The end of 2016 is just a few days away which is pretty unbelievable. This year went by so fast. For me, it was a pretty good year personally and professionally so I wanted to look back at the most popular hair and beauty posts on arelaxedgal.com in 2016.
Related resd: Blogging & Finance Highlights Of 2016
The holiday season is in full swing and Christmas is right around the corner. This also means that the time has changed so the days are shorter and it gets darker earlier. When this happens I'm less motivated to do things during the evenings and this has resulted in me only posting three new posts this month. On the plus side, I did come up with about 20 new post ideas and also created two new YouTube videos.
Since I didn't feel like spending much time this month created new content I decided to spend my time focusing on improving my blog's organic reach or SEO. Before I dig into this, let me define what SEO is and why it's important for my blog.
Related read: October 2016 Traffic Report: New Content Promotion Tools
Since I didn't feel like spending much time this month created new content I decided to spend my time focusing on improving my blog's organic reach or SEO. Before I dig into this, let me define what SEO is and why it's important for my blog.
Christmas is almost around here! It's crazy. I was just in the store the other day and they had all kinds of Christmas displays up and I think I may have heard Christmas music playing over the sound system. Well, all of that got me thinking about holiday shopping and what would be on my gift list this year. Outside of home decor, my list would be full of things I could use for blogging.
So I put together a list of 10 gift ideas that would be great for the content creator, blogger, or small business owner in your life or you could buy as a treat for yourself.
Related read: What's On My Christmas Wish List
I love eye shadows. Just look in my makeup case and that's totally obvious. I love the various colors you can get, the different finishes, and how they help accessorize an outfit. What I don't love about eye shadows is they sometimes crease and wear off throughout the day. So by the end of the day when I get home, it doesn't even look like I applied any eye shadow.
Not being very makeup savvy I just accepted the creasing and fading thinking that's how eye shadow worked. Until I stumbled across eyelid primer. How I stumbled across it I can't recall, but once I started using it I never turned back.
See what other products I have in my makeup bag
Not being very makeup savvy I just accepted the creasing and fading thinking that's how eye shadow worked. Until I stumbled across eyelid primer. How I stumbled across it I can't recall, but once I started using it I never turned back.
October was kind of a month of evolution and me getting even serious about blogging.
First off I decided to try a new social media scheduler for Twitter and Facebook called RecurPost. Previously I was using Hootsuite which I liked and had no technical issues with. The one feature I wished Hootsuite had was looping content. With looping content, I could reuse past tweets and posts saving me lots of time and effort in recreating content. This was time that I could put towards other things.
Related read: September 2016 Traffic Report
First off I decided to try a new social media scheduler for Twitter and Facebook called RecurPost. Previously I was using Hootsuite which I liked and had no technical issues with. The one feature I wished Hootsuite had was looping content. With looping content, I could reuse past tweets and posts saving me lots of time and effort in recreating content. This was time that I could put towards other things.
Until recently I didn’t do much long-distance traveling, particularly air travel. This was mostly because I lived an easy drive from most of my family and friends. Now that I live a few states away I’ve been flying more during the year which isn’t cheap.
Being the frugal person I am each time I travel I try to find a new way to save some money. So as we get ready to roll into the biggest travel season of the year - Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years - I wanted to share my five tips to make flying a little cheaper.
Related read: Travel Perks You May Not Know Your Credit Card Has
Being the frugal person I am each time I travel I try to find a new way to save some money. So as we get ready to roll into the biggest travel season of the year - Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years - I wanted to share my five tips to make flying a little cheaper.
Probably the longest part of my wash days and the part I dislike the most is drying my relaxed hair. It can also be the most damaging part of washing your hair. Particularly if you use heat.
Using heat to dry your hair not only removes the water but can also burn your hair and remove all the moisture making your hair dry, dull, and frizzy. This can lead to split ends and breakage and undo all the good you've done using sulfate-free shampoos and deep conditioning.
The best way to avoid heat damage is to use little to no heat to dry your relaxed hair and use products that help protect your hair from damage.
The best way to avoid heat damage is to use little to no heat to dry your relaxed hair and use products that help protect your hair from damage.
