Tips for Blogging Success Part 2

As promised, and as my Christmas gift to you hehe, here's the continuation of my earlier post on the things I shared and learned at Blogopolis 2012.

6. Strategic Branding.  One thing that you have to remember is that your blog is your brand. To put it in context, let's say with clothes, how you dress up is how you present yourself to the world. In the blogosphere, your blog, whether you intend to or not, is a representation of who you are. Apart from writing quality content and steering away from writing about things that will potentially embarrass you in the future, it is important to find your niche, and to be recognized as an expert in your chosen topic. Think of it this way, when you think of a blog, you instantly associate it with something right? Like, Yugatech=techie stuff, Ivan About Town=Philippine travel blog, Fashion Pulis=chismis, David Guison=men's fashion. You would want to be known or branded for something. The same way Starbucks is coffee and Levi's is denim. As with consumer brands and celebrities, you can also build your blog's brand equity. How? Read on.

7. Strategic Promotion. In short, Network. Network. Network. And the best part? You can do this both online & offline. Offline, you can attend events and blogging conferences. Online, simply comment on blog posts, go on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and say hello, ask questions or whatever. Just make sure you don't get too overbearing or stalker-ish, haha! But seriously, a lot of my friends now like Karrots, Kris and the SoMoms (Jackie, Jenny R., Jenny O., Jen, Eli, Janice, Cai, Michelle) started out as my online ka-chikas but are now my regular lunch mates. We started off reading each others blogs, asking each other about shopping, breastfeeding, baby wearing etc. and thanks to our blogs and constant kulitan online, it feels like we all have known each other forever. Since most of us also have businesses on the side, it's like we have an instant barkada to help us promote each other's blogs and businesses too. Strategic, right? But let me clarify, we all came together because we sincerely liked hanging out with each other. Do not "target" someone just because they are popular. It helps, but bottom line is, reach out to those who you genuinely feel an affinity with.

8. Attracting Advertisers. Ahhh, isn't this what everybody wants? To attract advertisers? The good news is, you don't need to have millions of hits to get advertisers. What advertisers look at is quality, not just quantity. Your personality and how you come across your readers is important. Why? If they were to choose a blog/ger to advertise their products or service in, they would of course go for the ones they would want to be associated with. It's just like choosing a friend or barkada. You want to be seen with your kind of crowd. Second, your influence matters. Are your readers the kind of market advertisers want to tap? Are you able to get your readers to try and/or buy the products you share with them? Also, are you perceived as a reputable source of information?

Think of it this way, when brands choose celebrity endorsers, they want someone who can best represent their brand, and who can also make their products move. The same goes for advertisers when it comes to choosing the bloggers they will partner with. Make sure that you build your brand and reputation to a point where brands will want to be seen in your blog. That should be your goal.

9. Your Blog as a Business. There are many ways to monetize your blog - through ads, sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, co-branding, endorsements etc. Abe Olandres and Carlo Ople have taken their blogs to a point where it has become a business. They have a staff of writers, they have a steady stream of advertisers that provide them with more than enough to cover their overhead expenses. In short, they have made their blogs into a business, and yes, it can be done! If you really want to earn money from blogging, explore different avenues of monetizing your blog, and see what works for you.

10. The 4 P's of Duct Tape Marketing applies to blogs too. As a blogger, ask yourself the purpose of why you blog. Do you want to do it because it's uso? Is it for fun? Is it because you want to earn money? Let me reiterate, money should never be your primary reason for blogging. Just remember that when you enjoy and love what you do, the money will follow. Next, you need to think about your positioning. What is your blog about? What are you known for? Who are your readers? This helps you find your niche. Third, write with passion. Enjoy the process, write because you want to, not because you have to. Lastly, do not be afraid to let your personality shine through. It is who you are, and how you write that will get your readers to keep coming back for more.

Happy Blogging!

Tips for Blogging Success Part 1 + Nuffnang Blogopolis 2012

Hell yeah, that's me sandwiched between Maria Ressa and Tita Noemi Dado. Heehee!

But seriously, it still is kind of surreal to be there with the "biggest and most influential" names in the Philippine Blogosphere. Bilibitornot.

L to R:  Abe Olandres, Tippy and Anthony Go, Mic Sy Lim, Noemi Dado, Ivan Henares, Carlo Ople, me, David Guison

photo via @daddyjoey on Twitter

So, I have to thank Nuffnang for inviting me to share my thoughts and ideas on branding and promoting blogs for Blogopolis 2012.

