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Source: Founder Kat Williams by David McNeil Photography

Rock N’ Roll Bride is a UK wedding blog founded by Kat Williams and launched in October 2007. The blog began as a simple wedding planning site, but in 2009 was rebranded as a “Mecca for gorgeous photography and inspiring real weddings”. Rock N’ Roll Bride is an ever growing brand with magazine features, including Marie Claire Magazine, Cosmopolitan Bride, The British Journal of Photography, Easy Living, Company, Tattoo Revolution, Perfect Wedding, Wedding Ideas, Wed Magazine, Southern Weddings Magazine (US), the Guardian, The Sunday Times Style Magazine (Ireland) and the Daily Express.

Rock N’ Roll Bride was awarded Best Wedding Blog by Cosmopolitan in their Blog Awards which took place in October 2011.

What made you decide to set up a blog?

My story isn’t that remarkable or different to that of many people who get into the wedding industry. I started my blog when I was planning my own wedding to Gareth in 2007. At the time I didn’t even consider this could become a career; I simply wanted a place to collate all my wedding ideas and inspirations.

Throughout my planning I discovered American wedding blogs. I loved the instant nature of blogging – how you could comment and feel part of a community. I wanted to be a part of that. After my wedding was over I didn’t want to give up weddings or blogging, so I decided to morph my blog into a place for alternative wedding inspiration. Although I loved the wedding blogs I’d found throughout my plans, none of them catered to the specific kind of bride or style of wedding that I wanted – the alternative, the offbeat and the Rock N’ Roll.

What are you trying to achieve with the blog? What sorts of things do you blog about?

Fundamentally, I blog about alternative weddings. To people that don’t understand what a wedding blog is, I simply describe it as just like a wedding magazine, only online. This year I’ve also expanded the blog into a new section called The Green Room, where I write about running your own business.

Who are your readers? What do you think they get out of your blog?

My readers are prominently brides-to-be planning their own alternative weddings. They get ideas and inspiration for their own big days. I also attract a number of readers who work in the wedding industry themselves, who either want to attract the brides to their own companies or want to get ideas about how their can run their own businesses in a way that suits them too.

What was the ‘aha’ moment that made you realise that this was more than just a hobby?

Before I was doing this full-time, I worked as a producer for a shopping TV channel. A guy I worked with saw my blog and told me he thought it was not only a brilliant niche and idea, but that he thought it could certainly become something that could generate an income. I guess that was the first time I started thinking that Rock N’ Roll Bride could become more than just a hobby.

You are clearly passionate about blogging. Why do you think small businesses should be considering it? Is blogging right for everyone?

I think it is for everyone yes. Blogging is a fantastic way to showcase who you really are and show your personality, whatever your business or background. These days, particularly with weddings, people want to know about the people behind the company, and blogging and social media is a great way to do that.

Is it possible to make money from a blog? What are the criteria before this can be taken seriously?

Of course. Advertising, Google ads, affiliate schemes, ebooks and external projects like public speaking, writing for magazines/books, etc., are all ways bloggers can make money. Once you become a strong ‘internet personality’ the possibilities are actually endless – it’s only your imagination that stops you! There are a number of things to consider, but predominately “Does my blog get enough traffic to make taking on advertising (and the hassle that goes with it) worthwhile, for both me and the potential advertisers?” i.e. does your blog get enough traffic to give them a return on their investment?

How should someone get started – practically speaking?

There are many platforms available and most are free to begin with. I would always recommend WordPress, because it’s simple and very easily customisable in terms of the look of the blog.

What are your top tips for people starting blogging?

 Post regularly. I make sure I post three times a day – it’s important to keep your readers happy and make sure they keep coming back to the site.

 Create a visible brand for your blog. I paid for a professional graphic designer to design my website so it looks as glossy and professional as possible.

 Don’t be afraid to take risks. I gave up a day job I loved, but the risk paid off.

 Be yourself and don’t follow the crowd. Don’t be afraid to stand out and be different. Just be you, everyone else is taken.

Finally, what’s next for Rock N’ Roll Bride ?

Wow, so much! A lot of the things I’m working on are top secret of course, but this year I’m planning more trips to the States for conferences and photo shoots. I started my own quarterly print magazine at the end of last year so I’ll be continuing to do that, and I’m taking my ‘School of Rock’ blogging workshops on a tour around the UK. I’ve also just been asked by bridal designer Ian Stuart to model a dress he’s designing especially for me, down the catwalk at The White Gallery (the bridal equivalent of Fashion Week) in May!