Showing posts with label blogging tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blogging tips. Show all posts
How Brands Can Navigate Chinese Fashion Bloggers’ ‘Red Envelope’ Culture
 |
| Han Huohuo, one of China’s most influential fashion bloggers. (Sina Weibo/Han Huohuo) |
7 Signs you are a Social Media Aficionado
Do you know there are signs you’re addicted to social media? The good
news is that if you are addicted, there are things that you can do to
deal with that. Social media is an awesome thing but it is something we
also need to keep in proper perspective. Be on the lookout for signs
you’re addicted to social media and if you think you might be, make some
changes to help you deal with that
What Makes You Proud to be a Fashion Blogger?
One of my favorite perks as a blogger is getting to meet honest people who push you to see things in a different way. I met a fashion industry star at a media breakfast this summer, and our first encounter went something like this:
5 Reasons to Be a Better Commenter in 2014
Unless you’re a major news site, you may have noticed how hard it is to get comments on your blog. Even if you are part of a major news site, you may notice. Every year, I see the number of comments dwindle. Massive blogs that used to receive 600 comments a post now receive 50. Blogs that received 50 now receive 15. If you’ve got a small site like I do, then what may have one been 10-20 comments per post now rings in at less than a handful.
And yet… we all believe that comments have value in blogging. And they do! So maybe it’s time to put our best foot forward for 2014, and bring back comments. Why should we… ?
Comments are the basis of community.
As a blogger, you’re trying to build a community, right? An active, engaged community… it’s what we all fantasize about. Lots of traffic is great, but no one sees those numbers. They’re faceless, nameless persons who came, saw, and left our sites. But our readers… those who leave comments… they’re gold.
So how do you feel when you don’t receive comments? Without them, you don’t know whether your community is around. You can’t gauge what they’re responding to, or what they want to see. Realistically, comments are the foundation of a community, and community doesn’t just exist on your site. Being a part of community means taking your voice & thoughts to the blogs of others and sharing it! With a comment, of course.
Comments force you to slow down, read, & ENGAGE with content.
How easy is it to skim through blogs – via email, via your feed reader, and never actually absorb the content? Your eyes glaze over and it’s just about getting through the 300+ posts that have accumulated in the last day.
But really… what good is that doing you or the bloggers you follow?
Take the time to stop just endlessly consuming information and make time to INTERACT with it. If you think that’s impossible to do when you follow hundreds of blogs, cull your blog reader. Focus on certain sites each day of the week. Actually READ the post. Think about what the blogger said. Can you respond to it? (If it’s complicated or controversial, step away for 20 minutes.) Formulate thoughts, and share them.
You may find that you’re more inspired by what you’re reading… and who doesn’t love a good dose of inspiration!
Comments represent you, your content, & your site.
That thoughtful comment you just left? It represents your site. It represents YOU.
Every line we write online is a digital footprint back to us and our sites. Your thoughtful, engaged comment isn’t just seen by the author; it’s seen by all of their fans. If that’s the first comment you’ve left for a blog, this is your chance at a great first impression – for the blogger and their readers.
Make it count.
Relationships begin in the comments.
Relationships – that’s what blogging is about. If community is the foundation of a great blog, relationships are the glue that hold it together and keep it strong.
Building relationships with other bloggers, and comments are a natural way to build that relationship. A relationship isn’t built by leaving one comment, nor is a new fan found that way. It comes from continually reaching out and having something valid to say. It grows from there – to email, social media sites, and more.
But if you’re really looking to build your relationships with other bloggers, start with a comment.
Comments show you care.
There are a lot of bloggers who don’t respond to their comments. (I’m guilty of this – I went through a phase where where I couldn’t keep up with my comments because of my day job.)
Making the time to respond, even to a few readers? It shows you care about what your readers have to say. It tells your readers, “Hey! You’re golden. Thank you for responding, and I know you’re there. I can’t do this without you. Your support means everything.” And wow… isn’t that just amazing to think about? How much your readers care for you and what you have to say? It kind of blows my mind.
As you’re writing up goals & resolutions for 2014, put this one towards the top of your list. Be a better commenter. Rediscover the joy of connecting with your community. It’s an easy part of blogging for us to put by the wayside. It also becomes the part of blogging we miss most quickly.
