DIARY directory recently caught up with Lauren from Naked Fashions. The blog was created in 2012 to document newsworthy fashion and style reports as well as snippets of beauty and lifestyle. Since the beginning, Lauren has engaged with many brands and other websites to create a bigger platform of knowledge for Naked Fashions. The blog is now a place for Lauren to document her adventures in travel, style and general life.

UK Travel, Style & Lifestyle Blog

"I 100% believe you should market your blog as a brand" 
 

Listed in DIARY directory in the digital influencers subsection, along with 1000+ categorised influencers for PRs to work with, Lauren talks about the importance of marketing a blog as a brand; what catches her eye in a press release and her opinion on the future of publishing due to the rise of blogs and digital/social platforms.

Who are your core readers?

Mostly British and American women interested in fashion, beauty and travel.

You set up your blog in 2012, how has your blog adapted since the beginning?

It has changed so much over the past four years! In the beginning, I focused purely on my written content but since the industry has expanded and there is so much competition, I have now brought in my knowledge of design and photography and ensure all of these factors are done to perfection. 

 
You also work in marketing, what are your top tips for marketing a blog as a brand?

I 100% believe you should market your blog as a brand. I even feel that if you're not a blogger, you should see yourself as a brand and therefore everything you produce should be impeccable and reflective of your personality / brand personality. Working in marketing and holding a PR degree has its benefits since I've been taught the logistics of blogging. In particular, I am aware of the policies in regards to sponsorships etc. 

What catches your eye in a press release/brand collaboration e-mail?

For me, knowing that a brand has actually taken the time to read or even looked at my blog is something I respect. Therefore, if a brand relates to or mentions a blog post I have done recently then I'm much more interested in what they have to say. 

Do you have any professional help for your blog?

Not at all. I think maybe if I blogged full time then I would definitely put money into seeking professional help. But for now, I can live with my beginner design skills. 

"It definitely is a numbers game when it comes to brands, which is really sad since more often than not these likes or followers have actually been bought...A lot of people believe likes are classed as engagement but I find people that take the time to tweet, comment on Instagram or leave a blog comment are the ones we should be looking out for. "

Do you have a rate card? Can you tell us an example of a cost?

I don't have a rate card per say. But for example, I set my starting price at £70. The rate depends on what the company is asking for and the amount of work/time it's going to take me. 

How important is social media to your blog?

Social media is everything. I love using both Twitter and Instagram and feel both of them have different effects. Twitter is perfect for networking and actually encouraging people to look at your blog - this definitely drives the most traffic. Whereas, Instagram pleases those people that are into visuals. I just think it needs to create linkable (is this a word?) pictures so people can click straight through to your blog. 

What are your thoughts on the future of publishing due to the rise of blogs and digital/social platforms?

Ha, my PR dissertation was actually around this. And I do have a blog post coming up regarding this. Whilst bloggers are taking over traditional journalists, I do think a lot of people still seek comfort in magazines etc. Similar to the likes of the record player and film camera, I think magazines will definitely make a big return and people will realise the importance of traditional publishing methods.  Having said that, I believe it's definitely a good idea for traditional publishers to consider bloggers writing articles in the future. 
 

Blogging/YouTube can - to an extent - be seen as a numbers game, however we believe that numbers don't always measure up to engagement. What does success mean to you and how do you measure it?

Again, this is something I touched on in a blog post recently. It definitely is a numbers game when it comes to brands, which is really sad since more often than not these likes or followers have actually been bought. For me, I measure success with engagement. A lot of people believe likes are classed as engagement but I find people that take the time to tweet, comment on Instagram or leave a blog comment are the ones we should be looking out for. 

What other bloggers / influencers do you follow and why?

I actually don't follow many of the 'big' bloggers who have been in it for a long time as I don't feel I relate to them (other than Estee Lalonde who is Queen). My favourite bloggers are those who focus on design, writing and photography, are passionate about their field and stay true to themselves. A few favourites are:

Jordan Bunker
Liv Purvis
Matthew Pike
Brittany Bathgate

Contact

Naked Fashions in 'digital influencers'