Chimere Nicole ⋆ Page 12 of 35 ⋆ Beauty Fashion Lifestyle Blog

Top 5 Influencer Websites For Brand Deals

January 7, 2022 lifestyle

Let’s cut straight to the chase and talk money. Big money. How are these influencers, bloggers, and content creators making money with brand deals? I know you want to know because I too wanted to know as well. It seemed for some strange reason, people have been trying to gatekeep this information like it’s the secret sauce for the Krabby patty. I just don’t understand, but this post is definitely giving you the recipe.

Since I wasn’t able to get the information from fellow bloggers and influencers at the time I decided to take some time and research it for myself. Although there are more than 5 websites to apply for brand campaigns these are the sites I use the most. For my fashion-based content creators, I have a special post for you here. Luckily for you, I love to share so I will be giving you my top 5 influencer websites for brand deals.

Influencer Websites For Brand Deals

Tomoson

Cohley

Aspire IQ

Fohr

Activate

Obviously

I’m going to give you a complete breakdown of each of these brand campaign platforms and how I’ve used them to secure brand deals. I have personally used all five for more than a year so I have some insight into each one. Most are a bit straightforward forward however, some offer additional benefits you should be mindful of.

Tomoson– My first influencer platform. Tomoson is made for new content creators looking to start building a portfolio and media kit. There are four categories for you to partner with brands. These categories include easy approvals, freebies, % off deals, and paid campaigns. I highly recommend all new influencers sign up for this platform. Even if you take a few months and create content for free or at a low rate it will help you build your confidence while working smaller campaigns.

The site also allows you to add your custom price list based on all your social media platforms. You can then apply to create content for one social media site or all of them. I personally like that you can apply for blog campaigns as well. The brands will know how much you charge via the pre-submitted media kit you provided on the site and you can customize the price per campaign. This makes applying for campaigns much easier.

Also to note, you will see quite a bit of Amazon-based sellers on this site. There have been a few brands who have reached out to me outside of the site asking for lowball deals and extras. I happily decline.

Aspire IQ– Another platform that makes the brand collaboration as seamless as possible. I would like to mention, this one I would not recommend to brand new content creators as they typically want you to have a minimum of 10K followers on at least one social media platform. I will however say, there will be campaigns where they will overlook your analytics if you are producing high-quality work. Remember the name of the game is quality versus quantity.

Also important to mention this site does a great job of outlining the step-by-step process of each campaign. Thus you will learn important details that go along with each phase of completing sponsored content.

Fohr– The holy grail of media kits. This site will help you so much on your journey of becoming a content creator. Yes you will have opportunities to apply for branded content but the metrics this site provides are second to none. It breaks down all of your engagement and growth rates, sponsored post, most engaged post and demographics. The list goes on and on. This site also stores your price per post and rates. My paid collabs are far and few in between but I would recommend this site to have access to its features and measure your growth. The sponsorship on this site does offer higher payments than some of the other sites.

Activate– A very similar layout to Aspire IQ. You will be able to filter through the campaigns based on the compensation options. Options are flat rate, bid, non-cash, and performance. The site will allow you to apply for campaigns based on a quoted price you submit(bid). Lately, I have been seeing campaigns move from the flat rate price to performance-based. Meaning the price you will be paid is determined by how well your analytics are for that sponsored content.

Cohley– Saving my number one platform last on the list because I can go on and on. I have received the most brand-sponsored campaigns on this platform. Like all others, Cohley campaigns pay according to social media followers. However, they do offer flat rate campaigns as well. Recently, they have also started to include TikTok campaigns which help new influencers and content creators the opportunity to cash in on the growth of the platform.

Of all of the sites, I’ve mentioned this one is the one I check each day for sponsorship opportunities. They update their database each day and you will always have the opportunity to apply to great brands that offer higher payment amounts. This is based on your social media follower count as well as engagement. If I were to recommend only one site it would be this one.

Here’s a tip, as a new content creator focus on quality content. Take your time and produce the best possible content you can. Trust me, even if a brand says no now they are definitely still watching, and as you grow they will likely come back with an offer to collaborate in the future. Happy creating.

What Do Fashion Bloggers Actually Do

January 4, 2022 beauty

Free clothes, photoshoots, flights to Paris, and front row during fashion week. The life of a fashion blogger seems so fabulous and exciting. Everyone wants to become a fashion blogger but do you know what a fashion blogger is or what they actually do?

