Count Down Time - 5 SURPRISING Lessons I Learned From Beauty and Fashion Blogging

So many count down's about beauty and fashion!

I should do something offbeat.

As far as blogging goes, 2013 wasn't a great one -- new baby, growing toddler, and 10 pounds of postpartum weight. Even if I had cute clothes to wear, I barely squeezed into any of them. So I'm writing a different count down -- but still a list you girls might relate to.

5 SURPRISING lessons I learned from beauty and fashion blogging:

 

5. Authenticity counts!

There are tons of beauty and fashion blogs out there. It's easy to follow what others do -- especially those who became popular. Case in point: the unceasing dilution of petite fashion blogs. Excluding SydneysFashionDiary.com and maybe a few others, they began to look the same to me.

Suddenly, you realize: why should anyone read my blog? I'm just another needle in the haystack.

So I started defying trends: instead of decking out in glitz and luxury, my focus zoned in on casual chic style that most women -- especially moms -- have time for, can afford, and feel comfortable wearing.

Also, I began writing useful info that help others. Or try to anyway. It's the least I can do to honor those who continue to come back.

 

4. Speaking of honoring loyal readers...

There aren't many of them, but the few I have, I love -- and feel a keen sense of responsibility to.

My older posts were bad. Really bad. They were awkward, self-absorbed, and straight-up nonsense. You see, when I started The Girlie Blog (back in 2008), there were about 5 visitors a day. It didn't matter that I wrote nonsense. I didn't have a real audience anyway!

As my blog grew, however, I started feeling pressure to provide quality content. I've had some truly nice people email me to say that I inspire them, that because of my blog they started their own, that they respect what I do, that they tell everyone about my blog...don't get me teary-eyed.

These kind, supportive strangers gave my blog a reason to exist, and for them, however small the group, I promise to make The Girlie Blog better, more accurate, and more resourceful in 2014!

3. Alias is Catfish; and Catfish is bad.

Triston is not my real name. But I've been using it online since the late 90's.

When I started college, I idolized a beautiful upper classman named Triston. Her name stuck on me, and I used it for all online aliases. In 2006, when I signed up at Blogger, still shy on the internet and stuff, I also used that name. Been Triston ever since.

At the time "Catfish" wasn't even in the urban dictionary. I'm surprised it's now considered negative, because many other bloggers -- some of them I've met in person -- have been doing it for years as well.

But don't you worry. We're not your freak-next-door :O) We just want to keep certain things private, when our blogs are all over the web.

2. I have few real friends.

Should this even be a surprise? Many girls don't share their blogs with real life peers. Despite the sad fact that most people are judgmental in nature, I'm glad I shared, because I now appreciate the few real friends I have so much more.

1. I stopped following trends.

I'm not talking about beauty and fashion trends; I'm talking about blogging trends.

At first, GFC was the way to connect. Then Google took it away. Now, Bloglovin is the way to go.

Since the beginning, everyone left links in comments, but when someone dubbed it spam, links were frowned upon -- but people continued doing it anyway, so now links are not only acceptable, they are expected.

Until a few months ago, "exact-match-urls" were one of the best SEO practices. But Google changed its algorithm, and threw everyone off their hard-earned rankings.

So much to keep up with. So little time. I might as well stop caring, and do as I please. 

Lastly, let me leave you with this:

 

Date jocks; Marry a nerd.

 

 

I don't know why I said that. It has nothing to do with beauty and fashion blogging.

 

As always, thanks for visiting.

 

Happy 2014!