How Do I Start A Beauty Blog?!

Today's post is a little different, but I think it's a necessary one. Over the past few weeks I've gotten so many Tweets/messages from girls who are interested in starting up their own beauty blog but are unsure how to go about it.
I think it's brilliant that the blogging community is constantly growing and more and more people want to become involved. So in light of that, I decided to do a bit of a Q&A/Tips post that features the most common questions I get from budding beauty bloggers.
I'm by no means a professional, nor do I know the answers to everything in terms of beauty blogging. The Glamourelle has only been up and running for about 9 months now! However I've been incredibly lucky with my blog so hopefully I can do a good job solving any queries you may have.

1. How do I actually make a blog?

It's surprisingly easy to make your own blog. There are a variety of free platforms that you can host your blog on - Blogger, Wordpress, Weebly, to name but a few. It's really all down to personal preference, but I have always found Blogger to be the most comprehensive and straight-forward to use. The process only takes a few minutes and you can choose to customise your blog whatever way you like.

  2. How do I get followers/people to read my blog?

For me, Twitter has been my best friend throughout my blogging journey. I feel like it's the ultimate way to connect with other bloggers, readers and brands. 

When I first began this blog I just used Twitter to spread my name and connect with fellow bloggers. You can also take advantage of the #bblogger tag, whereby other bloggers can converse with you. I believe there are also weekly blogger chats conducted on Twitter, so they're also an excellent way to get involved.

It's a good idea to try networking with other bloggers - comment on their posts, genuinely - add a constructive comment, an opinion, or a recommendation - no spam! 

Social media is truly your oyster in terms of blogging. You can use your Instagram to share posts and add additional relevant hashtags to direct people to your post. For example, if you post a picture of a Chanel foundation you've reviewed, use tags such as #Chanel, #Foundation, etc. Always keep it relevant! On that note, when you review a product, use your Twitter or Instagram to tag the brand - perhaps they'll RT a link that'll drive even more traffic to you! 

3. Should I make separate social media accounts for my blog?

This is completely your own preference. I made a separate Twitter for this blog, but I rarely use it! A lot of my followers on my personal Twitter have come from that account so now I pretty much use my personal account for everything. 

I found it too annoying to try run two accounts, as one always seemed to be neglected. However if you're uncomfortable with your friends/family knowing about your blog initially, maybe a separate Twitter will allow you to promote yourself without your friends seeing it on their timelines!

4. Should I tell my friends/family about my blog?

Absolutely! I told my parents the moment I made mine, and they were completely supportive, they had no issue with it. Admittedly, my dad didn't quite comprehend why my hobby involved discussing lipsticks online, but he was happy enough to accept it! 

Only one of my friends knew about my blog initially, as she also has one. Now the vast majority of my friends read my blog, as do my classmates. It doesn't bother me at all - I'm proud of my content and I don't mind who reads it! 

5. How do you get companies to work with you?

This is frequently asked but quite difficult to answer. I'm incredibly blessed to get to work with lots of fantastic companies, however it's difficult to tell you how to get PR samples. 

The best advice I can give you is to connect via Twitter. Often brands will actually Tweet to say they're looking for bloggers to review certain items, so be sure to engage with brands regularly on Twitter. 

However one thing I will say against this, is that PR samples should not be the primary reason you create a blog, because you'll instantly become bored and uninspired. Also bear in mind how many beauty bloggers are online, and how few samples each company have to distribute. So don't make your blog on the basis that you want free samples. Do it if you're truly into it, not for the possible perks.

So they are the top questions I'm asked regularly. Here are just a few pointers to help you along the way too! 

• Be Consistent: There is no written rule about how often you should update your blog post. It's important to remember that you're not a machine and are not expected to produce new content every day. I like to stick to three posts a week. If I know I have exams coming up or a busy week, I pre-write posts and then schedule them to go up on a particular day. I'm doing my Leaving Cert this year, which is completely time-consuming, but I made the decision to run this blog, so business must go on as usual! 
• Be Original: This is a tricky one as there are only so many ways you can review a lipstick. However I think that your writing technique can be your selling point. You can choose to simply state the facts of the lipstick, or you can add your own spin. Tell the story of how you got the lipstick, why you bought it, something a little more interesting.
• Spell Check! No one is expecting you to write like Shakespere, but it is incredibly difficult to read a poorly constructed blog post. Always read over your work and make sure it's coherent to keep your readers coming back for more! Naturally you will have a few typos here and there, but generally speaking try your best to ensure your work is nice and easy to decipher.

So there you have my top tips for beauty blogging. As I said, I'm certainly no expert but these were invaluable nuggets of information for me when I first created this blog. Even now I like to read some blog advice posts as I feel there is always room for improvement.

Feel free to add your own advice down below or even a question! If you'd prefer a private response, by all means follow me on Twitter and I will follow you back and respond to any questions you may have! 

Zara :-) x