7HzeTiNtJ8zh3ONdKPoQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>), dried rose petals (eBay <a href="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200897547930?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&var=500145359185&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&clk_rvr_id=1157371989087&afsrc=1&rmvSB=true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>) and books/magazines. However if you are looking to achieve more editorial style images then thinking outside of the box with unique props is key. For ideas flicking through your favourite magazines should help with your own creative inspiration. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">READ:<a href="http://www.makeupsavvy.co.uk/2016/09/4-cheap-easy-diy-blog-props.html" target="_blank"> 4 Easy & Cheap DIY Blog Props</a> </div><h3 class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Choosing a Colour Palette  </h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Colour is definitely something that should be explored within still life photography. For styled images sticking to a palette of 3-4 colours always works well. But there may be times you want to stick to a single colour to add impact or go all out to create a vibrant image with an unlimited colour palette. All monochrome or pastel images can also work really well. Here it's about being aware of colour while also having fun because there really aren't any rules! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBp1tKZE_J7T8jraC16BLdkFUSjqEu_3JiiXKqy6p_xDeg_Eg1ujfgK8y-Jk67kYkvywIfLGRrBkJ5v9Zen2U1fSKvOeR_LuPnIhpCNZ14Q8xa0uJlJncypsH_XrnU6Rhyphenhyphen3w7OpbeHscA/s1600/1.jpg" /></div><h3 class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To Flat Lay or not to Flat Lay - Talking Angles</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Deciding to shoot in a flat lay style, directly above, or at an angle really is personal preference. I often like to mix it up to make sure my images don't appear to same-y and just to add a bit of extra variety and interest. When shooting a flat lay from above I like to stand up straight and lean over my shot and zoom in if I feel I need to (sometimes a tripod is required). If you have quite a lot going on in your setup you may want to grab a small stool or even a pair of compact step ladders to capture everything. This generally isn't needed when it comes to photographing makeup products as a beauty blogger but for larger items, or showing what the products are placed on (maybe a table or bed) then getting up high and shooting directly from above is key. As for shots from a slight angle the main benefit is that is allows for a depth of field to be created (a blurred background) which gives a stronger focal point and is always pleasing on the eye. I personally prefer to shoot in this way as products can appear more tactile as the shape of them is more visible than in a flat lay, it also allows for soft shadows to be created. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Example post with a mix of flat lay and traditional angle shots <a href="http://www.makeupsavvy.co.uk/2016/09/ebay-review-zoeva-style-rose-gold.html" target="_blank">here</a></div><h2 class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Flat Lay Styles </h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The main type of flat lay in the blogging world is one that sets the scene/tells a story. These generally include a focal item with other items staged around it in a natural way. However, there are so many other ways to shoot flay lays that can expand your ideas. Below are the main types of flat lays that all work well for blog photography and social media posts. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Side note: Flat lays have become increasingly popular on social media. Other than being aesthetically pleasing, they are a popular choice for many for a reason. The lens on a phone is greatly different to an actual camera and can often distort the perspective and shape of products when shooting from an angle, making it pretty obvious the image has been taken by a phone camera. Shoot directly from above and that problem disappears!  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;"><div style="padding: 8px;"><div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BNe3RpeDOtr/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by Official FLATLAY - Join Us! (@flatlay)</a> on <time datetime="2016-12-01T17:04:35+00:00" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Dec 1, 2016 at 9:04am PST</time></div></div></blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script> <h3 class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The "setting the scene' flat lay </h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As I explained above this is the most popular type of flat lay for bloggers. Anything goes here really, as long as it makes sense and tells a story or sets the scene that is! For example when writing a blog post that's about blogging I often photograph the keyboard of my laptop, a notebook, a pen and even a few extras like a few plants or flowers and even a cup of coffee. This is a relatable scene and goes well with the blog topic I will be writing about. Talking about products to induce sleep? Photograph them on a white duvet with a cosy looking throw, a candle or two and even a pair of slippers, instantly setting the scene and creating a serene image. This kind of flat lay is so simple, yet so effective. Want to go one step further? Try an "action" shot by including your hands into the image to really make your story come alive. For this you will need a tripod and your camera on the timer setting or a willing helper! