Become a Fashion Blogger: Top 10 Mistakes Influencers Make
Hey babe!
I’m an influencer marketing consultant and queer lifestyle blogger over at The Huntswoman. I get a LOT of questions about becoming a fashion blogger and influencer (which is why I’m launching my LIVE online course, Become a Fashion Blogger, later this month!).
To set the stage on becoming a fashion blogger, I wanted to share the top 10 mistakes I see new fashion bloggers and aspiring influencers make. (Some of these mistakes are even made by people who have been “in the biz” for YEARS.)
Let’s dive in.
Mistake #1: Failing to reserve your username on ALL social media networks
Your followers (and brands) will want to follow you on different platforms. Make sure to reserve your blog name (or actual name!) on all social media platforms.
You don’t have to use them all, but you should own your name.
This includes, but isn’t limited to:
- Facebook Page
- TikTok
- Snapchat
- Tumblr
Mistake #2: Not having a blog on a website YOU OWN
If we hang out on Twitter, you’ve seen my (frequent) tweets about how it is SO SO SO important to have your own blog on your website. That you own.
If Instagram shut down tomorrow, thousands of people wouldn’t be able to make money — because all of their sponsorships come through Insta.
You need to be publishing content to your own blog, even if at the beginning you’re just rounding up your IG posts and putting them on your blog. Make sure YOU own the domain/website (don’t use services like Blogger), and I recommend hosting your blog on Wordpress. Not Squarespace or Wix. Read this post to find out why.
Mistake #3: Failing to share your city
Brands want to know where you live, to make sure they get coverage for their products. Include where you live on your social media bios and on your “about” section of your site. Check out my bio here for inspo.
If you live in a small town, it’s okay to pick the largest city that’s around an hour away!
Mistake #4: Avoiding blogger networking
A rising tide lifts all boats, and networking with other bloggers (esp in your niche) is critical. Make it your goal to reach out/comment on the content of 5–10 new bloggers a week. Blogger friends can help you level up, sharing information and tips. You can do DIY photoshoots together for content, collab, etc.
Mistake #5: Failing to answer your email
Brands move FAST. You need to respond to emails from brands promptly, even if you’re not interested! I run influencer campaigns for multiple clients, and I have a “Favorites” list of influencers I’ve worked with multiple times, because they’re professional AF.
Mistake #6: DM’ing to “Collab”
Y’all. Sending “Let’s collab!” messages to brands on Instagram is not professional. It is NOT cute. Send an email ASAP, with a specific pitch/ask. I just delete these messages, because I don’t have the time to school people on business etiquette.
It’s okay to DM, but just ask for an email!
(Check out my class “The Art of Negotiation for Influencers” if you want to learn how to pitch brands and grow your blogging income.)
Mistake #7: Only going after fashion companies as sponsors
Honey, there are a lot of fashion brands out there. And a LOT of those brands only send free product — they don’t sponsor until your numbers are high.
I love fashion (hello!), but it’s important to have another niche besides fashion/beauty/travel. Pick a topic that you already nerd about (are you a wannabe sommelier? Do you love to go to sporting events? Are you a woodworker who loves power tools?) to attract sponsors from other industries.
Go deep into that niche!
Mistake #8: Thinking social media is a bulletin board
Y’all, bloggers love to complain about how various social media platforms (ie Instagram) are screwing them over. “No one is seeing my posts!” or “I’m loosing followers!” are common issues to hear about.
Social media is *SOCIAL.* You need to be engaging and talking to people, not just expecting them to come to your profile. Instagram is not a bulletin board, where you can post something and leave. You gotta be SOCIAL on SOCIAL media.
Relatedly: Don’t send a few emojis if someone messages you with full sentences. It comes off as rude, and your followers will message you less — hurting your stats.
Mistake #9: Giving into overwhelm
Do you feel overwhelmed by all the content you have to make? Editing videos, planning photoshoots, writing blog posts, scheduling content for Pinterest, etc etc?
I see this ALL the time with my blogger coaching clients. And it’s usually because people are staying reactive, and not planning content weeks (and then months) in advance.
I’ve totally been in a place of “Oh CRAP! I have no photos for Insta this week!” and it sucks. One of the easiest things to do is BATCH your content. Photograph 3+ outfits in one weekend. Write 5 blog posts in one day, and schedule them out. Film multiple videos in one day.
Take advantage of being “in the zone” and plan ahead with your content. Less overwhelm. This is also super helpful if you have a hectic/stressful week, and everything goes wrong. Get all your content prepped beforehand, and voila! You can just publish and move on with your life.
Mistake #10: Staying in “Freemium”
I call free resources and blog posts like this “freemium.” If you’re looking to Google to answer all your questions, your success WILL plateau.
If you’re truly committed to making money as a blogger, then you are a business owner! And smart business owners pay for expert help (coaches and consultants) and classes. Stop trying to learn everything the “hard way” (AKA, your own trial and error), and dedicate a portion of your monthly budget to getting a coach or taking a class.
At the very least, pay $14.99 for an audible subscription and get some personal development going! I like to listen to at least 30 minutes a day, learning better communication and business skills while I run errands and/or workout.
Ready to Level Up?
Check out my classes on landing sponsors, getting started as a fashion blogger, etc, here.
Bonus: How to Become an Influencer — 100 Page Ebook fo $7.99!
I’ve coached a TON of people on how to become an influencer, and I found tht people had the same questions:
- How do I make an invoice as an influencer?
- What do I charge as an influencer?
- How do instagram influencers make money
- How do I plan a photoshoot?
- How do I pitch brands as an influencer?
Seeing this, I decided to write a book, with ALL of the information I wish I had access to when I was getting started making $$$ as an influencer! Check out this ebook HERE!
