Killer Fashion Blogging: 50 Ways to Take Your Fashion Blog to the Next Level

March 3, 2011 in Bloggers & Blogging

Killer Fashion Blogging: 40 Way to Take Your Fashion Blog to the Next Level

Your Point of Difference and Target Audience | Usability | Branding and Design | Writing Killer Content | Killer Photos and Images | Search Engine Optimization | Promotion

What makes a great fashion blog is difficult to pin point. After all – great fashion blogs are all different. However, there are certain things that move a blog from ‘OK‘ to ‘GREAT,’ it’s just a question of asking yourself whether or not you’re ready and willing to step up and make it happen…

 

On a side note: If you are blogging purely for enjoyment, then you probably aren’t going to be too concerned with what’s in this post, but if you have other goals then you may want to take notes (or bookmark this post).
My goal is to share what has worked for me, and what I know to be important to building a great fashion blog. After all, I’m not just a fashion blogger and my experience lies in web design and marketing (both, very relevant to blogging). So here it is: 48 things to do to take your fashion blog to the next level.


Be Crystal Clear About Your Point of Difference & Target Audience

Popular blogs tend to have a particular ‘direction’, ‘focus’ or style. You could probably fit their blog in a capsule with a good idea of what does, and what doesn’t, go inside of it. The real secret to a successful fashion blog is creating your own capsule; something that speaks to your readers, builds an expectation in them, and keeps them returning for more.

  • Choose a focus, and be crystal clear about it This could be any number of things, from beautiful photographs to a unique sense of style. What are you interested in other than fashion? What is it about fashion that you are particularly interested in? Write your choices down. As a general note: Whatever you choose, you should be genuinely interested in it enough to consistently write on it.
  • Be crystal clear about who your readers are, and why they will be interested in your blog. Identifying this fact will help you to understand what content should go on your blog (things that will be interesting and useful to your readers), and what shouldn’t.
  • Shape your blog by creating a mind map that illustrates the core focus of your blog, and how categories and posts work together to create a cohesive whole. I recommend using this mind mapping template.
  • State your focus on your about page, even in the side-bar, or your blogs tag-line – and don’t forget to refer to it regularly as you write.
  • Learn about your audience, pay attention to what posts they like and what posts they don’t like. I’m not saying you should follow this blindly, but let their reactions and interactions be a guide as to what content works and what doesn’t. Look back on your 10 most commented, most tweeted/shared or most viewed posts and think about what made them that way.

Cohesive Branding and Design

Design does matter, blogs are frequently judged by their cover. Great design can immediately put your blog in the best possible position (and increase the likelihood that a visitor will stick around and subscribe).

  • Get your own domain name and stick to it. Even if you’re not ready to make the jump from Blogspot, secure your own domain name. Domain names are easier to remember, and .com’s are the easiest. It will also making switching to self-hosting much easier.
  • Place a custom banner at the top of your blog that clearly positions you and your blog. Your readers are likely to respond well to something that is visually appealing, so go all out if you can.
  • Consider a matching Favicon (the icon that appears in the address bar of a users Web browser). They look very professional.
  • Get rid of clutter, white space is your friend. Your goal is to maximize readability, so ensure that your design and layout is configured for this. Colour and font choices should support readability as best as possible, so get rid of anything that is difficult to read or hard on the eyes.
  • Ensure consistency with colour and fonts. Pick a few of each (colours and fonts) and stick to them throughout your site. This helps create a cohesive browsing experience.
  • Ensure that your ‘About’ page is up to scratch and portrays an image of you that speaks to your readers. Interested readers will visit this page, so make sure there is something interesting on it! Consider adding a picture, stating your point of difference, and if you’re confident enough, list a few of your achievements.
  • Consider moving to Wordpress. Yes, I’m incredibly biased but WordPress gives you so many options than free blog platforms such as BlogSpot do. You are given full control over your layout and functionality, which can be a real blessing.

Pay Attention to Usability

Creating a user friendly experience means people are less likely to get fed up, leave and never come back. Make the site as easy to use as possible. Consider the following:

  • Make the site as easy to use as possible. Place everything of use within 1 – 2 clicks, remember: Every click is a chance to click away and leave.
  • Audit your commenting system. Ensure there are as few hoops as possible to jump through. If you absolutely must have a CAPTCHA, then make sure there isn’t anything else preventing people from commenting as easily as possible.
  • Cut down on bloat, get rid of things that dramatically increase loading time without adding any value. Everything should have a purpose and be useful to your readers. Carefully consider the merit of any add-ons and widgets you’ve placed on your side bar.
  • Check out (and fix) any broken links. They’re bad for both users and search engines! On that note, keep your blog roll up to date and consider removing sites that haven’t updated for 6+ months.
  • When linking from your blog, ensure all links have a target=”_blank” attribute attached to them. This will ensure that the link opens up in a new window or tab, rather than let the user leave the page entirely, or even worse – your blog!
  • Create a place for your most popular posts, and list them. Weather this is a ‘Popular Posts’ page, or a ‘Recommended Reading’ widget on the sidebar, just do it! Pick 10 – 15 of your favourite posts and list them. New readers who like what they see  are likely to be looking for more.
  • Add a contact form. This is about making it easier for people to get in touch with you. I think people are divided on which they prefer, some people prefer to send an email directly and others use the contact form, but it’s good to provide readers and visitors with both options.

