Many of us are following different social media platforms for various different reasons, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, Blog…etc. just to name a few of the more significant ones. For those who are just viewing, I’d like to think that you are enjoying different types of information and content that these platforms have to offer. However, for us who hustle everyday online, the struggle is real.
I have been off blogging for around 1 month, mainly because I was travelling for 3 weeks to U.S.A., I was busy creating 21 days of travel vlogs over on YouTube and a few (or should I say quite a few?) photos for Instagram, so honestly my hands are tied. And, you probably heard me saying a few times on live videos that I wasn’t inspired to blog. I guess the reason was simple, I created so much content over almost all the popular social media platforms everyday and to create more is a challenge. Another thought is that I don’t want to just post the same thing in different formats across all social media platforms. To me, that’s just lame. What’s the point of you following me on different platforms if I just give you the same shit a few times a day?
I was eager to create different content for different platforms and it bugged me that my mind went blank every time I thought about how to differentiate between all media. Honestly, it had been irritating me for the majority of 2018. Sometimes, some would say the best thing to do is to NOT change, but I wasn’t too happy about the way it was and I felt a change was necessary. You must know this feeling: you know you have to change, but you don’t know how. I am not going to lie, I was mega frustrated. I carried on the way I was until I could figure out what makes me happy and what would bring more value to you as a viewer; I forced myself to do the work that I did, but I knew deep down that I needed to come up with a plan QUICK!
When I was in the states, I was so focused on travel vlogging and taking decent pictures for Instagram (with the help from the one and only Mr Honey – thanks to him for these gorgeous pictures as well, he seems to make everything look just a wee bit fancier or shall I say moody!). I wasn’t stressed about what to post on Facebook and I wasn’t worried about “what should I write on my blog?” I was enjoying that concentration of “I am going to do these two things, let’s focus and do them well.”
I guess it’s like everything in life, when you are consumed in something, you don’t see anything wrong with it and even if you do, you tell yourself “I haven’t got time to think and formulate another plan.” So, that’s why sometimes a break is good, and I always say “a break is good for the soul” (not necessarily that I can do it every time though). A break helps me to pull myself away from the daily routine that I was breathing everyday and it helps me to gain a different perspective. I am not saying I have all the answers. In my life, it’s more like trial and error. If it doesn’t work, I’ll say “oops” and then I’ll try something else. It doesn’t hurt to try right?
After the break, one thing I am certain is that I love blogging. I felt like part of me was missing when I didn’t blog. Honestly, my blog doesn’t get as much views as my YouTube channel or my Instagram even, but I love it. It’s how I started this amazing journey and this August, my blog will be 9 years old. Yes, I know people tell me they don’t read that much and they prefer video formats. But I am not ready to let this go. The first day I started blogging, no one did read it anyway and I kept on going. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think I am a great writer, I still have spelling mistakes and I don’t use fancy words excessively; but writing does give me peace. Just like now, when I am sitting typing away imaging I am chatting with you. This peace has accompanied me for my highs and lows and this peace to me is priceless. As much as I want to create content that you love to watch and read, I want to create content that I enjoy watching and reading as well. It’s a part of me that I want to record. But I agree that this space needs to be freshened up! No, I am not revamping it again to make it all fancy-fancy and magazine-like. That is just the superficial side of it, to me, it wouldn’t compensate the hollowness that it had been giving me for a good few months. So, I am going to change the content here. This used to be my product review place but I felt that with all the new media coming out, product reviews do seem a bit less attractive and less engaging here. But since this feels like home, it feels safe to me, and I think it would be more appropriate for me to share more of my journey/ thoughts/ views on certain topics, maybe life aspects as well. These kinds of “conversation” feels dear to my heart and I would like to be able to share that side of me with you more frequently. I am not saying I would definitely not write a review here, never say never. If there is something I want to write about instead of doing a video about it, I would. But before that happens, I would like to utilize this space to connect with you on a deeper level. I hope you like the idea.
Since I figure out (kinda) where I am taking this blog space, I think it would be nice for me to give you an overview of what to expect from me on the other major social media platforms that I use:-
YouTube
Link
It’s still my favourite way to connect with you all and nothing is changing much over there. My topics will continue to be beauty reviews, weekly vlogs, travel vlogs, life topic chat and Hakme Beauty products. I still do videos every Tuesday and Thursday and sometimes I do a bonus video when I have something more to say. I am still quite happy about what I share over there, so there is no need for me to change for now.
