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If you have ever started a fashion blog, you know how difficult it is to build a dedicated audience. Unlike social media, which allows you to cultivate new followers directly within an already-popular platform, blogging requires you to give your readers a compelling reason to leave Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest and spend time on your blog. This is no easy task, which is why many new influencers have stopped at Instagram. This is where most of the fashion conversation takes place, they argue, and for now, it’s where many of the brand opportunities are, too.

So why bother with a blog? 

Think of it this way: building your social presence on a platform like Instagram, YouTube, or Tumblr is like renting your home. You never really own your property. So not only are you subject to ever-changing search algorithms, but you also limit your opportunities to those available on that platform. Owning your website -- and in turn, your audience -- is a long-term investment in yourself. No matter what new social media channels may rise or fall in popularity, you will always have a platform to express yourself and leverage to collaborate with brands on your own terms.  

So, how do you become a successful blogger? The short answer is patience and perseverance, but thankfully, there are concrete steps you can take to grow a dedicated audience. Going beyond pat mantras like “stick with it” and “be true to yourself,” here are five specific steps you can take today toward seeing your audience grow tomorrow:

Create an editorial calendar.  

Consistency is often what separates successful blogs from those that never quite take off – even if they feature gorgeous content. Having a plan is the best way to persevere, even when it feels like no one’s reading. Before you begin publishing, start by getting organized. Determine the topics you plan to cover and what makes your approach unique, then develop a calendar with specific story ideas. An editorial calendar with due dates will help you commit to publishing on a regular schedule, whether it’s once a day or once a week. Letting your readers know when to expect fresh content gives them a reason to visit your site.

Read More: Best Website Builders & Plugins for Bloggers

Create compelling content. 

We cannot emphasize enough the importance of high-quality content to cultivating your audience. Taking the time to maintain high standards will pay far greater dividends than rushing to produce content for content’s sake.

Fortunately, if you have a large following on Instagram, you likely already have a library of blog-ready content. An easy way to start is by publishing unused or “behind the scenes” photos from your last Instagram photo shoot. Create a gallery with a narrative behind it, giving your readers an inside peek into creating a gorgeous Instagram image. The underlying idea is to tell a story that visually inspires your readers, so whether you’re outlining your latest DIY project or showing how to make your favorite morning smoothie, make sure your accompanying content is editorial quality.  

Create a newsletter.  

 Sometimes, even consistently updated, always-beautiful content isn’t enough to gain immediate traction. Don’t get discouraged! Remember, your followers lead busy lives just like you do, and the Internet is full of distractions. To break through, you need to make it easy for your readers to find your articles. A newsletter is the easiest way to achieve this, and thankfully, you don’t need any technical experience. Free services like MailChimp allow you to create branded templates, and popular hosting platforms like WordPress now offer free plugins to capture email addresses on your site. You can also use your social channels to encourage subscribers.

Implement SEO best practices. 

Understanding search engine optimization (SEO) is crucial to building your blog traffic since it helps new readers find you. Adding an SEO plugin like Yoast or the All in One SEO Pack is a great start, but following these simple guidelines are equally important:

- Optimize your photos. Ensure your photos are optimally sized for the web (no larger than 800 pixels wide) for faster load times.

- Properly label your photos. Keep your primary keywords in mind when labeling photos. Remember to add both a Title and the  “Alt Text,” which is what readers will see when they scroll over your image. Also be sure to add a description for further SEO benefit.

- Ensure that all your links are working. You can test your links with a simple tool like broken link checker.

- Keep in mind the importance of hierarchy. Keywords you use with headline tags will carry more weight than those same phrases used as part of a paragraph.

- Maintain optimal keyword density. Yoast recommends a density of just 0.5 to 2.5% after the latest Google algorithm shift, which is significantly lower than the once-recommended 4.5%. When in doubt, keep in mind that Google favors natural, readable text. This should give you more freedom to write fluidly, without working in unnatural phrases.

- Categorize and tag your content. Create appropriate categories and tags tied to your primary keywords, but be mindful not to overdo it. The goal is to give your readers (and people searching for your content) an easy-to-follow architecture of your topics.

- Make posts at least 300 words. Although Google has no official minimum word count, setting a benchmark of 300 words will help to ensure that your posts are helpful and informative, which is an important factor in determining SEO.

Know Your Analytics 

Finally, it's important to understand Google Analytics, which allows you to assess your audience, your top-performing articles, what phrases new readers use to find you, and other important stats that can help you create better content and more effectively promote your blog to new audiences. We also highly encourage connecting your Google Analytics to your Shopping Links account, which will increase your visibility to brands, and in turn, your collaboration opportunities.

Although building a dedicated blog audience is hard work and can be discouraging at you get started, persevering with patience, consistency, and a commitment to high-quality content will help you stand apart from other bloggers and gain traction among followers. Developing a clear editorial calendar, implementing sound SEO tactics and understanding your analytics will also help to build -- and maintain -- a strong following. Above all, remember that your readers value genuine content. Stay true to your style, your opinions, and the topics that interest you most, don’t be afraid to show your personality.

Have more blogging tips? Send them to hello@shoppinglinks.com for the chance to be featured in future blog posts!