It is almost time for the 2018 Holiday Gift Guide and I will tell you that things are nuts around here. I have spent the last couple of weeks finding products to share with y’all. Then getting things scheduled, doing IGTV videos, taking pictures of the products, and more. I spent weeks putting together my plan for what I wanted to do this year. I wanted something a little different but to also provide you with as much information as possible.
IGTV Videos
If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen my videos. If not be sure to head over there and check out my IGTV videos. There is a sneak peek at every single item that I have received for the gift guide so far. There are other sneak peeks as well.
As you can see from the pictures above we have been knee deep in deliveries. Getting this “checked in”, a IGTV video done, and it added to the calendar has been all we have been doing lately. We (when I say we I mean me alone) worked out a process for this year that will make things go a little more smoothly. I am already working on some articles but the biggest thing is getting picture day scheduled for each item. I am doing that over the weekend and then will have a full day of photo editing scheduled. I know that all may be confusing but let tell you that I spend about an hour photographing each item. I take hundreds of pictures from various angels. You will be seeing some of those pictures in upcoming Behind the Scenes posts. In the end only 2-4 pictures make the final blog post. I know you are thinking that is a lot of extra work. It is and it isn’t. I won’t know which images make the final cut until I look at them on the computer. Then I spend several hours editing and copyrighting the ones I use. Add in that I have to create feature images and social media ones it can be time consuming. Some brands like my images enough to purchase the copyrights for additional images that they can use in their media. That is something new for me and something I am excited about.
Once I finally get all of that done I have to do the article itself. I have been taking notes on items as we use them. I also begin each article as soon as I get the product. I use another program for that. I title the article and then add in the important details, like the brand information, links, etc. That helps me put together my article a little quicker. I draft each article as I go and then edit them as well.
A HUGE THANK YOU
We really must thank the following sponsors who have sent us items so far. Remember that list will grow as we get closer to November 1st.
- MPowered Lighting
- LazyOne Pjs
- AuCuTee
- Elf Box
- Merry Makers
- A. Lynn
- Ideal Fit
- Grund America
- Capturing Couture
- Obersee
- Creative Barista Cafe
- Hammacher & Schlemmer
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I’m excited to see the gift guide! I’ve always thought about blogging, but I’m so glad you give us a real glimpse of all of the time and work it takes. I think I’ll pass- for now. 🙂
You should give it a try. Yes, it is hard work but at the end of the day I am so proud of myself. I created something that I never imagined I would be able to do.