February - A Month in Review

I thought it’d be nice to see some changes around these parts for the end of the month post. Usually, I do monthly goals, but I haven’t been feeling those recently. What I did love was the year in review post I did at the end of 2015. And because of all the great feedback I got on it, I thought I’d take that and switch it up a bit to become a regular “Month in Review” post. So here we are!

A lot has happened in February, so much so that it’s been quite a whirlwind. I love this time of the year as we’re moving into Spring. It starts to get me more excited for the months to come, especially when all the flowers are starting to appear and the bunnies can go on the grass for a run around!

If you follow me on Snapchat, you’ll know that I’ve been feeling slightly overwhelmed these past few weeks. I’ve had late nights at work every week throughout the month, and my workload has been sky high. I’ve upped the amount I post to my blog, I’ve got a steady run of freelancing - and I’ve had two guest lectures to prepare for.

Trying to have a normal life has been kind of impossible this month, and while I’m currently run down with a bad cold, it’s taught me a lesson or two. You come first - that’s the most important thing I’ve taken away from February. Now let’s get into what happened!

Top 5 Highlights of February

1. Going on a date with my mum to see Collabro and absolutely loving it.

2. Taking a trip around the countryside with Tom and having a tasty meal to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

3. Booking a holiday to Dublin.

4. Being contacted about some great freelancing opportunities.

5. Completing my first of two guest lectures.

Holly SuttonFebruary 29, 2016Comment

Seven for Sunday

If I had to pick the biggest struggle of the year so far, it would be this week. It was always going to be a bit tricky after having been off work for five days, but boy did it hit me hard!

Last Sunday was a lovely end to my little break though. I got a big workout done in the morning and then me and the fam went up to Lancaster to see my brother at university. We took him out for Sunday lunch and somehow managed three courses! It was delicious.

If you follow me on Snapchat, you'll know I've been feeling quite overwhelmed at the moment. My work load is bigger than usual, because not only have I had more freelance work than normal - but I've also got two guest lectures coming up. One at Lancaster University on personal branding, and one at the University of Central Lancashire on writing different types of content. They got on top of me somehow and it's safe to say I've been feeling the pressure.

They happen tomorrow and Tuesday and then it'll be back to normal. But I'm really excited to do them. The students always seem to learn so much and it helps me realise how far I've come as a blogger.

All I've really done this week is work and more work! Apart from last night when my mum and I went to a concert from an opera group that won Britain's Got Talent - and it was actually pretty good!

I hope you've had better week's than I had - if not, then here's to the next one!

Holly SuttonFebruary 28, 2016Comment

How to Promote Your Blog Content: My Magical Advice

So you’ve got an amazing idea for a new blog post. You plan it, write it, format it, take the photos for it, proof read it, go through your pre-publish checklist and then it goes live. You share the link on Twitter, make sure it’s showing up on Bloglovin’ and then you sit back and wait for the pageviews to come rolling in.

Don’t you wish it was that easy?

In every public speaking workshop I do, one of the things I always tell the students is “build it and they will come” is a very outdated way of thinking. That used to work – now, it’s more like “build it, share it until you can’t share it anymore, and then they’ll come.”

So what do you do? How do you get your content out there in front of all the right people?

By promoting it.

Oh yeah. It just got real. But I know what you’re thinking (because everyone else thinks it too) – where should I promote it?

That’s what this post is here to tell you (in over 2000 words so get ready!) Today, we’re in a blogging world where there are endless possibilities when it comes to content promotion. You just need to find them. Here are all the answers you need, plus how to actually do it.

Bloglovin'

This might seem obvious to you, but for all you newbie bloggers out there, get your blog on Bloglovin’. That way, when a blog post is published on your blog, it’ll directly sync with this platform too. I love my Bloglovin’ feed for catching up with all my favourite blogs, and I bet most of you do too! Here are a few extra tips for making the most of it:

Put your blog in the right category. I remember when I first started blogging, I put my blog in the “other” category, because I didn't know what I wanted it to be yet! But you’ve got to remember that your blog will develop as you will. So while you might be writing about beauty for now and think that Beauty is the best category, you might want to re-evaluate if you start adding in lifestyle content. This also means that your content will be promoted to the people who are most interested in it.
Promote that you’re on Bloglovin’. Get a button to put in your sidebar and there’s no harm in sharing your link either. Self-promotion is part of the job description and Bloglovin’ is one of the best ways to do it.

