Better late than never? It’s time for a new blogging roundup post! It’s been a while since I’ve been able to put one of these together. Between my schedule and lack of tips, it hasn’t been easy but I’m so excited to share one for this month!

6 Steps to Thinking Bigger with Your Blog – Jenny Purr

Jenny shared some great tips on thinking bigger for your blog. I think we all reach a point with our blogs where we wonder what else is there to do? We find inspiration in our peers but ultimately, it’s about sitting and working out what’s best for you. I really enjoy changing this space to where I am in my life and career and I think Jenny’s tips will help you think big for your blog space.

5 Simple Steps to Start Your Blog – Elembee

I was chatting with a friend yesterday about projects that seem to never launch. When working with clients who are starting up, more than often, they never really follow through with their ideas. Lisa shared some great tips about starting your blog. Starting a blog is so simple and it only becomes complicated when you let your head get in the way. There are so many resources to help you start off right so take advantage of them and get started.

How to Avoid Blogger Burnout – Blog Society

Blogger burnout is real! I think we’ve all opened up our blog editor at one time or another and just felt defeated. This article is by a licensed acupuncturist who shares some tips in applying the principles of acupuncture to your blog life.

3 Quick Links for SEO – Zoe Rooney

SEO is a necessary evil that we have to stay on top of. Zoe shared three recent links that are discussing some important things about SEO. I enjoyed reading about the e-commerce SEO aspect as I’m currently in the process of setting up shop here on the site!

Product Photography Tips for Your Blog – SITS Girls

It wasn’t until I opened a paper shop that I really had to think about styling and shooting products for myself. The rule of 3 tip in this post makes me re-evaluate everything I’ve been doing (which is wrong!). I need to take some time and re-shoot all of my products and I cannot wait to use these tips!

The Blogging Comparison Trap – Lovely Indeed

When you’re in a publicly visible field, it’s so easy to compare yourself to others who do what you do. Bloggers are doing amazing things. They are influential and prosperous. This is definitely the time to be a blogger but not all bloggers are created equal. I love how real Chelsea is about comparing yourself to others and how she reminds herself to not fall into the comparison trap.

Why I Chose Squarespace over WordPress – Jess Creatives

I am always Team WordPress for myself but we are so lucky to have different CMS and blogging solutions that meet everyone’s needs. Jess shares her thoughts on Squarespace and why it’s the best choice for her!

5 WordPress Tools to Enhance Work-Life Balance – Jamie Leigh

There are some things that can make your life easier and I love when I learn about them! Jamie’s list of WordPress tools to help boost work-life balance is just wonderful. I had never heard if iThemes Sync and it’s something that I need to look into ASAP!

Why Your Blog Needs A Plan – Nora Conrad

It’s almost guaranteed that having a plan for something makes it easier to do. Why do we approach blogging so often without one? Nora shared some reasons why having a blog plan is crucial and how to create one of your own. No two blogs are created equal and planning may not work for you but there are some things that Nora shared that I believe everyone can benefit from.

Should You Rebrand Your Blog – Decor8

I’ve rebranded and I’m in the process of a redesign so I am relating so much to this article! I loved reading about Mel’s in-depth rebrand and redesign process. It’s not easy to decide to take the plunge and it’s a lot of work but it’s so worth it in the end!

Share your blogging tips below!

The post Blogging 101: April Tips Roundup appeared first on Studio 404 Paper.

Today, I want to share something that has been in the works for quite some time. Earlier this year, I was asked to be a co-author of an all-inclusive blogging guide for bloggers of all levels and niches published by the Bloggers Like Me group. While I contemplated back and forth if I wanted to be a part of something so bigger than myself, I knew it was an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.

I’m proud to announce that From Blank Space to Blogging Brilliance is available today! I was so honored to contribute to this guide with a chapter on branding, but of course. I think I covered everything from Chipotle to Oprah by using illustrations of great brands and how good branding relates to great blogs.

There are over twenty co-authors in this book which should tell you how amazing this is. There are fashion bloggers, mommy bloggers, lifestyle bloggers, and everyone in between all sharing their insights on what they specialize in and how you can grow your blog to its greatest potential. I’ve been blogging for over nine years and even I l earned something new in this guide.

For today only, you can receive my Bloom print for free when you purchase a copy of From Blank Space to Blogging Brilliance.

The post From Blank Space to Blogging Brilliance appeared first on Studio 404 Paper.

