hello again sweet readers! so, are you ready for more inspirational words about blogging? as promised today we shall have lady victoria smith from {sfgirlbybay}.
“sfgirlbybay is a san francisco based blogger, hopeful photographer, photo stylist, design junkie and bonafide flea market queen. victoria smith is editor/writer of sfgirlbybay, one of the west coast’s leading interior design blogs, featuring new product reviews, shopping tips, including art, photography and design resources, as well as home entertaining and lifestyle stories, with a loyal fan base and readers that include top magazine and newspaper editors, shoppers, and industry professionals.”
{at home with ulrica via sfgirlbybay}
so, in order to make this organized, let us first talk about your personal experience…
1. do you remember the first day you blogged? what did you have in mind?
i do remember. i was hoping to share my home on one of {apartment therapy’s home tours} and didn’t know how to share images of my home in a well-presented, organized fashion, so i thought putting them on a blog might be a good idea. it was june of 2006 and i honestly had no idea what a blog even was. but it seemed like a fun idea, and i realized right away that a blog encompassed everything i love – design, writing and photography, so it stuck and i just kept at it with no real plan, just having fun with a new creative outlet.
2. what does your blog represents for you? how many hours it represents on a daily basis?
well, as i said above, it’s really a huge creative outlet for me, as well as my full-time job now. in fact life and work merge these days – what i do in my personal life, whether it be redecorating, or attending a great art exhibit quite often end up as a blog post. and writing about someone i admire often allows me to get to know that artist or designer on a personal basis, which is amazing. i’ve been lucky to have my job intersect with my life this way. i can spend a lot of hours on the blog each day – ‘d say anywhere from 6 to 12 hours. That also includes the business side – answering emails, organizing editorial content, advertising, etc.
3. when you started to wish to make it grow in a really strong way, what strategies did work for your blog?
grace from design*sponge gave me some great guidance. my much younger role model! she helped me put together a digital press kit with my background, experience, press and a rate sheet for advertisers. it’s a great tool because i can send it as a pdf to potential advertisers and look professional and polished. i think that’s important. i also really believe in making your blog your own – your own voice, your own personality. if people like you and relate to what you’re saying i think they’ll want to keep reading. we’re all friends on my blog, at least it feels that way, and so i write to my readers as if we’re having a nice chat.
4. since which moment you believed that your blog was a successful one?
oh, gosh, i guess when i was published in the australian decor magazine, {real living}. that felt pretty fabulous, to know i was reaching readers across the world. i was over the moon excited.
now… let us think about other blogs and blogging…
1. if there was a main rule about blog etiquette, what would it be?
definitely to credit your sources. there’s nothing worse than working really hard on a blog post, to see it end up plagiarized on someone else’s blog. that is completely uncool, and i don’t understand the rationale behind it at all. i mean, a blog is supposed to be a reflection of your own style and personality, so if you take it from someone else, i just don’t understand the joy in that.
2. publishing a story every day… main rule towards success or not at all?
i think it depends on the blog, and what expectations they have set up for their readers. i publish 3-4 posts a day, because that’s what my readers and advertisers have come to expect, and frankly i find so much i want to share i get excited to post about it. but some blogs i read, only post once or twice a week and i love them just the same. i read them because they have something unique to say, or discover and share amazing things – like door sixteen – anna always amazes me with her candid, fresh posts.
3. when you read a blog, what is “that” thing that makes you click on “add a comment”?
i think it’s always something that wows me, or i admire tremendously. i’m super busy and don’t always have the time i’d like to read all the blogs i love. so if someone shares a beautiful post, i really want to commend them and let them know how much i appreciated the creativity or inspiration they shared.
4. what does your eye catch when you are searching the web and you find a new blog?
really great design. i love the scandinavian aesthetic – and i love a simple, but stylish blog, with lots of white background that allows great photography to stand out. good photography is critical in my opinion. i am blown away by some of the beautiful blogs out there, and am constantly getting inspired to re-design my blog. in fact, i’m in the process of a re-design right now. i get nervous about changing the look too often, but hey – look at madonna! ;)
and this is it for today lovely friends! i know that there are plenty of you new here at {… a place for twiggs} and i welcome you all! it is such a pleasure to have you here… you would not guess! i hope these words have also inspired you and had you thinking more about what you wish to accomplish… your own style… your rules…
if you wish to read yesterday’s interview with brittni from {papernstitch} you can do it {here}! and of course… tomorrow we shall continue… this time with tara gentile, one of the ladies behind {scoutie girl}, the author of 52 weeks of blogging and {big thinking for small businesses} website.
if you would like to feel the strength of this lady… please listen to her on this video, as she explains us how she reached her {5 figure creative business strategy}.
see you tomorrow with more {blogging… by bloggers}!
have a sweet day!
twiggs
Maria Dermengiu says
great interview! thanks for sharing, have a good evening,hugs, Maria
Divas and Dreams says
Love, love, love this….great inspiration!! I really enjoy following this series!
Thanks darling :-)
{twiggs} says
thank you maria! and a good evening for you too!!! :) hugs, twiggs
sfgirlbybay says
thank you so much for featuring me! it was fun to think about your thoughtful questions!
joanncto says
great interview – helps us newbie bloggers figure out what we're doing! sfgirlbybay was my very first blog experience, and of course two years later, i have my own because of all of the inspiration that victoria provided me!
http://www.idratherbeshopping.wordpress.com
annamaria says
Great interview- thank you so much for sharing these thoughts-this looks like it's going to be a great bloggin week here!Thank you for inviting these lovely guests!
Sílvia says
olá Joana! descobri hoje o seu blog e estou a gostar bastante! Eu criei o meu á menos de um mês por isso ainda sou um principiante na arte do blogging. As fotografias são maravilhosas!
beijo,
Sílvia
{twiggs} says
hello… thank you so much for being this nice!!!
joanna, what a coincidence, i had seen your blog today!! gorgeous selection for victoria!! ;)
thank you annamaria! :) i hope to see you here tomorrow as well!
olá sílvia! ainda bem que gostou!! :) mas o meu nome não é joana :) é claudia! :)
have a great day!
twiggs
Traveling Mama says
I love this series so very much! I am mostly encouraged by the fact that Victoria's personal life intersect so closely with her work. My husband and I work together on our blog content and we are blessed to have similar interests… otherwise we would probably never see each other! Thanks so much to Victoria! I've been an avid follower for years and it's really great to hear her perspective!
{twiggs} says
hello tina! that is exactly what has been encouraging me too, i am blessed with a "husband" that understands what i do and my effort for something i am in love with :) so… i guess we are lucky girls, huh? :) have a great day! twiggs
vicki says
Twiggs, you thought up such great questions and it was really great reading Victoria's answers and learning more about her! Her blog is definitely one of my favorites. :)
{twiggs} says
thank you so much vicki! you are making me feel so happy!!! even more than i was! ;) xoxo, twiggs
rachel @ blackeiffel says
This is such a beautiful series, I really have enjoyed reading through all of the interviews from some of my favorite bloggers! Thank you.