Why a new Design and my major blogging meltdown!

If you follow me on twitter (@AshlyLondon) you might have seen my utter melt down at my blog being locked by google. I had an absolute nightmare getting it back up.  I wouldn't wish that on anyone, really not fun! Bascially it was flagged as having 'malware'.  Malware is a malicious software like a virus. Now obviously I did not put that on my blog or know why it would be there.  After a lot of research and posting on the google 'help' boards, I found out that it could be as simple as having a link on your blog which goes to a site that has malware.  Bearing in mind that 8 times out of 10 people leave a link at the bottom of their comment this scared the bejeezus out of me.. how was I ever going to go through every comment and check all the links?  

I also found out that google had recently flagged a couple of webmaster tools and coding readily available to add accessories to your blog as malware, 'Abu Farham' being one of them. So I popped over to my html and after a quick search low and behold found "abu farhan'.  I had used the basis of  a free template for my blog and it must have been somehow linked to this name. So In the end I decided that a complete redesign was the way to go, as Marilyn says "sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together".  I was planning on a blog redesign at somepoint soon so this got me in to action fast.

So usually if google locks your blog you sort it out then go to webmaster tools and click the  'request a review' button. But unfortunately there was a problem with google and no such button was in my webmaster tools so it was very frustrating. Fortunately it appears google got it sorted and here we are!   

 

My advice to anyone who experiences this is go straight to the Google help boards and ask for help.  Also if you are using a free template check your html for 'Abu Farhan' if it appears seriously think about changing your design. For more info on this go to http://blogging.nitecruzr.net/2014/02/abuse-malware-classifications-february.html.

Can't wait to hear what you all think of my new design!!

Lots of Love 

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Scottish Blogger Network Secret Santa!!!

ITS CHRISTMASSS!!! Well not quite yet but we are getting so close, it is such an exciting time of year.  Everyone is in good spirits and wants to have a great time, I honestly love it.  As a blogger I am certainly having a great time, we have our Christmas night out on the 18th December and here is my 2nd Secret Santa of the year.  This time it was organised by the delightful Kirsty from Scottish Blogger Network.

I had absolutely no idea what to expect, we were set a limit of £10 and it really was a secret who my 'santa' was.  The parcel arrived in this lovely pink paper I had a little shake and feel (as you do) but as usual I had to curb my excitement and take pictures before I could rip it open #bloggerproblems ha ha.

When I did open it, I was so excited to see the Smashbox try it kit, what an amazing gift! And I'm pretty sure it is waay over the £10 so very generous.  It contains 5 little minatures including their famous photo finish face primer and the photo finish lid primer.  I am really looking forward to trying everything, especially since I have been looking for a new eyeliner.  Plus they are a great size to pop in your clutch bag at a party :-)

A huge thank you to Kirsty for organising and to Judith my secret santa.  You really couldn't have picked anything better! 

Make sure to pop over to Judith's blog 'the wee blondie' for a nosey, she has some great reveiws.

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How to Pose for Photos like a Pro

Every wondered how do I pose like a model or how do I pose for photos? After a recent #fbloggers (fashion bloggers) chat on twitter I realised how many people are unsure of how to pose on camera when taking pictures for their blog or just in general. It comes naturally to some but not to everyone (me included). I have spent years working at it and will share all my tips with you to get you pose perfect!

The first thing to do is practice, mirrors are great for this. Take as long as you like trying out different facial expressions and angles to see when you look best. Experiment with your body poses too. Another great way to practice is with the camera on your phone, you get the results straight away and can really experiment with your angles and expressions.

Here are a few things to think about

Less is more
Huge expressions with wide open mouths or face hurting grins can be good for comedy value but if you want to pose like a pro think small. The camera will pick up the slightest glint in your eye or pout of the lip so you don't need any grand gestures, everything is magnified behind the lens.

It's all in the eyes
This is mostly true for close up shots and beauty, but if you are focusing on fashion photographs for your blog don't worry too much about this at first. However, if you are doing close ups, the eyes do matter. The best way to express through your eyes is to feel the emotion on the inside and like magic it will be portrayed in your eyes. For example if you want a sultry look imagine you are looking at Harry Styles (if you are in to one direction) and that you are trying to 'woo' him! If you are portraying a powerful woman think of something which makes you feel strong and invincible. Playing music with the right mood can really help with this.

Angles
Angles are really important in photography and modelling. They can be the difference between making a 6ft tall amazonian beauty look like a toadstool! So if you are doing body shots have the camera a little lower and angle it upwards towards you, this will make you look taller and slimmer.  Do the 'knee bend', try standing sideways with the leg furthest from the camera slightly bent, this should make your legs look fab!

