"Call the crib, same number, same hood. It's all good" -Biggie
Hello! Oh, I bet your brow is furrowed right now, trying to figure out the connection between the title of this post and the striking similarity between my daughter and Notorious B.I.G. Well, here's what. Aside from Blake having a {very obvious} career as a hip-hop artist to look forward to, great photos are the cornerstone of a well-designed blog. So, with that in mind, my discussion on this topic at the Alt Design Summit consisted of me sharing the above image of Blake and her doppelgänger {hip-hoppelganger? doppelgangsta?}, and then BLASTING Biggie thru my laptop speakers while saying "Uh" periodically in that cocky, grunting sort of way.
WHAT.
Since so many of you have asked about my presentation, I thought I would share with you a few more tips on how to bridge the mommy/design/lifestyle blogger gap. What I mean by this is how to have a mommy or lifestyle blog that is aesthetically pleasing, has beautiful images, and is appealing to mommies and more. Disclaimer: I promise this will be the very last Alt-related entry for at least 352 days. Footnote to the disclaimer: if you are finding these blog-building, entrepreneurial-themed posts to be helpful, or if you just want to know what Alt is all about, search the #altsummit hashtag on Twitter, or check out any one of these great posts.
So, here we go!
1. Stay true to yourself.
2. If your blog has evolved into a mommy blog, stay true to your readers, too. {The Lil Bee has always been about my life and loves, so it feels only natural to hang onto the pop culture references, fashion, and occasional design posts that still interest me.}
3. Being a lifestyle blogger is not only OK, it's fantastic! Not everyone needs to fit neatly inside a Design or Fashion or Photography Blogger niche. Declare yourself a Lifestyle Blogger and LOVE. IT!
4. If you are a parent, blog about life, not just dirty diapers and teething tips. Your perspective on parenting is one part of your full and layered life that interests people.
5. Your blog is not Facebook. Your photos should be high quality, move the story forward, and keep the reader's attention.
6. The less posing, the less photo-editing, the better. People want honesty—crow's feet, laughter, light. My favorite photos are ones that make you feel like you walked into a room and spotted something beautiful, without anyone even hearing the camera click.
7. You don't need an expensive camera to take interesting photos. Instagram, as well as apps like Diptic, Photoshop, and Luminex are amazingly fun and easy to use.
8. Take your lead from photography blogs, like my friend Bentley's or Alt speaker Jasmine Star's, which tend to be wider {600px or more} and have clean, white backgrounds, so as not to detract from the images.
9. Everyone is busy. Save yourself some time by editing and uploading your photos once or twice a week, then writing your posts when you have a quiet moment {I like to blog on my phone while commuting or getting a pedi}.
10. Your blog is an extension of YOU, so treat it as you would a favorite outfit, heirloom, or drawing from your child.
♥
And since this blog is always a work in progress, I'd like to point out some of the blogs I turn to for inspiration, such as Rockstar Diaries, Freckle Wonder, NYC Taught Me, and Nat the Fat Rat. Hope you all got something out of this little rundown. Big thanks to Gabby for including me as a speaker. The jitters were totally worth it!
P.S. Did YOU attend Alt? Or do you have any pointers you'd like to share in the comments for fellow bloggers? Maybe you're not a blogger, but a reader with a point of view on what kinds of blogs you find most appealing? Thanks!
27 comments:
Dear lord. That is the best dopplegangsta photo/hilarious comparison that will inevitably brighten my entire day!
High fives for everyone out there who has declared themselves a "lifestyle blogger". After trying to fit into one category or another for far too long, I've thrown in the towel and admitted to myself that I'm going to post about whatever the heck I want. So lifestyle blogger it is! I ordered business/contact cards as well, so I guess that makes it official. I received them last night, so great timing on the post! I've always been a big fan of your blog!
❤ Katherine
Loved reading this...I am a parent but am not a "mummy blogger", I write about my life and what I love - be it fashion, style, travel, whatever.
