Friday 22 March 2013

Confessions Of A Blogger

Since reading Elle's post on this topic, I've been mulling over exactly how serious I've been taking blogging. Am I doing enough? Am I enjoying the blogging life? This 'tag' is a nice way to explain what I'm doing here and why I'm doing it.

When did you start your blog?

8th April 2012! I was about to start my exams at university and I desperately needed a distraction to keep me sane, so apparently my solution to that was writing about the amount of makeup I splat on my face. Almost a year and 230 posts later, here I am! 

Have you had any past online presence before? (other blogs / youtube)
Hmm, here's something not many people know - I have had an account on pretty much every social network known to man. Bebo, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, Photobucket, Flickr, Evernote, Neopets, Runescape,  Netlog, Vampire Freaks, LiveJournal, DeadJournal, Moonfruit, Wordpress, Fanfiction.net, Proboards, to name the ones I can think of now... I had a Xanga blog where I reviewed music once upon a time too, but I was so self-conscious I never actually set it to be publicly viewable. I've written fanfiction ever since I was about 10, can you believe that?! I've always been super computer savvy and I've loved being part of the internet experience.

Why did you start a blog?

Basically, I started out reading beauty blogs and watching YouTubers (don't ask me how, I genuinely can't remember what started me watching them, but the rest is history) but no matter how lovely I thought all the girls were, they were just girly girls, pink and flowers everywhere, and that didn't suit me. I needed a world where it was okay to wear all black, to wear heavy eyeshadow and like non-popular music. Then I stumbled across Grav3yardgirl - finally I'd found a beauty YouTuber who's on my wavelength! I established this blog as just a place I could post photos of my various ventures into eyeshadow and eyeliner, as I wasn't greatly enthusiastic about foundation and blusher, I just wanted to post EOTDs, and well, the rest is history! EOTDs seem to be my most popular posts but I also love reviewing things because I've always loved researching products before I throw my money at them, so if my reviews help anyone in any way, however small, my purpose is fulfilled.

You'd never guess I make my own graphics, would you?

When did you become serious about starting a blog?

From the second I started up my blog, I knew I was going to take it seriously. I was by no means new to the blogging lifestyle, but I was definitely new to the whole social side of it, I'd only blogged for my own entertainment, this time, I let other people into my own little world, and that was... well it was bloody frightening to say the least!

What was your first post?

Guh this is painful just reading it - for my first proper post I reviewed two of the Barry M magnetic nail polishes, under the title 'Magneto's Here!' in the hope someone would get the X-Men reference. I didn't even do any swatches, but then again I'm still guilty of that crime, sometimes I just don't have the time!

God the tiny photos pain me still!

What has been your biggest challenge about blogging?

Definitely getting decent photography. I have an iPhone 3GS camera and no lighting brings up a true colour, plus I can't take decent EOTDs or lip swatches because I can't see my camera at the same time I'm taking a photo, so if I'm overusing Instagram filters, then I wholeheartedly apologise, one of these days I'll have the money for a decent camera!

Where do you see your blog in a year?

Hopefully I'll have gained the courage to break the world of YouTube, and hopefully I'll have a better camera so I can fill my blog with better photos to give you guys the reviews you want!

What is the most rewarding thing to you about blogging?

For me, it's reading comments from people who have found my reviews/advice helpful. After all, it's what I'm here for, to help through imparting my own experiences, so hearing that you've been somewhat improved by reading my blog, then it's a job well done!

What is the most discouraging thing to happen to you?

I lost a follower once. It was AWFUL. Actually, it's happened twice. It's discouraging that two people (possibly more) have reached for the 'unfollow' button, which let's face it, it isn't easy to find on Blogger, so I really must've done something wrong!

What's your lasting inspiration / motivation?

Fellow alternative bloggers keep me going, because sometimes I lose sight of what I'm really here for, it seems to me sometimes that only mainstream blogs get attention. I'm always inspired to keep going when bloggers tell me I was the first blog that they read, that's a massive compliment that people can find me in the sea of beauty bloggers and enjoy what I do here!

I'd love to hear your answers to these questions, so please link me up if you do this 'tag'!

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8 comments:

  1. Loved your answers, and the honest when answering these questions. I hate losing followers.. you can't but think what did I do wrong?! :( xx

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    1. Hehe I don't understand why some bloggers hide behind a facade when answering questions like this, just be honest, nobody's going to criticise them for it! It's so hard losing followers, even if you try and console yourself that perhaps they deleted their account, you still somehow change your approach in case you're really doing something wrong that you're just not seeing :( xx

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  2. This was really interesting! I'd love to see you on YouTube! I would never be brave enough to do that so I have a lot of admiration for people that do!

    Losing a follower is really unnerving...I've lost several but I try not to dwell on it too much! It could because they deleted their Google account though.

    I might have to give this tag a go!

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    1. Guh I've filmed things for YouTube countless times but I'm so self conscious I delete them straight after because 'my hair looks funny' or 'I needed more concealer on' :/ Yeah it's hard to convince yourself it's not something you did to lose a follower! I'd love to see your take on this tag so lemme know if you do! x

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  3. I love reading these (I'd have got the X-Men reference darnit!), it's cool to see how things have progressed for people and different reasons for blogging and such. Also, Vampire Freaks! Holy crap that's a blast from the past, I wonder if my VF account is still there, with embarassing goffik/emofag pictures and all xD.

    Boo to losing followers. I don't know if I ever have... I don't pay enough attention, just get surprised when I suddenly realise the number has changed xD

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    1. Haha damnit that's only one person that would've got the refence! Hahahaha I'm too scared to go back on VF and see what horrors it still has of a 14 year old Ali! Hehe I need to try that approach, the lack of fucks to give about followers! x

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  4. I would love to see3 you on youtube! I've just started with youtube and I love making videos, it's fun :) xxx

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    1. I'd love to join you all on YouTube, sometime soon anyway! Your videos alone are inspiring me to get my arse into gear and film something already, so thank you! xxx

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