In what seems to be a bit of a coincidence, I recently received a slew of emails with questions relating to blogging. The predominant theme that stood out was “How do you get a successful and popular blog?” and I must confess that I was stumped.
You see, when I started out back in 2007 it was not with the intention of becoming a successful or popular beauty blog. Back in the day, there was no such thing. People laughed at you for wasting your time blogging, and they would say “You write about beauty products? Why? Who would want to read it when there are magazines with prettier pictures?” But I stuck with it anyway because I was having fun and enjoying writing for fun instead of for work and well, as we are all now aware, things have moved on. About 2 years after I started blogging, it exploded with a cosmic bang and here we are.
But I know there are some of you who may be wondering the same thing as those who have written in, and I thought I’d share some tips to get you started. I hope they are helpful and if you blog, I’d love for you to share anything that I might have missed out on 🙂 If you’re an avid blog reader, do share too what you enjoy seeing in the blogs you read and we can all aim to improve 🙂 (please settle in for a read – its long 😛 )
1. Blog because you love it
I cannot stress this enough. As with everything you set out to do, do it because you love it. Talk about nail polish, because its something you do well and enjoy. Are you good at nail art? Show everyone your talent. Swoon over a blush, because it makes you look alive and chirpy. But above all, love what you do because you are doing what you love. It will show and people who read it will see it and come back. Those who are just writing or blogging for the sake of being part of the (now very crowded) bandwagon will similarly send that message across and really, when there is no passion, there is nothing.
2. Choose a simple fuss free blog theme
There are a billion blog themes out there. I swear there are. But know what your focus is on i.e. your content. If you are good at graphic design (and I’m utterly jealous of you, if you are!), design something pretty for your header, but leave things minimal where it matters – the content box. Don’t crowd it with a fussy background or fancy buttons that will distract more than attract. Its a delicate balance and I will not presume to tell you how to design your blog (because its YOUR blog) and I will never tell you mine’s the best because its always a work in progress. But in the main, I think beauty blogs with large plain (not necessarily white) content boxes work the best to show off your photos and pictures and text to best advantage.
3. Use photos or pictures
People are visual creatures and you could be the best writer in the universe, but people wouldn’t read a block of plain text on the internet. Admit it, you don’t either (I don’t) 😛 So, use photos and pictures to give emphasis and break up the text and monotony. If you like taking pictures, do so. Remember, practice makes perfect and you do not need a swanky DSLR to take good photos, just a good eye. Otherwise, there are lots of stock product photos you can use. Just remember not to steal photos and you’ll be good.
4. Be honest
Be honest not only to your readers who are getting more and more savvy these days, but to yourself. Why are you doing this? Is it because you really want to or because you see others getting recognised and want a piece of the pie? This comes back to Point #1 above, and will be the deciding factor if you manage to hang on or not. Did you receive a product or service from a brand or company for you to try? Say so. No one will think any less of you if you did, and that honesty will stand you in good stead as you go along. Did you dislike a product that everyone else loved? Say so. Its honesty that readers are looking for in a product review, not a press release going rah rah rah! The world of PR and beauty blogs and bloggers isn’t a very large one and news travels. But if you are honest, you’ll never be caught out.
5. Check your spelling and grammar
Confession. My pet peeve is reading a blog riddled with broken grammar and misspelling. I’m prepared to overlook a small error. I don’t boast of being perfect myself and some of you may have picked up my errors from time to time. But before you hit the Publish or Post button, check your spelling and grammar. This applies to every language you blog in, not just English although I personally can only read English… but whatever hehe… spell check! 😀
6. Have an outside interest
No, I’m serious. If you’re going to sit at the computer all day cracking your head thinking of your next blog post, its going to be quite a lonely boring existence. Have other hobbies or an outside interest. Go out, travel, eat, live, laugh and love and then share all of that in your blog within reason. It not only makes you more interesting, it breaks the monotony and makes your blog more interesting.
7. Make friends – Use social media and comment on blogs
I’ve talked about social media and blog comments before and I stress this again. When I started out blogging, it was a howling wilderness peopled by few in the beauty blog niche so, when you do spot one on your radar, it stood out like a beacon in the dark. These days, toss a stone and you’d hit at least 2 blogs professing to be beauty blogs. Not to say its a bad thing, but it makes it harder to be noticed. So aren’t you glad you have social media now? 🙂 I found my fast blogging friends from the days of the blogging wilderness. I found my new friends on Twitter. Its easy these days to see if you will or can get along with people because face it, we can’t get along with everyone right? Commenting on other blogs too may bring you visibility but don’t go peppering blogs with your blog links – everyone hates it because there is a proper place for it i.e. in the URL box of the comment form. Social Media is a powerful tool to get you and your blog noticed but if you spam, yeah you get canned.