My life is varied and so many things interest me...and that is reflected in my blog :)
I hear you met my good friend Kimberly Taylor at ALT, sounds like you had an amazing time!!
This is great advice, I'm always trying to find the balance between things that my readers, albeit few, like to read and what I like to post. Your blog is inspiring! xoxo
wow! thanks for the mention. love your tips! especially #10 . . . treat it as you would a favorite outfit, heirloom, or drawing from your child. so smart!
ALT sounded amazing. I love reading all about it!
I love this post because sometimes I feel like my blog makes no sense at all but perfect sense to me. So goes the crazy life of a mom/manager/fashion addict. I cannot wait to attend ALT next year. So bummed to have missed it this year.
Hi there, Suite-mate!
Loved your tips. I'm glad I got to still hear your perspective since Amy and I were nursing a wee bit of a hangover during the real deal.
I feel like I'm vomiting Alt stories too---I've got 1 more post in me and then I'll shut up!
Today I shared some great interior styling and photography tips from the interior design panel:
bit.ly/yoKZMQ
ALT sounds wonderfully stupendous! i have been pouring over all of the intriguing posts circling of late. i would have died to hear biggie backing up your 'uh' speech. so awesome.
for me, 'lifestyle' blogging came naturally (in fact, i didn't even know there was a stigma attached!). after escaping the workforce for one blissful year of motherhood i found myself vying for a creative outlet and voila! the gold hat came to be. being a lifestyle blogger truly is fantastic! thank you for all your inspiring words.
xx,
Aja Lake
[the gold hat.]
ajalake.blogspot.com
p.s. 'hip-hoppelganger'...that's so good.
well said and thanks SO much for the mention. that was such a nice little surprise. i only wish i could have been there to hear you speak. next year, right? btw. you look SKINNY in your gorge red dress on the below post. xo
Such a GREAT post!! Thank you for sharing this all with us
Thanks for the tips -- as a relatively new blogger, it's really helpful to get guidance from people who have been around the block, so to speak. :) And I second everything Aja Lake said up above!
I love this post because I started blogging as a hobby as a way to have a place of my own. I am not trying to have a theme to my blog I just blog about things that are going on in my life which is something I love. Well I am documenting life as it moves forward. Loved all the tips and I just discovered your blog.
ruthy
Great ideas! I am new to the blogging world, but had so many ideas, tips and experiences that I thought it would be fun to share. I have been looking for tips on blogging and these tips have been great. I am excited to continue with the journey!
I love it. Absolutely love it. Sometimes I miss "she don't believe in shootin' stars, she just believes in shoes and cars," but then, look, Beyonce is making the transition, and I guess we all have to...I just want to still dance on bars in my old age. Omg, who am I kidding, I never danced on bars.
xoxoxo
THANK YOU MELISA! I really needed that! I have been struggling a lot lately with the thought of just shutting down my blog all together OR giving it the kick start it needs & caring for it more.
Ever since the birth of my daughter it seems that she is more of my priority & the blog gets lost. Which is a good thing to a degree. But I will admit all the things that used to go into the blog are now stuck in my head which is leaving me feeling pretty lame.
Admittedly I often psych myself out because I think who could possibly want to hear about the random tid bits of my life or something I find interesting or helpful but I truly need to get over that... anywho this post has really helped me gain some much needed perspective & I just wanted to thank you & let you know that you inspire me! If you can do it with 2 girls I can do it with one! So... thanks !
:)
Also, do you have an app you use to blog from your phone? I think that may help... I'm sick of just browsing facebook while nursing so maybe I can blog instead!? LOL
xoxo
Rockstar diaries has turned totally mommy blogger unfortunately. boo.
Simone, yes! She was SO sweet. We had a great time at Alt.
Thank you so much for your comments...and, Ruthy, I can definitely relate to having had that sentiment at times. But Lifestyle is a great space, and it's been fun navigating it through the years. I'm happy to meet so many people who blog about varied interests, too:)