Advice about Starting & Promoting a Fashion Blog - See Post #1 for Thread Rules

[genevica]

Maybe some of you have read this post on blog, Blushing Ambition.

post here: http://blushingambition.blogspot.com/2009/09/pros-and-cons-of-being-blogger.html

It's a long slab of text. I read through the whole entry and these are the things I personally took from it:

If I started blogging as a hobby, it shouldn't need to be promoted or labelled successful/popular/otherwise because a hobby is a hobby and for personal enjoyment.
How is blogging success measured - through page views, no. of visitors, comments, etc?

Of course I want my blog to be 'successful' or popular, but most importantly I want people to read because they are interested, and I want to share my interests with other people. Before I read the entry in the link, I found it really tempting to mimic other more popular blogs - both their content and the design - in the thought that it'll get my blog out there faster. Perhaps it does, but after reading the entry, I realised that I was focussing to much on how readers would react and if they would like it or not.



I don't mean this post to be critical of other blogs, instead critical of the attitude I have towards my blogging.

 

[ccharlene]

I agree I do want people to read my blog because they are interested and am currently in process of making it more personal although everything i post is still what I like and what I personally would see as inspiration. I have noticed since I started blogging that many people share the same information on their blogs and i do not think people would want to read/see the same things over and over again

struttlamode.blogspot.com

 

[genevica]

^

everything i post is still what I like and what I personally would see as inspiration

That's what I'm trying to do as well. I'm trying to steer clear of fashion and arts "news" and blog about collections, artworks, artists, films, etc, that I like and draw inspiration from.

 

[Marchessa]

Not sure if this applies to anyone here and moreso beauty bloggers but anyway..

PHILADELPHIA - The Federal Trade Commission will require bloggers to clearly disclose any freebies or payments they get from companies for reviewing their products.
It is the first time since 1980 that the commission has revised its guidelines on endorsements and testimonials, and the first time the rules have covered bloggers.
But the commission stopped short Monday of specifying how bloggers must disclose any conflicts of interest.
The FTC said its commissioners voted 4-0 to approve the final guidelines, which had been expected. Penalties include up to $11,000 in fines per violation.

http://tech.yahoo.com/news/ap/20091005/ap_on_hi_te/us_tec_bloggers_ftc

 

[Since Age Zero]

Gius, that's why I started my blog about opening a fashion boutique, because I see so many people asking about it (my other one is about careers in fashion). My fave industry blog is http://stylebites.blogspot.com (she's a stylist).

It says we need permission to read Stylebites. Any others you can recommend? Which is your blog on careers in fashion?

I'm EXTREMELY interested!


RS

 

[hiromix]

wow, this thread is extremely interesting. i've tried to read as many posts as possible, but it's a bit much

i love fashion blogs and their potential as well as significance for the future of the fashion system. there are so many out there, and it's impossible to go through all of them and evaluate. but i'm trying.

anyways, i was wondering if any of you know about a thread that discusses fashion blogs in the context of communication and/or media studies? or something similiar? i am writing my Masters thesis on fashion blog's socio-communicative power to create taste.

i think the tFS is brillian!!

xx

 

[pursuitoffashion]

Might as well update my blogging status since I have nothing better to do at the moment.
Basically went through 3408320423 blogs in my lifetime trying Blogger, Typepad, yadayadaya but just recently I've fallen in love with Wordpress.
I have to admit it took a slight adjustment period transitioning from Blogger to Wordpress because at first Wordpress just seems so... limited, but really for me personally I think Wordpress has much more professionality and structure and I find that much more convenient in comparison. The only thing that slightly bugs me is that it refuses to accept Javascript (after I tried to add a playlist to my blog) but no big deal really.
I guess if I have to give my two cents into the blogging world, the best thing to do is be true to yourself and not be scared or frightened of what people will read or think about your entries. For myself I personally just blog for myself and the sake of being creative and fun... nothing really special, but now I find myself excited and addicted to blogging after playing around with it for a long while. It may just be my instance, but it took quite a lofty period of time to actually find out what I wanted to get out of blogging for myself.
On a slightly different note, does anyone here have friends/family that know/are curious about or read your blog? After (regretfully) mentioning to some of my fashion friends that I blog now they are really fascinated and keep on asking me about it.
There is no way in hell. For me it kind of feels like an invasion of privacy.

