7 things I learned this week in Blog Land

I think one of the reasons that I’ve fallen head over heels for this crazy game called blogging is that there is always something new to learn.

If you’re a regular here then you’ll have heard me utter those words before.

Sometimes it can seem overwhelming … all the information. Out there, circulating day in day out.

But my crazy brain seems to mostly love it. Can’t get enough.

The other big reason that blogging gets my heart a fluttering is that bloggers are inherently good sharers.

We feed the information machine with information we’ve found and shared from other bloggers and social media platforms. I’ve never come across an industry that does this so freely.

That makes my hear sing.

So in the interests of keeping the sharing and the information machine churning away, this week I’ve rounded up some of the best stuff I’ve read and learned this week in blog land … and filed it all here.

Some of it you may have already stumbled across yourself. Some may be new to you and things for you to take on board as part of your blogging week.

And don’t forget the link-up at the end of the post. Lots more sharing and caring about blogging and social media happening there. Maybe you’ve got a link to add?

1. How to work with brands and PRs

This is one of the big topics I get asked about by other bloggers (and yes there’s an ebook coming … truly). The gorgeous Rach from In Spaces Between interviewed me about the topic last month and that interview is now on her blog. With a graphic that makes my words look good

2. The power of blogs

Earlier this year I asked my readers to be a part of a survey – a survey that would help us find out more about what they’d like featured on this space and whether they were influenced to buy what bloggers wrote about. Here are some of the results of that survey (Styling You was just one of the blogs included in the survey). This influence really does make it even more crucial for us – as bloggers – to take care when working with – and featuring – brands and products.

3. Instagram is now on your browser

This week Instagram rolled out its web profiles, which means we all have Facebook timeline-like profiles for our Instagram accounts. I was already using Instadesk as a desktop application on my MAC and I know a lot of people use Statigram but I do like the look of the new profiles and commenting is more stable than what I sometimes experience on Instadesk.

4. Facebook tests Pages Feed

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I got a bit antsy about the changes to Facebook pages and the News Feed? I knew I wasn’t alone and Facebook is seemingly responding to the collective “feeling” by testing a separate Facebook Pages Feed. It’s not showing up for me as yet but you can read more about it here. Plus, you can now opt in to receive notifications from the pages that you like. You need to hover your mouse over the “like” button for this option to show. Time will tell if that makes a difference but I’d like to think that ultimately we can choose what we see in our feeds.

Oh, and I hope this clever feature comes to Facebook Pages soon. Have you noticed you can now reply directly to individual comments on some Personal Profile conversations? It’s not showing up on all but how cool is that?

5. The Photo Diner

If you’re a beauty or style blogger and feature campaign or flat lay images of current fashion collections on your blog then you’ll want to sign up to this quick smart. The Photo Diner offers bloggers and journalists access to Australian fashion campaign images we would normally have to wait to receive from PR companies. Labels currently include: Bassike, Alex Perry, sass & bide, Antipodium, Deadly Ponies, Carly Hunter, Emma Mulholland, Juliette Hogan, Dress Up, KINOAK, Lonely Hearts, Poms, Rebecca Vallance, Rachael Ruddick, JLH by Jennifer Hawkins, Kirstin Ash, Bloch, Barton Perreira, Soludos, DITA Eyewear, We Are Handsome, and Megan Park. More are being added soon. This is especially handy if you blog after hours. I find accessing this kind of information and imagery invaluable  -  much like I have long used Beauty Directory for beauty images and product details.

6.  The life of a new full-time blogger

I have a huge amount of respect for the very talented Jen Bishop, who has been blogging for more than a year, but recently made the leap to full-time blogging after her former position as a business mag editor was made redundant. I love Jen’s blog and her perspective on her first two weeks as a full-time blogger - it’s a must-read for all people blogging as a business.

7. Do you know your blog’s purpose?

Bron at Maxabella Loves wrote a post this week that should be a must read-and-ponder for all bloggers, blogging for readership growth. What’s the purpose of your blog? As she says, “you’ve gotta know what you are trying to get out of it in order to make it good”. Couldn’t agree more.

So, over to you. What have you learned about blogging or social media this week that you’d like to share? Either leave a comment below or if you’ve blogged about it, join this week’s link-up.

—————————————————————————————–

Share your blogging know-how

Thanks so much to everyone who plays along with my Saturday blogging linky. Sharing your blogging knowledge with other bloggers and potential bloggers really is how this blogging world best goes round. It’s a bit like having a mini online conference here every week.

Remember if you want to join in, just add your link below. The link needs to be to a post ABOUT BLOGGING (all others will be deleted). Please fill in the box where it says “name” like this: BLOG NAME: Blog post title. That way your blog gets a plug and if you include the title of your post, you’ll attract readers interested in the topic.

---

1.	Dad Down Under: Blogging for the Obsessive Compulsive
2.	Jodi Gibson: social media marketing
3.	REDCLIFFE STYLE: My top 5 blogging tools
4.	Blog Ethics & Working With PRs (Eat Drink Blog 2012 Conference)
5.	Zigazag : 5 Tips for Social Media Strategising
6.	Media Tips For Bloggers: Off The Record - Tips For Being Interviewed
7.	Are we bloggers kidding ourselves?
8.	A Blog Is.
9.	SUGER COAT IT: Why I think a welcome page on your blog is essential!
10.	Foxy and Fabulous: What have you done this week to be a better blogging citizen?
11.	What it Takes to be a Creative Success
12.	Maid In Australia
13.	How to get more blog comments
14.	Viral Video Blogging

( Collection closed )
Link tool by Inlinkz

PS. If you have an online business that Styling You readers need to know about and buy from, check out the Christmas banner advertising specials I’ve just launched. Buy two months and receive one month free.