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">EXAMPLE: <a href="http://www.makeupsavvy.co.uk/2016/10/3-sleep-in-jar-face-creams-perfect-for.html" target="_blank">3 'Sleep in a Jar' Face Creams Perfect for Winter</a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;"><div style="padding: 8px;"><div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGoZ84VPLCt/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by Flatlays (@flatlays)</a> on <time datetime="2016-06-14T10:21:00+00:00" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jun 14, 2016 at 3:21am PDT</time></div></div></blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script> <h3 class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The "organised' flat lay </h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you like to keep things neat and simplistic then the organised flat lay style may be for you. The best way to start is to imagine a square or rectangle and place items within it, generally at equal distances apart .This does however mean you won't have a focal point as all the items will appear equal. Not all of the items need to have straight edges but using items with straight sides for the outer part of your imaginary straight edged shape reinforces the shape and the neat look you are going for. This becomes even more effective when paired with a single or minimal colour palette to give a contemporary editorial look. This style is perfect for sharing a similar collection of items, for example your skincare stash or the contents of your bag, albeit the receipts! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">EXAMPLE: <a href="http://www.makeupsavvy.co.uk/2016/02/the-makeup-we-buy-look-at-what-we-buy.html" target="_blank">The Makeup We Buy</a>  </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;"><div style="padding: 8px;"><div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/9tq2XGDTqk/" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A photo posted by F L A T L A Y __ T I P S (@flatlay_tips)</a> on <time datetime="2015-11-05T18:42:19+00:00" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Nov 5, 2015 at 10:42am PST</time></div></div></blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script> <h3 class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The "all about white space" flat lay </h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In photography white space can say a lot whilst remaining a simplistic looking image. But in blog photography it's slightly different and can give your focal product that you want to write about the space to breathe (and shine!) or even create a nice space overlay title text when it comes to editing your images. This style isn't as common, but with a focal product and one or two items to support it the shot can really work and look beautiful. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">EXAMPLE: <a href="http://www.makeupsavvy.co.uk/2016/03/luxury-beauty-favourites-5.html" target="_blank">Luxury Beauty Favourites</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">  </div><h2 class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Main Elements of Photography Styling</h2> <h3>Placement </h3>I could write endless blog posts on styling (don't worry, I won't!) because there are so many elements to it. The main element that can make an image shine is placement. Depending on the type of image you are wanting to convey you may want to give products equidistant space and lay them mostly flat (good for flat lays) or mix this up with over lapping items with some stood up (good for shooting at an angle). Also opening up products for example a makeup compact or a magazine can give a more realistic yet editorial look to your images. <h3> Lighting </h3>Lighting is another important element to be aware of. Natural even lighting is a must, so shoot in front of a large window if you can and avoid using flash at all costs. However shadows may actually be your friend and often play a large part in editorial still-life shoots; from soft shadows cast from the products you are photographing (<a href="https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/555842778989709641/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">example</a>) to deliberate harsh shadows that add extra interest and dimension (<a href="https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/290130400973740112/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">example</a>).  Hopefully I've covered the basics with this post and have given some food for thought when it comes still life blog photography. Let me know your favourite types of photography for your own blog and to see on others? I have a feeling it may be flat lays! Fee xo. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div>