Your Newsletter

There are so many different ways you can promote your blog content your newsletter subscribers. Remember, people sign up to your newsletter to hear more from you. They want to see what value you can give them. I even know some people who sign up to newsletters, purely to receive someone’s blog content that way.

There are two main ways you can promote your content through your newsletter and I’ll tell you which one I prefer.

The first is to write your blog post directly into your newsletter. Or half of it and then link to the rest of your post online. This isn't my preferred method.

I believe newsletters are best utilised when they’re unique and original – not repurposed content. But there’s nothing wrong with having some of your links within your newsletter. You could base your newsletter on a blog post topic and start off with “Earlier this week I wrote about X on the blog, which inspired me to write about Y.” Or you could do a little round up at the end of your most recent posts. You could title this, “Recent posts”, “In case you missed it”, “Recently on the blog” or something similar.

The point here is that you’re giving your subscribers an opportunity and making it really easy for them to view your content. Jen does this really well.

Holly SuttonFebruary 27, 2016Comment

How to Handle Knockbacks like a Pro

I know how it works.

You’re busting your bum making your CV the best it can be, applying for jobs, preparing for interviews and trying to convince yourself that:

1. You ARE worthy of being hired.

2. You CAN do more than you think.

3. And to be fair, you’re pretty talented.

And then, just when you think you’re hitting the jackpot, what happens?

All the knockbacks come at once to tell you that you “haven’t been successful” and actually, you’re never going to get a job you want ever.

Or at least that’s how knockbacks feel, right?

These experiences can affect us really negatively. And worse, it sometimes turns us into a negative person.

Believe me, I’ve been there. But I’ve got a better way to deal with it.

Because there’s only ONE thing worse for yourself and your career than stupid, harsh, unexpected knockbacks, and that’s letting them define you.

This is how to handle job knockbacks like a pro. Ready to rock? Let’s do this.

Holly SuttonFebruary 25, 2016career tips, job tips, career advice, interview adviceComment

11 Irresistible Instagram Accounts to Inspire You

If there’s one thing guaranteed to always inspire me, it’s Instagram.

The amount of creativity on there is endless and I spend time every single day drooling over images. It’s one of the best social media platforms out there, because it lets you get behind-the-scenes of the person behind the blog.

I know we’re all keen to discover new blogs and people from our online community. So today, I thought I’d share some of my all-time favourite Instagram accounts. These eleven people are a small, hand-picked bunch – I follow over 700 people! But they’re the ones that continue to inspire me and I find myself liking and commenting on their images all the time. Get ready to be inspired by these irresistible accounts, and feel free to share your favourites too and spread the love.

Steph J Gilbert

Steph's clean and minimal grid has got to be one of my favourites on Instagram. Not only are her images expertly created and taken, but her captions are just as good. Plus, she knows a lot about Instagram and her tips are always really actionable. What's also great is that Steph runs an Instagram community called #TheGramGang, where we get a photo prompt each day that we share to Instagram. The people in this community are all so great and there's always an endless stream of inspiration.

Oh No Rachio

Rachel has two accounts I love - her main one which is pictured above, and her fitness one. She's a designer-maker and blogger, and her designs are seriously great. You'll always find her sharing pictures of her latest ideas, shots from around her home (you're gonna' LOVE all the greenery!) and of course, pictures of her kitties. On her fitness account, you can find her sharing her progress, and she's also got some great recipe ideas.

Holly SuttonFebruary 23, 2016Comment

7 Tips for Never Running out of Inspiration

Inspiration - it means everything to creatives. Whether you're a blogger, photographer, designer or another profession, the truth is we need it. With it we feel like we can conquer everything. But what happens when we don't have it?

Sometimes you might want to write something, make something or cook something. Yet you sit there, your mind blank and you have no idea where to start. You're stuck and inspiration just doesn't want to play with you.

I believe that most of us have our best ideas inside us. It's how we get them to appear that's difficult. But I've found that there are some things you can to bring your inspiration back and help you create your best work yet.

#1 Think About Your Purpose

Only you and you alone know your true focus and values for yourself and your personal brand online. When you're struggling to come up with ideas, think back to the meaning of your blog or business. Think back to why you started all of this in the first place. Knowing that was key to helping you come up with your original ideas, and it'll be just as much help in the long run.

Why do you blog about what you do? Why these topics and nothing else? These will really help you to expand your mind. You can let your thoughts wander and think about what you wish you’d known about this topic when you were just starting out or what you want to learn about it in the future. Idea generation doesn't just have to come from what you know - it comes from within and what makes you, you.

