WORK

When I first started blogging, I was embarrassed and was scared of what people would think. I then took a step back and organized my thought on WHY I actually wanted to blog.

I was constantly seeing all these beautiful homes on social media, and people made them out to be unattainable. This didn’t sit well with me. You don’t have to be some elite interior designer or celebrity to have a home you love and cherish.

I set out on my mission to show people that you can make your space yours with small improvements to your space. I took my Instagram off of private and went for it.

While blogging allowed me to do something I was extremely passionate about, I kept seeing other bloggers using an app called Like to Know It through RewardStyle and it seemed like a really powerful tool. It would allow me to link directly to items so people could shop if they liked something.

I searched high and low for ways to get accepted via different blog posts like the one I’m writing now. There wasn’t much out there, which is why I wanted to write this.

I was expecting to be rejected since I read that many bloggers were rejected after their first application. After following these steps, I was accepted on my first try with under 1,000 followers.

1. Blog consistently for a few months. Quality content is more important than quantity. A solid foundation on your blog or Instagram is a must.
2. Tag items accurately. Make sure to tag everything with the exact products when possible. I have lots of older clothes and will link their updated versions, but these never perform as well. People want to be able to shop your look, and may be disappointed to only find similar items.
3. Engage with your followers. Your engagement rate and blog traffic is important, but interacting with your followers ranks right up there. Plus, it’s the only way to get to know your audience. You’ll thank yourself in the long run when you have a solid relationship with your audience.
4. Clear images without heavy filters are best. Keeping the colors of products truly representative of the items will give people a clear idea. Plus, brands always want their products to be accurately represented. This will also be helpful later on when trying to land collaborations. It’s a best practice all around. Not every photo needs to be taken on a professional camera, iPhone will do as long as the images are clear.
5. Reach out to other bloggers, even if you’ve never talked to them before or met them in real life. You’d be surprised as to how many are willing to give pointers, and you never know who you may end up friends with! Yes, there are some big name bloggers who tend to give the industry a bad name, but don’t let that set you astray from perusing you passion. Get out there (even in the digital world) and learn! There is room for everyone to share their unique voice.

TIP: Any of your blogger friends who are already part of
RewardStyle can give you a referral, which will increase your chances of
getting accepted. I didn’t have one when I applied, but I have given
several since then, and all those bloggers have been accepted.

I hope these pointers are helpful. I know I searched high and low for info like this when I first started, or someone who looked approachable, so I want to be that resource for all of you. Please reach out to me to chat or brainstorm any time!