baby blogger

Good Morning! It is my 6 month blogging anniversary, and yesterday I hit 150 followers!
Thanks y'all! (At the bottom is my "THANK YOU" giveaway!)

When I started Here&Now at the end of October 2011, I knew NOTHING about how to blog. Sure, I had read hundreds of blogs, and had a healthy habit of reading amazing fashion blogs daily, but had never considered how to actually go about the DOING and the behind the scenes work required to run a "blog". I dove right into starting my blog because I had a passion for fashion, and was so inspired by the Glamourais,  Jessica Quirks, Anna Janes, and Leandras of the internets. I didn't know anything about HTML, comment moderation, blog-link ups, or SEO friendly words (to name a few). I didn't own my own domain name, have a fancy camera, or stacks of money in the bank to use towards clothes. I was naïve.

I still have a long ways to go, but have learned so much over the past 6 months. One of the motivations for starting Here&Now was to have a creative outlet that would allow me to learn and refine new skills... this definitely is that and more, and I couldn't be more thrilled about it. 

While I am no expert, I would like to share with you some of the resources that have helped me sustain and grow my blog (content, design, you name it) so far. I hope you can learn something new, and if there is a resource that has been beneficial for you, I do hope you will share it with me (I sure could use it!)

{The Basics}

1. How to get noticed (by Google, and readers)
Google/search words

2. Social Media
- On increasing traffic
- Making Pinterest work for you
- Displaying Instagram photos on your blog, and Instagram tips

{ find me here on Pinterest }

3. How to make money (if you are ready & want to)
- Getting referral commission (Reward Style)
- Making a Media Kit (& here)
- Attracting companies (& here)
- IFB tools (<-- if you are a fashion blogger, this is a MUST join site!)

Find more IFB tools here

4. So I just bought this fancy camera... what button do I push first?
Digital Photography School

 {Content}

5. I have a blog, now what do I write about?

Blogger's workout plan

6. Get inspiration

- Online magazines (Matchbook)

- other beautifully curated sites (Kirtsy)

7. Give credit

Link with love

8. Follow what you love, not the "rules"
- Sustainable Blogging

{Design}

9. On making things pretty

{ Seriously, this site is AMAZING }

10. Making a boring template yours

here, here, here, here (to list a few)

{Everything Else}

11. Networking
- Conferences (Alt Summit, Blissdom)
- people who went to conferences (1, 2, 3)
- local "meet-ups" (but haven't found a good one close to Nashville yet...)
- link up (Friday's Fancies via {long distance loving})

12. How to make it a business
Listen to the advice of others who have successfully made the transition to a full time business venture

13. Getting is ALL done
- Productivity

I want to seriously thank each and everyone of you for supporting my blogging efforts over the past 6 months (can't believe it has already been half a year!). 

I do this blog for me, but I couldn't be doing it without you!

I hope to bring you new and exciting content, and bring about some fun changes to my little spot on the internet. If there is any constructive criticism, or suggestions you have please leave them in the comments for me!

And now as a huge THANK YOU, I have a small token of my appreciation in the form of another giveaway. This time from the lovely Etsy shop that is Diament Designs.
For a chance to win, please let me know how you follow Here&Now
Bloglovin'
Twitter
Google Friend Connect (left side bar)
and your email address in the comments

A winner of a $25 gift card to Diament Designs' Etsy Shop Will be announced next Friday (May 4th) at 9am (entries will be counted through May 3rd at midnight)
In the mean time, the wonderful Libby has graciously provided Here&Now readers 15% off everything in her shop with the code HELLO (get to shopping!)

These are my favorite picks (from 100s!) from her shop, most of them being $10-14 (which means you could certainly get 2 fabulous pieces with your gift card)
I definitely picked up the "Gigi" bracelet
(so what if it is weird that I am the one perpetuating my self given nickname!)
What would you use the gift card for if you won!?