#2 Have a Running List of Sources

I’ve always had a Plan B. I’m the type of person that likes being organised and prepared. I like having a back-up plan in various aspects of my life. When you don’t have any inspiration, you don’t want to feel stuck like most of us too. So why not have a Plan B?

If you know that you can get inspiration from certain sources, it’s going to be really valuable for you to keep those in a safe place. That way, when a block hits you, you can refer back to this list of sources and get your inspiration back straight away.

Evernote is the tool I’d recommend for this. I use it to keep all my blog post ideas in one place for all my different topics and for inspiration too. One of my notes is a list of all the sources I look at when I feel stuck. Here’s a list of some:

Magazines
Pinterest
Instagram
My journal

Failing that I know that the other source is to step away. And that leads us straight onto number three.

Holly SuttonFebruary 22, 2016bloggers, idea, ideas, inspirationComment

Seven For Sunday

This week started off really lovely, went a bit downhill and then just picked right back up again.

Valentine's Day with Tom was lovely. We went for a drive round the countryside, had a very yummy meal and ended it with a workout together. Definitely my kinda Sunday.

This week I've been off work and I was looking forward to some relaxing time catching up with all my blog and freelance work. But looking back, I think I bit off more than I could chew. It was safe to say that I had more on my plate than I could handle. But I feel in a much better place now.

My mum was off too and we had plans to do a lot - but we had no heat or hot water for the whole week! So most days we had to wait in for British Gas to come and add another part to the boiler and boy did we get cabin fever. It's still not fixed now!

But the past few days have been lovely. I had my hair done on Tuesday in a new balayage colour style and I'm in love with it. On Friday, my mum and I took my nana to a garden and home centre for a browse and lunch - although browsing definitely turned into buying! I saw lots of lovely things for mine and Tom's future home so I took some pictures to remind myself of them later on.

Then yesterday, my mum and I went to Boundary Mill and let me tell you - it was like heaven. Designer clothes and homeware at more than HALF the price. I got so excited. I bought a gorgeous Jaeger trench coat for more than half price and a pair of gorgeous black knee high boots. Find me on Snapchat at abranchofholly to see everything!

It's back to work on Monday but the week is ending on a high with a trip to see my brother at university and Sunday lunch out. Bliss.

Holly SuttonFebruary 21, 2016lifestyle, weekly review, seven for sundayComment

Why You Should Never Blog Alone

You get really excited about your blog. You’ve got ideas flowing around your head all the time. But when it comes to actually choosing one, you keep changing your mind. Why is that? Well I know, and I’m going to tell you.

I’ve got seven things for you today, friend. Seven reasons, actually, how to take away your fear. The fear of no comments, no interaction and no one listening.

Blogging by yourself is exhausting, not just with all the work you have to do, but mentally too. If you try to do everything by yourself, you’ll never see as much growth as you want. Lately, I’ve seen some negativity in our community and this week, I know I’m not the only one who’s felt overwhelmed.

The biggest thing I’ve found to help me along my blogging journey hasn't come from a tip, a tool or a piece of information. It’s come through the support of other people. So if you’re in this blogging thing alone, this is a reminder that you don’t have to be. Here are seven big reasons why.

#1 You Learn More

We’ll never know everything there is to know. And it’s actually better that way - would you want to be in a place where you couldn’t learn anything else? I definitely wouldn’t. That’s the beauty of the blogging world. Part of the reason you have a blog is because you’re sharing what you know, whether that’s beauty products, interiors inspiration or social media tips. You have some sort of knowledge to share these things - and other bloggers have knowledge on completely different things.

Asking for help from other people always allows you to learn more. A great advocate for this is Twitter chats. I can guarantee that I’ll learn something new from every Twitter chat I join that I can try out. I’ve even given advice to fellow bloggers and their reaction has been “I never knew that.” So just think - you might look at someone and wish you knew what they knew. But there’ll be plenty of other people looking at you that way too.

A great saying I learnt is “if you do what you’ve always done, then you’ll get what you’ve always got.” Your blog develops as you develop and there’s always so much room for growth.

#2 You Create Relationships

The first interaction between anything is the start of a relationship, whether it’s active or passive. When someone hits the follow button on your blog, they’re entering into a passive relationship because they want to see your content. If someone hits follow on your Twitter profile that could be the start of you both actively interacting together every single day.

