This blog post was promised to my Instagram followers months ago, I’m sorry it took me so much time. However, I do have an exciting announcement to make at the end that I think makes it all worthwhile! Anyway, I get asked this all the time. Why did you start a blog? What makes you want to keep doing it? The answer is so simple….
I love to write.
Why I Started AshlieHipp.com
I needed a creative outlet.
I’ve always loved to write. In high school, I wrote my friends’ senior research papers. Throughout college I did every group paper ever assigned without complaint…
Since becoming an adult its become my escape. It takes a weight off, when I write nothing else in the world matters. I tried sewing, adult coloring books, crossword puzzles… but nothing makes me happier than when I write. It comes natural for me. If it’s something I am passionate about it doesn’t take a lot of time for me to write. Writing doesn’t feel like work at all.
The fashion and beauty pieces were obvious for me. I often was asked where I got my clothes or to style my friends. As for beauty, I’m qualified to give you skincare and makeup advice because I have an esthetics license! Pretty cool, huh?
Perks & Popularity Are Not Why I Blog
I don’t blog to get free things from companies. Sure it’s cool to get a free tee or discount in exchange for an advertisement, but at the end of the day it’s for sure NOT why I blog. I don’t want to be given handouts. I work too hard during my day job (jk, it’s 24/7), to expect or accept handouts. Personally, I don’t like to email companies and ask them for something “in exchange for exposure”. This is because just like I want companies coming to me to pay me for my time, I’m sure owners want paid for their costs.
I don’t blog to make money, and I’ll never push a product on anyone that I feel won’t work for them. Although I have done paid sponsorships and advertising campaigns, I am very selective with who I work with. I don’t just jump at the opportunity to work with every brand who direct messages or emails me. What they stand for has to mean something to me and the deal has to work for me too. If you’re new to blogging beware of one-sided deals.
I don’t blog for Instagram followers and likes. Getting likes and having a ton of followers is cool, but at the end of the day it doesn’t pay my bills. Also, if Instagram was gone tomorrow they wouldn’t matter anyway! I got away from this a few months ago, but a good IG vacation got my head back on straight. Instagram is an advertising platform, yes… but how much do you really make per post? Unless you’re an established blogger/influencer… you make pennies. That’s why I never understood purchasing followers and engagement. You’re wasting money to make no money. To read my post on bloggers buying their followers and engagement, click here.
I don’t write blog posts to be popular. Again, I write them to be me. This is another thing I got away from this for a while and it crushed my creative drive. Since getting back to being true to my sense of humor and who I am, I’m happier and the writing just flows again. While we’re on this topic… @pghbloggerbabes will be back and better, just nowhere near the same as what it was, but that’s still about a month or two away!
Ashlie Hipp x Animal Friends
I’ve recently been thinking a lot about ashliehipp.com and where I want it go in the future. After some serious thinking about how to incorporate animals (my one true love) into the blog, I was scrolling through Instagram and I rediscovered an account I’ve been following for sometime, @rescueinstyle. Although I won’t be dedicating my whole blog to the rescuing animals and fashion, it will become a large part.
Tomorrow I will begin a partnership with Animal Friends! They are a local nonprofit, no kill shelter here in Pittsburgh! I’m so excited its unreal.
I will be going to their location 1-2 times a month to get pictures with adoptable animals for both my Instagram and the blog! I will be doing 2 or 3 blog posts a month spotlighting adoptable cats and dogs in the Pittsburgh area.
It was important for me to find a way to give back for what has been such a rewarding experience for me. Blogging has helped me so I want to help others (mostly animals) find their furever family!
Getting Back to Being Me
Moving forward I promise to always be the sarcastic realist that I am, and I will never lose sight of why I started this website to being with. I didn’t start this blog to make friend, I mean I have and they love me for who I am, which is a huge perk…. but at the end of the day AshlieHipp.com is for me to de-stress and hopefully help someone or make them laugh in the process. I’ll also be adding more lifestyle posts and trying to get some cute pups and kitties adopted!
I’ll have the first installment of Ashlie Hipp x Animal Friends to you ASAP… if you’re in the market for a rescue stay tuned.
Xo,
Ash
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