Monday Musings: Behind the Scenes of Blogging

When you think of a fashion blogger, you might picture glamorous photoshoots, stylish outfits, and a seemingly effortless lifestyle. However, the reality involves a lot more than just striking a pose and posting a picture. Several readers have been curious about what goes on behind the scenes of blogging, so I thought I would peel back the curtain and give you a personal look at how my blog works and what’s involved in creating content.

How Do I Make Money from Blogging?

1. Sponsored Posts

One way I make money is through brand-sponsored posts. Brands pay me to create content featuring their products. I always make sure to disclose when a post is sponsored to maintain transparency with my audience. I’m very picky about what brands I choose to work. with here on AWSL, and I turn away many brands that don’t align with my values or that don’t carry products that I truly love. You can see an example of a sponsored post here.

2. Ad Dollars

Ad dollars are another part of how I make money as a fashion blogger. Basically, brands and ad networks pay me to display ads on my blog and social media. The more people visit my blog and engage with my content, the more valuable my ad space becomes. The truth is they’re a passive way for me to earn income to pay my blogging expenses. Do I like them? In a word, no. They distract from my content. I always want to make sure that the ads don’t overwhelm my audience or take away from their experience, so I try to find a balance between displaying ads and keeping my content enjoyable for my followers.

3. Affiliate Links

Affiliate links are one of the most important aspects of monetizing my blog and social media content. I partner with various retailers and brands to promote their products, and when my followers click on these affiliate links and make a purchase, I earn a commission. It’s a win-win situation – my audience gets access to stylish products for no extra cost to them, and I receive a small percentage of the sales.

4. Buy Me a Coffee

Some readers may not want to shop through my links, but they love being a part of the AWSL community and would like a way to support my business. This is what led to me start a Buy Me a Coffee page so readers can buy me a coffee/tea and help support A Well Styled Life.

What is LTK?

One of the platforms I use to link products is called LTK, which stands for LiketoKnow.it. LTK is a popular platform that allows fashion influencers to monetize their content by sharing shoppable links with their followers. As a style blogger, I use LTK to tag the clothing, accessories, and beauty products featured in my posts, making it easy for my audience to shop my style. Through LTK, I earn a commission when someone makes a purchase through my links, which is a key part of how I make money as a fashion blogger. I also have a profile on LTK where I share outfit inspiration and photos of myself with each item linked to make shopping a breeze.

How to use LTK as a shopper?

As a shopper, using LTK is simple and convenient. You can easily browse through curated collections of products recommended by your favorite bloggers. When you find something you like, simply click on the item to get more details and make a purchase. If you’re using your phone, make sure to have the app installed to complete your purchase seamlessly. On the other hand, if you’re browsing on your desktop, you won’t need to log in to the website to make a purchase.

What Goes Into Creating Blog Content?

Now, let’s dive into the creative process behind fashion blogging. Contrary to popular belief, a lot of time and effort goes into producing those photos and blog posts. I spend between 50-70 hours a week working on this blog, which makes it a full-time job.

Photoshoots, for example, require planning and coordination with everything from scouting locations to selecting outfits, organizing hair and makeup, and capturing the perfect shot, which can take hours. I strive to create visually appealing and authentic content that resonates with my audience and that means investing time and energy into every aspect of the photoshoot process.

Aside from photoshoots, a significant amount of time is dedicated to writing and researching. Whether I’m sharing styling tips, trend forecasts, or personal anecdotes, I take pride in crafting engaging and informative blog posts. This involves staying up to date with the latest fashion, conducting thorough research, and infusing my writing with a personal touch that reflects my unique perspective on style and beauty. Additionally, online shopping plays a crucial role in my content creation process, as well as visiting stores in person for my dressing room diary series.

How Much Does it Cost to Run a Blog?

Here are some of the current costs associated with running my blog.

• I host my website on a platform that charges me a monthly fee based on the size of my audience and the amount of data stored. Because my blog is image-heavy, I need lots of storage.
• My posts are emailed by a service provider who charges me a monthly fee based on how many emails go out.
• I pay an annual fee for access to a site where I size and edit my pictures so they won’t slow my site down and the pages won’t open for you.
• I pay a technical person to help me with the nuts and bolts of my website. I’ve had it go down enough times to learn I should never go “under the hood” trying to fix technical issues 🙂
• I pay smaller amounts for plugins, apps, and widgets, which add to the total expenses.
• I have a company that creates my pins for Pinterest and a gal who helps me with collages.

The result is it costs just over 6,500 a month to float this boat and keep my blog on the internet.

How Can You Support Your Favorite Bloggers?

• Don’t keep them a secret. If you like their content, share it with women you think will also enjoy it.
• Subscribe to follow their blog.
• Comment and engage with their content, which “tells” Google it’s worth showing to other women on the web.
• Share their images to your Pinterest boards, so more people find them.
• Follow them on social media.
• Whenever possible, purchase through the link of the blogger who inspired you.

I’m so appreciative of my readers and the fabulous community we’ve built, Your support is essential to the ongoing success of A Well Styled Life, and I want to thank you you all from the bottom of my heart.