Being a Blogger / influencer

Hello everyone and welcome to another blog post, this weeks post is about being within the instagram/ blogging community. My experience so far and some tips for you all.  Over the years I have been apart of many different instagram communities equestrian ones, fashion, make up, etc. Since February this year I joined the Country community with original account A touch of Country Style. Since joining I for sure have had my ups and downs, self doubts, hate comments, drama but also the highs, confidence boosts, made lovely friends and had some amazing opportunities.

I started the account because I wanted to share my love for country fashion and lifestyle, I also wanted to share my life with like minded people and meet new possible friends. I have defiantly made some awesome friends and become apart of some lovely groups on both instagram and whatsapp. My followers are so good to me and the love and engagement I get I love it! replying to all the comments and seeing them enjoying my content brings me so much happiness. The lovely comments or DM's I receive about my images gives me so much confidence when I post them, when I feel really insecure about a certain part of me and I'm not very confident in front of the camera, seeing all the lovely comments and replies really boosts my self confidence. The day I am writing this I have just hit 2000 followers which is crazy, never did I think my little account would grow so quickly! Having my account has allowed me to discover so many different brands, I most likely wouldn't have heard about before and also been very privileged to work alongside some incredible brands too. 

But... not everything is butterflies and rainbows and I have had my drama and hate comments just like many do, but the worse part is when it is from fellow accounts within the community. As great as it has been, I have been bullied online by another account which has thankfully all stopped now and all is on the up. It defiantly knocked my confidence and made me feel utter s*** I wanted to come off and leave the site but the true supports have been amazing and helped me through a couple of accounts in particular. 

Saying this leads me onto the next part and purpose of this post about being in the blogger/instagram community. The day I wrote this post I was reading Girl online, Going solo by Zoe Sugg at work, and parts of the book really stood out to me and were extremely fitting for the country community.

When you are apart of a blogging/ instagram group you do have to open up a little and show your care and love for other accounts and blogs not just yourself. Being apart of it is being apart of a community and you have to look out for each other, if you read something on a post or see a picture you like leave a comment and tell them! It really changes people mindsets and makes them happy. They might then come to your account / blog and have an interest and see the similarities and help support you. It's all about give and take. I love commenting and and liking my friends pictures or fellow influencers with the same interest, as I know how it makes me feel and I hope I give them the same feeling, as it shows them I am appreciating the time and effort they have put into their content. Doing this is also a great way to make new friends and discover new accounts/blogs. 

Top tips would be; 

• Include everyone in your posts, ask questions and get people involved and relate to them

• Be regular with your content and have a structure so people know when your posts are and look forward to it

• Be involved in chats, comment regularly on posts. DM and start chatting to people

• Use your social media to promote your blogs and posts but don't overload people with it 24/7

• Most importantly be yourself and have faith in what you do. Love your own content and post it because you want to.

• Also always write when you want never feel pressured to write or anything or if you cant be bothered, also work in a happy, relaxing environment

I hope you have enjoyed this style of post and I hope to do a few more, let me know in the comments if you like these sort of posts? 

Caitlin, The Norfolk Equestrian x

Instagram & Facebook @thenorfolkequestrian