blog photography Blogging Tips Series Photography How To Become Your Own Professional Photography Stylist

One of key elements of blogging is the visual aspect. O f course, not all blog niches focus on it so heavily, but on the whole photography...

How To Blog Happy in 2017

January 03, 2017 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpuh4YoowsKbfsIpg8PwXijVFfwBdIhWBMSuA06ad1WAPMhkabaAy01fUKoeS5-wk1ZbUGDuPDvIeludKtg-2Xv3VqeK-zAn9gqncq854AynkcaS2DQGtygFOaFhJY-8y9ra9dmKVwzU/s1600/blog-tips-2017.JPG" /></div> Right about now most of us will be feeling super inspired and motivated for the year a head. And if you're a blogger that will also mean writing down ideas like crazy whilst throwing yourself straight back into blogging! I know I'm glad to get back into the routine of it. Minus the constant struggle of taking photos in Winter, mind! So with blog post ideas flowing and hopefully a much more positive year ahead, I thought I'd share a few pieces of advice that I plan to put to use straight away on and hopefully you can too for a happy blogging experience in 2017! Be Relatable For me 2017 is the year of relatable blogging! Of course I don't know about anyone else but I personally want everyone that reads my blog to feel they can relate to what I'm putting out there. Whether that's only reviewing/featuring low cost body moisturisers, because I don't know a single person that spends more than �10 on one. Or sharing a few personal posts on overcoming anxiety and dealing with hair loss. Basically I want my blog posts to be relaxed but informative and most importantly relatable! But Most Importantly Be You  Carrying on from my above point I think it's so so important to stay true to who you are in life, which if you are a blogger should also carry on through to your blog. I've always believed that a blog is your own piece of the internet to do with as you wish with. So if that means your more into cooking than beauty products right now, then blog about it! Make it a part of your blog... because why not! For me this means blogging possibly about self care, books and of course makeup, because I'm still in love with it! Be Realistic  Whether you blog as a hobby or as a way to make an income I think it's important to be realistic in what you want to achieve and how you go about doing it. The more you blog isn't essentially the way to gain readers, so starting 2017 with the plan to daily blog may end in a lack of quality content and a feeling of being burnt out! This also goes for social media, the more time you spend on it doesn't necessarily equate to better stats or more followers. Of course as a blogger you have a passion for creating, but it's about respecting that passion as well as yourself. So make 2017 a year of balance! No crazy set rules or feeling you need to be doing what everyone else is doing. Just work at your own pace and enjoy it! Be Inspired But Don't Compare  "Comparison is the thief of joy" from Theodore Roosevelt, is one of my most favourite quotes. In this modern age comparison seems to have seeped into everything, I mean is it truly normal to compare your own eyebrows to someone elses? However being aware that comparison truly is the thief of joy and will only serve to make you unhappy if the first step to stopping the mental comparison your brain has got into the habit of doing! This of course relates to blogging as it's so easy to compare a fellow bloggers success or even rate of success to what you will think is a lack of your own. This can easily rob you of motivation, even when you think comparison is the only way to achieve it, leaving you feeling lacklustre and demotivated. My personal way to avoid comparing my blog to anyone else's is to be inspired instead. In fact I have a secret board for this on Pinterest where I pin blogs I love and blog posts that have impressed and inspired me. This isn't often directly taken as inspiration for my own blog but to just enjoy others work without comparison... and it works! I feel good about my own blog and love seeing other blogs doing amazing things as well.  If you're a fellow blogger then I hope my four tips have been helpful and can help you blog happy, as I like to put it, in 2017!  Fee xo.