Most of the time people simply assume fashion bloggers play dress up and take pictures all day to post to social media. That could not be further from the truth. Fashion bloggers are working hard to give you the latest trends and styles you see in magazines, television, stores, and on social media. If you are thinking of starting a fashion blog you will need a better understanding of what’s required. Let’s discuss some of what a fashion blogger does and how to become a fashion blogger.

what do fashion bloggers do — Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com

Creates fashion-related content for various websites and social media platforms.
Connects brands with organic audiences to increase brand visibility.
Markets products and services.
Informs and engages audiences and influences buying habits.
Teaches various categories within the fashion niche including styling, organization, money-saving, and more.
Consults on various ad campaigns and product launches.
Sets social trends.

Negotiations

People are often surprised to learn that one of the things included in what a fashion blogger does is negotiations. Oftentimes when a blogger starts to work with fashion brands and ad agencies there are a lot of legalities that need to be worked out. Such as image rights, ownership of intellectual property, usage rights, and much more. As content creators, fashion bloggers are providing a service thus having to negotiate the price of those services, how they are to be used, and the length of time of usage.

Fashion Bloggers Are In The Know

One of the many responsibilities of a fashion blogger is to inform and report. Especially when they inform their audience of sales and promotional products. A part of what a fashion blogger does is engage their audience by sharing information relevant to their specific niche. Almost like a reporter. Following some of my favorite bloggers has allowed me access to exclusive sales, exclusive products, attending events, and more.

fashion bloggers during fashion week — Photo by Thai Tran on Pexels.com

Money Savers

My favorite part, saving money. One of the perks of being a fashion blogger is discounts and sales. Fashion bloggers will share promotional sales with their readers before it’s often released to the public. I call this being “tapped in”. Traditionally, fashion bloggers will showcase the item and give you various options on how to style it and even include affordable options to purchase. I happen to love showcasing fashion dupes for an affordable price like this post, HERE

How To Become A Fashion Blogger

There are a few simple steps you must take in order to start creating content like a fashion blogger. Yes, you can start by taking amazing photos and posting them online but in order to be successful, you need to set up your blog like a business. This includes having the following.

WordPress Blog
Domain
Media kit
And more…

I have a in-depth post HERE that breaks down everything you need in order to become a fashion blogger.

The Power of Influence

A strategy is a powerful tool for a fashion blogger. We discussed this in a previous post HERE, wherein creating a content calendar and strategy allows bloggers and content creators to grow their audiences and influence them. How this pertains to a fashion blogger and what they do is their influence then becomes the authority. Influence has power.

As you establish yourself within your niche your audience will adapt to the content you create and you become an authority in that category. A relationship of trust is built. This takes months even years to build and as a blogger, it is better than gold. Being able to honestly and ethically influence people is essential to being a fashion blogger, content creator, and social media influencer. Building trust with your audience is the most important part of this profession.

It’s Not Always Sunshine

Anything that involves posting on the internet can potentially be problematic. Some of the things content creators face are

Negative and mean spirited comments.
Unsupportive friends
Being undervalued
Underpaid
Stress associated
Self esteem issues

All of these things can arise when starting a fashion blog. As a fashion blogger along with developing a following and viewership, I strongly advise working on developing self-confidence. More importantly, thick skin. This will come in handy on the days where internet trolls try and negative Nancy’s start interacting with your content.

Accept early on that everyone will not like you or support you. It’s ok. This is totally normal and comes with the job. Your mission is to find the people who love you. Find your tribe. The people who genuinely like you and engage with your content. People want to follow people that they can connect with and people with similar interests. So the biggest piece of advice would be, show up as your most authentic self. Be genuinely and unapologetically you. Here is a helpful resource to use daily to tap into your inner queen.

How to Become a Fashion Blogger In 10 Steps

December 29, 2021 fashion

Fashion blogging has revolutionized digital marketing. Brands are longer shelling out millions of dollars for commercials and print magazines to advertise their products. They are now going directly to fashion bloggers, influencers, and content creators. Fashion blogging is the latest marketing stradegy for compaines and today will get you on the fast track on how to start a fashion blog in 10 simple steps. If you want to learn how to start a fashion blog this is what you are looking for.

