Bad blogging advice – nobody wants it, but a lot of people dish it. So we decided to point out some of the biggest misconceptions we hear about fashion blogging and clear the air.
1. It’s only about having good photos.
Great photos can make your content look more professional and put together, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t describe your outfit. Even successful street style blogs cite where they were or what they were doing with each photo. It gives your audience context to what they are seeing.
2. It’s better to be on trend than have your own style.
Trendy items can spread like wildfire through sites like Pinterest and Tumblr, but if you don’t develop a personal style (or voice) for yourself first, these trends will seem inauthentic. Pick trends that actually work well with your “look” and body.
3. You have to be young.
Trust us, there are plenty of stylish women and men over the age of thirty and blogging about it successfully.
4. Stick to a rigid publishing schedule.
Should you have some kind of editorial calendar? Yes, even if only to keep yourself organized. However, don’t beat yourself up if you can’t get your post up by 7 am. Unless you are writing about something that is timely and topical (for instance, if you went to a fashion show and want the post up as soon as possible) it’s most likely that your readers will come back later in the day to see your post.
5. All it takes to succeed is quality content.
Quality content is always at the base of any good blog — but that doesn’t mean your site will sky rocket into popularity over night. Marketing is a huge part of making your voice heard, and sometimes can be more time consuming than actually writing. Patience is key when building a following.
6. You must use a custom design.
Design should be all about functionality and style, whether it’s custom or not.
7. Keep your posts under 300 words.
Many bloggers are under the impression that blog readers are always in a hurry — therefore longer content won’t hold a reader’s attention. The truth is, however, boring content won’t hold a readers attention. If the content is well thought out and an interesting topic/angle, your followers will want to read it. Simple enough.
8. Post about brands that send you free things to maintain a good relationship.
A part of being a fashion blogger means that brands will eventually start sending you gifted items (if you build enough of a following), but that doesn’t mean you must write about anything and everything you receive. If you don’t find the brand appealing, politely decline the gift, but do let them know you were very appreciative of the offer.
9. You need an agent.
If you want to build your reputation from the ground up, and want to fully understand all aspects of the blogging business, it might be best if you stay away from an agent.
10. It will happen overnight.
This is 100% false. It takes a lot of work to build an audience, and maintaining that readership can take be even more work.
What’s some other bad advice you’ve heard?
[Image credit: Shutterstock]
it’s helpful though.