One thing that always made me dread washing my hair was the tangles I would get. Especially when I had two textures on my head - natural and relaxed. When my hair tangled I would spend a lot of time sectioning my hair and carefully detangling each section trying to not damage my hair any more than necessary. I wasn't always successful.
The sad thing is because my hair would tangle after I shampooed it more often than not, I didn't think about it and thought it was normal for my hair. Boy, was I wrong.
What those tangles were telling me is my hair was damaged. Especially the outer layer. When the outer layer of the hair strand is damaged it opens up allowing it to catch or snap with other strands causing tangles. And tangles can lead to hair breakage and unwanted hair cuts.
I've been able to avoid the crazy tangles through trial and error, research, and patience. I now don't have issues with tangles by instituting these three techniques:
The sad thing is because my hair would tangle after I shampooed it more often than not, I didn't think about it and thought it was normal for my hair. Boy, was I wrong.
What those tangles were telling me is my hair was damaged. Especially the outer layer. When the outer layer of the hair strand is damaged it opens up allowing it to catch or snap with other strands causing tangles. And tangles can lead to hair breakage and unwanted hair cuts.
I've been able to avoid the crazy tangles through trial and error, research, and patience. I now don't have issues with tangles by instituting these three techniques:
Read this full post on my content creator's site FromLeahsView.com.
I’ve seen many questions in blogging groups about whether it’s a good idea or not to switch to business accounts on Instagram. There are a few differing thoughts out there, but it seems like the consensus in the blogging groups and among the bloggers I follow is yes it’s worth giving it a shot.
Related read: Amazing Tools To Automate And Manage Your Social Media
I've learned a lot about taking care of my hair over the last few years. Things such as how to keep my hair moisturized, manage breakage, and also how to protect my hair when getting a relaxer touch-up.
When I first started getting my hair relaxed hairstylists didn't really provide any advice on what I should to protect my hair and scalp outside of don't scratch. There was no talk about terms like relaxer overlap or relaxer runoff. Even to this day, I haven't had a stylist talk to me about either one of these things.
Relaxer overlap is when the relaxer is applied to previously relaxed hair. This tends to happen accidentally when there isn't a lot of new growth or the person applying the relaxer isn't careful.
Relaxer runoff happens when the relaxer is rinsed out and it touches previously relaxed hair. This is also kinda accidental.
Both relaxer runoff and overlap can cause overprocessing which weakens relaxed hair even more and can cause some serious damage. So it's no surprise I got a little worried. I hadn't noticed that this was happening but I didn't want to take any chances and found some tips that could help to lessen the chances of either one happening. Here are the ones that have worked best for me.
When I first started getting my hair relaxed hairstylists didn't really provide any advice on what I should to protect my hair and scalp outside of don't scratch. There was no talk about terms like relaxer overlap or relaxer runoff. Even to this day, I haven't had a stylist talk to me about either one of these things.
Relaxer overlap is when the relaxer is applied to previously relaxed hair. This tends to happen accidentally when there isn't a lot of new growth or the person applying the relaxer isn't careful.
Relaxer runoff happens when the relaxer is rinsed out and it touches previously relaxed hair. This is also kinda accidental.
Both relaxer runoff and overlap can cause overprocessing which weakens relaxed hair even more and can cause some serious damage. So it's no surprise I got a little worried. I hadn't noticed that this was happening but I didn't want to take any chances and found some tips that could help to lessen the chances of either one happening. Here are the ones that have worked best for me.
Fall is here and we're starting the last quarter of the month though you wouldn't know it here in Florida. The weather today as I write this is 90 degrees and sunny. Not complaining, but because of the heat I sometimes forget we're weeks away from Thanksgiving and Christmas.
With the end of the month comes another traffic report for arelaxedgal.com. I share my monthly traffic reports partly to hold myself accountable and help me keep a closer eye on my monthly stats. I’m also doing this in the hopes of helping and encouraging other bloggers who are looking to grow their online presence.
Related read: July 2016 Traffic Report
With the end of the month comes another traffic report for arelaxedgal.com. I share my monthly traffic reports partly to hold myself accountable and help me keep a closer eye on my monthly stats. I’m also doing this in the hopes of helping and encouraging other bloggers who are looking to grow their online presence.