How To Start A Fashion Blog Today

Name your blog.
Purchase a domain and self hosted website for your blog.
Discover your brand niche.
Create a content calendar.
Identify your target audience.
Purchase basic equipment.
Sign up for an ad agency.
Apply to affiliate programs.
Create a media kit.
Learn SEO immediately.
Pinterest Is Your Friend

Name Your Blog

What you name your blog is ultimately as important as the content you place on your blog. You want your blog name to be as memorable and on-brand as possible. This will increase the likelihood of readers returning and google indexing your brand in the correct category.

Purchase Your Blog Domain and Hosting Services

The easiest way to explain this step is to use the analogy of purchasing a home. Your blog host is the “house” where your blog will live and the domain is the address. You need them in order to get into ad agencies and generate more income. We talk about this more in detail HERE.

Creating your own site “your own home” allows you full creative freedom. You own it, unlike pre-made websites like Wix or Squarespace where you are renting space and never own the site. It limits your earning potential.

Discover Your Brand Niche

Yes, you want to start a fashion blog, ok. But what type of fashion blogger do you want to be? What do you want your blog to be known for? Mommy fashion, luxury, thrifting, or kids fashion. Determine early on what type of content you want to focus on so that you can start identifying your target audience.

Find Your Target Audience

Who will potentially be reading your content? You need to know what they like, where they shop, what trends they will follow. All of these things help you know what types of content to create for them.

REMEMBER, you are creating content to give the reader VALUE. Keep this in mind during the content creation.

Once you know who your reader is and what they like, creating a content calendar is a piece of cake.

Creating A Content Calendar

This is one of the biggest tips I think I need to share. Content calendars help not only your reader but you as a fashion blogger. You want to create content on a consistent basis thus scheduling will be critical in running a successful fashion blog. It will also help when creating trendy and seasonal content as well.

Is Valentine’s day coming up? A content calendar will remind you to create fashion posts around dresses for date night or the perfect pair of shoes to wear. Maybe your favorite store is having a sale that starts that day and you want to inform your readers. As a fashion blogger, you have to learn to be organized in order to keep fresh eyes on your content. I use Google calendars for free and color-code my content. This allows me to know what content to create on specific days and what social media platform it will be posted to.

Purchasing Equipment

Many fashions, myself included, started out taking pictures on our phones. It allowed us to create great quality content with the resources we had at my disposal at the time. However, as you grow you will want to invest in your blog with a quality camera as well as editing software or apps to elevate your content. This does not mean going out and spending hundreds of dollars. I simply want you to get in the mindset of investing in your blog. Even if it is for a course or classes. Highly recommend an SEO course when starting out.

I happen to take my own pictures and I use a handheld photo clicker and tripod from Amazon. It works great and I can create content on my own schedule.

Ad Agencies

When starting a fashion blog ad revenue will become extremely important as it is a way to earn passive income. The traffic to drive to your site can be monetized and different ad agencies can help you do this. Sites like Google Adsense, Ezoic, and Mediavine are the most popular for fashion bloggers.

Affiliate Programs

Another way to monetize your fashion blog is through affiliate programs. This allows you to create links to products and services you love and earn a commission once a sale is made. Sites like Amazon, Nordstroms, and RewardStyle (LTK) allow fashion bloggers the opportunity to monetize items on their sites to generate passive income. If you are not able to qualify for these programs I highly recommend using Magic Links. You can create an account for free and start linking products on your site or social media pages. Once your audience starts making purchases through your link you earn a commission on that sale. It’s the fastest way for a fashion blogger to make money.

Media Kit

Once you start your fashion blog you will begin receiving emails from brands and companies requesting to work with you. They will ask for your rates and the services you provide. You will need to create a PDF document detailing this information. This is called a media kit. It includes your social media stats, prices list, website traffic numbers, and a brief overview of what you offer as a fashion blogger, influencer, and content creator. You can create a media kit for free using Canva. They have templates available where you can just drag and drop your information. This is what you will send to brands when pitching for sponsorship and responding to collaboration requests.

The Power of Pinterest

Get on Pinterest now, seriously. As a fashion blogger Pinterest will be your best resource for generating traffic to your website. Those stylish outfits and fashion finds are what people are looking for. So sharing those looks on Pinterest is a great way to get traffic and monetize your site. You will have to learn SEO first.

