5 bloggers who inspire me to be a better blogger

I was talking to two friends from my newspaper days this week about this blogging caper.  One has started a blog and the other has one that I wish she wrote more on.  In both cases they were picking my brain on all things blogging and social media.

The art of blogging is a continual learning curve.  There’s the content, first and foremost. From there you need to find YOUR voice.  You need to reach out and build your community.  And you need to get your head around a certain degree of technical stuff.

When talking to my girlfriends, I realised that since stumbling into blogging just under three years ago, I’ve actually amassed a solid knowledge base that I owe to the Google gods and these five bloggers.  Thank-you. I owe you big time.

Women in Business Manifesto. www.womeninbusiness.com.au

1.  Clare Lancaster at Women in Business

Clare is a young Brisbane-based (soon to be London-based) business woman with a depth of knowledge about online business that continues to inspire me.  Not only does she include posts that offer great advice for (online or offline) business women but her weekly e-news delivers even more useful information that she’s unearthed from Twitter and around the inter-webs.  I have Clare’s Manifesto for Women in Business (see above) printed out in a frame on my desk.

2.  Bree Lawson at The Blog Stylist

I “met” Bree via Twitter (as you do) and immediately bonded over her stylish ways of delivering advice to feed my inner geek.   Bree interviews other successful bloggers plus includes tips and links for bloggers looking for new ideas and ways to better present their product.  Rarely a week goes by that I don’t learn something from this talented young business woman.  Check out her post this week on blog commenting.

3.  Annabel Candy at Successful Blogging

My local regional paper last year included a feature about Sunshine Coast bloggers and Annabel was in it.  She’d just returned from a trip to China courtesy of Coca Cola.  I couldn’t believe I hadn’t “met” her via Twitter let alone in my local neighbourhood. The website developer started blogging as a travel blogger and now has branched out to this blog as demand for her blogging expertise grows.  If you’re new to blogging, you really should invest in her e-book, Successful Blogging in 12 Simple Steps (disclaimer:  I’m an affiliate). We’ve now finally met in real life.

4.  Vahni Georgoulakos at Grit & Glamour

Vahni is a US fashion blogger whose “day job” involves working on web content for corporations.  She not only does the most gorgeous fashion outfit posts but she shares bucket loads of her knowledge about blogging – and fashion blogging in particular – through her Build a Better Blog posts.

5.  Joanne Faith at Joanne Faith

Joanne is to New Zealand fashion blogging what Vahni is to US fashion blogging.  She knows her stuff and she’s extremely generous in sharing it.   This post: Killer Fashion Blogging: 50 Ways to Take Your Fashion Blog to the Next Level has inspiring and practical information that you can implement in your blog. Now.

… but I know you want more

Yesterday, thanks to Problogger, I discovered another blog, Bloggers Domain. It’s an A-Z, if you like, of all things you might want to know or didn’t know you needed to know about blogging.  What’s more, each section links to more information. I immediately bookmarked it and will be constantly referring back.  I suggest you do the same.

Do you read any blogs that have helped or inspired your blogging journey?  I’d love you to share them below.

This post was chosen to be included in Independent Fashion Bloggers Links a la Mode: Tech Weekly Roundup

Creativity & Productivity: Blogging Under The Influence

Edited by Christen Rochon

Us 21st Century girls have the best of both worlds, fashion and technology. We’re actively embracing the new trends, sharing the latest information and using social media to influence and further connect both the fashion and technology world into the same realm. Each week we share more information among each other for the better development of ourselves as bloggers as well as deeper insight into the fashion and tech industry that we all love. From the latest displays of fashion to specific tools that will help you become a better blogger, this week’s Links A La Mode: Tech has a variety of links that I’m sure will spark inspiration and give you ideas on how to improve your creativity and productivity. I’m looking forward to connecting further with each of you in this tech sisterhood and growing together…

LINKS À LA MODE: TECH – April 12th

• Divas and Dorks: Top iPad / iPhone Apps for Bloggers, Designers & Entrepreneurs!
• Gwen Vikkey Miao: Miss Sixty Rock Art!
• IFB: 5 Facebook Tips for Bloggers
• Juliette Maxwell: A Beginner’s Guide To HTML
• Mimosas In Bed: Organizing Your Closet On The Go
• Miss Viki: High Tech Fashion By The King Of Fashion
• Relatively Chic: Feed Your Readers: RSS, Email Subscriptions & Beyond
• Styling You: Five Bloggers Who Inspire Me To Be A Better Blogger
• Whereisharriet: Eight Steps To A Better Blogger Blog