Breaking Into The World Of Online Fashion Blogging
If you love fashion (which is a safe bet if you’re following this blog) then you may think that there’s no better dream than having a lifestyle and a career that centers around that love. Nowadays, many people aspire to become a fashion blogger. As you can see, it’s clearly attainable, but not everyone is prepared for the challenges it can bring or the skills it requires you to learn. If you want to become an online fashionista, here are a few tips on how to get there and what you might expect.
Find out what’s different about you
The internet is a competitive place. Fashion is particularly popular, and there is no doubt that there are already a lot of fashionable voices out there. So, why will people pay attention to your content and follow you? It’s all about finding your niche above all else. There are a lot of bloggers out there already following what’s trendy, you need to think about what makes you different from them. For instance, you might be a blogger that focuses on functional fashion for mommies or you might focus specifically on good practices for professional women. Finding your niche can help you find that core of like-minded readers who will stick with you through thick and thin.
Build that blog
There actual process of building a blog is something that many would-be online influencers tend to underestimate. They either think it’s easy and end up finding it too challenging or they don’t put much thought into it and end up with a web page that simply doesn’t look appealing or well-put together. Sites like WPBeginner can help you go through the practicalities of building the site and making categories for different kinds of posts. But you also need to think about how you’re going to get the web hosting space for the site, what kind of visual templates you should use to give the site a fitting brand and finding and buying a unique URL for your blog, as well.
Take a value-driven approach to blogging
In finding your niche, you are finding the answer to the all-important question “why would anyone follow me?” When it comes to the content you upload, you have to ask a similar question “why would someone read this post?” You need to find the value in every post. Many new bloggers tend to bog things down with personal posts that offer nothing to the reader. You should make sure that your posts provide something to them when they read it. Is it informative, keeping them updated on the latest trends or news? Is it educational, teaching them a certain of fashion tip? Even humor and entertainment value can be enough to justify a post. But if you can’t identify the value of a post, it might be time to go back to the drawing board with it.
Learn how to take great pictures
Art and photos are a big part of the blogging experience. It has been shown time and time again that both the posts on your site and your efforts to link them through social media are much more successful if you have good looking images to go with them. When it comes to fashion, you need relevant photos of the pieces, outfits, and styles you’re talking about. This means that you may need to learn how to take photographs like a pro or find a photographer who’s willing to work with you. For more generic topics, online stock photos can be a great help.
Show your face
Personal branding is a big deal when it comes to blogging. While your value should be in your content, many readers still want to form a kind of connection to the blogger and to understand who they’re getting their content from. Pairing up with teams like Perfect Image Video, an introduction video to the blog can be a perfect way to put your personality first. You can tell readers a little about yourself as well as what they can expect to see on the rest of the blog. Have an “about me” page or tab on the site that shares a little detail about who you are and what kind of unique perspective you bring to your content, too.
Build your community
While good content is what wins readers, that sense of connection between the reader and the writer is what keeps them. For that reason, if you’re serious about your blog, then you need to look at getting involved on social media and getting more connected with that readership. Twitter and Facebook are great content delivery systems, but you should try and engage with the readership by replying to their replies, encouraging them to ask questions, and even sharing or re-tweeting valuable resources or content that they share. Don’t neglect the comment section of your blog, either. Fostering discussion there makes your site seem a lot more active and lively, and the best way to do that is to reply to those talking and get involved in the conversation.
Keep the content coming
Bloggers always a need a content pipeline. New content is crucial for keeping interest in the site and staying relevant. You might have some topics you like to dip into that go outside of fashion, like lifestyle or health advice, for instance. But the bulk of your content should come from what your core interest is. For that, you need new clothes. You can buy your own, but that’s going to keep increasing and increasing the cost of running the blog. Instead, it’s worth looking at sites like The Travel Hack and their advice on getting sponsorships and free clothes that you can use to keep writing content. The more companies you partner up with, the more clothes you get and the more content you can write.
Catching the attention of like-minded people and growing an online presence and sense of authority is tough, but it can be lucrative as well as a lot of fun. Hopefully, this post has given you a few pointers on where to start on your fashion blogging journey.
DISCLAIMER: This post is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links.
Content Creator from Boston.
I’m here to help you with style tips and options, finding the best deals, and helping you to feel confident & comfortable in your own skin with whatever you choose to wear.