8. Text Size and Colour Matters
This is something you may not think about, but please do. I’ve come across some blogs that are or maybe interesting, but I can’t focus long enough to read because their text size is miniscule and in a light grey font on a white background. Gah! Or maybe even colourful font in varying sizes. Gah! 😯
9. Avoid excessive bashing and swear words
So you dislike a product. Well, see Point #4 above and say so. But you can say so nicely and not have to resort to “OMG This product was such a failure! The cream was thick and oily, and the whole brand sucks! I don’t know why they even bothered to sell this…” you get the idea. Or how do you feel when you read something like this “This cream was such an f**king useless piece of f**king crap. I don’t know which f**king fool will buy it because it is absolute s**t” I don’t know about you, but I switch off after the first line and click away. I come to read blogs to learn something or find out what people think and just like when I watch movies, if there is excessive swearing, I just switch away. The internet makes it easy to hit the X button.
In fact, you could have 20 good posts but when I come on one rant that is incomprehensibly peppered with swear words, I strike the blog off my radar. Its a personal thing. If you think about it, there is a whole English vocabulary out there at your disposal. You can find ways to say something doesn’t work or that you dislike, without having to resort to the most popular 4 letter swear words all the time. Some take the snarky sarcastic but funny route, others just tell you as it is, but keep it short. Learn to find a balance but know that you do not have to like everything all the time. Granted, its your blog and you can write and say what you want, but know also that the general public may not like nor enjoy it and there goes all your hard work.
10. You don’t have to go broke buying lots of stuff
This is an interesting point and comes back to Point #1 and #4. Why are you here? Are you blogging about beauty because you have already got so many blushes, you need a cabinet just for them? Or are you blogging because you enjoy playing with makeup and want to share your makeup looks with the world and perhaps even land you a plum job as a makeup artist, if that’s your dream? Or are you here because “I want freebies”?
If you are the former two, you will already have a ton of things to talk about, and chances are, you already spend a lot of time and money on your interest and hobby. You wouldn’t think people are interested in something as basic as a shower gel, but you just never know! Or perhaps you are just wondering aloud if a product may be causing your skin problems – it could be the next big thing. I wondered aloud once if the shampoo I was using was causing my acne and till today, I get people commenting on it because they just made the connection too.
If you are the latter, then well, I’m going to have to pump you by the hand and wish you lots of luck. If you do get what you wish for, congratulations. But its a tough going world because blogging is very very lonely and abjectly boring if you have no one to share your passion with, for bloggers do know when someone’s going at it just for the “free stuff” and word does get around about bloggers who spoil it for everyone.
11. Be yourself
Don’t try to be someone you are not. Don’t try to copy another person’s style because you aren’t that person and it will just stress you out. Blog like you’re talking to your best friend and sharing a piece of happy or unhappy news or results with them. I’d say blog like you’re talking to your sister, but you probably don’t really want to know how I talk to my sister and the stuff we talk about 😛 So blog as yourself and enjoy yourself blogging because its fun! 🙂
12. Success doesn’t come overnight
To those who have been reading for the past 5 years, goodness, I take my hats (yes plural because I wear many!) off to you. I know who you are and I love all of you 😀 To those who maybe new to the MWS community, yes, its coming on nigh 5 years. While I agree that I enjoy a certain measure of success now, it did not come overnight. I was plodding along for at least 2 years before there was even a glimmer of interest and even then, it was primarily from overseas, because blogs were gaining momentum there and not locally. So the local scene is still quite new and everyone has a fair share of the pie and I must say that it may even be easier to get a leg up these days early on, rather than having to wait 5 years the way I did 🙂 If I were in it for the popularity, money or success, I’d have given up a long time ago, but I was in it and I lasted because I enjoyed it, which brings us back to Point #1! 😀
Everything said, I’d like for us all to be friends and blogging buddies and not competitors because the former is helpful and supportive, and the latter is destructive because I’m not sure what we’re competing for and what the prize is – anyone? 😉 Maybe if I did know what is at stake, I could amp things up and do something about it 😛
Thank you for reading my thesis if you survived this far 😛 If you have a new blog or are thinking to start one, I hope this gave you some food for thought on how best to proceed. I will be sharing more simple blogging tips from time to time if anyone’s interested or if you have a burning question please feel free to drop me a line on email, on Twitter or even in a comment here 🙂 You may also enjoy Tine’s Bloggie Wednesdays – which I admire because I could never keep up a weekly blogging column for talking too much 😛
If you have more tips you’d like to share for new bloggers, or if you are a reader and want to share what draws you to certain blogs, please do because I could always learn something too – we never stop learning for once we do… we die 😛
Paris B
Simple Blogging Tips are some simple tips I have for fellow bloggers, based on my own experiences. I’m no ‘guru’ but I hope they will help you. You may read up on previous Simple Blogging Tips here.