Beyond the Sponsored Post: Brands Want Your Social Media, Too
I know this is beating an obvious fact into the ground, but social media has firmly planted itself as a key form of communication in today’s society. As bloggers have evolved in their savviness around using social media to promote their blogs, so too have brands put time into learning how social media benefits them. Brands have turned a lot of their marketing department’s attention (and budget) to social media, and in working with bloggers active on Twitter and such. Brands are essentially paying to cultivate relationships with brand ambassadors. Influential ones, at that; those who aren’t just consuming social media, but turning around and sharing it with a sizable audience.
A few years ago, a brand sponsorship often only consisted of a sponsored post. Nowadays every brand is interested in far more than just a blog post or two. There’s social media content I’m asked to share across different platforms. At times there’s a “real-life” part to the contract which requires event duties – as simple as showing up or as big as a full speaking presentation on fashion and/or blogging. What does this all mean? It means brands are looking at more than just your blog – they’re looking at all the different places on the web you have an influential presence.
From my own experience with brand sponsorships, here are some ways in which brands might want to work with you on each of those sites – and what to tend to with each.
Twitter
Sharing tweets is one of the most common actions brand sponsorships will want you to take on social media. They’ll ask you to promote any blog posts you write. They will often include tweets crafted by the brand for you to send out through your Twitter handle, with specific hashtags related to this specific brand campaign. The tip here? Pay attention to your hashtags and use them every time! Hashtags are essential in keeping track of how well a Twitter campaign spread.
Facebook
The other most common social media ‘ask’ from a brand is Facebook sharing. Usually brands keep it pretty simple, requiring you to promote your sponsored blog posts to your FB page fans. Brands might also ask you to contribute to a Facebook live chat they host, or that you share some prepared status updates to your FB page. Make sure your blog’s Facebook page is fairly active, and make sure to appropriately tag them too! (How to tag pages on Facebook.)
Instagram
I’ve observed countless bloggers make some serious dough from Instagram campaigns alone. Brands will often ask bloggers for an Instagram photo/video set during a campaign they’re working together on. In it, the blogger captures anywhere from 10-15 Instagrams of various shots. Tag and hashtag correctly here, too, and do your best to create visually-appealing, evocative photos. Filters are your friend!
Pinterest
Sometimes brands will ask you to create and pin several images to Pinterest board on a specific topic, trend, or campaign keyword. I’ve also had brands request I embed one of their Pinterest boards into my sponsored posts. In either case, it’s a great way for brands to engage bloggers’ audiences and easily lead them back to their website.
YouTube
Brands might also request video content in your brand sponsorship, where you’re required to take footage of or share pre-recorded footage on your blog and other social media profiles. The bloggers who can bring some serious spunk and personality to their YouTube presence are often booked for brand campaign event host duties or other speaking presentations. You never know where that beauty haul video could take you!
What other unique ways might bloggers and brands work together on social media sponsorships?
How to Build Good Relationship Beyond Reviews and Giveaways
One of the biggest challenges I've experienced as a blogger is building a more long-lasting relationship with my favorite brands. It’s been my experience that getting the review or getting the giveaway in the first place is a lot easier than turning that relationship into more than a one-post stand. But at the same time, who wants to turn their site into nothing more than regurgitated press releases?
What are you looking for in a relationship with a brand? Free swag and gifts for your readers can be great, but I think ultimately (like our real-life relationships) we’re looking for something mutually beneficial. Maybe you’re hoping to grow that relationship into a brand ambassadorship, paid sponsorship, or a full-time job with the company. Regardless of what your end goal is, getting from the point of making the contact to the point of a mutually beneficial relationship IS HARD. I've got brands I've worked with for years, who I still have to beg for a lookbook each season!
TIP NO. 01 - I suggest asking what some of their (the brand) objectives are. From there you can get a feeling of where they are even willing to go and grow…and if what you may want to do aligns with their goals! When you know, you’ll have a prime opening to pitch your idea, showing them how their objectives can be reached.
TIP No. 02 - You can also do the direct, but laid back approach - In order to move the relationship beyond the status quo, ask them, in a casual manner, if they may be interested in X (a paid opportunity) that would even more thoroughly spotlight the brand on your site, or casually send them your media kit, in case they might be interested in some sponsored opportunity in the coming months. Keeping it professional, but casual, should make it comfortable to approach.