Ah, Facebook. As a blogger, you either hate it or love it. Or you’re like me, a bit indifferent.
When I started my blog I stayed off of Facebook. But then I started reading all of these posts from other bloggers who raved about Facebook. They talked about how much traffic Facebook was bringing them as well as the sponsorship and income opportunities. The more I read, the more it sounded like I was missing out. I couldn’t hold out anymore. A little over two years after starting my blog I started my Facebook page.
When I started my blog I stayed off of Facebook. But then I started reading all of these posts from other bloggers who raved about Facebook. They talked about how much traffic Facebook was bringing them as well as the sponsorship and income opportunities. The more I read, the more it sounded like I was missing out. I couldn’t hold out anymore. A little over two years after starting my blog I started my Facebook page.
Related read: 7 Things I Did To Grow My Blog Traffic And Readers
Every once in a while my hair and scalp feel dirty, full of product, and weighed down or they may feel really dry. Whenever they feel any of those ways I have a hard time styling my hair including holding a curl for any length of time. And my scalp itches and flakes a lot and may even smell. When any of those things happen I know it's time to break out my clarifying shampoo to clarify my relaxed hair.
Pinterest rich pins; you've probably heard about them. And if you're active on Pinterest, follow other bloggers or brands you've most likely seen rich pins in your feed but may not have paid much attention to them. I know I didn't at first.
Over time I started to notice that my pins looked different than some of the other pins showing up in my feed and I was repinning. So I did some digging and found out the difference was because of rich pins. After learning more about what they are and what they can do I wanted to get them too. So I started researching how to set them up and wasted no time in doing so.
Related read: How I'm Winning At Pinterest And You Can Too
Over time I started to notice that my pins looked different than some of the other pins showing up in my feed and I was repinning. So I did some digging and found out the difference was because of rich pins. After learning more about what they are and what they can do I wanted to get them too. So I started researching how to set them up and wasted no time in doing so.
The house has been selected. You've gone through the closing, packed up, and moved everything in. What next? There's the unpacking and getting settled, but there may be a few other things that can be just as important that may have slipped your mind with everything else going on. After moving into my house I identified seven things I wish I'd done or did do after I moved into my house.
Related read: Tips For Making Moving And Packing Easier
September is here and summer is over. This has been an exciting and life-changing summer for me as I bought my first house. Despite being busy with buying a house and moving, I was able to keep my blog not just running but also growing
- While August saw some growth in my blog stats it wasn't as much growth as in July
- Overall my social accounts saw month-over-month growth and I hope to continue the momentum
I have a love/hate relationship with makeup aisles in drugstores and Walmart. I love looking at the makeup choices and colors and reading the benefits and features of this product and that product. What I don't like is all the choices.
Oh yeah...I'm one of those. When I'm looking for a new product such as eyeliner it can be hard to select one. Do I want a self-sharpening or a pencil? Do I want waterproof or not? A bolder or subtler line? The list can go on and on. It gets even longer when you start combining and mixing and matching the features of each liner. That's probably one of the reasons I didn't wear eyeliner for several years. Finding an eyeliner can be overwhelming.
Oh yeah...I'm one of those. When I'm looking for a new product such as eyeliner it can be hard to select one. Do I want a self-sharpening or a pencil? Do I want waterproof or not? A bolder or subtler line? The list can go on and on. It gets even longer when you start combining and mixing and matching the features of each liner. That's probably one of the reasons I didn't wear eyeliner for several years. Finding an eyeliner can be overwhelming.
I recently realized it's been months since I've shared a wash day on the blog and weeks since I've shared anything about my hair. While my hair hasn't been put on the back burner per se, it hasn't been a big focus of mine personally or on my blog.
So what's been going on with my hair lately?
For the last six months or so I've been struggling with being satisfied with the moisture levels of my relaxed hair. This has resulted in breakage that I didn't experience before and me ditching products, trying new products, and changing my regimen. It wasn't until recently that I started revisiting some old wash day posts from the beginning of my hair journey and I realized that my new regimen may be the issue.
