This was their little sign. See all those famous blog names up there? Yeah, I admired met all of them from afar.
The first panel: What Are Bloggers Worth?
It was quite a delicious panel.
The third panel: Your Blog: Your Dream or Just the Beginning?
The two guys on the left are should be my best friends. They're Travis and Josh of Street Etiquette, they're 22 years old, and they're super stylish. Their shoes were perfect.
About two weeks ago, I went to the Independent Fashion Bloggers Conference at Milk Studios in Manhattan. It wasn't my first time going; I went in September as a wee young blogger, when my blog was only five months old and I had less than half as many followers as I do now. Those were the days.
If you've never heard of this incredible conference, let me sum it up for you. Basically, independent fashion bloggers (no kidding) from all over the country and the world (there were a few Australians, no joke) gather at Milk Studios the day before New York Fashion Week begins. Jannine, the founder of IFB, brings together a bunch of famous bloggers and important people from the industry, like photographers, PR people, magazine editors, etcetera, and arranges them on panels. Throughout the day, we learn from them all we need to know about blogging. There is plenty of mingle time in between, of course: I've made several new friends and business contacts (here meaning that I thrust my business card into their hand and run. I'm sort of kidding.). The best part, hands-down, is meeting all of the bloggers you silently worship and only hope to meet in your dreams. At the conference in September I met the Man Repeller (a.k.a. my idol) and I think I thoroughly repelled her. It might just be me, but I think that takes some serious skill.
Katie of Today I Want. That is some fierce hair.
Jessica from I'll Take That In Purple. This girl's blog is knee-slapper, that one. She also featured my glitter platforms on her blog. Ten points for Jessica!
Abigail from James1542. That scarf was blinding in person. In a good way.
During our allotted shmoozing time, people usually do some “street” style photographing (this is a figurative street; the conference takes place indoors). As is customary for fashion week, people put on their wackiest clothing and walk around hoping to be noticed. It's a little ridiculous, but I won't lie and say it doesn't work, because it does. I actually met Phil Oh (the street style photographer) of Street Peeper at the most recent conference. He was just eating a sandwich and he looked really familiar so I went up to talk to him, and when he handed me his card, I was like, “Oh my God, I have your blog bookmarked on my computer,” and he was so shocked. He was so humble. It was like he didn't know that he's a big deal. Other celebrity sightings include: Natalie Suarez of Natalie Off-Duty, Bryan Grey Yambao of Bryan Boy, Emily Schuman of Cupcakes and Cashmere, Jenni Radosevich of I Spy DIY, Tom and Lorenzo, Andy Torres of Style Scrapbook and approximately a bajillion other crazy-famous bloggers and assorted important fashion figures.
Carmina from La Carmina. Yes, that is a human on the left, not in fact a cat. A biblical cat, at that. (Rhymes!)
Bryan from BryanBoy! And some random Asian woman. Oh hey, guys!
Natalie of Natalie Off-Duty. This was the first of three times that I saw her during Fashion Week. We became bffs.
Despite the fact that this all sounds like fun and games (if you consider socializing with fashionable strangers “fun and games”), there was some highly valuable information dispensed from the bloggers on the panels. The topics covered this time were: Making Your Blog Irresistible, Media Goes Mobile, What Are Bloggers Worth?, and Your Blog—Your Dream or Just the Beginning? Even though most of you probably didn't attend the conference, it doesn't mean you don't deserve to know the valuable tips I learned. Here are the ones that stuck with me.
Be consistent and true to yourself.
As cliché as that sounds, it's true. People aren't reading Leandra Medine's blog to learn about what someone else thinks about peplums. People won't read this article to read someone else's take on the IFB Conference. That's just silly. If you have content that you're happy with and represents your aesthetic, then people will like it. It has to be organic and real and not sound like those gross tabloid magazines, because truthfully, no one really thinks those are good.
Don't spread yourself thin by using every social media platform out there—use the ones that work for you.
This seems kind of obvious, but if you don't understand/like/see the benefits of using Twitter, don't use it. Some people think that just because everyone uses Facebook, Twitter, Bloglovin', Pinterest, Instagram, Tumblr, StumbleUpon, Lookbook and everything else ever created that they have to as well. I am guilty of this. I've made accounts on nearly all of the above, but I know personally that Facebook drives more traffic to my blog than Twitter and Tumblr do, so I use that more. Maybe you're a talented Tweeter, unlike myself. More power to you. One-hundred-forty characters is just a little prohibiting for me, since I tend to ramble, like I'm doing right now.
Know your worth and use that to your advantage.
If you think you're a fabulous blogger, make that very clear. Don't sell yourself short. If someone's offering you $25 for a sponsored post and you think you deserve $100 (or even $600, or $1000; a lot of professional bloggers charge that much), ask for it. If this request is in line with how talented you are as a blogger, then people will accommodate you. Don't make ridiculous demands, though—we're not superstars and shouldn't act as though we're the coolest kids on the block. Just act like you're a kool kat, and you'll be okay.
Interact with you readers.
Your happiness shouldn't fluctuate based on how many followers you have. The point of having readers in the first place is to connect with them. You reach them with your blog, and they reach you by commenting and Tweeting and whatnot, so don't just ignore them. If you respond to comments, emails and Tweets, they'll keep coming back because there's that personal connection. Everyone wants friends, so if your readers feel like they have a bond or friendship with you, they will be loyal to you. It's also an excuse to be on the computer: “But Mom, I'm networking!”
Clothes courtesy of J. Brand. Not free? Not interested. Just kidding...sort of.
One of the super-cool women from Teen Vogue who photographed me and my friends for their blog. She was totally rocking the skant à la Proenza Schouler, and I just had to get a photograph.
She's a famous blogger, but to be honest I don't know who she is.
Work that fur vest. Own that dead animal.
Margaret of Peach Provocateur. I actually saw her at a few shows during NYFW throughout the week. When I say "saw," I mean caught glimpses of every few days in the crowded Box at Lincoln Center while clamoring for photos of the models. She also very kindly featured my feet on her blog.
That is one fine shoe. Can I have it?
I was obsessing over her turban for about half the day until I finally tracked her down and was like, "I NEED THIS. CAN I TAKE A PHOTOGRAPH OF YOUR HEAD" and she was like, "Yeah, sure."
It was a fun day but I am glad all this madness is over. I haven't left my house all day and it's great.
great pictures! theres some really cool inspirational pictures here x
ReplyDeleteSuch a great post! I'll definitely be rubbing my pennies together and attempting to go to NYFW this year!
ReplyDelete♡ Lexi
FASHION: Glitter & Pearls
WEDDINGS: Glitter Weddings