I just want to start my post by saying that I have been blogging for one month now! It may not sound like a big milestone but hey, I just want to celebrate the fact that I've successfully stayed on one platform. Remember my "blog wandering" syndrome? I totally surpassed that period, guys!

I know that I only posted a couple of articles last month but I'm honestly happy about my progress. For the sake of transparency, I have to admit that I am really working on making this blog profitable. I want to gain more traffic and I want to build a larger network. That's where I'm at, guys. ¯_(ツ)_/¯ 

Unbeknownst to many, I've been doing a lot of blogging work behind the curtain to promote my page. I've mentioned before that it's a mistake for a new blogger to yearn for overnight success. However, after reading hundreds of blog posts during my internship downtime, I realized something - it's never too early to grow your brand.




Now, we move on to the fun part! My relatively short blogging stint has already attracted some partnerships. I know it sounds a little fabricated knowing that I've only been here for a month but it's true, you guys. I can't believe it either! Is it okay to confess that I totally get excited every time I open my email?

So, what did I do differently this time that made these companies consider my page? Here's a rundown!

1. CREATE A CONTACT PAGE
I only have 5 blog posts so far - newbie status, remember? So you would probably notice that I don't even have a category list set up yet. But you know what I have instead? That's right - a contact page! Let everyone know that you're open for sponsorship and collaboration. Don't forget to include your email address!

Pro Tip: Embed a contact form on your website. I use FoxyForm and I love their service!

2. SHARE BLOG POSTS ON PINTEREST
I began receiving marketing proposals after reviving my old Pinterest page and creating my own brand. I learned this tip from the successful bloggers that I've been shamelessly stalking online. Many marketers are on Pinterest right now to conveniently search for potential blog partners. So, pin your most popular content to attract future advertisers!

Pro Tip: If you want an in-depth tutorial, Melyssa Griffin of The Nectar Collective offers an online course to help you master some killer Pinterest strategies.

3. JOIN FACEBOOK GROUPS
It's nice to be a part of a creative community. I've recently joined some Facebook groups for bloggers as a way to build my own virtual support system. I love that these groups have their own weekly promotional roundups where I get to boost my latest blog post. I also get exclusive access to some great partnership opportunities! For instance, I've been tapped by a company to feature their product thanks to a fellow blogger who was generous enough to share her advertising connections.

Pro Tip: Join groups like Blogging Boost to help you with your blogging dilemmas. Always respect the group rules, guys! Avoid unnecessary promotions. They hate that!

P.S. Are you a member of any local blogging group? I would love to know!

4. SEND OUT A MEDIA KIT
Okay, let's say that you have done everything on this list but your target companies still haven't contacted you yet. Maybe it's time for some role reversal! Yes, I know that contacting a company can be a little daunting (who are we kidding? it's freaking scary!) but let's not forget that you are doing this to grow your site. Be proactive and sell your brand! I don't want to go all Machiavelli (or Ovid) but in this case,yup... the end totally justifies the means.

Pro Tip: Create your own media kit to make you look more professional. Don't forget to include important blog milestones and significant blog statistics.

Thank goodness for all the FREE stuff on the Internet! As a digital native, I make sure that I maximize my Internet privileges to make my busy lifestyle more bearable. So today, I would like to share some of the mobile applications that made my life 10000 times better! I hope that you find them helpful too!

1. StumbleUpon
StumbleUpon allows you  to conveniently browse random articles on the Internet without manually searching for each one. With just a simple tap, the app would automatically generate different Internet sites that fall under your chosen category. So basically, you just hop from one site to another until you find the article that you actually like.

Even if you don’t have a specific article in mind, StumbleUpon makes sure that you can find something interesting to bookmark. I like that the categories are very broad and it’s up to you to find your own niche. It’s a great way to discover new content without the hassle of having to make everything specific.

This is perfect for you if: you want to be knowledgeable on different topics. 

Bonus tip: Don’t forget to put your bookmarks in various categories. For instance, my StumbleUpon account has the following categories for easy navigation: Beauty, Skincare, Intellectual Growth, Interesting Stuff (online games, trivia, fun facts, etc.), Fitness, Future References (tips and lifehacks!)

2. Spendee
I had a recent realization that my college life is going to end very very soon. The thought of finally stepping out into the real world scares me a bit so I made a personal promise that I would be more financially responsible now that I’m 20. I decided to start saving up for my emergency fund so that I can have some money on my bank account before I officially graduate next year.

