Two New WordPress.com Bloggers on ‘Diving into the Giant Pool of the Blogosphere’
Two new bloggers explain how they launched their blog, Attempting Vogue, on WordPress.com a few weeks ago.
Every day, people from across the globe start their own websites on WordPress.com to share everything from their latest thoughts on current events to family recipes passed down through several generations. Among this group are Grace and Georgie, who started their blog Attempting Vogue a few weeks ago to share their thoughts on a variety of topics, including fashion, beauty, and social politics. We wanted to know more about how Attempting Vogue got started on WordPress.com and what Grace and Georgie hope their blog will become. They were kind enough to provide us with some answers.
Can you start by introducing yourselves?
Grace: We’re both students in our second year of university. Georgie is studying theatre and performance at Warwick University, and I’m studying sociology at Newcastle University. We met in secondary school, and have stayed friends ever since. We don’t see each other as much as before, but we still keep in contact and catch up when we can. We both have a keen interest in fashion and beauty, as well as social issues such as gender, inequality, and racism.
How did you two come up with the idea for your blog, and when did you decide it was something you wanted to create?
Georgie: I’d been sitting on the idea for quite a while. I knew that I wanted to create some kind of blog, but I struggled to pin down a certain genre or “target readership.” Originally, I had planned on running a blog by myself, but Grace offered to help me out with the proofreading process so I suggested that we co-edit. This was when I became completely certain that this was something I really wanted to do — two heads are better than one after all! Together, we decided to keep the genre relatively broad and write about things that we find useful or interesting. With this approach, I believe we are likely to be continuously engaged with the blogging process, and this is a main priority for us.
The bloggers, Grace, on the left, and Georgie.
Grace: Well, we had a look around and tried a few different blogging websites. However, none of the websites we tested gave us the professional finish we wanted; a lot of the blog layouts were too simplistic, or slightly tacky. However, when we had a look at WordPress.com, all of the themes and layouts that were available looked really professional and easy to use. As this was our first time blogging, we wanted to make sure whatever site we picked was simple to use, but delivered the best quality finish. Compared to other websites, WordPress.com definitely delivered this.
WordPress.com has lots of themes to choose from. How did you to decide on the theme you’re using now, the Cubic theme?
Georgie: Attempting Vogue is largely focused on fashion and beauty, so aesthetics is important to us. The Cubic theme caught our eye as a sleek and professional layout that can be easily personalized with our own choice of featured images. It is also incredibly simple for visitors to navigate, another great bonus to this choice of theme.
Usually a blog is written by a single person, but the two of you are running Attempting Vogue together. Have you decided on how you want to run your site? Will you be trading off on posts, or writing them all together?
Grace: We’ve known each other for quite a while and share similar tastes and views, so we thought writing together would be fun. We co-wrote our initial introduction post, but agreed to individually write at least one post a week to deliver consistent and equal posts. Although we individually write posts, we are constantly helping each other create new ideas. We also proofread and add suggestions for improvements on each other’s work. I think this is probably the best way to approach our blog, as it ensures it is kept to the highest quality, and that every post — no matter who it is written by — has shared input from both of us, whilst maintaining our individuality.
In your intro post, you wrote that the two of you are “diving into the giant pool of the blogosphere.” How are you going out to let people know that your blog exists and to share your tips and opinions?
Georgie: Our current strategy is primarily through the use of our existing social media accounts such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. So far we’ve had a tremendous amount of support from our family and friends — they’ve really helped out with sharing our posts! We are planning on creating social media accounts specifically for Attempting Vogue so we can focus the content on the blog, become more involved with blogging communities, and hopefully develop our online presence.
Have you set some goals for your blog? What is your hope for it?
Grace: We haven’t set any goals in particular. Our initial concern is just to get in the habit of writing and creating new content. We aren’t expecting lots of people to read our blog; we just want to write about things we find interesting. Our main hope is just to keep consistent and in a few months’ time to still be enjoying writing posts.
Has WordPress.com allowed you to do everything you wanted to do with your blog so far? If WordPress.com could help you with one thing, what would you like that to be?
Georgie: WordPress.com has been great. We chose it carefully for its rookie-proof functionality and impressive aesthetics. My favorite aspect of the site builder is the breadth of viewer statistics that are available to us. I love knowing what countries Attempting Vogue is being viewed in and which social media websites are leading audiences to our posts. Although Grace and I are working through the form of WordPress.com with trial and error, it would have perhaps been useful to have been provided with an initial tutorial. That being said, so far we have had a fantastic experience with WordPress.com!
Editor’s Note: If you want to learn more about getting started on WordPress.com, check out our “Blogging: Fundamentals” course from Blogging University.
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It’s your turn! We’d like to hear from you: How did you get started on WordPress.com?
