Every Monday we bring you a feature of a talented blogger who inspires us. This week we’re excited to share with you Tilden of To Be Bright! Starting out as a way to stand out when applying for internships, To Be Bright has become a fully-focused personal style blog that we can’t get enough of. Her passion and genuine love for what she does shines through when she talks about her blog, which is why we are such huge fans and can’t wait to follow Tilden in whatever she does next. Read more about Tilden and To Be Bright here.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background?
I’m 23 years young, raised in New Jersey and currently living in New York City. I like shabby chic interior designs, yet I’m personally the farthest thing from ‘prepster.’ Style is my way to express the casual, edgy nature of myself to the world, without having to explain it out loud. That takes too much time.
Before blogging became my second job, I rode and nationally competed in horseshows up and down the east coast since age five – I was recruited by The University of South Carolina to ride for the NCAA Division I Equestrian Team! However, I resigned my position after two years in order to pursue other passions and discover who I am outside of the riding world, which ultimately led to the creation of To Be Bright. I still ride, but just for fun :]
What 3 words would you use to describe yourself?
Optimist, Daring and Creative
What Profession other than yours would you love to attempt?
I’ve always wanted to be a zookeeper for the day – I love animals and how fun would it be to go interact with animals that aren’t seen in the average household!?
What is your favorite quote?
When it comes to luck, you make your own
What inspired your blog?
I started To Be Bright to originally serve as an online resume I could use to my advantage when applying for PR internships for the summer of 2013. Posting outfit pictures and related fashion content was only a hobby that I figured would show more of my personality to a potential employer. When I started receiving an overwhelming response of positive feedback per outfit post, I went with it and overtime had a focused personal style blog that came to be in the most organic way possible.
What is your favorite social media platform and why?
Instagram! It’s the most fun to use and offers so much variety in the simplest form – filter, caption & presto. Plus, the interactions you make on the platform feel as personal as possible, which makes me feel closer to my readers.
Where do you find inspiration for blog posts?
NYC street style and any kind of fashion/style magazine that show “shoppable” outfit variations. But overall, I definitely get most of my inspiration by simply observing what other people are wearing and finding a way to put my own twist on the look.
What do you think it is about your blog that keeps people coming back for more?
I want to say it’s the combination of picture and content quality – I don’t take myself seriously and my sense of humor is reflected through my writing. However if reading isn’t your thing, the photos I strive to post are what I think to be the best they can be in terms of quality, high definition pictures. I also offer a ton of giveaways and discounts for my readers that can only be accessed by reading/entering on my blog so I can see that as being a reason to come back hahah.
How does a brand get your attention for a feature?
I receive an email from a brand’s PR rep from the contact form on my blog that is connected directly to my blog’s email. I submit my outfits on network platforms, like Teen Vogue Fashion Click, which many brands check out daily to scope bloggers to work with, depending on what was published on Teen Vogue’s site that day. Not every look I submit is necessarily approved, so when it is the benefit of receiving more emails that day is substantial. I also tag designers in both my caption & photograph on Instagram so in case they come across it, they have the opportunity to find the picture again and reach out – this has happened more than once with pretty large brands so very exciting (and helpful) tip!
What do you love most about blogging?
I love the people I get to network and interact with – I love meeting people and in this blogging industry, every day is one that crosses my path with someone new. I also love the business behind it and determining what works in terms of socially connecting. It feels really good to research and apply techniques to my daily blogging & feed promotion and seeing a positive result of feedback from other bloggers.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
My goal is to be blogging full-time, making this passion into a business I can focus on every day. To me, it’s only been an adventure and so much fun. Despite the occasional long hours, I’ve never disliked or resented the work I’ve had to put into it and I hope it can profitably benefit me in the long run.
In your opinion, what separates a great blog from an unsuccessful blog?
CONSISTENCY. For a little over two years now, I have posted every day or every other day without skipping a beat (unless traveling.) The blogs that go on to be successful never lose their online presence, which also separates the serious bloggers from the bloggers who post as a hobby. If you want to make your blog your full-time job, then you have to be prepared to put the work in every single day in order to see the success.
