Happy New Year! This is my first post of the New Year and I wish it was a new outfit photo for you but I still haven’t gotten over the holidays yet! I’m still in Pennsylvania spending time with my family and just taking it easy. It’s been nice to have free babysitters around (aka my parents and in-laws). I don’t have any family in California so I usually never get a break. It’s also been FREEZING here and I haven’t figured out how to take outfit photos in the snow (I don’t know how you East Coast bloggers do it!). But it’s always nice to take a break every once in awhile and I’m working hard to come up with plan and new content for 2018!
2017 was a great year for me personally but not so great blogging wise. I feel like I haven’t gotten over the 3,4,5 year hump I’ve been in. I haven’t really grown or seen progress (in my opinion) and that’s really hard. Of course, I’d like to have hundreds of thousands of page views and Instagram followers but I realize that’s a bit unrealistic. They say success doesn’t happen overnight but when you’ve been at something for over 5 years and haven’t really seen much growth it starts to make you feel like you are doing something wrong. A lot of bloggers say you just need to do it because you love it and while that’s true I need to make more out of this platform or I won’t be able to keep doing it “full time” like I want to.
SO that leads me to this year’s RESOLUTIONS.
1) Plan, Plan, Plan: I always feel like I’m one step behind when it comes to blogging. I never have holiday content ready to go beforehand and a lot of times I shoot my outfit posts the day before I post it. So I’m working on setting up an Editorial Calendar for THE YEAR. I’ll keep you posted…haha.
2) Provide more value: I feel like I haven’t done a good job of posting content that provides value or solves problems for my readers. I post outfit inspiration because that’s what I’m looking for when I visit fashion blogs. But that only skims the surface and I think I could do a better job of offering more fashion or blogging advice. So I’m starting a “Better Blogging Series” on my blog where I’m going to share all the blogging knowledge I’ve accumulated over the years – and it’s a lot!
Let me know if there’s any blogging/fashion questions you’d like me to answer!!
3) Connect with people: I’m a very shy person – both in real life and on the blog. Which I feel holds me back from connecting with people. I know, it seems strange because I post pictures of myself on the internet almost everyday but I really don’t like being in front of the camera (which is why you don’t see me on Insta Stories that much). But I feel like the most successful bloggers are great at opening up and letting you feel like they are one of your BFFs. So let me know if there’s anything you’d like to know about me! šĀ
There are a hundred little resolutions I could make but these are the main ones. Do you guys make resolutions and if so, what are some of yours?Ā
Now onto Flashback Fashion Fridays! The above photo is from last January. I don’t have many posts from January because I was still feeling sick but I remember this one because it was one of the first times I left the house to meet up with Adri!
Thank you for the link up! Good luck with your resolutions! An editorial calendar sounds like a good idea, I know lots of people rave about them. My blog is just a hobby though so I use that excuse for why I’ve never developed one, haha!
Happy new year! Hope that this first week of 2018 is going well for you! We’ve been enjoying the warmer weather with some pool time, as it has been a particularly humid summer so far the pool has been a good idea.
Away From The Blue Blog
Thanks Mica! Yeah, we’ll see how the Editorial Calendar goes! I’m really trying to treat my blog as my business so I feel like it’s needed.
Wishing you a Happy New Year as well! The pool time sounds amazing! We are right in the middle of winter right now with lots of snow! Have a great weekend!
Jessica, I think these are great blogging goals for the new year. I feel the same way as you…like I have hit a plateau of sorts and I am not sure where to go from here to make progress. I don’t know if I have ever asked this before…but where in Pennsylvania is your family when you visit? I am also from PA but live in upstate NY…maybe on one of your future east coast trips, we can coordinate a blogger meet up! By the way, just keep sharing what you are passionate about on your blog and write about things that move and inspire you. I adore your blog and love what you are doing. I also love your idea of a series of sharing blogger tips!
Wishing you a very happy, healthy, and successful new year!
