Hi all, hope you’ve been enjoying reading our blog. In our previous article, we talked about how to start a travel blog in 10 minutes. Following along the same line, today we’ll look at how to start a fashion blog with this step-by-step guide.
So let’s dive in!
Fashion blogging is huge. Really, really huge.
With the growing dependence on online means and the increasing popularity of social media, fashion blogging has joined the runway.
One of the most beautiful things about fashion blogging is that almost everyone has the ability to create a fashion blog. They can also nurture this fashion blog into a career and still keep it individualized to their own personal style.
If you are wondering how to start a fashion blog, keep reading.
Getting Started
There are fashion bloggers all over the world, each posting individual and unique content. But before you begin, you need to understand that blogging is hard work.
Starting a blog of any type takes endurance and perseverance, but starting a fashion blog may be an even harder challenge because this niche is already so cramped and crowded, you may have trouble finding room to breathe.
Blogging is competitive, with many doing their best to break into the market. The good news, however, is that the vast majority of these blogs are bad. Really bad!
This means you have an opportunity to create something truly awesome and unique, but it will take courage and perseverance. To make your fashion blog work, you must be different. You must be smart about how you approach your content and design.
If you are willing to work hard, then keep reading.
As you begin your fashion blog, there are some basic steps you must complete. This includes choosing the best website hosting, selecting a domain name, picking a website building platform among others. This how to start a fashion blog will guide you on each of these steps, thus helping you create your own fashion blog.
#1. Choose A Domain Name And A Hosting Service
Many new fashion bloggers start with Blogger or Tumblr. This is not a good idea since these are not domain names you will own and these sites can limit or regulate your content.
Remember, your blog is an asset, so you want to maintain creative control at all times. Thus, instead create a unique, catchy domain name and then buy it.
There are several sites where you can buy domain names for as little as $12 per year. You can also buy a domain name directly from your hosting service. If you choose Bluehost then you can save money on domain registration through the use of Bluehost Domain coupons.
Also, find a good hosting service where you can purchase basic hosting service for just a few INR a year.
What’s more, if you decide to go with Bluehost, (as you should! Read this Bluehost review to know why), then here is a video on how to buying hosting from Bluehost!
#Step-by-Step guide on how to buying hosting from Bluehost
- Step 1. Click here (Exclusive 40% Discount) to visit the Bluehost website. Next, choose a web hosting that you want to purchase.
- Step 2. Select a plan and click on “Buy Now”.
- Step 3. Specify your domain name, if you have one or create a new domain. Select add-ons (Sitelock & CodeGuard), as per your preference. Next, click on “Continue to checkout”.
- Step 4. Check your order summary, add “Bluehost coupon”, check the total amount and once satisfied, click on “Proceed to Payment”
#2. Set up Your Blog
Hosting services also allow you to download WordPress, the best blogging tool on the Internet. WordPress is a content management system that was originally designed for bloggers.
It is easy-to-use and you do not have to know HTML or CSS to get started. You can download a theme, either free or paid and then set up your fashion blog and get started.
WordPress has some nice free themes which are fine to begin, but as you gain more experience, you may want to shift to a premium, paid theme.
The good thing about WordPress is even if you change themes, your content remains which means you do not have to redo much. You may have to tweak sizes or fonts to work with the new theme, but no major transfers or updating of content.
A word of caution about working with WordPress. Once your blog is up and running, you may be very tempted to play around with the millions of WordPress plugins and various WordPress themes. You may want to change colours, fonts, and templates which can distract you from producing any content.
Once you get your site up and running, keep it simple to start with. Choose a basic free theme and set up your colour scheme. Then focus in and get your mind in the create mode or your blog may never see the light of day.
Further reading: How to Install WordPress on SiteGround
#3. Define Your Difference
As mentioned earlier, you will be entering a very crowded niche. This means you must clearly define how you will be different from everyone else.
What do you bring to the table that will make your own fashion blog stand out?
If you cannot clearly articulate this, your blog is doomed to failure.
Why are you fabulous? What makes your brand special? Knowing the answers to these questions will provide you with what you need, to be different. It is this difference which will bring you the small successes, which are very important.
Your difference may be a really cool domain name or a unique approach to how you blog.
You may have an innovative take on the latest style trend and your post is noticed by someone on Facebook or Twitter. This person gives you a shout out, telling you they like your cool idea and you are on your way.
Having these small successes is very, very important. They help build your reputation and bolster your confidence.
If your take on scalloped hemline mini skirts was awesome, then you must know what you are talking about, right? So, what do you need to make your fashion blog stand out?
First, put your face on it. You are the biggest part of your blog, so ensure that you’re about me page tells your story, even if it is a long one. Readers love to know who has these opinions and is doing the writing.
Giving people a sense of your background and experience provides credibility to your blog and it gives them a reason to listen to you.
