I get asked a lot of questions, usually around the same subject of “what made you want to become a fashion blogger” and “how did you get into fashion blogging”, but unfortunately I always feel like I don’t have a relevant answer for these types of questions, or one that would be what the person was looking for in an answer. The simple answer to both questions would be something along the lines of “I didn’t really know I wanted to become a fashion blogger, it was sort of a natural process that took its course” and “it just sort of happened”, these are really the only variations I can work around. So, I thought it would be fun to put together a post for you on becoming a fashion blogger. I’m not saying that I am super successful or that I am a great fashion blogger, I’m just telling my story of how it happened for me and some tips and tricks that I have learned along the way to help you out.
The original reason I created my fashion blog, Raindrops of Sapphire, was because I wanted a place online that I could call my own, more like a personal place where I could share my thoughts and feelings towards clothes and accessories with others who might share the same interest as me. I had become a little familiar with some fashion bloggers over time, but back then I didn’t find them to be as inspiring as I do now, so it was just purely for the reason of wanting to expand my blog writing and expressing myself, I suppose you could say.
As you know, I write for DenimBlog, but when you are an all round fashion lover, just writing about denim turned out to not be enough for me (even though I absolutely love it), I needed something more where I could talk about everything I wanted and share my personal style, that’s when Raindrops of Sapphire was born over two years ago. So as you can see, I never had a drive to want to be the next best fashion blogger/style icon at all, I just wanted to share my thoughts and views.
Fashion for me is the way I express myself and it’s on my mind 24/7. I’m always thinking of the next outfit that I can wear, or what pieces I would like to add to my wardrobe or do DIY on. I love wearing bright colours and prints and I really do feel like it’s the best way to express my personality. I mean we all judge people by the clothes they wear a lot of the time, it’s pointless to deny it, so I think it explains a lot about a persons personality from the clothes they choose to wear every day. This is why I suppose my blog became my outlet for my thoughts as well as a way of expressing myself. It all developed into one really.
So over the many years of blogging combined, I have learned a lot of tips and tricks which can help you to have a great fashion blog and become a fashion blogger. I thought I would list them below as some of you might find it interesting and useful. Really a lot of people think blogging is easy in the sense you just put photos up, write some text and click publish, but if you want your fashion blog to at least be semi successful, it’s much harder than that. It’s more like running a small magazine, on your own.
It involves having good quality photos, good content, good writing ability, the ability to be a stylist or know what works together for outfits, editing knowledge, some photoshop skills, social media knowledge, promotion techniques, some SEO knowledge, optimization skills and much more… It’s really a lot of hard work and takes up a lot of time, so I fully respect a lot of top bloggers and appreciate everything they do as it’s very tough going!
The main points though if you are starting out would be: write great content and blog promotion. These two key points are exactly what you need when you want to start out as a fashion blogger. I will elaborate on these points a little more so that you have a better understanding of them.
Write great content – This key point is so important to me because it’s everything your blog is. I often ask myself why I visit the blogs that I do on a regular basis and it’s always because I want to read the content and see what’s next. I’m pretty sure this is the case for everyone because if you didn’t like the content of the blog, why would you bother reading it? So make sure your posts are something you would love to read as well as really clear, written well and that they keep getting better.
I always try to keep my posts on a level with each other in terms of what I think is good and what I think my readers would like to read, all while slowly but steadily getting increasingly better over time (at least I hope). When I look back to the beginning of my blog now, I sometimes cringe at how bad my photos were and how messy some parts looked, but I’m sure maybe in a couple of years from now, I might say the same thing about my posts I am currently writing. It’s always better to get better over time so people can have things to look forward to when coming back to your blog.
Stay true to yourself – This point sort of comes as secondary to the one above because it’s still about the content. It’s so important that you do stay true to who you are when you write your posts and have your fashion blog in general. Reason being, there are thousands of blogs out there and if you tend to want to copy someone else, that’s not being unique and who you are, so the readers will just read the original blog instead of yours. It’s important to make sure you come across as yourself and you don’t stray away from that because eventually it’s you the readers connect with and your personality, so they know what to expect when they come back to your blog.
Blog promotion – Now this is also equally important! I know Google and other search engines can help you get readers, but in the bigger picture is a simple question, how do you expect to get readers if they don’t know you exist? So promoting your blog is very important to get yourself known. I find the best way to do this is naturally with great content, but it’s a slow process, so letting people know about your blog by commenting on their fashion blogs too or using social media (see below), is a good alternative. It’s likely that if you comment on someones blog that’s similar to your own, they would want to check yours out too because it’s possible your tastes might be the same. I find this very important when you are trying to grow your fashion blog. Obviously don’t start spamming peoples blogs though, make sure your comments are relevant to their posts.
