[Image via heartifb.com]
Dressed to the nines and ready to learn, network, and indulge in sponsored services such as hair and makeup, the Independent Fashion Bloggers Conference had all of the elements in place for a memorable and meaningful event. We summarized some of the most important tidbits of info to come out of the conference, so that newbies and seasoned bloggers alike can consider some new pointers to boost the business of blogging.
Content is EVERYTHING This point holds true whether are you just beginning your blogging career or you have been writing a blog for a few years now. During the panel, “Business in the First Year of Blogging,” the main focus was to understand why content trumps everything else on your blog, and the answer is quite simple. Your ideas, thoughts, and opinions is all you have to establish an authoritative voice, while gaining loyal readers who value your opinion. You want your readers to keep coming to your site and see what you have to say on a certain topic or issue. BUT another important thing that was stressed is to always be true to your opinions. Don’t just say something because you think this will be what your readers will want to hear.
[The MailChimp newsletter subscription service was a sponsor (and had these adorable hats!)]
Be Selective with Affiliate Brands You always want to think about your audience when it comes time to working with affiliate marketers for your blog. Stick to working with brands that highlight the style and voice of your blog. Your readers are your first priority and want to work with brands that have something to contribute for conversations between you and the reader. As it was said at the conference, you are allowed to say “no” to brands that don’t fit.
Crisp Pictures is Essential From my own experience in blogging, I will be honest and say that one of the hardest things about blogging is capturing good quality pictures to post. One of the best ways to receive good quality pictures is to plan ahead and practice. First, it is best to plan ahead of time for the location of your shoot, and how you want the layout of your picture to stand, i.e., a posed picture of yourself, an outfit layout, or a close-up of a specific garment. With practice you will find your own niche of how to take a good photo, but don’t be surprised if you have to 300 pictures to find the perfect one!
Make Sure Pictures Zoom in On DETAILS Especially with a fashion blog, details are crucial because your readers want to see the quality of the fabric of the featured item. Think about it from an affiliate marketers perspective; if they are thinking of featuring something on your blog, they are not going to want deformed pictures representing their product. The details matter. And we were told that the best time to take these pictures is in the first 2-3 hours of daylight and last 2-3 hours of daylight because this time of day has the best amount of natural light that will heighten the quality of the picture and intensify the details of a particular fabric or material.
Don’t Feel The Need to Be on All Social Media Channels In the long run, your audience might not in all of those places, and it might not be worth your time and resources, plus there are no “have-tos” when it comes to social media, explained Dina Fierro during the “Elevating Influence: Content, Tools and Techniques that Drive Social Media Success” panel. It’s also a good idea to experiment on the different, and especially new platforms to see how you like them and if you are engaging with readers in this format.
Have a Plan or Goal Set For Yourself and Your Blog Again, whether you are just starting or have been in the blogging community awhile, it is always best to have a goal for your blog. Whether that be to partner with a particular affiliate, or build the amount of traffic that comes to your site. But, whichever it may be, planning ahead and making goals is the perfect motivator for a successful blog!
Unify a Brand Message Be it a blogger, website, or a brand, it’s important to have a strong, solid message that is clearly understood come across all modes of brand communications, be it a website, Twitter or Facebook account, or a blog. From the keynote address by Lisa Salzer of Lulu Frost, it’s important to have clear distinctions and a definition of who you are and what you do.
-with contributions by Katherine Callaghan, Julia DiNardo, & Lily Oswald
