what the hell is a fashion blogger??

it's happened so many times. i meet someone new. we are discussing the weather then my awesome new shoes i'm wearing the heck out of and then there's that inevitable question:

them: "so what do you do?" 

me: "i'm a fashion blogger!"

them: (weird face as if they are thinking really hard about something followed by awkward smile)

me: *thinking to myself why the hell did they just give me the screw face*

them: "ohhhhh thats interesting...what does a fashion blogger do?"

me: *thinking to myself AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH* masked with polite smile

 

its true a lot of people don't know what a fashion blogger is. even with the likes Rumi, Chiara, Aimee and Leandra, breaking down all kinds of blogger barriers to the mainstream fashion know. These bloggers within the blogging community and within the fashion community don't even need last names. Even so this profession isn't as well known as one may think. Although at the present moment it is fairly oversaturated. Some brands have stood up and taken a keen notice in bloggers and the benefits of working with bloggers. brands such as Rebecca Minkoff, Schutz Shoes, Dannijo, Coach and even T.J. Maxx are expanding and getting the word out with the help of well known bloggers. these brands GET IT. some older brands and brands that havent fully accepted the integration of social media into their marketing are getting left in the dust. But its not because they don't want to conform, its that they just don't know how.

Some brands are clueless. They have no idea what bloggers do, how bloggers can help build their social media presence or even how to approach us. What matters is they we (bloggers) teach brands especially their marketing and PR departments about what we do.

 

here is a little video synopsis of what I do as a fashion blogger. it includes: outfit posts, video posts, shopping, sharing where i shop, attending fashion events and covering fashion events. I am the editor and chief of Fashion Steele NYC as well as the social media department, often times the photographer and videographer. I am the accountant, the makeup artist, the hair stylist and stylist. I am the creative director, buyer, intern and CEO of Fashion Steele NYC. it may look like its all fashion shows and lipstick....but honey...it's so much more work than that!

 

 

The above is an actual email that was sent to me.

What they did right: Address me by name! Those Dear Blogger/Influencer emails get deleted immediately

What they did wrong: Try to sell me something via email, assumed i'd write a simple post

WTF, a simple post would be fine?

Obviously the sender of this email has no idea what goes into making a blog post. They definitely didn't check out my blog because I rarely do accessory specific post! It was infuriating really.

I also get atleast 20 emails a day asking me to do an outfit post wearing an item that a brand will gift me.

 And this is why i usually decline.

 

THIS IS WHAT I DO AS A BLOGGER FOR AN OUTFIT POST

• Hair and makeup (seriously i don't just roll outta bed looking effortlessy stunning like this {insert sarcasm here}) it takes some time to tame this coif and to get these eyebrows in check. if fact curling my hair alone takes about 1.5 hours and BB cream is $34 a pop!
• Styling an outfit. Yes... from the necklace down to the shoes. I tear my closet apart putting together the perfect outfit. Trying things on...taking things off. leaving a bloody mess of my bedroom
• Scheduling a photoshoot with my photographer whom I PAY! No... Mr. PR guy, i don't have a photographer boyfriend who can take my photos at every moment of the day. I shell out cold hard cash to have a photographer shoot me at a location of my choosing...and speaking of location here comes the next bullet point....
• Scouting a location for the outfit shoot which can be damn near anywhere in NYC.
• Editing photos. Editing photos for one blog post can take upwards to an hour. Not to mention picking out which photos to use from about 100 of them, editing them and uploading them to a hosting site that makes the photos larger takes a huge chuck of time.
• Creating a blog post. let me tell you...there is nothing SIMPLE about it! I create well written and engaging content. I scout sources online where my readers can find what I'm wearing. I include relevant links to websites and I tag all the appropriate labels. This non simple blog post takes about 2 hours to create!
• Promotion, Promotion Promotion. I then promote my blog post on all my social media channels. I usually tweet about it and instagram a photo from my latest post. Of course I include it on my tumblr and facebook also tagging and adding all brands included in the post.

* and this doesn't even include when i do a video post for my youtube channel. editing video is 3x the work as editing photos!!!!!

 

Thus for all this hard work, time and money i put into creating one blog post doesn't come close to being compensated by the $32 dress you want to send me to promote your brand. Bloggers who are serious about blogging and aren't just in it for the free digs understand this concept. brands wont dare email an editor at Marie Claire and ask for free promotion and advertising. I am by no means a Marie Claire level publication but I still have a following and influence and what I can bring to a brands bottom line MATTERS. Blogging is a Business. so to the bloggers out there...i want to say stop short changing yourself because you are ruining it for the rest of us. i'm not saying you have to be paid to do everything....im saying
KNOW YOUR WORTH.

 

I am Monroe Steele and I am a fashion blogger.

 

xx

Monroe

 

 

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