When you've been blogging a long time, you inevitably come across some challenges when working with a brand for so long. One of the old one issue that several times happen is when "you've had one solid contact at a brand for a very long time, and that point-person leaves." It’s almost like starting from square one to build your relationship up again with a new person.
Another biggest struggle in taking the next step is that “we can either underestimate or overestimate ourselves.” I have found that I surprised myself when I pitched a major brand and they loved it. I had history with them and had an idea and went for it! Was I scared? You bet. But if I did not believe in myself or had the courage to go for it, I wouldn't be here.
TIP NO. 03 - When it comes to remaining memorable, we that you show some common courtesy: In any kind of relationship, being attentive, diligent, and making them a priority (i.e. attending the brand’s events, posting info about them as soon as it’s released) is much-appreciated…doing something courteous and considerate, that requires minimal effort, like sending a thank-you email or even hand written note after you've worked with them on something really can make a difference in distinguishing yourself from the rest.
TIP NO 04 - Believe in yourself, have a game plan, and be professional!
Have you been successful in moving your relationships with brands past giveaways, reviews, and press releases? What tips do you have for the rest of the class?
Email me at blair.villanueva@gmail.com
Follow me on Twitter | @LegazpiFabModa
Follow my Facebook Page | Legazpi Fab Moda
A Question for Credibility and Integrity? Bloggers Word War for Suzy Menkes's Complaints about Bloggers
As fashion bloggers, we are very glad that our readers appreciate the styling and art that we've created - which includes studying not only the basics, but also accessorizing it, make it stand-out, unique and show our true-self. Aside from receiving unexpected comments from our worldwide readers, and social media exposures, we are very felt "giggly" when our names are been recognized by different company brands, and PR agencies. And our "giggly" turns into more exciting when we've started to received exclusive invitations for appearances in various society events, and brand launching. And what IF you have received an exclusive invitation to attend the FASHION WEEK seating in the FRONT-ROW?! .... obviously our hearts and minds are in the Cloud 9..
Why I am telling you this?
It is because these things makes us happy, right? We are happy that our efforts are going to its right track. Like in my case, I started blogging for the sake of my hobby.
If you are following what's going-on in the recent New York and London Fashion Week - fashion sites, online newspapers and magazines, tells that fashion is now dominated by the newest crowd - The Bloggers. Most of the people in the industry likes it, but not ALL, including the essay, The Circus of Fashion of Suzy Menkes (published in T Magazine) laments that the focus of the biannual Fashion Week has shifted from the actual presentations of the people who stand and "peacock" outside them, waiting to be captured in outfits seemingly engineered to make photographers pay attention.
"You can hardly get up the steps at Lincoln Center, in New York, or walk along the Tuileries Garden path in Paris because of all the photographers snapping at the poseurs. Cameras point as wildly at their prey as those original paparazzi in Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita.” But now subjects are ready and willing to be objects, not so much hunted down by the paparazzi as gagging for their attention."
Menkes's article, which ultimately questions whether bloggers have been good or bad for the industry, received so many responses that the International Herald Tribune issued a press release. To date, Susanna Lau of Style Bubble, Leandra Medine of Man Repeller, Isabel Wilkinson of The Daily Beast, and Khadijat Yussuff of Youth Savage have penned or promised responses. Here's a look at just a little of what's been said.
Leandra Medine: "It doesn't seem quite fair to peg the bloggers that have actually become 'famous' as such just for being famous. When I think Tavi Gevinson or Susie Bubble or Emily Weiss or, on the street spectrum, Tommy Ton, I think recognition based on the merit of astounding work."
Susie Lau: "I do want to address this issue after Fashion Week hubbub has died down, as I haven't quite figured how I feel yet, but for now, I suppose I have nothing to do except to go right ahead and confirm Menkes's exact suspicions: that we are all peacocking, however much we doth protest."
Isabel Wilkinson: "You can't hate on all the fashion bloggers in the world just because you can't get into your seat at a fashion show without having to walk past a few of them. And they may be swaddled in astrakhan when you see them, but not all fashion bloggers have had it easy. . . . Many have started their blogs from scratch and invariably hustled to make money off of them. Some are real entrepreneurs."