Charm says
This is a wonderful post. You’re right- you have to love blogging to do it. As much as I love writing I can’t, for the life of me, bring myself to blog. Thank you for elaborating on grammar and spelling :).
Paris B says
Thank you Charm 😀 Grammar and spelling are big bugbears aren’t they? 🙂
Sarah says
Hello! I have been reading your blog since 2008, and I love how much it has grown. It’s one of the first beauty blogs I started reading – good for my face (I hope), bad for my wallet! Plus it’s nice to know other people get excited over a new lipstick,for example. 🙂
I started blogging recently just keep track of what I use, because nowadays when I look back at pictures, I’ll think hey, my skin looks nice here, what was I using?!! And YES to #3! As a reader I am blown away by beauty blogs with decent swatch pictures, because I personally find it so hard to get those things right.
Paris B says
Wow Sarah! You probably deserve some sort of Award LOL! 😀 Thank you so much for reading and for commenting through the years and I do hope your face thanks you 😉 I know what you mean about blogging to keep track. Sometimes, I come across something and wonder if I might have tried it and have to search through my blog. Yeah, its gotten that bad LOL! 😀
plue says
i is love you! *mwah*
back when blogs written by local readers were really little and it’s so hard to get info! i remember the 1st post i ever read on your site was kate gel liner 😛
Paris B says
awww *mwah mwah* Yeah back in the day, local beauty blogs were so few, you could count them on one hand. And Kate gel liner? I think I didn’t like that and it was AGES ago! 😀
Jyoan says
Wow! I never knew it was not all like that when you first started. I had MWS on my radar back in 2008, and then, I pretty much felt I found you because MWS was already strong and on track in 2008.
Back then it was yours and Sesame’s that really stood out for me, because of the very clean look, along with beautyholicsanonymous and lipglosseater… … And then I found the rest. =D I think they do have a great number of similarities in terms of layout, but obviously, all very much different themes.
One other good thing to do, I feel, would be a blog name one really feels for and can relate with, like Clumps of Mascara and Lip Gloss-eater. LOL! And this comes with a logo that you can stamp on the pictures. Very much like branding/marketing.
The first two years I kept a blog (in 2006), I wrote under a nameless, banner-less page… … more like a personal diary. And you’re so right… back then, poor bloggers were dissed by real-life people about why blog. T.T
Paris B says
Thank you Jyoan. I remember your comments back then and when you were stationed in Malaysia for a spell – yeah been a while eh? And I’m glad to see you back in the blogging scene 😀 I remember discovering Sesame’s blog at about the same time too but she’s really taken off in her niche which is so awesome to see 😀
I love your tip about the blog name. You are right – having a name people can identify with so they know what you’re blogging about is very helpful also because people will tend to remember it. I sometimes wonder if I went the correct route with the name because I’ve heard so many variations of it so far LOL But its all encompassing and that I think it pretty much how I want it to be 😀
Jyoan says
Oh yes! And another thing (so sorry that my comments are always so long)! I agree that one has to love doing this, as in penning down thoughts in a structural, intelligible manner, other than enjoying using products, travelling, cooking, etc.
Writing/documenting must not be a pain in the neck.
There’s great satisfaction looking back on one’s own posts and seeing how much one has grown, how much the thinking has changed, skills have improved, etc. =)
Paris B says
I love your long comments Jyoan and I thank you for taking the time to leave them because its very insightful to read too 😀 I sometimes look back at my old posts and cringe “Did I actually say that!?” But yes, its great to see how far we can push ourselves and how much farther we can go 😀
Jamilla says
Amen, hun! The very best thing about blogging is meeting other bloggers like you! That’s why I really do it. I love makeup, and I buy my own – I do not want to review stuff I personally wouldn’t pay for myself, and be beholden to PRs.
