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What to Expect During Your First Year of Blogging

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Happy 1 Year to BestieTalks!

We are so excited to share with you what we have learned during our first year of blogging. Running a two-person blog has its ups and downs, but honestly, it’s been a fucking blast! We’ve learned so much about ourselves, each other, got our first troll, have been able to travel for our blog and met some amazing people all in one short year. It has been a fantastic learning journey and we wanna share some of what we learned with you!

What to Expect 

So you’ve launched your blog and now what? PROMOTE!!! No one will know anything about your blog unless you put it in their faces. Here is what you need in order to get it everywhere:

  • Instagram– Make an account dedicated only to your blog. Start following big bloggers that inspire you and are in the same niche as your blog. Educate yourself on how Instagram works and how to get the most out of it. Engagement with your audience is a must! Learn everything you can about hashtags. 
  • Twitter– Twitter is great for quick thoughts and gives you the ability to throw things out there while personally engaging with others through Tweets. Engage with other bloggers and remember to give back. Twitter is an AMAZING platform for bloggers but if you are a blogger that only promotes your own work and never returns the favors to others- expect to be called out. Blogging is not a place for the selfish. There is enough room for all of us to succeed!
  • Facebook– Just about everyone and they mama, grandma, and auntie has a Facebook so it is only smart to make a page for your blog and invite EVERYONE you know to like the page. That way when you post on there, it will come on everyone’s feed. Join FB blogging groups too. They always have great tips and are a good place to vent, ask for advice and meet other bloggers. 
  • Pinterest– Pins drive people to your blog. Of course, you will have to learn how to make pins but it’s simple. Once you master that, make a pin for every article you publish and stay actively pushing your pins and posting others too.  

Try to make sure all your accounts are universal in the name. Sometimes your name is already taken ( happened to us with Twitter) and if that’s the case, add something simple to it that still applies to your blog ( like BestieTalksBlog). This allows it to be easier for your blog to be found on any network.

What to Expect And How to React

You can’t prepare for everything, so be ready to roll with the punches when they come. Not everyone is going to like or understand what you’re doing and that’s fine. But sometimes people can be little bitches and they like to troll your page venting their negative unwanted opinion and that’s OKAY too. We understand that not everyone will love us and you have to be okay with that and accept it. Remind yourself why you started blogging and as long as it makes YOU happy that’s all that really matters. You will have moments when you question your work and if you are making any progress. Remember, success doesn’t come overnight and if you are getting into blogging with the idea of getting rich or famous then maybe you should re-evaluate your reasons for wanting to be a blogger. Find your passion and keep that passion while navigating through your first year.

Be prepared for some “friends” and family to not support you like you thought they would!

 

Finding Balance

We both have full time careers so blogging is something we do in our spare time. If you are like us and have other responsibilities, then you will need to find a balance between your professional work and blogging. It’s okay to not be active every single day. Honestly, we believe that disconnecting is healthy and we do it often. Finding balance is key for blogging to not only work but for you to stay happy and positive about it. If you feel like taking the day to do other things besides writing, promoting on social media or making new pins for Pinterest.. THAT IS TOTALLY OKAY! Don’t stress yourself out feeling like you have to get an article out every damn day. Find what works for YOU. Sometimes we put out two articles a week and other times we put out just one. We find what works for us and we roll with it!

Connect With Other Bloggers

One thing we read about when we first launched BestieTalks was interacting with other bloggers. We thought, ” how the hell are we supposed to do that?” Trust us, we get how overwhelming all of this may seem in the beginning but you will get a hold of it and figure things out! Reach out to other bloggers, comment on their articles and build a rapport with them. Find other bloggers in your niche who you have things in common with. We have done a handful of guest blog articles with other bloggers and it is a great experience! We highly recommend you do this! Connecting with other bloggers helps you both grow and reach more people and it’s also quite fun to engage and work with other bloggers! Pepare yourself for other bloggers turning you down. You won’t be compataibe with everyone. This goes back to what we talked about earlier.. not everyone is gonna like you and acceting that now will make things easier down the road. The blogging community is one of the most supportive groups we have ever encountered. You might feel shy or timid when first starting out- but we all were. You got this! 

