This is a post which has been requested a bunch of times by so many people on social, and one I have finally gotten round to writing! I can imagine posts like this has been written by hundreds of different bloggers but I know myself like to read stories about how different bloggers got to where they are. I'm by no means a 'big blogger' but I am quite proud of the opportunities I have been given through starting up Stitches of Style so I thought i'd share my story of how I got where I am today and some tips for bloggers who are just starting out. This post is also a share of some pictures my boyfriend shot of me at our hotel in Budapest a couple of weeks ago, I had to share with you my fab new Public Desire shoes!
So initially, the reason I started my blog was so I had something to add to my personal statement for university. I don't think I ever expected that a couple of years or so later I would still be writing and posting on the same blog. But Stitches of Style has now become both a part-time job and a hobby, and really does help with the career path I hope to take in the future. There are a few things I've learned since I started out blogging both about running a blog and the blogging world itself, so I've created a list of a few tips I think might help people looking to start out a blog.
Outfit Details
(Click the brand name to shop)
Two Piece - Miss Pap
Shoes - Public Desire
Bag - Love Moschino
Sunglasses - La Moda
Tip No 1. - Don't be afraid of what others might think.
When I first starting out blogging I was SO embarrassed of everything and anything I ever put up. I don't know how I ever expected to gain any attention to it when I didn't even let my mum read posts which were going live. I even created an initial blog which was completely anonymous (yes I was really that nervous about what I was doing.) I didn't dare shoot outfit posts with my head in because I wasn't really sure what to do with my face - and if i'm completely honest, I still don't! Posting pictures of myself isn't something I love to do, but it's the only way people are going to be able to relate to you and your blog. It's easy to be worried about what other people think, and I'm sure a lot of people I know do judge me for my pictures and my blog. But at the end of the day, the perks of blogging definitely outweigh the negatives.
Tip No. 2 - Be Unique and Helpful
Try to write posts that no-one has done before, posts that someone will actually want to read and that may help them in some way. This something I really want to work on on Stitches of Style. I rarely write posts like this purely down to lack of inspiration, but if a post is useful to someone, then they are a thousand times more likely to click on a link and read it. Building a following on social you will probably find will be a lot easier than gaining followers on your actual blog, so it's up to you to create engaging content to lead your followers to your blog from those social accounts.
Tip No. 3 - Always tag brands in your photos.
Whether it be on Twitter or Instagram, if you feature a brand within your post make sure to let them know. I think this is one of the main ways I was able to gain a following on Instagram. If brands see you are creating good quality content with their products it is very likely they will repost you, which can gain you a massive following if you imagine top known sites like Missguided repost your image. Not only this, but you are also getting yourself out there and known by these brands, which may encourage them to want to work with you in the future.
Tip No. 4 - Make sure to network.
And I don't just mean with brands, but also with other fellow bloggers. Blogging is such a huge community and you will probably find in the future that it helps to have other bloggers on your side. I'm not fortunate enough to live in London, which means I miss out on a lot of opportunities in blogging - but if you are able to, I cannot stress how important getting out there and meeting the right people will do wonders for your blog. I do feel like I miss out on the whole networking side of blogging with not being able to attend many events, but there are also other ways you can get talking with other bloggers. Whether it's just by following and supporting their blog, you will find you'll probably get the same in return. There are also things like Twitter Chats such as #FBLCHAT which happen weekly that can get you talking and sharing your blog with hundreds of other people.
Tip No. 5 - Don't be afraid to get in contact with brands.
If you can imagine the thousands of bloggers there are now on the internet, there is no way brands are able to be aware of every single one. Just because a blogger has thousands of followers, it doesn't mean they are instantly recognised by certain brands and businesses. Reaching out to PR companies and brands is fine, as long as it is done politely. Obviously you don't want to reach out to a brand demanding free clothes to post on your social. Instead, you want to explain to them who you are, a little about your blog, and how you posting about their brand may be a benefit to them. Working with brands doesn't always has to be about getting free products, there are so many other things such as guest posts which can get you ahead in the world of blogging.
Tip No.6 - Consistency is key.
I think the one thing that many people assume is that becoming a fashion blogger happens overnight. That you can wake up one morning, make a blogger site, and instantly brands will know your name and want to work with you. Believe me, it takes work. I am guilty of slacking when it comes to blogging and not really posting as much as I should. But, especially in the beginning, consistency is key. When you first start to blog there is very good chance that no-one is going to read your posts or like your photos, but that's fine - you've just got to keep working at it. As you begin to gain followers, you'll start to learn what posts they love and what posts they aren't too keen on - which will give you a better idea on what sorts of posts will help to boost your following in the future.
