Top Tips from Bloggers Lips - Part 2

I wanted to simply call this post, What I have learnt but realised that I added the part 1 on the previous post and really didn't want to make it confusing for everyone. When I started this, I had no idea I would end up learning so much from it. Not because I am such an expert (because I'm not) but because I didn't believe people would want to get involved with this. I sent the email out to my blogger friends (who featured in my post last week) with an element of reservation. Would they reply? Would they like the idea? but most importantly, would they take part? You see, I have invested a lot of thought into this post and spent a while choosing the people I wanted to take part in it all. If I received any negative responses or disinterest it would have made me feel like I had wasted my time. This is the first thing I learnt through this process...

1. Believe in what you blog about even if others don't! After all, isn't that why we blog. A place to share our thoughts, ideas, inspirations and opinions. Starting my blog has made me more experimental with my clothes, more confident in my writing and has helped me decide to aim for a career in Fashion Journalism. I put this all down to being myself but having an outlet to express it.

2. Find your blog voice (tip from Sartorial Sidelines), Courtney wrote 'my favourites are those that read like a real reflection of the personal style and taste of the blogger behind them...'
I agree with this completely. Although I have already found my voice, I must keep developing it, right? We are all dynamic people with different opinions and outlooks - I really want to try and express what I am interested in a way that no one else has expressed before. Fashion is given a label of being shallow and only for the rich, slim, 'beautiful people'.  Fashion blogs have disproved this. Fashion is for anyone! My blog is on a budget and I am in no way slim. The term beautiful or attractive makes me uncomfortable - who is to determine the beautiful ones from the...not so beautiful...ones. Certainly not me.

3. Copyright your site (tip from Urban Umbrella). This is something I had been unsure of how to do for a while but Bree's tip finally allowed and encouraged me to take the plunge and do it. If you want to re-visit this tip Click Here. It is definitely something worth doing. None of us want our work being stolen!

4. 'Increase traffic by joining sites such as lookbook, chictopia, pinterest, polyvore etc.' (tip from Joyful Outfits). Most of us have a Twitter and Facebook account but I really think that Lookbook is time well spent for those of us who like to post our outfits or explore other peoples. *Opens new tab and signs up to LOOKBOOK*

5.  Vary photos for outfit posts. Maiken advised 'When doing an outfit post I think it's not necessary to add too many photos which actually look mostly the same.' This is something I agree with although I tend to see a lot of people post dozens of pictures that have the slightest changes between them. I wondered whether I was missing this point. It almost felt like playing that game, now what's it called...Ah! Yes, Spot the difference. It is like playing a good'ol game of Spot the difference. When I studied photography we were always taught to pick our best photos; the weaker ones bring the whole collection down. Part of being a good photographer is looking through your contact sheet and making tough decisions. I now certainly believe it applies to the pictures we post on our blogs - we are the editing chiefs after all!

6. Keeping an inspiration journal for your blog (tip from Dela Chic). Christine suggested this because, '...you never know when an idea pops up in your head.' This has to be one that I took from the moment I first read my email responses. The other tips came to me over time but as soon as I read this I knew it was something I needed to do...ASAP. I went straight up to my bedroom, searched through my birthday presents and pulled out a notebook my friend Sophie gave me a few weeks back. My journal is quickly filling up with exciting, new ideas!

So, what is your favourite tip I have mentioned?? Maybe you have more than one. Please let me know on the comment form below!

As always, thank-you for reading! (All pictures, drawings and images used in this post were taken and created by me - not something I am used to playing around with so opinions on them will also be extremely welcomed!)