PHOTO: LIFE OF PIX

LIFESTYLE BLOGGINGIS NOT JUST ABOUT

Self Promotion & Selfies#ImSuperAwesome

THIS IS WHAT THIS TALK ISN’T...

Blogging Training?

Writing Workshop?

ClickbaitCrashcourse?

Frankly people

2000

Created my first blog using Microsoft Frontpage

Hosted on a free subdomain

2002

Started blogging on Blogger

2007

Moved over to blog on WordPress

(Best move ever. #justsaying)

2010

Co-founded The Cambelles, a lifestyle blog on a self-hosted WordPress

2014

Started Carriesim.com to experiment on finding a balance

Transformed The Cambelles into an e-zine

Gratuitous selfies!!

Almost religious record of

what happened in my life. (ex) Boyfriend problems! Recommendations

MORE Gratuitous selfies!!

What did readers want?

What did I want that is of value to my readers?

Emo posts

Here is when I got kinda sick of blogging. Becos...

“To hell with facts! We need stories!” ― Ken Kesey, American Novelist

COMPELLING CONTENT

Satisfaction

Personal Expression

Fulfillment

Creativity

AttentionLikes & Shares

Value

ME

READERS

Recipe for Creating

ConnectionThe Real Deal.

When what matters to you, matters to your readers.

WHAT DO I WANT TO CREATE?

What do you love?

● Personal stories

● New or unfamiliar topics

● Experimentation

● Topics I am passionate about

WHAT DO READERS LIKE ANYWAY?

Through research & analysis

● Listicles

● Good Photos

● Exciting titles

● Top searched topics

MIX THINGS UPListicals + Personal Stories Fave Topic + Storyline

Try Something New + Great Photos

Reviews + Intriguing Title

Fave Topic + Popular Topic Explore angles

Don’t lose the plot.

Readers don’t know what they want until they see it.

So, stay connected with your vision.

Q&A

Q. Should I blog about other topics if what I am passionate about isn’t popular with readers?Would you still enjoy blogging if you did a different more “popular” topic that readers prefer? If the answer is “No”, there is really

not much of a point to.

Having a vision for your blog is about knowing what you stand for and want. If you are passionate something, the likelihood that

you’re the only person to love it in this world is kinda low. There are people out there who are interested in what you have to say.

Why are they not reading? There are way too many reasons for that, some examples being:

● The way your content is written (perhaps it’s not engaging, too long, too short, not appealing, the reasons can be endless)

● For NICHE topics, you’re not reaching the people who love what you love through the channels you’re sharing your post

(e.g. FB is very personal, perhaps your content is more structured and less personal / you’re sharing the links of your book

reviews with people who don’t enjoy reading books at all - ask yourself where do people who love to read “hang” online?)

● SEO (Maybe no one can find your post?)

● You don’t share your posts anywhere (No one remembers that you own a blog because they are not reminded of it, don’t

know you wrote something new or had no idea you even had one)

If content is the issue, then find out what people enjoy reading on other book reviews, are there ways you could write about

books that would be entertaining for people who aren’t into reading. (E.g. Things I Learnt About Life from Books / 5 Books with

Unexpected Plot Twists / 3 Novels that will Change Your Perspective on Singapore)

Q. I write about beauty but the way I describe the products are similar after awhile, how can I describe it differently?I personally don’t write to impress. I write to connect so it’s important to write to be understood. While it may be tempting to

want to write with new descriptive words, there are only so many words to describe the texture of products (e.g. richness,

consistency, gel-like, cream etc).

Why not focus on the way the blog entry is angled. An example would be if you like full coverage foundation from NARS, the

typical angle you’ve used is a straight-forward review post - Review of NARS Foundation. To find angles, ask questions about

it:

● In what situation would I need a full coverage foundation like NARS foundation?

● What do people usually ask about full coverage foundations or foundations in general?

● Is there anything about NARS foundation that sets it apart from other foundations?

From there you can develop angles that make your review, relevant to your readers. You’ll need to show them how it is.

● How to Apply NARS Foundation

● 3 Reasons You’ll Love NARS Foundation

● Why You Should Use a Full Coverage Foundation

● 5 Full Coverage Foundations For Perfect Photos/Prom [Insert any occasion/event]

Q. My content is good, but no one seems to be commenting.When it comes to social media, it pays to be SOCIAL. Blogs are just one aspect of it. There are different social media channels

like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Facebook etc.

Social Media is NOT a one-way street. It is two-ways, but how do you communicate two-ways when people aren’t responding.

Some things to think about:

● Are you communicating with others on their blogs/social media channels? If not, why. Apply that to your own work.

● Was there call to action? Did you pose a question or invite them to comment? Was there anything else they’d find out

from you outside of your blog post anyway?

● Is commenting too much of a chore? Is your comment box incorporating some serious captcha that no human can get

around?

I personally see more comments on my Facebook and Instagram when I post anything. That’s because of the nature and

frequency of usage of those channels. I respond more promptly and readily to questions and comments on those channels -

this perhaps may be encouraging others to leave their feedback or comments there instead of my blog.

CARRIE SIMBlogs at www.carriesim.com and manages www.thecambelles.com

Find me on Twitter @mscarriesim, Instagram @carriesim and Facebook http://www.facebook.

com/imcarriesim

Connect on Linkedin at http://www.linkedin.com/in/carriesim

Email: contact@carriesim.com