Khadijat Yussuff: "I think she fails to take into account the fact that a lot of these people are dressing for one another and themselves. . . . The point of personal style is that there is a trademark that is uniquely yours that you have developed and edited over time. And so what if it's out there, crazy, or impractical?"
... and now, your witty comments on this (issues). :)
Email me at blair.villanueva@gmail.com
Follow me on Twitter | @LegazpiFabModa
Follow my Facebook Page | Legazpi Fab Moda
Reasons Why The ‘Follow For Follow’ Technique Hurts Your Blog
"Please follow me and I’ll follow you back. Have a good day.”
Does this sound familiar?
We are talking about the “follow me and I’ll follow you” comments that often fill up under a post, your email box, Facebook and Twitter notifications.
I can understand why some of you are vocal about your frustration with this tactic — and I’m here to say I agree with you. While self-promotion is a part of the blogging game, sending out floods of mass, impersonal messages could actually hurt your blogging reputation more than help.
Here's our top reasons WHY?
First, and most importantly, you should really only follow and promote blogs you genuinely enjoy. Readers pick up on who you are endorsing and, in a way, it’s a reflection on you. Stay true to what inspires you and save your “follows” for bloggers who actually matter to you.
The “I’ll follow you if you follow me” tactic may get you a sweep of initial followers, but the reality is that it’s not a long-lasting plan, especially for engagement. Sure, they may “follow” you, but are they commenting on or sharing your posts? Are they offering advice and engaging in conversation? Probably not. In fact, if they aren't even reading your blog, you’re not even getting more page views. What’s the point of having a follower if they aren't a genuine reader?
For the people you are messaging, it may feel like spam or disingenuous. When you are constantly bombarding people with vague “follow me!” messages, it leaves a sour taste much (akin to junk emails). However, if you are genuinely interested in collaborating with a blogger, write them a well thought out email about why you like their blog, what your blog is all about, and why you two would be a good fit to work together. This way you are building an organic relationship that could be lasting over time, not just a temporary boost.
Have you tried the “follow me and I’ll follow you” tactic? What do you think about it?
How Do You Reward Yourself For Good Work?
In a typical “day job” you have co-workers, a team, a boss — and everyone has to answer to a higher authority. But being a independent fashion blogger means you are your own boss, and for many, the whole team. So while you may not have someone checking your work or reprimanding you when you over sleep, you also don’t have someone rewarding your jobs well done. You may soon realize that you are a tougher boss on yourself than you might have expected.
Being rewarded for good behaviors is just as important as being tough on yourself. We’ve talked about how goal setting can be the most efficient way of getting your blogging business started (and maintained). But rewarding your progress along the way is just as vital to keeping your sanity — you don’t want to end up feeling like you are constantly running up hill. Take a breather. Reflect.
Maybe you exceeded your monthly traffic goal, or maybe you landed an awesome campaign, (or maybe it’s just Friday!) — whatever the reason is, giving yourself a little pat on the back for your accomplishments is imperative to from keeping yourself from having a blogger burn out.
Whether it’s a manicure, brownie, a day off, or a little retail therapy, it’s healthy. Giving yourself rewards is a way of keeping yourself motivated, especially when there’s no one else motivating you.
How to Reward Yourself for Your Accomplishments
Think about things that really relax you or items you may want to purchase, and write them down so you have a tangible list. Make one column for “big ticket” items (like a vacation) and one for smaller treats (like a new pair of heels). Making your rewards tangible will help you remember to treat yourself (it’s easy to forget).
Rewards work best when they are realistic. For instance, don’t promise yourself a trip to Paris if you can’t afford it. If a cupcake is more your budget, take that into account.
Now go ahead, treat yourself.
Email me at blair.villanueva@gmail.com
How to Set Traffic Goals
 |
| excerpt from IFB |
Higher traffic on your blog means a greater possibility of making your blog a self sustaining business. So, what’s the magic formula behind getting higher numbers? There’s a myriad of things you need to do, but one way to grow your reach is by setting tangible traffic goals for yourself. Here’s how to strategize:
Set concrete numbers to hit for both your blog traffic and social media followers.