So what's been going on with my hair lately?
For the last six months or so I've been struggling with being satisfied with the moisture levels of my relaxed hair. This has resulted in breakage that I didn't experience before and me ditching products, trying new products, and changing my regimen. It wasn't until recently that I started revisiting some old wash day posts from the beginning of my hair journey and I realized that my new regimen may be the issue.
I don't know anyone who would say no if asked whether or not they would like healthy hair.
When you look at hair advertisements on TV, in magazines, or online the images of the model's hair all convey a sense of health. They have hair that is shiny; the perfect length; blowing perfectly in the breeze; bouncy, shiny, springy curls; is the perfect hue of shiny silver, brunette, red or blond. Oh did I mention the shine?
When you look at hair advertisements on TV, in magazines, or online the images of the model's hair all convey a sense of health. They have hair that is shiny; the perfect length; blowing perfectly in the breeze; bouncy, shiny, springy curls; is the perfect hue of shiny silver, brunette, red or blond. Oh did I mention the shine?
I admit and have admitted before that I don’t have a lot of experience with makeup because I didn’t have a lot of exposure to it growing up. I really didn’t start getting serious about makeup until my late college years (kinda sad I know).
Before then I had dabbled with using drugstore foundations and wearing eye shadow or mascara every once in a while. Once I got more serious about makeup I wasn’t making the connection between skin prep and makeup application. So face primers were something I never used much less heard about.
Related read: 5 Best Oil Absorbing Makeup Primers For Oily Skin
Before then I had dabbled with using drugstore foundations and wearing eye shadow or mascara every once in a while. Once I got more serious about makeup I wasn’t making the connection between skin prep and makeup application. So face primers were something I never used much less heard about.
I've come to love the end of the month. It's because I get to see my blog and social media stats for the month. While I'm watching my stats throughout the month it's always interesting to see how much of an impact the last couple of days make or don't make to the overall picture.
With July we're smack dab in the middle of summer when people are vacationing and would be spending less time online. I also didn't do a lot of blog promotion on social media. So combining all this with the July 4th holiday and the decreases and small increases I saw for June I anticipated July to not be that great of a month.
With July we're smack dab in the middle of summer when people are vacationing and would be spending less time online. I also didn't do a lot of blog promotion on social media. So combining all this with the July 4th holiday and the decreases and small increases I saw for June I anticipated July to not be that great of a month.
I used to think that to get a good makeup brush you had to go to beauty stores like Ulta or Sephora and spend $20 or more before tax on a brush.
This didn't work with my budget so I used to keep brushes for years and just wash them frequently, but when a brush gets old it's not as effective. Nor is it good for your skin. I realized that a little while ago when I really looked and saw the sorry state my foundation brush was in.
Some of the inside bristles were warped and wouldn't lay flat anymore no matter what I did. This shouldn't have been a surprise because the brush was over seven years old. It was time to replace it.
I didn't want to spend a lot of money on the brush so I started looking at my local drug and big box stores. I first tried a couple of Elf brushes and they weren't any good. One brush broke and the bristles on both had an odd smell that wouldn't go away.
This didn't work with my budget so I used to keep brushes for years and just wash them frequently, but when a brush gets old it's not as effective. Nor is it good for your skin. I realized that a little while ago when I really looked and saw the sorry state my foundation brush was in.
Watch now: An Easy Way To Clean Makeup Brushes
Some of the inside bristles were warped and wouldn't lay flat anymore no matter what I did. This shouldn't have been a surprise because the brush was over seven years old. It was time to replace it.
I didn't want to spend a lot of money on the brush so I started looking at my local drug and big box stores. I first tried a couple of Elf brushes and they weren't any good. One brush broke and the bristles on both had an odd smell that wouldn't go away.
It happened to me. The leave-in conditioner I was using, the moisturizer that became my staple conked out on me. It stopped working and didn't moisturize my hair. I'd been using Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioner for a while now and it had been working great. Then after a bad relaxer touch-up, the conditioner just didn't cut it anymore. So I decided to look for a new leave-in.