Stay True, Real and Honest

The most important part of being a blogger is staying true, honest and real! Whatever you blog about should be a passion for you. Staying true to your identity and what you believe in will make you more connected to what you are writing about. The goal is not to appeal to every single person out there but the people that do connect with you will come. Just stay persistent and patient and enjoy the journey of watching your blog evolve. You might feel that your blog is not reaching anyone but if you stay consistent it will get noticied. It takes a lot of work to be a proficent blogger and thankfully I have my bestie to help with all the things we have to do. I could only imagine all the extra work that a solo blogger has to do but be proud of yourself! Be proud of your little accomplishments and the big ones! It takes a lot of confidence to put your thoughts out into a world that is filled with judgment. You are a badass and don’t you ever forget it!

Thank you for reading and celebrating our one year of blogging with us! Please let us know of any tips you have that could be useful to others!

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Everything You Need to Know About a Blogger’s Conference

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Would You Ever Attend a Blogger Conference?

Before starting BestieTalks we had no idea things like ‘blogger conferences’ even existed. Eight months after launching our website we came across BlogHer, who was holding a blogger event, and we decided immediately that we wanted to attend. The blogging world is vast and there is so much to learn and so many people to meet. We figured this would be a perfect opportunity to expand our knowledge and network with other bloggers. Our only communication with bloggers up until this point had been online and through social media. All of our interactions have been so positive online that we were not the least bit hesitant about jumping right into our first blogger conference. Have you ever thought about attending a blogger conference? Or maybe you already frequent them and had a similar experience as us? If you have never been to one, would you ever attend a blogger conference? We are here to tell you why you absolutely should!

Picking the Right Event for You

  • So a blogger conference has caught your interest, now what? Start reading up as much as you can about the event, the organization putting it together, and what other people have said about their experience at prior events. Don’t just pick an event without doing your due diligence. Google the event and read up on it! You want to spend your money and time on something that will be beneficial for you and your blog.
  • When you start researching information about a particular blogger event start following the organization or people associated with the event to keep up with new info and to make sure the event is something you really want to attend. This will allow you to find out all about them. We followed BlogHer on Instagram and Twitter and really grew an understanding of what to expect. We new after spending time following them online and reading about the event that this was a perfect conference for us to attend.

    Zuri Hall gave a great speech!
  • These events are not cheap by any means. Again, why its so important to make sure you pick one that you REALLY are interested in. Once tickets go on sale you usually don’t have to buy right away. There was a bunch of deals on tickets that happened on and off up until a few weeks before the event. Had we not been so eager we could have saved a few bucks by waiting for a sale! Scope them out like airline tickets. If you see any notices of them selling out then, of course, buy but otherwise just be patient a bit and you might get lucky with a discounted ticket!
  • You will most likely have to travel for the event. We met in Los Angeles for the BlogHer event so we made a whole weekend out it. You will have to factor in traveling and someone to stay. Again, attending one of these events is not cheap. Location, price, and the event are all critical factors in choosing a conference. We are lucky because we share out blog so we are able to travel together for things like this. Most bloggers will travel solo so make sure you pick somewhere where you will be happy about being alone. Don’t let traveling alone deter you! Bloggers are some of the coolest people! You will no doubt make a friend or two while you are there!
  • If there is an app you can download related to your event, download it! It will most likely have info and a schedule/itinerary of events that you will want to stay up to speed with. There will be lots of things going on during the event and seeing the schedule will help you decide what things are a must for you to attend.

    Alyssa Milano was a guest speaker!

What to Expect at a Blogger Conference

  • The event we attended was 2 days. The first day after arriving in Los Angeles we headed over to the venue to register and get your name tags. The venue was amazing and no shortcuts were taken on making the place look wonderful. You are buying a ticket to essentially hang out in a building all day. Expect that building to pimped out! Seriously, they go above and beyond for bloggers and EVERYTHING is picture worthy. Duh, we’re bloggers and we live for photo ops. You will have a shit ton available to you!
  • Bring a backpack because you will collect goodies and a bunch of swag during your time at the conference. Also, bring a notebook and pen. You will want to take notes and exchange info with other bloggers. You are going to learn after all so that notepad will come in handy! We have stickers with our logo/website on them that we wrote our handles on the back of. They were a great way to pass our info on to other people. If you have business cards or something similar you want to bring those along too!
  • Expect to have a multitude of guest speakers at the event. For example, we attend an informational SEO discussion with a panel of accomplished bloggers. We also checked out the social media discussion as well. There were bloggers that we knew and others we didn’t but every single one had something profound to say and an array of tips that we found very usual for our blog strategy.
  • Don’t be surprised if there will be celebrity guest speakers as well. Alyssa Milano was a head speaker at BlogHer 2019 and she was hands down our favorite! Massy Arias, Jameela Jamil, Jamie King, and Zuri Hall among many others were all in attendance and spoke during the event. It was very inspiring to hear stories from other successful women and be able to relate and learn from them. Prepare to be inspired and motivated!
  • You will be free to roam around as much as you want and we never felt once that we were trapped in our seats. A blogger event is meant to be social so make sure to introduce yourself and interact with other bloggers. It’s not every day that you are in a room full of people and have something in common with each and every one of them.
  • Expect to be spoiled. From endless drinks and snack option to all kinds of fun loot to collect from the vendor booths we guarantee you will be packing your suitcase with way more than you came with. So make sure to spare some room so you can take your goodies home with you!