Welcome back! It’s been a busy 2015 for me already but I’m so excited to be able to come back to the blog with a fresh perspective and new ideas! I’ll talk about it more in this week’s newsletter but I’m tired of mediocre! I want to push this space its maximum potential by delivering a blog that I would want to read—as a creative, entrepreneur, and parent.

To kick things off, I want to talk about conquering your blog space. There comes a time in your blog’s existence when it is time for you to conquer your space. Sometimes my content runs off without me. I haven’t blogged in over a month yet my traffic remains the same due to my old content. While it doesn’t seem like an issue, I’m in the process of moving into a different mindset so I have to conquer this space and make sure it is reflective of the message I want to express.

I know it seems complicated but many bloggers go through this. I rebranded in 2013 and Studio 404’s tone has been the same since then. I now have a new perspective as a work-at-home mom who works for herself and the past month has changed my mindset on a lot of things. My target blog audience has changed and when that changes, it’s time to reconfigure your blog space. I want to share with you the steps I have laid out for this journey and hopefully, it’s helpful for you.

Blog Change is Imminent

If you’ve been blogging for at least 6 months, it’s always a good idea to re-evaluate your content and blog space to see how things are working for you. We often are told to focus on the numbers, our audience, and the needs of our readers but blog consistency is all about you. the blogger. It is difficult to update a blog you no longer feel that you can relate to.

To avoid getting in too deep with blog dissociation, it’s important to check-in with your blog space and see how you feel. Once you are aware that your blog will change over time, it’s much easier to approach the space with intention to claim it as your own again.

List Your Intentions

What are your blogging intentions? Do those current fit your lifestyle? Have you gone through any major life changes? I got into the mood to change my blog a few times over the past five years which have reflected some major life changes in my life:

• When I moved to Florida in 2009
• When David & I officially started Sevenality in 2010
• When I decided to open a paper shop in 2014 (hello one year!) and started to work from home full time

Right now I’m re-evaluating my life as a parent and a business owner so I want my blog to reflect that. I’ve listed some of my blog’s intentions of the past and what I want to showcase in this space in the future. Having a clear idea of what you want to do with your blog space helps you understand where you’re going.

Get Excited

Blogging feels like a chore sometimes for me. I’ve been doing it for so long that I feel that I nag myself to do it. Once I get into that mode, I don’t want to. I have to get excited about this space. I’m excited that I have a new voice on subjects. I’ve learned a lot in the past month as I’m reorganizing my business. Keeping this new keeps me excited.

If you’re ready to conquer your blog, get excited about it. Don’t let your blog conquer you! Don’t let your content and your audience overwhelm you. Don’t let your blogging peers or other’s success make you shy away from your blog. Your blog is yours and you will make it work!

I’ll be sharing some extra thoughts and some helpful worksheets in this week’s newsletter that’s going out tomorrow morning so be sure to subscribe

The post Blogging 101: Conquering Your Blog with Intention appeared first on Studio 404 Paper.

As I’m winding down for the last two days of the 12 Days of Christmas, I thought it’d be great timing to share some of the best posts of the year. I know a lot of you find this blog through social media and other blogs so you may not have the opportunity to look through the past twelve months of content. No worries! This post is for you. 🙂

Let’s Talk Business: Prioritization

Guest Post: How to Make A Moodboard

The Twenty-Something Entrepreneur

On Giving Blogging Advice (Part 1)

Guest Post: 3 SEO Mistakes You’re Making

Summer Type Picks

Entrepreneurship & Friendships

Blogging 101: Engage More

Ask A Freelancer: Booking Clients

Let’s Talk Business: Scheduling & Prioritization

Do you have any favorite blog posts of your own? Share them below!

The post 12DOC: Best of Studio 404 2014 appeared first on Studio 404 Paper.

Forgive me! This weekend was very active and as I get closer to my due date, there are just more things I have to focus on. In the interim, I’m excited to share today’s post. I haven’t really done a Blogging 101 post in a while due to lack of blogging but there are some ways that you can go into 2015 ready to make it your best blogging year to date.