To start my search I looked online to see what the top leave-in conditioners were and after reading reviews and ingredient lists I settled on two - True Nourishing by Made Beautiful Leave-In Conditioner and SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen, Grow & Restore Leave-In Conditioner. One of the reasons I selected the SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil leave-in conditioner is I had tried and liked the shampoo.
To start my search I looked online to see what the top leave-in conditioners were and after reading reviews and ingredient lists I settled on two - True Nourishing by Made Beautiful Leave-In Conditioner and SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen, Grow & Restore Leave-In Conditioner. One of the reasons I selected the SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil leave-in conditioner is I had tried and liked the shampoo.
I seriously considered ditching relaxers. After my last relaxer touch-up, I got fed up with stylists, relaxers, and my hair. This frustration only grew as I got deeper into my relaxer stretch. I was dealing with two textures and trying to find a new stylist.
I started going back and forth on whether or not it was time to step away from the relaxers and maybe move to Brazilian Blowouts or Amino Acid Treatments. I even went so far as to search for a stylist in my area that offered one or the other or both. After much contemplation, I decided to give the relaxer one more try with another stylist.
I started going back and forth on whether or not it was time to step away from the relaxers and maybe move to Brazilian Blowouts or Amino Acid Treatments. I even went so far as to search for a stylist in my area that offered one or the other or both. After much contemplation, I decided to give the relaxer one more try with another stylist.
Whether you've been blogging for a while or just started you've probably realized that having nice images and/or graphics for your posts is just as important as the words your writer. An unattractive image/graphic can turn readers away from an otherwise great post. It can also keep your post from being shared on social media.
The good news is you don't have to be a professional graphic designer to create nice images/graphics for your blog. All you need is a computer, smartphone, or tablet. And my favorite graphic design companion - Canva.
The good news is you don't have to be a professional graphic designer to create nice images/graphics for your blog. All you need is a computer, smartphone, or tablet. And my favorite graphic design companion - Canva.
I can't believe 2016 is half over. This year is flying by so quickly.
June was a busy month for me personally because I closed on and moved into a new house! So there was a lot of packing and unpacking that took place. As a result, I didn't spend much time blogging or promotion. I'm hoping that won't be reflected in my results. Keep reading to see.
June was a busy month for me personally because I closed on and moved into a new house! So there was a lot of packing and unpacking that took place. As a result, I didn't spend much time blogging or promotion. I'm hoping that won't be reflected in my results. Keep reading to see.
It's no secret that during my young adulthood (not that I'm that old now) I suffered from pretty bad acne. It was all over my face - chin, cheeks, and forehead. I tried several products and acne systems - prescription, over-the-counter, and organic - to rid myself of it.
Nothing worked until I tried Murad's Acne Complex and changed my overall skin care regimen.
Several years ago I started wearing mineral powder foundation as a result of having adult acne and sensitive skin. I tried a few brands over a few years and ended up finding one that rose to the top and became my favorite. It's the Mary Kay Mineral Powder Foundation.
This is my favorite foundation! In fact, it’s the only foundation I use and feel comfortable letting touch my face. I was turned onto the Mary Kay Mineral Powder Foundation by a consultant I knew. I told her I started wearing mineral makeup a few years prior but was having trouble finding a shade that didn’t make me look ashy. I also had issues finding foundations that provided a matte look and didn't have me looking shiny by the end of the day.
This is my favorite foundation! In fact, it’s the only foundation I use and feel comfortable letting touch my face. I was turned onto the Mary Kay Mineral Powder Foundation by a consultant I knew. I told her I started wearing mineral makeup a few years prior but was having trouble finding a shade that didn’t make me look ashy. I also had issues finding foundations that provided a matte look and didn't have me looking shiny by the end of the day.
I am so excited to share this report! After seeing slow growth in some metrics and decreases in others I have some really good numbers to report.
I share my monthly traffic reports partly to hold myself accountable and help me keep a closer eye on my monthly stats. I’m also doing this in the hopes of helping and encouraging other bloggers who are looking to grow their online presence.
I share my monthly traffic reports partly to hold myself accountable and help me keep a closer eye on my monthly stats. I’m also doing this in the hopes of helping and encouraging other bloggers who are looking to grow their online presence.
