It’s our birthday! The past weekend marks my first blogiversary and to celebrate I’m answering several questions about blogging that have been sent my way. So, whether you’re a fledgling or established blogger (or even aspiring to join the club!), be sure to bookmark this post for future reference. Also, if you have any questions that aren’t answered here, let me know in the comments.
1. How do bloggers get into fashion shows?
Good question! I got my first invites for the Fall 2014 New York Fashion Week shows earlier this year. The easiest way to get an invite is to email the PR firms that represent the designer whose show you want to attend. Modem is the go-to resource for finding anyone’s email in the fashion industry. In your email, link to a sample blog post, preferably one in which you have written about the designer or reviewed a fashion show. This demonstrates that you’re serious about fashion and not just another novice blogger. Events like fashion week are a great networking opportunity so, be sure to always carry around a bunch of business cards, just don’t give one to Bryanboy.
2. Is it necessary to use Twitter?
Twitter was the first social media platform where I established a presence for my blog, and, along with Pinterest, became my top social media referrer for traffic to my blog. I’ve found that Twitter is essential for building relationships with bloggers, brands, stylists, publicists, and, of course, readers. If you establish a reputation for producing valuable content, users will retweet and favorite your posts. But don’t use Twitter as merely a promotional tool; other users will notice and you will lose credibility. Twitter is best used as a conversational tool where you can let your personality shine through. That said, retweet other users’ posts that you deem funny or insightful, participate in regular Twitter chats, and interact with the bloggers and brands you want to work with. Check out more of my Twitter tips.
3. What are the best affiliate programs?
The easiest way to monetize your blog is through affiliate marketing. Of course, if you plan to go this route you should write a disclosure statement somewhere on your blog that informs your readers that you may earn a commission if they click on an advertisement or promotional link. I’ve joined almost every affiliate program but the ones I use consistently are Skimlinks, Linkshare, and RewardStyle because they offer the highest commissions and are incredibly easy to navigate. CommissionJunction is very popular as well, but I find its interface to be less intuitive than the others. Many bloggers also like ShopSense, but I’ve found it too time consuming with little promise of return. Don’t let that stop you from joining, though; these are just my experiences. Find out what programs work best for you, but commit to using about 2-3 programs. With affiliate marketing you need to be careful that your links are negating each other. Using different affiliate links for the same retailer can result in your commissions being negated.
4. How do you work with brands?
As long as you churn out great content and have a decent following, brands will want to work with you. One thing I’ve learned over the past year is that you don’t need 50k Twitter/Instagram followers to work with brands; sometimes, PR firms prefer to work with mid-level bloggers who have a closer relationship with their readers than A-listers. The simplest way to establish a brand relationship is to reach out on social media, introduce yourself, and ask for an email address where you can collaborate further. It helps to have an idea of how you want to work with a brand (e.g.: giveaway, product placement) before your email. If you don’t hear back, send a polite followup email. If you still don’t hear back, remember there are other brands who might be a better fit for your blog and audience.
5. How do you keep up the motivation to blog?
An insatiable and enthusiastic attitude for all things fashion and beauty, as well as constant inspiration. You really have to love fashion blogging to post consistently. Sure, at times a break from blogging is necessary to refresh your mind and get back into the mode of writing. When this happens, seek out guest bloggers who can continue providing value to your readers. Another way to keep motivated is to set regular goals for your blog, such as reaching x number of views a month or gaining x number of followers on Instagram. As long as you have something to work towards, your blog will continue growing.
That’s it for now! If you have any other questions that weren’t answered here leave them in the comments and visit my Blogging & Social Media board on Pinterest.
[Image via Pinterest.com]