- May 11, 2016
- Features
WordPress.com News 
This is a wonderful introduction Grace and Georgie. I am new to WordPress.com and haven’t got my site set up because I have never created a website before I am just writing on my free site and wish someone would help me set up my website. I upgraded to the premium option. Obviously without finding out how to set it up. Great Intro. again thanks for the idea of how it could be done.
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We’ve got some great tips here: https://wordpress.com/support/start/
Each theme has setup tips as well. Let us know if you need help! https://wordpress.com/help/
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Thanks I’ll get right on it
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Good luck girls. Great Q&A
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WordPress is simply awesome. It’s really easy to set up, so you can start up irrespective of your coding background. With lots of features & elegant themes to choose from, it leads the blogging front. I’ve tried other alternatives as well but as said in the post, none of them suited it better.
I stepped into the blogosphere with a simple letter I wrote for my teacher as tribute that went sensational over social media. The unthought-of journey that started rather dramatically is still on and WordPress has been the best companion so far.
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I got started on WordPress about a month ago, when I decided to introduce myself and my point of view to the world prior to the release of my first novel, which will be coming out in a year or so. I chose WordPress because the book I read on blogging recommended it, and I’m glad I did because it has been so easy to use, and it gives such great opportunities for its users to connect with other users.
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I had always thought of starting a food blog. I was a bit scared to start a content blog because of the increasing plagiarism and hacks. One of my friends recommended WordPress and so here I am. And my blog is now 4 months old 🙂
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I am also doing a food blog and would love if you could maybe visit it and give some tips on how I can make it better. Thank you!
https://lospostresdeshreya.wordpress.com
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I first chose wordpress because it was free. Now after using wordpress I appreciate its many features. It is simple for a beginner but yet your blog looks professional. Also, I like the community feel of wordpress – a lot of bloggers helping each other and critiquing.
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I started blogging on WordPress last September 2015. I’ve been a blogger for about a year before arriving on WordPress actually. Back then, I posted my Korean Beauty reviews on a Korean blogging portal named “Tistory”. As I got into university, I got introduced to foreigners, and by then, I knew I had to get my English brushed up. I decided to help and improve myself in the means of blogging in English. Since Tistory would only give me Korean viewers and interactions, I resorted to searching for a global platform that could get me to interact with a more diverse community. WordPress came up first, and that’s how my WordPress story began 🙂
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I got started on WordPress very recently. For years my friends and family has pressed me to start a blog. A Blog I would say! I don’t know anything about blogging. The concept is beyond my knowledge. I had no idea how or where to start a blog. But with a shove from my best friend I jumped into the pool. I’m learning and hoping that it goes well and grows. I agree that WordPress is an excellent way to go. So helpful and easy. At least I am having fun. If I can help one person control their clutter it makes me happy.
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I really loved your response and completely identify with your experience. My kids talked me into it and I have just gotten started. It is fun! And I could sure use someone to help me control my clutter…so please keep on writing!
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Thank you. I look forward to watching your writing also. Have a great day.
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Best of luck with your blog from a fellow newbie to the world of wordpress. Its good to know there are others out there stumbling around in the dark too but the great thing about the wordpress community (and the Reader) is that you are only a click away from helpful advice, other peoples’s great blogs and new readers!
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I am one such person although mine is a spirituality blog and kinda about the pilgrim we all make in life as we draw out the content of our own lives 🙂
Did another blog on wordpress too and loved it, the venue is great for community and getting ideas out there! 🙂
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Loved this. It’s no easy feat to start a new blog so I commend all newbies. I have two. One on WordPress.com and now one that I’ve moved to WordPress.org … And you guys have made the process much simpler.
Best of luck to everyone starting out afresh! There’s definitely room for us all and most importantly for great content.
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And your positivity is much appreciated! As a newbie it is nice to feel that nudge of support from a fellow blogger.
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No problem at all! Good Luck…
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I started my website and blog in October 2015 using a purchased, magazine-type guide, WEB DESIGN FOR BEGINNERS, to figure out the basics. I chose the .com version, because I don’t have html/css skills, and I chose Premium, because I wanted focused assistance and flexibility in choosing and adapting my site. I recommend all of these steps for newbies; it’s worked out great! And Happiness Engineers deserve their titles–quick, pleasant, useful assistance, every single time.
After two months, I joined Blogging 101, which was great. The best lesson was learning how to embed and resize my own videos. I have just completed my 50th post and have figured out a lot about what works for me and what doesn’t. Next up: “Branding and Growth.” Speaking of which, I invite you to visit The Emilie Loring Collection, http://pattibender.com.
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That’s a great introduction for this new blog! Especially since these days reaching a valuable content is pretty hard.