Write Killer Content

Posting good, quality content is the best way to keep your readers engaged and get them coming back for more. This can be in whatever format you please, from incredible outfit photos, to unique ways of presenting wish lists or collages. Unfortunately, this isn’t always as easy as it sounds and it gets hard to keep churning out good stuff.

  • Be consistently generating ideas for posts. Carry a notebook with you and write down even the smaller and more ridiculous of ideas (they might grow into something, you never know).
  • Draft 10 ideas for really killer posts, the kind that you know people will enjoy reading or find useful. These are the kinds of posts that you would list on a ‘Popular Posts’ page. Think from your users perspective: What do they want to know about?
  • Get onto a regular writing schedule. Tell yourself you are going to blog X times a week, or do X feature on X day – and stick to it. An editorial calendar can help here – just print out a calendar of the month ahead and write in what you are going to post on what day. Not only will this let your readers know what to expect, it’ll also get you in the habit of posting frequently and consistently.
  • If the above sounds daunting, then write and schedule posts in advance. Sometimes, just starting a post in advance can take the weight off of your shoulders.
  • Don’t be afraid to take time to research your posts. You don’t have to be an expert on something to write about it, and sometimes a new-learners experience is the one that is the most likely to relate to your readers. Don’t be afraid to read what others have written on the same topic either, instead use it as a way to identify what they’ve left out or determine a new perspective you could bring to the table.
  • If a post just isn’t happening for you, leave it and come back to it. If it still isn’t working, scrap it and go in another direction. Even Rumi Neely of Fashion Toast said that not every photo shoot works out for her, and when she isn’t feeling it she lets it go.
  • Proof read and edit your posts. Treat your writing like you would a writing assignment. Check it for spelling and grammatical errors. Think of better and more concise ways of saying things – this is the internet, people want information fast.
  • Improve readability by breaking up your posts using sub headers, paragraphs and bullet points. These 3 features can make a post much easier to digest, and deliver information rapidly to an information hungry audience.
  • Pay attention to your titles, a good title will make people want to read the post instantly. Here are some tips for improving your post titles.
  • Ensure that you are not making any of these writing mistakes.

Take Original Photos, Or Use Beautiful Images

We blog on a subject that is very visually driven, think of why people read fashion magazines or invest so much time in Tumblr. We love (and want to see) beautiful images, and those that are boring, out-of-focus or just plain bad quality can seriously hurt your blog. Even if you don’t want to take photos of yourself for your blog there are still ways you can incorporate photographs and other visual imagery.

  • I am not going to lie to you, having a DSLR (digital single lens reflect) camera can be your secret weapon. However, I understand they are not in everyone’s price range. Still, look at investing in one that’s second hand, or if possible imported. Even if you buy at the lower end of the DSLR price range, the quality is still going to beat a point-and-shoot. That said, there are plenty of great blogs that don’t use a DSLR camera and still take great photos. DSLR’s simply make it a lot easier.
  • Learn how to use your camera beyond auto mode. I recommend subscribing to Digital Photography School because there are loads of pointers on using both point-and-shoots and DSLR cameras. I won’t go into detail here, but learn about aperture, shutter speed, ISO and the rule of thirds.
  • Get out of the house from time to time and shoot outside so that you can benefit from natural lighting (although you’ll want to avoid full sunlight). Readers also tend to love interesting backdrops and even your back-yard can be a refreshing change of scenery.
  • Don’t use the flash, as tempting as it may be…
  • Learn post production tips and tricks. Regardless of the editing software you have access to, there are plenty of ways you can spice up your photos without going overboard. Start away from effects that have long been deemed too cheesy. Again, Digital Photography School is a good start.
  • Use your photos, or photos you’ve sourced from elsewhere on the net to break up blocks of text. Photos help to inspire readers to keep on reading, and to read your post in the first place. Always, always ALWAYS post with an image. Hopefully one of some relevance. There is a logical reason for this too, people find it easier to learn when they receive messages in multiple formats. Providing a photo with text helps them to process the overall message easier. Good places to find photos: Pinterest, Vi.Sualize.Us and We Heart It.

Learn About Search Engine Optimization

Your blog design and layout must be well configured for search engine optimization. I recommend using an SEO plug-in to give you full control over this. That said, don’t go over board and write for search engines. Your goal is to help search engines find your content, not to feed the search engine.

  • Ensure each page has title, description and keyword meta-tags. You can automatically generate these from your posts, or even use an SEO plug-in to give you more control over these tags for individual posts.
  • Place keywords in your title tag, at least on your home page. These should relate to the topic of your blog, for example having ‘Fashion Blog’ in the header can help you index for terms relating to fashion blogs.
  • Ensure that your post title is contained within H1 tags, this will ensure it is given more importance than the body text.
  • Construct your URLs with dashes rather than underscores. Google interprets words separated by dashes as two words, whereas those separated by underscores are viewed as one word. The more flexible you are, the easier it is for Google to return your site to a users query.
  • Give your images alt=”” and title=”” tags. Search engines can’t ‘read’ images, so give them some information about what the image is.
  • Build internal linking by referring back to other posts in your newer posts. Bonus points for using descriptive anchor text (rather than just ‘click here’). This lets search engines know what’s behind the link, and they love that.
  • Here’s something you might not know: Google views http://yoursite.com and http://www.yoursite.com as different sites, and if it is indexing both of them then they’ll be competing against each other in its search engine. To resolve this, sign up for Google Webmaster Tools and tell Google which URL you prefer. Then, ensure you create a permanent 301 redirect from the other URL to the preferred one (for example, www.yoursite.com redirects to yoursite.com).
  • Use Google Webmaster Tools to submit an XML sitemap to Google, this helps to ensure that Google knows to visit all of the pages on your site.

