8 Productivity Hacks for Freelancers
For all the many, many joys of working for myself, it does have its occasional downsides. Staying motivated when you have no one to answer to but yourself is one of the more difficult ones. I admit, there are some days where I get to the end of the day and wonder what...
Ad? Sponsored? Gifted? Review? What does it all mean?!
I am aware there's a lot of controversy surrounding bloggers and "influencers" (I really hate that word) recently. By now, we are all aware that we need to clarify when we've received something from a brand to ensure there's no question for readers or followers on...
Blogger Tips: How to Create Sponsored Content That Doesn’t Suck
It's been a while since I've done a Blogger Tips post and while I'm well aware that many of those who read my blog are not bloggers, I do think sometimes my posts about blogging might be informative to you too. There's a lot of misinformation, distrust and ignorance...
Should There Be a ‘Code of Ethics’ for Bloggers?
Long ago, when I first started my blog back in 2010, things were simpler. There was no Pinterest, there was no Instagram. There were no emails from companies wanting to work with me as an influencer. In fact, the whole concept of an 'influencer' wasn't even something...
Blogger Tips: 8 Tips To Creating a Better Work/Life Balance
Let's start off with a bit of a disclaimer for this post. Do I have a perfect work/life balance? Absolutely not. The truth is, that balance isn't always possible on an everyday basis. I don't always succeed. But after nearly 3 years of being a freelancer and...
How to Use Google Analytics to Grow Your Blog
I recently shared my tips on SEO for Bloggers and while that's one subject that many bloggers are frightened to death of, there is another that many bloggers fear almost just as much. Google Analytics is one of those things that most bloggers know they need but once...
Blogger Tips: How to Develop Relationships with Brands
One of the biggest reasons that hobby bloggers end up transitioning to full-time bloggers is due to their relationships with various brands. If you have some great brands on board supporting the content on your blog on a regular basis, then monetising that content...
Blogger Tips: How to Create a Media Kit that Gets Results
For the last few days, I've been working quite hard behind the scenes. Not on my home (as fun as that is for me) and not creating content for my clients. The last few days I've dedicated to updating my website as well as my media kit. The thing is, while you might...
Blogger Tips: How Not to Get Caught Up in the Comparison Game
While this post is specifically targeting bloggers, I think it's fair to say that just about everyone, at some time or another, has played the comparison game. We've all found ourselves perusing some social media site or blog and suddenly felt overwhelmed with...
The Real Truth About Blogging as a Career
I admit this blog post has been in my 'drafts' folder for quite a long time now. I keep going back to it, messing around with it, losing confidence and then leaving it in drafts. But I think it's important for me to be totally transparent with you guys. I know so many...
A Blogger’s Guide to SEO: Part II – How to Optimise Your Blog
I'm a little late with my 'Blogger Tips' post this month but between going away and a generally busy April, I really wanted to spend some time on this one and not rush it! This is part II to 'A Bloggers Guide to SEO' and if you haven't read the first part, I would...
SEO for Bloggers Part I: Understanding SEO
I mentioned in my last blogger's tips post that SEO seems to strike fear in the hearts of most bloggers I know. In the comments, many of you asked for some tips for SEO for my next post and I admit, there was a slight fear in my own heart to have to tackle it here on...
6 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started My Blog
I started Swoon Worthy back in July of 2010. At that time, aside from a few of the big 'power blogs' like Design Sponge, Decor8 and Young House Love, I didn't even know you could make a career out of blogging. It was just something fun to do, something that would...
How I Increased Pinterest Traffic by 462% in Less Than a Year
Nope, in case you are wondering, that percentage you see in my blog post title is not a typo. I really have seen an incredible jump in my traffic over the last year and it was just by implementing a few changes to how I use Pinterest that I was able increase click...
How I Grew My Instagram Following Without Losing My Dignity
*Or, The Lazy Blogger's Guide to Growing Your Instagram - ya know, whichever works. One of the areas I've been trying to put a little bit of work into over the past year has been my Instagram feed. My numbers there are never going to blow anyone's socks off and there...