Paris B says
You are so right Jamilla! Some day, I hope to meet you whichever part of the world we’ll be in 😀 I like blogging about my own products too. It makes me feel less obliged and less like work but I guess the PR element can’t be escaped anymore these days
Marina(Makeup4all) says
Great post, Paris. I actually laughed at #9, I can only imagine that. And, you are right, it takes time, a lot of time…
And it is worth doing it only if you love it!
Paris B says
Thank you Marina! I remember your blog from back in the day and look what you’ve become! An online magazine! 😀
Michelle Beh says
Really good and interesting topic. Honestly saying I fall in love with skincare and makeup products since my uni life started. Mostly of the time, I will read the beauty blogs before deciding to buy any products! Thanks to MWS which had been helping me a lot in deciding the haul =) I just wish that there will be more local beauty bloggers in Malaysia 🙂
Paris B says
Thank you Michelle 😀 I too wish there were more beauty bloggers locally because we all have different likes and dislikes, it helps to read different views. But that said, I don’t know of many myself and find myself reading more foreign blogs – maybe because of the language factor.
Joyce September says
Nicely written! I would like to add on to #5 – construct your sentences properly, and not type in the same manner as you talk. There are many bloggers who like to go “lah, hor, aiyoyo” a lot. While I think it brings out more of your ‘individual style’ so to speak, but try to minimize them.
And yes, you have to love blogging. Keep that in your mindset, instead of setting up a webspace just to receive invites and freebies.
Paris B says
Thank you Joyce! I’m not sure if you’re the same but were you blogging under a pixnet account before this? If I’m mistaken I apologise 🙂 Some colloquialism adds flavour but too much, like MSG, puts people off. You’re absolutely right about that because people sometimes forget that blogging is international and not everyone understands waht a lah, hor and aiyoyo is! 😀 Happy blogging 😀
Joyce September says
Hey Paris, yep, I switched to my own domain a year ago. Cheerios! 🙂
Paris B says
Oh that’s awesome 🙂 Have a great day!
Sunny says
Thanks for the excellent tips Paris! I started about 4 months ago (I’m suck a rookie lol). I had been reading beauty blogs, and your fellow lipstick bandit Jen managed to persuade me to get Chanel Rouge Coco Mademoiselle. That was kind of the boiling point! I’ve been really enjoying it, though sometimes I get a bit stressed when I can’t get decent swatch pictures!
I agree with everything you’ve said, particularly about freebies! I believe that if bloggers are granted the privilege to test something out, they have the responsibility of reviewing it thoroughly and honestly. I sometimes see bloggers who keep showing pictures of the “goodie bags” they receive, but never following up with proper swatch photos or reviews afterwards. I kinda wonder how long it’ll take for PR agencies or companies to realize it’s probably not worth it, or how long it’ll take for readers to turn away from them.
But I’ve strayed too far…
Anyways, I really enjoy your tips, and it was a good reality check that I’m hopefully still on the right track xx
Paris B says
Aww Sunny, I can’t imagine you’ve only been at it for 4 months – good job! 😀 I have been reading so much love for Chanel Mademoiselle but I just can’t wear it. I actually find Rouge Coco drying 🙁 Swatch pictures are the hardest in the world to take, I swear! Having lots of sunlight locally helps me but I can only imagine what a nightmare it is for those who live in temperate climates with weak sunlight and early nights. I don’t “get” some blogging styles too but hey, whatever works for them eh? They have their fair share of fans too! 😀 Keep up the good work!
Denise says
Thank you for the lovely tips Paris! I’ve been a reader since 2009 and I really love your blog. I blog to share the things I love. If someone learns something about a product and finds my info useful, then it’s a huge bonus!
Paris B says
Thank you so much Denise! I can’t believe you’ve stuck around so long 😀 Blogging because we love it and love sharing is the best reason to stick to it. Good job with your blog and happy blogging!
Sandra says
Great post i really love the advice thats given here. Make lots of sense.
Paris B says
Thank you Sandra 🙂
adeline says
I’m a little more irked at bloggers who previously started out as very genuine and frank but have now inundated their blogs with reviews of sponsored products in a show and tell manner with little critique. Nowadays, if I want a to buy a certain skincare/makeup product, I’ll read through a ton of blog reviews to get a better picture (esp if I’m getting the product online or it’s not available at the counter for testing). Trust no one (blog).
