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Writing

How To Gain Blog Followers The Fast Way

I’ve learned a lot about blogging over the past three years.

The biggest thing I’ve learned is that if you want a lot of followers and want to attract advertisers you need to make your blog niche. The more niche the better.

I’d be lying if I said I don’t give a shit about my traffic (most people are lying if they say they don’t care), but I don’t give a crap enough to completely change my blog in hopes of wooing advertisers. Hey, it would be nice to get paid for this thing, but in the long run, I obviously like having my content all over the place. I have the freedom to write whatever I want.

I also love the amazing individuals who have hung in there with me and don’t feel like alienating them with what feels like forced material. Niche is good, but forced niche is bad.

In other words, this blog will probably never be big. It has grown, but with my scope being very wide, I doubt I will ever be able to demand big bucks for advertising.

Advertiser: So what is your blog about?

Me: (more…)

May 24, 2012 by
Writing

Long Distance Relationships Are Hard

I decided not to go to Europe.

It was a tough decision to make, but the only affordable option I had was to go next week for a few days capped by 25+ hour travel days. Thinking about that made my head spin. The only reason why I would go is because I want to see Geoff. I miss him terribly. A couple of days in Europe is no way to see Europe. I will get to Europe one day when I have the money and the time and the travel partner.

I was very disappointed in myself for not being more “spontaneous” and just going to Europe, but compounded by my fear of flying, the whole situation was making my anxiety debilitating. As I get older, I’m learning what makes me comfortable and what doesn’t. I’m also learning when I’m just being a big pussy. It’s a hard thing to admit when you’ve always thought of yourself as an adventurous person. Compared to my boyfriend, I’m not adventurous. He will go swim with sharks, climb suicide cliffs and get purposely lost in extreme natural settings. I feel the (more…)

May 2, 2012 by
Austin, Writing

Bloggers Are The Best: Blogging From BlogathonATX!

I am writing this from BlogathonATX.

I just finished speaking about branding yourself online and I was super nervous (ssshhh).

Thoughts kept running through my head- What if I sound like a tool? What if I have no idea what I’m talking about? What if torrents of sweat run from my armpits? Everyone asked wonderful questions and they told me I sounded like I knew what I was talking about, so that is good. I won’t have to drink myself to sleep later tonight.

I’m excited to check out later sessions including Long Term Blog Maintenance with Crystal Edwards and Blogging for Business with Ellie Scarborough. I’m also looking forward to free sushi courtesy of Roll On Sushi. I might want to roll around on the sushi myself, so Cathy over at Slave to Fashion is going to have to stop me from doing that.

Check out the live stream of BlogathonATX here.

 

Ilene Haddad (the mastermind behind BlogathonATX) and I! photo by Jake Wengroff

Cathy from Slave to Fashion!

Ilene (more…)

April 28, 2012 by
Austin, Writing

Justice for Cisco: Dog Killed by Austin Police

Last night I noticed a Facebook page spreading like wildfire amongst my Austin friends. The page’s name is Justice for Cisco and it tells the story of a man’s dog who was was senselessly shot and killed by an Austin police officer on April 14th. According to the dog’s owner, Michael Paxton, the police officer was responding to a domestic violence call and came to Paxton’s address by mistake. The officer drew his gun on Paxton, who was standing in his driveway. Paxton’s Blue Heeler, Cisco, came from the backyard and started barking at the police officer. Unable to move due to having a gun pointed at him, Paxton could not restrain his dog. Paxton told the police officer that Cisco would not bite, but the officer shot Cisco in the chest and killed him right in front of his owner.

According to a message by Paxton’s friend, Candace Michele, on the “Justice for Cisco” page, “Nothing will likely happen to Officer Griffin for any of this, as his supervisor arrived after everything took place, (more…)

April 16, 2012 by
Writing

BlogathonATX: Where Austin Bloggers and Entrepreneurs Can Meet & Learn!

The folks over at BlogathonATX graciously asked me to speak at their April 28th event here in Austin. The topic is branding yourself online and creating staying power.

I’m super stoked to not only be a part of BlogathonATX, but to also talk about something I love so much- blogging!