Do Your Best Planning Early

One of the things that I’ve taken into account this year in working with brands and operations is that the earlier you have ideas is the easier it is to execute on them. There are only eight full days remaining in the year and what planning have you done for your blog next year? Challenge yourself to take time during the next few days to just write down ideas. The more ideas you have is the easier it is to refine those ideas into future content. Here are a few ideas to get your planning session started:

• Take a look at the past
  • Looking at what worked for you in 2014 and what didn’t might help you develop a better sense of understanding of what you want for your blog in 2015.
• Get a great planner.
  • It’s sometimes easier to see things planned out in front of you in an organized fashion.
  • There are hundreds of planners now available and dedicated to blogging which include planning sheets that make your life easier!
• Plan realistically.
  • My blog plans for 2015 are quite different after experiencing this pregnancy. While it’s been pretty easy, the reality of being pregnant and having high-demand clients meant there wasn’t a lot of time for me to put into the blog as I had originally planned. This year, I’m being realistic about my time and putting my goals once again towards quality versus quantity.

Build Your Relationships

I can honestly say this has been my saving grace this year. If you haven’t worked on building relationships with other bloggers, you have to start now. Being able to connect with others in your niche, helps you stay relevant and introduces you to a new audience. Plan on making the new year, the year of your blog friendships.

• Start reading and commenting.
  • If you don’t already, you need to start reading other blogs. Reading blogs isn’t just informative; it helps you find people who are like yourself!
  • If you aren’t commenting, do so! You will find that bloggers are more inclined to connect with other bloggers via comments and then you can grow from there.
• Be genuine.
  • I say this in every post I share about blogger connections because it’s the most important factor. Please be genuine in the things you say or do towards others online. Genuine relationships are much more beneficial than ones that are only looking for self-gain.
• Nourish your blog friendships.
  • I wasn’t as great this year as I previously have been but it’s important to nourish your blog friendships. Send out quick emails or mail cards throughout the year just to show your appreciation. Have a coffee chat with a local blog friend and catch up! Blog friendships, like all relationships, must be maintained sincerely.

Put Yourself First

My biggest pet peeve with blogging advice is that it’s generally reader-centric. Don’t get me wrong, my readers are amazing! I love to get emails and comments from people who find this blog helpful and insightful. However, the reality of blogging weighs down on you as a person. I would love to have a million daily hits but in reality, I’m not putting in the work that requires it because it’s not what this blog needs from me. In 2015, approach your blog with yourself in mind. You want to make this space about you and being the best you attracts people who want to hear what you have to say.

• Numbers aren’t everything.
  • In this upcoming year, make a conscious effort to avoid statistics being how you measure your success. We’re in an age where transparency can often cause competitiveness in an unhealthy way. I think to be successful, you must truly measure your success in a way that works for you. Set small goals and work towards building your way up. Oprah wasn’t built in a day.
• Your health matters.
  • I don’t talk about my health journey here too often but health is very important to me. I think bloggers often put themselves aside to reach goals, especially when blogging is your full time job. This year, take time out to put your mental and physical health in a good place. Carve out an hour for you! Your readers will appreciate you coming to your blog with with a renewed spirit and it helps avoid blogger burnout.
• Do what makes you happy.
  • This is your blog space! Do what makes you happy. We often tend to rely on blogging trends to guide our content. Create the content that works best for you because trends are so short-lived. You want to be able to look at your blog a year from now and still see the beauty in what you’ve created.

These are just a few tips to get you into 2015. What are your plans for the new year? Feel free to share below!

The post Blogging 101: Setting Intentions for 2015 appeared first on Studio 404 Paper.

I know it’s Friday and we should be preparing for another Links I Love post but I’m so late on this month’s blogging tips roundup. There were so many great posts to share that I needed to get this on the blog this month. I also have been recovering from the busiest past two weeks I’ve had this year so excuse my absence!

How to Control & Remove WordPress Spam – Noor Alqahanti

When users start out their WordPress sites, they usually don’t know how to control spam on their posts. Noor shared some quick tips to help control spam on your WordPress blog. Spam can really be overwhelming so if you’re having a spam problem, be sure to take a look at this post.

My #1 Tip for Writing Better Blog Posts – Nectar Collective

We often get caught up on how to provide better content for our readers. I know I often have rearranged my take on content just because I feel it can be terrible. I’ve really enjoyed seeing how Melyssa has grown from an expat blogger to a strong blogger who has helped guide her audience to making genuine connections. What Melyssa’s offers in this post is all you need to write better blog posts.

How to Make a Favicon of Your Logo – Clementine Creative

Favicons are an important way to help your brand stand out. If you have no idea what a favicon is, it’s the small icon that shows up in your browser window when you visit a site. Customizing my favicon is my favorite part of designing a site. It’s like adding the bow on top of a present. So if you have no idea how to make a favicon, you no longer have an excuse.