Promote and Get Your Name Out There

If you build it, will they come? Not likely. You are going to have to do a bit of work to get your name out there initially.

  • Place Twitter and Facebook sharing buttons next to your posts to enable people to share the content as easily as possible.
  • Make your subscribe options very visible. Whether you want people to subscribe via RSS, Friend Connect or Facebook, ensure that your ‘call to action’ is prominent. More than often people don’t need to be convinced to subscribe to your blog, they just need to be shown the button.
  • Publicise your blog using your own channels. Put your blog URL on your Twitter profile, and any other outlets you may use. You never know who might be interested in having a browse.
  • Comment on other blogs, but not in a spammy way. Leave meaningful comments, comments that you would like to receive. Other fashion bloggers can tell a non-meaningful comments a mile away and I’m pretty sure they aren’t their favourite type of comment!
  • Take ‘social networking’ seriously, and by that I mean actually network. Follow other fashion bloggers and introduce yourself. Join IFB and get involved on the forums. You might even want to drop an email to a few of your favourite blogs and let them know that you admire them. Get out of your comfort zone and meet your fellow bloggers. However, as a word of warning: Keep it about the connection, not about you. Don’t shamelessly promote yourself and your blog here!
  • I am yet to do this, but guest-posting can be a great way to build relationships with other bloggers, and allow readers to discover you and your blog. Guest blogging works best when you guest blog on a blog with an audience you know would be interested in your content. Try pitching an article idea to the author via email and find out whether they’re interested.
  • Not all promotion happens externally, as they say ‘it costs 6 – 8 times more to obtain a new customer than to retain an old one.’ Treat your existing readers well. Respond to comments, whether its on your blog or by a visit to their blog. You may lose the ability to do this all the time in the future, but give it your best effort. It is alway appreciated. You can also reward your commenter by installing the CommentLuv plugin which automatically links to a readers last post.

In Summary…

Perhaps you’ve read this and agreed with some points and disagreed with others. That’s fine. There are many popular blogs that don’t do all of these and they’re doing just fine. It’s always going to be up to you to choose the tools and strategies you think will work well for you.

More Tips Are On The Way!

I am going to be sharing a lot more on the topic of blogging in the future, including more in-depth guides to some of the points I’ve made in this post. I have so much I want to share with you and I hope you’ll stick along for the ride. Don’t forget to subscribe!

If you found this useful, then please share this post! I have enjoyed compiling and writing this guide for you guys, and It would be awesome if you could help me spread the word. The links are below, so hop to it!

Any comments or questions? Leave them below. Extra for experts: What is your biggest tip for taking your blog to the next level?

ps: Thank you ProBlogger , The Blog Stylist and Pretty Shiny Sparkly for inspiring me to write this post.



132 Responses to “Killer Fashion Blogging: 50 Ways to Take Your Fashion Blog to the Next Level”

  1. 1

    I started reading this and it’s so good but I’m so tired that I can’t keep my eyes open any longer (it’s 1 am here and I’ve had a killer day).

    I couldn’t agree more with the usability and design bit. Keep it simple, focus on your content and make things accessible. I like to remember to KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) when dealing with my blog. I’ll be back to read the rest and comment on it :D .
    Julie recently posted..Excellent News- Unexpected changes and Mexico fashion week

    Reply

  2. 2

    thank you so much for the advice! i am always looking for new ways to take my blog to the next level and these are very helpful. i definitely need to get more involved in IFB forums.

    http://wordbyjessie.com
    Jessie recently posted..Thierry Mugler at Paris Fashion Week- Sexy as Ever &amp An Appearance from Lady Gaga

    Reply

  3. 3

    You did a great job writing out these tips!!

    Reply

  4. 4

    Great post! I’m definitely going to take advantage of some of your tips. I need more help in the SEO area in particular, so I look forward to your future blogging-related posts!

    Reply

  5. 5

    amazing post! you really put a lot of effort into it and made some really great points!

    Fashion Bag 411
    liana recently posted..You Inspire Me

    Reply

  6. 6

    AWESOME work Joanne! And thanks for the shout-out! Particularly love your advice about using Google Webmaster Tools – Google has so many great things bloggers can use – for free! My current obsession is Google Analytics’ In-Page Analytics. Try it if you haven’t already!
    Bree @ The Blog Stylist recently posted..Style Bloggers’ News- 10 must-click links

    Reply

  7. 7

    Thanks so much for sharing this! Lots of really useful tips that I will definitely apply to my own blog. Yours is obviously great ps ;)

    Alexandra xo

    http://tovogueorbust.com/
    ToVogueOrBust recently posted..Dries Van Noten Fall 2011

    Reply

  8. 8

    It didn’t take much to see that you not only knew what you were talking about but were organized and eloquent. I will be re-reading this later to see if I omitted anything:) Just today, I posted about the importance of branding oneself. Check it if you’re interested, though I gather you’re already familiar with the concept.