    The panel of more guest speakers!

Are you Inspired yet?!

We hope this article inspired you to seek out your next blogger conference! If you are serious about your blog and growing your skills and audience then we cannot recommend this experience enough! Please let us know if you are thinking about attending!! Also, let us know of any events we should attend too. We would love to hear about your experience!

 

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How to Effectively Run a Two-Person Blog

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How to Effectively Run a Two-Person Blog

Running a two-person blog can seem complicated. But, if you find the perfect person to pair up with, it can be a wonderful and exciting journey! There are lots of key components that need to be addressed when you’re running a blog with someone else. This article will outline the key steps and strategies to making a two-person blog run smoothly!

Pairing up With the Perfect Person

Starting a blog is a significant endeavor. Finding the perfect person to start a blog with is an entirely different endeavor. A successful duo blog is possible as long as you make sure the person you work with is just as committed as you are.

The three most important aspects to consider when choosing a blog partner are:

  • Similar interests
  • Excellent communication
  • Someone you get along with

We have been best friends for almost 15 years and are as close as sisters. We have lived in different states for over 12 years, but thanks to great communication and regular vacations together, we never skip a beat. Our blog journey has been an exciting learning experience and has brought us even closer. Now we’re here to share how we make our blog work, and why starting a duo blog is not as tricky as you might think!

Communication is Key!

Good communication is crucial to run a successful blog efficiently.  To make sure you know who is responsible for what and when, you need to discuss planning, organization and blog tasks. We communicate via phone call or text multiple times a day, so we are always on the same page.

Important things that need to be discussed to keep our blog on track include:

  • Article topics  
  • When you will do a solo posts vs. joint posts
  • Posting schedule  
  • Social media metrics and performance
  • Advising one another before a post is made
  • Who is responsible for maintaining specific social media platforms
  • New group boards you join on Pinterest or other social media sites
  • Potential guest posters/contributors
  • Feedback on each other’s posts before publishing
  • New ideas or things you want to change
  • Any blog-related expenses

You need to be able to communicate honestly with one another. Without trust and openness, it will be hard to be successful. If you don’t like an article topic, you need to let your partner know and be able to take constructive criticism. You are a team and you will either win or lose together.

We meet for drinks in San Francisco!

Sharing Accounts and Profiles 

Building and designing your blog is just the beginning. To promote your blog, you’ll also need to use numerous apps, websites and social media platforms. When you are part of a two-person blog team, that means you will have joint accounts. Be prepared to create shared usernames and passwords across all the essential platforms.  Our shared accounts and profiles include:

  1. WordPress
  2. Tailwind
  3. Siteground
  4. Facebook
  5. Gmail
  6. Pinterest
  7. Instagram
  8. Twitter
  9. Canva
  10. Studiopress 
  11. MailChimp

It’s smart to use the same password and joint email across all shared accounts related to your blog. From day one, we split all costs associated with our blog 50/50. We send and request money for  monthly subscriptions (like Tailwind) through Venmo, so we keep a documented transaction history. Being in a blog partnership is similar to a marriage. You share EVERYTHING!

Mutual Approval on Everything 

Before anything is posted, it’s important to get approval from your blog partner. This strategy has worked wonderfully for us, and we highly recommend it. We split up who manages specific social media platforms, but both still weigh in on what’s posted. For example, Jessica handles Instagram and Pinterest, and Raynita handles Facebook and Twitter. Before we post on any social media, we let each other know what we are posting. It’s only fair that your partner likes the picture, article, etc. that will be posted. Your blog represents both of you, so it’s important to always include each other.

Having your own identity in a two-person blog is also important. We recommend a mixture of solo posts and joint posts to keep the balance. If there are only articles by one author, your blog won’t be seen as a collective. It’s vital that your partner has their own identity, and that together you make up what you blog is supposed to be. Proofreading each other’s articles and weighing in on their writing and pictures used allows you to have an opinion about your work before it is shared with the world. Use one another to make your blog the absolute best that it can be

Be Better Together

We meet and drag our husbands along (who love each other dearly) for all of our shenanigans.

