We’re currently swooning over a certain sparkly blog that combines incredible fashion with personal styling services to die for. Meet Stephanie, blogger extraordinaire from A Sparkle Factor, a blogger devoted to helping us unlock some fabulous fashion inspiration. As a personal stylist, Stephanie shares her top favorite brands, styles and trends with her readers to keep them fashionably informed. From Twitter chats to fabulous posts, A Sparkle Factor is one girl’s stylish approach to the world, filled with tips and tricks to help you transform your style.
The best part? Stephanie was willing to share her expert advice for all the bloggers out there wanting to transform their blogs into one that sparkles.
What inspired you to start a blog?
I started my blog during a major transitional period in my life and career. I had been living in New York and working my dream job in the magazine world when my father passed away very suddenly. I made the difficult decision to leave NYC behind and move home to Miami to be there for my family. I was really at a crossroads… I had no idea what to do next professionally! After a lot of soul searching, I realized that starting my own personal styling business was the next step in my career. Blogging was a natural extension of my business and is the part of A Sparkle Factor LLC that I love most. Through A Sparkle Factor, I have a platform to share my fashion point-of-view… I write about style, shopping news, my favorite brands, share my personal style, tips and tricks I’ve learned, and basically anything that inspires me! Now, I really can’t imagine NOT blogging. I wake up every morning with an itch to write!
What’s been the biggest challenge as a blogger?
For me, the biggest challenge has definitely been a technical one. When I started blogging, I knew nothing of WordPress, or Photoshop, or photography. I really had to invest the time and energy to research and learn and practice. I had a very clear idea from the beginning of what I wanted my blog to look like, and executing that vision on my own was the most difficult part. (And definitely frustrating at times!) I think another challenge has been staying focused and motivated and not getting overwhelmed by the big picture. I remind myself every day that success is a journey, not a destination!
How can new bloggers grow their blog?
I think focusing first and foremost on producing strong, valuable content that people want to read about is the key. If your content is good, readers will come. Secondly, social media is SO important; promoting your blog and creating genuine relationships with the community is vital. Make sure that your interactions are genuine and real. Thirdly, I think that realizing that these things take time is huge. Don’t look at other people and allow that to discourage you. Focus on your own work and work hard. Success will follow. Lastly… set small, manageable goals for yourself. Don’t allow yourself to get discouraged by the big picture. Tackle the big goals one step at a time and celebrate when you reach the milestones!
How do you balance your career with your blog?
Fortunately for me, my blog is PART of my career! The key to balance is scheduling, planning, and organization.
Do you a favorite type of blog post?
My favorite types of posts are always ones that are more informative. I love sharing new brands I love, products I’m excited about, and trends I can’t wait to try. I LOVE highlighting really great find that my readers may have missed. Finding a great deal, a new line that isn’t super popular yet, these are the things I love to share. At the end of the day, my blog is all about education. I want to help girls become the chicest version of themselves.
What does the future hold for A Sparkle Factor?
I have SO many plans! From the beginning, I had very clear ideas of what I wanted and where I wanted to go. The truth is, you need to have clear goals in order to achieve them. How are you supposed to get where you’re going if you don’t know WHERE that is? In the future, I want A Sparkle Factor to be a a go-to destination on the web for fashion and style content. I want girls to come to A Sparkle Factor for inspiration and feel like they get something from it that they can’t get anywhere else. Ultimately, I want A Sparkle Factor to be your chic best friend that you go to with all your fashion and style questions. I have a few projects in the works that aren’t ready to be shared yet, but one I CAN reveal is this: I will soon be launching SparkleMail, a weekly newsletter that highlights great, exclusive shopping content, sale alerts, great finds, and more. I’m SO excited for the future!
We loved getting to chat with our favorite sparkly blogger and learn more about her blog and her killer shopping tips. For more style inspiration, personal styling services and all around sparkly fun, visit Stephanie at her blog and social media links below:
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Want to be the next blog featured on Bloggers Know Best? Shoot Rebecca an email at rebecca@allynlewis.com