    I know this took a lot of work to gather this much information into an easy-to-read post. Kudos to you, darlin’!

    http://thehouseintheclouds.com/2011/03/01/developing-your-brand-why-does-it-matter/

    Reply

  9. 9

    PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE submit this to IFB’s Links ala Mode! This is a fantastic resource for bloggers. I agree with so much and have learned a few things to boot. Am following you now- great blog.
    Enter to Win My Shabby Apple Dress Give-Away- the Citizen Rosebud
    Bella Q recently posted..Sterling Style- My Mama Q

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  10. 10

    Julie – Simple & accessibility are such great things to focus on. I think the best layouts are the cleanest layouts. I still have a bit of improvements to do IMO, but it’s a top priority!

    Krystal/Village & liana – Thank you!

    The Blonde – SEO can be a bit of a mind field… it’s also not that exciting either, but it does have its benefits.

    Bree @ The Blog Stylist – You are very welcome, I admire your blog & your great work. Google Webmaster Tools & Analytics are FANTASTIC considering they are completely free resources. More bloggers need to get into them. :)

    ToVogueOrBust – You’re welcome, and thank you for the compliment. :D

    Bella Q – I think I’ll have to wait until next week, but I will do it – I am happy its proving to be useful!

    Reply

  11. 11

    Wow, they’re all amazing tips! I was just going to say the same thing as Bella above! I think a lot of bloggers can benefit from your article and I definitely learned a lot! My biggest tip would be to get a freelance designer to create a makeover for your blog that you can easily change and manage. Visual appeal is very important for a fashion blog in my opinion. xxooxoxo

    Reply

  12. 12

    Thank You! This is an amazing post! It is very helpful, inspiring and made me think of a ton of ways to improve my blogging! Very well done and I also love the rest of your blog :)

    Reply

  13. 13

    this post is really good! exactly what I needed. I have been blogging for about 2 months now and always wonder what works / what doesn’t & how some posts are popular / some arent!! it makes sense that the more personal & unique information people will love & keep coming back for more!

    Its the SEO bit of blogging I have the most trouble with!!
    Will try the SEO plugin in a minute! Great Great post! will probs be back for another read later!! xcx

    http://www.carolinedowhatyouwant.blogspot.com

    Reply

  14. 14

    Thanks! This is really really helpful!=)
    matita recently posted..What are you feeling today – Thursday love

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  15. 15

    Wow, what an amazing post!
    Should be required reading for all bloggers!

    xoxox,
    CC

    Reply

  16. 16

    These are all fantastic points, Joanne! Thanks for such an informative post.
    Leia recently posted..Cinnamon Hot Chocolate

    Reply

  17. 17

    this post is a must-read. even after reading it once, i feel more motivated and inspired. great job!
    Rux recently posted..Keep Calm &amp Procrastinate

    Reply

  18. 18

    I think this may be your most incredible post yet, Joanne; the tips you’ve provided here are truly invaluable to fashion bloggers! :)
    Cafe Fashionista recently posted..♥ Fashionably Moi! ♥

    Reply

  19. 19

    ohh this is such a good post;) you’ve written this really well. I think a lot of people can get lots out of this. hope you have a great weekend!
    cylia recently posted..Outfit of the day

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  20. 20

    Thanks so much for sharing all of this great advice! I particularly like the points about making sure all links open in new windows and keeping the design SIMPLE and clean. (I see far too many blogs that I like just fine in my Google Reader, but don’t enjoy visiting the actual page due to the clutter of advertisements and awards).

    And I think most of these points are quite relevant even for those of us blogging primarily for enjoyment…as I do hope others find and come to and read and enjoy my blog!
    Elly recently posted..Fashionable Feminist Icon- Hedy Lamarr

    Reply

  21. 21

    This post was full of such helpful information! Thank you for taking the time to put it all together!

    Reply

  22. 22

    All of this information is really helpful and I definitely plan to implement some of your advice! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

  23. 23

    This blog post contained a wealth of great information. i enjoyed reading and will definitely refer back to it.

    Reply

  24. 24

    Joanne! Wow…what a great article. I found you through Gala Darling. You have taught me so much. Answered so many of my questions. Wish I could get you to come sit down with me and rework my site! I am in the midst of learning how to work with WordPress so I am going in that direction. I am so glad you endorse them. Thank you again, and you have one more fan! Keep up the info, I am eatin’ it up! Doing my job sharing as well.
    XO Carrie

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  25. 25

    Shin – Than you, I’m glad you found it useful! I think that’s a great idea if you are willing to invest a bit of money in it. I have done my design myself and liked the result but I realize not everyone has that ability. If you have a friend who has a bit of web-related talents then I would recommend talking to them!

    Anja & matita & Couture Carrie & Leia – Thank you so much!

    Rux – I am glad that you feel more motivated… I always feel that way after I read something that inspires me to blog “better”!

    Cafe Fashionista – Thank you lovely!

    cylia – I hope YOU have a great weekend too. :)

    Elly – The links thing is one of those things that is easy to forget, but it just makes things easier for people who want to click the link and still stay on your site. I’ve watched people use computers who don’t know how to open things in new tabs/windows. I am glad you still find it relevant, I think a lot of the points are still relevant purely from a ‘making things easy for my readers’ perspective.

    Kayla & Shen Dove & Clarity – Great to hear, and I’m glad you found it useful!

