Image By Eflon
This is the first post of two I have that are responses to Franca’s really thoughtful post, Why I Will Never Be a Professional Blogger, and in it, I felt an overwhelming desire to be ask– what makes a fashion blogger a professional blogger?
Admittedly, when I write posts for IFB, I write them for the fashion bloggers in the community who are looking for tips, resources, and ideas on how to be a professional fashion blogger. Yet, with each post I write, the definition changes to fix the context of each post. In a post about monetizing your site, fashion probloggers may be those who are looking for ways to bring in money, develop brand relationships, and earn a living off their blog. In a post about building traffic, fashion probloggers may be those who are interested in building an interactive community on their sites and who are interested in social media.
Some variables for what makes a professional fashion blogger will change, and not all of them may apply to you. Yet, at the heart of it, I do believe there are a few traits that make up a fashion problogger, regardless of whether they’ve monetized their site or have a large following.
What I think makes a professional fashion blogger…
- A professional attitude. I consider myself a problogger because I treat my blog like it’s a business, even if there isn’t much financial gain from it. From each email I send, to every tweet I post, I try to recognize the image it’s portraying of me and my site.
- Clean, strong writing and a grasp of language. Whether you like it or not, writing is the core of blogging. Without the ability to write clearly, readers will become lost. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve turned away from a site because I couldn’t make out what the writer was trying to say!
- Vision. A professional blogger not only has their own vision and ideas to share on their blog, but they also have vision in to the future. What ways are you relaying information that is new and fresh? How can you share it and engage others?
I believe these traits are always present in a professional blogger, no matter what the niche or their size– but that’s just my own opinion on what makes a professional blogger! IFB Community, what do you think? Do you consider yourself a fashion problogger? What qualities do you think make a problogger?
This all being said, it’s okay NOT to want to be a professional blogger. It’s OKAY to exhibit those traits and consider your blog a hobby. It’s OKAY to consider yourself a professional blogger, keep it a hobby, and have no desire to make money off of it. It’s OKAY to enjoy writing your fashion blog because you love fashion. It’s OKAY to read IFB, Problogger, Copyblogger, or any other blogging resource because you want to better your blog, even if you have no intentions of doing it professionally!
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Great post! I’ve seen this question debated too and I totally agree. For me, it’s all about the attitude. How you treat your blog, your readers, your writing.
Do you have an editorial calendar? Do you post consistently? Are you focused on creating original, compelling content? Do you treat your blog like a media outlet? These things I think are far more important than the decision over whether to monetize or not.
And, I cannot agree with you more about writing skills. I see a lot of blogs that I’ve also turned away from because of this. Despite beautiful images, if the writing is horrible why am I there? There is a reason fashion editors at magazines aren’t just great at fashion, they are talented writers too. It’s the combination of traits that makes a talented editor, just like the combination of traits makes for a talented blogger.
I 100% agree with you .. thanx for this post
Great post!! I think it is important to get an idea of exactly what a professional blogger is so that way one can decide if they want to go that route or not.
In the beginning I had no intention of doing anything with my blog except have it as a hobby. But almost two years in, I find myself treating it more like a business and now I’m interested in taking it to the next level! So in my mind set, I’m a professional blogger so now I just have to work on putting that mind set into action!
A very good question, I have been asking myself over the last year as well. I am professional fashion blogger! I have started to talk with designers, and boutique owners etc..and including them into features on my site. It has truly transformed into something I never dreamed of…the sky is the limit ..we are setting trends..amazing!!!
I love this series, the posts about blogging because they are contemplative, not commands.
Thank you.
Thank you! I’ve been in a really pensive place when it comes to blogging. I’m happy to hear it’s received well
Loved this article! I have to say I consider myself a professional blogger. I can’t wait to come home to blog about some topic that has been resonating in my head all day while teaching Math and History to my 6th graders. I agree with all the elements you mentioned as to the making of a good blog. Writing is key! Saying something worth saying and drawing readers to your pieces. Keeping up with the pulse of what’s going on in your blog field. I spend 4-6 hours on my blog. Either writing ideas down,thinking about ideas,getting out and talking to people about things,doing polls and reading IFB and anything else I can find. I love it and it’s fun and I treat this like my second job. Thanks for a great blog!
Always,
Diane
Thanks so much for writing this post. I look at blogging in a professional way not because I make any money off it (I don’t)but because what I write about is done in as professional a way as possible. In my mind it’s a magazine run by me for anyone to read and enjoy.
I too, consider myself a pro-fashion blogger, but just recently. It started as a hobby but I am working harder every day to make it better. Reaching out to other creatives and professionals has really made a difference. Great post!
This really captivates what a “professional blogger is” since I think this is a relatively young concept. I grew tired of buying fashion magazines ages ago so I turned to online resources to let me know what’s going on in the fashion world right now not next month. I started on youtube watching others tell me what they like/dislike and what works n such. Then I branched off to fashion bloggers/makeup bloggers, and now I’ve started my own youtube site and fashion blog. Maybe I can be professional too one day!
Great Post! Thank you for such great information.
http://foodfashionandflow.blogspot.com/
Thank you for sharing such a great post and good post.
Agreed! There are so many variables that make up professional blogging. I aspire to become a professional blogger because I am a journalist and would like to use my blog as a job-hunting tool. I would love for it to become a business, because ultimately it’s one big portfolio piece!
Honestly? At the end of the day, I feel like I’m a professional… who just happens to have a fashion blog. I’m just not sure how related they really are.
“A professional attitude.
Clean,strong writing and a grasp of language.
Vision.”
“I believe these traits are always present in a professional blogger, no matter what the niche or their size.” I totally agree with you Ashe! Thank you for this great post!
Agreed but I also think that a pro blogger doesn’t scam readers. And with that I mean those sneaky advertorials and reviews that mislead readers, just for making a buck or two.
I always let my readers and site visitors know when I got compensation for reviewing a product. And I always give my honest opinion. It’s up to them if they want to do something with that info.
Hi sweetheart, I absolutely love this post. While I see Francas point I have to agree with you. I consider my self a professional fashion blogger for all the reasons that you list here. I am behaving as though I am already in full business, living of my blog and fashion brand. This mind set keeps me true to my high standards, I am building my brand, and I make no apologies for it. I am a pro fashion blogger, and proud of it. I love your work Ashe, as always.
Sharing this post everywhere asap.
Love, Anika
Very right! I also treat my blog as a business, as you never know in this day and age what future bosses could google your name and find your blog. I think it’s not really appropriate to be writing mean or rude things, and you need to think to yourself, could this jeopardize a possible job if I say this?
Thanks for this!
Thank you so much for this post. I still have so much to learn about blogging, (I’ve started quite a few blogs but never went more than a few months with them because I never could hold onto the inspiration.) But now, starting with a blog I’ve just launched today, I see that I agree with your definition: it’s a business if I think about branding and image. No money need to be involved. So here we go, my first post as a pro fashion blogger!
Thank you again,
Aisling
Love the definitions in this article – if you want to be known as a “professional” blogger then you have to be Professional about things and take your blog seriously. Integrity is another good word that comes to mind. I don’t know what defines the point when you’ve “made it”, though. I guess that’s up to the individual to fathom out. It could be if Vogue calls, or it could be if they get to 50,000 hits a month etc.