The more you reach out and get involved, the more relationships you create. It’s not down to you alone to promote your blog and what you do. Part of that comes down to your readers, and the people in your community who are there to shout about you to others. This comes down to forming relationships and you can’t do that when you’re hiding behind the internet and not getting involved.

Holly SuttonFebruary 20, 2016blogging, bloggers, blogging communityComment

The 10 Most Effective Ways to Add Exercise to Your Life

Little things make a big difference - sometimes all you need is one thought to make a lasting change. Like “I’m not going to buy my morning Starbucks anymore”, or “I’m going to start planning my outfit the night before to save myself time.” Or, “I’m going to start exercising.”

You and I both know how great exercising is. The benefits are endless and can be unique to each of us. Plus, we don’t even need to leave the house to do a workout anymore - there are hundreds in front of us at the click of a button. But if it were that easy, we’d all be doing it already wouldn't we?

Making the decision to exercise more is easy. Making it a habit is the part that’s difficult.

When I wanted to add fitness into my life over two years ago now, I really struggled. I hadn’t really exercised before and didn’t know where to even begin. But I also knew that I didn’t have any excuses.

I know quite a few people in my life and online who are thinking about adding more exercise and intentionally movement to their life. So today I wanted to share from my experience how I made exercise a permanent part of my routine and how you can too.

#1 Visualise What It Can Do

Some people will tell you to look at inspiration online and that might work for them. But not for me. I like to visualise the results on my own body.

Obviously if you’re five foot with a big bust and you look at an image of a six foot model with long limbs - that just isn't realistic. And that’s where the “fitspo” gets too much for me. Your results aren’t going to look like anyone else’s so you should visualise them through your own body.

And you will get results. Feel free to follow motivational health and fitness people on Instagram - their tips are a big inspiration to me. But when it comes to the results you want for your body, visualise them on your own.

#2 Set a Goal

We’re talking baby steps here. It’s no good saying your goal is to run a marathon when you’re just starting out. You could start off by saying your goal is to work out once a week. Then up to twice a week. Then keep upping it until you’re at a schedule you feel comfortable with.

Once you’ve started your workout, you’ll finish. It’s getting there that counts. This week I set myself a goal of completing my first 5-day exercise challenge. Because I set it as a goal, as I was creating my schedule for the week I dedicated time to exercising. This meant I was guaranteed to get it done. That’s how effective setting your self goals can be, and this can apply to all aspects of your life.

Holly SuttonFebruary 19, 2016fitness, working out, exercising, exerciseComment

How to Nail Your First Day at a Brand New Job

If there’s one thing that’s up there as one of the most nervous moments in your life, it’s your first day at a new job. The night before is a whirlwind - you keep changing your mind about what to wear, you worry about everything that could go wrong and you wonder what you’re getting yourself into. The day itself arrives in no time and soon enough, you’re walking up to the front door ready to start your new career.

When I think back to my first day at the job I’m in now, it gives me goosebumps. I was so nervous for lots of different reasons. Worried my colleagues wouldn't like me, worried it wouldn't be the job for me, worried I would mess up and on and on.

Your first day at a new job is the start of a brand new adventure for you. And although it can be nerve-wracking, you can also make it a day to remember for all the right reasons. So here are some of the things you can do to nail your first day at a new job.

Wear Something You Feel Comfortable & Confident In

A company doesn't just hire you because they think you’ll be able to do the job well. They hire you because of who you are too. In the first practice interview I ever had at university, I was told by the panel how much they appreciated my honesty, and that reflected in how I dressed too. Since then, I’ve always worn outfits to interviews that make me feel like me.

Making a good first impression isn't just down to playing the part - it’s about looking the part too. I’m a girl who takes 15/20 minutes every morning to put my make-up on and I always plan what to wear the night before. Doing things and wearing clothes that make you feel comfortable will really help to relax you on your first day at a new job and help you walk in confidently.

Go in Strong

On your first day, you want to go in and show everyone why hiring you was the right thing to do. Show up early, give your colleagues a big smile and make conversation. Make yourself comfortable at your desk (but leave accessories and pictures of your cat to a minimum for now!) We spend a lot of our time at work so your first day is the best chance to get off to a great start.

Holly SuttonFebruary 18, 2016new job, career adviceComment

6 of the Best Stationery Staples All Bloggers Need

If there’s something that’s always guaranteed to get me excited, it’s new stationary. Nothing feels better than opening up the first page of a fresh new notebook or using a beautiful pen for the first time. I know you know what I’m talking about. I’ve got a pile of unused notebooks at home, but let me loose in a shop with gorgeous stationary and you won’t be able to find me again.

