Brand identity and design solutions for creative businesses and passionate entrepreneurs
Hop & Jaunt is a couple of designers who started their creative agency while traveling and is now based out of New Orleans. John of Hop & Jaunt started an illustrated guide to New Orleans that I can’t get enough of! His illustration style is amazing and he captures the feeling of the city perfectly. Here are a few of my favorites and you can check out more on Hop & Jaunt’s Facebook page!
Shabby Apple just came out with a new collection called Zoology that I just love! So I thought I would do a fun little round up inspired by their collection! I’d also like to share a 10% off discount code (favorite10)! This code is good site wide at Shabby Apple and expires Friday, so don’t miss it!
darwin skirt / elephant watering can / bangles / cat eye sunglasses / iphone case
Jasper Beach was quite a site. Billions of stones rubbed smooth by the sea and piled high the entire length of the beach. Toward the top, the stones are large but by the time you reach the waters edge they are the size of fine gravel. Walking down the dune of stones is a beautiful site but the real beauty comes out when the stones are wet with seawater, which brings out their vibrancy.
We spent some time admiring the stones smoothness, marveling at their designs, building rock towers and laying down on the warm stones. You could spend weeks examining them because every stone is different and beautiful.
I know it’s taking me a while to wrap up this Maine road trip but I have so many photos to share! Now that my move is done and I’m settling into my new workspace I’m chugging along and getting the final photos edited! Check out all of the photos from my Maine road trip!
Juxtaposed is a series of mini mood boards with images that complement one another. They are mainly visual posts as the collections will speak for themselves. Hope you enjoy!
I am officially a New Orleans resident again! Our trip home was pretty insane since we were scheduled to arrive home right after hurricane Isaac passed. We ended up driving through some bad weather in Mississippi and when we got to New Orleans most of the city was covered in downed trees and had no power. We stopped in Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia on the way and took some videos and photos that I’ll be sharing soon! I’m back to blogging and taking on Freelance work since I’m one of the lucky ones with power restored! Zander and I have a September desktop wallpaper for y’all, hope you enjoy!
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Here is a recap of my favorite posts from August in case you missed anything!
1 DIY Air Plant Terrarium
2 Big Chicken Barn Used Books
3 I’m moving home!
4 Bar Harbor and a Nature Tour
5 Games and Rides at the Fair
6 A New Favorite Font = Frontage
7 My Boston Photo Tour Continues to the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway
8 Getting Your Name Out There – 8 Helpful Blogging Tips to Increase Readers
9 A Modern Romance Round-up
– My Three Green Mojito recipe featured on the Huffington Post Kitchen Daily
– Wicked Cheap In Boston
– Passionfruit Ads Blog – Meet Ciera
– This guest post inspired a beautiful mansita necklace
As you are reading this, Zander and I will be heading out on the road from Maine to New Orleans! When my parents were up visiting we took a trip to The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University. I had been once before but my dad is a plant lover so I waned him to check it out.
Sadly, this will wrap up my Boston Photo Tour. It was such a great way to explore my new city while I was living in Boston, but now I am SO excited to start sharing my beloved New Orleans with y’all!
I’m in love! Ladylike lace, classic pearls and chainmail, what’s NOT to love!
Images click through to item.
I’m participating in the August Break again this year! Just to have a little break from the pressures and expectations of regular blogging. Read more about it on Susannah Conway’s site.
I’ve had a few readers ask how I developed a blog readership and for some advice on getting their names out there, so I wrote up this list with some tips and actions to take!
Download a checklist to help you work through this blog post!
I think the most important advice I can offer for someone wanting to grow their blog is to focus on what you love and what you are passionate about. Blogging about what you know insures that you will have valuable content.
Tips & Actions:
– determine the purpose of your blog and stick with it
– don’t feel the need to do it all or try to imitate somebody else
– post quality content frequently
– don’t post what you think people want to hear
– teach a webinar or create a blog series focused on your talents
People want to know YOU, the person behind the blog. People will read your blog if they like what you have to say, that’s all there is to it.
Tips & Actions:
– enjoy what you’re doing and don’t get wrapped up in the details
– share something personal (this can be as simple as sharing your favorite book)
– write the way you speak
– don’t take yourself too seriously
– be true to yourself and what it is you want to share with the world
– add a photo of yourself to your about page
– be accessible (either list your email address or add a contact form)
Not only is your content important but your actual blog design is too! Maybe it is just the designer in me, but I am drawn to simple layouts with big pictures.
Tips & Actions:
– have a blog design that you love and that feels like “you”
– use images in your posts (preferably original imagery)
– develop your own style and have a consistency to your design, writing style, content and photography
– only have pertinent information in your sidebars (too much information tends to confuse readers and takes the focus away from your main content)
This is a huge one! Online networking allows you the opportunity to engage your readers in real-time conversations and let them get to know you a little better.
Tips & Actions:
– get active in online discussion groups and chats (Twitter chats and Facebook groups are great for this)
– comment on other blogs and on social media (but only if you have something to add to the conversation). Those comments make people’s days, I speak from experience on that one!
– respond to comments on your blog
– never leave a mean comment (you would think this goes without saying but I have seen some mean things out there)
– get to know your readers
– blogging is a community – support one another, make blog buddies, have conversations and collaborate
This is something that I did in the beginning. I spent time researching my favorite blogs and I still make sure to follow other blogs that inspire me.
Tips & Actions:
– don’t be afraid to ask others for help (but be careful asking other bloggers to post something on their site – this can put the person in a tough spot)
– find 5 bloggers similar to you and study how they use networks and learn best practices from them
– reach out to bloggers you admire
“Guest posting” means writing and publishing an article on someone else’s blog. There are three main perks to guest posting: it introduces you to new communities, builds relationships with other bloggers and it’s great for search engine optimization. Guest posting gives you the opportunity to give new audiences a little sneak peek into your blogging style and content.
Tips & Actions:
– write down a few blogs you dream of guest posting on
– come up with topics for each of these blogs
– now reach out to them!
I think this is something that is easily over looked. You may assume that everyone reads blogs the same way you do, but that is not the case! Someone may like to subscribe through Feedly or Bloglovin’ while others may only follow blogs on Facebook, so you need to have these options available and easily accessible.
Tips & Actions:
– give your readers more than one way to follow you and add easy to find links on your site
– starts an e-mail newsletter
– put links in your email signature and wherever potential visitors are likely to see it
A lot of times we get so stuck on networking online, we forget that we can promote our blogs in real life!
Tips & Actions:
– conferences are great for connecting with others who have similar interest
– if you have extra time try to join a non-profit organization. A lot of small business owners/professionals are involved in them and you meet a lot of people out in the community
– make sure you have business cards and hand them out when you meet someone new
– find some local groups to join or start your own!
– create an elevator pitch (a 30-60 second short summary to quickly and simply define your blog, business, what you do, etc.)
Great blogs are products of a passion for life and a lot of hard work! Don’t let others fool you, blogging takes time. If you write about what you love and grow yourself first, your blog will follow!
If you have any other tips please leave them in the comments!
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Click here for a free printable checklist to help you increase your blog readers!
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