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
How cool! I’m from a small town in between Lancaster and Philadelphia! Where in PA are you from? Eventually I’ll be moving back to the east coast so I’m looking forward to setting up lots of blogger meetups over here š Thanks so much for the support Shelbee! Wishing you lots of success this year as well!
I agree and love this comment 100% (no shock Shelbee). And I agree with Shelbee that both blogger meet-ups and multi-blogger collaborations are great ways to 1) break the ice with other bloggers; 2) gain more genuine followers and readers; 3) grow your blog organically.
Looking forward to your blogging tips series, Jess.
I do make goals each year and have for most of my adult life. I make them achievable and broad so I usually can reach them. It works for me. My biggest roadblock in blogging is IG, it sucks up too much time and I think my generation doesn’t use it much so gaining followers is very difficult. So I will focus on spending my blog time reading other blogs this year rather than figure out IG. Great look today!
Peace!
Cheryl
http://www.northwestmountainliving.com
That’s awesome that you set goals and reach them! IG is a big time suck…lol. I definitely think it’s a good idea to focus on blogs because ultimately, that’s where you want your IG followers to go anyway! I hope your year is off to a good start!
I know exactly what you mean about the growth being slow with the blog. And my husband keeps saying that blogs are going to go by the wayside, but I feel like it’s something I like to do, so I’ll continue it!!
Have a great weekend!!
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Thanks Jodie! Blogging has definitely changed over the last couple of years but Influencer marketing keeps rising so I don’t think it’s dead. It just seems like social media/Instagram is taking over. However, I definitely think blogs are necessary because that is content that you own as opposed to social sites which could be taken away from you at any time. So definitely keep blogging! š Have a great weekend!
I think you’re right!! XOXO
Happy New Year Jessica! I know exactly how you feel, as I feel like I’m at a standstill too. However, I feel that if you truly love it, you will find a way to make it work. Wishing you a great and successful 2018, and enjoy the rest of your time with the family!
Rachael
http://www.threadsforthomasblog.com
Thanks Rachael! I hope your year is off to a good start! Wishing you lots of success in 2018 too!
Jessica I know exactly how you feel with blog growth, and for me it’s been NINE years, and you’ve got 10 times the amount of followers I do (which is not an exaggeration), so I get it, it’s super frustrating. But we are still doing for a reason, and since that reason isn’t to pay the bills, I suppose we continue on, chip away, and maybe, hopefully, reach that tipping point.
http://www.iamchiconthecheap.com/
It’s super frustrating when I see bloggers who have just started in the past year or so and have more followers than I do so I totally understand! I feel like the only way I’ve increased my following on instagram is from doing lots of loop giveaways. But those end up costing a lot of money and I’m not sure it’s the right kind of growth. So I’m still trying to figure it out! I do love blogging and can’t imagine what I’d do with my time without it…haha. But for the past year or two I’ve been trying to go full time and actually make a live-able income off of it and it’s not working so I feel like a failure. But hopefully I’ll figure it out in 2018! Wishing you the same luck for this year too!
Happy new year Jessica! I so agree on a lot of these points! I have been doing a lot of connecting and networking to find a new career, but not such a great job on providing value…I hope to be more inspirational in my posts ! Thanks for hosting hte link up..all the best!]
xoxo
Valerie
Thanks Valerie! I appreciate the support š I hope your year is off to a good start!
I love these goals for growing your blog! They are all definitely things I’ve heard (read) successful bloggers do, and I’m sure you’ll do great! Excited for the Better Blogging Series!
xo Jules
Thanks Julia! I’m excited to start sharing my blogging tips! š
These are great goals Jessica. Loving this coat on you too, so pretty!
xx, Elise
http://www.sparkleandslippers.blogspot.com
Thanks so much Elise! I hope your year is off to a good start!
Planning things well and being more social are some of my resolutions too for this year!
Happy New Year and best of wishes to you!
https://lartoffashion.com
Thanks Natali! Wishing you the best of luck with your resolutions this year!