Problems with moisturized skin seem like they should only be a problem in the winter when the cold air sucks the moisture right out of you. But staying moisturized is also a summer issue.
In the summer my skin can take a beating. What with all the exposure to the summer sun, the summer heat, salt and chlorine, air drying after multiple dips in the pool and ocean and air conditioners. All of these things individually do a number to my skin, but when even a couple of them are put together it's even worse.
As a result, I tend to experience dry skin, ashy skin, and skin that feels tight and itchy in the summer months. To alleviate this dryness and get that desired summer glow I've employed five techniques.
In the summer my skin can take a beating. What with all the exposure to the summer sun, the summer heat, salt and chlorine, air drying after multiple dips in the pool and ocean and air conditioners. All of these things individually do a number to my skin, but when even a couple of them are put together it's even worse.
As a result, I tend to experience dry skin, ashy skin, and skin that feels tight and itchy in the summer months. To alleviate this dryness and get that desired summer glow I've employed five techniques.
When you think of California the first things that may come to mind are sun, sand, and warmth. That's what's typically depicted in movies and TV. Even in movies and shows that are shot in San Francisco come across as having warm temperatures and plenty of sun. So I admit I was surprised when I visited San Francisco a few years ago and found that sun and warmth aren't the norms. Even in the middle of summer.
San Francisco is the most densely settled large city in the state of California and second in the United States after New York City. It also has beautiful rolling hills, cool summers, and lots of fog that rolls in from San Francisco Bay. This is why some of the city's nicknames include "The City by the Bay" and "Fog City."
San Francisco is the most densely settled large city in the state of California and second in the United States after New York City. It also has beautiful rolling hills, cool summers, and lots of fog that rolls in from San Francisco Bay. This is why some of the city's nicknames include "The City by the Bay" and "Fog City."
Before I started my healthy relaxed hair journey on a quest for healthy relaxed hair I knew nothing about relaxer stretching. The funny thing is I would sometimes do it. If I wanted to save some money or didn't feel like going to the salon I would go more than six weeks between my relaxer touch-ups.
Since I didn't count weeks between my relaxer touch-ups back then I don't know how long those stretches tended to go.
Since I didn't count weeks between my relaxer touch-ups back then I don't know how long those stretches tended to go.
You've figured out what you want to blog about, the name of your blog, what your blog will look like, and how you will promote your blog. Now you're ready to create content and launch your blog. If you have a plan you can easily launch your blog and have a more successful launch.
I've joined a few Facebook groups for bloggers and consistently see questions from new bloggers on how they should launch their blog. Two of the more common questions are
Those are good really questions and there are many answers. While the answers I see vary because they are based on each responder's experience, there is one commonality - you need to have a plan for launching your blog.
I've joined a few Facebook groups for bloggers and consistently see questions from new bloggers on how they should launch their blog. Two of the more common questions are
- What do I need to do to launch my blog?
- How many blog posts should I have ready for my launch?
Those are good really questions and there are many answers. While the answers I see vary because they are based on each responder's experience, there is one commonality - you need to have a plan for launching your blog.
When summer rolls around I find myself washing my relaxed hair more. Usually at least twice a week. This is because I sweat more from working out more consistently. As well as doing more outdoor activities. My relaxed hair also dries out more from the sweat, heat, and beach breezes.
To keep my hair from drying out and then breaking I shampoo more. Particularly when my hair feels dry and icky I can't wait to experience the suds rinsing off my hair, and how my hair feels and smells after using a good shampoo.
To keep my hair from drying out and then breaking I shampoo more. Particularly when my hair feels dry and icky I can't wait to experience the suds rinsing off my hair, and how my hair feels and smells after using a good shampoo.
Related read: How To Protect Your Hair This Summer
Planning blog content is something I've struggled with. I understand the purpose behind it, have seen how helpful it could be, and even encourage others to do it. But for some reason, I thought it was easier and less time-consuming to just create content when I needed it. While this didn't prove to be an outright disaster it made managing my blog harder.
Penetrating natural oils are some of the more popular oils out there. When browsing hair care pins on Pinterest I see a lot of pins for homemade oil treatments and conditioners with the majority of them including at least one penetrating oil - avocado oil, coconut oil, or olive oil.