blog tips Blogging Tips Series How To Blog Happy in 2017

Right about now most of us will be feeling super inspired and mo tivated for the year a head . And if you're a blogger that will also...

Important Things I've Learnt in 6 Years of Blogging

December 05, 2016 0

<img alt="Thoughts-on-beauty-blogging" height="1033" src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/6/5667/31381574966_0a38102d5d_o.jpg" width="700" /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script> In three months time Makeup Savvy, my little blog I thought I'd write for a year, will be turning 6! It's something I can't quite believe, not only has the time flown but I'm pretty happy with my little section of the internet that I've managed to still keep fairly relaxed and not full on profess even though it's taken me to a full on career!  <div style="text-align: left;"> In these 6 years I've learnt so so much about blogging that I feel I could write an e-book on it (don't worry I won't.. it would be way too boring!). So today while I'm pondering how these 6 years have flown I thought I'd sit down at my laptop for my 1,749th post and share with you some valuable things I've learnt in that time.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITNBPzc11GHJau9vNhu1271zZ9jkqin1GLCmo03yFpRX7QaUbUSX6hsccW_bfGNNxEmnwtUhg1TwFlDa63jMMoRXZdm09RWKlkVyHRzz4BLHFa4lvQMd78PY3W2TUGPXLEgUErMNkmiQ/s1600/12.jpg" /></div> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Writing valuable posts are the best kind of posts  Writing a makeup blog is never going to be life changing stuff 99% of the time and I like that. In a world were a lot of awful things happen, my blog besides many others, offers a light read whether I'm sharing my favourite nude lipsticks (side note - updated post to come soon) or I'm talking what I found on eBay for the 90th time. But sometimes it's good to be valuable and write about something that will help people. For me that has been blog posts I wrote on going SLS-free, which are some of the most read posts read by people seeking out better options for their skin or trying to resolve health problems. Also my personal post on <a href="http://www.makeupsavvy.co.uk/2014/07/an-honest-post-about-anxiety-plus-5.html" target="_blank">my experience with anxiety</a> was well received and I still get emails to this day from readers that feel like they can relate or want some advise! These are the kinds of posts I'm talking about that stand out in my mind not because of page views or how well they sit in Google but because they offer value and go beyond being a quick read on a lunch break. I hope 2017 and my 6th year of blogging can provide more content that I'm proud of! Your blog can grow and change with you  Having your blog for a long period of time, in my case 6 years, means that your style, interests and likes will most likely change and the amazing thing about having a blog is that it's truly your own little space of the internet to do as you wish with. Over the last year I've created less nail posts (because I lost the bug for nail art) but more blog tip posts and you've all been fine with it! Same with blog designs, they are all becoming much more sophisticated and while my blog is still looking a little old school I know that when I decided to take the plunge and up my blog design game it's something people will understand and embrace. If you've stoppped blogging because your tastes have changed or you want to take it in a new direction bite the bullet and do it! </div><div style="text-align: left;">Google Guidelines are a bitch  Over the years I've tried to get my head round SEO (I still haven't) and when I think I'm just about getting it, Google go and update their algorithm. This is generally to improve the effciency of user experience and doesn't help blogger or website owners one little bit. The most major set back for a lot of bloggers that isn't often talked about is the banning of follow links in paid for posts. I get the reason for the change in rules but this has totally changed that revenue stream for a lot of bloggers I know, including myself and there just isn't a work again. Well there is, only accept no-follow links, but the problem is it's often not worth it for brands and they either go to the largest blogs now or look for their content/promotion to be shared by bloggers for free or a very small amount. Google guidelines will forever change and I will always with be nervous when they do! </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Blogging can change your life!  Lastly I just wanted to say how amazing blogging can be! It really has changed my life in that I'm now self employed due to how my blog has grown over the years and that is so freeing especially for a person that isn't in the least bit conventional and couldn't hack a 9-5! It's also made me embrace my creative side from setting up photography shots in new ways to brainstorming blog post ideas; I'll never get bored or tired of those things! Blogging has also been a wonderful consistent thing in my life that grows with me and something I can be proud of. Blogging really has changed my life for the better! If you are considering starting a blog or have blogged then stopped for whatever reason then I urge you just to do it. There is space for everyone on the internet and the personal reward from blogging can be amazing over time, from new friendships to unleashing your creative side and even career prospects. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3wAvkNrREX35-aJBz-iOpMrFPSgSCe4O5J5ZySoDtodUIJym9Y3zA16oCgenO16W7ctOdYyKTL239dVXwCf-A8-pbUdT5cSDCM2bNqtSBx0LuLv4C1zS5HEtI-apxwBQv_OnPfuxu8uM/s1600/12.jpg" /></div> If you've enjoyed reading my blog in the last 6 years then really from the bottom of my heart -  Thank You! It really does mean a lot.  Fee xo. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div>