Paris B says
You have a point there too Adeline. I’ve seen that happen too and when it does, I unsubscribe because I don’t learn anything anymore. Also you’re probably doing the right thing. Always better to read through many reviews and see as many pictures as possible than to just base your trust in one because we’re fallible too 🙂
jen says
your tips are really helpful! i just like to share something..
i’ve read from a blogger that i’ve been following that someone told them that they don’t have the right to have a beauty blog because they’re not beautiful.. and i thought, what the heck? do you blog about beauty just bcoz u’re beautiful and u wanna flaunt u’re pretty face? and do you think that if u’re beautiful somebody will read ur blog even if it doesn’t worth reading and you’re talking nonsense?
i’m sharing this in relation to ur point # 1, 4 & 11.. thank you 4 ur tips! 🙂
jen says
*its not worth reading* haha! sorry 🙂
Paris B says
Thank you Jen and I am absolutely HORRIFIED at the comment the other blogger received! It is so wrong to think that one can only blog about beauty because you’re beautiful and young and that is just so wrong on all levels 🙁 You’re absolutely right you know. There are many people out there who are the perceived beautiful people but their blogs tell me nothing and so I don’t read them. It saddens me to know this 🙁
Sherry says
Nice write up I like to ask is apply mask do we need put on neck? Even though the mask stated put neck as well. Also how much SPF we need use if we are indoor or outdoor.
Paris B says
Thanks Sherry and I think the mask question, it depends. I don’t because its so messy unless you plan to shower after doing your mask. As for SPF I’m probably not the best person to ask. I use SPF50 everyday regardless of whether I’m indoors or outdoors!
lyn says
Excellent x1000 post!!!
You already know why I blog. It’s because I have cabinets full of beauty products from the countless years of amassing beauty products and decided I might as well write about beauty products. Blogging helps keep me sane because my job is extremely stressful and blogging provides me an outlet to just ramble on. I love the fact that I got to know you crazy lot from blogging too 🙂
Paris B says
I won’t believe the cabinets till I see them – when’s the party? 😉 But yes, like you my day job is so dry and boring, I’m so glad to have a creative outlet in my blog or I think I might just dry out and turn to dust. Urgh! So happy too to have met you (and encouraged you to keep on blogging!) 😀
Stephanie/Yukaeshi says
Very very true and very very useful 😉
I also find that as a “newbie” in the beauty blogging world, never ever be shy! If you want to review/blog about a place, ask the people in charge for permission (Since it’s bad manners to covertly snap photos, although you can)- they’re more than happy to get coverage and it also helps boost your blog’s readership in a way.
Paris B says
You’re right about not being shy and asking about photos or information 🙂 I however prefer to take the stealthy road because I’d rather no one know because that way, there’s no sudden “improvement” in service quality LOL! I always find that when I go incognito, I get service that’s quite different from when its sponsored and that sometimes bugs me.
lavender says
Hi Paris,
I finished reading the whole post and agree with your points and Point no 1 is the most important one. Thanks for the tips.
Paris B says
Thank you Lavender 😀 Am happy you agree that we need to love blogging to keep going at it – happy blogging!
BunBunMakeupTips says
I take pride in being honest with my product reviews because when I read reviews on other people’s blogs I hope they didn’t write it positively because ‘product was sent for review purposes’. If I need positive reviews about everything, I might as well read a magazine, ya know~ That’s why I love reading blogs coz they’re (generally) more truthful.
I agree with point 8 so much! Blogs with BLACK background and neon colored text like pink, yellow, green are the hardest to read. Unless I really like the content, I usually hit the ‘X’ real soon.
I also realize your blog’s theme and Tine’s are rather similar. 🙂 Easy on the eye and the focus is on the text rather than having flashing signs and ten thousand ads to distract the reader.
Paris B says
Now that you and others have mentioned it, Tine and I do have a similar theme to our blogs – we’re wordy girls as you can probably tell too 😀 Glad you agree with me too about the font colours! I’ve come across so many that use too many colours in their blog I don’t even know where to begin reading 😛
Sam says
Excellent tips. I’d also suggest that if you’re on a roll with writing posts, to save some for when you’re very busy (eg. usually in my case it’s due to work, but at the moment it’s because I’m fighting off a cold).
That’s great that you’ve been blogging so long and stuck to it. Blogging takes dedication, motivation and creativity. It should be something bloggers are proud od!
Paris B says
That was a good tip Sam! I sometimes read some blogs that are literally feast or famine. Some days, there are 5 posts and then they are silent for 2 weeks. It would be best, if you’re on a roll to write them all and save as drafts and then release them slowly for a more consistent posting schedule 😀