The Tag: “Confessions of a Beauty Blogger”

 

Getting over excited about a packet of mints – standard.

I saw the “Confessions of a Beauty Blogger” tag on Jen’s blog (link here) and thought it would be a good one to incorporate into my weekly Saturday series on blogging (the weekly guest post is on hiatus whilst I schedule in some new lovely ladies). I’m super nosey so I love knowing how people got in to doing these things – if you end up answering the question on your blog then link your post below as I would love to read it!

When did you start your blog?
I started Hello October over on Tumblr around five years back, and started up it’s blogspot counter part almost two years ago now. I wanted to write nice stuff, anything at all, and Tumblr was just all about the images.


Have you had any past online presence before (other blog, YouTube)?
Obviously Tumblr as I said before, but I also had a little go at YouTube videos before moving to blogspot after discovering Barbera from The Persian Babe. At this time I was on my year out of college and I was trying to find my feet.


Why did you start a blog?
I’d wanted to write my own blog ever since I discovered Hanna Beth on Buzznet when I was 15, but it wasn’t really the done thing, and I didn’t really want anyone I knew to read it. Throughout college I had Tumblr and felt safe there because no one I knew used it. But I started my Blogspot because I wanted to really write about what I was doing, not just a paragraph saying how excited I was to go shopping. I’d just started earning good money and started to be a little more adventurous with life and I wanted to document that. I was also finding that I was really bored – all my
friends worked shifts and I was on a cushty 9 – 5 job – so I had a lot
of free evenings!
I swiftly chucked beauty into the mix too after making my first high end purchase (Urban Decay Naked Pallet anyone?) and being inspired by Anna’s blog. I’d known she had a blog where she wrote about makeup for a few years, as she’s my best friends big sis (beauty blogging was never a foreign concept to me), and I started to get into her blog more and more over the summer.



When did you become serious about starting a blog?
Never? I don’t know, I think I act a lot more serious on camera and possibly in my writing but when I’m doing blog related things around the house it all ends up being something we laugh at. I made a conscious effort to post more regularly this year so I guess that’s a big step towards being serious because I’m making more of a commitment to it. I also think your blog design and camera upgrades are more serious steps – I’m still using my bridge camera and really like my design so I don’t think I’m quite there yet! I don’t think i’ll ever take myself seriously considering the fact I spend a good 6 hours on a Saturday filming and taking photos of either my face or makeup, but since autumn last year I would say Hello October has become a much bigger part of my life and it’s something I’m really proud of.


What was your first post?
My first post was on the Urban Decay Naked Palette (link here), I still have all my old posts available to see and you can find them through the archive tab on the navigation bar above.


What has been your biggest challenge about blogging?

Constructive criticism? It’s a weird one because most people say juggling the blog alongside work, and that it bloomin’ difficult, but for me when someone posts a comment pointing out something slightly negative and is said in a very blunt way, it instantly gets my back up. Since I’ve been uploading YouTube videos more recently I’ve had to train myself to sit and really read and think about each comment before I reply instead of taking it the wrong way (even if it was a mean comment!).


Where do you see your blog in one year?
Right now, the blog is just doing it’s own thing and will probably continue to do so. I’m moving out at some point this year and will probably end up being skint, so it will be interesting to see how Hello October is doing in a years time – but I don’t plan on going anywhere!


What is the most rewarding thing to you about blogging?
For me, it’s been some of the amazing ladies I know through it, from PRs to bloggers, there’s an amazing community who have been super supportive and amazing. But there are lots of little things too. I’ve had lots of people who I know in real life who have found Hello October and say they’re really impressed which is super rewarding considering I was always too scared to talk about it. The fact that you all enjoy reading this is also amazing and overwhelming as I didn’t think anyone would ever be that interested. Through blogging I’ve also learnt so much about makeup and skincare, and people in my personal little world actually ask me for advice which is scary but lovely at the same time (note: advice always comes with the “I’m not a pro but…” disclaimer before).


What is the most discouraging thing that happens to you?
Honestly, there isn’t anything that bothers me that much. I don’t think I ever started off in the blogging world with rose tinted glasses. I came from Tumblr where people post death threats in comments so I’ve always been very aware that the anons will find you and will spend far too much time lurking. Oh, and that pictures of your tattoos will end up on other peoples instagram (grrr).


What’s your lasting inspiration or motivation?
I find a lot of inspiration for images on tumblr and pinterest. The lovely ladies in my blog roll also serve as a huge inspiration for posts as well as websites like Into The Gloss for written topics. I also get a lot of my ideas from editorial content, so when people ask me why I keep all my magazines in my bookcase – I do like to point this out. At the end of the day it hits me from all angles as I’m always looking for new ideas, whether it’s Instagram, Made in Chelsea or that girl in the lift at work – it’s all scribbled down in my notebook.