We live in different states so getting together is not that easy. If you are thinking of starting a blog with someone, you will have to make time for one another. Meeting up in person to work on our blog, take pictures and going on vacations (when we can) all help make our blog successful. Getting together in person to work on your blog, taking pictures together, and going on vacations are all required. We get together several times a year, and now with our blog, our vacations have become blog adventure opportunities. The person you are sharing a blog with should also be someone you enjoy sharing life with. You want someone who makes you better and vice-versa.

Making the decision to start a blog with someone else is an exciting step. Click here to read a similar story about starting a two-person blog that might bring you some more inspiration! We hope that you have found this information useful. Starting a joint blog was one of the easiest and best decisions of our lives. We could each have started a blog alone, but the we wouldn’t have someone to share all our achievements with. A two-person blog might be tough, but it is beyond rewarding, and that outranks everything else!

Connect With Us!

We invite you to connect with us on any and all social platforms. Ask us questions, inquire about guest posting or just come along for the journey! The more the merrier!

www.facebook.com/bestietalks

www.instagram.com/bestietalks

www.twitter.com/bestietalksblog

www.pinterest.com/bestietalks

www.bestietalks.com

bestietalks@gmail.com

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Dear Best Friend, Let’s Start a Blog?

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Why we Started a Blog

My name is Jessica Lovett, and I started BestieTalks with..wait for it.. my bestie Raynita. You can’t start a blog with the word “bestie” in the title and it not be co-authored with your best friend! That would be just pure utter madness! Writing has always been a passion of mine and both Raynita, and I have a shared passion for living our life’s the way we want and sharing our journeys along the way. We decided to take our sharing to the next level with the hopes of connecting to others who share similar passions and also with those that see and view things differently.

Who are we?

I left California and moved to Arizona in 2005, which would be the last time Raynita and I lived in the same state. We both took different paths after high school. Raynita attended a four-year college and I started working in the banking world at 19 and didn’t end up graduating college until I was 30. Over the past 13 years, we have remained extremely close while growing up, starting careers, experiencing heartache, getting married ( Maid of Honor in each other’s weddings), picking up new hobbies and enduring all of the beautiful life-learning messes that have shaped and transformed us into the women that we are today. After spending ten years in Arizona, I moved further away to Texas.  Another move couldn’t phase us since we were already pro’s at handling the struggles of being long-distance besties. We travel and meet each other in other cities at least 3-4 times a year and talk every day in between our meetups. BestieTalks is a way for us to share and connect while also taking on a new endeavor together.

What to Expect

What can you expect to find at Bestietalks? You can count on talks about relationships. friends and foes, and family. If you’re lucky, maybe even some talks about the bond I have with my cats (it’s a special bond). Fitness and health is also a guarantee. Adventurous travel experiences,  skin care, money and budgeting, food stories, and recipes. I promise there will also be times that we will bitch about things (or people) that are just plain annoying, detesting or rude. You know the things people bitch about to themselves but don’t ever say to anyone else? Yeah, those are things we are not going to be timid to discuss. Long story short, life. You can expect to find honest, real, entertaining posts about life that will sometimes be sprinkled with raw exposed emotion.

Pulling the Trigger

I have a full-time career, yes, still in the banking industry and Raynita has a full-time career in the education field. Between climbing the corporate ladder, catching up on shows with my husband, perfecting my standing split in yoga class & deciding if becoming a homeowner is something that I’m ready for, this blog seemed like something that I needed to start.  I called my bestie up and told her that I had the mouse hovering over the “purchase now” button for our domain and when she replied, without hesitation, “Let’s do it Bestie, I’m ready!” I knew this was something that we were meant to do. What’s the worst that could happen? We won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, and that’s ok. What’s the best that could happen? We create a blog that allows us to learn new things about ourselves and others. But more importantly, we create something that we are proud of. For me, that’s worth all the “what if’s” and looming questions that incessantly cloud my brain.

We are passionate about BestieTalks, and our goal is to make that undeniable through our articles. Our goal is to reach and engage with other people, which is why we always welcome comments and thoughts from anyone who wants to share. If you have made it this far, thanks for reading! We hope this is the start of a long-lasting relationship! We got lots of shit to say and things we need to get off our chest. BestieTalks is here, and we are ready to talk our little hearts out!

Love, 

Jess and Ray

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