Learning From Each Other.
ByA few months back a came across the Independent Fashion Bloggers. While, I have no shot at becoming a fashion blogger, I do enjoy reading them. As I started digging through the content I started realizing that fashion bloggers were having many of the same conversations that Mom Bloggers had been having for a few years now.
Fashion bloggers were trying to figure out the best way to monetize their blogs. They were making sense of campaigns in which they took part and were never compensated for and now they are discussing widget campaigns and the issues that come along with them.
Each blogging community as well as each specific blogger holds their own desires, values, and ways in which they will work with brands. Mom bloggers and Fashion bloggers share quite a few similarities however, their backgrounds and situations are often quite different.
Most (please realize I have stated most not all) mom bloggers began blogging as a hobby. A way to record their child’s moments and connect with other mothers that hopefully share the same challenges, emotions, and fears that they have. The mom blogging space began as a way to connect with other mothers for the purpose of community and support. Most (again, I said most) did not begin their blog with the intention of starting a business. The problem we found was that when brands first began reaching out to work with mom bloggers neither party knew what to expect. After a couple of years of a very delicate dance (and many failed campaigns) mom bloggers and brands have now found methods that work extremely well and other methods that don’t.
Most fashion bloggers seem to have a background or long history in fashion. Having either worked in the fashion industry or a deep desire to work in the industry. Most fashion bloggers began their websites with intention of starting a business and monetizing. Most fashion bloggers began blogging assuming they would monetize their blogs in the same way that Fashion magazines monetize.
The problem is that most mom bloggers and fashion bloggers do not run in the same circles. They do not manage their websites in the same ways and they do not always hold the same interests. So, often messages get lost.
Recently, Stephanie wrote a great post about how we could take the model that we have used when working with mom bloggers in the past and apply that to the fashion blogging space. To any fashion bloggers looking to monetize I would highly suggest looking into the ways that mom bloggers have chosen to monetize and figuring out what might work for you.
The most important thing for brands to remember when working with bloggers of any type is to forge good relationships and to find ways to accomplish your campaign goals that align with their values and desires.
I am so glad that this conversation is starting to happen. As the internet continues to grow I think we will see more and more genres joining the ranks and many of these conversations taking place. This is a good space to be.
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I started “mom blogging” several years and recently launched a fashion/style blogging site. There is a noticeable difference in the two arenas – most notable is that fashion was an industry first. Mom blogging became one.
The fashion blogging arena definitely has experts – history, trend, foresite, styling. Mom blogging also has experts, but they were hidden behind the “mom” part first. The secondary piece of knowledge – food, politics, photography, etc. – showed up afterwards. It’s been interesting to have a foot in both worlds.
I believe there is most certainly a discussion and a lesson to be learned by each side of the aisle. And IFB is a great place to start the class – it was a pleasure to hear her at BlogHer.