First off, before I start talking about myself (LOL), I want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to all of you reading this. Without your continued support, I wouldn’t be here writing this blog in the first place! The launch and process was exciting, but also EXTREMELY intimidating. I’ve never run a website nor had a website, so it’s all a learning curve. Luckily on launch day, I was met with open arms… I mean the site went down for a little bit because of all the visitors. Insane! That being said, I want to share a little bit about why I wanted to start a blog, how to navigate the site, what you will continue to explore/read, the team who helped make it happen, and what’s up next.

Why?

I really wanted to create a place where I could express myself and share all my adventures/travels, experiences related to being on The Bachelor, style, and beauty tips. Essentially one platform to answer all the questions I get on my social media about how I do my makeup, my hair, where my rompers are from, etc. It is divided by categories, including travel (Greece recap coming soon!), style, beauty, eats, Hollywood (think #BachelorNation) and lifestyle. I have always been interested in other blogs and YouTube channels… and I always knew I wanted to start my own editorial site… it was just finding the right time.

How?

I had all these ideas, but had ZERO idea where to start. Eventually I get introduced to Blog Doo, which is the team who helped design the site… from logo to site layout. I created a Pinterest board, explained my vision and they helped make it come to life. The girls behind Blog Doo have blogs themselves (The Skinny Confidential and Fashionlush), so it was an easy fit and they are sweethearts to work with! I did a quick Q&A with them because I figured some of you reading along may be aspiring bloggers… and their insight is incredibly valuable as you go through this overwhelming process. And when I say incredibly valuable, I mean necessary.

What’s up next?

Once we got the site live, we prepped a few posts, so there was content RIGHT when we hit LIVE. And as many of you know, we launched on September 1st. Shortly after we CRASHED the site because we had too many visitors at once. We had to rush to change servers… and phew… we were back up and running. We plan to have posts going live Mondays and Thursdays. Content will include content I write and content from our contributors (we are accepting applications if you are interested). On the horizon, we have my blog launch party (I will share this on my blog and social) and the launch of my YouTube channel… which I hope will give you an inside look at my crazy life in an even more interactive way. So that’s it. I hope you follow along and please let me know what you want to see on my blog, social, YouTube…I AM ALL EARS!

And now to some insight from the babes at Blog Doo for all of you aspiring creators and bloggers… if you have a passion… GO FOR IT!

Lauryn from The Skinny Confidential:

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What are some go-to tips for aspiring bloggers?

Write as how you talk in person. People have a huge BS meter. If you’re writing a completely different way than you talk, it will eventually show. I think as a blogger it’s your job to connect and engage with the reader as if you’re having coffee…or drinks. Make them feel comfortable.
My ultimate goal is to make the reader feel like we’re hanging out on The Skinny Confidential.
Also, put yourself out there. Pulling the trigger on a blog or business can be tough. Trust me, I get it. But it’s not so bad once you gain momentum.
And lastly, create valuable content that leaves the reader leaving your site, inspired.

What has been your key to success in the blogging world?

Beating to the tune of my own drum.
I don’t stay in the lines. I feel like I’m like an olive. I’m not for everyone. You know, some people like olives, some hate them. But I’ve certainly found my niche and readership. Being strategic with mapping out your brand is key too. Having a strong brand is something I pay attention to everyday.
Also, I constantly engage with the audience of The Skinny Confidential. As a blogger, it’s extremely important to provide value, answer questions, and interact with the community. Plus it’s fun to connect with people with similar interests.

Favorite blog to read?

Easy. Mark Manson. He gets me every single time. He always does his job. He leaves the reader with a something to really think about. Again, value.
Another blog I respect is Cupcakes and Cashmere because she stays in her own lane. She’s built an incredible brand completely on her own terms.

Favorite Instagram account to follow?

Recently when my fiancé was in the shower I followed literally 85 chihuahua accounts from his phone. I followed a few from my account too because they were so damn cute. Now Instagram only puts chihuahua accounts on both of our feeds. It’s kind of amazing. He was confused for like 2 weeks.
In all seriousness though, I love anything from @betches. They’re just hilarious. I’m very much into Snapchat now though, Instagram needs to step it up!

Erica from Fashionlush:

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How do you find inspiration to come up with your blog designs?

First & foremost, the client! I like to get a real grasp on their vision before I get crazy with my ideas. Once I have that down, the inspiration comes from everywhere. I am always ripping things out of magazines, snapping photos of cool fonts (even street art), researching design trends, etc. etc. My design style is very minimal, which I think meshed very well with what Becca was going for.

What are you some favorites parts of the blog?

I love the map feature & how the site is overall very user friendly! I think it really offers a really great overall experience!

What were some of the hardest pieces to put together on the blog?

The map feature! It was a challenge, but came together beautifully!