Fashion blogging used to be an outlet for frustrated wannabe Vogue editors. Nowadays, the top bloggers are massively influential and mind-blowingly well-paid. There are so many in the blogosphere, however, that it might seem like an impenetrable territory.
Not so!
All you need is a serious interest in the industry, an eye for future trends, and something personal and unique to say. With these building blocks, you can become a popular, money-making fashion and beauty blogger.
Here’s How to Make a Career Out of Blogging About Fashion
Where to Find Motivation
The architects of the ‘fashion blog’ include Bryan Grey Yambao, who set up BryanBoy in 2004 and is now a judge on America’s Next Top Model. In 2010 he was getting 1.4m page views a month and earning $100,000 from his blog. Marc Jacobs even named a bag after him. However you measure success, Bryan has achieved it.
The top brands have been known to pay up to $50,000 for promotion on his highly successful blog. Historically, companies have paid bloggers through ‘gifting opportunities’ – free samples of their products. Don’t expect this to happen straight away; you’ll have to earn those goodies!
Where to Start
If you’re new to blogging, you might want to start off with Blogger.com as a platform; their WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) method is free and easy to use. You can still personalize and prettify your blog without having to get into the technical IT side. However, if you’re serious about your blogging endeavors, I highly suggest getting set up on the paid version of WordPress — Holly has a super easy step-by-step tutorial here.
You’ll need to brand yourself. Sit down and think about what you do best. Are you the witty critic, the make-up maverick, or the blogger who mixes high fashion with the affordable high street? You need to find a name for your blog that’s catchy, short, and represents what you want to portray with the blog.
Make sure that your website is going to be attractive to readers, fashion brands, and potential advertisers alike. Produce interesting, unique, and appealing articles with beautiful images. These can be as simple as a lovely snap of an outfit that’s inspired you.
Who to Watch
Every year, Marie Claire names the top beauty and fashion bloggers and influencers, which can be a great place to gather inspiration. Harper’s Bazaar has a similar list of Instagram influencers in the fashion industry.
For the most up-to-the-minute fashion news and creative ideas, Instagram is the place to be. From backstage catwalk gossip and photos to movers and shakers in the fashion industry, this is where you’ll find the news first.
Check out the following fashion influencers:
How to Make Them Watch You
Don’t just watch these people – talk to them, comment on their blogs, and swap notes. Why not arrange to meet up with local like-minded bloggers and writers to see how you can all help to promote each other? A great way to make friends with other bloggers is to offer to write guest posts for them. Good quality content is hard to keep churning out, so if you can prove yourself, they’ll welcome the input!
How to Make Everyone Watch You
Promote yourself on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram, and write for other blogs (as detailed above). Showing examples of your work through image sites like Tumblr and submitting outfit ideas to Lookbook.nu will also get your name out there. Ensure that your images are top-notch, though, with nothing blurry. Newspapers, magazines, and magazine format shows love to use bloggers for sound bites, and statements so jump on opportunities to do this. Make yourself available around key events in the fashion calendar, such as the Fashion Weeks. Check out Women’s Wear Daily’s calendar.
Most importantly of all, keep your blog regularly updated. Readers will expect you to update each day, so make sure you can commit to this. If you suddenly disappear when they’ve been looking forward to reading your news, they won’t return.
How to Get Paid
To make a living from fashion and beauty blogging, you’re going to need to be on prospective commercial partners’ radars. To achieve this, you’ll need to make appearances across the web, in the ways we’ve discussed earlier in this article. By following our advice, you’ll be able to prove to advertisers and brands that you have a consistent following, that you are a credible blogger that people listen to and that you are worth investing in. It’s all about making a name for yourself and really networking to make it a viable work option. It’s not easy, but the rewards are worth it!
Be sure to check out this post for more details on how to work with brands.
Of course, as a fashion blogger, you’ll need to diversify your income streams. Affiliate marketing and working with an ad network can help to fill in the gaps.
With affiliate marketing, you’ll sign up with companies to promote their products and services. When your readers or social media followers make a purchase or sign up through your affiliate link — you’ll earn a commission.
To make even more money, sign up with an ad network like Google Adsense or Media.net (if you’re a new blogger), and more established bloggers can check out Raptive or Mediavine.
Other Ways to Promote Your Fashion Blog
You’ve already got social media as your marketing bag, but just like your blogging income, you should diversify your marketing methods. One of the best ways to stay in touch with your audience is through email marketing. Simply pick an email marketing provider like ConvertKit or Constant Contact. With social media, you have to worry about the ever-changing algorithms, but with email marketing, you own your list and can get in touch with them any time you desire.
If you’re new to email marketing, check out this post for some simple tips to get started.
Conclusion
If you’re a fashion lover and have an eye for trends and design, you can easily set up your own fashion blogging empire! It just takes a little passion, persistence, and perseverance.
Are you a fashion or beauty blogger? How are you monetizing your blogging efforts? Drop us a note we’d love to hear from you!
How To Make a Career Out of Blogging About Fashion & Beauty was written by Ally Biring a freelance writer, currently working with FeelUnique.com.
This is a good article, but can you have one for blog promotion and new bloggers. So, far only adsense accepts my blog. I have a fairly reasonable DA for a new blog. But getting 25k pageviews and things are not for new ones.
I know Mediavine requires 25,000 PV per month, and AdThrive requires 100,000 PV a month. Adsense and Media.net will accept newbies — but I think you have to have at least 10-15 articles with Adsense and 100 visitors a day.
I used to design as a hobby when I was in high school and was thinking of taking it up again some 12 years later. I’m so glad I came across your blog as I was thinking about starting up a fashion blog with it. Thank you! :)
I think this is great information. Where do most fashion bloggers get their pictures from? You can tell most are professional and feature celebrities. In addition, I have seen fashion bloggers feature clothes from stores that are from the clothing company. How do they get these? Any additional info would be appreciated.
Hi Michelle,
I’m not a fashion blogger, but I get all of my images from stock photo sites, like Photos.com, Deposit Photos, and Haute Stock. Most fashion bloggers that I know, end up taking their own photos because they are styling their own outfits, makeup, and hair.
As far as getting swag from brands, here are a few articles on working with brands and how to pitch them.
https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/getting_your_pitch_accepted/
https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/how-to-work-with-brands/
https://www.theworkathomewoman.com/tips-for-becoming-a-pr-friendly-blogger/
If you’re serious about working with brands, I high suggest Julie Solomon’s course Pitch It Perfect: https://bit.ly/2M9QGe5 (aff link) — I took it and got a lot out of it.
Good luck and keep us posted on your journey!