AD - This is a sponsored post.

This month marks 5 years of Wool of the King, so I thought I’d share my experiences over the years and the sort of things I have got from blogging and growing my social media channels, including gifted products and payment. I am hoping this post will encourage young people, bloggers or not, to pursue their goals.

Image by Spemone on Pexels.

Early years

When I first started my blog in 2016, I was at college and I only really wrote blog posts occasionally. It was just a space for me to chat about things I wanted to chat about as a hobby. When I started university, I still only occasionally posted updates and one day, one of my posts got over 1000 reads. I was so happy and this really motivated me to write more, but with assignments, a part-time job and a uni social life, I found it really hard to keep up with my blog so I stopped writing for a while.

It wasn’t until 2020 at the start of the pandemic that I started to write weekly blog posts and really start focusing on my growth. At first, it was just out of boredom, I had so much more free time so I decided to use that time to grow my blog and social media.

Growing my online presence

Once I started blogging more regularly, I wanted to make sure these posts were being seen and gaining an audience, so I focused on growing my social media channels including Twitter and Instagram. As a result of this, my blog views were growing each month and I began to partake in gifted influencer campaigns on my blog and over on Instagram. I was so excited by this because I never expected to be doing anything like that!

If you want to find out more about influencer marketing, check out the Mindy Parisi Influencer Spotlight.

In this instance, engagement is key! The more you engage with others, the more they will engage with you, it’s so important in growing your blog and socials.

Onwards and upwards

This year is the first year I have started making money through blogging and I never thought I would be able to say that. It may not be a lot to some, and it’s not enough to make a living from at the moment but having any extra money through blogging is crazy to me as it started out as just a hobby when I was 17.

So far, I have made money through sponsored posts on my blog, influencer ads, advertising slots on my blog and affiliate sales. Last month I made a total of £184 which has been my highest paid month yet. I would love to be able to write E-books one day and sell those.

I have spoken a lot about blogging in this post, but a lot of my influencer campaigns are on Instagram. These days, lots of brands look to collaborate with content creators on there. I used to think you had to have over 10k followers to collaborate with brands but this is not the case anymore as smaller accounts often have higher engagement.

Read more about the rise in influencer marketing. 

I have really loved my blogging journey, but it hasn’t always been easy. There have often been times where I’ve wanted to give up, or thought no one was going to take me seriously and it’s fine for that to happen. The trick is to just not give up when you feel like that, and keep pushing through with whatever it is you may be wanting to do. I have been blogging for 5 years now, but it has only been in the last year that I have started seeing signs of success.

When was a time that you wanted to give up on something but kept going?

This product was gifted to me as a PR product but all views are my own and I will be honest in my review. This post also contains affiliate links, meaning if you purchase a product through the links I will gain a small commission at no extra cost to you.

So if you're in the blogging community, you will probably already know that Eleanor from Not So Modern Girl, recently released an E-Book called The Art of Blog Writing, and I am so excited to have a copy to review!

Even the most seasoned bloggers need advice on blog writing from time to time and it's always great to hear advice from different sources, so we can keep on top of our game. 

Image by Jess Bailey Designs on Pexels.

AD - This blog post features my monthly advertisers. If you would like to advertise with me or find out more then please contact me.

This is now my 4th month of featuring advertisers on my blog and I have been really loving it. I love reading posts like these too and discovering new bloggers so I hope you have been enjoying discovering these wonderful bloggers too! This month, I have 5 amazing bloggers to share with you, I also offer ad slots to small shops too so if you are a small shop or business owner wanting to increase sales or views to your website then let me know!

The first blogger I have to share with you is one of my favourites, it's Enviroline Blog. Caroline is not only a lovely person, but she also shares amazing content about the environment and eating disorder recovery. I always learn so much when I read her blogs and love keeping up with her content on social media too.

Check out these posts from Enviroline Blog

• Let's talk about stress
• 5 things I wish my friends knew about ED recovery

Start by checking out these posts

Next up on the bloggers you need to check out this month is Brit Voyage. Georgia from Brit Voyage is a travel and lifestyle blogger that writes amazing blog posts all about her adventures around the UK. I am always looking for new places to explore in the UK which is why I love Georgia's content.

I have been so excited about posting this! I love travelling to different places in the UK but I haven't been to enough cities yet so I asked some bloggers on Twitter to collaborate with me and send me their favourite cities and why. I've included some of my own favourites too. Sorry if your city is missed off, these are just the favourites of some bloggers and myself.

As coronavirus restrictions continue to be lifted in the UK, we may as well make the most out of being able to visit the different parts of the country, as well as being safe of course. Be sure to keep up to date with government guidelines before planning anything.

I have listed the cities and the blogger who wrote about it next to them so be sure to check them out after this post! The ones with no name next to them are my favourites.

Cities you need to visit in the UK

1. London

I love visiting London, there is just always so much to do and I have a great time any time I go there. I feel like everyone in the UK should visit if they can because it's just such a cool place to be and really has everything. 

2. Lincoln - Sophia Patel

With 1000 years of history, Lincoln is a city with so much to explore. Situated in the East Midlands (140 miles north of London), Lincoln is a hidden gem in the centre of England. Did you know that Lincoln Cathedral was considered the world’s highest building for nearly 240 years, following the Pyramids of Giza? It also holds a copy of the Magna Carta – created to ensure the rights of the people 800 years ago. If you fancy escaping the busy life of major cities and want to explore the cobbled streets of old England, then Lincoln is the one for you.

