Dexterous Diva

Interview: Emma’s top blog tips

Posted on: Monday, April 29, 2013

Today’s interviewee here on Dexterous Diva is Emma, a rather talented lady; book blogger, writer, photographer and marketing designer, I am thrilled that Emma has taken the time to share her top blogging tips with us. Over to you Emma…

Tell us about your blog – when did you start it and why?
Mab is Mab is a book blog that I started about three years ago. Initially I had no idea about blogging as a tool, and would just post up random book-thoughts now and then and leave it at that. It’s only when I joined a marketing department a year and a half ago, as a designer, that I realised what a great opportunity for networking, making friends and getting exposure blogging is! From that point I started dedicating a lot more time to my blog and learning the ins and outs of SEO, advertising and just “getting out there”. It’s been a wonderful journey and I’ve met some great people through it.

Does blogging have a place in other areas of your career too? If so, how?
Blogging is not a part of my 9-5 job, but it is a supplement to my freelance design and copywriting services. I view it as something of a “Portfolio with a voice”.

What do you love most about blogging?
As I said before, the people you meet – virtually and in person – as a result of blogging is such a great thing. I love being able to debate a book from lots of different viewpoints, with people all over the world!

What inspires you to blog?
I blog because I know that when I look for books to read myself, I would take a recommendation from a friend over a marketing blurb. I hope that people see my blog as that friendly recommendation. When people find a great book as a result of one of my reviews it’s the best feeling. That inspires me to keep on bloggin’!

How often do you post?
I try to post at least every week. Very often I post two or three times a week. It depends what exciting things the book world has in store for us – and how long the book I’m reading is!

Which blogs do you read most often and admire?
I LOVE Orisi’s Blah Blah Blah. Her personality shines through in her reviews and she has very similar tastes to me. I have also recently discovered Roosts Blog. The photos are divine! I’m addicted.

What problems have you encountered with your blog?
Being on the Blogger platform is a constant source of despair for me. I hate being at Google’s mercy! However, the limited custom design capability of WordPress puts me off that even more. I hope to be self-hosted soon, so I’m free of it all!

What top 3 tips would you give to other bloggers?
Be patient, be consistent, be you.

Connect with Emma on Twitter @mabismab and of course check out her lovely blog Mab is Mab.

If you like this post you may also like:
3 top tips for bloggers from Bangs
The Blogging Frame of Mind
Danielle Meder’s top blog tips
Blogging tips: serialising content
5 ways to create original blog imagery

Stay creative, keep blogging and enjoy your week!

Goddess Time

Posted on: Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Recently, I was watching this video by the fabulous Marie Forleo as she interviews author and business owner Latham Thomas on balancing work and motherhood. I felt really inspired by the concept of “goddess time” that Latham recommends, and it really resonated with me as a working mum of twins.

Taking time for ourselves as a mum can be such a hard thing to do; recently I have had to slow down due to a flare up of my chronic fatigue and endometriosis pain, and I have told my superwoman self to “do one”. Taking time to be a goddess is such an important part of being yourself and celebrating feminine energy; just a small part of your day or week gives confidence and creativity a much needed boost, and it’s something I have been taking on board.

My goddess time is super simple, and here are my top 5 favourite goddess activities: Read More >

30 new days of creativity in May

Posted on: Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Well hello my lovely Diva readers.

I would like to challenge you to join me next month in a daily practise of creativity, to open those channels of possibility, to engage in new ideas and to just turn little corners on a daily basis for surprising results.

Those of you who have completed my e course, Idea Generation and Creativity for bloggers will know of #newdiva365, the challenge of doing something slightly new every day.

Throughout May, I challenge you to do something new each day, and to create something new each day…it might be a little sketch, a moodboard, mark making of some description, a photographic record….whatever floats your boat. So, the idea is that you combine the input of something new with the challenge of doing something creatively new each day.

It can be surprising how much we hinder our own creative efforts, and this challenge will force you to output creatively in a small way daily to get you in the habit of personal creative practice.

So, for every day in May, starting from next Wednesday, it’s time to use Spring as your Springboard to see where it takes us.

So, to recap:

DO something new each day (read more about #newdiva365 here).

CREATE something each day.

Tweet me @dexdiva with your progress, use the comments below to share your progress and blog posts, and let’s see where May takes us!

