Kayleigh is a 23 year old Marketing assistant and student from Belfast who runs her blog under the handle ‘Mind Talk Blog’ a blog which aims to promote positivity and wellness.
Why did you decide to become a blogger/influencer?
I have wanted to start a blog for as long as I can remember but I always felt as though I wasn’t popular enough or I didn’t have a large enough following. I first began creating blog posts for the Ulster PR Student Blog (University Blog). This was a great way of building my confidence. I then found myself in a job as a Marketing Assistant, creating social content and blog posts for my employer. After 12 months of blogging experience I knew that I was ready to form my own platform and have my own voice. I created my blog and Instagram page over lockdown to create a positive space for those who were struggling mentally with the concept of isolation. I, myself struggled at the beginning and used my journal as a coping mechanism. I decided to share my journaling tips & techniques with my followers in the hope that it could help even one person. I soon found that my creative journaling pages were aesthetically pleasing on my instagram feed. As my blog developed (since March 2020) I have expanded into blogging about: Lifestyle, Fashion, Mindset & PR/Marketing.
Tell us something your followers might not already know about you?
I have had a lot of followers write to me telling me that they love my page and how I am always so positive. When I put a question & answer box up on my Instagram stories I always get the same question ‘How do you stay so positive’. The truth is I am not naturally a positive person. I struggle with negative thoughts and that criticising voice inside my head. Changing my mindset and my thought process is something that I have worked really hard on and something that I consciously work on every single day.
What would you consider your biggest achievement as a blogger/influencer?
My platform allowed me to raise money for a mental health charity: Pieta House. When I began my blog over lockdown its purpose was to be a positive space for others. I wanted to share my journaling tips & techniques as a coping mechanism for others. I received lots of private messages from individuals thanking me for sharing my content and explaining how it helped them improve their mindset. In my opinion my blog achieved its initial goal of helping others through lockdown.
What would you consider the biggest lesson you’ve learnt in the industry?
To be successful you have to be consistent in posting/creating content. I think that I expected it to blow up over night. It takes time to build a following, you have to be patient and keep posting content that you love (the followers will come). I soon realised that when it comes to followers you should concentrate more on quality over quantity. Starting an instagram account from scratch with a following of zero was terrifying but at least I now know that the people who follow me want to follow me.
What has been your biggest challenge to date?
As my blog is fairly new, my biggest challenge has been all of the firsts. Plucking up the courage to start a blog and put myself out there, talking directly to my followers on Instagram stories and especially talking about a taboo subject such as mindfulness & mental health. As stated above when I started my Instagram page it was separate to my private account. I found it very challenging building a new following, again underestimating how challenging it would be. It also took me a while to find my voice and realise that the more consistent my content, the more my following grew.
Do you feel that bloggers are unfairly judged at times, if so why?
I think that anyone who puts themselves out there on social media or in the form of a blog will at some point face some degree of judgement. People assume that you have to have a certain number of followers, be popular or have an outstanding amount of confidence to be in this industry. But this is not the case. I think that if you have something to say, say it, anyone can do it. People in this industry are treated unfairly because not everyone will think that you deserve a voice. I have in many cases heard the phrase ‘who do they think they are’ in relation to influencers and bloggers. It’s our job to tell them who we are. Show them who we are.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to start a blog/instagram page?
DO IT! I wanted to start a blog/ Instagram account for months, but I couldn’t pluck up the courage to do it. I was terrified that I would be judged and criticised, but to my surprise I experienced the complete opposite. Everyone was very supportive. It was nowhere near as scary as I thought it would be. I now LOVE blogging on my wordpress website & posting on my instagram blog page. My only regret is that I didn’t start sooner. I think that in today’s society everyone is a lot more open minded about people who are vocal online. My advice: bite the bullet and just go for it. Whether its writing a social post or speaking to followers on your instagram story, everything is only scary the first time you do it (it’s like ripping off a plaster).
What local blogger do you look up to and why?
The local blogger that I look up to is Annette Kelly of Little Penny Thoughts. I look up to Annette because she has such a positive online presence and has a great amount of influence over her followers. Annette is a down to earth Tyrone woman an that reflects on her Instagram. i love how her page is a place that I can go to when they are feeling down for a positive quote to lift my spirits. Annette was a huge influence in the setting up of my blog.
What international blogger do you look up to and why?
One of my favourite International bloggers is GemKen. Although she is technically local (being a Tyrone woman) she is currently based in Sydney, Australlia. I look up to Gemma because I relate to her in a lot of ways. I dream of someday moving to Australia and living the blogger life. She always keeps things real and works with only a handful of brands that she truly believes in. I think the biggest reason that I look up to Gemma online is because she is not afraid to show her emotions and feelings with her followers.
You can follow Kayleigh on Instagram at @mindtalkblog1 or check out her blog at https://mindtalkblog1.wordpress.com/
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