Another great way to promote yourself is guest blogging! You can write some posts for other fashion blogs who accept them and within the text you can include a link back to your blog, this is a great way of gaining more readers who like fashion.
Some other key points to remember are:
Social media – Social media is one of the most important secondary factors of blogging in my opinion. You gain followers and can promote your posts and your blog there for people to see, plus it’s easy for readers to follow you if they like your blog enough. FaceBook, Twitter and Bloglovin are the three main important social media outlets, and also now Pinterest, as they are four of the most popular. I’ve always used FaceBook and Twitter to promote my posts to my readers and I find it helps a lot as it goes straight to their news feed. It’s also great as people can share your posts on their own social media accounts which can also get you more readers too, while Bloglovin is a great database to gain fans and be discovered and Pinterest you can share your photos!
Layout – Sometimes I have been to peoples blogs and I get really turned off by the layout. Some fashion blogs are really hectic and messy, really busy on the eye and you can’t see what you are clicking as well as some coding problems where images may overlap borders and content columns. The most effective and successful fashion blogs that I have seen on the web are clean and fresh with a simple colour scheme and easy to read layout. From experience, people generally prefer simplicity and less work, so it’s always important to remember to keep your layout neat. It should also represent you though, so you should definitely have something unique for your header and something that expresses what your blog is about.
There are many other factors which come into play when creating your fashion blog and trying to make it successful, but I would be here all day if I listed every single point, so this is why this post is just focusing on the main key points of becoming a fashion blogger. I would also love to know what works for you! I know some people are just incredibly lucky to gain overnight success as they manage to get promoted by someone popular or a magazine, but it is really down to luck when that happens or having a unique amazing personal style. Hopefully you liked the post and you found it useful! If so, please feel free to share it on FaceBook and Twitter or anywhere else if you think others could find it useful too, I would appreciate that. I always love to help people out! Also, please sign up to my weekly newsletter near the bottom of my side bar for weekly updates on what’s new!
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Love to read this, you have a great style, and i like youre blog!
Author
Thanks Nora!
I love this post! You’re doing an amazing job with your blog, even though you don’t have the aspirations of becoming one of the leading fashion bloggers. But may be even though you’re not reaching for it, you will achieve it anyway.
Love,
http://dipitblack.wordpress.com
Author
Thank you so much! That would be amazing if I did achieve that, but it’s definitely not my biggest goal as I’m not really into travelling etc so I am pretty sure I wont get there. All of the others jet all over the world, but the thought of that scares me lol!
Love this! Thank you so much! You’re blog is great!
Author
Thanks Shannon!
wow)
like your looks)
awesome skirt!
Author
Thank you Angela!
Great post! You were one of my original inspirations dear 🙂
http://www.thepursesnatcher.net
Author
Thank you so much Sarah 🙂 That’s so kind!
great post!
Author
Thanks Dianna!
Beautiful looks! 🙂
http://www.fashionistasdiary.com
Author
Thanks Eva 🙂
Great tips!
Author
Thanks Ines!
Lorna….. what a GREAT GREAT GREAT blog post! 🙂 I agree with you 100% on all of this and you make great points and give great tips 🙂 You have a wonderful blog and I truly enjoy reading it and seeing your outfits! Thanks for sharing this post!
Author
Thank you so much rachel 🙂 I’m glad you think so 🙂
A great post and very informative! 🙂
Author
Thanks Adam 🙂
Hello, I found your blog from a friend and I went to visit! I loved your post and I am going to stay on top of all the news!
I hope my blog:
http://www.todacharmosa.com
If you want to follow me I’ll be very happy! ♥ hugs..
Instangram @pathyamorinha
http://facebook.com/blogtodacharmosa
Author
Thanks Patricia! I’m glad you found it and liked it! I will check out yours!
If you are a fashion lover you should check out my site Groundbreaking and follow it on the
Facebook official page
GROUNDBREAKING
Author
Thanks for letting me know.
Thanks so much for taking the time to write this, it is extremely helpful 🙂
Bemsy x
Author
You are welcome Bemsy 🙂
Hey Lorna, thanks for the great insight on blogging.
If you have time, I would love for you to visit my blog, since I am fairly new at this and am trying to get a little more traffic in my blog. Also, if it isn’t too much trouble, can we follow each other?
Thank you so much, hope you have a lovely day
Stylejourneys.com
Author
Thank you so much! And sure, where would you like to follow?