blog tips Blogging Blogging Tips Series Important Things I've Learnt in 6 Years of Blogging

In three months time Makeup Savvy, my little blog I thought I'd write for a year, will be turning 6! It's something I can't qu...

A No-BS Guide To Making Money As A Blogger

September 26, 2016 0

<div style="text-align: justify;"><img alt="Guide-to-making-money-as-a-beauty-blogger" height="800" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/9/8041/29427194761_80cf203a9c_o.jpg" width="600" /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><h3>This post has been in the pipeline for some time, I've had it part wrote for weeks now. But in light of Mode Media declaring bankruptcy and knowing thousands of bloggers will ultimately go unpaid (including myself!) along with losing an income stream, I was motivated to get this post wrote!</h3> Side note - I'm presuming you're a blogger if you are reading and know about the news surrounding Mode Media (Hayley at London Beauty Queen has an<a href="http://www.londonbeautyqueen.com/2016/09/mode-media-what-happens-next-safe.html" target="_blank"> in-depth post</a> all about it). This post really is aimed at bloggers already seeking ways of making money from blogging which means there is some more in-depth info here and I won't be explaining the basics such as how affiliate marketing works etc. __________________________________  Recently I've been trying to up my game as a blogger. This has meant endless scouring of Pinterest for informative blog posts and motivation stuffs if you will. But the thing is... I kinda feel "How I make $50,000 per month as a blogger" and "How to Become a Six-Figure Blogger within a Year" type blog posts just aren't that helpful. Motivational? yes, Actual info to help to get there? no. You see unless you want to be an all singing all dancing blogger that branches out into coaching, e-book writing or event talking or you're one of the lucky select few that started back in the day and are now part of the main talent agency in the UK (you know the one!). Then it's actually pretty damn hard to make a full-time wage from blogging, though it is doable! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">So I decided to do the opposite of all the blog posts I've been reading recently and give you a no BS, no-nonsense yet fairly simple guide on how to make money as blogger. Whether you're only just starting out or you're looking to increase your income, especially if you've been let down my Mode Media, I hope this post can help.   </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sponsored Content  Sponsored posts are a great way to boost your yearly income as a blogger. Yes, you need to be careful not to annoy your readers by over doing them or blogging about cheese when you're a beauty blogger (just an example, I hope no one has!) but done correctly you can produce interesting content whilst making a good amount of money. If you are lucky enough to contacted by a company and then work with them on sponsored content make sure to keep that relationship going - offer your stats on that post, let them know if it goes a bit viral 6 months on etc. It's just a good way to say - I'm still here!  As for how much you can earn from sponsored content it really is based on your reach/page views and the amount of work you will be doing for them. Even if you class yourself as a small time blogger and don't do it full time, never accept anything less than �100 - ever! For the average blogger �200-500 is the norm, however if you can build up your monthly pageviews then you really can earn quite a bit more.  I've personally found since the change in Google's rules in which paid for content cannot contains follow links (they most be no-follow) there has been a drop is sponsored content and it's not something I can rely on as a monthly income. It's still an income stream for me but it now makes up 25% of my income compared to 50-60% in 2014/15. Key tips to take away <ul><li>Know your worth</li><li>Keep your integrity</li><li>Always request a purchase order (PO) number to secure and track payments more easily. In the rare case of non-payment the purchase order can be used as a legal document. </li></ul></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Affiliate Marketing  I often think affiliate marketing is over looked especially by beauty bloggers, which is a shame because it's something that can become a good passive income and not require too much work other than blogging consistantly and recommending products you love!  My main tip here to maximise monthly income is to join as many related affiliate programs as you can so that all the products you talk about and love, earn you at least something, be it a few pence sometimes! The main affiliate programs that work for me are - <a href="http://skimlinks.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Skimlinks</a>, <a href="https://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=3&id=246295" target="_blank">Affiliate Window</a>, <a href="http://marketing.rakuten.com/affiliate-marketing" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rakuten</a> and <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon</a>,  but there are so many more and to find them I often visit the product website on the products I want to mention and find the affiliate details/link in the footer.  Wish list and round-up product posts always do well. However honest in-depth reviews shouldn't be overlooked! Also if you do well with a certain brands you can sometimes negotiate a higher commission rate with the affiliate program or you could consider including a display ad of your highest earning brand in the sidebar of your blog which will bring you extra affiliate revenue. Key tips to take away <ul><li>Be consistent</li><li>Join multiple affiliate programs (it all adds up!)</li><li>Only features products you love/believe in!</li><li> Update out of date links and naturally place links in posts that receive the most traffic </li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ad Agencies  Ahhh, now onto the sticky topic of ad agencies that take a cut of what you earn but take the the effort and negotiation out of the equation. But who can we really trust?! Often ad agencies come with rules (example - no other outside ads above the fold) and make themselves more appealing than they actually are, in terms of how often ads will be served on your page (it's never 100% of the time but more like 30-40%) and how much they pay per CPM. I currently don't feel I can recommend any ad agencies as I haven't trialled any other the Mode Media. However I would suggest to proceed with caution, always opt to trial ads out for a month first and never solely rely on it as your main source of income. Key tips to take away    <ul><li>Make sure the ads aren't intrusive and Google-friendly (no-mobile pop-ups!)</li><li> Don't solely rely on one income, have other revenue streams</li><li>Backfill ads with another ad agency or Adsense to aim to have ads showing 100% of the time, making the most you can for each ad space. </li></ul></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Goodle Adsense  If you are looking for a totally reliable way of making money through ads then look no further than Google Adsense. Adsense is often the first thing bloggers put on their page and then with a small amount of pageviews feel it's not for them due to their low revenue. However building on pageviews definitely increases ad revenue and with the correct placement and ad sizes you can really maximise earnings. It always a good idea to place your largest ads above the fold and include individual ads into the html of your most popular posts/posts. I personally know a few people that earn a full time wage just through Adsense ads alone. Get placement right and aim to increase your pageviews and this could become a good portion of your income! Key tips to take away <ul><li>Include ads above the fold</li><li>Try different ad sizes monthly to find your most clicked ad size</li><li>Be aware of the guidelines/rules, Google do ban people!  </li></ul></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">These are the 4 key areas in which you can earn money through blogging, however social media sponsorship is becoming much more popular so this may be another area you want consider. There's also the option to seek out private ads with smaller businesses. I'm definitely no expert in this field and my pretty limited knowledge comes from blogging for over 5 years now.  If you do have any questions however feel free to ask them in the comments below and I'll try my best to answer them!  Fee xo. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>

blogger tips Blogging Blogging Tips Series A No-BS Guide To Making Money As A Blogger

This post has been in the pipeline for some time, I've had it part wrote for weeks now. B ut in light of Mode Media declaring bankru p...