 With panelists Divine Lee and David Guison after my presentation. Photo by @daddyjoey

It was quite an experience because even though I have been blogging since 2006, I still learned a lot from my fellow bloggers. From the audience who asked thoughtful questions to the veteran bloggers who took their blogs to the next level - got funded, hired a staff of writers, created businesses out of it and basically turned blogging into a full-fledged career. Racked and Refinery29, you're my peg!

If you missed it this year, no worries, I am here to share my personal insights plus tips I've gathered, with you. Hopefully next year, you can come and attend Blogopolis 2013, so you can join in on the discussions too =)

TOP 10 LESSONS: First Five 

1. Find your niche. There are hundreds of thousands of bloggers out there, so you have to ask yourself the question, "How do I set myself apart?".  Good question. How do you find your niche? Well, you could be strategic about zooming in on your niche, or you can just keep on writing until you stumble upon it. My tip is to list down the topics you like writing about, put your own spin to it, write it in your unique voice and then run with it. In an interview I did with Tommy Ton for On The Radar in The Philippine Star years ago, I asked him how he started. He mentioned that he couldn't get people to pose for him when he was just starting out. He was literally on the sidelines, so what he did was he started taking these behind the scenes fashion shots - women in the current season's must haves posing for photographers, crossing the street, hailing a cab, running through the Tuileries. Turns out taking photos of all these fantastic shoes and bags in their natural, unposed habitat struck a chord amongst the fashion set. He was soon friends with the models and editors who wouldn't or couldn't give him the time of day then. Plus, retailers and fashion publications took notice and started flying him in and out, hiring him for projects. Of course, it is a major factor that he takes gorgeous photos and he has a keen eye for what's hot and fresh. Photography + a love for beautiful things + fashion = Jak & Jil by Tommy Ton

2. Write from the heart. When I started blogging, there was no such term as "monetizing your blog". I wrote because I enjoyed writing and I love finding about new things in fashion. I'd come across interesting news, stumble upon a most fascinating product, read a book or magazine and find a story that I just had to share in the blog. It was that simple. There was no agenda. I just wanted to document all these topics that resonated with me and share it with whoever was interested. I had no idea if others were reading my blog, but it did not matter. I was enjoying the process. I guess I was enjoying myself, and my readers enjoyed reading the blog and sharing in the discovery of my new finds, that pretty soon, brands started approaching me - to introduce and send products, host prizes, invite me to their events, and eventually, to advertise in the blog. It was a natural progression. I am lucky in that I never had to ask for invites, ask for products or ask for advertising - the blog and the genuineness of it all simply attracted it. I believe it is true, "Do what you love, and the money will follow." Bottom line = Do NOT blog for the purpose of earning money, it will never happen. Blog because you love to write, because you enjoy sharing stories.

3. Luck vs Strategy. When asked about the secret to a blogger's success, Mic Sy Lim of Fashion Pulis says blogging success is based on luck. After all, he gets 40,000 page views a day, and he only started his blog a little over a year ago. In blog years, he is an overnight success. Meanwhile, other bloggers like Carlo Ople of The New Media believe in  strategy. I think there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to blogging because it is based on a lot of different factors. But what I believe in is that, it is a combination of both. Luck is arbitrary yes, but if you also are lucky enough to be the first blogger in your niche, or you wrote a post that becomes much talked about, or a famous blogger links to something you said and continuously drives traffic to your site, well and good. But you also need to take steps to take your blog out there to get it noticed. It will not generate its own buzz. You have to make the buzz. I'll be touching upon blogging strategy on the next installment of this post.

4. Content is King. In my presentation, I shared that what you write about is how you present yourself to the world. Ultimately, what you write is telling of your taste, your background, your lifestyle and the demographics of your readers. Why is this important? Advertisers who would want to partner with you will want to know who they are going to be associated with. If you consistently write thoughtful posts, people notice. If you copy and paste press releases all the time, people notice too - and will not come back, because they have read it elsewhere. You know, it pays to invest time in writing an informative, timeless post. Because I have posts from years ago that people still refer to up to now that still get a lot of hits i.e. - a post on how I planned my wedding from abroad, a tip on how to wear Filipiniana attire, Cambridge Satchels (yes, even up to now), Sperry Top-Sider in the Philippines and Syrian First Lady Asma Al-Assad (I know, but hey, she really is stylish). They're not earth-shattering topics, but readers still refer to these posts time and again. You'd want to be known for writing a blog that has meat and substance in the subject you've decided to focus on.

