Independent Fashion Bloggers

3 Social Media Updates You Need To Know About Today

taylordavies — Wed, 23 May 2012 20:00:35 +0000

Perhaps at this very moment you’re moaning and groaning, “Ohhh no, not more changes!” I hear you loud and clear, but don’t worry. These are mostly good updates that will improve the way you and your blog interact with three of the most important social media channels: Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

1. Facebook has released an app specifically for pages: It’s now much easier to post photos and stories to your blog’s fan page from your mobile phone, as well as check up on the metrics. This means that you can monitor your page, add images and links on the go. We’re excited that it’s going to be easier to send updates to fans from anywhere – but please, don’t get too liberal with it! (Read more about the app here.)

2. Lyst Launches Sale Alerts for Pinterest: Social platform Lyst has tapped into an interesting component of the Pinterest: now, if you link your Pinterest and Lyst accounts, you can receive an instant notification when any items you’ve pinned from any online retailer site go on sale. If you use Pinterest to keep track of potential purchases, this tool is for you.

3. Twitter updated their Privacy Policy and Terms of Service: Twitter has updated it’s privacy policy. Most importantly by clarifying the type of information they collect from their users (get all the details here). They have also updated their suggestions tool to allow it to follow you to sites with twitter plug-ins and tailor their suggested users around your on-line behavior. But never fear – they’ve also implemented a Do Not Track feature, in case you don’t want the fail whale on your tail. (Get details here.)

There you go, you’re all up to speed. That wasn’t so bad now was it?

IFB Project Round Up #48: Summer Style Kick Off!

matra brathwaite — Wed, 23 May 2012 19:00:01 +0000

I think we’re all in agreement that summer can’t come soon enough, right? Warm weather, lounging at the beach and longer days are just some of the things that we need in our life. Judging from your submissions to this week’s project – most of you can’t wait for summer so that you can show off your sartorially stylish self.

Here are our 10 favorite submissions from Project #48: Summer Style Kick Off:

To see all the submissions click here and remember to check back on Saturday for the newest project!

Why Your Job Title is Killing Your Credibility

amandaboyce — Wed, 23 May 2012 17:00:12 +0000

A quick scroll through LinkedIn offers a dizzying array of job titles. CEO, Editor in Chief, Social Media Guru. Funny? Yes. Entertaining? Sure. Professional? No.

As a blogger, you want to showcase your many skills. Writing, editing, marketing, social media. These are all skills that you, as a blogger, have developed on your own. Those late hours you spent working tirelessly on your blog’s site design and researching articles are definitely notable. However, there is a difference between working personally on your blog for 5 hours a week and conducting a growing and sustainable business through your blog.

Inflating your job title or transforming it into something a little different is a sure way to kill any credibility aka professional klout you may have. Professional or personal, no one will take you seriously if you call yourself Social Media Guru or Blogging Ninja – trust us, we’ve seen and heard people do this and HR recruiters are not impressed.

Will a fancy job title get you noticed in a flood of submitted resumes? Possibly but don’t forget that a a job title, like any other claim, requires proof. You should be able to back up your title with qualifying professional experience. Simply saying you are a social media expert and not having previous job or consultant experience won’t cut it. A title like “CEO” of a blog feels forced and actually takes away from your professional credibility.

Instead of using a lofty job title, boost your resume with HR-friendly keywords that will catch the eye of hiring managers and recruiters. Search fellow colleagues profiles on LinkedIn to see how describe their job. Scour job postings and research what words are used consistently in the job’s qualifications and responsibilities. Talk with any acquaintances who have HR experience and see if they can can offer tips or keywords that will help your resume get read.

Here are keywords for your resume that you should utilize:

Marketing – Trend analysis, brand development, website statistics, project management, measurement reports, email marketing, social media monitoring, SEO optimization

Public Relations – Placements, media monitoring, tracking, outreach, pitching, story ideas, event planning

Writing – Detail-oriented, content development, proofreading skills, research-focused, published stories

Social Media – Digital trend analysis, editorial calendar, social media monitoring, familiar with content management systems, content creation for Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/Pinterest, goal-setting, blogger outreach, cross-platform integration

Using these HR-friendly key words, adding in important skills details and listing relevant examples where you successfully executed a project will be more impressive to your future employer than a job title.

