Blogging is tough and includes a lot of trial and error, but there are some mistakes you just never have to make. I reached out to my favorite blogger babes to find out the best tips they wish they knew when they first started. Who better to learn from than the baddest bloggers I know? These are the ladies who are killing it in the blogosphere and across social media. They are my inspiration and my motivation, many of whom I am lucky to call my friends.

1. Jannel Therese: “There's no template on being a blogger and no one can knock anyone's hustle; you just do it and you learn. This is something I wish I knew when I started.”
2. I Am Archive: “My best tip would be stay true to who you are, stay consistent. People follow you because they like your content so try stick to one theme or aesthetic.”
3. East Coast Fox: “My best blogging tip is to create a distinct brand and voice that you want to convey to your followers. Stay consistent and you will attract the following that comes to you for constant inspiration.”
4. Naty Michele: “When I first started blogging 5 years ago, there was a lot that I did not know. I was in this mindset that I just needed to keep creating content so that I could have a post go up every day. I realized over time though, that quality was way more important than quantity. While being consistent is extremely important, you also want to make sure that you are putting out content that provides some type of value to your readers. I am so happy that I learned this and it's probably one of my top blogging tips.”
5. Excessories Expert: “I wish I would've known that with every ounce of praise comes a boatload of criticism. Putting yourself out there requires a thick skin and a wicked sense of humor! I've learned not to take myself so seriously and to roll with the punches! If you're just being yourself, there's nothing to ever be ashamed of! Authenticity is first and foremost!”
6. Icing and Glitter: “My best tip would be to just go for it! One of my biggest regrets is not having started my blog as soon as I thought of it, which was 2 years before I actually started!”
7. My Secret Avenue: “{Don’t} be afraid to pitch brands yourself and reach out to more successful bloggers for advice.”
8. Johanna Mariel: “TRY TRY TRY and TRY again-it's ok to fall on our asses and it's ok to not know it all-it's all about how we bounce back from a disappointment. It's ok to say, "NO" to things that we really don't want to do (especially when doing collabs that don't really feel honest). Ultimately, we need to be who we really are--if people don't like you for you-tough-that's their problem.”
9. Yael Steren: “Don’t wait to start blogging until you think everything is perfect. Inevitably over time your photos and writing will evolve. The most important thing is to just start and then always strive to do better.”
10. New York City Stylist: “My best blogging tip is to ALWAYS NETWORK. May sound obvious, but show up to events alone, meet people, make new friends, put yourself out there. It can only help you and a little personality and confidence go a long way!”
11. A Stylish Side Project: “My best tip is to not put yourself in a blogging "box." I only wrote about fashion for over a year, and it got so boring! I got to a point where I felt like I'd lost my passion. Once I opened the door to writing about other topics (i.e. Life updates, fitness, home decor, etc), the creativity started flowing again and it came through in my work. My readers enjoyed seeing a variety of posts, and it continues to help my site grow.”
12. Style Tomes: “Blogging is 20% content creation and 80% content promotion.”
13. Shirley: "It's good to showcase other people's content, not just your own, because promoting others shows that you are someone who supports other bloggers."
14. Denim Joy: “Don't look at the numbers and don't obsesses over every little detail! A watched pot never boils!”
15. Boufyy: “The best blogging tip I wish I knew when I first started "Insta Blogging" would be to just have fun with it, experiment and try new things. Not everyone will get it, but that's what being creative is all about!”
16. Lam In Louboutins: “My best blogging tip is to really put yourself out there! Get to know other bloggers and send emails to companies you want to work with! Don't just sit there and wait for opportunities to fall on your lap.”
17. Out Of Office New York: “There are SO many behind-the-scenes aspects of starting a blog or website - it isn't all sexy! However, you learn a lot of things that you might never have had the chance to learn at your day job - we're talking basic coding, SEO, graphic design and even finance/accounting. A lot of people don't realize that having a blog/website is a small business, and small businesses are a lot of work... but it's totally worth it!”
18. Day In My Dreams: “Don't forget to actually enjoy the moment... after you get the perfect shot.”
19. A Sequin Love Affair: “I wish I realized just how hard it would be not to be consumed by the number game. I spent way too much time feeling down about not getting the amount of followers, blog traffic, or likes I wanted. Now I try to remind myself that we're all on our own journeys and comparing mine to someone else's is just going to bring me down. It's so important to do your best and move on with your day- not get consumed in worrying about other people buying followers or doing dishonest things to move ahead. Why waste negative energy on it?”
20. Sade A Spence: "Although it seems like there are so many girls blogging about the same thing, remember it hasn't been done by you. So just start and have fun!"
21. Allie Provost: “The biggest tip I wish I knew would be to put yourself out there as much as you can - really make connections. The worst thing someone can say is they don't want to work with you. So email that blogger that inspires you or the brand that you have been dying to work with because you never know what may come of it!”
22. Spread Fashion: “I wish I knew early on the importance of engaging with bloggers!”
23. On Closet Nine: “A press kit is your co-pilot - invest in a killer one!"
24. Charmed By Camille: “Rome wasn't built in a day and it took a lot of work to make the city. Blogging is the same way - instead of focusing on numbers, focus on quality content and investing time and money into your business. The rest will come later.”

xx Esther