What’s in My Productivity Tool Box? – The Fresh Exchange

While these tools are all about Megan’s business, a lot of these can be used to manage your blog. I love seeing what other bloggers use to help make things happen for them and I use four out of five of these tools myself. If you’re looking for ways to be more productive with your blog, be sure to check out this list.

The Changing Business of a Blog – Oh Joy

I’ve been enjoying when older bloggers talk about the changes in blogging because I’ve been blogging for so long. I was happy that Joy shared some thoughts about the changes that have occurred on her blog. Blogging is still here and we are all learning to adjust to the way that our audiences interact with us.

Why Should I Blog – Jess Creatives

Are you sold on blogging yet? Jess shared some ideas on why you should blog and the benefits of blogging for your business. Of course, blogging isn’t for everyone but I always encourage people to give it a try. Jess’s post sums up pretty much everything I agree with on starting a blog which is why it’s on this list.

A Blogger’s Guide to Crediting Photos – Blog Society

In 2014, there isn’t really any reason for not allowing for proper crediting to happen in photos we’re using on our blogs. Jaclyn of the Blog Society shares Catherine’s thoughts on proper crediting on your blog. If you have no idea how to credit photos or aren’t quite sure if you’re doing it right, this post is for you.

Creating a Loyal Audience – Elle & Co

Once you have a blog set up, creating a loyal audience is the next thing to tackle. Lauren is such a sweetheart and I love this post from her. It offers great insights on what she’s found helpful and offers tips that everyone can benefit from. Of course not everything works for each person but this post is pretty great and one of my favorites on this roundup.

How to Overcome Procrastination as a Blogger – Shanice Cameron

Continuing to blog consistently is pretty hard! Shanice offers some great tips on overcoming blog procrastination. I don’t want to spend too much time trying to describe it but if you have problems procrastinating while blogging, you need this post in your life.

WordPress for Beginner Bloggers: General Settings & Branding

Another great post for new WordPress bloggers, Jenn offers some great tips on how to get your blog’s settings to where they need to be and how that helps your brand. There are a lot of options in WordPress that can be a little overwhelming at first but I love the way Jenn breaks everything down.

Also, if you’re interested, Adam Soucie wrote an amazing roundup of Tuesday’s WordPress Orlando meetup where I spoke on Blogging for Longevity. I’ll be writing a roundup myself next week on what it was like to present for the first time and what I would change for the better.

Have a lovely weekend!

The post Blogging 101: August Tips Roundup appeared first on Studio 404 Paper.

Summer is in full swing, in case you haven’t walked outside lately. While we’re in the low 90’s/high 80’s which is very mild for Florida, it’s been very busy for me. I spent June pushing myself beyond belief so hopefully this July is a lot easier. One thing that hasn’t changed during this summer is that bloggers are pretty quiet. If you were blogging in the fall and winter, you may have noticed how active everyone was. Now it seems that readers are too busy enjoy vacations to read your blog, which might be difficult for you. How hard is it to blog when you know your audience isn’t as active? I’m going to share some tips on finding your summer voice to help you get through these traffic lows and keep your passion for your blog.

Stop Studying Numbers

If your blog hasn’t been around for a couple of years, you might be feeling really depressed at your summer traffic numbers. Summer, for me, has always been a little slow. It’s not a huge difference in traffic but statistically speaking, the summer months are my lowest. The numbers don’t matter! It doesn’t matter if you have 500 visitors or 50, keep blogging. Your audience may be smaller but you still have one. Allowing the numbers to affect the way you publish content is a huge mistake. Keep your blog true to your intentions and do what works for you.

Decrease Quantity, Increase Quality

If you’re posting five to seven times a week, you might do better by decreasing your posting schedule a bit. Spend more time focusing on the quality of your content instead of quantity of weekly posts. Having concise, premium content will always attract more visitors than several posts that aren’t offering much of anything. Figure out what works best for your blog audience. If you see more interaction with less posts, perhaps you can think of permanently changing your posting schedule. Summer is the best time to experience with new things!

Guest Posts

Connect with other bloggers and offer guest posts for their blogs. You can always connect with a new audience through some one else’s blog. It’s a great way to get new readers interested in your blog while offering your blogger friends a break from dealing with the summer slump. If you’re willing, accept guest posts on your space as well. Again, it offers you a break from developing content when you want to spend the day at the beach. Automating as much as possible with your blog can help you tremendously.

