Spread Bloggy Love |{Day 22-A Dance With Grace}

Quick housekeeping notes:

yesterday’s post was a little late so if you didn’t see the post scroll down to read it (it’s a great one!)
Also-today is the last day of Spread Bloggy Love Guest Posts-Tomorrow I will have a re-cap and an announcement! Thanks so much for your continued support and love! Keep spreading it!

I must first start by thanking Kristi for inviting me to participate in such a fun series. I’ve learned so much and am honored to be chosen!

My blog was begun, I suppose, as a way of decompressing noting the inspiring thoughts and times that were coming my way (partly for use in looking back).

My world of blogging is slightly ironic – I’m a Vice President, Brand Manager by day and am dedicated to building a brand from the ground up. My mission is to make sure every piece of collateral, Point of Sale, event, online visual, copy point, etc. are related and point back to none other than the stand alone brand. It is crucial to my day to day work existence. And then there’s my blog which began in an attempt to scrap all of that and fly by the seat of my pants. The mission (or escape really) was to blog about simply all that inspires my world. How ironic. I wasn’t worried about “keeping up with the bloggers” or impressing for that matter. It was all about escaping and just having fun. And that’s what I’ve done. How’s that for irony?!

Somewhere along the way it occurred to me that, in doing so, I’d built my own brand – me! And, I guess that’s where my advice for my blogger friends (plus a few tips below stolen from the career woman in me). Be true to your brand and you’ll develop followers. I guess it’s sort of like life, right? Admittedly, I haven’t spent enough time consistently blogging or put anywhere near enough effort in seeking viewers. However, I truly believe that the most successful blogs/websites are built around sincerity and therein lies your brand. What do you love to do? The passion will grab the interest of bloggers – especially those within your demographic (you’ll be easier to find to them as well- this is where the books below will be useful)!

The girl below just screams “inspire” in any way you like to me. This pic made me smile…had to share!

Source: amourette-amourette.blogspot.com via Niki on Pinterest

You’ve learned so much about how to connect with other bloggers and build your social network through this fabulous series. Even I, who oversees a newly launched social media program for our company have come away with tip after tip to pass on down the line over at my little headquarters

. So, I’m going to hop to the root of the matter (especially if you are looking to provide a second income in blogging). Although I don’t explore economic benefits through my blog, there really is so much to be done through this wide, wonderful world! And of course, do not hesitate to spread your social networking wings if you do so plan. The sky is the limit these days as you’ve witness through Kristi’s compilation of tips from talented bloggers and…well, work it, sisters (or, a’hem, brothers).

Source: etsy.com via Niki on Pinterest

So….now, on to “business”. Here are a few of my all time favorite books on branding (two of them read as marketing books and honestly, were developed before the current social networking explosion), but at the end of the day, I find to be very useful. Period. So, without further adieu…

1) Purple Cow by Seth Godin – Yes, I realize the image is sideways, but with this read, I find it to be somewhat apropos.

2) 22 Immutable Laws of Branding by Al and Laura Reis – my first ever read introduced to me by a great marketing mind (walking into the world of branding with a degree in psychology – yikes!) and after all these years, those laws still ring so true in my mind!

3) Meatball Sundae by Seth Godin – this is another to help keep you thinking.

Here’s my ultimate branding advice – be authentic, be unique, be who you are, and check back to this series on tips and tricks when in doubt! And, please don’t forget a QR tag. I don’t think I’ve seen that mentioned during the series yet, so I’ll add that little contribution (my apologies if it has already been mentioned). It will drive you followers to your facebook page or website (whether it be in print advertising or on your site). Click here to create one and learn more!

If you’re looking to give it a try with your phone (you can download the application on your phone – might have to google to look for the app on your phone – make sure you’ve downloaded Blackberry App World if you are a b.b. user like me – but soooo worth it):

Lastly, be consistent. It matters (do as I say, not as I do with my personal blog). ‘Nuff said.

I must mention two bloggers (one with an incredible background and history in media and another new to the blogging world – taking it by storm one valuable and meaty post after the next!).

The first is that of Ivy Larson, author of multiple books ranging from health education, cooking and healing through a healthy lifestyle, a workout DVD, and creator of Clean Cuisine, the blog/website. I’m an addict when it comes to anything that she (and her husband, an MD, create or disclose). To say that she is educated, is an understatement, to say that she is creative is to far than a minimization and to say that she is sincere is just the absolute, 100% truth. Oh, did I mention that she fights MS (over 10 years later) through her lifestyle? And, trust me, she doesn’t skimp on flavor! She has been so, incredibly kind and helpful to me over the years and I can’t say enough about how we all should model her approach (in our own lives). In other words, be who you are and explore what makes you tick!

Coincidentally, she is launching a new e-cookbook followed by a hard copy and yes, I have a few to give away. I’ll leave it at that, but check out my blog (www.adancewithgrace.blogspot.com) to participate in the contest! This is worth the read….yummy without guilt….does it get better than that?!

Secondly, Lady of Moore . Faaabulous! She, too will be coming up with an online store. Once again, this diva knows what she’s talking about. Her posts are more than worth the read and I have learned so much in the short amount of time that she has been posting. I know her personally as well and she’s sincere in her effort to provide the latest and most honest education possible when it comes to skin care or whatever the post topic happens to be about for that matter (did I mention that she’s gorgeous – yes, she’s a former model). She believes in keeping it natural when it comes to skin, but more importantly, in educating all of us ladies curious what we should or shouldn’t buy (and I’m not talking money) in the cosmetics industry – whether or not it reads “organic” or not. Such a gem!

Kristi, thanks for the opportunity to spread a little bloggy love. Best of luck to all of my fellow bloggers. Hope to run into you in the future!

xo,

Niki Fuller is a working mom, wife and aspiring domestic diva who cherishes time spent with family, all things creative and inspiring, curling up to a good book, escaping into her blog world, and making up for time spent away from her family in the office with every second spent with them. She should probably be more worried about keeping things in order and perfectly organized, but if a day or night is spent with laughter, smiles and lots of hugs, she’ll call it more than a win and worry about the rest later! I guess you’d say she’s proud to be a work in progress. She strongly believes in the following quote….

Source: fromupnorth.com via Niki on Pinterest

Do you want to know how network building works in real time? I had no one scheduled for this day at the beginning of the month and my friend Suz (you remember her right?) e-mailed me and told me I should consider Niki. I am so glad I did!

Thanks for a wonderful post Niki!

Have you missed a day of Spread Bloggy Love? (Remember it goes from June 1st-June 30th) Click here to find all the posts!

Have a happy day,

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Spread Bloggy Love |{Day 22-A Dance With Grace}

Quick housekeeping notes:

yesterday’s post was a little late so if you didn’t see the post scroll down to read it (it’s a great one!)

Also-today is the last day of Spread Bloggy Love Guest Posts-Tomorrow I will have a re-cap and an announcement! Thanks so much for your continued support and love! Keep spreading it!

Have you missed a day of Spread Bloggy Love? (Remember it goes from June 1st-June 30th) Click here to find all the posts!