When I decided I wanted to blog it became a little overwhelming with all the decisions I needed to make. What platform did I want to use? What did I want my blog to look like? How did I even set up a blog?
Eventually, I was able to navigate through those questions, but I didn't really spend any serious time thinking through the questions. So a few months after launching my blog, I wasn't totally satisfied with it. This led to me going through that process again when I rebranded my blog. From those two experiences and the research I've done, I've learned a few things about building a blog that I'd like to share. In this post, I'll be sharing information on
Related read: Starting A Blog Part 2: Creating Your Blog Name & Brand
Eventually, I was able to navigate through those questions, but I didn't really spend any serious time thinking through the questions. So a few months after launching my blog, I wasn't totally satisfied with it. This led to me going through that process again when I rebranded my blog. From those two experiences and the research I've done, I've learned a few things about building a blog that I'd like to share. In this post, I'll be sharing information on
- Choosing a platform and hosting service
- Selecting a design theme
I'm excited to share another traffic report for A Relaxed Gal with you. I changed some things up in April in an effort to improve on my numbers from March. I had some successes and had some things that didn't go as well as I'd like.
Additionally, since the first quarter is over I'll be reviewing where I am with my 2016 Blog goals.
I share my monthly traffic reports partly to hold myself accountable and help me keep a closer eye on my monthly stats. I’m also doing this in the hopes of helping and encouraging other bloggers who are looking to grow their online presence.
Additionally, since the first quarter is over I'll be reviewing where I am with my 2016 Blog goals.
I share my monthly traffic reports partly to hold myself accountable and help me keep a closer eye on my monthly stats. I’m also doing this in the hopes of helping and encouraging other bloggers who are looking to grow their online presence.
Now it's time for the real fun to begin! It's time to be creative and choose your blog name and its look and feel. Defining the focus for your blog, and figuring out your audience and blog topics are important prerequisites for this step. If you haven't done that yet, you can check out my post Starting A Blog Part 1: Choosing Your Blog Focus.
I'm not a blog expert. Nor am I a design expert, but I'd like to share what I've learned during my time as a blogger and also from the research I've done for my blog. In fact, in this post, I'm sharing some of my favorite posts from other bloggers on creating a blog name and its look and feel.
I'm not a blog expert. Nor am I a design expert, but I'd like to share what I've learned during my time as a blogger and also from the research I've done for my blog. In fact, in this post, I'm sharing some of my favorite posts from other bloggers on creating a blog name and its look and feel.
After deciding you want to start a blog, determining the focus of your blog or your niche should be the next step. You might be thinking shouldn't the next thing I do be to decide on my hosting platform, colors, name, or logo? Nope. All of those items should come later and can be determined based on what your blog is about.
If you had told me before I started my healthy relaxed hair journey that I would be using natural oils on my relaxed hair I would have laughed at you. Really, natural oils? Why would I do that? Little did I know then how beneficial using natural oils could be. Or that they would replace the drugstore serums and oils I was using at that time.
In my early adulthood, I suffered from pretty bad acne all over my face. I've never been able to pinpoint the cause, but I felt that the foundation I was wearing at that time was a contributor to my acne problem.
At that time I was wearing CoverGirl Clean Foundation. It was cheap, well known, easy to get and I could find a shade that worked with my skin tone. On the other hand, I couldn't stand the smell or how my face would sometimes feel dirty or like I was wearing a mask. Those feelings were amplified by my acne.
At that time I was wearing CoverGirl Clean Foundation. It was cheap, well known, easy to get and I could find a shade that worked with my skin tone. On the other hand, I couldn't stand the smell or how my face would sometimes feel dirty or like I was wearing a mask. Those feelings were amplified by my acne.
I can't believe it. It's been two years since I've posted my first blog post. My, how time flies and how things can change in just a short time. During these past two years in addition to starting a blog, I've started a new job, moved to a new state, bought a house (more on that in another post), changed the focus and name of my blog, and also redesigned it.