My inspiration for my blog was mainly myself and my friends & peers. Since I just moved to Los Angeles, my friends from Turkey would ask me about where to go and what to do in LA. So I wanted to create portal for them and also for my family who are visiting. In time we started contributing to it with my friends in USA as well.
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Initially, I started off with Blogspot, despite creating a WordPress account just prior. To someone who can be a tad impatient to understand the ins and outs of what she’s dealing with before going ahead, I was really overwhelmed by the number of options WordPress had – so I went with Blogspot. It was much more simpler. However, I made the inevitable switch to WP only a couple months into blogging and Ive not looked back since. I needed a specific kind of theme for my blog and WP has SO many free choices. I absolutely love the WordPress COMMUNITY – it’s brilliant. There are fellow bloggers you can learn and share with, and the WP Team itself is awesome – from all the help and interaction that they do is great. Anyone can get started off easily.
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Great to hear that you two are teaming together to create something you love and want to share!
We’re doing that as well and have found it to be an exciting process. WordPress has helped us learn about the world of blogging and slowly but surely add to the blog we’re dreaming of.
Thanks for sharing your story with the rest of us!
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My website started in January 2015 and started posting in Febuary. It was inspired by radio programmers and imaging directers for advice on radio imaging, and radio imaging news and updates, since only one site jinglenews.com offers only jingle news. So I thought heck, I’ll do and all in one site for tips, advice, opinions, and jingle/imaging news and updates!
I haven’t recieved allot of comments, but my blog has taken off. Now I’m a competiter to that jingle news site and I’m winning.
Next step. Blogging corces.
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I’d been a writer for years, and teacher of creative writing, but it wasn’t until my 21-year-old nephew INSISTED that I should have a blog that I delved into the idea of sharing my storied ‘flashes of life.’ That was five years ago. He flew out from D.C. to my home in the S.F. Bay to help me set it up, and he chose Word Press because he’d heard good things about its ease of use, and ease of others finding my posts. I started with 2 followers – me and my nephew. Within a few months I had a few hundred followers, which blew him away. My experience with Word Press has only been positive, with helpful support and themes that just get better and better.
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Great introduction!
I decided to start a blog because I’m an inspiring novelist and I thought it would be a good way to start building my online presence before I get published. I love how simple and easy it is.
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I have written all of my life, but just for myself. When I felt led to expand on this venture, a blog seemed the route to take. I am not tech savy and was intimidated altogether. I chose wordpress based on a lot of research. I have found it user friendly-enough that I set up my blog on my own. I and everyone that knows me well, was surprised. I remain pleased with my choice and plan to upgrade soon. I have enjoyed support from the wordpress blogging community too.
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I’m kinda glad I started off blogging about….6 yrs. ago. I don’t blog as often as other bloggers but aim more for posts that I want to present with some style and polish in writing style and photo.
I can’t even imagine being a new blogger in 2016 and faced with over 300 choices of themes. Even narrowing the theme options selection by certain criteria, can be a chore because it isn’t just visual theme features but also certain theme functions render differently (ie. my theme, Dyad, puts all widgets on footer on main page) and lst understanding how those features translate for certain themes. ie the use of portfolio feature for some themes but not others.
As an example, every time a new theme is released, I do preview it because I want to update my understanding of wordpress.com developments and via certain new theme that’s 1 mechanism of learning.
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I moved here in 2010 from the Windows Live Spaces (Sphere) blogs from Microsoft, when they are closed.
At first there was a lot is not clear what and how, and then I realized that is the very best place for my blog 🙂
I write simply about the fact that in life)
Notes, etc.)
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love this! good luck with your blog girls (:
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Great post, Grace and Georgie! I got started on WordPress.com when I was finishing up my English degree towards the end of last year; I have a lot to say and wanted a place to say it 😂 I wanted to build my online presence and get used to writing regularly.
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A lot of newbies here and I like it! I also recently started blogging and really don’t know a whole lot about it. Everyone kept telling me to do something that people will read and something I’m knowledgeable with. I stuck to my guns and did something a little different; NASCAR.
This is a topic that I feel is so rare to find many followers of the sport, but I challenge you all to at least visit my site to at least check it out. You too will be surprised at how interesting the sport is and how much discussion goes into it. Thank you all for your time and the help!
https://luckydogweb.wordpress.com/
-TH
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The past 12 months for me have been absolute hell! I find a lot of inspiration in other people/blogs and books. I wanted to share my story so I could give something in return of what I have learnt in the past 12 months. People maybe not be able to relate to all of me, but some of me. Hopefully. I guess its also a way of getting your story out there and just being able to write it all on paper without any questions or concerns from anyone else. Just write, and see where it takes you. xx
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Nice input ladies, this is something that I can learn from the both of you. Such a good idea on co-write contents. I will definitely try, and collaborate with my friends who are interested in blogging too. Yeay!!
