Work It Wednesday - Kate Bialowas
Another week, another Work It Wednesday. We love introducing new, awesome influencers to you and this gal is NOT TO MISS. Read on to get to know Kate Bialowas!
1. First off, share a little about YOU. Who IS Kate Bialowas?
Hi, I’m Kate! The founder and blogger behind Layered Indulgence and co-founder of Lipstick and Muffin Media. I decided that the corporate life wasn’t for me right after I finished my Masters Degree in Fashion Communications three years ago - and I never looked back. Feel free to say hey on Instagram!
2. What was the inspiration behind your fashion and lifestyle blog, Layered Indulgence?
My blog has changed SO much since I first started it. I thought about starting a blog for a few years and then one day I just did it! It started off as a place where I posted photos I liked with blurbs - Tumblr-style. I wanted a creative outlet but I didn’t know exactly what to do or what I really wanted from it. And I had NO idea you could make money as a blogger!
Eventually, it turned into a blog where I posted about fashion and evolved into a lifestyle blog. While I still love writing about lifestyle, i'm happiest when i’m writing about topics that really help others. So why not help other lifestyle bloggers who want to grow their blog and influence? That’s what I blog about now, with a dose of life + style inspiration thrown in for good measure!
3. You've done a great job of growing your audience. What are the main tools/tricks that have worked best for you?
For my blog, the best tool to grow my audience has been Pinterest, hands down! Pinterest is GOLD as a blogger if you use it strategically. Engagement has also been so key! Make sure you’re engaging with not only your target audience but other bloggers who share the same focus as you. If you’re not engaging and growing your community, it’s really tough to grow your audience! I recently started a Facebook group for bloggers called The Boss Up and Blog Tribe. It’s a place for bloggers determined to take their blogs from passion to #bossstatus and it’s filled with so many amazing, supportive members.
4. Your blog covers so many different topics! How do you choose what to blog about?
Good question! As I talked about above, I incorporate lifestyle posts along with content that helps lifestyle bloggers grow their blog and influence. My main passions are blogging, entrepreneurship and social media, and I also LOVE writing about topics like travel, décor and style. What I love most is if I can incorporate the two, so I try to do that as much as possible. Otherwise, it just really comes from inspiration. If I feel like writing about something, I write about it.
5. What's one of the biggest challenges you've faced on standing out as a blogg
er?
If you’re a blogger, you know there is A LOT of competition. It’s hard not to compare yourself to others, but the best thing you can do is keep your head down and focus on your own work. Try to be better than your best self rather than trying to be as good or better than someone else!
6. What has been the most exciting part about growing your site/brand?
The most exciting part about growing my brand has been connecting with other bloggers and like-minded individuals. Whether it’s on Instagram, blogger Facebook groups, or in person, one of the best ways to grow is to always network. I met my best friend and business partner Tracey over Instagram and we’ve grown an amazing community of female entrepreneurs who continue to support and encourage each other every day in our Facebook group!
7. What project are you most excited about right now?
First off, with Lipstick and Muffin Media, Tracy and I are so excited to help as many female entrepreneurs as we can grow their business and online presence. We just came back from a convention where we learned all about the newest digital marketing and online trends and we’re ready to take on more amazing clients this season!
We also run an eCommerce business (Shop.com) with a group of Toronto entrepreneurs and the current project we’re working on is moving offline, driving traffic to local businesses (cafes, restaurants, salons, etc.). Supporting local has always been really important to me and I’m so excited to be able to do that through our business on top of my personal spending habits.
Last but not least, I’m going to be launching a course for bloggers in the next month. I can’t say too much, but it’s definitely something I’m very, very excited about!
8. Favourite app?
I love, love, love PicTapGo for editing photos on Instagram and Planoly for laying out your Instagram theme! It’s so great to be able to see if a photo works before actually posting it to your feed.
9. How do you #workit everyday?