I’ve always been a paper and pen kind of girl. Even though I use digital tools for some things like my blog editorial calendar, I use paper for everything else. Plans, lists, thoughts, dreams and anything else. So if you’re a stationary lover too, today I wanted to share my favourite everyday staples that will be useful for bloggers everywhere.

#1 To-Do Lists

I used to be the type of person who’s to-do list was written on sticky notes all around the room. Now I do it differently. To-do list pads are an absolute life saver. You can see everything you’ve got to do in one place and they’re usually compact enough to take with you everywhere.

I recently reached out on Instagram to ask for advice about to-do lists, because I was feeling overwhelmed with my own. I was given some great tips that I’m going to start implementing:

Prioritise tasks in order of urgency (based on deadlines)
Eat the frog (do the task you’re dreading the most first to get it done)
Number them - ask yourself what needs to be done today and what can wait till tomorrow
Break your tasks up into smaller ones.

I’m still trying to find the perfect method - but a pretty pad makes it even easier to start.

Holly SuttonFebruary 17, 2016stationary, bloggersComment

HOW TO USE HASHTAGS ON INSTAGRAM TO GET BIG RESULTS

I don’t know about you, but Instagram feels so exciting right now. It’s fun, simple, addictive and growing daily, so much so that it’s now got more monthly users than Twitter. And for bloggers, it’s even more exciting.

A few months ago, I didn’t used to pay attention to Instagram. This was because I didn’t see myself as a creative and I wasn’t very good at photography. So I probably uploaded a photo once every other day and focused on other social platforms more.

At the start of this year, I changed my thinking and started putting more effort into Instagram. My following and engagement since then has more than doubled.

And do you know what the main thing is that’s helped me to achieve this? Hashtags.

So far, I’ve been a lot more strategic with them and not only has it been more fun, but it’s also got me results I never thought I’d see. Today, whether you’ve been using Instagram for two months or two years, I want to share with you how you can use hashtags to get big results.

#1 | Research hashtags related to you

If you use the right hashtags on Instagram, it can expose you to a larger audience of people who will care about what you have to share.

Every industry has a variety of hashtags associated with it, whether you blog about fitness, beauty, cooking or travel. You don’t need to come up with new ideas, because they’re already out there. What you do have to do is find them, know them and use them.

Simple type into Pinterest “hashtags to use on Instagram” and so many articles appear. Or you could go even deeper and search for hashtags to use specifically in your industry, so “Instagram hashtags for food bloggers” or “Instagram hashtags for beauty bloggers”.

Holly SuttonFebruary 16, 2016Comment

Why You Need to Stop Trying to Do Everything

I’ve always been the type of person who likes to please everyone and do as much as possible. I want to do everything - have a fulfilling career, post content seven times a week for my blog, exercise for at least 30 minutes five days a week, spend time with my family, do my hobbies and relax too.

So far this year, this hasn’t been working out that well. I’ve been saying “yes” to everything, taking on a lot of projects alongside my day job and pushing myself with my blog, while wanting to do a lot more. And it’s really taken it’s toll - I’m feeling completely overwhelmed.

When I told all this to my mum, what she said really interested me: “what if you said no to something?”

The truth is, I fear the word no. If I see an opportunity, then I want to take it. I don’t want to regret not doing things. Even when I’m working two late nights a week for my day job and struggling to post content everyday, I still don’t want to say no. I don’t want to give up anything - even when I know I can’t balance it all.

But after getting to the point where this all been affecting me in a negative way, I’ve realised that you can’t do everything. And we need to stop trying to do it all. If I say “yes” to everything that comes my way, it doesn't just end there. It means saying “yes” to giving up more of my time and the aspects of my life that I want to prioritise.

When you start to realise that your work and side projects are impacting on your relationships and you as a person, that’s the point when you need to stop and evaluate.

Saying “yes” to a full-time career, a part-time blog and freelance work meant that I was saying “no” to lots of other things that made me happy. I was saying “no” to hobbies, time spent with family and time dedicated to looking after myself too.

I get that sometimes, working that extra bit harder is necessary. When I was doing the Blogging Breakthrough series on ABOH and turning that content into an eBook, I was really pushing myself to get the work done, and it’s been worth it. Sometimes when you’ve got the chance, it’s great to work that bit harder. But when you work too hard and spread yourself over too many things, you can start to see the negatives hit you in a bad way.