Arms
Arms can be awkward things. Where do I put my arms when I am posing? The easiest thing to do is have somewhere to put them, in a pocket or hanging of a belt loop. Use your arms and hands to express emotion. If you are wearing a lovely summery dress throw them in the air 'yay for summer', if your wrapped up warm for winter cross your arms over your body to keep warm.  I know it can sometimes feel like these limbs are spare parts when modelling so use props too, either in your surroundings like a fence or flowers or within your outfit like a bag or umbrella.

Posing
The best way to get tips is to look at pictures in fashion magazines or online, how are the models posing? Asos is great for this, especially if you are a fashion blogger. You will find an abundance of different stances you can try out. A great trick is to but your hands on your waist, this will actually make your waist look smaller. And if you are doing close up pictures of your face, use your hands to frame your face and bring in something extra. Your hair is great for this.

Where do I look?
To get the full beauty of your eyes keep your eyeline straight ahead. For example, if you are facing the camera look straight down the lens or just above it. Or if your head is turned to the side look in to the direction and level that you are facing.


Try to remember there can be hundreds of shots taken before you get that one perfect picture so just keep trying and I promise you will be a pro in no time!!

I will be doing a youtube video with a more in depth tutorial soon so let me know if you have any questions needing answered :-)

Ashly xx

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Blogger Meet Ups! HELP! What to wear, What to Expect and Tips

After a recent #BBloggers chat it got me thinking. We all seem to be in the same boat regarding meet ups. We really want to attend but it makes us very nervous! All the new people, will I recognise anybody? Will I be standing on my own looking like a loner? What should I wear? In this post I will try to answer some of these questions for you. In the hope it may help, even a little with taking the plunge to attend a meet up.

The first thing is actually deciding you are going and booking your place. Some events do have rules about how many followers you need to have or this or that but don't worry too much if you are told that there are no places left. There are plenty of meet ups and surely it is better to be attending the right ones with newer bloggers than diving straight in to events which have restrictions and lots of pro bloggers who already know each other? I really think deciding to go is actually the hardet part so once you have done that you can be really pleased with yourself for plucking up that courage.

You have made the decision to go the next thing is.. oh golly I am going to have to turn up at this place on my own.  Keep in mind that most people are feeling exactly the same. It is totally normal to feel nervous. A quick search on twitter using the event hash tag (if there is one) will help you find others who are also attenting the meet up. Firstly look for girls you recognise who you may have chatted with briefly before. If you don't see any names you recall then send a tweet to a few of the bloggers you see mentioning the event. Say something as simple as "are you going to the #Londonmeetup in May?". Most bloggers will reply and you can start up a conversation about the event. Once you feel like you've got to know them a little ask who they are going with and see if you can join in. A lot of bloggers meet up prior to events so there will always be somebody you can go with.

Now... what to wear? This can be another source of worry, "everyone will be looking at what I am wearing". But actually, I don't think that this is necessarily true. I couldn't tell you one thing that somebody was wearing (Well apart from Sophia Meola's Chanel Bag). Aside from that I really can't remember. I think everyone is focusing on chatting and getting to know each other.  So I would say wear something that you feel confident in. You don't want to be worrying if your skirt is too short or your shirt will pop open. Most people go smart casual, I haven't heard of anybody going in a bodycon dress ready for a nightclub. Obviously it depends where the meet up is but here are some looks for inspiration...

No matter where it is you are meeting, most of all be you. Don't change your style just for a meet up, let your outfit reflect your style and personality.

As the meet up approaches it is totally normal to feel anxious. To save any further worry make sure that you have your travel planned. If it is in an area you don't know well, check transport and routes so that you feel confident about getting there on time. Nothing makes worry worse than running late. Maybe even arrive at the location a little early and have a look around near by shops to take your mind of any anxiety.

Once you arrive at the location there will probably be somebody there to great you. It will usually be whoever is holding the meet up. If not, have a look around and see if there are any stalls set up, if there are make your way to them. It is a great way to distract yourself and have a look at what they have displayed while you settle in. It is also a nice conversation starter, if there are other bloggers looking too. Ask what they think of the products and what their blog name is. The good thing is that you will always have something in common with bloggers... you all have a blog.

Ok so... what do I take with me? A lot of bloggers take business cards with them which is a great idea. I like Moo.com, they are very good quality and their website is easy to use. This also saves you typing everything in to your phone or writing it down. Also take your camera or phone. If using your phone as a camera make sure to charge it fully as taking pictures eats the battery power like nobodys business.

Phew... that was it! your first blogger meet up, well done!! 

On the way home why not go through the business cards you have and add your new blogger buds on twitter. Get instagraming those pictures you took and tag the bloggers and brands!

Try to remeber that we all feel the nerves and anxiety before a meet up and it only seems to get worse as the date comes closer. But I promise that the more events you attend the easier it gets.

