LISTEN to this Post, above.

Year 3.

I truly cannot believe I am already three years into BurbNChic. In some ways it feels like it has been way longer, and then again it feels like I was just picking up the camera for the first time yesterday. Boy oh boy, I cannot say enough about this blogging journey.

I decided now would be a good time to put into words what I have learned throughout this journey thus far. I’ll be honest, this past year of BurbNChic has been truly eye opening, humbling, and debatable for me. I’ve decided to go through the good, the bad and the ugly of the Influencer World for me within the past year(s).

“When you do, what everyone says NOT to do.”

It’s true. I can remember leading up to launching my blog/instagram, I was reading article after article about “HOW TO BECOME A BLOGGER.” There have been many takeaways from my “research.”

One positive thing I have stuck to, is when they say “DON’T BUY FOLLOWERS.” Okay, well… I haven’t. This is probably why I am still under that 10k mark, but honestly.. I have LEARNED to be okay with that and just let the follower gain run its course.

Those followers that I do have, are very tuned in and loyal.  I have learned that I would rather have people consuming my posts that enjoy, and react to what I am blabbing about rather than 10,000 robots… not engaging.

However, I did fall for the “ambassador trap” and boy, did that bite me in the ass. Here is the long and short of that…

When you’re just starting out, it is SO EXCITING when a brand reaches out to you and shows interest. You’ll do just about anything to be able to start “influencing.”  Then they hit you with an exclusive discount,(that they have given to 50,000 others) where PS you still have to buy their merchandise, and THEN they want you to spend time taking pictures in their product so they can use it as Free advertising. 

Did it, done it, regretted it. There was not ONE brand that I did this for that followed back with me for an actual paid partnership. Whenever I see ambassador program come across my messages now, I delete instantly. It’s a dead end.

Stay in your lane.

This thought^^ has easily been my biggest epiphany of year 3. Staying in my lane. I had to really stop myself one day after looking at my instagram feed and realizing that it was filled with shit I wasn’t really interested in posting about. It was filled with what I THOUGHT I should have been posting about. My house, my dog, my husband, my recipe’s…. barely any fashion.

It immediately brought me to my next thought….

What do people recognize me for?

As I’m sure you’ll see over the course of the next few months, I have started to realize what the first thing is that people converse with me about. Within the past year, I have noticed that it is almost always something Fashion related.

it clicked one day.

People come to me for style inspiration. They message me, asking where to shop for good jeans. They text me and want to know how I would style a flannel shirt. NOT my insanely mediocre recipes and basic grey and white tone house like everybody else in America.

I can remember the day I had my sister over to shoot pictures and I simply said, “I want to go back to inspiring people to wear new trends or give them an outfit idea.” BACK TO THE BASICS.

2020, the toughest year to please all.

We can all agree that 2020 has been nothing but a shit show, but what a year to be an influencer. This year has obviously challenged me with having to teach dance in my basement for 3 months due to Covid 19, and trying to find multiple different places in my house for a Feed picture. But aside from the shallow things, this year has been a challenge finding the right words.

2020 has been my least involved year on social media for so many reasons. I can remember when Influencers were being brutally attacked online for not saying the right thing, or not posting the right words when it came to all of this years events. IT MADE ME WANT TO NEVER TURN ON MY PHONE AGAIN. They were just trying to show support, but were instantly getting torn apart for saying anything at all.

This has been the year of asking to band together, but verbally attacking people when they try to? All this has simply done for me, is made me realize that words are INSANELY powerful. I have learned this year when to post, when not to post, and that everyone is entitled to their opinion. Including me. However, I have chosen to keep my opinion with a side of OOTD off of my platform.

Last thought..

“Everyone is a blogger now.”

My sister called me up one day, and was telling me how she overheard someone make this comment. Now, clearly my sister is just as much attached to BurbNChic and what I am doing on here as much as I am. This has always kind of been a team project for us.. so when you hear someone make this comment, it can hurt to the core.

 Let me explain.

To say that “everyone is a blogger now” is like me saying that anyone can do your job too. And, maybe even do your job better than you. Hurts right?

It doesn’t need explanation, but there is a lot of time, money, and planning that goes into this “job.” This “job” gives a job to graphic designers, web designers, photographers, makeup artists, hair stylists, and brands.

But how am I turning this comment around?

Year 3 of BurbNChic has made me realize a lot. Words are powerful, people are powerful, and short term doesn’t always mean long term.

I truly want to Thank all of You!

BurbNChic continues to evolve because of the feedback, loyalty and inspiration from you and all of the other BurbNChic followers. Cheers to the next year!!