10 Internet Tips & Resources You Need To Know About As A Blogger

September 22, 2016 0

<div style="text-align: justify;"><h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4VQkIIYy5ATb_6WpNto2aziyMoUY6GDoHrkcZvHS27a-Jw02orzEk4SjE2K69EFcMSGvfybt4_u4DWs7Mj1evipBqIkDTO1vEeJEI1cAfx4SGDonvUjZIXM4NJ2W8f4bT5t6tHOUVBE/s1600/Blogger-hacks-and-resources-tips.JPG" /></div></h3><h3>Oh, I do enjoy a good internet hack, whether it's a keyboard shortcut that will make my life easier or a program that helps my blogging process. So today I thought I'd rack my brain for all the clever hacks that have helped me along the way as a blogger.</h3><h3>Hopefully you can find something here that will help you as well! </h3> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">1. Find out what's been pinned to Pinterest from your blog by going to -  https://uk.pinterest.com/source/yourblognamehere.co.uk/</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">2. Create a simple blogger-friendly dashboard on Google Analytics in seconds. More details <a href="http://www.makeupsavvy.co.uk/2016/09/an-insanely-clever-solution-if-google.html" target="_blank">here</a>  </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">3. Keep handy virtual post-it notes on your desktop with <a href="http://download.cnet.com/Simple-Sticky-Notes/3000-2351_4-10864689.html" target="_blank">Sticky Notes</a> - my fav! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">4. Stuck for what to blog about? Use this clever <a href="http://www.hubspot.com/blog-topic-generator" target="_blank">blog topic generator</a> - trust me, it's fun to try out! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">5. Turn any image (possibly for a media kit or invoice) into a PDF in seconds by uploading it to <a href="https://www.canva.com/" target="_blank">Canva</a> and saving it as a PDF </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">6. Create a one-word keyboard shortcut for Instagram for all the hashtags you want to use. Full tutorial <a href="http://www.thecitysidewalks.com/blog/instagram-shortcuts" target="_blank">here</a> (this will save you soooo much time!)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">7. Sharing a blog post link from your phone? Remember to remove "?m=1" after .html or it will appear as the mobile version on desktops otherwise</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">8. Create instant cool-looking quote images for your blog and social media with <a href="http://recite.com/" target="_blank">Recite</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">9. Want text to stand out in a blog post? Make sure to create a sub-header instead of bold and add key words to help SEO </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">10. Don't own Photoshop but want to remove image backgrounds? Try <a href="https://clippingmagic.com/" target="_blank">Clipping Magic</a> Bonus Hack - I had to mention this amazing free website called <a href="http://peek.usertesting.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Peek</a> (not sponsored, don't worry!) that I recently discovered. If you want some honest feedback about how user friendly your blog is then you simple enter your website address and a REAL PERSON will create a video with a voice over, reviewing your site as they navigate it. I suggested this to my blogging friend Andrew over at <a href="http://www.beautyandtheboy.com/" target="_blank">Beauty and The Boy</a>, so if you want to see exactly what I'm going on about you can view his <a href="http://peek.usertesting.com/result/33751200922652" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">feedback video here</a> before submitting your own blog - it's pretty cool if you ask me!  Found anything that you think will be like magic dust to you? Let me know!  Also if you have any hacks or website suggestions for me I'd love to hear them in the comments.  Fee xo.    </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div>

blog tips Blogging Tips Series SEO 10 Internet Tips & Resources You Need To Know About As A Blogger

Oh, I do enjoy a good internet hack, whether it's a keyboard shortcut that will make my life easier or a program that helps my blogging ...