5. Controversy sells. One time, I must have been either bored, PMS-sy or didn't get to shop that week, that I made patol a catty remark about my style, or lack thereof daw. OMG, my hits went through the roof. That post generated over 100 comments and really struck a chord, thankfully more good than bad. It was exciting and quite fun, but my goodness, I am a mom, and I don't need extra excitement in my life na no. So lesson learned, I would rather veer away from controversial topics. But if you can be deadma about people getting upset about something you wrote, and you really do have the stomach for it, it could be worth a try. Fashion Pulis as we all know, has built the following he has because everybody loves chismis and controversy. It's the spice of life. Just don't forget about credibility and ethics because well, you don't want a lawsuit along with your crazy hits.

TO BE CONTINUED

You're All Invited to the 2012 Belle de Jour Fair

Doing anything this Sunday, October 14, 2012? There's a whole day thing happening at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall thanks to Belle de Jour! And it's FREE and open to all!

Here are the deets:

WHAT: 2012 BDJ FAIR: LIMITLESS
WHERE: THE MALL OF ASIA MUSIC HALL
WHEN: Sunday, October 14, 2011 from 10 am to 10pm
ENTRANCE FEE: None! It's FREE!

But! For a small donation of Php100, you will get exclusive, VIP access to special activity booths. 100% of the Fair's VIP Activity Pass process will help RockEd Philippines find alternative ways of education, and will help SKR assist Romblon schoolchildren get to school. 

The first 1000 pre-registered guests get a special goody bag from BDJ brand partners. To register simply EMAIL: BDJFAIR@belledejourpowerplanner.com

Here's a list of talks to look out for! LISTEN AND LEARN from coaching experts, bloggers and celebrities! 

10:00AM-11:00AM Kick-Ass Krav Maga Workshop with IKMF-Philippines.
11:00AM-11:30AM Style Me Over! Workshop with Jasmine Mendiola
1:00PM-3:00PM      Bloggers Extraordinaire with Tricia Gosingtian and Patty Laurel

3:30PM-5:00PM      Beauty Bootcamp with Georgina Wilson and Erica Paredes  PLUS!!! Be among 

                                  the first to know about BDJ BOX the new Beauty Product Discovery 

                                  Subscription Service they're launching this October! 

5:30PM-7:00PM     Life Lessons with PJ Lanot and Fitz Villafuerte
7:30PM-9:00PM     Fierce Fashion! with Donna Cuna-Pita and Divine Lee

Apart from listening to the talks, drop by and visit the different partner booths, and take home the newest editions of Belle de Jour planner and paper products: Belle de Jour Power Planner, Navi: Your Life Navigator and the Forget-Me-Not (FMN) Notebooks at 20% off! This also includes their newest planner, everything is possible, which will also be released at 20% off!

J.Crew Looks I Love: S/S 2012

I love espadrilles with shorts, the striped button down shirt, bright yellow pants and the pointy nude flats. Those printed trousers.

The striped dress with pointy orange flats, the unexpected twist of an embroidered dress and snakeskin flats, and the freshness of a white dress with gold "sandelles"(as Berry would say)

These looks make me want to wear a cropped jacket. The one in the middle is my fave.

Missoni ♥ Havaianas 2012

My Missoni ♥ Havaianas from 2011, with my silver Sperry Topsiders (among my many pregnancy faves, hee!)

I love Havaianas and have been wearing them since they first came to Manila years ago. But admittedly, ever since Havaianas came out with a collection with Missoni last year, I have practically stopped wearing my other flip flops but the ones above. They're super cute plus I mean hello, I had to seek this pair out in Singapore (found these at TYAN in ION Orchard after searching online and making calls) because I knew they were limited edition. I know, such an effort for a pair of chinelas. 

So of course, I was thrilled when I found out that Missoni ♥ Havaianas was doing a round 2 this year! When I received the invite to the launch in Adora, I just had to go and check out the new designs in person. 

And this year's collection did not disappoint. While Missoni ♥ Havaianas limited edition pairs costs Php3,295 each, I still think its worth it. Because we are worth it! ;)

Missoni ♥ Havaianas Slim Rachel in Lemon (my must-have!)

Missoni ♥ Havaianas Top Patchwork in Black

Missoni ♥ Havaianas Top Fiammato

More than just a collaboration between iconic fashion brands, the Missoni ♥ Havaianas 2012 collection is designed using residual rubber pieces from the manufacturing process. The multi-colored Havaianas leftovers are mixed to create the signature Missoni zigzag patterns. Stylish and socially responsible at that!

I also noticed that the Slim Rachel and Fiammato styles come in teeny tiny sizes too (which is good news for adults with really small feet). Really, more like the size of kids, 7 and above! So you can get a matching pair for the little girl or little man in your life!