    Carrie - Thank you and lovely to meet you! If you have any particular questions I would be more than happy to help – especially any questions RE: WordPress. Just flick me an email (on the sidebar, or use the contact form on my contact page). :)

    Reply

  26. 26

    This is superb! You MUST submit this to IFB’s Links a la Mode. Thank you so much for putting this together – although some of this was already familiar to me I learned a TON of new things as well! Really, really wonderful and very easy to understand!
    Beautifully Invisible recently posted..Friend Friday- What’s in your Makeup Bag

    Reply

  27. 27

    Wow…this is FANTASTIC! I’m going to read and re-read. You nail so many points. I am officially a fan!

    ••V••
    http://www.gritandglamour.com
    @gritandglamour
    GRIT & GLAMOUR recently posted..Worker V- 15 Rules for Rocking Leather in the Office

    Reply

  28. 28

    holy WOW …. this post is the most comprehensive awesome thing i have seen perhaps ever

    amazing work!

    Holier than Now
    Ann Colville Somma recently posted..Case Study

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  29. 29

    Wow, what a great list. Thank you.

    Reply

  30. 30

    Fantastic post! Inspiring advice and great links to boot – a bookmark for sure :)
    Sarah recently posted..Short for promenade

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  31. 31

    Beautifully Invisible – I am definitely going to do that after all the encouragement. Thank you for your comment!

    GRIT & GLAMOUR – Thank you! I am a huge G&G fan, it is an honor to have such a lovely comment from you!

    Ann Colville Somma – Thank you, I wanted to write something that was really big & potentially helpful to a lot of different people – by covering lots of different ground.

    Anna & Sarah – Thank you!

    Reply

  32. 32

    I’m glad to see that I’m already doing many of the tips included in this post. I’ve been blogging since 2008 but I didn’t start blogging seriously (and with a fashion blog) until last October. I will be passing this on :)
    Kimmiepooh recently posted..Polyvore MNG by Mango Contest

    Reply

  33. 33

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  34. 34

    I loved this post! I keep learning so much about the blogging world everyday! All are such wonderful & very helpful points. Thank you! :)
    Madison recently posted..70s Fixation- Modern Seams- and Classic Approach

    Reply

  35. 35

    I came over here from Gala Darling’s website :] I wanted to say – thanks for writing this, it’s really helpful! I’ve just started my blog a month ago and it’s quite funny because I realize now I’ve been doing most of this stuff as second nature! Unfortunately, it’s been a little difficult networking, as hard as I try! However, patience is key, after all!
    shabby recently posted..London Fashion Week- Junky Styling A-W 2011

    Reply

  36. 36

    Thank you for the helpful tips. I found you through citizenrosebud on twitter. I will bookmark! Every day is an adventure in the blogging world!

    Reply

  37. 37

    Excellent tips, Joanne! They are all incredibly useful for both beginner bloggers and those who’ve been blogging for awhile. Thanks for putting this together, I can imagine it took a long time!

    Renee

    Reply

  38. 38

    Wow, this is amazing. Thanks so much for the tips and insight. I never knew that about Google Webmaster Tools. So what do you recommend? I have usually been just giving out the http://xx URL… do we know what people tend to use? So much to learn and adapt to as blogging evolves.

    Thanks again. This post is being filed away now! :)

    xx, becs

    Reply

  39. 39

    This is such great advice! Thank you for sharing. You did an amazing job with this. Respect :)
    Kathrine recently posted..Friday 25 – 30

    Reply

  40. 40

    [...] to all of those that are new readers! I was completely overwhelmed at the great response I got to 50 Ways to Take Your Fashion Blog to the Next Level, and I’ll definitely keep writing on this [...]

  41. 41

    Fantastic post! You did a great job with this!
    Katie recently posted..Friend Friday – Beauty Products

    Reply

  42. 42

    Kimmiepooh – When I first started blogging, I didn’t take it seriously either. & I must admit… it didn’t go to well and I got bored pretty fast! Glad the post helped.

    shabby – That’s good to hear! I am sure you are going to do well. Networking and meeting people takes time and I think its lest to build friends & relationships slowly.

    Style with Benefits – I was really worried about this when I found this fact out! I am using it without the ‘www’ as I prefer the shorter URL but I think what really matters is consistency. It won’t matter which URL visitors use, and they’ll automatically be re-directed to the correct address if you create what is called a ’301 redirect’ in your cpanel (if you are self-hosted).

    Renee | Beauty Fool – I hoped it would be useful to a wide range of bloggers with different levels of experience. Thank you!

    Madison & The Style Crone & Kathrine & Katie – You’re welcome & thank you!!

    Reply

  43. 43

    Wow these tips are so useful. I have a fashion blog as well and I will make sure to remember these tips!
    Dan recently posted..Let the clothes do the talking

    Reply

  44. 44

    [...] Joanne Faith shares 50 tips for creating a killer blog is a wonderful resource for new fashion bloggers. She shares some really great tips and tricks and as a web designer she knows what she’s talking about. She’s fairly new on my radar but I’m sure we’ll hear plenty more from her. [...]

  45. 45

    What a really helpful post, especially for newer bloggers, I will be sending over anyone who asks me for tips. I have to agree with you on pretty much everything – except I am a Blogger over WP lover ;-)
    Pearl Westwood recently posted..Lessons Learnt in Leeds!