Create a strong brand and make it different. You are your brand. Your brand is everything you say and do. It is how people perceive you. Ensure that everything within your brand connects.
This means your logo, your name, your style and your design all work smoothly together, creating a fashion blog that is unique and different.
#4. Do Not Be Afraid To Take Risks
One thing you must understand while starting a fashion blog is how to risk it all. Writing content is a very personal endeavour and you must be prepared to step off the ledge. Write about the things that matter to you. Do not just parrot what others are saying. Provide your own spin and make it yours. Truthfully, this is probably the hardest part of blogging.
- Now, Start Writing. Your goal must be to publish the absolute best content you can. This is what differentiates the great bloggers from the average. Publishing great content can make up for a myriad of sins. Even if you chose a lame domain name or decided to go with a free web hosting, you can still make your blog a success.
- Consider your goals for your fashion blog. Is it about teaching teens how to dress for themselves and determine their best style? Your advice could make someone feel great about themselves and stand up to those school bullies. This is huge and your readers will remember.
- Fashion bloggers can write about anything fashion-related. There are unlimited possibilities when writing for a fashion blog. You could post pictures of your daily outfits and add a short blurb about where you purchased a certain bag or pair of shoes. You can write about a great sale you found and what you bought. You can write about a dress you covet or an article on the Spring runway shows.
Publishing great content is not so much about how it looks likes as what it is telling your reader. Great content will change someone’s life. Yes, this might sound dramatic, but it is true. Check out this blog writing tips.
You may prefer to create style guides where you help your readers determine if a particular trend will work for them or give advice on what type of outfit to wear to a certain event, such as a wedding or travelling. You may want to write about your favourite designer and their vision for the next season.
Any of these will provide great content for a fashion blog post, but you may come up with a different angle or approach and make it your own. That is how you get noticed and build a following of loyal readers.
The best content provides solutions to problems your readers are facing. Deciding what to write will take time. You will need to do research to discover issues that need to be addressed. Spend time coming up with helpful and best content ideas and it will pay off.
#5. Fashion Blog Content Strategy
Coming up with meaningful content can be intimidating. There are several strategies you can use to help.
- Plan your strategy for your blog. Study your target audience and figure out what they want to see.
- Study your competitors. Spend time reading and browsing through the fashion blogs of your competitors. Pay attention to those who are really successful and study what they are doing well. Take their methods and make them your own. There is never any reason to re-invent the wheel.
- Keep Writing. The only way to get better at writing is to write. To create a successful fashion blog, you will need to write a lot of content. The more you write, the easier it will be to find your voice and make it your own. Your blog posts should be smart, witty, and provide value to your readers. Longer blog posts between 1,000 and 2,000 words tend to be the best.
- Keep Your Content Evergreen. This means the information you provide does not age. It is relevant forever. This is one of the best strategies for making your blog successful.
- Learn Good SEO. If your blog cannot be seen, it cannot be read. Search Engine Optimization or SEO is how you get your blog to rank on the first page of the search engines.
SEO is something every successful blogger masters and you will need to learn how to use these techniques. There are guides and other blogs that will teach you what you need to know about how to craft great content that will make your blog visible to your audience.
Good, relevant content is not easy. It takes extensive research and lots of time to write and edit so your content is perfect. If you are providing rich, relevant content, your blog will get noticed. Even if you do not hit it out of the park on the first few posts, stay with it and your blog will grow.
#6. Build Your Network
Good content is extremely important, but if no one sees it, your blog will never get off the ground. Building a strong network of readers and peers is what will make your blog famous.
- Track other fashion bloggers. Build a Google+ profile and grab a Twitter handle and start following the best of the fashion bloggers. Do your research and discover who are the best and learn what they do.
- Make contact with these bloggers. Start slowly and read their content. Comment on their posts and try to make friends with them.
- Share their content. Let them know you would like to share their content on your blog. Offer to give them a mention and try and build a relationship through email or IM.
- Visit forums and social media and start discussions. Whenever and wherever you can, try and start discussions. You can make some great friends and build strong relationships by proving pertinent comments on social media and the forums. Also, here are some great techniques to promote your blog on Facebook.
There are other ways to network online, but these are a good place to start. As you gain experience, you will develop your own strategies for keeping in touch with your fashion blog peers and building great relationships.
There are some great fashion blogs where you can get ideas and make contact with the bloggers. Visit these sites and see what they are doing and saying. Take the time to read their content and the comments made by their readers. This is valuable information as you create your own fashion blog and build your readership.
#Conclusion
Creating a fashion blog will be one of the best, most exciting challenges you will ever face. Choose the best WordPress hosting in India. Select a memorable domain name, install WordPress and get started. Take your time with the content and create actionable marketing strategies to succeed. Follow these tips and advice on how to start a fashion blog and make it your own.
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