3. Bristol - Polly's Pad

Not only has Bristol ranked in the top 5 in the 'Rough guide' of the best cities in the world, it has also been voted the 'coolest' and 'kindest'. If that doesn't tempt you to visit, it is the birthplace of Banksy and his street art, as well as Brunel's Suspension Bridge and the SS Great Britain. Bristol is a famous foodie haven, as well as home to some great music venues. There are also a ton of cultural venues including museums, art galleries, and heritage sites.

4. Bath

5. Bournemouth

6. Liverpool - Until Another Day 

In my opinion, Liverpool is one of the greatest city's in the world. I may be biased because I grew up here, however working in a city centre University has proved just how wonderful the city of Liverpool really is. Every Liverpool newcomer comments on how friendly and approachable the people are. People are so supportive and willing to help wherever they can. 

7. York - Skinned Cartree

York is a beautiful walled city in North Yorkshire with Roman roots and a Viking past. It has lot’s of history which you can see by walking down its cobbled streets. York is a popular place to visit by both tourists within the UK and internationally. There’s the beautiful York Minster that stands tall and proud. It’s one of the most magnificent cathedrals in the world and one of the largest in Europe. 

8. Brighton - Samanthia Blogs

I’m absolutely in love with the city and have been there 3 times already, I mostly visited because of vlogger Zoe Sugg seeing such a beautiful place I knew I had to visit. Brighton beach is my favourite place (it also has the i360 which is such an amazing experience!) and Brighton will forever hold a special place in my heart as it’s where I got engaged! Definitely worth going to the lanes if you plan a visit, so many cute and tucked away cafes, shops and more. 

9. Cambridge - Jess in your Ear

Cambridge is famous around the world, thanks to its university, but there are so many more reasons to visit. This pretty English city is packed full of cobbled streets, stunning architecture and the unique sport of “punting,” a way to travel along the river similar to the gondolas in Venice. Its location just an hour from London by train means that it’s easy for a daytrip from the capital but, if you can, stay for a few days to truly experience all this wonderful place has to offer. 

10. Oxford - Rays of Adventure

Oxford is one of my favourite cities in the UK. The iconic circular building, the Radcliffe Camera, looks stunning on a sunny day. I love exploring all the university buildings in the city - it really feels like you're in a Harry Potter film set! Oxford has some great restaurants and museums as well, and walking along the river is lovely. Everyone should visit Oxford!

11. Leeds - Aimsy's Antics

Leeds is such a fab city and one of my favourites because it is my hometown. A true gem of the North of England, with great links to other nearby towns and cities. If you come to Leeds, the shops are where it is at, with a few different shopping centres (although Covid may have changed what shops are around now), ranging from modern to vintage Victorian arcades and The Corn Exchange that are a sight to behold! 

12. Edinburgh - The Learner Mum

I just love Edinburgh. The fresh air stinging your face, the faint sound of bagpipes, the beautiful scenery, the friendly people, the talent on display - it all comes together create a wonderful atmosphere. The fact that a return journey anywhere in Edinburgh is somehow entirely uphill goes against the laws of physics, but tired legs are part of the Edinburgh experience. My favourite UK city by far.

13. Belfast - Grace Bee

Belfast, the capital city of Northern Ireland, and an absolute must see for anyone looking to explore every corner or the UK. The city is full of history, unfortunately not all of it pleasant, but modern day Belfast is a safe and welcoming place for tourists. From the Titanic Museum, to Crumlin Road Gaol, and even day trips to the magical Giants Causeway, Belfast has tons of things for visitors to see.

14. Norwich - Anny's Adventures

Norwich is a relatively small city but that's what makes it so special. With a castle on a hill, cobbled streets, daily markets, a cathedral, and beautiful historic buildings, all while also being located in the countryside. The main area of the city is walkable and has a shopping street, a nightlife street, and the Norfolk Broads National Park running through it. But what makes the city so special is the small boutique independent cafes, hole in the wall bars, all while being close enough to the North Norfolk Coast for day trips to the beach.

15. Swansea - Cruise with Amber

If you take the effort to travel a little further west from Cardiff on the M4 motorway you will find the city of Swansea nestled in between the imposing Brecon Beacons and the many beautiful blue flag beaches of the Gower Peninsula. 

16. Derby - Lovely Local Indie

Derby is a much underrated city. It’s easily accessible both by car and public transport. This makes it a perfect destination for meeting up with friends and family as restrictions ease and things start opening up. The Cathedral Quarter is full of beautiful architecture and independent shops.

17. Winchester - The Globe Trotter

Steeped in history, Winchester, England’s ancient capital and the former seat of King Alfred the Great is a fantastic city to visit. It is a pedestrian-friendly city and with its architectural marvels, Winchester knows how to charm its visitors. Some of the city's popular attractions are Winchester Cathedral, Winchester College (the oldest continuously running school in the UK), the City Museum, The Great Hall (home to the legendary Arthurian Round Table), St Mary’s Abbey, St John’s Hospital and the ruins of Wolvesey Castle. 

18. Salisbury