DIARY directory recently caught up with full-time beauty, fashion and lifestyle blogger Sophie Hannah Richardson. Known for her signature mermaid hair, unique style and creative beauty tutorials, which are all showcased via her blog, YouTube and social media channels. Previously collaborations include ASOS, Topshop, Illamasqua, Urban Decay, Rimmel London, Boohoo and Missguided, to name a few. Sophie has additionally been featured in the following publications: Mail Online, Metro.co.uk, The Independent, The Tab, Maximum Pop, Galore. Unilad and Glamour Online.
 

UK fashion, beauty & lifestyle blogger

Shortlisted in Cosmopolitan Influencer Awards 2016

"My rates can vary anything from £50-£650" 
 

Listed in DIARY directory in the digital influencers subsection, along with 1000+ categorised influencers for PRs to work with, Sophie shares how she got into blogging and the moment she realised she could take it full time; her favourite sponsored collaborations to date; what she would still like to achieve; and her view on bloggers and influencers being compared to journalists.


What got you into blogging, how long ago did you start?

I started blogging around 3 years ago. I had finished a Fashion with Photography degree and pursued fashion styling as a career. I found this difficult so ended up with a job in social media. For the last 3 years I've worked in social media roles and discovered blogging along the way.

 
When was the moment you realised you could go full time?

It was when I hit 100K on Instagram. I suddenly noticed a few more e-mails coming through with collaboration enquiries and brands were finally willing to pay me for my content.

How do you earn your income now you’re an established influencer?

Most of my income comes from creating content for my Instagram or YouTube channel. Whether this is creating a video or shooting an outfit.

What have been your favourite sponsored collaborations to date?

My favourite one has to be one I'm currently working on with L'Oéral Paris. I can't reveal too much yet, but the secret project will be revealed in the next few months and I'm so excited to tell everyone what I've been working on since April!!

"I think magazines need to stop blaming bloggers and start looking to the future about how they can develop their magazines online...."

What would be a dream collaboration that hasn’t yet presented itself?

This would have to be a collaboration collection with a brand. I'd love to work with a brand on a clothing or beauty line.

You were shortlisted for Best Beauty in the 2015 Cosmo Blog Awards, what are your thoughts on awards now? Are they beneficial or have they become a popularity contest?

I had never applied for the awards before 2015, and to me it looked like an amazing award to have on my blog. However at the awards it transpired that the winners weren't picked from a judging panel, it was purely down to votes. It's a shame as someone might have an amazing blog but just hasn't been noticed yet.

You’ve shot to Instagram fame, but do you still find some social platforms grow better than others?

My Instagram is the one that grows the quickest. Twitter I've found to be very slow, the same with YouTube. I'm trying to crack YouTube at the moment. I've got a decent following of around 24K but it's one channel I'd love to improve on.
 

What are your top social media tips for growing a following?

Be consistent! I've posted 3 times a day since I can remember! I've also worked hard on the look and feel of my feed and I've also learnt what works and what doesn't. It's good to know what your followers want to see as then you will get high engagement on hopefully every post.

Is there something else you’d like to branch into?

I'd love my own beauty line - but I have no idea where to begin with that!
 

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

My costs vary as a lot of the time brands want packages. My rates can vary anything from £50-£650 (single post/video)
 

How do you think brands/PRs can work better with influencers? Any pet peeves?

My biggest pet peeve is brands not being straight with you from the start. I've worked in social media, I've worked with bloggers, so I've been on the other side. I know how it works and it can be disappointing sometimes if a brand says a collaboration is no longer going ahead, but you've seen on social that it has, they just chose another influencer. Honesty goes a long way.
 

Following all the publicity and controversy in recent weeks surrounding bloggers and influencers being compared to journalists, what do you think the future will be?

I don't think it's got anything to do with comparing bloggers and journalists. I think it's the older generation not quite keeping up with the digital world. Us youngsters live in it, we're quick with technology, and we want the latest gadgets and apps. Bloggers are on it with everything happening in the digital and social world. Unfortunately that's the way the world is going. I think magazines need to stop blaming bloggers and start looking to the future about how they can develop their magazines online.

Contact

Sophie Hannah Richardson in 'digital influencers'