HAPPY HOLIDAYS / Friend Friday {VIDEO}

Wishing all of my readers (yes you!) a Happy and Safe Holidays!

This Friend Friday I decided to do a VLOG for you guys. The first of many to come.This was my first ever so leave me comments on how to improve BUT be nice please, I will delete meanies!

 

*The Friend Friday project by Modly Chic is a way for fashion bloggers to share more about themselves and create a friendly connection with other bloggers. Join the conversation by joining the Fashion Beauty Friend Friday Google Group. (thanks GritandGlamour for the "exact" wording)

Friend Friday - How Connected Are You?

If you have stumbled upon my blog by accident - lucky you! LOL.

Each Friday I participate in a blog group where we answer questions on a topic related to blogging. Kudos again to Katy from ModlyChic for being an awesome moderator.

This week we are discussing how connected with are with YOU .. the reader, and what we can do to improve.

 

1. How important do you think reader connectedness is to the success
of your blog? Just as the image above implies, if no one is reading your blog it doesn't matter. You might as well just stand in front of your bathroom mirror and ramble to yourself all day. Successful blogs are the blogs people go back to and read faithfully.

2. What do you do to draw readers in and create that writer-reader
bond? I am new to blogging so I am still finding my way and trying to gain more readership. But I plan to do more giveaways and surveys to connect with my readers.

3. What is one way you could improve this connection? I find that when I post something giving my honest opinion people comment more and really feel more connected to me and my blog. In 2011 I will try to blog more about the things that I like. I am my niche!

4. Is there a blogger you think does a great job creating that writer-
reader bond? Why? Someone once told me that personal blogs are the hardest to brand because they have no "niche". But I find that many of my favorite bloggers (BryanBoy, LoveBrownSugar, CurvesAndChaos) are folks who blog about their random finds, and their journey in fashion. I believe when you are honest, and more importantly vulnerable to your reader, a bond is created. Now your reader can relate to you. They saw that same skirt or blouse in Bloomies and couldn't afford it either!

5. What do you do to cultivate new readers? How do you get them to
your site in the first place? Again in all of my newness I haven't figured it out yet. For now I use twitter heavily. I started using hashtags, like #fashion or #fashionblogging, to draw new readers in.

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*The Friend Friday project by Modly Chic is a way for fashion bloggers to share more about themselves and create a friendly connection with other bloggers. Join the conversation by joining the Fashion Beauty Friend Friday Google Group. (thanks GritandGlamour for the "exact" wording)

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Friend Friday: Blog Swag with StylePint.com

For this Friend Friday we did a blog swap. With the holidays we thought this would be easier. At least I know I did. Unfortunately I still ended up a litte late. Although its Monday I still wanted to share my guest blogger post. Better late than never right?

A special thanks to my StylePint.com for her guest post.

On Stylepint, I tend to create wishlists that are within my budget. Since the holidays are here, I thought I'd made an aspirational lust list. I'm not a fancy kind of girl, but I like looking at pretty things. A Leather Jacket I've always wanted a great leather jacket, but the ones that I tend to find are boxy, shapeless, and very unflattering. Skingraft, however, makes amazing leather items that show off a woman's curves without looking cheap. The Battalion jacket is edgy, sleek, and figure flattering, who wouldn't look amazing in this?

 

Shoes

Wedges are everywhere this season and I'm lovin' this pair. These Guiseppe Zanotti for Thakoon wedges slim the leg line or when the laces are loose, they flap in the wind. It's a Guiseppe Zanotti design...enough said.

A Handbag

I've always coveted the Balenciaga City bag. The leather is super soft and looks so luscious I can almost feel it through the computer screen. It's luxury with subtlety.

A Cocktail Dress or Two What are the holidays without parties to attend? They say Herve Leger's bandage dresses makes anyone instantly glamorous and I have to agree with this sequined number. It's not your typical holiday dress, though I'm sure it will turn a couple heads.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For something more casual, the Filament Dress from Vena Cava is a quiet show -stopper. The slightly relaxed silhouette hides those extra holiday pounds while keeping you fabulous. You don't have to show a lot of skin to be sexy...less is more!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And there you have it, five aspirational lust items that would make for an amazing holiday celebration.

