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

[gius]

you mean like this one? http://www.fashionfollower.blogspot.com/

i actually really like them,
i used to try to make my blog posts like articles in magazines, the way the text and images are lined up but it was sometimes hard to get it perfect with the html and sizing of the images. in the link the guy just made a whole image with everything on it

 

[Susanna-Cole]

Okay, general question for all of you...

How do you feel about reblogging? This is especially popular on Tumblr, considering there's a convenient "reblog" button that does it all, for you.

I'm wondering, because while I don't mind the occasional reblogs, I'm kind of annoyed by bloggers who only seem to reblog other's blog entries. Doesn't that kind of defeat the point of being a blogger? When I see people frequently reblogging, I feel that it's like cheating, everyone else does the work for them, finding content, and they just click a button, and copy.

Personally, I don't even find reblogging fun. On my Tumblr, I've re-blogged a total of 0 posts. I rarely (actually, I don't think I ever have, but can't completely remember) use photos actually found on Tumblr. I prefer when people go to outside sources, such as Flickr, and bring photos over to Tumblr, instead of just recycling the same photos found on Tumblr, over and over.

I used to spend hours on end (no joke), searching for photos to use on my blog...it could be frustrating at times, I'm very picky, and have a speicific taste, but I feel that it made things worthwile. I think I would feel terribly guilty if I just frequented other blogs and always snagged the photos that another blogger worked hard to find.

And I admit, I'm a rubbish photographer, which is why almost all photos I blog or post on Tumblr, are other's, as credited, but then I like to write something to reflect that photos or vice versa, therefore giving that entry something extra, that is my own, and not borrowed.

But, I'm curious, how do you guys feel about reblogging? Do you think it's important for a blogger to bring something unique and personal to their entries, or do you not mind if they copy all their content from someone else's blog?

 

[zzirvingj]

Question about The Sartorialist's blog

How would you say the owner of this site is able to generate a profit? Is it merely from any advertising displayed on the site?

Or do you think he uses the site moreso as a means of advertising his work, which in turn exposes him to potential clients (who would inquire for his photography services)?

I am trying to understand how such a site generates revenue....

 

[Katie123]

I'm not sure how he started but nowadays he shoots for magazines/campaigns as well. maybe it started out as a hobby and as he got more and more recognition he decided to make a living out of free-lancing, i don't know!

 

[BetteT]

Probably advertiisng plus selling user rights to his photos that he's already taken (TV stations and rags would have to pay him to use his photos). And then, he gets personal TV spots too which I'm sure her gets paid for.

 

[MissMagAddict]

Scott Schuman worked in a men's fashion showroom before he started his blog... he already had many contacts in the industry. Also he was a pioneer of sorts with his blog which he started in 2005. That type of style on the street blog wasn't around much... if at all then.

He had a definite & fresh point of view & it caught on.

 

[rainy_spring]

About the REBLOGGING:

i agree with what you said. i think that if people just keep recycling the same pictures over and over again then you never get to see new material and you blog has nothing really new to offer. i feel a certain amount of credibility should be earned by coming up with unique posts either in pictures or in text. i understand that your certain to see the same image more than once, since there are so many blogs out there, but its always neat (& a fun challenge) to try and bring something new to the table.

 

[Katie123]

I totally agree about reblogging.

i hate so-called fashion blogs that only do a general research for the week/day or whatever and go 'riccardo tisci at givenchy did this and that (link to original article)'. i mean, it's very easy to just do a small summary and do a list of links, but that isn't really a blog is it!

 

[gius]

i think if your blog has a theme, it's fine

like you do the research and finding related articles, bringing them all to one page, for your viewers...
it's also good to have an article, but talk about it.. rather than just posting it plainly. pointing things out that are relevant



a lot of fashion blogs are all over the place.
they do trends, they do some designer news, they talk about sales, it's too much.

 

[Katie123]

yes i agree but i mean like....you know how The Cut does it on their newsletters. i mean sure, it's very practical for an overall look on fashion news but fashion blogs that ONLY do that and don't even write a paragraph on the links they're posting are a bit annoying

also i hate it when they post things from like, WWD that you need to sign in to read! the business of fashion does that all the time (but in their defense, they always say it's subscribers only)

 

[Susanna-Cole]

i think if your blog has a theme, it's fine

like you do the research and finding related articles, bringing them all to one page, for your viewers...
it's also good to have an article, but talk about it.. rather than just posting it plainly. pointing things out that are relevant



a lot of fashion blogs are all over the place.
they do trends, they do some designer news, they talk about sales, it's too much.