How To Reignite Old Content to Seriously Increase Pageviews

September 14, 2016 0

<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUbQRlHAThfiq9SBpMVn0nKwcrWHVCb-1yrX5-GfVlasE6TcPfl3HydhHMS58j0chLwNgF5uXOVixIq_zAkEXeABXiBlXHfqLNpitxofFLFMf6wVpLxCFZF_stEtuiWHS7pCZxaljAzD4/s1600/update-old-blog-posts-how-to.JPG" /></div> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><h2>With an increase in page views recently (thanks, Pinterest!) my thoughts have turned to how I can grow on this via Pinterest and other sources. My 6- month goal is to increase my monthly page views by a pretty huge 50,000 and right now I'm feeling confident about it!</h2></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Alongside A LOT of other stuff I'm currently doing to help my blog gain readers, I'm slowly updating old content that still gains traffic or posts I think I can jazz up and re-promote! Below I've detailed exactly what I've been doing to reignite my old content. Plus the great thing about it, is everyone with a blog older than a year can follow these steps and have success with them! P.S. Brace yourself... it's a long one (I promise updating old blog posts won't take this long!) </div><h2 style="text-align: left;">First of all... Why Update Old Content? </h2><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"> This is pretty obvious, but I still think it's worth going over!  More than likely you have a whole back catalogue of interesting posts that aren't being discovered anymore. So re-vamping them and then re-promoting, especially via Pinterest can really give content a new lease of life and bring more pageviews and new readers to your blog! Refreshing old content that may have been wrote when you weren't as savvy at blogging also helps with SEO, so there will be a better chance your old content will appear higher in search engine results - again resulting in more pageviews!  The aim really is to update as much of your old content as you can (I'm currently aiming to freshen up 4 blog posts per month). The reason for this is not all of your updated content will see an increase in pageviews, however there may be a golden few that get rediscovered on Pinterest and seriously increase your traffic! Trust me, a single viral pin can send tens of thousands of pageviews your way - monthly!  <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbquKFBSrDyu1QIHmynnYPYKfXVsBraxflP0GHXkGHq6-MaoKQhYmemYlAMVSaUUIFjZep7Ut2CCRcbx7x1pSMf4YjgLkLn2Uzzi6YrDul6JEphS6AG9EA8w7vieBP9gAdkaoycsJAZ4/s1600/DSC_0150.JPG" /></div>  </div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Find Your Most Read Blog Posts + Seasonal Posts</h2><div style="text-align: left;">I personally like to start with finding 10 of my most read blog posts that are over a year old and are looking a little lack luster. To find these you can use your own blog dashboard analytics (statistics especially on Blogger aren't reliable however it's good enough for this purpose) or Google Analytics. To do this on Google Analytics you want to find the 'Behaviour' section in the sidebar menu, then 'Site Content' and 'All pages'. Then change the date range to when you first started your blog to around a year ago. This will bring up your most popular content and from that you can write a list of the blog posts you want to re-work.  I also like to write down a few seasonal posts while I'm at it, for example right now I would find popular autumn themed posts to rework so that I can link that content in newer content. Plus it's more likely to be popular on Pinterest right now rather than if I tried to re-promote it in spring! Are you still with me? Good! Hopefully this isn't too dull! <h2>Run the Title through Headline Analyzer  </h2>So you have you're first old blog post infront of you so it makes sense to start at the top and look at making the title more attention grabbing (for Pinterent) and SEO friendly (for Google). My favourite way to do this is first run the blog post title through a Blog Post <a href="http://coschedule.com/headline-analyzer" target="_blank">Headline Analyzer</a> to see how it scores and how it can be re-worded (I could go into detail here but you will see exactly what it does once you try it - it's such a fab free resource!). I also like to do a quick search on Pinterest for similar content to my blog post and look at the titles that have the most pins, generally they will have awesome attention grabbing and emotive titles. I also find headlines that start with 'How to' or numbers (so list style posts) to always do well!   </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjKhUokTQzpFagwj5Uhh6RbqGsGuIblQ3CHW6AJjTLpGnIlopqd5A1U7dROFfM5OVoNYJzyj4xWkzORcuyMOOK9peC2rQwfb7td1ZT348_mFSBN5wMDAFtUeszUWlOjasiW2O6rq4NSPY/s1600/Updating-old-blog-post-images.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h2>Create a Pinterest-friendly Main Image  </h2>If you're a photography geek like me then this may be the funnest part. I love using what I know now and totally revamping old blog post images, because this is such an important factor if you are wanting your post to do well on Pinterest. Yes, I keep on bringing Pinterest up, but you can't underestimate the platform - it can seriously bring you a lot of monthly traffic if you get it right! Here you want to create good quality images with your blog post title overlayed over the image, as this will grab attention both on Pinterest and Google Image Search.  To omtimize images for Pinterest then aim for it to vertical and long, Pinterest recommend 735px x adjusted to height (I generally go for 600 x 900-1200 px) so basically the longer the  better as it takes up more real estate on Pinterest. So do this, unless you have the original pictures from your old blog post (kinda' unlike) I take all the relevant images from that post, cropping them if I need to, and save them to a new folder. I then open them up either in <a href="https://www.picmonkey.com/" target="_blank">PicMonkey</a>, <a href="https://www.canva.com/" target="_blank">Canva</a> or <a href="http://download.cnet.com/PhotoScape/3000-2192_4-10703122.html" target="_blank">Photoscape</a> (all free to use!) and move them around until I create my new Pinterest-friendly image! If back in the day your images were fairly small then creating white space inbetween them and placing text there will create a bigger overall image - as you can see I've done this in the example above.  If the post you are refreshing went viral at some stage and still gets traffic but the images just aren't upto scratch then re-taking them is a good idea! I wouldn't recommend spending that amount of time on all old content as it would take forever but on content that you hope to really reignite it's time well spent! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78dC9Jp5Xw1ftQA4tGy_OD_1vGIMQS-FBOjeXlc4zh4WtqBQ3IyOJuQC0X4s3H0yPwyZmBSdtHyHGqIehYTqamrjpazzQsypb7XGq9Jk00nLik5VAsfmGbYqRIe_PGD8vruKGX-i0lsc/s1600/how-to-create-images-for-pinterest.jpg" /></div><h2>Freshen up that Copy</h2>This is pretty self-explanatory! You want to check over your grammar and spelling and tighten up that copy. You may want to add sub headers, create shorter paragraphs and make it all round more reader friendly. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><h2>Add More Content </h2>Did you know that Google actually likes longer content? So if it's a post that's providing information, such as a guide/tutorial or even a review then you may want to add to it. Even consider adding an update, first stating the month and year and then the relevant information that readers might find helpful to know. Even if it's just to say you are still using X product or method and anything further advise you have.  <div style="text-align: left;"> </div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Correct & Add Valuable Links </h2><div style="text-align: left;">Often old posts will contain dead links and that's pretty rubbish for the person that reads your old post and clicks the link. So make sure to check all links and correct them. Also adding links to outside sources that are relevant helps with SEO and affiliate links (if you use them) is a good idea... I mean what if it went viral! </div></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><h2>Link to Related Blog Posts </h2>If your updated post were to become popular through Pinterest then you want to keep readers on your blog for as long as possible (that's what 'bounce rate' is!). Ideally this is through linking to relevant posts in your main body of text in a natural way. But if you can't make links fit naturally then a simple 'Related' or 'Here are a few posts you might like' at the bottom of the blog post with 2-4 links will do.  </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><h2>Do a Final Tidy </h2>Once you are done, have a quick read over the post to double check you haven't missed anything. You may also want to add tags/labels to your post and alt-tag images.  </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><h2>Re-Pin it/Tweet/Facebook it! </h2>Yes! It's finally time to re-promote the post! Tweeting it and adding it to Facebook and maybe stating you've updated it is a easy and quick step. As for Pinterest, pin your main image to your most relevant board and any suitable group boards you may be a part of.    </div><div style="text-align: left;"><h2>Link to said post in your New/Upcoming Content</h2>Over the coming weeks and months be aware of the content you've newly updated and where you can, link to them posts is new content. This will be a sure fire way to guide readers to your amazing updated content and you never know they may even pin it! Side note - That really should have been a section on it's own... but make sure all blog posts can be socially shared and images can be pinned when you hover over them - so important!  </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><h2>Re-Pin a few Weeks Later </h2>You know when Pinterest goes "Psst! You've already saved this pin to..."? when you try to pin an image twice. Ignore it! Re-pinning your own images to a different board (even the same board if you have enough content) is totally fine and actually makes sense. New followers won't have seen it and it increases the chance of it being pinned. You can also re-pin it to more group boards, just makes sure you're aware of the rules and it's a relevant subject. Even pin more images from renewed content as long as the images are 'Pinterest worthy'!    <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9CxcR0ur1Ugbsi6OobzmUScvgc0I2dA3ko7lKXfF-CMcA0RJWMCIuURL1atV_HON2oqlfOhMDpOyqD64G3uzBd9sdOtptfYJbWNeC6_E2helmnDhJGoyLbkyF-h2GY4dV2Yy7mskymU/s1600/Stop+Wishing+Start+Doing.jpg" /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Things To Avoid </h2><div style="text-align: left;"><h3>Never Duplicate Content </h3>Duplicating content and re-posting it isn't good for SEO and should be avoided! Yes, do an update post or write an entirely new post on the same subject but never take from an old blog post to create 'new' content'. The same thing goes for deleting old posts - update, yes, but never delete!  </div><div style="text-align: left;"><h3>Don't Over Market Old Posts </h3>Ever clicked on a link from a blogger on Twitter or Facebook only to find out it's 4 years old and the offer or 'news' is irrelevant? It's annoying! So don't be that person. Avoid promoting time-sensitive content and don't over promote your updated content like it's a new post.     <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3iJ1aZwh_c1lKoIUWUQ8gQTSII9nq5fASqGSgQW4Z4AJ1gB61-vX1szJ1-QiM3f-GtYABkw6j9259Xu0_zJdvjyMZhCxujkH_XR7EXbypgzIq8CQy1QkLF6eJejIqNukowovR7pImVFw/s1600/DSC_0143.JPG" /></div> <h2 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://app.box.com/s/cdnmgm6se73u187gs9pqf4f4qnqyiy8d" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Free Blog Content Refresh Checklist (download link)</a></h2><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">As this is a lot of information and there are a lot of steps to take when updating an old post (it should only take around an hour, mind) I thought I'd come up with a free printable checklist! The printable also acts as a tracker as you can note down the date and current pageviews when you update the content, then check against it in 6-12 months time to work out how many new page views you've recieved since the update! </div><h2> </h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://app.box.com/s/cdnmgm6se73u187gs9pqf4f4qnqyiy8d" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img alt="https://app.box.com/s/cdnmgm6se73u187gs9pqf4f4qnqyiy8d" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_i5CXhELxUTSkzYZ9dw0pUuikO5kXc86Ly_ITyuz0o43bqPe13n2jc-ShC9OEBGmkgjsDevyRVWhJ1jcG_PlOssjlyKnyzpDtB3_nMdSZk-gO4vs0iQKII_7pum46VKvK0PydlP-MGkg/s1600/free+checklist+resized.png" /></a></div> Really hope you have found this more in-depth post helpful. Let me know how you get on updating your old blog posts!  Fee xo.     </div>

blog tips Blogging Blogging Tips Series How To Reignite Old Content to Seriously Increase Pageviews

With a n increase in page views recently (thanks, Pinterest!) my thoughts have turned to how I can grow on this via Pinterest and other sou...