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Best luck for you two!
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I am also new to blogging, I actually just started my blog today. I’m slowly figuring things out on it. I hope that you continue to have good success with your blog.
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I am a beginner. I wanted a playform for express my thoughts and fews. I had heard a lot about wordpress but never really gave it a serious thought till a few days back when my friend suggested that I should start a blog. Glad I started a blog because it is helpful and a right place to be at.
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Good luck girls on your blog!
I started because I’ve always loved writing, and so I thought, why not? Give it a go and see where it lands me. It is SOOOOO DAUNTING at the moment and I hope I start feeling a bit more relaxed about it.
I hope everyone can pop in to my blog, you’ll get a few laughs out of it.
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Such an interesting read! Loved it. I’m also new to wordpress, infact only 2 days old and so far the experience has been great.
Come and check my blog out really need the encouragement and criticism from everyone in order to do better!
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I have shifted to Word Press from Blogpost. I want to learn and share that with others to learn. Word Press helped me a lot.
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Great post! it is not tough to switch freemium to premium. google it.
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That’s a great post.
Ever since i was a kid. Initially i wrote only because it gave me joy. But when other people read and appreciated it, I realised that’s all I ever wanted to do. And with maturity came the need to write for other people to read. Messages so many good people have tried to convey, who knows my writing could turn a few heads. Well, a few to start with.
So everybody suggested I start a blog. I’m not much of a tech savy… more of a bookworm. It all seemed really difficult from the sound of it…. but when I looked up wordpress…. it was so simple to set up I was pretty much surprised. It’s great really and I look forward to see if my writing might create an impact.
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Thank you for posting this! I turned 50 not too long ago and got the idea to create my blog as an outlet to share and discuss my quest to master the art of aging gracefully and beautifully. I had NO idea had to create nor design a blog! And coding?….I was absolutely clueless. WordPress offers so MANY options and great tutorials on how to start and design a blog. And the blogging community is so supportive and helpful. It was really a no-brainer for me to go with WordPress. I launched my blog almost two weeks ago and I love it! My experience has been wonderful, so far, and I look forward to writing great content and building my blog. 🙂
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Good post…I like this post…I have been on Word press for the last two month …and I have gotten a very useful piece from what you guys have just written…I am happy I got this chance of getting to know more am ever ready to still learn
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Good luck!
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I look forward to reading some Attempting Vogue posts. I myself began with Google’s Blogger platform, but then I discovered WordPress – it’s awesome and every blogger should use it.
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Nice to meet you, Gracie and George. I am just getting started and it is nice to get acquainted with others experiences. Attempting Vogue is a great concept and I love the name…intriguing and catchy. Best of luck!
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I have started with WordPress as I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing 🙂 but everyday is a school day. Brilliant article girls. I’m writing for fun and to basically write what is in my head…nonesense or not, better out than in haha x
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I just started my blog here recently… My Main goal is to share my opinion and ideas (advice) with other women on common topics we normally keep to ourselves regarding our intimate relationships. I also plan to add short stories to make my blog even more entertaining.
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I started on WordPress a week ago. So my blog-baby is one week old today! I did my research and chose WordPress because of how user friendly it is and the fact that there is a plug in for EVERYTHING! Whoop! I have been travelling for years and collecting pictures in my phone. I’d done very little with them. Then this year a friend of mine suggested that I start a travel blog. She just threw it out there casually while we were having dinner. It struck a chord and I started looking through all my pictures and realised what an amazing life I live! I set myself up on WordPress. Now I’m pretty sure I am already addicted to blogging! It feels amazing to have a voice. It’s even more amazing to have the support of so many other bloggers who are doing exactly what I do. Thanks WordPress! No going back for me!
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Definitely some good advice in here. Right now I’m looking to just blog to keep me occupied and interested in things outside of work. Get my head elsewhere and into things I love, and share those things with others. Much like them, I’m definitely glad I chose WordPress, too!
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I have started my online newspaper on January 2016 with lots of practice with previous years. I’d like more support from you all by subscribing and reading my news. Thanks to WordPress I am just getting better and better.
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I started my blog in August 2013 but then went offline for sometime. Am back now this time i do not intend to go offline!
Travelling is my passion reason to why am a travel consultant and i blog about my travel experiences and great places to visit in Africa!
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Hi everyone! I recently started my blog because I wanted to try something new. I may not be good at it but I am trying 🙂 So if anyone wants to visit my site. “You are welcome to visit my garden” -tagline and I ‘ll visit our site if you want me to guys 🙂 take care.
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This is really good introduction. I was using WordPress before, but changed on Blogger recently as it seems easier to work with. But after reading your post, I’m thinking about coming back here.
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Nice getting to know them.
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