Date Posted: Thursday 14th July 2016
DIARY directory recently caught up with fashion and lifestyle blogger Diipa Khosla. Her eponymous blog explores her personal style and travel adventures as an individual art form that has become her brand's identity. Born and raised in India, Diipa is now based in Amsterdam and London.
"I think my blog represents a model and fashion / lifestyle magazine in one. My core brand is a young, independent girl who loves fashion and beauty"
Listed in DIARY directory in the digital influencers subsection, along with 1000+ categorised influencers for PRs to work with, Diipa provides insight on how she got her big break; the format for working with PRs across the world; and how DIARY directory can benefit all serious blogger.
Who are your core readers? Break down in area of the world/location
My core readers are actually split exactly in half between UK and EU having 50% and India and Dubai having the other 50%.
What was your first big break?
When I reached 100k on Instagram, I remember being contacted by H&M the next day.
Is the format of working with PRs in the UK the same as elsewhere?
Yes, pretty much. It’s all about getting them for meetings and pitching your personal brand to them.
What advice / top tips would you give PRs looking to promote their clients through your blog?
I think my blog represents a model and fashion/lifestyle magazine in one. My core brand is a young, independent girl who loves fashion and beauty while also being very interested in the realms of politics, law and academia; someone with a constant need of creative and intellectual stimulation.
Do you think Instagram is taken as seriously for coverage / advertising as a blog post? Do you think bloggers will soon ditch the blog in favour of using Instagram as a sole platform that can be well monetised?
I think Instagram is definitely taken more seriously than a blog at this time, since no one really has the time any more to consume content on your blog. However, I don't think the blogs will be ditched because they are still used to enhance content on Instagram. One strengthens the other.
Do you have any professional help for your blog – photography / representation agency / SEO advice?
Yes, my sister is a photographer. I do have some agencies in different parts of the world that also help represent me.
Have you ever thought about signing up with a social/talent agency?
I have done so already. They are indeed very helpful since they do most of the hard work of closing the deals for you so you can focus on the creative part.
What's an average day for you, how many hours focused on the blog? How many emails do you receive?
I receive around 60-80 emails a day, so pretty much all day is spent on the blog. I think I'm thinking of the blog even when I'm sleeping haha.
How do you use Snapchat to promote yourself?
Snapchat provides my viewers with the perfect behind the scenes of my life. They get to learn more about my personal life and the personality behind the photos.
Do you have a rate card – formal or otherwise? Can you tell us an example of a cost?
Your cost always depends directly on the number of followers you have. Therefore it changes every few weeks. Currently a social media post where I would promote the brand on all my social channels, which have a following all-together of 1.3m will cost anywhere between £900-1300.
Are there any areas you'd like to explore further across your platforms?
I would like to turn my blog into a lifestyle magazine. I think that would be an interesting new turn for me.
You utilise a wide range of social media platforms, are you planning to focus on YouTube in the future? If you've tried it, what have your struggles been with it?
I have tried YouTube, however it is something that requires a lot of time and attention. At this point in my life, I would like to focus more on my social channels and blog so as to really grow that well. Perhaps in the future, I would dive into YouTube.
Tips for other bloggers?
Just get started. It’s the hardest part. Don't be disheartened by how many bloggers there are today. It’s like any other career; if you have something cool to offer you will also make it.
How does being subscribed to DIARY directory benefit you as an influencer?
I've had DIARY directory for about 1.5 months and I've seen such a huge benefit. I have got meetings with some of the top brands in the world thanks to it. These meetings would otherwise be such a tedious task. Through Dd, it was a matter of seconds of looking them up and getting in touch with the right person. Lifesaver! Highly recommend it to all serious bloggers.
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