I have attended quite a few meetups and events now, at the first few I really had to pluck up the courage to get through those doors but once I was there and started chatting I totally forgot about the nerves. And that is coming from somebody who suffers with an anxiey disorder.

I would love to hear of your experiences going to meet ups for the first time and any events you are going to soon!

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Bloggers Contacting PR companies & Brands... what you need to know!

Hi-diddley-ho-there!

Today's post is a little on the serious side.. uh-oh! Well I will try to be as profesh as possible.  After a twitter chat I realised how many bloggers have uncertainties about approaching PR companies and brands. A few of the questions I have seen are:

Can I contact PR companies myself?

What do I say?

Can I approach brands?

Is it rude to ask for samples?

What if they ignore me?

Will they think I am cheeky if I contact them?

Do I just wait to PR companies to approach me?

These are all very good questions. In this post I will endeavour to answer some of them for you. That is not to say that this is the way everyone handles their communications and blog it is just the way I do.

The first thing you need to do is to work hard on your blog. Please don't expect to be given samples, event invites and meetings if your blog doesn't have at least some followers and interactions. If it looks like a jumbled mess, it is unlikely pr companies will not contact you. Think of it the other way around, if you were a brand would you want to be associated with your blog? Great blogs come in all different shapes and sizes, colours and fonts but one thing they all have in common is that they are clear and can be easily read.

Ok so your blog is down, you have some interactions and followers... what next? Decide which brands you like and want to be associated with. What products would your readers like to find out about? There is not much point in a vegetarian food blog reviewing Scotch Beef, sarcastic yes but you get my drift! So have a good think about what you want people to come to your blog to read about.

Once you have decided on the brand or brands you would like on your blog you have a few options. Buy some of their products or if you already have them, like I did with Utan reviewing it here, here and here, then great!  Once you have your review, try tweeting the brand or incorporate their handle in to a tweet about your post.

They may or may not respond. In this case they didn't. Sometimes they will favourite your tweet or event retweet it. This should help to make the brand aware of your presence. Doing this alone can lead to being contacting to review products or even being invited to events. This is not a given though as many other bloggers are doing the same thing.

Another option you have is to contact the brand, pr or product company directly. I don't see any harm in doing this so long as you are respectful and professional. I have done this a handful or times. Mainly the brands/PR companies I contacted were open and friendly. Some even sent me products and invited me to events. I think you will have more success if you select who you contact carefully. Again, make sure that they fit well with the audience and readership of your blog.

And not all brands are big on social media. A couple of fantastic products which I absolutely love have never replied to any of my tweets or emails. I do find this frustrating. Not because I expect a response but because I know how much pr and advertising they are missing out on by not taking advantage of rave reviews by their loyal customers. 

So don't let it put you off if you don't get a response or if they turn down your request.  I would wait for a couple of months, let your readership improve and try contacting them again. Or try another brand, there are plenty out there!

It is fairly easy to find the contact details for a brand on their website, which a quick google search should produce. Many brands have their PR companies listed directly on their website or twitter profiles. If they don't list a pr contact, you can guess that they probably don't use one and try emailing them directly.

Now lets discuss the email to send. I like to keep it short, friendly and professional. Make sure you include plenty of information about you and your blog. Here is an exert from an email I sent which got a positive response

So on to a few of these questions which I haven't covered already...

Is it rude to ask for samples?

You know I really don't think it is rude to ask for samples, so long as you actually want them to review on your blog and not just because you want to put them in your friends charity lucky dip. If you are still wary of writing to a company for a sample, remember that plenty of beauty brands have samples in their shops or counters so it is worth asking there.

Will they think I am cheeky if I contact them?

Probably not but who knows until you try. I really don't think so. Remember that if you write about a product you are giving that brand advertising!

Do I just wait for PR companies to approach me?

You can do. Maybe you will get an email from them within a month of starting your blog or within a year or maybe never. It really is up to you. It is the PR companies job to put products in the right places for exposure, if you think your blog is the right place then why not let them know?

So that is it folks. Get out there and do some contacting!!!

Please ask any other questions in the comment section below I will be happy to answer them for you!

I would love to hear how you get on contacting PR's or brands

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BLOGGER TAG | I love Spring!

This morning I was not in a positive mood shall we say and was feeling a bit down then the delightful Tamryn from TotallyTamryn tagged me for the I love Spring blogger tag and it cheered me up a little.

So let's get to it! The tag works as follows, answer the 12 Spring related questions and then at the end tag 5 people to do it next!
 
1. What's your favourite spring nail polish?
 
This will probably be a pretty generic answer but who doesn't love pastels in the spring? So number 1 would be pastels, of any colour really. I recently bought a gorgeous Barry M one in a haul post here. And I am currently hunting for a perfect pastel pink shade.
 