You also run the risk of not doing as good a job, especially if you’re rushing something. At the moment, I’m just about coping with my seven-day publishing schedule. I know that if it gets too much, I’ll have to stop and make some changes. Whenever I complete a job for someone, I don’t want it to be inadequate. I want it to be to the best of my ability - and we need enough time to make that happen.

Can you relate to this?

I bet you’ve been in this place before. Some of you might even be there right now. But I’m telling you this as someone who’s going through this right now - you need to stop.

Why? Because you’re setting yourself up for failure. You’re setting yourself up for burnout. And you’re setting yourself up to lose a lot.

Holly SuttonFebruary 15, 2016bloggers, freelancers, motivationComment

Tom & Me: 5 Loves, Laughs & Surprises

Since it's the month of love, and Valentine's Day always inspires a bit more love and appreciation, I thought this year, Tom and I could do a joint post. Last year, I shared the story of how we met. This year, I thought we could share some of the things we've learnt about each other. We've been together for two and a half years, which may not seem like a long time to some - but that means we're always learning new things about each other. So to celebrate this year, here are five laughs, loves and surprises Tom and I have for each other.

Holly on Tom

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT TOm

One of the things I love most about Tom is how much he makes me laugh. If I'm ever feeling down or even when I'm already happy, I can guarantee he'll always be able to do something to get me chuckling. I also love how much he appreciates me. When I moan about having a bad hair day he'll tell me to stop being silly and he'll always tells me when he likes what I'm wearing.

But most of all, it's how he wants to do things together. He sees us as a unit and as a whole. When he talks about doing things, it's always in the sense of me and him, not us as individual people. That really means a lot to me...

Holly SuttonFebruary 14, 2016valentines day, relationships, loveComment

7 Inspiring Quotes (+ What They Can Teach Us About Blogging)

Quotes never fail to inspire me – some that I keep strike a chord with me every time I look at them. If you don’t regularly browse Pinterest or your Twitter feed for the quotes people are sharing, I really recommend you do so. Although some of them might not be to everyone’s tastes, there are always words you can find that will really resonate with you.

We know that quotes can mean different things to all of us, but I find that many of the ones I come across really make me think about my blogging journey. When you think deeper, a quote can actually help you out a lot if you’re struggling or need to make certain decisions. So today, I want to share seven inspiring quotes with you and what they can teach us about blogging.

NUMBER ONE:

“Celebrate every tiny victory”

Each of us can be in very different places compared to someone else’s journey. The place I'm at right now with my blog will be completely different to where someone is when they've been at it for eight years. You might see someone say they've launched an e-course or their own product line and think like you’re failing. But you shouldn't.

Just because someone reveals they get 100,000 pageviews a month and you get less than 10,000 doesn’t mean you’re not good at what you do.

I’ve always believed in celebrating every milestone, no matter how big or small – this quote reminds me to do that. Whether you’ve put loads of effort into a blog post and it becomes one of your most popular ones, or you get the chance to host a Twitter chat – these are all really great things.

For me, getting my first gigs for the sites I freelance for were huge achievements. Now, I celebrate every time something I’ve written goes live on one of them, because I know how hard I worked to get there.

Each time you feel a sense of achievement, write it down. If something makes you smile, that’s always worth remembering.

Holly SuttonFebruary 13, 2016quotes, inspiration, bloggers, bloggingComment

A Little Story on Starting Your Fitness Journey

Something I’ve always wanted to talk about on this blog is fitness. So when I reached out on Twitter to see if this was something you’d like to see more of, your positive responses made this post happen.

One of the main things I want to do with this blog is inspire you through my own experiences. Since fitness is such a big part of my life, it made total sense to add this as a new category. And here we are!

We all have different reasons for starting a fitness journey. It’s only now I look back at my own that I’ve realised how passionate I’ve become about it and how much I’ve learnt. Whenever I have a conversation with someone about fitness, I find myself talking non-stop about things to do on your journey and what I’ve learnt.

For me, what essentially started out as a quest to trim off a bit of weight and feel better about my body has turned into a desire to feel good about myself and live a healthy, fulfilling life.

I’ve always been on the slim(ish) side of things, but I was never as slim as I wanted to be. I'm built in the way that I really need to watch what I eat. My brother is the complete opposite – he can eat anything and not put the fat anywhere. But if I ate rubbish five days a week, you’d be able to tell. When I was in school I always had a bit of extra “puppy fat”. Then when I got to my second year of university, I started to notice the puppy fat wasn't shifting. If anything, it was becoming even more defined.