You can tell you are really passionate about your blog. You had some really great tips. Thanks so much 🙂
Author
Thanks Jaclyn! I really am 🙂
Great post Lorna! Awesome pics too!
Author
Thanks Dave!
Great post! You know you should consider submitting it to IFB’s weekly links 🙂
http://mademois-elle.com
Author
Thanks yana 🙂 I took your advice and submitted it!
amazing tips! you have fantastic style!
http://sarassweetstyle.blogspot.com/
Author
Thanks sara!
Just discovered your blog and…thank you a lot! I start blogging with my little cousin a couple of week ago, so I’m very happy that someone of the “old and famous” blogger tries to help other people to do the same. I’m sure that the content part is the more important, and it’s why I’m a little bit confused, ’cause my cousin is all “fashion fashion fashion”, and me more “fashion culture book”. I hope this would be a good point to presenting something personal and unique, I’ll let you know… 🙂
Author
Maybe with both of you doing different things you can create a great double content 🙂 Thanks for your lovely comment!
Nice post 🙂
Author
Thank you 🙂
Love your blog 🙂 Really nice outfits!!
if you like, visit my blog
http://mademoiselleelisa.blogspot.de/
Author
Thank you so much 🙂
Interesting post!
Author
Thank you Style begins at forty!
Agree 100% with you. I think write great content, blog promotion and stay true to yourself are the keys.
Social media helps a lot to promote your blog. You have contact with your readers and get more traffic.
Great looks.
Karina Ibelis
http://karinaibelis19.wordpress.com
Author
Glad you agree Karina! It’s always important I think!
Thats a relly informative article Lorna, very interesting and full of inspiration. I love your blog, you are a natural at what you do, your fashion sense is second to none and I will follow you always xx
Author
Thank you Ali, your comments are always so kind, they mean a lot to me!
great post sweety! It’s nice to see all your outfitpics again too 😀
http://www.curlsandbags.com
Author
Thank you Curls and Bags 🙂
This I didn’t read… just look beautiful! That’s my tip 🙂
Author
Lol thanks David 🙂
🙂
Author
🙂
This is a very helpful post for those looking to be fashion bloggers! And even for those like me who don’t really have just one area of writing =P Great tips!!
Oh, and I love the last picture with the dress!! Looks really cute! =)
xoRosie
http://teacupsanddresses.blogspot.com/
Author
Thank you! I’m glad you liked it too!
i decided yesterday that i just can’t do it anymore that i just failed …. that am not gonna write anymore if no one is reading … that am gonna stop blogging…
i started my blog after i moved to the small city which was hard when i was born and raised in a big one.
i was looking for that place your talking about, a place i can share my thoughts, my feelings which the best way i express them is through textures and colors….some place i can call my own
thank you for this post … i know now my last post is not my last
i ‘d be happy if you can visit my blog and tell me what do you think
http://www.emma-insideout.blogspot.com
Love Emma
Author
Emma don’t give up! I saw your blog and it looks like people are reading it! You have lots of comments which is great! What are your stats like? You should do your blog because you love doing it! Whether you effect the lives of 1000s like some bloggers or a few people, it’s still important! Don’t give up if it’s something that you really love doing! Nothing is ever an overnight success, it requires so much hard work and dedication!
Love your outfit! Follow me if you want!
Author
Thanks Giulia!
Amazing outfit dear!! Loved the style 🙂
Please check out my blog too
xx
http://fashionbraid.blogspot.com/
Author
Thanks fashion braid 🙂
Hi there,
So I want to start a fashion blog and become a fashion blogger…
I don’t know a nice name to start with…
And what exactually to tell… Any tips?
x
Author
Hi Sabb! I would recommend not starting one until you have your own unique idea. The idea behind fashion blogs and fashion blogging is having your own personal style and sharing that with everyone, you need to feel comfortable with your own style and feel like you have something to share. Too many people just start blogs because they think they will get fame and free clothes, but you need to be unique. Good luck.
just wanted to let you know that I’ve found this post really inspiring and helpful. my blog is still very small but I’m very proud of it and hope that people enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy writing it. I find your point about loving your own style very close to heart. fabulous post!
Author
Hi Julia! I’m really glad you found it helpful! Good luck with your blog and I’m happy you are staying true to yourself!
Great post! I’ve only recently started writing my own fashion blog and it’s inspiring and motivation to read this post 🙂
Author
I’m glad you like it 🙂
Great tips on fashion blogging! How do you manage your time between all of your creative projects!?
everydayelevated.blogspot.com
Author
I have to split it daily or choose to work on different blogs each day, I now run 4 so it definitely keeps me busy. I actually have a look into my day post coming soon so it might give you some idea! Glad you like the post!