First of all thank you to everyone who has encouraged me over the last twelve months and thank you for taking the time to read my little corner of the web. I honestly never thought I would still be writing or that people would actually come and take a look.
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Taken after one or two drinks in Amsterdam |
Stranger still was the reaction of the people who knew me. I made a few subtle hints about the blog before just coming out and telling both my friends and people I worked closely with - there was a little ribbing but that stopped almost immediately. Bizarrely the worst reaction came from my family who teased about being doing something constructive with my time (me being constructive is completely and utterly out of character).
So, what changes have I experienced after blogging for a year?
STEP AWAY FROM THE PHONE
This is something that I used to find irritating as hell before I started blogging. Rachel (BeautyqueenUK) would sit on her phone for hours, would take random photographs and would never touch a plate of food in a restaurant without taking pictures from three angles (using three different filters).
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This is what awaited me when I attended my first bloggers event - gorgeous ilumi food |
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Dirty Burger in Kentish Town, Camden - the best burger ever |
Honest Burger in Camden Market |
I confess I now do this, I take random photographs of aftershaves when out and about, take pictures of my food (usually burgers that are making me drool - you‘re welcome for that lovely mental image) and have now even started taking pictures of my hair after styling it in the morning so that I can do a #HOTD hashtag!
PETS WIN PRIZES
Your pets suddenly become a marketing opportunity and a way of attracting people to your social media feeds. I’m guilty of this, mainly because I have three of the best cats ever, Dude, ASBO and Dexter.
Cats rule #thatisall |
Dude shows off his climbing skills |
What? More aftershave? |
Dexter stands guard over the aftershave |
They frequently pop up in my posts (usually when trying to take pictures they photobomb me or the product) or on my Instagram.
Weirdly, whenever they appear in posts they tend to overshadow everything else. Cute cats, they are the future.
In the words of Mr Tinkles from the film Cats and Dogs….'Cats Rule'.
DON’T TOUCH THAT YET
I was never allowed to open or use anything until it had been photographed more times than a dead body at a crime scene.
While I find myself doing this more and more I still get shouted at for throwing the wrong bath bomb into the bath, taking the packaging off the wrong product or eating the wrong thing. Ooops!
This Clarins Eye Revive sat in it's box for months until pictures could be taken! |
While I struggle to take a photograph (I work on the basis that if I take a hundred a few might be usable!) I find that more and more, I can be walking in the park and thinking ’this would make a great spot to take some photographs of x or y product‘.
Domain and Hosting Site
Before blogging you might as well have spoken to be in riddles about hastags, alt-tagging, domain names, web hosting, SEO, labels and keywords. Now, while I am not as up to scratch as I possible should be, I know what each of these things mean and do my best, but definitely an area upon which I can improve!
CAN I BLOG ABOUT THIS?
Yes, that’s right, you start to make purchasing decisions based upon whether you think something would be of interest to your readers, you search out products you haven’t tried before so that you can write about them and in my case buy, buy, buy.
I have found myself doing this more and more, particularly when looking at aftershaves or beauty products. Where once I had two or three of a product, now I have nine or ten.
So, one year down - what next? It looks like my addiction to aftershave is going to continue, as will my love of trying new hair styling products but it is more likely that I’ll post more about fashion (my fashion sense so expect dark), places to eat out and maybe a regular spot for my friend to write about cocktail and dive bars.
Thank you for reading, the support and encouragement.
Stephen
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Wow, one whole year, who'd have thunk it! Happy Blogiversary xx
ReplyDeleteAh, I hadn't realised you were a couple! How fantastic! Happy bloggoversary - I'm looking forward to reading more over the next year :-)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your one year anniversary! And yes I can sympathise with all of these things too! I almost took a selfie on the train today, but there were people around so I left it. Then whilst out shopping with a friend I had to keep photographing all the pretty things! It's part of the job! :D xxx
ReplyDeleteHappy blog anniversary! I can relate to this, my pets are on my instagram and blog almost as much as the kids. I'm going out for dinner tomorrow and am taking my camera to take someshots before we are allowed to eat!
ReplyDeleteHaha, I can totally relate to this post. Especially with getting my phone out and taking photos at every opportunity! :P
ReplyDeleteA great achievement! Well done you! Happy Blogiversary xx
ReplyDeleteHappy blog birthday well done! I do the same it is hard to not use something and wait to take photos.
ReplyDeleteSophie
xx
www.pocockins.co.uk
Happy birthday! Here' to a happy blogging 2015 x
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on a year of blogging! It's surprisingly addictive isn't it!
ReplyDeleteHappy one year blogging birthday!
ReplyDeleteWell done on your first year. Oh this post did make me laugh.
ReplyDeleteAh you're not at the purchasing point of - oh could I just review this then lol.
Happy Blog birthday! That burger looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteHappy blog birthday! Everyone in my household now knows that nothing is to be touched or opened until I have violated it with a camera! Haha! xx
ReplyDeleteCharli | Beauty and Lifestyle Blogger at CHARLI B
Well done on a whole year. I think that once you get used to blogging it becomes a big part of your life. My husbeast loves burgers as most as you do!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on a year! your cats are amazing :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on a year of blogging! Love your photos and experience over the year !:)
ReplyDeleteHa ha..I can relate to you in so many ways! I also make my shopping decisions basis if I'd be able to review the products on my blog! Congratulations on the milestone! Many more to come! :)
ReplyDeleteHappy one year anniversary! I know what an amazing achievement and feeling it is! I laughed at all of this especially the final one about can I blog about this? I find that now everything I buy is for the 'blog' lol bloody expensive blog it is!
ReplyDeleteThis post made me chuckle. I was exactly the same before I started blogging! Happy blogiversary! Hope to see you for many more years!!
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ReplyDeleteHappy one year anniversary - you've made me fancy a burger now lol
ReplyDeleteCongrats! one whole year is a big thing!
ReplyDeleteCreepers & Cupcakes
Happy Blogaversary!!! Can't believe you have a cat called ASBO - has he been reprimanded for his behaviour?
ReplyDeleteIt is the most apt name ever! He is an expert ratter and likes to bring them home (dead or alive) - we can't leave windows or doors open for fear of unwanted house guests! Stephen
DeletePets are definitely a fab marketing tool! Congrats on sticking with blogging for a while year :)
ReplyDeleteJess xo
http://just-jesss.blogspot.co.uk
Happy blogaversary :)
ReplyDeletehaha weldone on your first year , its flown over so quickly hasnt it, i have to agree with everything here lol, its been a first mad year for me to x
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the anniversary! That burger looked amazing!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on one year of blogging! I am half a year away from my first year x
ReplyDeleteWow, congratulations, happy blogaversary!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your first anniversary. Look forward to many more
ReplyDeleteI found your brilliant blog by accident as not so much into beauty products. So would really like 2 see more food and drink posts. X
ReplyDelete