Do you have recommendations for building a better resume? Are there techniques you’ve used that have helped you get the job you want? Share in the comments section!

[Blogger image via Shutterstock]

25 Ways To Promote Your Personal Style Posts

taylordavies — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:00:50 +0000

This is the fourth in a 4-part post series brought to you by ASOS Fashion Finder, dedicated to helping you showcase and promote your personal style through photography, social media and smart spending. [See Parts 1, 2 and 3 here.]

Whether you’re just beginning or a pro looking to stay fresh, promoting your personal style posts often takes more time than the actual posting part. Back when I was starting out, it seemed like it would take me an hour to do a look post and two hours promoting it. This meant posting content to various sites, interacting with readers, checking traffic stats and click-throughs and of course, reading through comments. Promoting posts is really a fun part of blogging as this is where you have the chance to meet other people in your community through interacting on external sites. Besides, the more places people can find you the more chances you have to build your readership!

1. Create a page on your blog that houses all your personal style posts. Make sure it’s accessible and easily visible on the top or side bar of your blog. (TIP: Create a sassy button on your sidebar) That way people can browse and find your looks easily.

2. Post your look to ASOS Fashion Finder. Be sure to make sure your look is tagged for any trends you are rocking, and add “shop the look” items to help your followers achieve a similar style.

3. Team up with a blogger in your area to create looks together. Make it a special trip, like a brunch or a visit to the park and cross promote your posts to get exposure from both your audiences. (Great for taking better outfit photos as well!)

4. Do a monthly or weekly round up of your looks. If you post looks every day, once a week, or less often once a month. It’ll give your readers a chance to review the week and visit anything they might have missed.

5. Add your past looks in trend posts. Are you posting about floral denim trend? Did you recently wear some floral jeans? Be sure to include this in your post!

6. When you push your newest post on Twitter, be sure to tag the brands you’re wearing with the “@” symbol. This is an easy way to get your blog in front of the eyes of the social media team at the brands you love. They may retweet your link and give you a major traffic boost!

7. When you promote a post on your Facebook fan page, upload a photo of your look, just like you would on your own timeline. Tag the brands you’re wearing so they can be notified and check out your style! They may share it with their fans, too.

8. Pin, Facebook, or create an outfit on ASOS Fashion Finder of a style icon who wore similar items or inspired your look and include a link to your blog post in the caption, showing your readers how they can these looks at a more affordable price.

9. Create a Facebook photo gallery dedicated to all your different looks. Here you can upload photos from your blog or unused outtakes, and then provide a link with each photo to check out the whole post on your blog.

10. Create a Pinterest board dedicated to the different seasons and organize all of your blog posts on these boards according to seasonal style. The easier it is for them to find outfit inspiration, the faster they will click through to your blog posts.

11. Work with your fellow bloggers to create a weekly round-up of personal style posts. Each of you will share one link on the post and all of the participating bloggers will post this one big round-up on their blogs.

12. Post a teaser image of your latest look on your Instagram feed, with a link to your blog.

13. Be sure you’ve got at “Pin-It Button” installed on your blog.

14. Post photos or graphics on your Tumblr with links back to your blog.

15. Offer to giveaway one of your favorite, easily-styled products that you have featured on your blog. Jewelry, bags and scarves are the easiest as they will one-size-fits-all.

16. Register on BlogLovin and share your blog posts on that platform.

17. Share your blog post links on StumbleUpon, a discovery and social sharing platform that distributes content to followers and fans who like similarly tagged content.

18. Promote your post on Twitter more than once a day. Because of time zones and the rapidity of your readers’ feed turnover – it could easily be missed the first time!

19. Apply to be a part of a blogger network like one of these.

20. Research potential blog contributor positions or guest posting opportunities on blogs that have a similar focus as yours. Pitch your blog as a leader in the community and submit links that show off your individual personal style.

