We talk extensively about WordPress and Blogger when we discuss blogging platforms but what about Tumblr? Up 10% in US traffic this month, Tumblr is now one of the top 10 most-trafficked websites in the U.S, according to Quantcast. And, get this, it has a worldwide audience of nearly 170 million people. With this recent growth, we figured it was time to dig a little deeper into the world of Tumblr.
Tumblr CEO David Karp states,
“You guys have earned an audience bigger than the biggest TV networks, and you continue to make some of the most thought provoking, insightful, inspiring, funny, diverse, and compelling content being created today.”
While it is a social network and content management platform, Tumblr is often regarded as a source for creativity and inspiration. Less about original content, more about content sharing. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t successful fashion blogs out there that are currently running on Tumblr. In fact, there are a few fashion blogs out there that are on Tumblr that we couldn’t help but not take notice.
Girl With Curves, Wit & Delight, The Style Line and all use Tumblr as their choice platform, tweaking the designs appropriately and sharing original content that can be easily dispersed amongst the community. GirlSack, Well-Traveled Woman, Musings in Feminity, Lyla & Blu, Spires & Gargoyles are just some of the more traditional inspiration-filled Tumblrs we have bookmarked.
What do all of these tumblr have in common? What exactly makes them so successful?
- Diverse Content: From videos to photos to playlists, these Tumblrs all incorporate different types of editorial content, which keeps their readers interested. Think about it, if you keep seeing the same thing over and over again, you are bound to get bored. Capture your readers attention by keeping content interesting, fresh and diverse. And don’t let your blogging shortcomings overwhelm your desire to try new things. You may not be a professional at video blogging but that doesn’t mean you can’t try.
- Strong Point-of-View: Without a strong perspective, any blog will fall short, especially on a platform as big and broad as Tumblr. Don’t let your Tumblr fall into an Internet black hole by always keeping your brand at the forefront of your blog. Wit & Delight focuses on design, Girl with Curves focuses on plus-sized fashion. What is your niche and how can you create content that has never been done before?
- Consistency: Once again, with a community as big as Tumblr, you have to make blogging a priority and maintain a consistent posting schedule. The more frequent the posts, the more click-throughs, which, in the end, results in more traffic. Most of the more inspirational Tumblrs publish new posts multiple times of the day, making it easier for their reader to easily browse through their blog at various times of the day.
- Clear Branding: Overall, the most successful of tumblrs, including those listed above, have clear, concise branding. The photos have a certain feel, the content all ties together in a cohesive theme and the blog’s brand is displayed in everything from a blog header to a social media avatar. It’s this kind of marketing thinking that can elevate a blog, bringing the brand to life. Without proper branding, a blog can just feel lost, and at the end of the day, your readers will lose interest because they aren’t building loyalty with said-blog brand.
Do you currently have a Fashion Tumblr? How have you made that space your own? Are their fashion tumblrs that we should add to our must-read list?
[Image credit: Girl with Curves, Dustin Fenstermacher and Quantcast]
I use tumblr for my blog and love it! I swtiched from WordPress. I love the sleek layout and ease of re-posting, not to mention I can be on the go and blog with the tumblr iPhone app.