2. What is your must-have lip-color this Spring?
 
Deffinitely coral. I got a lovely one from Rimmel and Mac but I really want a matt Coral shade so I have been on the hunt. 


3. Show us your favourite Spring dress!
 
Ahhh so many. Currently I am lusting after this Lipsy VIP Millie Macintosh dress to wear at a wedding.

4. What's your favourite flower?

Roses, roses, roses. I love Roses!!! They are so beautiful and silky and smell divine. Best way to my heart is a rose.

5. What is your favourite Spring scarf /accessory?
 

This is a good question. It has got me thinking. I have a lovely Becksondergaard scarf which is large enough to use as a shawl too and the shades are very neautral so I think that it is perfect for this time of year. You can see it in a post I did here.

6. What Spring trend(s) are you most excited about this year? ( makeup, fashion, or both)

Pretty dresses and lacey shorts. And the lovely light colours. Goodbye black!! Hooray!

7. Favourite Spring candle?

Ahh so many. I love candles. Jo Malone do some beautiful ones but they are pretty expensive. My sanctuary for cheap candles is Sainsbury's, they have been lovely. Like Vanilla and Cotton.

8. Favourite body spray/perfume?

This has to be Miller Harris. All their scents are lovely and natural. My favourite at the moment is Coeur de Fleur which I reviewed here.
 

9. What is Spring like where you live?

In London it can be absolutely roasting which is lovely if you don't have to get on the tube! The you are faced with lots of sweaty people with their arms in the air.. not ideal. Last year I decided to give Borris bikes a go. Cycling around Hyde Park and South Kensington with the sun shining was beautiful.  Scotland can be quite warm but it tends to be quite a few degrees cooler than London.

10. What is your favourite thing about Spring?

First it is the weather being warmer and brightening my mood. I also love seeing the flowers blossoming and the baby lambs jumping in the field.

 
11. Are you a Spring cleaner?

I don't think I clean particularly because it is spring. I like to have a clean out every few months to keep things tidy including my mind. Out with the old.. in with the new :-)

12. Any plans for Spring break or an upcoming vacation? 

In a word.. nope! Perhaps later in the summer when everything has settled down a bit more.

I hope you enjoyed reading my I love Spring tag :-)

The bloggers I tag are...

Ellie at http://www.elliesramblings.com/

Ashleigh Roy at http://www.alloutgorgeous.blogspot.co.uk/

Becky at http://www.beckybedbug.com

Lauren Maria at http://livinginaboxx.wordpress.com/

Ashleigh at http://www.25to30.co.uk/ 

The Blogger Slump Virus | WARNING CONTAGIOUS!!!!

Hear yourself saying things like.. what the hell am I blogging for? Nobody is reading it anyway! Everybody hates me! I am a crap blogger! My pictures are shit! Everyones blog is better than mine as you cry in to your pillow? You are not alone! The blogger slump is a seriously contagious virus which reaches far and wide to any and all bloggers in fact in medical circles it is throught that at one time or another every blogger will experience this dreaded disease!

Several celebrites have already succumbed to the effects of this debilitating disease!! *Warning pictures may be alarming*

 

So what can you do to innoculate yourself from it I hear you ask? Well to be honest there is nothing you can do... but, I have managed to compose a few steps you can take which may help should the dreaded virus take hold

1. Repeat this mantra to yourself at least 5,000,000 times a day "My blog is absolutely fantastic who cares if nobody other than myself is reading it"

2. Just keep blogging. The more posts you write the more chance you have of people reading your blog. I recommend 20-30 posts a day. And make sure they are quality posts or everyone will think you are full of crap. Stay up all night if you have to.

3. Send hundreds of emails and facebook messages to all of your friends and family with your blog link. If they really do love you they will check it out. If not find new friends.

4. Send the same tweet to every blogger you can find urging them to RT and read your latest amazing post. The more you tweet them the less chance you have of them actually reading your blog and they will probably think you are a f***ing idiot, they may even block you. But that just means you are great at social networking! Keep it up!

5. To be a savvy blogger make sure you include lots of words which are heavily searched for on google. You can use adwords to find them. Even if they have nothing to do with your post. Who cares? At least it will get people to your site. Win!

So when you excitedly go to check your stats to see you only had 10 views yesterday on a post which took you 5 hours to write, don't worry. In the words of Kevin costner in a field of dreams "If you build it, they will come" and if they don't come well at least you still have your pillow to cry in to.

And remember the words you are painstakingly spending hours writing will help heal the world from poverty and starvation so it is up to you... keep blogging and everyone will be happy or stop and the whole world will die. It really is your choice... I know which one I am choosing!!!

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