No doubt about it, fashion blogging is killing it right now and potential bloggers are looking for ways to create eye-catching and stylish fashion sites.
And why not? There’s the opportunity to share your vision and brand…and the possibility and perks of working with influential companies.
If you’re interested in starting a fashion blog, or a blog on any other topic, it’s possible to get everything you need set up and online in twenty minutes. No, really! There are only three steps that stand between being a civilian and becoming a blogger. It’s easier than you think.
So what are these three magical steps that transform mere mortals into lords of the internet? Well, you’ll need to:
- Get your fashion blog.
- Set up your fashion blog.
- Start blogging.
Step One: Get Your Fashion Blog
Getting your blog includes purchasing your domain name and acquiring hosting for your fashion blog. Your domain is the web address or URL of your site. For example, this site’s URL is www.scribblrs.com. This usually costs between $10-$15 US dollars.
Hosting on the other hand is a service. You will be renting space to store your blog and the monthly cost of these services varies greatly, depending on the provider.
Step one is where a lot of bloggers get intimidated, but there’s no need for fear or trepidation. We recommend killing both birds with one click by getting started with iPage. Why use iPage?
- It’s Affordable – iPage will host your blog for $1.99 a month. Chances are you can find that in your couch or under the seat of your car.
- Your Domain Name is Included – Not only will you get hosting, you won’t pay separately for your domain name. iPage throws it in for free. It’s a one-stop-shop!
- One-Click WordPress Installation – Worried that installing WordPress and connecting your URL and hosting to it will be complicated? It won’t be with iPage. Installing WordPress is as easy as clicking a button.
- Exceptional Customer Service – Need help? iPage has customer service representatives available 24/7…and they’re based in North America-no call center across the globe.
- Free Advertising Credit – Your iPage plan comes with free advertising credits for Google, Yahoo, and Bing to help you get your blog noticed. After all, what good is your amazing fashion blog if you don’t get it out there?
Once you’ve selected your hosting plan, it’s time to register your domain name.
Are you excited? You should be because things are about to get real. It can be an overwhelming responsibility to name your blog, so if you’re feeling pressure that’s normal.
Start by brainstorming words that are related to your subject and also evoke the feelings you want readers to associate with your blog. Look for strong words. String some of these words together and see what you come up with. Write the words on index cards and rearrange them. Then come up with a handful of contenders since there is always a chance that your favorite domain name will be taken.
When naming your blog, you’ll want to stick to three basic rules:
- Make it catchy and easy to remember. Imagine yourself saying this name fifty times a day. Does it still hold strong? Also, stay away from non-traditional spellings and dashes. If you tell someone where to find your blog, it shouldn’t require special instructions.
- Reflect your branding. I know, it’s pretty early in the game to expect you to have branded your blog. For now, envision the ‘look and feel’ of your blog and choose a name that emulates, or at least doesn’t contradict, this.
- Stick to .com or .net. While there are many other options available, lean toward the traditional. Steer away from .biz, .tv, as these can be confusing and make your blog hard for readers to find.
Step Two: Set Up Your Fashion Blog
Once you have hosting and a domain name for your new fashion blog, it’s time for the really fun stuff. Okay, so installing WordPress is pretty blah but it’s easy and after that you’re going to let your creativity shine. Go ahead and install WordPress (one-click with iPage) then you can choose your theme.
Your theme is the template for your blog. It can be customized using widgets and plug ins. Some themes allow you to change the color as well, but the theme is the outline you will flesh out and fill in with images and content.
There are both free and for purchase themes. When choosing the theme for your fashion blog, you will want to decide if your site will be image or text driven. Look at the way different themes display images and videos and decide what would best display your style and meet your needs.
When choosing a theme for any blog, ask these questions:
- Where are the menus and sidebars? Can these can be customized?
- Is the theme mobile-friendly? Will it display correctly on different screen sizes?
- Is it compatible with different browsers?
- Is there support available if I have a problem?
- What are other users saying about this theme?
- Is the theme compatible with most plug-ins?
- Is the theme SEO friendly?
- Will the theme allow your content to be translated into other languages?
Bonus! For inspiration, here are some fashion blogs that are rockin’ it:
My Style Pill – This fashion blog’s simplistic design lets the images do the talking.
Into the Gloss – Here’s an example of a blog with that glossy, fashion magazine-vibe.
Luella June – Simple design, stunning images.
Cheetah is the New Black – A minimalist black and white layout allows the images to set the tone.
Once you’ve installed the perfect theme, you’re ready to customize it to suit your content. Commonly customized areas include:
- Your title and tagline – Use your tagline to tell visitors exactly what your site is about. When readers land on your home page, they should have a clear idea of the site’s purpose.
- Widgets – These are the functions available in your sidebars and footer.
- Header and images – Designing a stunning header is an excellent way to introduce your brand. Your brand should translate across all of your media. Readers should be able to recognize your work because it ‘looks’ like you. You can also customize how images will be displayed on your home page.
Once you have these in place (and I don’t mean perfect because they probably never will be) it’s time to add pages to your blog. Pages are the options displayed on the main menu. These will be the primary sections, departments, and topics of your blog. You may also include drop down menus by creating a parent page that will appear on the menu and sub-pages that will drop down.
How you organize your fashion blog is up to you, just strive for simplicity. A cluttered, unorganized blog is a sure-fire way to encourage your visitors to bounce. Usability is key. Readers should be able to navigate easily and without frustration.
Commonly included pages on all types of blogs include:
- About
- Contact
- Privacy Policy
- Disclaimer/Disclosure
Step Three: Start Blogging
Now that the mannequin of your blog is standing and dressed, it’s time to accessorize…and you have a lot of options. Posts on your blog can include all types of creative images, infographics, text, magazine-style glossy articles, podcasts, videos and slide shows.
What you do with these mediums is up to you. When creating content for your blog, make sure you:
- Use an attention-getting headline.
- Talk to your reader. Blogging is usually casual and how you ‘talk’ to your readers establishes the tone of your blog.
- Format correctly. Blogs generally have negative space and you should avoid publishing big blocks of text. Bulleted lists, headings, and images also contribute to readablity by breaking up text.
- Help your reader. Give them something of value. Include yourself but (unless you’re famous) it should be all about them, not you.
Once you have content on your blog, it’s time to share. If you want to know more about marketing your blog, check out The 50 Best Blog Sites for New Bloggers to Follow in 2016, which includes social media marketing and SEO.
There’s plenty more to learn including taking your blog to the next level and the essentials of writing a blog post, but you’re up and running.
Post to your blog.
Rinse, Repeat.
Sounds good.