After exploring the realm of fashion
blogging on the web we came across various examples of “how to fashion blog” websites
for amateurs. Most of these were the
basic instructions of how to start a fashion blog, offering tips and advice to
first time bloggers from an outside public perspective.
Independent Fashion Bloggers was one
website which offered the ‘want to be’ fashion bloggers advice on how to start
their own blog. It provided information
through images, news feeds, text and video.
However, one of the main concerns we had with
our idea was that the “how to fashion blog” style feature has already been done
and the purpose of this feature is to present something new and innovative,
requiring research and critical thought.
We wanted to differentiate ourselves from what is already out there.
We began reading and scanning various
different blogs (including K is for Kani, Bryanboy and Sydney Fashion Blogger, frocks and other frivolities)
which received high, average and low numbers
of page views. By making
comparisons and differentiating the different styles and features of each blog with
we began to notice some of the prominent features of the more successful blogs
which the less popular blogs lacked.
Some of these blog characteristics were
easy to identify: good aesthetic appeal, a unique voice, clear layout, high
quality images, easy to read font and relevant and engaging information were
all features which were important to us as audience members when choosing
whether the follow a blog.
But the blogger is neither their monthly
number of visitors nor the total amount of page views they receive. Sure these are important in indicating the
blog’s level of engagement with their audience, but they alone do not equal
success.
Something, which came to our attention that
was not so apparent, was the business side of the blog. This aspect of a successful blog can very
easily be overlooked and taken for granted yet is a vital part behind the success
of some blogs (and consequently their bloggers) over others.
We put this down to a theory that there are
ultimately two faces of a blog:
[A] The first is the ability to
capture the engagement of the public audience
[B] The second is recognition by
the industry
No comments:
Post a Comment