How to make a career from blogging, from those who know

The current state (and pace) of the internet means that anyone with a keyboard and a wifi connection can technically be a blogger. That also means that because of the ease of typing out a few of your thoughts, and because of the sheer number of people that actually do it, it can often have a bit of a bad reputation. Social media and the influence that it has can make the online world pretty intimidating, as well as making it almost impossible to filter decent material from the tripe. But imagine creating good enough content to be a blogger, for a living; to actually do what you love and to be successful at it. You might see this as a far-fetched dream that’s unlikely to happen anytime soon, but believe us when we say that it is possible – you just need to know the right way to go about it. Alice Audley, founder of Blogosphere magazine, says:

“There’s no doubt that the online world is an overwhelming place, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to stand out. Though there is no secret formula to becoming successful, there are some key components that will help you on the journey. And they are: content, aesthetic, consistency and conversation. Your content is the spine of your blog.”

The most successful blogs and social media accounts are undoubtedly the ones that have started as a passion project, where it’s clear that the man/woman behind the screen is genuinely interested in the subject and where the relevant social media account genuinely resembles the hobbies and passion of the creator.

“Bear in mind that the vast majority of the most successful blogs around didn’t start to gain fame or be renowned,” continues Audley. “They started as a hobby – writing about their passions was something they enjoyed. And that’s what the readers liked.”

Dan Trepanier, founder of Articles of Style, agrees:

“We stand out from the competitive world that we operate in by making our content tangible and experiential. I think people are getting tired of blogs and social media that pitch themselves as “inspiration”. For an influencer to become a successful brand, they have to offer something real – real value to their readers and followers. For us, that natural extension means becoming their personal clothiers – complete with one-on-one custom fittings, personal styling advice, and long-term wardrobe planning.”

Social media and the success of digital platforms undoubtedly go hand-in-hand; nowadays, it’s much more likely that you’ll hear about someone on social media before you come across their blog, business or a brand that they’re partnered with, rather than vice versa. Instagram especially has been instrumental in the development of many of the most successful blogs and bloggers in the world, and has helped elevate their fame and industry status to the next level. And you’d be wrong to think blogging was just a passing hobby for those with nothing better to do, because for many of fashion’s most successful bloggers, it’s serious business. Chiara Ferragni is the perfect example: she reportedly made $8million in 2015 and Harvard even did a case study on her ability to create a business through the medium of social media and blogging. She has 5.5 million Instagram followers and updates her blog far less often than she does her social media accounts.

And while the number of followers that a person has doesn’t necessarily equate to financial success, it is now the CV that a lot of successful entrepreneurs use to tell their story and one that potential future clients can use to judge said individual. A simple Google search is no longer enough – someone’s social media account says so much more. Brendan Fallis, although not a blogger, is one of New York’s most sought-after DJs and a gentleman with fingers in many different pies, and is the first to admit that without social media his career might not be where it is today. Fallis sums up the influence of social media perfectly, saying:

“Creating your own future is something we’re all capable of, now more than ever. With social media being a vehicle to reach people from all over the world, you can tailor your brand to whomever you think will find it of interest. I’m not embarrassed to say that social media has taken my career above and beyond where I ever thought it would go. Sometimes you have to play into it a little more than you would like to, or push your level of comfort, but the same goes with any career. If you live within the box, you’re most likely missing what’s on the outside of it.”

Follow @brendanfallis, @articlesofstyle and Blogosphere Magazine.