    Reply

  46. 46

    These were great tips! I’m working on making that WordPress leap right now, and I can’t wait to utilize all of the features everyone raves about. Thanks for the tip-off to Digital Photography school as well, looks wonderful!
    Victoria Suzanne recently posted..Reader Appreciation Sunday- 3-6-2011 ♥

    Reply

  47. 47

    Lots of really good tips! To add to something you mentioned, creating an editorial calender, I stumpled upon this wordpress plugin that allows you to do so in your wp-dashboard:

    http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/editorial-calendar/screenshots/

    Thought I’d just share that, in case someone was looking for something similar.

    Reply

  48. 48

    I cannot get enough of these ‘How-To’ series and I love knowing that there is always something else I can implement to take my blogging to the next level. I am going to start giving my images better descriptive name tags and even though I don’t think I fully understand favicon, I am all for cohesive brand identity so that also sounds like something simple yet effective towards this aim.

    Thank you once again Joanne and for taking the time to stop by. It really means a lot :)

    Mulika
    http://www.mycapaciousbottega.com/2011/03/give-away.html
    Mulika recently posted..Tender Plants

    Reply

  49. 49

    These are seriously great tips! Love this post! I am going to have to read it about 5 times just to soak it all in! One of the things that annoys me the most is the “capcha” thing – so many times I click submit and look away to another tab, come back and my comment isn’t posted due to that thing – drives me insane!I have yet to receive a spam comment – I don’t use the word verify crap and it is not an issue.
    http://www.fashnlvr.blogspot.com

    Reply

  50. 50

    Hi Joanne,
    I finally got around to reading your incredibly comprehensive post via FBFF and yes, I’m impressed.
    You’ve given me a real injection of blogging energy and I’ll be following you to get updates.
    Your research for this post alone is incredible!
    Thanks so much,
    Desiree x

    Reply

  51. 51

    I love this! excellent advice. Some are so obvious but we don’t do it. Why!?
    *bookmarked*
    Nathalie Kossek recently posted..If I Could Wear Anything – Daily Outfits

    Reply

  52. 52

    This should without a doubt be snapped up and featured by IFB! This must have taken you such a long time to craft, it definitely covers all the bases, and is written so well. Thanks for sharing!
    Marcella recently posted..shortland st

    Reply

  53. 53

    [...] 50 ways to take your blog to the next level. A super-informative post by the delightful Joanne Faith. [...]

  54. 54

    [...] Killer fashion blogging: 50 ways to take your fashion blog to the next level [...]

  55. 55

    Thank you for this information; SO useful
    Eunice recently posted..Silence

    Reply

  56. 56

    [...] sure to check out Joanne Faith’s Killer Fashion Blogging: 50 Ways to Take Your Fashion Blog to the Next Level’ for AMAZING tips that helped me big [...]

  57. 57

    I got to this post only today via the Blog Stylist’s link but better late than….. Great tips and I’m glad I read it. Will try atleast a couple of them soon. Oh and ‘hi’ to another Aucklander.

    Reply

  58. 58

    [...] Joanne Faith: Killer Fashion Blogging: 50 Tips, Tools and Other Tactics to Take Your Fashion Blog to the Next Level [...]

  59. 59

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  60. 60

    [...] Joanne Faith: Killer Fashion Blogging: 50 Tips, Tools and Other Tactics to Take Your Fashion Blog to the Next Level [...]

  61. 61

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  62. 62

    [...] Joanne Faith: Killer Fashion Blogging: 50 Tips, Tools and Other Tactics to Take Your Fashion Blog to the Next Level [...]

  63. 63

    Nice post! Consistency and content are key!
    Liane from SampleSaleSites.com recently posted..Heart IFB Links à la Mode- March 17th

    Reply

  64. 64

    [...] based fashion & style blogger, and provides useful tips for fashion bloggers. Her post ‘Kill Fashion Blogging: 50 Ways to Take Your Fashion Blog to the Next Level‘ is by far the most helpful post I’ve ever read. That post is actually the motivation [...]

  65. 65

    Thanks! This is probably one of my all time favorite blog posts on how to really get your fashion blog out there. No one does it old school anymore by actually writing it out, all they do is link and then they call it their own work. I am going to put you under my blog roll on my blog if you don’t mind :) . Thanks again for posting!

    http://www.lucyplease.blogspot.com

    Reply

  66. 66

    Great tips!!! Thank you so much for this post!! Really helpful!!!

    XoXO
    Plami

    http://fashion-thrill.blogspot.com/

    Reply

  67. 67

    [...] Joanne Faith: Killer Fashion Blogging: 50 Tips, Tools and Other Tactics to Take Your Fashion Blog to the Next Level [...]

  68. 68

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  69. 69

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  70. 70

    definitely bookmarking. thanks a million for all the advice! so helpful!
    Jamillah recently posted..What I Wore…Miss Jackson!

    Reply

  71. 71

    Wow, such a great detailed post!

    I was a featured link this week as well and was really glad to find your post. I am thinking of making the WordPress leap (a little terrified actually) and it would definitely help with usability and SEO (I think though I know nothing about design).

    Thanks for this and I’ll be back again to look for more tips!
    Chic ‘n Cheap Living recently posted..Links à la Mode- March 17th

    Reply

  72. 72

    Hi Joanne, I’ve recently discovered your brilliant blog thanks to Bree @ The Blog Stylist – and am over here on this post thanks to links a la mode! This is an incredibly useful post – lots to learn from and come back to. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us all.