I am using Spring as my springboard in May #dexdivacreativity

Enjoy, and see you in the creative zone of May.

The business and the blog: travel industry

Posted on: Sunday, April 21, 2013

Today, as part of the Business and the Blog series I would love to look at an example of a travel industry company. (I looked at blog post ideas for a beauty salon business here).

Kristi, the lovely owner of specialist sports travel company LexySports.com responded to my callout on Twitter for businesses stuck with ideas for blogs, and I am sure her situation is very common.

Kristi says: “I run a new business called LexySports.com and our blog page exists but it seems no one really knows what the hell to do with it! I like simplicity and cleanliness and images that inspire. But as for words? I haven’t a clue where to begin, who to employ, what to present, etc.”

This is a really common scenario, as blogging can feel outside the comfort zone for busy entrepreneurs. So, lets look at what Kirsten could do with the blog pages for a bespoke sports travel agency business. She already had some suggestions for post ideas which I really love and will expand on below.

1) Ten reasons to use a travel agent – absolutely love this idea Kristi. People love a bite sized “X reasons to…” post, and this is snappy, interesting and relevant.
2) The advent of ‘active travel’ – great, yes – looking at the trend towards active travel is a really good idea.
3) Our clients favourite trips – featuring clients is a really smart idea, and also lends itself to content being more personal and also shareable with the client’s online and social media audience.

So, what can I add to the pot for ideas?

The Business and the Blog: Top tips from Faby and Carleo Photography

Posted on: Thursday, April 18, 2013

Today I am thrilled to showcase a business who use blogging in a really personal and effective way for outreaching to clients and photographers alike. I have been signed up to their emails for a couple of years and always admire what boudoir photographers Faby and Carleo produce in terms of engaging and interesting content.

I caught up with them to ask about their top tips for blogging for their photography business.

Tell us a little about your business

Our photographic origin was in Street Photography and Fashion editorial, both of which we actively pursue, the first on a personal level, the second through our “fashion division” The Round Peg photography http://theroundpeg.comFaby and Carlo was born with the name of London Boudoir Photography three years ago and has grown massively in this period. Starting from a market that did not know what “Boudoir” means, we steered our boutique studio through the stylistic changes that are coming to the UK. We consider ourselves a “Boutique Studio” because we focus on a limited number of customers in which we invest a lot of time and dedication. We say that we offer an Experience that is way bigger than a photo shoot as it is a re-discovery of your femininity, be it for a Boudoir or a Portrait session. On the other side, we focus on providing photography workshops and mentoring to “up and coming” photographers, passing them what we learned so far, and that placed us in one, if not the, top spot of boudoir photographers in London. Read More >

Home inspiration

Posted on: Monday, April 15, 2013

Inspireme1

Shopcade1

Well as Spring is finally daring to show it’s face the wheels of some of my home craft projects are starting to turn slowly again.

I am halfway through a decoupage and blackboard paint re-vamp of a chest of drawers, re-furbing some G-plan chairs, making pic frames, sorting out the office….you get the idea. Lots of unfinished, started projects around the house. I have also got some amazing Inko Dye paints I am longing to try out and have been waiting for some sunlight for!

We need to paint the Mini Diva’s room, a lick of paint to cover up another winter of sticky fingers and walls around the hallway, and just try to spruce up the place.

I am trying to approach these “jobs” by re-framing them as “craft projects” and creative pursuits. Somehow, with young twins, super unpredictable ill health (for me at the moment its more predictable that I will be unwell more often than not), these things just don’t get done.

So…here I am making mood boards and pinning ideas over on Shopcade and Pinterest for lovely home ideas. Getting creative in the house is a lot of fun, and even if there are things I can’t afford to get on our budget, I love looking at the ideas.

I always check on on blogs like A Beautiful Mess to get my creative and thrifty juices flowing, and love to check out our local auction rooms where I found our lovely G-Plan chairs.

Do you have a few projects on the go? Are you planning any creative Spring updates for your house? Which blogs do you go for to get inspired?

Follow my Shopcade inspiration board here, and let me know what you think!

Imgres

I am a Shopcade ambassador, and as such get sent lovely things to keep occasionally and as such need to disclose this post as sponsored.

Blogging Tips: Serialising Content

Posted on: Thursday, April 11, 2013

Seralised

Serialising content on your blog or website is a really great way to inspire readers to come back for more.

