Don’t write them off. Literally.
Blogs are not new. They’ve been around since the mid-1990s. So why are we still talking about them today?
As of 2020, 77% of internet users read blogs.
If you’re a small fashion business with an online presence, you will want to consider starting a blog. Companies that blog get 55% more web traffic than companies that don’t.
And if you do have a blog — excellent. But the question is — are you doing it effectively?
You don’t have the time. You don’t see the benefits. You’re just not a good writer.
These are common reasons why most online businesses don’t blog — or blog enough for that matter.
But if you’re in the fashion industry — blogging is something that can be extremely beneficial for your business. Allow me to explain:
💋 It’s a natural fit. Fashion is one of the most popular topics for bloggers. It’s a place to share fashion tips, outfit ideas, makeup tutorials — you name it. The fashion industry has an enormous audience. Why wouldn’t you want to tap into that?
💋 It’s low-cost. Small businesses operate on a small budget. Blogging is an inexpensive way to grow your target audience and financially-speaking — it’s a smart marketing tactic. When done right.
💋 It increases organic traffic to your site. Blogging increases your online visibility. And it can reach your audience in ways that your social media marketing may not be working for you.
Read on as you contemplate adding a blog to your company website. And if you are blogging — here are some strategies to consider as you implement your fashion blog.
Beef Up Your Brand Awareness.
Right off the bat, you should know your target audience. Then give them what they want.
If you are selling all-natural and organic lipsticks — you can blog about the season’s latest colors or the ethical process and packaging of your product.
If you are selling fine hand-crafted jewelry — write about the process of the Tahitian pearl formation. Or explain to your audience the carefully selected metals that you’ve chosen to use in your designs.
If you are selling modern and luxurious swimwear — you can spotlight a brand ambassador in a blog. Feature her in one of your latest pieces and highlight a story about how she embraces healthy eating or how she leads an active lifestyle.
You get the picture.
Use blogging as an opportunity to showcase who you are. It’s an extension of your brand and positions you as the expert. So find something compelling to share with your target audience.
By writing about topics related to your brand, it will help you get to know your audience and see what keeps them engaged. Allow your readers to comment, ask questions, and interact with others in your blog posts.
Before you know it — the readers of your fashion blog will lead to a broader fan base. A community, if you will. And ultimately, it will lead to clients.
2. Rank High in Google.
It’s a fact — blogging is the most effective way to increase your organic site traffic. What this means is that “organic visitors” are those of us who accidentally stumble across your website by using a search engine like Google.
And the scary truth is — 75% of internet users never scroll past that first page.
So, yes — blogging can help you if you’re not ranking high. But only if you’re doing it right.
Here are some quick tips to help you start your fashion blog successfully:
✏️ Search Engine Optimization (SEO) - focus on one to two long-tail keywords throughout your blog and sprinkle them in the right places. Forcing keywords continuously throughout your blog will actually hurt your SEO. Google sees that as “keyword stuffing” — go figure.
✏️ Tighten those titles. A catchy headline is crucial in getting potential readers even to want to read past the title of your blog — it will make or break your post. Also, studies have shown that an ideal blog post title should have 60 characters. The length of your headline will affect its SEO value.
✏️ Use visuals. Blog content with images collect 94% more views. Use this opportunity to promote your products with clear and high-quality images. Make sure they’re optimized for smartphones and that they’ll load quickly. Use pictures to break up long pieces of text.
✏️ Word count counts. For your fashion blog to rank higher in Google, it should be a minimum of 1000 words. Before you start groaning — here’s why. With a longer piece of text, search engines have a better chance of figuring out what you’re talking about. Then, you have more opportunity to sprinkle those SEO-focused keywords. More content = high-quality info.
✏️ Post consistently. Posting once a week is better than spitting out eight blog pieces at the beginning of the month and then nothing at all. Yes, Google prefers fresh content. But an older page that’s updated regularly may outperform a newer one. Try posting a blog at least once a week — and then work your way up once you get the hang of it.
3. Treat Your Fashion Blog Like a Business.
Your blog is an extension of you and your business. So you should treat your blog like a business.
Knowing your audience can make all the difference…if you want to monetize your blog. Use a tool like Google Analytics to deep-dive into discovering the demographics of your audience. It can also tell you what products they buy, what lifestyles they’re into, and even the specific views of your users.
Use this information to pinpoint the content of your blogs and gear them towards your audience. That way, you can deliver information that your fans really want to see.
Next, use this opportunity to promote your merchandise. Highlight one of your amazing products and show how it will improve their lives somehow. (But try not to sound sales-pitchy.) You want to build trust in your relationship with your audience.
Make the content of your fashion blogs exciting, fresh, and compelling. The writing should be high-quality and well-researched. The blog post that you put out there for the world to see is a reflection on your business.
If your budget allows for it, you might consider outsourcing the work to a qualified copywriter. Or you can have someone proofread and edit your writing. Use this opportunity to highlight your professionalism and business.
Then, promote the heck out of it.
Go For It.
SEO is so competitive today. Blogging is another aspect of your online business that you should consider investing in. It’s the only way that you will rank high in Google and generate traffic without paying for ads.
As you get into the swing of blog-writing and you have a respectable number of posts under your belt, you may want to consider this. You can have guest bloggers contribute to your website. Or once your community of followers begins to grow, you can start sponsoring giveaways, fun contests, or other promotions.
And as you embark (or continue) on your journey as a fashion blog writer — keep this in mind. Be helpful, be educational, and be relevant.
You’ve got this.