Experiment

As I stated before, now is the best time to experiment with new things. Start a new blog series. Offer a new freebie such as an e-book or an e-course. If you want to get an idea of how things will work out but you don’t want to overwhelm your audience, start to roll them out in phases. Do you have a redesign or rebrand you want to try but you’re not sure? Test it out on your blog one week and get feedback from your readers. Experimenting is a great way to offer something new to keep your audiences interested without throwing things off too much.

Most importantly, it’s important to just stay true to yourself. Don’t become overwhelmed or stressed about your summer traffic. Numbers are just numbers and you should enjoy your blog! Also, take this time to get out and take a vacation of your own. Seeing a new place may inspire you with new ideas!

How are you managing your blog this summer?

The post Blogging 101: Finding Your Summer Voice appeared first on Studio 404 Paper.

TGIF! Instead of a Links I Love feature this week, I’ll be sharing the latest blogging tips that have caught my eye in the past month. The past two months have been pretty slow in the blogsphere but there were still some pretty good articles to come out of it. I’m featuring some sites for the first time ever in this feature and that’s pretty exciting. I hope to share some knowledge this Friday!

How to Take Better Photos for Your Blog – Kyla Roma

Kyla Roma has always been a favorite blog read of mine for years so I’m happy to share something from her blog. Although it’s a guest post by  photographer Jessica Hammond, it’s full of great tips and things to keep in mind when shooting photos for your blog. Jessica also covers some iPhone photography basics and talks about finding your signature filter. Have you noticed that blogs with great photos have the same aesthetic? Finding what works is great for your blog and it really helps your photos stand out.

How to Deal with Negativity on Your Blog – Shanice Cameron

After receiving a negative e-mail, Shanice shared her thoughts on dealing with negativity and how she views people offer negative comments on your blog. Blogging is such a public space that it’s usually impossible to avoid negativity. Eventually, someone is going to disclose something they dislike about your blog. What’s the best way to deal with it? Shanice’s approach is very non-confrontational and allows growth from the experience. How do you deal with negativity on your blog?

The Basics of SEO for Blogging – Elembee

As much as we all want to ignore it, SEO is very important for bloggers as with any other content-driven website. Lisa opened her blog space to Kim Herrington who shared three quick thoughts on SEO basics for blogging. What affects SEO? What should you be doing? Kim offers a breakdown on what works and what doesn’t in an easy to comprehend post that I really enjoyed reading.

6 Photo Editing & Social Sharing iPhone Apps for Bloggers – Melissa Creates

Melissa puts together her favorite iPhone apps for photo editing and social sharing. Phone photography has become a large part of blogging and it’s important to use to right editing apps. I love Melissa’s suggestions including the A Beautiful Mess app and VSCO Cam. Be sure to check out the post for the full list!

5 Tips for Better Blog Photos – XO Sarah

There can never be enough tips for blog photography! I love the tips that Allyson Wonderland shared on Sarah’s blog this month. No matter what the tips, consistency and individuality are key to having great blog photos. Allyson’s tips were pretty spot on so be sure to take a look at her post!

The Future of Blogging – decor8

Blogging is always changing! I’ve noticed a big shift in articles and content in the previous year. Original content is king. E-courses and workshops have become very present in helping assist bloggers in reaching their goals. When I think about my plans for the blog in the third and fourth quarters, I’m excited but also intrigued to see how these changes will affect my audience. What does your blogging future look like?

When to Rebrand (And Why) – The Well

As you all know, I went through a major rebrand of my blog last October and it was much needed. After blogging for seven years, a new look and feel was needed. If you’ve been thinking that you need to rebrand your blog, you might be right! Victoria of The B Bar and VMac+Cheese shared some great insight on why to rebrand your blog and what benefits it might have for you.

When Blogging Feels Wrong – Kory Woodard

Even as a blogger, you may not always be in the mood to churn out blog posts on a weekly basis. I love that Kory wrote a great post on some things you can do when you’re just not feeling like blogging. I’ve been struggling with these feelings a lot lately and I tend to focus on work or other social things. Be sure to check out Kory’s advice on what helps her get through blogging slumps.

What blogging tips helped you out this month?

The post Blogging 101: June Tips Roundup appeared first on Studio 404 Paper.