Can you believe it was almost a month ago that I went to London Fashion Weekend? During the London Fashion Weekend Takeover here on Made From Beauty, in collaboration with Anna from Bright Eyed Blog, I promised you all the lowdown from the Blogging ‘Becoming A Blogger’ panel. Well for this Tuesday Talks, I thought I’d finally share with you all the pearls of wisdom from some of the best fashion bloggers in the business.
Alex from The Frugality, Naomi from The Lifestyle Edit and Erica from The Edited raised some interesting points in there talk, I’d love to hear your thoughts, let me know in the comments below!
Blogging Success?
Alex: Do you need to blog full time to be successful?
Naomi:
In many cases it can work, whilst working full time.
Alex:
What are the three things needed to create a successful blog? I know for me, I had an idea and I couldn’t bare not telling people about it, so it would have to be determination.
Erica:
You need a clear vision of what you want to put out there. Staying true to yourself is very important.
Fashion Weeks All Over The World?
Alex:
Are fashion weeks all they are cracked up to be?
Naomi:
I feel so privileged to be here, I only left my job in October (2014). The content we are creating is about presenting a lifestyle. It’s incredibly stressful. We do so many different jobs.
Is Blogging Lonely?
Alex:
Some people ask if blogging is a lonely job; but I find it very social. My friendships are now in the fashion industry – I spend 90% of my life in fashion. You’re not answering to anyone, but the buck stops with you.
Alex:
Who takes the photos?
Erica:
I use a tripod a lot, my husband occasionally, sometimes I have a photographer.
Naomi:
We are all going through this transition together, so there’s always someone to take the photo. I have a team that I’ve worked with my whole career, who photograph with me. But it’s hard when you don’t have someone there at the last min to take your picture.
Alex:
Right? Of course, there’s ‘#bloggerproblems’ – when you go to something like fashion week and the food doesn’t look very good, or there’s no one there that you know who can take your photo.
Instagram?
Alex:
I feel as if Instagram is overtaking my blog.
Erica:
There’s a definite move (in the blogging industry) towards Instagram.
Naomi:
There’s a whole new breed of bloggers who just have Instagram.
How Do You Make Money As A Blogger?
Alex:
How do you make money through a blog – affiliate links, brand partnerships, ambassador roles? With me, it’s the same way a magazine makes money. But how difficult is it to make money from your blog, whilst making sure you do not become just a funnel for a brand?
Naomi: It (blogging) was never a money making opportunity, not when I started. The more you say no to the wrong opportunities, then the more perfect ones come my way.
Erica:
If it doesn’t feel right to be associated with a brand, don’t do it.
Naomi:
It’s all about organic relationships.
Alex:
You have to be open about it – ‘this is a collaboration with this brand’.
Photo Editing?
Alex:
There’s a lot of apps out there, what do you use?
Naomi:
Snapseed and Vscocam.
Erica:
I like After Light.
Alex:
But the Instagram filters suck!
Erica:
‘#toocooltofilter’
Hashtags?
Alex:
How do you feel about hashtags? I hate hashtags.
Naomi:
Some bloggers have been very clever with their hashtags. They can be a nice way to collate things.
Alex:
If you create good enough content, then people will come, without the hashtags. I feel as though SEO is kinda tricking people with keywords. I used to have it drummed into me about using keywords like ‘ankle boots’.
Free Stuff?
Alex:
My friends think that blogging is all about free stuff, but what I try to explain is that what a brand wants to send you, isn’t particularly what you would have picked yourself. I’d rather buy things myself to feature on my blog. I don’t like that ‘gift with intent’. Brands have been really turning to bloggers for that personal touch.
Digital Careers?
Erica:
I find Instagram ‘stars’ very exciting. People are creating these amazing careers for themselves on that platform.
Naomi:
‘Digital’ is quantifiable now. Brands can see the data and that bloggers are influencers. One of the great things about the Internet is that there are loads of people you can tap into. Everything’s so visual now.
Creating Your Own Brand?
Alex:
Hone your style. Having a certain style for your Instagram. When people follow you, they only look at the first 6/9 photos.
So what do you think? Do you agree with Alex, Naomi and Erica? Let me know in the comments, or join the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #MFBtuesdaytalks
If you missed the London Fashion Weekend Takeover last month, you can read my posts here and here.
Sam
Great interview, the girls gave some really good advice! You should definitely only work with a brand that you feel will benefit your blog – it definitely isn’t just about receiving ‘free stuff’. It’s about building a positive relationship with brands and PR for bigger and better opportunities to come your way as time progresses. I’d rather have good relationships with just a couple of brands than work with dozens as just a one off.
Toni x
http://www.clarkecouture.co.uk