Instagram
(@iamhakme)
Feed: I have come up with a plan with Mr Honey to take more photos over there. After going to the states, I realize I don’t hate to be in photos that much after all and it’s quite satisfying to get a good one to tell a certain mood (out of the 500 haha). It’s another creative outlet and it’s fun to share what I am up to or what my outfit is like when I go somewhere. It will be more fashion/ scenery based, and of course, occasionally you will find 1 or 2 food photo and 1 or 2 beauty product photos (well, I can’t resist the temptation of ruining my feed just because I am so excited about something sometimes). Instagram feed is famous for portraying a perfect life, because everything just needs to look “perfect” to be worthy of posting. BUT, you know me, I can’t stand anything that’s too perfect, and I can’t stand anything that doesn’t portray a bit of a reality. So from my Instagram Feed, you will see prettier photos than usual, but it wouldn’t be the very edited perfection. Not that I am lazy in editing, it just doesn’t match my ethos really well.
Instagram Stories: Usually I go there to share my random thoughts, random things and sometimes a good quote that I have come across. It will still be quite a chill space when I have some random crap to say or ask even! Let’s not forget I go there all the time to ask for opinion on things, I love their poll function whereby I can get almost instant statistics. One time, I ask you folks to help me choose which pair of shoes I should buy. That was fun!
IGTV: A new function within Instagram and it’s basically vertical videos. Creators can upload longer videos (between 10 secs to 10 minutes) there; and I think some creators can upload up to 1-hour long videos there. But hey, I don’t think anyone would watch anything up to 1-hour there now though. So let’s forget that. I think this will be a place whereby people don’t have as much time, or they just want to watch something short and sweet. So I am using it for some highlights of my day, single beauty product reviews (most of the time, I have used something but it’s so random that I can’t group it with other products to do a YouTube review, then I will post it to IGTV, something short and snappy), outfit of the day (I got a new mirror, so I can do it now – yay) etc. Don’t worry, I wouldn’t be as long-winded as in YouTube, I keep the videos here to just a few minutes, so it won’t take too much time of your day.
Facebook
Link
Right, this is a difficult one. I feel like more and more people move over to Instagram but yet there are still people who are checking Facebook regularly. I will keep this place really relaxed, because I feel like it’s a place for friends to connect and I am sure your friends won’t be posting over the top photos unless he/ she is a photographer or a model. I am going to overlap some of the Instagram content here when I feel appropriate, but I will post more on here of what I do, what I find, what I eat (I will try to keep my food photos exclusive to Facebook, hmmm, I will try)…etc. I am keeping this place really real because I feel like that’s how friends connect with each other.
Hakme Beauty’s Own Social Media Platform
Well, due to all of the above differentiation, Hakme Beauty has its own dedicated social media platforms as well. If you are a fan of our store products, make sure you check out the NEW Hakme Beauty Facebook Page (like it here) and Instagram (@hakmebeauty). Both platforms will be broadcasting everything related to Hakme Beauty. I still write all the content there, no worries but I feel so much happier for Hakme Beauty to finally have its own “home”. Facebook and Instagram content will be overlapped at the moment because we don’t want you to miss out anything. So follow us based on your usage on Facebook or Instagram. Of course, if you want to follow us on both platforms, that would be even lovelier. If you follow Hakme Beauty on Instagram, be sure to check out our IGTV frequently, we have been posting short and sweet product explanation there, so it will be useful for you to watch them and have an idea of whether you are interested in something or not. The best part is that because the videos are short, they don’t take up too much of your time.
I have been blahing on for a long time and I hope you are not falling asleep by now. This is a glimpse of what you are going to get from my “new blog style” going forward. Sometimes I will only write in English if I feel that it will flow better (or I simply have way too much to say) and sometimes I will write in both Chinese and English. I can’t guarantee but I will listen to whatever my gut tells me. I am happy to be back and I am excited for stepping out of my comfort zone. Actually from writing all these words here, I feel that I am a happier person already and I know we will have some great conversation going on here shortly.
———— OUTFIT DETAILS ————
Top: Zara
Jeans: Zara
Shoes: Chloe Lauren Scalloped Espadrilles in Tan (link)
Sunglasses: Gentle Monster Big Bully in Gold (link)
Watch: Apple Watch
Bracelets: Dinh Van Bracelet, Cartier Love Bracelet (blog) & DPT Endless Diamonds Bracelet (link)
Handbag: Gucci Ophidia Small GG Supreme Shoulder Bag (link)