SEO Is Essential In How To Start A Fashion Blog

No matter how awesome your content is or how pretty your website design is, if you don’t optimize your site for SEO it will be a complete waste of time. SEO, search engine optimization is how search engines find your content online. In easy terms, SEO is how the internet indexes your content. In order for the internet to do this, you have to use keywords that allow google to know what your content is about. Google scans your site to index it and sees where it will live on the internet. Content optimized for SEO allows for people to find your fashion blog and get the information you are sharing. Learn SEO and you will have a successful career as a fashion blogger.

how to start a fashion blog and make money.

How To Style White And Cream

December 28, 2021 fashion

The purest of all the colors on the color wheel, white comes in various shades. I happen to love wearing white during the winter as it sets the perfect tone for the season’s festive color scheme. But how many ways can you wear white and cream throughout the year? I can come up with quite a few ways. Today we will be discussing how to take those white wardrobe essentials and create the perfect white and cream outfit. Learn how to style white and cream in a perfect way.

White And Cream Outfit Inspo

Add a little razzle-dazzle to the outfit by adding the color cream. White and cream go perfectly together. The shade cream creates such a richness to the look without going too warm with color tones. Additionally, you don’t have to worry about finding the perfect shade of white that matches. Trust me, it’s a lot harder than you may think. As shown in today’s look you can see how my cream-colored top pairs well with this classic pair of white dress pants.

White Layers

I stated previously that finding the perfect shades of white that match isn’t easy. The best way I’ve found to avoid the headache is to just layer them all up. That’s right, add different shades of white to the outfit and slay. White linen blazer with satin white top and nylon pants. It’s a look. The mix of different fabrics and whites has a bit of personality to the look overall. Learning how to style white and cream together is essential for creating a cohesive wardrobe.

Statement Piece

We can’t forget to add the statement piece to the winter white outfit. For me, it’s usually a bold red lipstick or earrings. I happen to love a large handbag as well. But statement shoes are even better. So many possibilities and one of my favorites are listed here. But please note. Don’t overdo it on the statement pieces. You don’t want to distract from the white chic look of the outfit. You wear the fashion, don’t let the fashion wear you.

Outfit Details

Shirt:Here, Pants: Here, Bag: Sold Out,Similar, Similar, Shoes: Sold Out, Similar Here

50 Of The Instagram Hashtags For Fashion Bloggers

December 28, 2021 fashion

Fashion blogging has become very important to digital marketing. Fashion bloggers such as Chiara Ferragni of The Blonde Salad and Melyssa Griffin make upwards of $250,000 monthly as fashion bloggers. No wonder in recent years there has been an influx of fashion content creators surging the market. I myself have also been creating more fashion-based content not only here but also on my other social media platforms as well. But in order to grow your social media following, you must have a content strategy that includes using hashtags. In this post you will learn what hashtags are and how to effectively use them. Here are 50 of the best Instagram hashtags to use as a fashion blogger.

instagram hashtags for fashion bloggers — Photo by Monstera on Pexels.com

#Fashionbloggerstyles
#sustainablefashionblogger
#Instafashionblogger
#fashionbloggerlife
#ethicalfashionblogger
#mommyfashion
#mommyfashionista
#fashioninstagram
#modestfashionista
#nycfashionbloggers
#stylebloggersstyle
#stylebloggers
#contentcreatorsofinstagram
#ootdpost
#ootdguide
#ootdinspo
#outfitinspirations
#outfitinspiration
#streetstyles
#streetstylelook
#streetstyleinspirations
#streetstyleoutfit
#streetstyled
#streetstylephotography
#streetstyleblog
#outfitdiary
#fashionkilla
#fashionkillas
#fashionaddicts
#fashionablelife
#outfitdujour
#itgirls
#itgirlstyle
#fashionstatement
#whatiworetoday
#chicfashion
#ontrend
#styleoftheday
#trendyshoes
#luxuryfashion
#fashionaccessories
#fashionover30
#stylecreator
#fashionweekly
#fashionstyle
#fashionstyleblogs
#lookoftheday
#lookofthenight
#ootdfashionlook
#ootdfashion
#itgirlstyle

What Is A Hashtag?

