Good morning! I'm currently sitting in the Helen Mills Theater in New York City for the Independent Fashion Bloggers conference. I'll be live blogging the first panel, Fashion Blog Marketing Workshop. This live blogging session is sponsored by Windows 7. Follow the conference along with the livestream and utilizing the hashtag #ifbcon. Plus you can enter to win one of four Windows 7 laptops by sharing what you like about Windows 7 with the hashtag #IFBW7HP. Are you ready to learn about how to market yourself better as a fashion blogger?
10:36 am: The Fashion Blog Marketing Workshop has started! My girl Jordana Bruner of Clutch 22is moderating. I'm using the lightest computer in the world right now, a Sony Viao (model tbd).
10:43 am: You can watch the panels live, all day long here: http://heartifb.com/evolving-influence-live. What do you want to know about marketing a fashion blog?
10:46 am: The panelists are sharing their background and experiences. They seem super passionate about their chosen careers and seem to have a lot to offer the workshop.
10:49 am: The more I interact with G=Star (this is my 5th season to cover the show), I fall deeper and deeper in live. I love the brand's culture, aesthetic and consumer.
10:52 am: Finally delving into why bloggers are important to brands. Elle.com panelist speaks to how we can feed off one another. Personally, I have only seen one way communications from Elle.com, asking for links to their content, without really offering any relationships in return.
10:54 am: The panelist from G-Star loves the democratization of fashion, shifting the hierarchy of power from the top to the people. Power to the bloggers!
10:57 am: Threadbanger grew their business by forging relationships with bloggers. They called out great blog posts and trends and bloggers in turn featured them. I would really like to ask the Elle.com panelist if she believes the relationship is truly reciprical.
11:00 am: G-Star again for the win! Bloggers can be autonomous and a commiunity at the same time. Any brand is "screwed without getting in or giving in to that dialogue." Elle.com attempted to use Twitter to research what to build next to serve their readers. They say they want to be part of the conversation, however I would disagree based on my interaction with their PR team.
11:03 am: ModCloth loves personal style bloggers who wear vintage and one-of-a-kind pieces. They love to see how we mix it up!
11:05 am: CRAVEcompany recommends bloggers turn to book publishing to build their brand. I am not sure I agree - sometimes it feels a bit like going backwards. Although, I won't be opposed to publishing a book with my On The Plus Side photos!
11:08 am: I finally agree with the panelist from Elle.com, though this isn't groundbreaking news: do what you are good at.
11:15 am: Via Threadbanger "Your blog is like sushi: keep it fresh!" She also recommends tagging videos with relevant and topical keywords. Also, pay attention to your video thumbail - it's important!
11:18 am: Don't forget that you can describe your image using "alt tags". G-Star advises us to be careful about branding - bloggers are "kind of anti branding". What do you think?
11:21 am: I think when he says "anti-branding" I agree, but I also think that our brands are ourselves - being authentic is our brand.
11:24 am: I ask what G-Star looks for in terms of fashion and personal style bloggers with their forward-thinking approach to social media. In the context of blogs, there are too much of anything. They only notice the ones that are authentic and that aren't trying to be anything. Interesting.
11:30 am: The panel is winding down. A huge thank you to IFB and Windows 7 for making this live blogging session possible. I have really enjoyed my seamless, easy experience!
NYFW coverage proudly sponsored by IGIG.
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