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Friend Friday - Blog Inspiration or Blog Imitation

This weeks topic in our fashion group is Blog Copying.

I am having so much fun giving my thoughts on these topics. Kudos to Katy from ModlyChic again for coming up with an awesome idea.

Here goes:

 

 

1. What are the 'unwritten rules' about coping content that we
bloggers should all abide by?

I don't think you should ever "copy" someone's content. Like word for word. But we all share/borrow topics and give our own thoughts and opinion. I mean who are we kidding, isn't that what blogging is. A community of 20 million plus experts sharing their take on various topics?

2. They say imitation is the highest form of flattery. But when is a
post imitation and when is it copying?

Copying a post is self explanatory. People know when they are doing it. They do it on purpose. It's not an accidental thing. You have to hit "control + v", lol.

3. Taking another blogger's idea (perhaps for an outfit, or DIY
tutorial) is pretty common in the blogging world. Do  you think it is
necessary to credit the original source?

I think it's appropriate and kind to always give credit someone. Especially when you taking an original idea, like "30 for 30". If you're just giving your spin on the Top 20 Hair Do's and you happened to see it on another blog I would still give a "shout out" but it's not necessary.

4. How have you improved your blog by comparing it to other bloggers?
Have you made changes due to something you have seen others doing?

I definitely research other bloggers and see what they are talking about. I wouldn't really call it comparing. But a large percentage of my daily blog inspiration comes from reading blogs. The more I write the more original ideas I come up with. But again as a blogger we are inspired by many different things. I never believed that an idea was truly original. The technical aspect of blogging is something that I am learning. So I may notice that someone is posting during a certain part of the day and I have adopted that same technique.

5. Have you ever had one of your posts copied by another blogger or
publication? How did you handle the situation?

I have never seen my work copied and I can't say exactly how I would handle it.

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BLOGGERS: Want to be a part of Friend Friday? join the FBFFGoogle Group. 

Friend Friday - Blogger Self Promotion, Too Much or Not Enough

When I am at a lost for words and I have no inspiration I take to the internet and begin a night of blog surfing. A few weeks ago I found a link to a blog that was cute by design and quite informative. So I began to read and click.

What struck my curiosity first was a link to Friend Friday (aka Fashion Beauty Friend Friday). It seemed like a perfect way to meet bloggers, and openly discuss topics of fashion and beauty all via the internet (kudos to Katy of ModlyChic for this awesome idea). Of course I joined!

I sat out last week's questions just to get a feel for the process and see if this was really something that I wanted to take part in.

This Friday the topic is "Blogger Self Promotion". When is promoting too much or not enough.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. How do you promote your blog? >> I am new to blogging so I am still playing with different methods and what works for HeyBella. My phone is constantly in my hand so I mainly promote through Twitter and Facebook. Word of mouth is my best tool - now when someone asks me what do I do, I no longer hesitate, I say proudly I'm a blogger!

2. In your experience what has been the most effective form of self
promotion? >> I spend ALL day on Twitter. So I am constantly telling people about my blog and I find that people who follow me on twitter retweet a lot of the fashion finds, and other posts that I tweet. My blog is linked to twitter, and my twitter account is linked to my facebook account. I also use various sites to schedule my tweets when I am not free to tweet all day.

3. Do you think there is a wrong way to promote yourself and your
blog? >> I think press is press. Good or bad. There's no "wrong" way but what you're doing may not be as effective as another way.

4. When is comes to others pushing their product what annoys you? >> Nothing really annoys me. I am quick to hit the snooze button when someone begins to yap too long, or delete/block someone on Twitter. But I've been lucky and I haven't had any encounters with obnoxious bloggers.

5. In Dressful's post on this topic earlier in the week she said,
"It's impossible to respect someone who wants all the attention, but
adds nothing worthwhile to the conversation." Do you agree? >> I think because blogging is so new and everyone with a voice has a blog there's a small line between having respect and being aggressive. A conversation is between two people. Even when commenting on blog posts.

BLOGGERS: Want to be a part of Friend Friday? join the FBFFGoogle Group.