How to be a Hustling, Blogging Boss with Style Collective

We All Have a Secret

Ever wondered how some bloggers do it? You scroll their feeds and watch their stories and think to yourself, “Is this real effing life?” For me, it’s a good day if 1) I’m wearing underwear and 2) they are not on backwards or inside out OR on real tired days on both backwards and inside out. (You think that’s a joke? I’ve done that. On more than one occasion. And you may ask yourself how do you put on a thong backward and not realize it? Beats me but I’ve done it and worn it uncomfortably for more than an hour before realizing it. No judgement needed.)

Now back on topic…even though we (as in women, bloggers, influencers, and any living breathing human with social media in 2018) say we aren’t going to play the comparison game with other bloggers and influencers, we all do it at times. And trust me, the ones who are hustling this blogging gig have a secret. We have help! Somewhere behind the hard work and sweat is a group of cheerleaders helping us to keep going when the going gets tough. For me, that group is Style Collective.

Style Collective is the support group I lean on when I have questions, need motivation, or just need a laugh. They are the Tina to my Amy. The Cady to my Regina. The Justin Timberlake to my Jimmy Fallon. (And yes, I called myself Regina George…it is almost October 3rd and we all know I love a Mean Girls joke.)

Why Style Collective?

I could spend hours telling you about the resources available through the Style Collective sisterhood, but I’m going to narrow it down to the best and most valuable resource of all. ACTUAL support of women. #CommunityOverCompetition #WomenSupportingWomen

Wait…I know you’re thinking I’m insane. And I get it. If you know me IRL, you know I am NOT the easiest person to get along with. I’m a DIVA. But I know it, admit it and these women accept it and still support it. (Honestly, maybe we should get them all checked out because putting up with me is not easy.) Trust me when I tell you, there are a lot of groups online similar to this one but they are just not comparable. (And really, that is totally on us ladies, we need to do better…And I am apart of other blogger groups AND do love them but Style Collective was my first love) I’ve never had a single crazy chick story encounter with any #SCSister and no matter who I’ve reached out to online or in real life, they are always supportive, helpful, and authentic.

Annie, Jessie, Annah and all the Sisters are the most encouraging, dedicated, intelligent, fierce and supportive women you’ll ever meet. Seriously, I’m not just saying that because I have #girlcrushes on all of them. LOL I genuinely LOVE them.

All the Babes

I’ve now found some of my BFF’s online and IRL thanks to Style Collective. I’ve mentioned a few of them in previous articles (linked in the picture above) but I’ve made new ones this year and want to shout them out.

Jenny Lynne @HerBestAlways
Jenny is local to the North Florida area (like me) and offers the best DM advice and wisdom money can’t buy. She also helps me feel less like the “Mom” (and I mean regular Mom, not a cool Mom) in the group of bloggers we sometimes roll with. That’s not a knock on the other women (or Moms, y’all…again…Mean Girls for life haha), it stems from the fact the actual DOB’s listed on our ID’s is slightly closer in age range and sometimes you just need someone your age to understand your plot in life. She too has used a rotary dial phone and I’ve never asked but I bet she listened to NKOTB in elementary school. ;-) And if those odd compliments aren’t enough she is SUPER BADASS. Attorney by day. Blogger by night. Stellar style and great hair.

Tamara Mainardi - @TamaraMainardi
My favorite Canadian chick and future TRAVEL PIC. We were “assigned” partners for a task at the Style Collective conference and have been two distracted peas in a pod ever since. She’s hilarious, stylish, honest, and crazy. And I love her for it. And the rest of the world should look out come February 2019 because Tamara and I are going on fashion adventures around the world and there is nothing you can do or say to stop us.

Megan Ruffles - @TheChicishChick
She’s hilarious. She’s stylish. She’s blonde. It’s almost like we were separated at birth. I dig her blog because her writing makes me feel like I’m sitting right to her as she tells me stories about what to do, what not to do and how to get the most out of any item in your closet.

Kayra Merrills - @KayraMerrills
She’s the smartest, sassiest, sweetest blogger around. We had PLENTY of adventures during our short weekend in Raleigh for #SCCon18 and I always look to her feed for fashion inspiration, laughs, and for posing lessons. (Check her out…she’s always gorgeous and so upbeat.)

Nickie Taylor - @NickieTaylorPS
So true story…Nickie and I have never met in person but I love her. (One day we shall meet…) She is a personal stylist in Florida and is my jokester soul mate. She keeps me laughing with her meme’s and captions and when I can’t think of a way to style something I cruise her blog for ideas. She has the most versatile sense of style and thinks so far outside the box of what typical fashionistas do and it’s BONKERS how cool her style is.

All The Babes - @ChicksandSalsa
I’ve never met a group of women/sisters who were more welcoming in my entire life. I love the variety of styles, personalities and information they share every day on their blog and Instagram and if you need a little inspiration for ANYTHING in life (makeup, fashion, home decor, kid/mom life, things to do, etc.) they are your one stop shop in a blog.

I could go on and on but you get the point. There are lots of babes in the Style Collective sisterhood and you’ll find your circle of crazies just like I did.

Why It’s Worth It

Anything that Style Collective puts their branding on will be done better than anything you could ever dream of. I’ve found more than my money’s worth in the resources they’ve provided with membership. Style Collective, for me, is like my blog HYPE MAN. (Or that dancing guy from The Mighty Mighty Bosstones…you know the one.) They are there with the support, encouragement, and life lessons you need most, when you need it.

And I’m not just saying this to say it…I finally took the inspiration and lessons learned at #SCCon18, pulled some resources from the site to create a media kit, talked with SC sisters, and listened to a little coaching from a speaker at the conference and GUESS WHAT? I landed not 1, not 2, but 4 contracts. FOUR. And 2 are bigger than any blogger on my level should probably have won, but both of the companies agreed to work with me because of the professionalism displayed in my pitches, actions, and communication. Now, I could say I learned this in my 9 to 5, but my 9 to 5 pitches are different because they aren’t for me. I was fighting a weird battle with my personal brand and instead of just giving up I took the advice and resources offered from Style Collective and made it happen.

And you should too!

Shop My Style Collective Conference Outfits with Like to Know.It

How To Join

Joining Style Collective is easy! I’ve included several links in the post for you to click on an join our incredible crew.

Click Here to Join the Style Collective Sisterhood Now!

What are you waiting for?

Join Style Collective today!

*The Majority of the photos in this post are courtesy of the wonderful Sara Coffin of Sara Coffin photography in Raleigh, NC. To book her services or learn more about here, click here.

XOXO,

Steph