A hashtag is a way social media platforms categorize and index specific topics. Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok all use hashtags to index the content that is uploaded on the sites each day. Since this list features 50 of the best hashtags for fashion bloggers you have tons of options to use on each platform so spread them out. Oh, and don’t forget Pinterest. We love Pinterest as fashion bloggers.

On Instagram, you are able to see how well this indexing is done as you start to search hashtags. Once you search specific hashtags Instagram will then show you other hashtags you can use or search within that topic or niche. It will help your content stay relevant and allow you to research content your audience is searching for. Remember you have 50 Instagram hashtags for fashion bloggers so switch them up and see what works best for you.

Why Do Fashion Bloggers Use/Need Instagram Hashtags

As fashion bloggers and content creators, we use hashtags to get in front of our target audience. These are the people we want to view and engage with our content. In order for them to find us, we target specific hashtags so that they can find us. Understanding your audience and what they want and like is key to growing your following on social media. How can you create content if you don’t know what they want to see? The answer is you can’t. Hashtags allow you to become very specific in finding your ideal customer or audience.

Let me give you an example.

You are looking to grow your mommy-based fashion blog and you’re creating a list of hashtags to use within your post. What hashtags would fit better?

#Momjeans vs #fashionblog

Both are great options to attract new eyes to your post however when you are looking to grow a specific audience you have to “niche down”. That means not being so general with the hashtags you use. We want to target the right people. So in order to grow your mommy-based blog, the #momjeans would be the better option. Not make sure you are actually talking about mom jeans in the post. There is nothing worse than looking for something online and the post isn’t related to the hashtag.

Different Categories Of Hashtags

There are many types of hashtags to choose from. Here are a few examples of how we organize and find hashtags.

Events
Seasons
Holidays
Acronyms: Ex, #ootd outfitoftheday
Location: State or City
Trends
Niche: Ex, #Photography or #Travelblogger
Brands or Stores: Levi or Macy’s

How Many Hashtags Should We Use Per Post

This is tricky and quite frankly up to you. Instagram currently allows up to 30, YES 30 hashtags. I personally believe that is overkill because as I previously mentioned you need to be specific in targeting the right people. You can’t do this effectively with 30 hashtags.

I would recommend using 3-6 hashtags per social media post.

Why? It doesn’t come across as spammy and it allows you to niche down. Remember, we want to be specific in who the content gets in front of.

Depending on the content you may be able to TAG the brands you are using or wearing in the post. This will help with brand collaborations and sponsored posts. We discuss that in another blog post,here.

Hashtag Tips and Helpful Practices

Please don’t spam. Instagram does not like it and neither will your audience. If you spam hashtags Instagram may block your account or prevent people from finding you.
For fast growth stay within your niche. I know you want to create all types of content but try and focus on growing your audience before you branch out. Stay in your fashion lane before you take on cooking.
When searching for hashtags look at the volume of the search history. Instagram is great for this as it will tell you how many people have posted in the hashtag and if it is relevant to your niche. Hashtags with 8.9 million posts may not be for you. It is competitive and if you’re looking to grow your content will be lost in a sea of posts.
Use low search hashtags. I try to stay within the 200-250k search volume hashtags. It gives me a better chance of my content being seen.
State and local hashtags work best. I love to use hashtags that are specific to my location. I love to use state-based hashtags. Local businesses and brands love to work with creators who shop or live nearby.
Try to use your hashtags within the caption of the post. I will use brand hashtags within the post caption THEN tag the brand in the post.
Search for brand-specific hashtags. Most fashion and lifestyle brands have their own hashtags they use to search for people using their products. USE THEM. Your target audience is looking to see how to style that item and the brand is looking for content creators. It’s a win-win!

What Is The Goal Of Using Hashtags

The primary goal is to use hashtags to build your online presence. By using the correct hashtags you will be able to be seen by your target audience and build a relationship with people who love your content. As you grow you can establish your own brand identity and start to build relationships with the companies you love and start to accept branded deals and sponsorships. If this is your goal. If not, you can share your love of style with the world. We will talk about ways you can monetize your social media to earn an income. For now, we want to focus on growing and building our audience. Hashtags are a great and effective way to grow and I highly recommend my list of Instagram hashtags for fashion bloggers.