21. Participate in the weekly IFB project: It usually pertains to personal style, so create a look and post that fits the theme of the week and submit your links each week. These posts get shared with the entire IFB community and are guaranteed to bring new visitors to your site if you’re selected.

22. Submit your post’s images to Pinterest Boards that are open to contributors. getting your photos (and subsequently your blog posts) out there on Pinterest will position you as an expert in the community. Magazines like Glamour, Elle and online destinations like the Glitter Guide & Refinery 29 have boards that let bloggers submit their pins.

23. Some magazines like InStyle showcase blogger outfits inspired by their past articles, if you make an outfit maybe, just maybe you’ll make it into their print edition!

24. Pitch your personal style posts to other bloggers. Be very careful with this one. If you read a blog that regularly post looks from other blogs, you might have a chance of getting your style posted about by sending them a few of your looks they might love.

25. Have ideas for looks you’d like to wear? Create an outfit on ASOS Fashion Finder, this will keep your followers hungry for the outfit photos that are coming up (plus, it’s a little kinder on your pocketbook).

Bonus tip! Be sure not to post and jump off the computer, stick around for a while and be sure to engage with any feedback you get after hitting publish. This will make your readers feel more love and help keep them coming back.

Trim The Fat: Summer-ize Your Online Life in 4 Steps

taylordavies — Tue, 22 May 2012 19:29:42 +0000

With summer just around the corner, we’ve got lightness on the brain. It’s a season for less of everything: less clothing, less stress, less clutter and less mess! (Clearly we were in the mood for a good rhyme today!)

Heaviness and weight can creep into all aspects of your life – including your social media channels. We spend so much time trying to keep up – following the right people, updating our status, joining every network and signing up for emails that might be helpful. Before you know it your inbox is cluttered, your feed is flooded and you’re missing all the good stuff.

This week before the season officially begins is the perfect time to “trim the fat” as we call it. Shed the excess to make the most of the time you spend online when you might really want to be in the sunshine.

Follow these 4 steps to get your online life streamlined, fit, fabulous and ready for summer!

1. Refresh your social media photos, profile and background image

On Twitter and Facebook, why not change up your avatar and fan page photo? Pick a great image of you that reflects the season. This is also the time to finally make your fan page Timeline formatted, if you haven’t already!
Same goes for your Twitter background image – breath a little life into your profile page by changing yours
If you haven’t already, check out these tips for creating (or updating) your social media bio.
Did you know you can now set a cover image for each of your boards on Pinterest? Do it!
PS – Twitter also updated their Terms of Service, so you may want to check it out here.

2. Flush out your superfluous follows and subscriptions, everywhere

Use Tweepi or a similar tool to flush out your follows on Twitter who have deactivated or extremely inactive accounts
Revisit all the pages you “like” on Facebook (or that you’ve liked through your blog’s fan page), and delete whatever feels irrelevant
Pick one day to pay attention to all the emails from brands, e-stores, PR firms, websites, etc. Notice which ones you actually open on a regular basis, and unsubscribe from the rest. Your inbox will thank you!

3. Check out and update all your links and widgets

If you’ve been thinking about it (or especially if you haven’t), now is a great time to update your blogroll. Add your newest favorites and clean out the ones you rarely visit anymore.
Spend some time clicking around your blog. Do your page links and widgets all go to the right place?
Have you changed your URL, switched platforms or purchased your domain name recently? Make sure your URL is correct on your social media profiles, email signature, resume, etc.
If you want to switch platforms, it’s a good time for that too!

4. Re-energize and customize your blog’s appearance and content

Why not give your blog a more personal touch this summer. With our Beginner’s Guide to CSS (part 1 and part 2) you can learn to customize your site easily.
Do you like your blog’s name? If not, we’ve got 10 tips for a great fashion blog name
Improve your post titles, boost your photography skills, create killer content and generally energize your routine by following IFB’s Blogger Workout Plan

Have any great tips to get your blog and social media ready for summer? Share with us!

[Image credit: MoviePix, via StyleList.]