Since a new year has started, that means that we need to celebrate!
Why you ask?
Well that is because my little blog just turned 3!
Happy Blogiversary Being Mrs. Fowler!!
It is crazy to think that I have been able to call this little corner of the internet my own for three whole years. It has a been a crazy journey full of highs and lows but one thing has remained constant. I love the journey.
Starting my blog was a long time coming. I can’t tell you how many times I actually sat down and attempted to write my first post. But one night, New Years Eve to be exact, I was up late, not able to sleep, and I took the plunge. That very first post went live on New Years Day of 2016 and the rest is history. While I had every intention of my blog being mostly about fashion, with the occasional lifestyle post or DIY thrown in, that quickly changed because two weeks after starting this journey I found out I was pregnant with Vivi. Due to the fact that I was always tired and super sick, my blog became a source for “bumpdates” for friends and family and a way to share maternity style with my readers. While it was not my original intention, if fit my life for that first year and I love looking back on the memories, especially those that included my baby belly and precious newborn.
Looking back, a lot has changed since that first year. I am more confident in front of the camera, a have a standing with many well-known brands and I started working with a professional photographer. Over the years the changes have been essential to build Being Mrs. Fowler into what she is today. Through all of this, I have learned so much. There is a reason that I keep on pushing and keep on persevering. I love what I do. This corner of the internet has become my voice. It is way to communicate what I am thinking and how I am feeling. It is a way to build a relationship with all of you, my beautiful readers. So, in honor of my three year blog anniversary, I want to share with you the three most important things that I have learned in blogging.
1. Remember Your Why
It is very easy to get overwhelmed with blogging. For me, it is just a hobby so I have to find time to balance it between teaching, Mom Life and other responsibilities. Sometimes my plate is beyond full and I have a hard time managing everything. Often times, I feel obligated to write on my blog or post on my Instagram and that can become very stressful. In those moments I have to tell myself to take a deep breath and “Remember My Why.” Why did I start my blog? Why do I continue? Why do I strive to do better? The reason is simple. Because I love it. It is my hobby, my passion, and I have loved every aspect of the journey. I try to remind myself that I shouldn’t get worked up or stressed out over something I am passionate about. I shouldn’t let my hobby be the cause of feeling over whelmed. There is no point in continuing with something that you allow to fill your life with stress. If you feel that way, then I encourage you to take a step back, take a break and remember why you started blogging in the first place. I can promise you that you will be left with a renewed spirit and a clarity to push on. If you don’t get that, then maybe you should take a break. Unless your blog is your full time job, you should never let it become the main source of your stress. It is important to stay focused and only continue if you still enjoy every aspect of the journey.
2. Know Your Worth
As my blog and social media presence have grown, I find more and more brands reaching out to work with me. At first, since I was growing, I was happy to accept product in exchange for a post. Now that I have grown, I realize that my time and opinion is of worth. I took the time to figure out my rates and now request that a brand compensate me for time. Looking back, I wish that I had requested for brands to pay me from the beginning. My time is important and it takes time to work with brands. By the time that I put together content, have photographs taken, edit my photographs, write a post and put in appropriate SEO, I am looking at 5-6 hours of work. That is a lot of time when you think about how much I already have on plate. It never hurts to request that a brand pay you for your time. Sometimes they will say they do not have a budget for compensation. At that point, it will be up to you decide if you want to continue with the collaboration. If I really like the product or brand, sometimes I will continue, but here lately, I find myself turning away brands who are not willing to pay. My time is worth something and I want brands to know that I value myself and the work that I create.
If you are new to blogging, I encourage you to take the time to figure out your rate and stick to it. You will make yourself more valuable in the long run and build a relationship with brands that value your time and what you do.
3. Never Be Afraid to Ask
A lot of the work in blogging comes from reaching out to brands and pitching an idea. Here lately, I have made more of an effort to reach out to different brands in hopes that they will want to work with me. I realized that the worse they can say is “No.” What I have found is that if you pitch a quality idea, especially one that relates to your brand and your audience, a brand is most likely going to say “Yes!” I recently acquired my first collaboration with a hotel and it all came from me asking if they would take a chance and work with me. Personally, I value the opinion of smaller bloggers because I know that their opinion is genuine. Most of them are not being paid for the collaboration so they are working with the brand because they genuinely like the product or business. Most of the time, they also sought out this collaboration instead of the brand reaching out to them. In the world of blogging, the willingness to take a stand and reach out to a brand is worth something. Brands see that willingness and are most likely going to take a chance on you. If not, don’t let that be a discouragement. Continue to reach out and put yourself out there. You will only be gaining more skill and experience. I can promise that with a little hard work, dedication, and a killer pitch, eventually, someone is going to say “Yes” and take a chance on you!
Coat | Blouse | Skirt | Earrings | Watch
I hope that these tips help you as much as they have helped me. With each of these, I wish that someone had taken the time to tell me these things in the beginning. They are so important for knowing your worth and building a brand that you can be proud to stand behind. With a little time and dedication, each of of these tips will help you to reach your goals and build a firm foundation in your blog.
Thank you so much for following along on this journey with me! I am so grateful for your continued support! As always, let me know if you have any questions in the comments below. I always love to hear from you!
Disclaimer: Affiliate links are used in this post and I may receive a small commission. If an exact item could not be found, a similar style was linked.