Of course, every flip-flop comes in a special packaging made of recyclable material featuring the famous zigzag pattern, and in a Missoni knit bag.

Now I am not entirely sure if this style will be coming in as well, because I spotted this in a US-based website. But this style is pretty cute and very purple-y!

The Missoni ♥ Havaianas 2012 collection is NOW available and exclusively retailed at Adora, Greenbelt 5. Hurry to Adora before these get sold out!

Summer at Catalogue63

Have you checked out Catalogue63 lately? Catalogue63.com’s in-house brand And Apparel recently launched its Summer 2012 Collection featuring dresses, tops and bottoms that are easy and ultra-flattering, and tropical weather appropriate - be it rain or shine.

All easy, breezy pieces that you can wear alone when the sun is at its peak, or worn under your favorite jacket or rain coat.

To see the complete collection, please visit www.catalogue63.com or like Catalogue 63 Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/catalogue63.

Say it with Sunnies

A couple of weeks ago, Eileen Marquez of BLI invited me again into their showroom so I can take a look at their Spring/Summer 2012 Collection of sunglasses and lenses from luxury eyewear brands like Prada, Bulgari, Tiffany & Co. and Dolce & Gabbana. 

Last time, the Prada Baroque sunnies caught my eye, and this season, I am loving the whimsical frames from Dolce & Gabbana! Although actually, there's a great mix of sunnies to suit every personality this season.

Here's a taste of what to you'll see at Adora in Greenbelt and LS Pascual Optical in Rockwell & Shangri-la Mall when you drop by these days:

European playboy sunnies from Dolce & Gabbana, which I would actually wear! I love the oversized aviator frames!

Fun printed frames, also from Dolce & Gabbana. Frames pa lang, summer na summer na! But the shape is a classic that can withstand seasons.

How cute are the stars on the arms of this one? 

Polka dots or leopard print frames? Take your pick!

The metal plaque logos on the sides are pretty discreet, you can really just let the printed frames work their attention-grabbing magic. 

Meanwhile, Burberry is all about understated elegance with these two frames above. Now that I think about it, I want the light colored frames above. So chic.

Meanwhile, Bulgari is totally blinged-out! This season again, it will continue to please Lola Glamorosa. 

This one is more subdued. I am getting some sort of Western vibe on this one.

The collection of lenses for Spring/Summer 2012 are quite interesting too, and have loads of character. Take for instance the three oddly shaped frames on the upper left, very librarian cool. Or the studiously classic tortoise shell frames right at the middle. The white frames are something I wouldn't dare wear, but would actually look perfect on some creative type. The clear frames on the right side (third from upper right), tell me, who can get away with those? 

Again, Dolce & Gabbana has great eyeglass frames this season. I really really like these two below. There's a geeky, thoughtful Albert Maysles feel to these: 

And did you know there are eyeglass versions of the souped-up Bulgari frames as well?

Check this out! Slip off the sunnies, and put on these babies! They make a great matchy-matchy, signature look! If you are into fancy frames that is.

Btw, for those who missed out on Prada Baroques last season, expect for these to make a comeback soon, but this time around, they come in square-ish frames! Excited yet? I personally want to see those in person too!

Itsie-Bitsie's Spring 2012 Trend Forecast

More than just new arrivals, new brands are launching at Itsie-Bitsie Rockwell! Look out for Pink Chicken, Vanessa Mooney, and my personal fave - Gryphon New York!

Pre-Order googoo & gaga's S/S 2012 Collection!

This summer, googoo&gaga makes pre-ordering their Spring/Summer 2012 Collection a lot more fun!

When you order any 3 items from their Spring/Summer 2012 Collection, you'll get a special gift voucher from WoodenCanvas. Capture all your memories this summer (and beyond), and immortalize them with Wooden Canvas! They print any photo on, yep, you guessed it...WOOD!

VIEW THE SPRING/SUMMER 2012 COLLECTION HERE!

Promo Mechanics:

- Email audrey@googooandgaga.com for pre-orders.

- A minimum order of 3 items (in any design and style) entitles you to one gift voucher from WoodenCanvas.

- Once purchase is made, an electronic copy of the gift voucher will be sent. A printed copy should be presented to WoodenCanvas when claiming the discount.

- Only one gift voucher will be honored per transaction. It cannot be combined with another voucher for regular or other promoted items.

- Each voucher is transferable and valid until September 30, 2012.

- This offer is valid only for LOCAL pre-orders from our S/S 2012 Collection.
- Pre-order period is from March 8, 2012-March 24, 2012.