Just having a vague idea of “I want to have more traffic” won’t do anything, but if you set a numerical goal for yourself, you can work on gaining more followers in a formulaic and mathematical way. Make sure you are setting numbers that you can actually hit — for instance, if you have 40 page views daily, it’s most likely that won’t have 2,000 page views daily by next week. The same goes with larger blogs, 27,000 page views daily this week won’t mean a million the next. Pick numbers that make sense, but are also challenging.
Example: If you have 10,000 daily page views, try to hit 11,000 a day seven days from now. That’s a 10% increase — a tangible and reachable number. If you continue this every week, your site will only keep growing!
Give yourself a high five every time you reach your goal, and if you don’t reach your goal, figure out why. Was the goal to high? Or did you post less content? What can be adjusted so you can achieve your desired number by the next week?
Make a spreadsheet to keep track of your growth and your potential growth.
Write down your current numbers, along with short term goals and long term goals. Say your goal is to hit a total of one million page views on your site within the next year, calculate how many page views you would need every day to reach this goal. Then ask yourself, “is this goal possible?” If you think it is, plan your trajectory accordingly.
Check your traffic every day.
This should seem obvious, but sometimes when you’re blogging you can get caught up in your content and forget to check your stats. If you are below your daily stats, you can try to make it up the next day.
Example: Your daily goal (based on your long term goal) was 700 page views, but you only hit 620. Tomorrow, your goal should be 780 to make up for the loss you suffered the day before. You may need to use social media more or beef up your content that day to make up the gap.
Write down which posts do the best, and which ones do the worst.
Have you ever experienced a spike in traffic? What about that day made your traffic go up? Did someone retweet you? Was it a certain accessory you talked about? Did you change the style in which you presented your post? Using your analytics tools, hone in on which posts have had the best traffic and which posts have had the lowest traffic. Then use these numbers to quantify what to repeat and what to avoid when you are publishing your content.
Keep a list of anything you notice that has hurt or helped your traffic.
Did you work with a brand or a fellow blogger and it boosted your stats? Or perhaps you uploaded a really great photo on Instagram? Or is there a certain key word that drives traffic to you? Keep a list of what affects your blog and how to stay in tune with what resonates with your readers and what doesn’t — this will be most helpful in the long run.
5 Tips To Keeping Your Blog Relevant
What makes a blogger stick around? How do you stay relevant? How do you evolve with the changing times to stay on top of it all? And, more importantly, how do you avoid having an “expiration date”?
Use this checklist to keep your blog in check:
1. Does your blog look like it’s from 2005? Maybe it’s time for a makeover. Like a person’s appearance, a blog’s appearance can be updated with age. Go ahead, give your blog a manicure, pedicure, and a haircut! (Or in other words, a change in layout, logo, colors, and overall setup to keep things interesting.) Of course, if there is something that is your “signature” style, keep it or just change it slightly. Even the smallest updates can make a site look more cutting edge — the technology behind blogs is in a constant state of evolution, so keep up.
2. Is your content outdated? As fashion bloggers, our readers look to us to provide the most up to date information by the day, and sometimes by the minute. If you are writing about a trend that’s so completely over, or a topic that has been regurgitated already, your reader’s will eventually look to other sites to find more relevant content. The same goes if you are a personal styling blog, if you are wearing items that are no longer in style or don’t represent your personality, it will be hard to move forward with your blog.
3. One of the main goals of in the business of blogging is always to get new readers, all the while building a consistent following that keeps coming back. Therefore, you should always be experimenting with new ideas for posts, different ways of presenting your blog, and your social media. Maybe try to make a gif or a video, or perhaps tweeting more on your slowest traffic day. Find these small problems and capitalize on them!
4. Have a business plan. What do you hope to accomplish today? This week? This month? This year? Set business goals for yourself (ones that are within your reach), and try your darndest to meet them.
5. Keep up with other blogs. The best way to stay ahead of your competition is to be aware of what they’re doing. Make sure you’re dropping in on other bloggers at least once a week and take note of things they do and changes they make. What works for them? Could that work for you? I’m not condoning plagiarism or stealing ideas, but other blogs can be a source of inspiration. You can learn from your own mistakes, but you can also learn from what others do.
The internet is ever evolving, so as bloggers we need to stay evolving. As we become more experienced with age and practice, our blogs should reflect that. Always be learning from your endeavors, and though there may be some growing pains, if blogging is what you love stick with it!
[Image and Content credit: IFB]
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)