This is my experience with blogging nearly exactly. I started off doing it with the goal of gaining lots of readers and I made sure my content was what I thought people wanted to read. I did okay as far as gaining readers, but it became a real drag. I ended up deleting my first blog and starting a new one.

Now I blog under a pseudonym, and post what I want to, which is outfit pictures, editorials, reviews on products I'm loving, photography and home decor. It is so much more fun to just think of my blog as my little corner of the world to speak my mind, and if others like it, they're welcome to stick around.

 

[VogueParisLover]

I just started another blog... rofl
tell me what you think!

bad romance

 

[notmanons]

VogueParisLover, you post some really great pictures i think you need to put more writing.

MikeyLy, i like yours you should keep it that way. if you had some writing about the place you went to and etc that would be interesting to read. your opinions too.

Lottie342, you post really great pictures with a nice good layout. more outfit posts!


Does anyone have any criticisms, opinions, etc etc on my blog? The link is in my signature. I'd really like to know what you all think.

 

[sejean]

blogging + video

I blog about what inspires me in life and in fashion. I also do scarf tying video tutorials to complement my business. I would love feedback on how I could improve.

Suse

http://www.losotros.ca

 

[iamnerdee]

hi everyone! i am new to tfs, and to blogging. please let me know what you think! fashionblogsboreme.blogspot.com

 

[iamnerdee]

I blog about what inspires me in life and in fashion. I also do scarf tying video tutorials to complement my business. I would love feedback on how I could improve.

Suse

http://www.losotros.ca

suse, i like the newstyle format of your blog, and your sense of humor! the only problem i have is that there seems to be some clutter. maybe get rid of some of the extra stuff, like the calendar? perhaps reduce the number of tags per post?

 

[VogueParisLover]

VogueParisLover, you post some really great pictures i think you need to put more writing.

Does anyone have any criticisms, opinions, etc etc on my blog? The link is in my signature. I'd really like to know what you all think.

Thanks Kushie! I have since added text to most of my posts... I was worried about not writing...

And I love your blog!

But, I was wondering... What do you guys think about music on blogs? Do you like to listen? Or do you turn it off instantly?

 

[from: sophia]

^ I have music on my blog but it is not on auto play because I find that annoying basically if you feel inclined you can listen.

P.S.
any comments and or criticism for mine I feel like my layout is missing something.

 

[iamnerdee]

music that plays automatically on blogs is definitely obnoxious.

 

[sejean]

yes I think I am quite a tagaholic ... thanks for the feedback ...
i thought the calendar was a bit much too ... but then i'm the kind of person who likes to read a blog from the beginning posts so I like a calendar for that ..... i'll have to find a less invasive way.

 

[iamnerdee]

yes I think I am quite a tagaholic ... thanks for the feedback ...
i thought the calendar was a bit much too ... but then i'm the kind of person who likes to read a blog from the beginning posts so I like a calendar for that ..... i'll have to find a less invasive way.

ahh, i didnt realize that's what it was for! now it makes sense. in that case, i'd recommend perhaps reducing the number of tweets so that it matches with the number of comments next to it. good luck!

 

[indiegoespop]

I would love some feedback concerning my blog ladies. Do you think I need more visuals?

http://indiegoespop.blogspot.com/

 

[sejean]

love the shoes!

hi everyone! i am new to tfs, and to blogging. please let me know what you think! fashionblogsboreme.blogspot.com

I like your style ... will be interesting to see what you write about in future posts

 

[eloquent]

Starting a Fashion Blog

Hey everyone, lately I have been thinking about getting involved in fashion blogging, but I dont think I could do it all on my own. I was wondering if anyone on here would be interested in starting a blog with me? I think it would a lot of fun and together we could make an active, insightful blog. If anyone is interested or if anyone has any tips for me on how to start off that would be awesome !