34 Comments

  1. LyndseyMaeBeautyBlog
    13 Apr 2013 / 8:12 pm

    I love these posts! Probably because I'm far too nosey but I love seeing why others started out πŸ™‚
    X

    • HelloOctober
      13 Apr 2013 / 8:25 pm

      Don't I'm the nosiest person ever! The awful thing is I have a very good memory for useless things – so I know far too much about too many people who I haven't even met yet :S xx

  2. Annabel
    13 Apr 2013 / 8:14 pm

    I love that picture of you! hahahaa what a babe.
    I am so going to do this tag – writing it into my notebook for next week!
    Really love you attitude to this whole blogging 'scene' (ooooh!) so calm and collected! I don't think an hour goes by where there's not something I'm freaking out about in regards to my blog! currently because I know I shouldn't be thinking about it at all, I have a huge deadline at uni and I've done…. nothing but blog.

    πŸ˜‰
    xo

    • HelloOctober
      13 Apr 2013 / 8:26 pm

      haha, thanks – I was really excited about the fact I found my mints in my pocket! I'll keep an eye out for your post! πŸ™‚ xx

  3. rosaliejayne
    13 Apr 2013 / 8:29 pm

    I love these kinds of posts, it's so nice to find out why everyone started blogging and I love your positive attitude towards it πŸ™‚
    Rosalie x

  4. Talisa TalksBeauty
    13 Apr 2013 / 8:36 pm

    lOVE THIS POST!!!

    http://talisatalksbeauty.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/charles-worthington-salon-at-home.html

  5. Belle du Brighton
    13 Apr 2013 / 9:04 pm

    Loved reading this, I always like to know why people started, what makes them want to carry on etc! I am going to confess now, I just don't get tumblr! I only signed up so nobody else could steal my username! maybe i'm just too old! πŸ˜‰

  6. Taqhdees
    13 Apr 2013 / 9:09 pm

    Love this post!

  7. Claire
    13 Apr 2013 / 9:27 pm

    Love this post, I'm a huge fan of your blog, I think I've been following you from the beginning too πŸ™‚
    http://wwwclairabelle.blogspot.co.uk

  8. emily
    14 Apr 2013 / 2:11 am

    I love these types of posts. You learn a lot more about your fave bloggers through them and advice on blogging that I never would have figured out on my own. I am also falling even more deeply in love with your leopard print coat with every photo I see of it.

    -Emily

  9. Kelly
    14 Apr 2013 / 3:31 am

    Hahaha you remind me of myself a little bit. And you're really pretty!

  10. Hannah Campbell
    14 Apr 2013 / 11:15 am

    Really good post, good luck with moving out, I hope you do some posts about it because they would make excellent reading!

    http://hannahrebekahcampbell.blogspot.com xx

  11. Debra Wray
    14 Apr 2013 / 11:27 am

    I really enjoyed reading this post, and I get what you mean about inspiration-it can hit me from anywhere! Your blog inspires me all the time though, I think your content is of such a high quality that I hope mine will reach some day!

  12. Gemma Oliver
    14 Apr 2013 / 12:40 pm

    This was so interesting to read and I loved the photo! Haha πŸ™‚

    Gem x
    http://www.gemmameansjewel.com

  13. Maxine Whitney
    14 Apr 2013 / 4:08 pm

    This was so interesting! I love posts like these, I think it's my nosy side coming out haha. I'll probably end up doing this tag at some point.

    Maxine, xx
    beautybeatsboks.blogspot.co.uk

  14. Grey Walls
    14 Apr 2013 / 5:07 pm

    This was so interesting, as i'm just starting out it's helpful to read the good and bad side of blogging too πŸ™‚

    P.xx
    greywalls94.blogspot.co.uk

  15. Pippa Jones
    14 Apr 2013 / 6:47 pm

    Aww its so lovely to see how you have grown πŸ™‚ loved your blog for quite a while.

    Pipp x
    http://pippjones281190.blogspot.co.uk

  16. Miranda's Spring Fling
    14 Apr 2013 / 10:40 pm

    When I started my blog I didn't want any one to know about it either! Love your blog! Mirandarue.wordpress.com

    Miranda

  17. Hannah Cagney Lace
    15 Apr 2013 / 8:44 am

    What a great little post – I love reading more about the individual behind the blog and why they started one in the first instance.

    Hannah cagneyandlace.com

  18. Olivia Law
    15 Apr 2013 / 10:32 am

    THis is such a great post! You look lovely in the photo too xo

  19. Amaris
    15 Apr 2013 / 7:56 pm

    Thank you for writing such a great post. I'm always interested in the different ways that people build up their blog! I just found out about your blog and I love how true you are to yourself. Thanks for sharing your life with us!

  20. justalittlejasmineflower
    19 Apr 2013 / 9:46 am

    I have just discovered your blog and I absolutely love it: the content, the layout, the personal chatty writing style! I was just wondering how you made your background and customised your title page as you did with the aztec type print? I have a wordpress beauty blog and I am looking to change the look of it a little since I've had it a bit plain for a little while now (obviously not to the same as yours, but any hints and tips?) Thanks! πŸ™‚

    Be sure to check out my beauty blog guys: http://justalittlejasmineflower.wordpress.com

    <3

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