Fashion blogger Vicki Harvey, aka The Magpie Girl, brings the second of her Blogger’s Toolkit Guide, giving us a peep inside her handbag.
Last post I talked about the online tools that helped get my blog to where it is today. Now I’m going to show why the trusty laptop is not the only useful weapon in the blogging arsenal, and that there are a few handbag essentials that every blogger should get their hands on!
First and foremost, a good camera is a blogger’s most important possession, no matter what area or topic they post about. Quite simply, creating and including your own original photography can be vital way of gaining and keeping interest with your readers.
So investing in a decent DSLR is a great idea: they produce a higher quality image than standard fixed lens cameras, offer greater flexibility in focal range and image reproduction, and are also built for shooting photos quickly. Experience has taught me that Canon have the best selection of affordable cameras and lenses that you can later add to over the years, but the choice is pretty endless so shop around!
In addition to the advantages of a DSLR, I also find having a second small compact camera is wise (not least because it is often less cumbersome for the average fully stocked handbag!). Inspiration can strike at any moment and having a compact in your possession at all times means you will never miss an important shot.
In general, a decent compact can also be combined with some online photo editing to produce good quality images in place of a DSLR. I used a compact for all my photos for my first six months of blogging, and many bloggers still do so exclusively, so if you are on a budget then investing in one is just as useful!
Beyond cameras, smartphones such as a Blackberry or an iPhone are essential to keep you up to date with Twitter and Facebook, and may also allow you to blog on the go. I must say that after having both a Blackberry and an iPhone, I am heavily biased towards the latter. I think it’s better suited to a bloggers needs and has a great selection of app’s not available on other smartphone models.
One of the top blogger apps at the minute is Instagram, a camera and editing tool that enables you to take vintage effect photos and instantly upload them to twitter or your blog. It’s a great way to connect with your readers by letting them know what you are up to on the go!
For networking and contacts, I also highly recommend carrying business cards. This was something I didn’t really consider in my first year of blogging, but was a necessity I quickly picked up upon. If you are planning on attending events or blogger meet-ups, business cards show you are professional and well organised and are a great way to make and keep new blogger acquaintances. Consider designing your cards with the same font or imagery as your blog so your name stands out from the crowd!
Aside from technology, don’t underestimate the importance of an old fashioned style staple: a diary or organiser. Blogging is all about regularity. In general, readers will follow blogs because a lot of time they update quickly and often with the latest news or photos. When you start to blog more than four times a week it can become difficult to stay organised. Writing your post ideas into your diary is a great way to plan and prepare.
I thoroughly recommend ‘The Editor’ book . It’s broken down into sections weeks, notes, inspiration, and lists, and allows you to record websites you use, email contacts, gifted items you have to review and general advertising details.
Finally, if you are considering blogging as a career option then the ‘Pro Blogger’ book is a great item to have in your bag. It’s suitable for any blogging niche and has great tips on advertising, the financial side of things and the challenges of working for yourself. It was definitely an eye opener for me, and is a resource that I turn to again and again.
Thinking about an online career made me realise that you can never set your blogging sights too high. That’s probably why I carry far too many blogging gadgets around with me, and why I prefer large handbags! I have to say it’s worth it though!
