DIARY directory recently caught up with Vicky, who established her blog Vix Meldrew in mid-2014. What first started out as a fashion and beauty blog, has now evolved into a corner of the internet where readers can find relatable lists, observations on life and personal insights into dating. Vix offers an advice column, humourous ’10 things’ posts and shares her latest 'musings' from dating and living in London.

UK lifestyle & dating blogger

Nominated in the Bloggers Blog Awards

"Don't send the generic, ‘Hello blogger’ email " 

Listed in DIARY directory in the digital influencers subsection, along with 1000+ categorised influencers for PRs to work with, Vix provides insight on blogging with a niche; what to expect from her new YouTube channel; her thoughts on product placement; and how PRs can work with her to get the most out of a collaboration.

Who are your core readers/viewers?

My main audience is women between the age of 20 and 35. I have a lovely readership of single girls who look to me for dating advice and posts to share between mates as well as ladies who are in relationships who look to live vicariously through me. I have also noticed a rise in my male audience who enjoy reading about sex and relationships from an honest and hopefully humorous female perspective.

Why and when did you start your blog?

I started my blog about two years ago as I was fairly unhappy in life, work and relationships and I felt like I needed an outlet. I had no idea where it would take me at all!

 
What inspires you when writing a blog post and which posts garner the most attention?

Inspiration strikes me at the weirdest times. It can be a Sex and The City storyline or a chat with my mates. I also get inspired by things that happen to me whilst dating. My most read and shared posts are the ones that talk frankly about sex and body image.

"Numbers don’t always measure up because it’s very hard to tell who has paid for followers/views. Success to me is when a new post is shared, retweeted and commented on by as many people as possible. " 

You’ve carved a niche for yourself in the dating/relationships arena, so tell us, what has been your worst ever date?

My worst ever date was a guy who took me to the Tate Modern, cornered me in the independent film theatre and proceeded to push himself into my hip whilst watching a short film which featured monkey puppets going at it. For all of those reasons.

You’ve just launched a YouTube channel, what can we expect to see?

The main videos I will be filming will be sit down chats with mates or the audience about issues such as relationships, dating, body image and general lifestyle. I will also be doing ‘Date Night Get Ready With Me’s where I will feature products/clothes whilst chatting through my date prep routine and gossiping about the guy. My Twitter hashtag #VixSwipes will also happen on screen and I will drag a few mates in so that we can Tinder for each other. Lastly, the dream is to take vlogging to the streets and set strangers up on impromptu dates!

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

I love it when the sender of the email mentions a particular blog post or a quote from a post as it feels much more personal. If they compliment my writing style then EVER BETTER.

You’re a fan of the ’5/10 Things’ style of posts, what are 5 things you would like to say to brands/PRs?

DO tailor the bloggers you approach to the campaign you’re doing. I am quite creative/flexible so if you’re a drinks brand who wants to come at me – I could do a ’10 things girls chat about over cocktails’ but if you’re wanting coverage on carpets, I’m probably not the right person.

DON’T send the generic, ‘HELLO BLOGGER’ email because I’ll know you’ve sent it to a million other people.

DO let the blogger have some creative input. We get you have your campaigns and objectives but our posts will be much better received and more widely shared if we’re allowed to put our own stamp on things.

DON’T compliment me on my OOTD posts or beauty reviews when it’s not something I currently do. Try to show that you have at least scanned over my blog.

And lastly… DO invite me out for coffees/chats. You can get a good sense of my personality and style and I love a good brainstorming session.

Are you forthcoming when it comes to PRs/brands requesting stats?

Yes. I recently made a media pack for the first time which I am always more than happy to send out.
 

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

Yep, I put my rates on my media pack. I can offer tweets, insta posts, Snapchat stories, YouTube videos and blogposts or a package of any of the above combined. Ask for my media pack if you’d like to see an example of costs!


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?

Numbers don’t always measure up because it’s very hard to tell who has paid for followers/views (tea emoji). Success to me is when a new post is shared, retweeted and commented on by as many people as possible. That to me shows my work has been relatable enough that people can take the time to provide me feedback. Page views and social shares mean more to me than follower count because you could have a following of 100k but only 1% of people who are engaged or a following of 20k but 75% of people who regularly engage by reading, sharing and commenting.

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learnt during your time as a blogger?

The biggest lesson is definitely to always have time for people. If someone has gone out of their way to email you, invite you to something or compliment you on your work, you have enough time to respond in some way.

Do you use product placement & what are your thoughts on disclosure for ads?

I have done and have no worries about doing so. It is always important to disclose ads but if your work is creative and you have seamlessly integrated the brand’s vision with your own, the disclosure doesn’t have to be so clunky.

How important is social media to your blog? What platforms drive the most traffic to your site?

Social media is pivotal in the growth of my blog. My biggest referrer is Twitter which often drives 50% or more of the traffic to my blog. I also get quite a bit from Instagram and Facebook.

What other bloggers / influencers do you follow and why?

My favourite is Grace Victory. She’s a personal friend of mine and I believe she kills it in every way. Her content is always so raw and relatable and I admire how she tells it how it is.

Contact

Vix Meldrew in 'digital influencers'