I’ve got some exciting news to share with you, my dear and beloved readers. katjakokko.com will be undergoing a revamp in the very near future – not only visually, but also content-wise.
The current journal format will be replaced by a magazine-type layout and structure. The content should be quicker and easier to read. The blog has amassed quite a bit of information over the fall, and some of the older contents will therefore have to make space for new things. I hope the new site will be fun and easier to navigate than the old version, and that you’ll enjoy spending your time surfing its contents and finding inspiration.
Another major change has to do with my person life and my work. This fall has been a whirlwind of changes and new starts, but also a lot of unanswered questions. I’ve made a conscious effort to give myself space and time to figure out how I want to work. What I do know is that I love natural cosmetics and want to share my knowledge with my sisters.
The amount of ideas I have for the blog has made me realize that it’s become a day job for me. Until now, apart from small affiliate commissions, I haven’t actually been paid for it, but I am slowly beginning to realize that I could and should be. I spent a long time considering whether I could blog for an existing media, but the thought just didn’t sit right with me. I think this is due to my background; having helped to build a brand with my own two hands, the idea of making my blog a part of a larger media just seems strange. I need full creative control. So, starting next year, my site will begin featuring sponsored content. Every sponsored collaboration will still be about brands or products that I support 100%. You can trust me not to praise a single product that I don’t actually like, or that fails to meet my requirements. I hold my credibility dear, and to maintain that credibility, since my blog features mostly cosmetic brands, I will also have to limit the amount of paid collaborations that I do. Who knows, maybe in the future I’ll collaborate with other types of brands.
Since I can only do so many collaborations with quality cosmetic brands, I have created a new section for the blog called Cheap & Chic. The inspiration for the section came from get-the-look-for-less types of pieces. Although I personally use high-end natural cosmetics, I want to inspire and encourage all women to use natural products – including students, unemployed women, low-income women, and penny pinchers. Cheap & Chic will focus on affordable natural cosmetic brands. It will also be more commercial than the beauty section. What this entails is more affiliate links and paid content. I want to keep the budget products separate from the Beauty section; I can’t in good conscience claim to use a €5 eye shadow or toner from brand X, when my readers know me to use high-end products. At the same time, I want to put these products out there for those who need and want them.
This is the first stage of the new site, but I’ve got plenty more ideas. If I learned anything from my time building Jolie, it’s to dream big. So dream on, and we’ll see what the future brings.
I would now like to pass over the microphone to you. How do you feel about all of this? Are you game?
If you have any requests as far as content is concerned, please feel free! The Lifestyle, Body & Mind, and Style sections will be included in the new site, as well. The Personal Beauty Guide will be introduced around New Year’s, along with a DIY section, as I’m currently very into playing around with mixtures and solutions.
I would like to thank you for all the lovely and encouraging comments you’ve left me things fall; they’ve played their part in determining the direction of the blog. I’m also extremely happy to see a small community building in the comment section, with tips and experiences shared between its members. Brilliant!
First and last photos Dorit Salutskij, others Katja Kokko
Translation Katja Nikula