Motivation has never been an issue for me. I don’t know why I didn't start exercising before I did. When I was younger I did a lot of walking and cycling – but not intentional exercise. Then at the start of 2013 when I was coming out of a dark place, I thought exercise might be able to help.

I was planning the launch of my blog that spring and that’s when I came across the first blog post I ever read – a review of the 30 Day Shred. I’ve never looked back.

Holly SuttonFebruary 12, 2016fitness, exercise, working out Comment

Exclusive: What My Job in Marketing Actually Involves

While I love answering all sorts of questions from my readers, I get especially excited when I receive emails from you asking for help with your career. This could be what path to go down, talking over your CV or just a general chat.

Recently, I’ve chatted to a few of you about jobs in marketing and what that actually involves. And since my posts on “The Pros & Cons of Being a Social Media Marketer” and “A Journey down My Career Path so Far” resonated so well with you, it urged me to share more about my day job with you– which is why we’re here today!

So I hope for those of you looking for a job within the marketing industry, that you gain something from reading this post. Here’s an exclusive look into what my job as a Marketing Coordinator actually involves.

I figured it would be best to start off by giving you a brief overview of what I do for those of you who have no idea! And if this is your first time reading this blog, then welcome :)

I work for one of the top sixth form colleges nationally in a Marketing team of four – there’s me (Marketing Coordinator), we've currently got a temp until September as a Marketing Assistant, then there’s the Senior Schools Liaison & Marketing Officer, and our Marketing Manager. It’s a small team for all the work we do, but we get on really well together.

My main purpose is to promote the college brand to prospective students and parents, whilst also communicating and building relationships with our current students and wider community.

The best thing about the team is that each of us has completely different responsibilities. There’s absolutely no crossover and we've all got different skills, which is one of the reasons we work so well together.

I absolutely love the things I get to do for my job. So let’s dig into what they are!

Brand Promotion

Everything you do to promote your blog? That’s exactly what I do to promote the brand I work for. Like you all know, word of mouth is one of your strongest marketing tools. Something that really contributes to growing your online presence is how many people actually know about you.

The good thing about where I work is how local it is. Generations of families attend the college and we've done surveys that have proved how strong word of mouth can be. But we’re also planning to branch out further afield so we can get even more students. That means a lot of brand promotion, and here are my daily responsibilities within that.

Holly SuttonFebruary 11, 2016marketing, career, career pathComment

21 of the Best Things to Do Before Spring

Getting cabin fever? Sick of staying indoors and watching the rain fall down? Fed up of feeling cold? I'm with you. Sometimes, it seems like this winter is going to last forever – we've just had our ninth storm of 2016! But instead of waiting for Spring to arrive, why not make the most of the colder months? That’s my plan. When you think about it, there are actually some things that make winter one of the most beautiful seasons. Today, I thought I’d share some inspiration from my own list on some of the best things to do before Spring.

1. Master a hot chocolate recipe. I love going out for a warm hot chocolate (the M&S café is my favourite), but I’ve always wanted to try a recipe too. My biggest issue is worrying that it won’t taste as good. But if I can master it before spring, then next winter I’ll be on a roll!

2. Give my bedroom a deep clean. I don’t know what it is about a new season that gives me the urge to clean. Before Christmas I gave my room a completely sort out and when I’m off next week I might do it again. The smell of things being clean really screams Spring to me.

3. Have a film marathon. Truth be told, I’m a real homebody. I like getting dressed up and going out, but I love cosying up at home even more. Tom and I have a list of films to watch so I’m gonna’ suggest that we book a weekend to tick them off the list.

4. Colour your hair. With the weather getting brighter and warmer, it’s the perfect time to add a bit of colour to your hair too. Next week my hairdresser is coming to do me an Ombré style, where I’m getting a caramel shade put towards the ends of my hair so they’re lighter. I can’t wait!

5. Get wrapped up and go on a long walk. There’s still time to get bundled up in your favourite coat, wear your new hat, put your favourite boots on and go for a walk. You’ll be surprised how much the icy hair can brighten up your skin.

6. Find some spring recipes. We’ve been having warm stews, casseroles and pasta bakes for months now. But with a new season on the way, I’m on the hunt for some lighter and brighter dishes. Pasta and rice are always welcome!