This will be my first speaking engagement regarding blogging and I’m so thrilled/touched that someone thinks I have something interesting to say.

What is BlogathonATX you ask?

An all day event where Austin bloggers, writers, social media peeps and entrepreneurs can meet, greet, write and eat! There will be informative Q+A sessions such as Long-Term Blogging Maintenance by Crystal R.R. Edwards, Blogging for Business by Media Bombshell, WordPress 101 by Jackie Dana and one-on-one feedback sessions on what you can do to improve your blog!

This will be my first year at BlogathonATX. The darn thing is so popular that it sells out before I’m able to buy tickets! I’m most looking forward to meeting (more…)

April 11, 2012 by
Pop Culture, Writing

Old People Love Writing Unintelligible Sentences on Restaurants’ Facebook Walls

My friend, Ryan, sent me a Tumblr page that took the title of best website/meme I read all day yesterday (even beat out “Texts From My Dog“).

This one is called “Old People Writing on Restaurant’s Facebook Page“. This will quite possibly be the best thing you’ll read all day too. It will also make you slightly cringe because deep down you know that your parent or grandparent is capable of embarrassment like this.

The website is an interesting reminder that the majority of Americans can’t spell and have zero grammar and punctuation skills

Check out their site RIGHT NOW!

A few of my faves are:

 

April 10, 2012 by
Writing

If The Tacocopter Was Real and Lived in Austin, Texas

Though the Tacocopter of San Francisco (“flying robots deliver tacos to your location”) has been dubbed a fake, let’s fantasize if such a thing existed in Austin, Texas, shall we?

1.) While waiting in long-ass lines during SXSW, the helicopter could plop tacos into our open mouths like baby birdies waiting for regurgitated worms.

2.) While hungover, the helicopter could rap tap on your bedroom window as you wait for death to take you. Instead of death, you’re greeted with tacos… and a robot. Which is kind of like death.

3.) While waiting in traffic on I-35 during rush hour, you can have tacos delivered to your window…and obliterate the cars in front of you.

4.) While waiting in line at Franklin’s you can snack on tacos…because after two hours of waiting, you’ll be hungry enough again to eat at Franklin’s.

5.) While hanging out at Barton Springs, you don’t have to leave your spot and worry about an old man in a thong taking it. Instead tacos and memory-erasing pills (more…)

March 28, 2012 by
Fashion/Design, Hipstercrite Life, Writing

How to Look Like a Flower Child

My mother came of age in one of the most interesting and pivotal times in America.

Sometimes I would lay on the floor and listen to her Simon and Garfunkel, Sly and the Family Stone and Janis Joplin records personalized with her handwritten notes.

I envied her adventures through the late 60’s and early 70’s.

I also envied her kick-ass figure. She was a string bean and had impeccable style.

She’s still one of the most beautiful and creative women I know. I wish she believed that about herself too.

Ugh. Look at those thighs.

I love the green Acapulco t-shirt and white pant suit combo! I wish I could rock the white suit and t-shirt!

Love that high-waist shorts/pants are still in!

Momma stealing a child and a horse while visiting Mexico

March 27, 2012 by
Austin, Writing

Blogging Bootcamp 101: Interested in Learning More About Blogging?

I’ve had Hipstercrite for over three years now.

I’ve watched it go from 10 visits PER WEEK to 10 visits every five minutes. Though my traffic is not in the big leagues just yet, it still boggles my mind that as many people read it as they do.

My blog was initially read by one friend and my parents (secretly). After I moved to Austin, the wonderful artists/thinkers/writers/social media stars took me with open arms and got my name out there. I won the Austin Blogger Awards’ “Blogger of the Year” title and have been offered a lot of freelance local (and non-local) writing work. Because of this, my blog grew. Since Austin is so closely connected to LA and NYC and I don’t solely write about Austin, half of my demographic is non-Austinites. During SXSW it completely blew me away when I introduced myself to strangers from out of town and they heard of my blog. I never imagined in a million years my writing would be read by people other than my parents.

I’m not saying this to toot my (more…)

March 20, 2012 by