Backstage Pass: Insights Into Blogging

October 10, 2013

Ever wonder how your favorite bloggers do it - cranking out posts consistently, managing their social media and answering comments, all while being fabulous and charming? "Backstage Pass" is here to help answer your questions! In this series, we take you behind the scenes to show you how blogging works; what motivates us, what is important in blogging, how do we juggle it all? Come join us to find out!Who is "we", you might ask? Well, let me tell you!

Brittney at True Vintage Love

Blogging for: 3 monthsBlogs about: True Vintage Love is a lifestyle blog! I rant on about my adventures of becoming a new mommy, DIY projects, getting fit, and just the small things in life!Find her on: Twitter | Pinterest | Bloglovin

Johanna at Dear Life, We Need To Talk

Blogging for: 5 monthsBlogs about: Dear Life, We Need To Talk is a collection of things in which I find joy, inspiration & motivation, as well as my thoughts on issues from the mundane to the divisive, all brought to you in a creative, generally sarcastic way!Find her on: Facebook | Bloglovin | Tumblr

Dannielle at D is for...

Blogging for: 7 monthsBlogs about: D Is For... is a beauty blog with some lifestyle and fashion posts thrown in the mix. I have more makeup and beauty bits than one person should probably own, so expect plenty of reviews and general ramblings.Find her on: Twitter | Pinterest | Bloglovin

Thalita at The Learner Observer

Blogging for: 13 monthsBlogs about: The Learner Observer follows my journey of making a house a home. I want to share what I know and what I learn, be it DIYs, decorating tips, or just life insights - at the Learner Observer, we have fun!Find her on: Facebook | Pinterest | Bloglovin

Here's how it works

Every 4 months, Brittney, Johanna, Dannielle and I will answer ten questions about blogging. Since we've all been blogging for different lengths of time, and we're all in different niches, the answers will be wonderfully diverse. In that, we want to give an insight into blogging, and how a blogger and their blog evolves over time. We think it's something that hasn't been done in quite this way before, and we're really excited to share our thoughts and insights with you. If all goes as planned, this series will allow you to accompany us along our blogging journey over time, and maybe (hopefully!) even learn a thing or two.

Question Time!

What inspired you to start blogging?

My husband! He always told me how I have so many opinions on everything, and I have creative ways of expressing them - I think it was his nice way of saying I'm opinionated and I have a big mouth! Just kidding! Seriously, though, if it wasn't for him suggesting it several times, The Learner Observer wouldn't even exist! Once I got started I had no focus. Then I started my very first 31 Days Series, and I'm actually int he middle of round two right now! The Nester has always been a super inspirational blogger to me.

What is your favorite thing about being a blogger?

The incredible interaction I get to have with people! It still bogs my mind that anyone other than my mom reads this little blog, so to be able to make new friends and feel like we've bonded over spray paint, or nail polish, or our last Home Depot trip is pretty awesome!!

What is the most difficult thing about blogging?

I guess there's nothing particularly difficult about just doing it. Things get more and more complicated as you become more involved in it. For me, learning things like coding, transitioning to self-hosted, and the never-ending plugin game have been major learning curves.

How do you measure your blog's success?

I feel most successful when I see comments on my posts. Again, it goes back to making a real connection with people I don't even know. When I do that, I feel totally awesome about myself and my blog.

In 5 words, how would you describe your blog?

Still finding its true purpose.

How do you deal with criticism?

What criticism? HAHA kidding! I take some of it seriously, and have even made changes to the blog based on it because it was really good constructive criticism. The negative stuff I dwell on for a few days, let it make me a little upset (which I am aware I should stop doing), then I forget all about it.

Which social media channels do you use and why?

I am Instagram obsessed. I'm a visual person, so pictures speak to me. I also LOOOOVE Pinterest. So much! I love those two because they're both image-based and they help to spark creativity. I also use Twitter and Facebook because I know it's important to try to reach people on all social media channels. I'm terrible at Facebook and I have just recently gotten better with Twitter. The 140 character max is good for my wordy self!!

How did you choose your blog design?

First I looked for free themes. I ended up with a quilt design that I completely hated and had nothing to do with me. Then I went to Etsy and decided to work with the awesome Tiffany of Beautiful Dawn Desings. It's a lot more "me" now.

If there was one thing you could tell newbie bloggers, what would it be?

Keep at it, even if your mom IS the only person reading your blog.

For the next four months, what are your top three goals for your blog?

To post at least 3 times a week, maybe even 4. To make my High/Low into a monthly series. And I would love to increase readership, of course, because connecting with all of my awesome readers is addictive and I want more of it!

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A MASSIVE thanks to Johanna for bringing us all together and writing up all of our blurbs and such. She's a real blogging gem, this one!

Now head on over to the other fantastic blogs to see how they all answered these 10 questions! They will each open in a new tab/window, so click away!

Johanna @ Dear Life, We Need to Talk

Dannielle @ D is for...

Brittney @ True Vintage Love

Enjoy!!