Pink + Pom Poms

pink cold shoulder top

pink off the shoulder top

old navy straw pom pom tote

beaded tassel bracelets

Pink Cold Shoulder Top

Pink Cold Shoulder Top 3

white destroyed skinny jeans

Top: Francesca’s (Not available online, identical version Here) / Jeans: Fevrie Fashion c/o 25% off with code CORTNEYDRYDEN (Similar Here) / Bag: Old Navy / Shoes: Jeffrey Campbell / Bracelets: Shop Confetti Nola (Similar Here) / Earrings: Helen’s Jewels c/o 20% off with code FIRSTBUY20/ Sunglasses: RayBan

Photography by: The Glitter Lens

Hey y’all! First of all, I want to say thank you for all the kind words about my last post. I have so much fun blogging so for all of you guys wanting to start one, take the plunge! You’ll love it!

It’s a short work week for me here at the shop, so I can’t complain. The NASCAR XFINITY Series has this weekend off and then we are traveling the country ever single weekend until the end of October! So I plan on enjoying some time with my family and friends and relaxing.

As for this outfit… I could live in the jeans. It is so hard to find flattering white jeans when you don’t have stick thin legs. But these Fevrie Fashion jeans fit the bill. They run true to size and are stretchy without losing their shape. I can’t recommend them enough! And I am clearly on an off-the-shoulder kick that I don’t plan on stopping any time soon. Just a heads up 😉

Have a good week!

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What I Wish I’d Known Before Blogging

Hey y’all! I’m excited to begin my Summer Blogging Series. Each week, I’ll share some tips and tricks to blogging. I’m no expert, but I have learned a thing or two in the past year and a half of blogging the hard way and would love to spare y’all the stress! So without further ado…

  1. It Takes Time & Dedication: If you don’t have at least an hour a day to kill, don’t waste your time with this. I changed jobs recently and had to cut back on my blogging. Because of this, I noticed a decline in readership. Visitors will come back for new content, so give the people what they want!
  2. There’s No Shortcut: With every ounce of my being, I wish there was. There are thousands of articles on how to gain followers fast, but the trick is to post quality content consistently. I saw my sharpest spike in followers once I cut out filters, thought out my photo composition, and posted about one-two photos a day. No one owes you anything; they will follow you because they have something to gain from your posts. People use Instagram and blogs for three main things: to escape, to learn, and to be inspired. Keep these things in mind when creating content and be the blogger you would want to follow. Here is a great article on branding your Instagram to increase your followers.
  3. SEO is Everything: Learn it. Live it. Get Google Analytics right off the bat to see which posts are generating the most traffic and investigate why. Use Alt Text and Tags to bump up page views. Use clear titles and Google Keywords to give your posts the best chance of being found through search engines. I’ll elaborate more on this in the coming weeks.
  4. Comparison is the Thief of Joy: I know you scroll through the perfect latte photo, perfect sunset photo, perfect caught off guard with wind blowing in her hair photo and think how perfectly perfect these girls’ lives must be. I’ve hung around with enough bloggers in my day to know how bat-sh!t crazy we can look trying to get the perfect shot. Or how far out of our way we went to get macarons and peonies. Don’t ever ever ever compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.
  5. Your Friends Will Think You’re Crazy: And you are. But the best people are! You will stick a white posterboard under a coffee mug to give the illusion of white counter tops. You will stand on a chair in a public restaurant to get the best shot of your avocado toast. And by God, you will strut down the crowded street in a sequined dress and stilettos in the dead of winter for your New Year’s Eve post. That’s dedication, my friend!
  6. You Don’t Need to Accept Every c/o Item You’re Offered: I struggled with this one in the beginning. Because, hey! It’s free! What’s not to like? Well, if you don’t love it and you tell the world you do, you’re a liar. Point blank. Brands that align with your tastes and interests will find you eventually. Be true to yourself and honest with your readers in the meantime.
  7. Go to as Many Blogger Events as You Can: It’s all about networking! And the best part of blogging (and one I never saw coming) is the friendships you make from it. Bloggers tend to be motivated self-starters (heck, we’re all one-woman businesses!) and those are awesome people to surround yourself with. Plus, collaborating exposes you to their readers and vice versa.
  8. Invest in the Right Things: No no, I’m not talking about Valentino Rockstuds. I’m talking about a DSLR and PhotoShop. You know what I think when I see a pair of Rockstuds? Great! A blog full of things I can’t afford… on to the next! But when I see high quality photos, perfectly aligned and a blurry bokeh background, I’m hooked!
  9. Be Different: Ok ok, sometimes you’re going to like what other bloggers are wearing. I get it. I love my Karen Walker sunnies even though when I wear them I look freakishly like Blair Eadie. But don’t copy people. There are going to be people who want to follow you for the unique snowflake that you are. Own it!

And if you need any help getting started, please don’t hesitate to reach out! My email address is cortneydryden@gmail.com. I look forward to following everyone’s blog 🙂

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