During the life of my blog, I've experienced growth that I'm proud of. I've seen an increase in readership (thank you!) and tremendous growth in Pinterest and Twitter followers. I've also seen growth in myself as a blogger. I'm writing better posts, being more active on social media, have upped my photography game, and am focusing more on blog planning.
Related read: 7 Things I Did To Grow My Blog Traffic & Readers
During the life of my blog, I've experienced growth that I'm proud of. I've seen an increase in readership (thank you!) and tremendous growth in Pinterest and Twitter followers. I've also seen growth in myself as a blogger. I'm writing better posts, being more active on social media, have upped my photography game, and am focusing more on blog planning.
I've been using the same leave-in conditioner for a while now. It's the Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioning Hair Repair Cream. I like this leave-in conditioner. I have been using it for a while now and even recommend it. But lately, it hasn't been keeping my hair moisturized.
I've thought maybe my shampoos have been leaving product residue on my hair so the leave-in conditioner can't penetrate my hair shaft. While I think that played a role, I was still having the issue after using a sulfate shampoo a couple of times to remove residue.
So I hit the internet and researched other leave-in conditioners. I settled on two and headed down to Sally Beauty to purchase them. One of the conditioners I purchased was the True Nourishing Leave-In Conditioner. I've used the conditioner off and on for a few weeks now, so I wanted to share my first impressions.
I've thought maybe my shampoos have been leaving product residue on my hair so the leave-in conditioner can't penetrate my hair shaft. While I think that played a role, I was still having the issue after using a sulfate shampoo a couple of times to remove residue.
So I hit the internet and researched other leave-in conditioners. I settled on two and headed down to Sally Beauty to purchase them. One of the conditioners I purchased was the True Nourishing Leave-In Conditioner. I've used the conditioner off and on for a few weeks now, so I wanted to share my first impressions.
Wow! Only nine months left in 2016. That means it's time for another blog traffic report, this time for the month of March. Compared to February, March wasn't a good month for my blog stats. I did see some more improvement in some of my social accounts.
Now before we get to the numbers if this is the first of my traffic reports you're reading you may be wondering why. I share my monthly traffic reports partly to hold myself accountable and help me keep a closer eye on my monthly stats. I’m also doing this in the hopes of helping and encouraging other bloggers who are looking to grow their online presence.
Now before we get to the numbers if this is the first of my traffic reports you're reading you may be wondering why. I share my monthly traffic reports partly to hold myself accountable and help me keep a closer eye on my monthly stats. I’m also doing this in the hopes of helping and encouraging other bloggers who are looking to grow their online presence.
You can't tell now, but I suffered from serious acne during my teen and young adult years. I mean acne all over my cheeks, on my chin and forehead. I couldn't seem to find anything to get rid of it. During my teen years, I tried several acne care systems, homeopathic treatments, prescriptions and none of it worked.
I eventually grew out of my teen acne, but it came back in my early twenties. I was able to get rid of my young adult acne using Murad Acne Complex. I used Murad for several years before transitioning to what is my current facial skincare routine. I have two routines - one for the morning and one for the night.
I eventually grew out of my teen acne, but it came back in my early twenties. I was able to get rid of my young adult acne using Murad Acne Complex. I used Murad for several years before transitioning to what is my current facial skincare routine. I have two routines - one for the morning and one for the night.
Once February ended I couldn't wait to start gathering info for this traffic report. I wanted to see how my pulling back from StumbleUpon, being more active on Pinterest and the shorter month impacted my stats.
Once again I have no income to report, so this is just a February 2016 traffic report for ARelaxedGal.com.
I want to share my monthly traffic reports partly to hold myself accountable and help me keep a closer eye on my monthly stats. I’m also doing this in the hopes of helping and encouraging other bloggers who are looking to grow their online presence.
Once again I have no income to report, so this is just a February 2016 traffic report for ARelaxedGal.com.
I want to share my monthly traffic reports partly to hold myself accountable and help me keep a closer eye on my monthly stats. I’m also doing this in the hopes of helping and encouraging other bloggers who are looking to grow their online presence.
ABOUT ME
Hi I'm Leah, the creator of A Relaxed Gal blog providing hair, beauty, and lifestyle inspiration and tips for women who want a simple way to look great, feel great, and live great.