FAQ’s
I absolutely love hearing from you & getting questions via e-mail or in comments so please don’t hesitate to reach out. I thought I would share the most frequent questions so you have a place to reference.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What size are you? I am a size 0-2, Small, 26 in Jeans and 8 in Shoes.
Who takes all of your photo’s? My loving husband. We use a Canon 50D with a Tamron 270mm lens. While we are completely flattered to hear compliments on our photo’s, we actually use the “wing it” strategy and have no photography training.
When did you start blogging? I toyed around with blogging starting in 2009 but created Damsel in Dior in September 2011.
Do you blog full time? Yes but I do not write solely for Damsel in Dior. In fact, I started Damsel in Dior after I was already writing for several other online publications. I consider myself a freelance writer/blogger and I work from home. However, Damsel in Dior has recently become my #1 priority.
I’m in the process of starting a blog, do you have any advice on how to get started? My #1 piece of advice to people who want to blog is to start a blog. Start writing, compiling images and getting your thoughts down. You can worry about the aesthetic later. The branding and overall idea for a blog is the hardest part in my mind. I would also suggest taking a Photoshop class {or Illustrator, InDesign, etc…} to help polish your graphics as well as investing in a nice {ish} camera. Images are everything and so is having original content. What is original content? An example of “original content” are my “What I Want Wednesday” posts or “Champagne Thursday“. These are two editorial series I created and design all of the graphics myself. I would also suggest getting connected in social networks such as IFB and attending conferences such as ALT Summit {which I went to starting out}. Also, commenting on other blogs and engaging with other bloggers is a great way to network and build friendships inside the blogging community. E-mail blogger friends and ask if they’d be interested in collaborating to help spread the love.
How did you grow your readership? I truly wish I had an easy answer for this one other than this: It wasn’t easy and it still isn’t easy. I suppose sticking to the formula that you have to treat your blog as a business is helpful. Create an editorial calendar and stick to it so that your readers know what to expect. Engaging with fellow bloggers and making friends definitely helps so that you both promote each other. Growing your readership takes a lot of time, patience and persistence but if you are dedicated, hard working and create unique and original material, the readers will come.
How do you make money? While I find this question a little personal {well, how do you make money?, HA!}, I completely, 100% understand why people ask it. Blogging is a new industry to make money in and it can be very confusing to people as to how a blogger makes money. I use affiliates such as RewardStyle that provides me with special links to use in my posts. In return, I may receive a small commission {a percentage of the sales}. Not all of the products I post on this blog are linked with affiliate sites and the program 100% positively does NOT affect what I choose to put on the blog. Occasionally, I will work with brands and companies and do a sponsored blog post or fun video, however I will not post about anything that I wouldn’t otherwise post about {for free}. You can read more about this in my “Policies” section.
Who does your hair? I skip between Jamie at Argyle Salon & Spa and Yvonne at MeCHE salon. I absolutely hate getting my hair done so, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, I usually let my roots grow in until it’s on the verge of ridiculousness.
How long does it take you to do a post and how many hours do you work a day? These questions go hand in hand because for me, I am always blogging. 24/7. Damsel in Dior is a reflection of the style in which I live my life, so the blog has to follow the pace of my life. If I’m not at the computer physically blogging, I am either out taking photo’s, brainstorming a blog, writing down ideas, dreaming up new material, meeting with people, taking conference calls or documenting my experiences so that I can share them with you. While I don’t get to take a vacation or time off, I can’t complain because I have designed it that way and I absolutely love what I do. However, an actual writing of a blog and graphic design can take between 1-3 hours depending on the content.
What do you love most about blogging? I am so very lucky to have something to do every day that I cannot wait to wake up and do. Blogging is a combination of all of my infatuations: photography, style, computers, graphics and most of all: writing. It’s a never ending obsession that I am blessed to be able to call my career. The absolute best part about blogging is when I hear from readers, brands and fellow bloggers, because if it weren’t for them, Damsel in Dior would not exist.
What do you love least about blogging? The misconception that it’s “easy” and having people judge that this is what I treat as my full time job. It’s also difficult on days when I just want to go make-up less and throw on a t-shirt and sweats and not have my picture taken…but those days seldom exist. It’s a good problem to have.
Who designs the Damsel in Dior posts and who designed your site? I create all of my graphics using Adobe Photoshop. The incredibly amazing and talented Gadabout Creative designed my blog & logo.
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Comments
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I recently started my blog and I am having a blast. It reminds me of when I started my “real career” in graphic design. I just do it because i Love it! Getting readers will come I suppose!
Love your blog and the great advise!
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Hi Jacey – saw you in WWD’s Armani #DressedFor campaign and immediately came to your blog. What a great space! I’m in love and plan to come back often.
I work in fashion but just blog on the side, always looking for inspiration. Check out my site at ruederuffles.com.
Thanks!
Kelsey