Starting a blog isn't the easiest thing to do, it requires a lot of time and effort which some may find surprising. To a lot, the idea of being a blogger is merely a shrug off the shoulder as many think bloggers have it easy, they take pretty pictures, write reviews and get invited to neat things. Well, there's a lot more to that and I can speak off of experience, as I've been blogging for five years now. Blogging is like having another job - sometimes, it even feels like a full time job. Anyone can set up a domain, slab on a theme, take a photo on their iPhone and write a minuscule review... but in order to make it into the blogging industry, a little more time and effort is going to have to be put forward.
Step one is finding the right platform and host for your website. Once you figure out whether you want to go with Wordpress or Blogger (or another choice), you're going to want to take a look at your hosting options. How much are you willing to spend? Do you want your own personal email address? How much storage do you need? Hosts such as Bluehost and Namecheap are commonly used amongst Blogger, however if you continue searching, you'll find the perfect one that delivers exactly what you need.
Once your main platform is all set up, then the real fun begins! If you're serious about your blog and want to know more about beauty blogging, I've broken down a few important things that ever beginner should know.
Content: When it comes to creating and writing your content, my motto is that honesty is the best policy. Keep it real with your readers and don't lie because I can guarantee you that your readers will be able to detect it. There is no rule to writing on your own blog, just do whatever works for you because at the end of the day, that is what's going to get your far.
Photos: A lot of individuals think that in order to start a blog, you need to have a professional camera. While having a professional camera does help as it allows you to take clear, concise and crisp photos - you can easily use your smart phone. The key to photos is having great lighting and I can't stress this enough. You can take the nicest photos if your lighting is great. I personally tend to use natural light when it comes to my blog, however on days where it's gloomy outside I miss out on a day of taking photos. Investing in a light box or some proper studio lights will also do you well if you have the funds for it.
Opportunities: Bloggers work very hard to create a clientele list with PR firms and personnels. For some, it takes several years and hundreds of reviews and for others; it takes less time as it all depends on your statistics and social media presence. However, if you've just recently started a blog and are keen on getting in on opportunities, my suggestion would be to wait and just simply focus on your website. Opportunities will come to you once the time is right and driving yourself up the wall isn't going to help you or your blog get anywhere. Also, emailing other bloggers and asking them if they could help you get in on mailing lists isn't the best idea either. I've been on the other side of the end receiving an email from a stranger asking to get in on everything and I know for a fact that other bloggers have been in this position as well. While we love helping each other out, leaking sources just isn't the line you want to cross. Let me put it this way, if you were in a bloggers position where you've been working extremely hard on your blog, posting as much as 4-5 times a week, putting time aside specifically for taking photos and reviewing products and then out of no where you were asked to give out your sources, how would you feel? It's really not the greatest feeling, at all.
Network: I think this was a given as everyone knows how important social media is in our lives. Be active on all social networks, comment on other blogs, join blogger groups on Facebook and take part in websites that work with bloggers such as Bloglovin'. The more you put yourself out there, the better it'll be for your blog.
Last but not least, the most important thing to remember while blogging is to never compare yourself to others. I know it's a difficult thing and it's something that everyone struggles with. However, paying attention to another person and how they are doing their work will only have you becoming obsessed with their work ethic rather than building yours.