    Originally Posted By Links á la Mode: The IFB Weekly Roundup | Independent Fashion Bloggers […] Joanne Faith: Killer Fashion Blogging: 50 Tips, Tools and Other Tactics to Take Your Fashion Blog to the Next Level […]

    Reply

  73. 73

    Wow! I’ve read quite a few posts like this, but you really have some in-depth information here. best of all, it’s easy to understand. I can’t wait to try some of your tips- thanks!
    Style Gourmand recently posted..Fashion Illustrations by Stina Persson

    Reply

  74. 74

    Thanks so much for this post, its very helpful! I’m a very new blogger with absolutely no experience and am new to the love of fashion as well. I really didn’t expect any views or following and still don’t, however I feel kind of pointless lol. I really appreciate this, helping take baby steps into the blogging world. :-)

    Reply

  75. 75

    Miranda I’m glad I could help! Everyone starts off by taking baby steps so don’t be discouraged. :)

    Reply

  76. 76

    Cheers to you for this verbose post! I was literally changing things on my blog as I read this. Thank you!!!

    Reply

  77. 77

    [...] blogging.  She knows her stuff and she’s extremely generous in sharing it.   This post: Killer Fashion Blogging: 50 Ways to Take Your Fashion Blog to the Next Level has inspiring and practical information that you can implement in your blog. [...]

  78. 78

    [...] of the first posts I read since joining IFB. Most recently Joanne Faith posted a couple of posts (here and here) containing valuable blogging tips and original content(= text+pictures) is on the list [...]

  79. 79

    Wow, this is an incredibly informative and helpful guide for new fashion bloggers like me. Thank you! (I have this saved for future reference).

    Reply

  80. 80

    Wow, such a great post, thanks for sharing all your pearls of wiosdom. I’m only starting out bloging so its so helpful to read. I’ve bookmarked for when its more relevant down the line too…. Can I ask a dumbo question? With your target=”_blank” suggestion how do you attach that to the link, do you just add that code to the start of the reffering link?

    Reply

  81. 81

    Wow, such a great post, thanks for sharing all your pearls of wiosdom. I’m only starting out bloging so its so helpful to read. I’ve bookmarked for when its more relevant down the line too…. Can I ask a dumbo question? With your target=”_blank” suggestion how do you attach that to the link, do you just add that code to the start of the reffering link?

    Reply

    Joanne Faith Reply:

    Hi, thanks for your comment! It’s not a dumb question at all. When you write a link the HTML code is:

    < *a href="http://joannefaith.com"*>

    But, when you click that link it will open the page in the same browser. To make it open in a new browser, you at the target stuff on at the end like:

    < *a href="http://joannefaith.com" target="_blank"*>

    Some blogging platforms will ask you if you want the link to open up in a new window, and essentially ads that bit of code onto the link automatically.

    Hope that helps!

    ps: Don’t include the *’s in the code, that’s just there to get them to show up here!

    Reply

  82. 82

    This is such an awesome post! Thank you so much for sharing, these are invaluable for a blogging newbie like me!

    Becca
    Becca recently posted..65 Oversized

    Reply

  83. 83

    This is definitely a very helpful post! You make excelent points, and I’ll try to follow them all, as much as I can!
    Thank you for taking the time to write such a useful post, with tips for all of us bloggers, and especially the new ones, as myself! This is a post that everyone should read! :)

    Reply

  84. 84

    I bookmarked this ages ago and finally got around to reading it today! thanks so much for all your advice, I’ve set myself some homework now so I can take it all onboard!
    Ali recently posted..Ten Photos – June

    Reply

  85. 85

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    You have a great post here, 50 helpful ways to take your passion blog to the next level, this could really help for those newbie out there..
    melody recently posted..Car Insurance Comparison Sites

    Reply

  87. 87

    I certainly enjoyed reading this…I procrastinated for the last 3 years in starting a fashion blog….due to me trying to find my angle. With there being soo many blogs out there…Finding what stands OUT ….was difficult…But your emphasis on SIMPLICITY AND READABILITY, AND CONSISTENCY ….gave me a little reassurance that my Blog too can be great and recognized…Just have to strategize and Organize my thoughts….I definitely plan to utitilize the calendar method as well as redefine what i REALLY WANT TO FOCUS ON! Thanks sooo much for the Info…Much Inspiration.

    Reply

  88. 88

    Thanks for the tips, I found them very helpful. I agree if you want a very successful blog you really need to spend some time figuring out how SEO really works and what keywords are really the best one. Thanks.

    Reply

  89. 89

    >Killer Fashion Blogging: 50 Ways to Take Your Fashion Blog to the Next Level http://t.co/6GSNjzja via @joannefaith

    Reply

  90. 90

    As a person who just started fashion blogging 2 months ago, this post was extremely useful. Sometimes I get really discouraged about gaining exposure to my blog and getting its message out there, but it’s posts like these that give me hope that things will get better by using tips like the ones you suggested. This is a great pick me up for anyone just starting out or who may feel intimidated by the blogging scene, so thank you! :)
    Thalia recently posted..Outfits of the Week

    Reply

  91. 91

    Love this post! I’m just starting out, and this advice is great! I will keep checking back for more great posts!!
    Thanks for posting this!