7. Plan a holiday. I know it’s only spring, but who’s to say you can’t look forward to summer? Now is the perfect time to get your holiday sorted. Tom and I did this on Monday – we’ve booked a long weekend in Dublin at the start of June and we’re hoping to do another long weekend later in the year somewhere too.

8. Bake. There’s always an excuse to bake. Especially with Valentine’s Day coming up! I’m planning on baking up some Valentine’s themed biscuits on Saturday.

9. Get some snaps of the first snowdrops. When I was out in the garden the other day I noticed the first signs of snowdrops. That definitely requires a photo.

10. Visit a farmers market. This is becoming a weekend habit of mine and Tom’s. There are so many around, you can visit a different one each time.

11. Keep your feet warm in layers of comfy socks. Because it’s always your feet that feel the chill the most.

Holly SuttonFebruary 10, 2016lifestyle, spring, things to doComment

HOW TO SUCCESSFULLY GROW YOUR PRESENCE ON INSTAGRAM

By now, you’ve probably figured out how useful Instagram is for your blog. It’s no wonder that it’s still all the hype these days – this social platform is free, fun and addictive. You can showcase yourself in a natural and really personal way and today, it’s even got more monthly active users than Twitter.

But some people seem to struggle with Instagram and one question that people always ask is, how do I grow my following?

Over the past three months, I’ve grown my Instagram following by 50%.

I haven’t done this using any quick methods – I’ve done it organically. I’ve done it through putting in more effort and focusing on the things that work.

So if you feel stuck with your Instagram or you simply don’t know where to start when it comes to growing your community, this is for you. Today I'm going into the details and telling you about nine organic strategies that have made a big increase in my followers.

#1 | Take care when shooting photos

“Take good photos” as a piece of advice for Instagram is predictable. It’s a visual platform, so of course, the nicer your photos look, the more interest you’ll get. But I always used to struggle with this – what does “take good photos” even mean?

I used to just point and shoot whenever and wherever I wanted – and that really showed in my feed. You could tell my shots didn't have a lot of care put into them and really, I was quite careless.

Now, I'm much more selective with what I choose to post, because I know how much of a difference it makes. It’s the difference between taking a picture of my favourite mug on my desk, or holding it up against a white background. It’s about forcing yourself to think more creatively. Instead of thinking “I need to take a picture for Instagram” and getting an alright shot or something, why not wait? Why not think, “This would be really great as an Instagram photo” instead so you build up a backlog of images to use? That way you’re not putting as much pressure on yourself and you’re likely to get an even better photo.

I’ve found the best way to do this is to take inspiration from others and train your mind. It’s tricky at times, but once you start to think this way, you’ll never look back.

As for equipment, I’ll use my iPhone 5S most of the time, with some occasional shots thrown in from Tom’s Panasonic Lumix camera. These always see increase in engagement and help to make my feed look more professional.

Holly SuttonFebruary 9, 2016Comment

Official Launch – Get Your Hands on the Blogging Breakthrough Ebook!

Well we spent the month of January on the Blogging Breakthrough challenge. As we were coming towards the end I thought, “Wouldn’t it be great if people could get their hands on this all in one place?”

That’s where the eBook started.

For the past few weeks I’ve been busting my butt to get the content sorted and trying to get this book as close to perfect as possible. I always wanted to write an eBook, and although this project has been challenging, it’s also taught me a hell of lot.

So today, I am really excited to announce that you can now get your hands on the Blogging Breakthrough eBook!

Here’s what you can expect to find:

28 tasks
100+ pages
1 Breakthrough
Unlimited support
FREE

Yep you read right – this will be 100+ pages of free content for you.

Look, I get it – I’ve been there. You’re throwing everything into building your blog, yet you feel stuck like you’re not getting there. You’re on social media and publishing content, but you’re not seeing the growth you want. You’ve got lots of ideas, but you don’t know what direction to go in and there are too many things to look at which is clouding your vision of who you are.

Here’s the thing – many people think they’re stuck in one of two places: they’re either just starting out with their blog and trying every single strategy to see what will work, or they’ve been blogging for a while, want to try something new and don’t know where to start.

Let me tell you something – it doesn’t have to be that way. You don’t have to waste time and spend money to start growing your blog and online presence.

You don’t have to do it yourself.

The Blogging Breakthrough eBook is the only no-fluff, self-study guide to growing a fulfilling online presence you’ll find of its kind online.

Holly SuttonFebruary 8, 2016blogging, bloggers, ebook, blogging breakthrough challengeComment

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