I use Spendee to track my daily expenses. It’s fairly easy to use since you just have input your expenses and the app does the rest of the work. I believe that if we know exactly where our money goes, it would be easier for us to adjust our spending habits.

This is perfect for you if: you want to budget your salary or allowance.

Bonus tip: Input your expenses immediately. Don’t put it off for too long because you might forget some minor (but very significant!) expenses.

3. Rewire
Rewire is a habit tracker. Every time you perform a task, a green chain appears to indicate your success. The catch, of course, is that you have to do the activity for X consecutive days in order for the chain to continue. 

This is perfect for you if: you want to develop a habit and commit to it. 

Bonus tip: Use the Rewards option so that every time you complete a task for X days in a row (it’s your call!), you’re free to have a guilt-free cheat day. 

4. Shopee 
I just downloaded this mobile app a few days ago but I already know that it’s the perfect shopping companion. Whether you’re a seller or a buyer, Shopee surely makes everything easier. I don’t know how Shopee does it but man, they have lots of crazy good deals! You actually get a PHP 100 discount for just signing up. That’s pretty cool, right? 

This is perfect for you if: you want to start a small business OR you’re just a big fan of online shopping. 

Bonus tip: Check their Instagram every now and then to score limited promo codes and coupons. 

5. Bloglovin’ 
I’m a Bloglovin’ newbie but I love the fact that I can stalk my favorite blogs in an instant! I also discovered that a significant percentage of my blog traffic actually comes from my Bloglovin’ account so yay! I actually went on a following spree last week so I’m now following 200+ accounts. No regrets. 

This is perfect for you if: you want to stalk your favorite blogs in a single platform. 

Bonus tip: Put a Bloglovin’ badge on your website to make your account more visible. 

If you want, you can follow me on Bloglovin’ by clicking this link:

(See? I followed my own advice!!!)

What are your favorite mobile applications? I would love to read your list too! 
P.S. You can now pin this article! I'm giving Pinterest another try so if you like my post, feel free to pin it on your boards. Thank you for visiting my blog!

Here’s the thing: I’ve been blogging for several years now but I can’t seem to stay on just one platform.

A thorough* online search of my name would probably reveal several of my old blog accounts for the past seven years. I’ve been on Multiply, Tumblr, Blogspot, and Wordpress. Yup, I’m basically everywhere. Oh and take note that I have multiple accounts on each site. You see, every now and then, I get a whiff of inspiration to get my life together and fulfill my childhood dream of becoming a successful blogger. So, just like any excitable teenager, I would always be inspired to create an account every time I feel the urge to be creative. My main issue, I guess, is that I always get bored of my own blog. Apparently, my younger self thought that creating a new account was easier than improving the old one.

Of course, this method proved to be ineffective as I’ve been left with nothing but a disorderly online footprint. My content is scattered around the web and I have no cohesive site to show. I’ve been so frustrated by my situation that I even stopped blogging for a while. But then I realized that this whole blogging fiasco would continue to haunt me unless I do something about it. I love blogging so why should I stop writing? Besides, I feel like I’m in a much better disposition right now after my blogging hiatus. I believe that I’m ready to go online again as a gift to myself. So, as an introductory post, I would like to share my long blogging journey beginning with the top mistakes that I made as a blogger.

Lack of originality - As a beginner, I tried so hard to copy the style of successful bloggers. I always compared my site to other blogs because I felt like I had to meet certain standards. I was convinced that if I followed their formula, my blog would also become popular. I tried every link-up, every blog button, and every gimmick that I saw.

Obviously, that particular mindset got me nowhere because instead of treating blogging as a passion, I treated it as a competition. I found myself posting things that I wasn’t really interested in just to gain traffic. I guess that’s where the incessant blogging burnout came from. Writing got tedious because I was pushing for topics that were not really my forte. I ended up with a blog (several blogs, actually) that I could no longer recognize or enjoy. I lost my personal touch because I wanted to impress everyone. I hate to admit it but instead of being unique, I ended up being boring.

The truth is, someone would always have a prettier layout, a better writeup, and a larger audience. You just have to have faith that your personal style is more than enough.

After seven years and zero percent progress, I realized that blogging really takes passion and commitment. It’s easy to sign up and create an account. What comes after is far more difficult. If you want to be a blogger then you have to prioritize blogging.

P.S. If you want to see my other articles, just go to my online protfolio @ Candy

That's basically it! Hi guys! I am very excited for this blog. Thanks for dropping by and reading my first post! :)

* I said thorough because I'm in the process of deleting my old accounts