Inspire Me Series: Successful Blogs

Ashley of Adventures of Newlyweds is sharing with us today
what makes a successful blog in her opinion.
If you don't know about Ashley's blog, here is a little something about her.
She travels the country with her husband for work and takes beautiful pictures too.
Ashley also initiated an awesome link up called: Friday Letters!
Please check her out when you get an opportunity.

 How did you begin blogging?

I started blogging to document my new "newlywed" life! 

 I started out writing about our everyday lives for our friends and family. 

 It started growing and I discovered just how big the blog world was!  

I had no idea at the time!  From there my blog has involved and grown with me! 

What do you believe makes your blog a success?

 I believe my blog, and any blog for that matter, 

is successful when the writer blogs for themselves and stays true 

to why they started in the first place. 

 I am sure we have all gotten caught ip in the thrill of having followers,

 and growing our blogs but now more than ever I realize that its not about that in the slightest.  

Even if no one were to come to my blog ever again I would continue doing 

it so my husband and our family can look back and remember these special moments. 

 How do you maintain a balance between living and keeping up with your readers/followers?

 Great question!  At first it was easy to comment back to 

every single person and do every guest post requested 

but once I got a little more traffic I couldn't keep up!  

These days I comment back when I can but spend more time reading other blogs.  

I have also made great real life friends who I keep up with every day! 

 I always answer e-mails but I think its important to remind ourselves 

that this blog thing is great so we can make some really great friends--- 

not so you can get thousands of followers. 

 How realistic is it that you can connect with all of those people anyways?!