5 Blog Boosters : Growing Your Blog and Brand

August 2, 2012

I started this blog a few years ago with a clear goal in mind of where I wanted it to be, but with no idea how to get there. It has been a learning process to fine tune the content I wanted to share, establish a brand, and create a space where I loved to keep coming back to design and lifestyle inspiration. It is still a work in progress! I get emails often asking similar questions about growing your blog, so I hope these tips I learned along the way will help you in your blog experience too!

1. QUALITY OVER QUANTITY – This point is two fold. It is SO important to focus on the quality of your content AND the quality of your readers. I think often the focus is on numbers, and bloggers seek to grow their numbers quick and easy, when in fact what will grow your blog naturally is creating good content. Also think about what type of followers you would like to have. You would much rather have readers who come to your blog because they actually enjoy the content, because those will be the readers who support your work and engage in your content.

You can build a strong readership base when you find your niche and consistently work your personal style into your posts. Whether you are a fashion blogger, DIY- er, lifestyle, foodie, interiors, or even just a personal blogger, it will make such a monumental difference when you offer your bery own unique consistent style throughout your posts. (More on establishing your niche later!) When I first started out I was more of a curation blogger – sharing inspiration and design through other’s work and images. I decided to really start growing the blog, I needed to be a source of inspiration and creativity. This challenged me to use the skills I have and put them to good use. My blog took a big turn after that, and started to grow significantly. So, start thinking about what your strong points are and do more of it! You may be a brilliant writer – write more on topics that are current and relevant to you and your readers. You may love to travel – invest in a good camera to capture and log your adventures. Ultimately, find your voice and run with it!

2. CLEAN AND CLEAR BLOG DESIGN – I don’t know about you, but I find it so refreshing to visit a blog that easy to navigate, isn’t too cluttered, and is visually pleasing. Keep it simple, and establish your brand or blog feel through your design. It doesn’t take much! If you don’t feel comfortable designing your brand, or don’t have the programs to do so, it will be worth your dollar to hire help and establish your look and feel that best represents your blog space. (I highly recommend Blog Milk or FabulousK for blogger based blogs.) I did design my own space, but I had to do a lot of my own research for html coding. I am a graphic designer, and not an expert coder, so it was a learning process! Pugly Pixel has some fantastic tutorials and free downloads if you aren’t yet familiar! Take a look at some of my favorites for beautiful blog examples, such as: Hooray Blog, Fifteen24, DesignLoveFest, Creature Comforts, Oh Hello Friend, A Daily Something, etc. and notice how they successfully transmit their style through their design AND their content.

3. NOTEWORTHY PHOTOGRAPHY – If you want your content to stick and be noticed, good photography is almost as important as the content. For instance, when Tiffany shares a recipe, you can guaranty the photos will do the recipe justice. This is why I am much more likely to pin her post to pinterest to share with others, or mention it in a Friday link up. Wouldn’t you agree that you gravitate towards the blogs that have great imagery to go along with their content? When Design*Sponge accepted my DIY to feature, guess what the main request was? You got it. Great photos.

You don’t have to have an expensive camera to create amazing photos. Just make sure you use a lot of natural light, an attractive set up, and an element of your own personal touch to make it work. There are so many great tips for photography available on the web. Hands down, A Beautiful Mess is an incredible resource for further tips.

4. NETWORK – Depending on your type of blog, its so important to network in ways that will build not only good readership, but a good community of support. I have rarely advertised my blog since starting, but I have been consistent in networking. Be accessible. I would find it so refreshing when a favorite blogger would take the time to respond to your comments or visit your blog. Blogging is not a one sided relationship. My goal is to treat my readers like friendships – responding to their questions, answering their emails, and whenever I have extra time, visit their own blogs. Not everyone is able to do this, or even has the desire to, but I can tell you the bloggers I have kept up with over the years are those who have made an effort to communicate with their readers.

When you do advertise, make sure it is on a blog that is relevant to your content. When I have advertised it was helpful to work with bloggers who were drawing the same type of readership base!
Also consider button swapping! I have swapped ad spots throughout blogging with other bloggers who have about the same amount of readership base. Its a win win! There are different ways to network, but social media is a key factor, which brings me to my next point.

5. SOCIAL MEDIA – Its a love/hate relationship. As you remember from my Over Socialed post, I make a lot of effort not to spend too much time on social media. There can definately be too much of a good thing. You can easily go overboard, and you don’t want to be a feed clogger. Too much updating can turn people away. However, for the most part, I tribute, facebook, twitter, and pinterest as the main sources traffic for IHOD. Its a great way to access people in their free time, since often times those are the outlets you turn too when you have ten minutes here or there. I myself will find myself clicking over and visiting new blogs and old favorites alike through these sites. Even just sharing your posts on your facebook page will boost your visits each day. IFB has some great tips on social media for you to check out!

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And a little inspiration to close today’s lesson;)

Stay tuned for more blog tips coming up in the next few weeks!

Hope this is a help to you!