Hi Jess and Happy 2018! I have blogged for the same time as you have pretty much and I haven’t seen a lot of growth numbers-wise. But I meet more and more amazing women and blogging friends each month through blogging and I have a lot more blogger friends now. I also like to think that my pictures and outfits have improved. Also my page views for each outfit have increased a ton and my Thursday Moda linkup is pretty successful. And I too am a lot more shy in real life, trust me.
Those super popular bloggers with over 25 K Instagram followers are not as shy and get a lot of clicks and views but if you visit their blogs they rarely have any or a lot of comments or engagements. Engagement with bigger name bloggers is more robotic and doesn’t feel as genuine to me. So I guess we all have to look at the bigger picture plus comparison is the thief of joy. But I am with you on your blog goals for 2018 and mine are almost identical, especially 1 & 2.
Love your cold weather look with that amazing coat. And girl the Mid-West cold is even worse than the East Coast. Stay warm and keep enjoying family time in Pennsylvania!!
Happy New Year to you and come join my recent Thursday Moda with your wonderful stylish looks!
http://eleganceandmommyhood.blogspot.com/2018/01/thursday-moda-96-currently-january-2018.html
I’m glad you’ve had successes with your blog this past year! I agree that the larger bloggers don’t seem to get the same kind of genuine engagement that smaller bloggers get sometimes. I definitely try not to compare myself with others but it’s hard sometimes! Thanks for your support! I hope your year is off to a good start!
Happy New Year. Love your goals, especially number two. It seems that as bloggers, it is important to provide value to our audience. Can’t wait to see what you share with us.
Thanks! I’m looking forward to sharing lots of new posts soon! I hope your year is off to a good start!
Hi Jess,
Happy New Year!
All great goals for 2018. I looking forward to watching you in 2018. Great posts always!
Thanks so much Rosemary! I hope your year is off to a good start!
Jessica, I can totally relate to everything in this post when it comes to blogging. I also tend to dwell on the numbers and get frustrated when they’re not moving up. But I’m slowly learning that I need to do things from the heart, and like you mentioned, genuine connections with people (other bloggers and readers) are what really countāand move the needle. I am also not a big networker, so that’s a challenge for me too, but I think it pays off in the end. Also, I think your blog is great, so here’s to a better 2018!
Cheryl Shops | http://www.cherylshops.net
This whole post resonates with me so much. I have been at it for five years and I feel like it’s kind of stagnant over there too. I love your content! I totally understand what you are saying though because one of my goals is to provide not just inspo but how to with putting together looks etc. Keep at it girl because I love your blog!
http://www.mylittlenest.org
Thanks so much Ruth! I really appreciate your support! I hope this year is the year for lots of growth for both our blogs! š
I can completely understand where you are coming from! I get it. I have been blogging for years and I started for fun and then for Therapeutic reasons and then got serious about blogging after my son was born. And I still love it, but it has been slow growth. I am hanging in there and hoping 2018 will be THE year for my blog. Work work work work. And have fun
Yes! Definitely hoping that 2018 will be the year for me too š Thanks for the support!
Thank you for being honest! I have been feeling this way for over a year. I even did a survey to figure out but it really did not really help me. So now I am working on posts that may help people more!
It’s so hard to figure out what will resonate with people, isn’t it?! I feel like I do surveys too and still have no idea… So a lot of times I just try to create content that’s interesting to me.
What a nice read dear. Love it, especially the first one. Planning I believe, is extremely important to any goal you wish to achieve. It sets you on the right track, and gives you exactly the things you need to do to get there. Btw, love the coat dear, that’s so pretty and edgy.
Jessica | notjessfashion.com
Thanks so much Jessica! Hope your year is off to a good start š
In terms of fashion questions, there are two things I always want to know more about:
1) Layering. I appreciate it in inspiration, but never seem to execute it right. Things look lumpy (like, how do you layer a button down under a fitted sweater and not see the buttons), proportions don’t work, etc.
2) Tailoring. How do you find a good tailor (and know that they’re good)?
Fodder for you to tackle. š
Thanks for the questions Megan! I’ll definitely try to answer those questions in a post soon! š