For example, the fabulous Marie Forleo of Rich, Happy and Hot and B School fame sends out a weekly blog on Q&A Tuesday; I not only come to await the email pinging it’s way into my Gmail app, but have often pre-empted it by checking her YouTube Channel in advance. Stalker-ish? Yes. Keen? Definitely. Hook, line and sinker.

Great branding and great serialised content adds value to your audience.

Here on Dex Diva I offer my readers the weekly blogging tips which add value and which come in a weekly round up straight to your inbox.

I also provide case studies, interviews and my column Geeky Chic and Business offers insights to workflow practices and apps. The Business and the Blog serial is a new concept which brings examples of how businesses can use blogging in their marketing mix and business strategies, and I am excited about rolling out the posts on that one.

So, think about your site and your passions and interests. What could you possibly serialise on your blog on a weekly or perhaps monthly basis that would keep your audience glued to their screens?

Grab a pen and paper (in 3D form or digital) and get mind mapping; jot down ideas of main subjects that you talk about, then spin off any ideas that could be regular slots.

Great ideas for serials are:

❤ How to’s
❤ Weekly Progress reports or check ins ( these are also great for building a blog community discussion)
❤ Seasonally inspired posts and serials
❤ Themed tutorials

Remember, these serial ideas could evolve into an ebook or ecourse too – the possibilities are endless and exciting.

I was talking to one of my blog coaching clients about this just this week, as she plans a set of content that perfectly lends itself to blogging in a serial style.

I absolutely love this serial, Design Terms by designer and blogger Eva Black; as a designer myself I know how confusing design terms and jargon can be to clients and it’s something that case study participant Philip tackled over on his blog too.

A veteran of the serialised content is early adopter and blogger Gala Darling, whose monthly Carousel links, Things I love Thursday and, more recently, Blog on Babe, allow her huge audience to know what they are coming back to read. The lovely Katie over at Pouting in Heels has her Friday Five posts which I also always look forward to.

So, can you think of any serial content ideas? Have a brainstorm with yourself, with a friend, and with me on Twitter or Facebook – let’s get creative and blogging!

Other recent posts that you might enjoy:

5 reasons to not fear a portfolio career

5 ways to create original blog imagery

The blogging frame of mind

Interview: Danielle Meder’s top blog tips

Posted on: Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Danielle Meder Danielle Meder by Stella Zheng

This week I am thrilled to feature the fantastically talented illustrator and maverick fashion blogger Danielle Meder.

Danielle blogs under Final Fashion, and combines trend analysis with fashion commentary and illustration, all in her unique style. I admire Danielle immensely, for her individual approach to blogging and her amazing work, and I am thrilled she is sharing her expertise with us. Read More >

Ask the readers: unblocking creativity

Posted on: Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Askreaders

Here on Dex Diva I am fascinated by creativity and it’s place in our lives, businesses and, of course, blogs. This week, the wonderful people at Behance featured a blog piece on the top 5 creativity killers, something I will be following up in more detail later right here on Dexterous Diva.

Releasing our imagination and creativity leads to innovation and new opportunities, and the creative process is something I walk through on my e course to help blog writers refresh their brain cells and come up with new ideas.

I asked some of the lovely alumni of Idea Generation and Creativity for Bloggers to let me know how they got on, and the answers have been lovely to read.

The #newdiva365 challenge is something I encourage course attendees to take part in, and it is all about doing something new every day, even just a tiny tweak to change your path and later your mindset. Read More >

M	T	W	T	F	S	S
« Apr
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30	31

Interview: Emma’s top blog tips

Posted on: Monday, April 29, 2013

Goddess Time

Posted on: Wednesday, April 24, 2013

30 new days of creativity in May

Posted on: Tuesday, April 23, 2013

The business and the blog: travel industry

Posted on: Sunday, April 21, 2013

The Business and the Blog: Top tips from Faby and Carleo Photography

Posted on: Thursday, April 18, 2013

Home inspiration

Posted on: Monday, April 15, 2013

Blogging Tips: Serialising Content

Posted on: Thursday, April 11, 2013

Interview: Danielle Meder’s top blog tips

Posted on: Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Ask the readers: unblocking creativity

Posted on: Tuesday, April 9, 2013

About

Categories

Recent Posts

Archives

Last Tweets

Instagram life

Links

search for it!

Calendar of posts