There are some bloggers who sit easily in one blogging category. Maybe they’re a fashion blogger, a mummy blogger, a technology blogger or a craft blogger. Me, I blog about fashion and beauty – and I’m a mum – so that gives me blogging privileges across three blogging categories … four, if you count my weekly blogging posts about blogging.
Each of these categories also gives me a ticket to hang out with other bloggers in those niches. Last Sunday I got to put on my beauty blogging hat (or should that be face?).
Nails freshly manicured. Check.
Hair still lasting from Friday’s blow-dry. Check
Face free from breakouts. Umm, check. (How annoying it is to have wrinkles AND pimples? At the same time?)
I was invited to join in and speak at the Brisbane Beauty Blogger Event at New Farm hair salon, Orb Hair, organised by the gorgeous Sarah at Hip N Haute and Annica at Haute and Stylish.
I offered the 10 beauty bloggers in attendance my two cents on how to create a better beauty blog. I talked about the three things that drive me to create a better blog. Even if you don’t blog about beauty – many of these tips can be applied to other blogging niches.
1. Point of difference. There are thousands of beauty blogs out there. How can you make yours stand out from the pack? Everyone can blog about a lipstick and a new hair product. How will your’s be different? How will you build your blog community and following so that readers talk about and get excited about you – online and offline?
How can you create that point of difference?
Decide on who your target audience is – and write everything to that specific audience.
Invest in an SLR camera and do a photography course.
Play around with your writing style. Are you conversational, serious or extremely funny?
Read other blogs – a lot – follow and comment.
Join networks such as BlogLovin’, I Blog Fashion and Beauty, iFabbo and Independent Fashion Bloggers
2. Passion. Having a burning passion about a topic – in this case beauty – helps to organically feed an endless supply of blog post ideas. Your readers want to feel how much you love what you write about. It’s impossible to fake this.
How can you hone your passion?
Feed your passion through research and play.
Really ask yourself, is this what I truly love?
Keep a diary of ideas.
3. Product knowledge. Can you really write and talk about a beauty product without first having a full understanding of the product? Your readers want to trust that you know your stuff. They want to know that you’ve tried the product. They want to hear all about the product in real terms, not just the scientific stuff.
How can you improve your product knowledge?
Build a relationship with PR companies
Hang out at a lot of beauty counters
Research online
I found this quote from Grey Livingston which I thought was apt for not only this group of bloggers but beauty bloggers around the world – Beauty – in projection and perceiving – is 99.9% attitude.
Are you ready to apply that attitude to your blog?
PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT
Happy Easter Saturday to you. It’s been one big bloggie ride for me this week. On Thursday evening I found out Styling You was a finalist in the Business Category of the Best Australian Blogs competition – and it’s been mentioned in The Australian, no less! The winner will be announced on May 6./>
Comments 26
I love these tips! I am totally appreciative about these tips you gave because as a beauty blogger myself, I could use all the help in honing my craft!
Good luck with the blogging. This post really helps. Thanks V – I hope so too. These are such awesome tips!
Hi Dannii – yes, that’s so important, having your voice coming through. Good luck with the blogging.
Awwww wow, I love this post and wish I had known about the event – the cupcakes look delicious!!
I am 100$ dedicated to becoming a fantastic beauty blogger and Iam doing everything I can to stand out from other beauty blogs out there x
Author
You do a great job Tam – this was a Brisbane event earlier in the year x
These are such awesome tips! As a blogging newbie I find posts like these so helpful, I am so glad I found your site!
Becca x
honestlybec.blogspot.com
Author
I’m so glad, Becca. I blog about blogging every Saturday – if you ever have a question you’d like answered in these posts, email me: [email protected]
Great tips, Nikki. Hope you win the contest!
Thanks for your support last week. It meant so much to me.
Author
Thanks V – I hope so too. Very exciting and support is there always. That’s what I love about this big bloggie world. x
Voted. More people must! You deserve it.
Thanks Roxanne, really appreciate it!
ongratulations, well-deserved
Thanks Bron x
Thanks a lot for these tips, I have recently started Beauty Blogging and I’m still finding my way. This post really helps.
Author
So glad it was of help to you Mel. Good luck with the blogging. It’s addictive!
Great advice! You definitely can hear the writers voice through their writing. I’m hoping to start working more closely with PR’s this year-hoping the right opportunity will come along.
Hi Dannii – yes, that’s so important, having your voice coming through. I’ll be doing a post on working with PRs soon x
I love this. As a blogger it’s so refreshing to hear others tip and equally as satisfying to learn when you’re moving in the right direction.
Love your work! X
Author
Nat, your blog is so on track. Your passion – and your personality – come through in the knowledge you are able to help other women with. Love your work!
So true re the passion for a product translating in a blog. If someone can describe their love for a product and why in an honest and excited way I’m sold!!
Author
And that kind of passion is definitely impossible to fake!
Nikki,
Loved ur post. Infact I maintain a blogging diary and have realized at it really helps. You have said to maintain relations with PR but how do we start ??
TIA
Author
Ah, now that’s not something I could answer in a quick blog comment but I’ll put it down to write a whole blog post about it. Short answer: build up your blog first and really focus on what your blog is about and then start talking to PRs. Leave the long answer with me and I’ll blog about it in the next couple of weeks.
Thanks..I shall wait for your post and in meantime work on the blog
Voted.
Author
Thanks so much, Alex x