{TAG} You’re it! – Confessions Of A Blogger.
So today I thought that CGV needed a bit of a face lift. This is by far the longest that I’ve left things as is on the blog because I actually started to love what it looked like. Simplicity is key. I guess I got tired of the bright colours. I tweaked it a bit here and there to give it more of a magazine feel. I would love to hear your feedback!
Seeing that the blog got a facelift ;Every now and again I like to get a little personal on the blog and participate in blogger tags. I thought this would be the perfect time to share the nitty gritty on my blogging journey and what makes City Girl Vibe tick.
• This will be the 4th year that CGV will be in existence but I only really started blogging 3 and half years ago when I realised how much I really enjoy blogging. I always wondered if people would read my blog and find what I had to say interesting. When I received my first comment and blog subscriber, I decided to carry on.
Have you had any past online presence before (Other blog, YouTube)?
• I used to write/blog for a few companies until I decided to venture out on my own. I was ever so grateful for the opportunity and experience but it was time to fly from the nest and start my own blog. To take what I learnt there and apply it to my own blog. I have to say though that starting from the bottom again was difficult especially with blogging being so competitive and little opportunities being granted to newbie bloggers.
Why did you start a blog?
• During my gap year I was home and bored. Its so easy to become demotivated when you have nothing to do. I regard City Girl Vibe as “finding myself”. Through my blog I realised where my passion lies. This might sound like a cliche but I was looking for a platform where I could express my creativity.
When did you become serious about starting a blog?
•When I really started enjoying blogging for the other brands but was restricted to a certain way of writing and not being able to put my own spin on things. I then decided to test the waters with my own blog and VOILA!, here we are almost 4 years later.
What was your first post?
•Embarrassing – that is my first post! I wrote something on recycling but the wording, pictures and structure is so poor that I prefer it hidden. I do however refuse to delete it because its something that I can look back on and see how much my writing has evolved and how much this little blog of mine has grown.
What has been your biggest challenge about blogging?
•Blogging is easy, making time for blogging is the real challenge especially if you’re a full time student like me. I get home after 4 in the afternoon and by this time I’m so broken I can barely think straight. Lately weekends I spend my Saturday at campus too so the little blogging that I get to do would have to be an hour or so that I squeeze in on a Sunday and as seen in my posts lately, my pictures are shot at campus. Life = hectic.
Where do you see your blog in one year?
•This is a hard one. I definitely still see myself blogging. Funny enough, I’ve been thinking lately that I would also like to grow my blog so that I can I use it in my career in the future when I’ve completed my studies. I feel like my blog can open many doors, it already has and that’s the reason why I need to make time to blog; more of a priority.
What is the most rewarding thing to you about blogging?
•Just getting that comment/ email/ tweet or message saying how people enjoyed a certain post, how much they love my blog, how they feel like they know me through my blog and even those mails where I’ve been missing off the blog and people asking me where I’ve been. Those are the most rewarding aspects that any blogger could experience and I’m sure other bloggers would agree with me. The gifts, invitations and press drops are just an added extra but the readers are the people that keeps me in the blogging game. Not forgetting the many friendships that I’ve built over the years.
What is the most discouraging thing that happens to you?
•My most discouraging downer would have to be when I see other people STEAL my content. Especially when they get more recognition for it because they’re more well-known than City Girl Vibe. I know I shouldn’t let it get to me but it does. I’ve dropped quite a few segments on my blog because of this but I might just continue with it. I’ve stopped reading many blogs because their content are “copy and paste” posts from press releases or other blogs. I love getting to know my fave bloggers through segments on my blog like “Bloggers and Bags” so I will just carry on and brush the copycats off!
What’s your lasting inspiration or motivation?
•Definitely other bloggers! Like I said in my previous answer, I believe copying is a huge NO NO but I love being inspired by fellow bloggers both locally and abroad. If I discover a new product or trend that I feel my readers should know about then Ill blog about it to get them clued up. Everything might still be blurry right now but I have a vision for this blog of mine, I just need the dedication and time but for now I’m happy where CGV is at and where its heading.
