My new approach for 2013
I have come back with a fresh attitude to this little blog of mine. 2012 was quite the year for Kiss, Blush and Tell – in a good and bad way; I guess I didn’t really realise how quickly things can change with a blog, especially given the fact that Kiss, Blush and Tell was always a little side project – my full time job in an Ad agency is by far the most important and demanding part of my day-to-day life, so I did this because of my initial studies (beauty & make up) so I could share my knowledge and passion.
I also didn’t quite get my head around the fact that with sudden growth comes plenty of PR requests, loads of product and more advertisers which all seems rather exciting at the time until you take a bit of time out and realise why you actually started your blog in the first place. I vowed from the word go that I would never become a sell-out and that my blog would still speak about ‘things’ that I genuinely love (which I think I have stuck to).
Anyway, the point of my ramble is that 2013 is going to be a good year for this blog but not in the sense that I’m going to get laden with products and become every PR’s bestie, but rather a year where I can remember why I truly love blogging and sharing beautiful and wonderful things with my readers – cos, ultimately, that’s why you came here in the first place. I guess this is also just a reminder to you as my readers that I’m conscious of this all the time and won’t budge on this one! Towards the end of last year this blog was becoming a bit of an effort with demanding PR’s and me over-committing myself (not to blog but I to wedding planning on the side of work too – my new love!)
So here’s to an even better year ahead where I certainly won’t be spreading myself too thinly or getting stressed over Kiss, Blush and Tell like I did last year, but rather keep it the blog that I set out to make it.
Thanks again to all of you!
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Thank you for sharing this. When I follow my fave UK Bloggers their blogs receive tons of comments and I'm not sure why yours hardly get any. Perhaps this is because people don't necessarily trust your reviews, because 99% of the products were sent to you and not bought at your own cost.
Enjoy writing about the things you genuinely love and are passionate about. 🙂 xx
*Approach. And I agree, would be more beneficial if you did not receive everything for free.
Thank you, fixed the typo 🙂
I completely disagree. I read many, many blogs – both local and international – but hardly comment. The majority of South African blogs don't receive nearly as many comments as many international blogs do – I'm not sure why this is, but I don't think it has anything to do with a lack of trust in a particular blogger's reviews or content. I also don't think that being sent products to review affects a blog's integrity. I'm happy to read reviews on products that have been sent to a blogger to test (that s/he hasn't necessarily purchased themselves) and feel that it's fairly obvious when a review is honest and truthful, versus a simple rehash of a press release. It happens ALL the time. As a beauty editor, I receive many of the same press releases as beauty bloggers do, so I can spot a 'copy and paste' job a mile away. I've never spotted one on Kiss, Blush and Tell, which is why this is one of my favourite blogs to visit 🙂 I think Kiss, Blush and Tell has done amazingly well throughout 2012 and I look forward to even better things in 2013 – keep it up, Tori! x
I'm new to your blog and already hooked! I'm looking forward to reading this 2013!!
Much love, Bailey from Vanilla Blonde
Hi Chereen, thank you – I appreciate your comment so much as I most certainly have never been swayed by free produce. Each to their own though. Will keep the honest reviews coming xx
Hi Bailey, thank you! Glad you like it, hope I keep you coming back for more xx
Please don't think that I meant this in a nasty way. I love your blog, and you are one of the people who inspired me most to start my own. That is however, my honest opinion and something I thought you would be interested to see from a readers point of view.
I say cheers to you for keeping your blog real and not getting side tracked by material enticements.
I look forward to a great year of reading and commenting.
Thanks Janet – always appreciate it!