Love, Anna

Ode to Summer – Part 1

August 1, 2012

Gabe went back to work today which means his summer vacation is over. I say summer isn’t over till Labor Day, but in many ways the best parts of summer have come to an end for us. We loved having him home, traveling, and creating our own adventures. These are just a few of summer’s best moments…

{Father’s Day Surprise.}

{Market Finds}

{High School bestie visit}

{Veronica and her sunnies.}

{The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.}

{Sisters and Spouses.}

{Cousins.}

{Best of friends.}

{Father – daughter time.}

{The entire fam + husbands and children.}

{Re-celebrating birthdays with Maria. Our birthdays are a day apart!}

And many more that I will save for another day:)

And now you see why its hard to part with such a summer.

I am sure you can relate!

*More summer moments on instagram.

P.S. How incredible was the Women’s Gymnastics last night?! I get so nervous/excited about it all. My favorite event:) Cheers to the Fab 5!

True Beauty Files: Top Knots and Stripes

July 30, 2012

{Top: c/o Conversation Pieces, Denim: ON, Sandals: c/o Windsor Store, Necklaces: DIY, Bracelets: gift, c/o Loren Hope, Shades: Urban Outfitters}

The kind of summer weekends that you live for…

…making no plans till Friday,

watching late night movies,

morning porch or patio talk,

lazy afternoons blowing bubbles, and running the sprinklers,

shopping with a friend,

pool side basking,

catching up with family over brunch,

Olympics,

evening run with Gabe and the kids,

bedtime stories with the fans on high,

and knowing your husband doesn’t have to go to work the next day….

Only a few of these kinds of weekends left.

How was yours??

The True Beauty Files:

A lookbook for the modern modeste.

“The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It’s the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows & the beauty of a woman only grows with passing years.”

~ Audrey Hepburn

21 Dates of Summer: Dates 9 and 10

July 27, 2012

Summer is slipping through my fingers! This was our last date in St. Louis. We got to go out for dessert with my mom and dad. Since we only see them a few times a year, it was such a treat. I ordered a dessert that was apparently was sized to feed the masses. (I love Cheesecake Factory.) It was so nice to talk with the older and wiser, married for 31 years couple whom we look up to so much.

(Top: c/o Windsore Store, Shorts: H&M)

We have a local antique market that opens only one weekend a month. We love to treasure hunt. Gabe looks for a good pocket knife or an old history book, and I usually hunt for a good furniture piece to fix up. Its awesome to share mutual interests with your spouse, but even when we don’t, its good to get into the practice of seeking and encouraging their interests to grow in friendship. Gabe has done a chivalrous job of doing so in our marriage and I am forever grateful to him for it:)

And some fun links for your weekend!:

I am kind of stoked for the olympics. I go crazy for them. That is why I geeked over this infographic.

Quite possibly the coolest ice cream packaging.

Love discovering new blogs like such.

This totally do-able and super cool DIY serving tray.

These ideas for displaying large scale photos are fantastic.

Frozen Reese’s Peanut Butter Pie. Enough said.

Happy weekend!

P.S. August sponsor spots are almost full! Email me if you would like a sponsor info package:)

DIY: Denim Cargo Vest

July 26, 2012

There are a few denim vests on the market right now that had me convinced I needed this staple in my summer line up (like such). Here is a way you can add one to yours without shelling out the big $!

{This was the inspiration for this DIY: pinterest via Harpar’s Bazaar}

Check your local thrift store for a denim jacket. That is where I found mine!

Supplies:

Denim Jacket

Needle

Thread

Scissors

Instructions:

1. Cut off the sleeves as close to the hem line as possible. (Use sharp fabric scissors)

2. Cut the other end of the sleeve and cuff off at the length you want your pockets.

3. Flip them inside out and sew about 1/4 inch in along the end opposite of the cuff.

4. Flip back outside in and line where you would like the pocket to go. Stitch from the inside of the vest all along the four sides of the pocket. Be careful not to sew through the top part of the pocket. This part may seem daunting, but it was actually pretty easy!

Total time: 20 minutes

Total Cost: $5

{Tote: c/o Windsore Store, Dress: Loft, Necklaces: Macaroy Kangaroo, ebay, Shoes: Steve Madden, Watch: aldo, Bracelet: c/o Loren Hope}

I hope you all enjoy this! Would love to see pics if you give it a go!

Cheers!

Take 3: Dotted and Spotted

July 25, 2012

I thought maybe my polka dot fever would subside, but frankly, it has bubbled over after seeing these J. Crew numbers. Can you believe the cuteness?

Hope this brightens your mid week!

Jewelry Storage and Accessory Organization Part 2

July 24, 2012

As I showed you in in the first accessory organization post, I store my big chunky necklaces in a dish, and scarves on a DIY hanger. The finer ones I hang on a Jewelry Tree Stand (you can find these at Bed Bath and Beyond for $10) to keep them from tangling. I love having other baubles in dishes, which makes for a fun display.