Back on the Podcast Again

Hello Friends!

I am back on my Podcast Pass the Prosecco after taking a five-month break.  In the past week, I posted two new episodes.  I’ll link them here so you can listen!  

1. Hello My Friends, Let’s Do This Again! 
2. Before You Start a blog (What You Should Think About?)

Break from Podcast

Before I took I break, I was taking my podcasting in another direction.  In the past, I have created helpful tips on my blog by providing blog posts on the subject of influencing and blogging (Fashion Blogging for Beginners: The Mistakes I Made Starting My Fashion Blog).  It was a small How-to guide- series that I put together to help other bloggers who are starting.  Now I am taking that same inspiration and desire to help others and I am putting it all into a podcast. Besides, so much has changed since 2016-2017.  There is so much to catch up on.    

To be honest, I lost my drive to continue my podcast during the late spring because I was trying to figure out my Why.  Now I know what I want to do and I  am inspired again.  

This podcast is going to be about blogging, Instagram, and things that I am currently inspired by. 

Disclaimer:

I am by no means an expert however, I’ve been blogging since 2015.  I’ve seen different seasons of it.  I experience the different changes in blogging and social media and I truly feel like I can be a good source of information for new bloggers.  I love being a part of the fashion blogging industry.  My intention is to inspire and help the new and seasoned bloggers find their way in this space.  As a blogger, I’ve made mistakes & I’ve had successes that I would love to share.   

Podcasting is a great way to connect with followers and it’s a good pivot that can help me connect with new followers as well.  Personally, I love listening to podcasts.  This year I have discovered a few fashion bloggers just like myself have crossed over into podcasting as well.  And yes, I listen to their stuff cause I am here for it!! 

Podcast: Hello My Friends, Let’s Do This Again! 

For those who want to know my story read this blog post there:  (Fashion Blogging for Beginners: The Mistakes I Made Starting My Fashion Blog), the How I become a Fashion Blogger paragraph gives all the details or listen to my new episodes on Pass the Prosecco.  

In the spring of 2015 Fashion Adventures with Cutebeandik was born!  It started with a free WordPress for about 8 months but then when I realized that I wanted to get into the reward style program but it appeared that you needed to own a blog to send a request.  November of 2015, cutebrandik.com was born.  I kept the same title.  I was very consistent in my blogging entries, I posted once a week.  I knew I needed to build up my profile to get accepted.  I researched what I needed to do to get into the rewardStyle program.  I think things have changed over the past years, I am certain that it was harder to get affiliated back in 2015.  It took me a year and 3 months to accomplish my goal of becoming affiliated with rewardStyle.  

Between the years 2016-2019, I met so many other bloggers like myself and I established some good relationships. I went to a couple of blogger events and I felt like my part-time gig was doing very well.   I had many collaborations, though not with any major businesses.  I did some with small businesses and I had fun working with them all. 

So here I am in 2021, trying to get my blogger groove back.  

Before You Start a blog (What You Should Think About?)

In the second episode of my podcast, I talk about the brainstorming you should do before starting a blog.  There are various types of blogs out there, wedding venues, recipes, lifestyle hacks, and the list goes on.  Most likely you know what you want to blog about if you are seeking to start a blog.    

Here are the steps that you should think through during your decision on starting a blog:  

Ask yourself; Why, What, How, Where, and When

Your Why?  (Your purpose) 

Do you have a talent in something that you want to share? Do you have a lot of knowledge in something that you feel like you want to help other people with?  Do you want to monetize your blog because sometimes people start not knowing or wanting to monetize then change their minds later.  Some people don’t want to monetize.  Blogging can be strictly a hobby and just a fun place to escape into or be a part of.

Here you want to set goals for yourself, create a one-year plan or five and ten.    

Your What? (Your niche)

Focus on your niche and The plans you have for your blog.  These days you won’t bank off of one category alone like (fashion).  Most bloggers will share different layers of themselves to keep readers interested.  If you hope to make this your income you need to be innovative because this is 2021 so many other girls are doing the same things other fashion bloggers are doing.  It is hard to stand out. How are you going to give it a little unique flair to the community? 

The how (How, how are you going to do this)?? 

Will it be full time or part-time?  If it is Full time you want to make money.  Anytime you want to make a commission you need should treat your blog like a business at all times.  I suggest doing so if it’s part-time.  It all depends on how much money you do you want to make.  How much do you want to grow?  Some bloggers want to grow in the 100k, Some wish for 1M, and others want to keep it under 20k, or even smaller than that. The money you can make depends on your audience size, engagement, and the strategies you use to monetize your blog. However, some earn through investing, and for those interested in learning how to navigate this, an Online Trading Guide can offer valuable insights on maximizing earnings through smart financial decisions.

Where to do it 

What platforms do you want to use?  I remember in 2015 every blogger appeared to own a blog.  By 2017, it seemed like more bloggers without actual blogs did their influencing on social media.  Choose a platform you are passionate about and be consistent.   

When do You Launch your blog? 

Don’t make excuses because honestly, you will never find the perfect time to do it.  There are circumstances that you can wait for like a day of the year because it is sentimental.   You might have plans for the launch and certain conditions need to be met, it is okay to wait then.  I wouldn’t recommend waiting too long because it is never going to be perfect and a lot of my learning was from doing.  

Glass Of inspo 

It’s the middle of October and LTK and other bloggers are pushing holiday gift guides.   It makes sense due to shipment delays this year. 

I also share these Manolo Blahnik dupes at Nordstrom that are on sale. I bought them!!! I’ve been eyeing the Carrie Crystal Embellished Pumps from the Badgley Mischka Collection for a while.  I went for the pretty blue ones that were originally $225 and I paid $182, Unfortunately, my order got canceled over the weekend so I have to wait for them to go on sale again.  

Caitlin Covington is coming out with a fall line collaborated with PinkLily she did this earlier in the year with her spring line and she had some really cute pieces… it comes out next Friday and I will be waiting for her line to open!!!  I was also inspired by her and her witch hats that she put out on her porch and I did the same.  I noticed the floating witch hat trend last year this year I was thinking about it and I bought the bats the 3-D little bats that you put everywhere and then I saw the Pinterest idea of the floating hats earlier in the month.  I set aside three of them put them outside and then the rest of them are hanging in my dining room over my dining room table…

Thank you for stopping by and don’t forget to tune in to Pass the Prosecco.  

until next time, Cheers!

XoXo 

-Brandi Kimberly