When I started blogging 8 years ago I wanted to do it as I needed to create a marketing stream for my image consulting business, to help establish me as a credible source of information and to help find a global audience who would be interested in investing in my first ebook.
As an introvert (which I've mentioned before here) I'm not the world's best networker. I like talking to one or two people at a time. I don't feel comfortable in groups (particularly when I don't know the group of people well) and tend to become silent. I'm also not great at small talk and find that kind of networking event chatter hard work.
Blogging has been a great way for me to connect with people. Introverts still like people (in fact I love them), I just like to talk to one person at a time most of the time (unless I'm getting up and teaching or speaking to a group - now that's a different story altogether and I do love sharing what I've learned with an audience).
Creating this blog and spending time getting to know my commenters and those who become clients as well as the wonderful women in my Evolve Your Style and 7 Steps to Style programs is something I love and adore.
In many ways, even though many people read my blog, when they connect with me it's on a very personal level. I've been sent more photos of women in their underwear asking me about their body shapes than I could ever imagine. The trust these women show me by sending me these pics is something that I feel honoured to have gained (and it's because of this constant demand for advice on body shape that I created both my free Body Shape Calculator quiz as well as my 7 Steps to Style program) as I just don't have the time to write new content and tell every woman her body shape (plus I do need to get paid for my professional opinion, otherwise I can't create the free content you all enjoy here on the blog).
Blogging has brought me global connection and friendships. Whenever and wherever I travel to I get to meet fabulous women who read Inside Out Style. These women are amazing, fascinating and gorgeous and I'm so lucky that writing my blog has brought them into my life.
It's also brought me travel experiences and other blogging friends. I've enjoyed many live shows and other events thanks to my blogging agency Nuffnang.
I try to connect with other bloggers and share their styles through my Stylish Thoughts blog posts as I know that my view is only one small view of the style and fashion world.
Blogging may be an occupation that has me sitting by myself in front of a computer screen for long periods of time (as this blog is a monster that keeps demanding to be fed with new material), but for me, the best, and most unexpected benefit has been the connection with my readers who comment and make the effort when I'm around to come and meet up.
I now spend more time blogging and doing related activities than anything else and I love it. It's changed the way I run my image consulting (personal styling) business. It's made me more creative as I'm constantly thinking about ways to explain colour and style concepts. It has made me a much better image consultant as to explain an idea you have to understand it properly yourself. Blogging has brought me amazing personal colour analysis and personal styling students from around the globe who I've gotten to know both through my online training program as well as in the classroom. These women have been amazing and constantly push me to improve myself, create new tools and trainings so that I can help them achieve their dreams.
Blogging has opened doors, put me on stages, and helped me view my business in a global way.
I feel truly blessed to still be blogging 8 years since I started. To have you find my content useful and engaging. For you to share it with your networks of colleagues, friends and family. For you to keep coming back to read post after post. This motivates me day after day to keep finding and writing content. To answer your questions and to create new style programs to help you truly shine.
When I get an email or comment, a testimonial or feedback about how the information provided here or from one of my programs has changed your life in a positive way, it really makes my day and keeps me excited about what I do, as I know that style is more than skin deep. I know, from what you tell me, that finding your style, honing your style and expressing yourself through your style can be positively life-changing.
So here is a little happy birthday celebration to Inside Out Style which has truly changed my world!