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Always wanted to start a blog? Well Michelle Paige, Michelle’s Pa(i)ge, started her own fashion and beauty blog in New York! She’s here to give you tips on getting started and mastering social media!

Tell our readers about yourself and your blog

I’m Michelle Paige, owner of the blog, Michelle’s Pa(i)ge. I’m a New York based fashion & style blogger, self-described beach bum & a huge ice hockey fan. Everyone has to get dressed in the morning and I believe that choosing an outfit should be fun & each outfit should make you feel beautiful. My goal with this blog is to showcase my fashion, beauty & hair tips to help you look & feel your best each and every day!

Tell us how you first got into blogging.

I started a blog on a whim after one of the interns at my day job told me she was going to miss seeing my outfits each day. I had always loved fashion & follow a ton of bloggers for inspiration so I thought I would try a blog myself. I added a lot of content & put a lot of work into it before telling anyone about it. At first, I think my mom was my only reader, but over time blogging has grown into a passion of mine, I’ve met lots of great people & gotten awesome opportunities through blogging.

How did you establish your “theme” or brand?

When I started my blog, I knew I wanted to focus on fashion/personal style but I also knew that my interests & lifestyle could change as the years went on so I wanted a blog name that would be timeless & a design that would be classic & girly so that I could have room to grow and change and so could my blog 🙂

For your theme or brand, do you have things that you do consistently?  

I have a particular formula that I tend to follow when I write my posts. Photos followed by a write up followed by more photos. I tend to link to the pieces in my outfit at the end of my post & always sign off with ‘XO, Michelle Paige’

Where do you find the inspiration for your blog posts?

I find inspiration everywhere! TV, magazines, other bloggers…I am lucky to work in NYC where I find inspiration for outfits daily just by walking down the street or seeing some cool street art.

What do you think is the best strategy to get more traffic to your blog?

Consistency is key. I try to post 3-5 times per week. Also, good photography makes a huge difference. I started out with iPhone photos & have since updated my camera multiple times! I think the 1.8/50mm lens is the greatest!

What’s your favorite social media platform?

Instagram! It’s a great way to give my blog’s readers & followers a sneak peek at the outfit on my blog that day.

How do you gain followers?

I’m still figuring this one out if I’m being honest :), but again, I think consistency & high-quality photos are key. No one wants to look at a grainy or dark photo – bright, bold colors & sharpness are important in your photos. Also post often & be relatable!

Once you have the followers, how do you keep them?

Commenting is a great way to engage with your followers! If someone takes time out to post a comment on your blog/social media, commenting back to them is important! Even better, go leave a comment on their page.

How many times a week do you post?

I try to post on my blog 3-5 times per week. On Instagram, I post at least once a day.

Is this a part of your strategy to keep gaining followers or do you post at random?

I usually post in the mornings. My photos/posts tend to do well at that time since I think most people are on their way to work or just starting their day & are scrolling through their feeds. I am on my way to my day job as well – so posting in the mornings is also the time that I’m free. 🙂

What are some misconceptions about social media?

That everyone’s life is perfect. I’ll admit that I don’t post my bad hair days, emotional feelings or photos that are mid-sneeze on Instagram but that doesn’t mean I don’t have those moments/days. It’s easy to get caught up in the gorgeous photos but it’s important to remember that it’s only a snapshot of a person’s life & it’s most likely posed & filtered!

Do you have photos taken professionally or do you take them yourself?  

My boyfriend or family members take my photos.

What are some tips you can give in order to take a good photo?

No one that has taken my photo has had any professional training but there are so many videos on YouTube so it’s gotten easier to learn. I think it’s important to invest in a good camera. I love the way my 1.8/50mm lens gives me that bokeh effect on my photos (blurred background).

What’s your favorite location to take photos?

I usually take photos in my street outside my house.

How do you find relevant hashtags for your photos?

I often use brand hashtags that relate directly back to the brands/stores that I am wearing in my photos. It’s a great way to connect with brands you love too

What are your top 3 favorite emojis?

The heart eyes face, the sunglasses face and the crying/laughing face seem to end up in a lot of my photos & conversations.

How do you keep your website updated & relevant?

I have a blog designer that I have to give a ‘face lift’ to my site every 6 months to a year. It’s a time to update any design elements that I’m not loving anymore. I also consistently check to make sure my site doesn’t contain any broken links!

What apps would you recommend to our followers?

I use Twuffer to schedule my tweets, IFTTT to publish my blog posts to my social pages automatically & SNUG to plan out my Instagram feed. It’s all about the social media reach!

What else do you want to add to help small business owners?

It’s hard work, but the payoff of creating & owning something on your own is worth it!

Need help with your marketing? Let’s chat!