
Happy Wednesday and welcome back to another post in the Blogging BTS series.
I am sooooooo excited to kick off the “guest blogger” segment of this series with the wonderful Emily from Emmies Beauty Life.
Emily has some really interesting answers, so I hope you find this insightful. If you do have any more questions for Emily or I, as a part of the Blogging BTS series, please do leave them in the comments section.
Follow Emily on Instagram.
Read her blog, Emmies Beauty Life, here.
How long have you been blogging/had your IG?
I’ve been running Emmie’s Beauty Life since 2018, but I’ve been on and off IG since 2014
What was the first item you were ever ‘hashtag gifted’?
I had an Aussie subscription service reach out to me when my blog was still relatively new. That was pretty awesome.
Do you reach out to brands to collaborate? Or do you wait for them to approach you?
A combo of both.
If you don’t reach out to brands, why not?
Because I’m always worried that when they figure out where I live, they’ll say ‘that’s too far away’.
If so, have you ever been rejected by a brand for a collaboration?
I’ve had a few brands give me the ‘you don’t have enough follower’s’ response. I won’t name names.
Have you ever reached out to a brand and received no response?
I can’t say that I have to be honest.
Have you had a ‘pinch me’ blogging moment?
When Jeffree Star reposted one of my photos! That was huge for me. Also when some of my pictures were used in an online article for Who Magazine (for the sake of clarity, I knew the author of the piece and she asked me specifically if she could).
Can you think of a time when your following (as in, the number of followers you have) has ever disadvantaged or benefited you?
Only ever disadvantaged. I know that living where I live, I’m never going to be in contact with the major brands or have the opportunity to speak face to face with the right people. Where I live doesn’t exactly have a huge beauty community.
Who is your dream brand to collaborate with?
Either Mecca or Priceline. That would be a dream come true.
Is it your goal to make blogging a full time job?
It would be awesome, but I know it isn’t realistic either.
What’s one PR package you wish you received?
Recently? Any of the Mecca PR boxes! Especially the Glow Recipe ones.
If someone said ‘what do you do?’ would you say ‘I’m a blogger?’ Why/why not?
If someone asked me what I did for a living, no. If someone asked me what I did as a hobby in my spare time, maybe.
Do you have an issue with the algorithm?
Doesn’t everyone? In all seriousness, I do feel it sometimes. I remember back in the good ole days, when the timeline was chronological and we all saw each other’s posts and nothing was buried under obnoxious ads.
What’s one condition you would never agree to with a gifted or sponsored post?
If I don’t like the product, I’m not lying about it.
What is one of your conditions that a brand must agree to in order to collaborate with you?
I would prefer to not have a set time that I need to get the post up. Only because things take a while to get to me and I do like to take my time when I’m testing a product out.
Have you ever had a negative experience with a brand?
I can honestly answer this with no.
For the sake of this question, we are calling you (and me!) an ‘influencer’ (or micro-influencer’): Can you give us just a general overview of your opinion on the whole ‘influencer’ space? Do you trust ‘influencers’ opinions?
I have a real love-hate relationship with that word. Even though I guess I am one these days. It does make me feel a little uncomfortable for reasons that I can’t really explain. In terms of trusting opinions, I already do research via other peoples blogs before spending my money on new products. I always take those opinions with a grain of salt because everyone is different and what might work for them, might not work for me. It’s all about managing expectations.
Share the story of how you gained a gifted item? From the initial contact, to the post of the item etc. Was it smooth sailing?
I had a PR company reach out to me and send me an application to try one of their brands products. I filled it out, forgot about it for a few weeks (being realistic here). Got the OK that I was being sent the product, got it sent to me a few weeks later and I’m currently testing it for review. Took a little while, but overall, not too bad!
Name three bloggers who admire and why.
Camille at On A Beauty Bender: Single handedly has gotten me to spend more money than any other blogger that I follow.
Ebony at The Black and White Guide: Have loved her blog for years and is probably my biggest inspiration to get into blogging. Also, has the coolest cat!
Lara at Rivetlicker: One of the first people I followed back when I first started IG and someone I consider a good friend. The work she has done for the cruelty free side of the beauty game is truly admirable.
Thank you so much Emily, for being a part of Blogging BTS- it was an absolute pleasure to work with you and I loved reading this myself!
Remember…
Follow Emily on Instagram.
Read her blog, Emmies Beauty Life, here.
Who else would you like to see featured in this series? Comment below!
Follow along on IG @rolly.mag >>> https://www.instagram.com/rolly.mag/
And say hello via email >>>
hellorollymag@gmail.com