    Reply

  92. 92

    Thank you for these wonderful tips, i’ve recently just started a blog and it’s quite overwhelming trying to figure it all out. I keep referring back to your tips and am slowly getting the hang of it. Thanks
    Elisha recently posted..Favourites from the week

    Reply

  93. 93

    Number one rule of having a successful fashion blog is to have a clutter-free website. Clear photos are also a must-have, I really don’t get it why there are other fashion/beauty blogs that tend to have crappy shots.

    50 ways are more than enough tips to give so I must thank you!
    I also run a korean fashion clothing blog and I am pretty sure that I will make use of your brilliant suggestions.

    Reply

  94. 94

    Starting a fashion blog for my web store. Thanks for the tips!!!

    Reply

  95. 95

    Starting a fashion blog for my web store. Thanks for the tips!!!

    Reply

  96. 96

    How to have a killer fashion blog by @joannefaith . Picked up some valuable tips I hadn’t even known about: http://t.co/VqN10aXt #fbloggers

    Reply

  97. 97

    THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR POSTING THIS! :D

    I’m a relatively new fashion blogger, and I’ve been looking and looking and looking for a site with tips – and I found it here! FINALLY! Please post more! And visit my blog: http://converseandskinnyjeans.wordpress.com/ PLEASE! I need readers! THANK YOU AGAIN! I’ve taken everything on board! :) xx
    Niamh recently posted..Pretty Pastels

    Reply

    joannefaith Reply:

    Thanks Niama – glad you found it useful. Of course I’ll visit your blog! : )

    Reply

  98. 98

    Hi Joanne! Thanks for all the advice, I started blogging in 2008 but randomly and about a little bit of everything where’s my new blog/website has a better focus, just talking about becoming a fashion designer, how to start a clothing label and things that goes with designing and creating…something I’m very passionate about…Now it’s just about getting the traffic there:-)Great tips, love the site!xx Alice
    Alice-Make it Fashion.com recently posted..Day one; Finding a Dressmaker?

    Reply

    joannefaith Reply:

    Thanks Alice, I’m glad you found this useful!

    Reply

  99. 99

    #FBloggers 50 ways to take your Fashion Blog to the next level – http://t.co/1uGRdUev

    Reply

  100. 100

    Amazing article for bloggers!!! http://t.co/yjrZxxpy via @joannefaith

    Reply

  101. 101

    excellent post and thanks so much for all the useful advice. loads of points i will pick up! thank you :)
    Mimi Finerty recently posted..its all about the small things

    Reply

  102. 102

    Killer Fashion Blogging: 50 Ways to Take Your Fashion Blog to the Next Level http://t.co/EeVweDPu via @joannefaith

    Reply

  103. 103

    Killer Fashion Blogging: 50 Ways to Take Your Fashion Blog to the Next Level http://t.co/N51FTVah

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  104. 104

    this is my website for new fashions

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  105. 105

    http://www.fashionfixhunter.blogspot.com – please follow my blog, il follow yours too :)

    Reply

  106. 106

    Killer Fashion Blogging: 50 Ways to Take Your Fashion Blog to the Next Level http://t.co/eDogwHyj via @joannefaith

    Reply

  107. 107

    Such an informative post, I enjoy blogging so much for personal reasons but if I can promote my interests elsewhere then thats all good to! Thanks for all the amazing tips xxx

    Reply

  108. 108

    Killer Fashion Blogging: 50 Ways to Take Your Fashion Blog to the Next Level Joanne http://t.co/76Z31KPt – Joanne F http://t.co/oCKBusCF

    Reply

  109. 109

    These are all such good pointers! It can be a bit of a struggle to blog consistently I find – but so so so rewarding!

    x
    Lost in the Haze: a Fashion Photography Blog
    Jo – Lost in the Haze recently posted..How to Shop in Thrift Stores

    Reply

  110. 110

    [...] Joanne Faith: Killer Fashion Blogging: 50 Tips, Tools and Other Tactics to Take Your Fashion Blog to the Next Level [...]

  111. 111

    GREAT post! definitely adding your site to my faves!

    Reply

  112. 112

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  113. 113

    Thanks for the wonderful advice! Yours, out of sooo many was so clear and helpful! Any advice on marketing a not so much blog, but more of an online thrift store; if you will?…. Appreciate any advice on this! Thnx <3

    Reply

  114. 114

    Agreed. All the content which you will publish in your fashion blog have to be useful to the readers/visitors. They use the internet primarily because they need help or ideas with their fashion concerns. Having said that, your content must be up-to -date and suitable for varied fashion needs/issues.

    Reply

  115. 115

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    Guess what, it’s the oDesk fashion, which bring some difference on the 2012 history. People love to wear oDesk T-Shirts. Quite a good and quality dress to wear.

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    Just a beginner, the site is under construction.

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    Mx

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  118. 118

    Love this article. It is filled with great advice and ideas. Thank you for taking the time to write this!

    Xoxo
    Teresa
    Http://www.chicaffordable.blogspot.com

    Reply

  119. 119

    I really enjoyed this article & find it very useful! Thank your for taking out the time to give such great advice!

    Reply

  120. 120

    Check out my website SierraSharae.com

    Thanks,
    Sierra Sharae
    Sierra Sharae recently posted..Results for The First Hit or Hot: The Man Skirt 

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    Nice and useful post..very helping for new people.

    Fashion online

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    Love it!! It’s really helpful tho.. Hope everyone or even you could check out my fashion blog!!! Love all the post tho :D xx

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