I hadn't considered themes, that's true, it does take work to gather up content that is related and all ties into a single topic/theme, considering most, blogs are all over the place, and you most likely couldn't use one or even a couple of sources, but would have to do some digging. But as you also said, still think it's important to bring something fresh, and of your own, to the table.

After all, we're all a part of a generation, in which we have the opportunity to freely, and conveniently, share our thoughts, and ideas, with the world, and yes, sometimes even be heard by a mass amount of people (though not always), and what a shame, if we let everyone else do the talking, and just copy, paste, and repeat.

 

[sassybella]

Reblogging:

I agree on the whole about what everyone has said so far. From experience as a fashion news blogger, I try to find newsy bits and bobs here and there for original news. But sometimes when WWD, the Cut, or another blog/newspaper has really good breaking news that you must write about then I do "reblog" with as much background info or etc as I can.

And as for some fashion blogs being "all over the place"...

I think they're trying to appeal to a bigger audience, some people want to know about news and sales and hot trends. It may not be for everyone, but if it's not too OTT then why not?

 

[gius]

someone in this thread pointed out that if they wanted a site where they could get info on a wide range of topics/news on fashion, why not just go to tFS or wwd or style.com to get that info... especially when a lot of blogs just copy and paste.
my own opinion, if you're after this kind of blog it would help putting the entries into categories.. if you were searching for designer news, you could get it all in one click. otherwise you'd be searching endlessly.


on the other hand i would say i have seen a few really good blogs that cover several topics; but the person who wrote them had a very good presence, like the writer herself became the whole theme of the blog. her tastes. her thoughts. there was a consistency to the things posted, even if they were about different things... it was a strong impression on what to expect from the blog, what kind of news, what kind of things you'd see ^^ it's what made you want to come back over and over.
not to mention the person's way of writing was brilliant
(and copy and pasting, only when it helped with the rest of the post)

 

[anakaye]

I'd be the first to admit that my blog may cover too many topics, but personally I don't see such a problem with doing this so long as what you're writing and covering is fresh, interesting, insightful and exciting.
when I started, I was basically writing analytical essays on the function of Prada, why Ghesquiere's such a good fit for Balenciaga etc etc, but I soon found that I wanted to cover more than this kind of extremely limited content.
Now my blog focuses on personal style (as in, how people get dressed everyday), fashion in Dublin, runway coverage and the occasional analytic essay type thing, when I'm in the mood. But I enjoy this kind of diversity, and I try to keep it from being just 'omg i really like Miu Miu today, here are a bunch of Miu Miu photos'

Basically I think that range of content can be as wide as you like provided there is substance in there, and provided it's presented in a fresh and entertaining way.

 

[Katie123]

I used to have a blog that covered all sorts of topics as well and I did tend to write long essays on my opinion on things. I discovered people only commented (or bothered to look at) shorter posts with fun little info like 'omg the lanvin shop just opened in london!' or 'look at what madonna is wearing on her tour!' so i was a bit disappointed and stopped writing it haha (not the blog, the long essays)

 

[ched]

I've noticed the longer more detailed posts hold up over the long term with Google searches much better than the less substantial material we post.

 

[gius]

especially when you use uncommon words /phrasing
you get a kind of niche visitor

and also putting it in the titles

 

[ScarlettLover]

I actually like when bloggers have longer posts. It makes me feel that they took time and effort into it.

But I do think there can be blogs that are TOO long. I believe lengthy post should be broken up with pictures that go along with the story.

A happy mixture of long and short posts is nice too.

 

[Susanna-Cole]

I actually like when bloggers have longer posts. It makes me feel that they took time and effort into it.

But I do think there can be blogs that are TOO long. I believe lengthy post should be broken up with pictures that go along with the story.

Oh yes, I completely agree with you! Sometimes when bloggers just jot off a line or two, doesn't feel like they actually care much...and yes, blogging doesn't have to be all serious, it can be casual, and if you're not worried about people reading or what they think, then be as brief or long as you want, but I feel if you actually blog to connect with people and want people to be able to appreciate and connect with what you blog about and write, then you'll have to put some time and effort into it.

Also, as you said, it's a great idea to break up longer text with photographs. When I first decided I wanted to write more, I immeditaley thought about how trecherous it would look if it was just like text, text, text, for paragraphs on, but by breaking it up with pictures, suddenly it didn't look like so much to tackle and read after all.

 

[ScarlettLover]

^ I feel the same way. And about the re-blogging thing: it really kinda irks me when people do that. I really feel it's a form of plagerism.

The point of having a blog is to express something fresh, new, and that's completely YOU. I don't know, but I don't think I would enjoy making posts like that. I like blogging just to blog and put some thoughts on 'paper', even if hardly anyone comments them.

By the way, I really like your blog Susanna-Cole!