Do the Rich Blogistas Get Richer, Necessarily? * Kiss Me Stace * fashion, bags, shoes, & design

Do the Rich Blogistas Get Richer, Necessarily?

December 21, 2006 by Designer Ella

Over the past year, one of my more successful articles with you was one I was unsure about posting. I thought it may offend, but turned out to really ring true with my readers, proving you are genuine and down to Earth.

The article was titled Why I will Never Wear All Designer, and was somewhat about how some bloggers overly show off their designer goods, and I wanted to state that because of being turned off by it I would never have an all-designer clothing wardrobe. You all agreed. We had a fun discussion (and feel free to visit and pick that back up).

So lately I’ve been realizing … the few fashion bloggers who are wealthy and either tell or show the goods all the time, well, they get successful. Nothing but designer shoes like Prada and Manolos photos and a big chick lit novel to go with ‘em? Complete Louis Vuitton collection, many other big designer purchases with frequent devil-may-care-oh-its-nothing-splurges and lots of pictures to go with ‘em … Or never letting us forget you own six Hermès Birkin bags … Why there we have the most popular handbag blogs on the web!!

Here I am, starting from scratch, just starting out, going through school. Most of my income actually comes from blogging! I’m just a small, “normal” girl in a middle-class family that is tight-knit and supportive of each other. Like I live at home and pay what I can, and always was supported and just encouraged to go to school, while I have my own issues with mania and occasional depression. In return, now that my mum’s out of work from a car accident (yes, still*), and I make more money, I practically support her; pay groceries and treat dinners and help out all the time …

Anyway, here I am putting tooth picks together to follow what I love and can do. I’m graduating this Spring, but it doesn’t end, because I’ve decided to go to fashion school. Gosh, the breakthrough of first making four figures a month and five figures a year thrilled me. I’m still so very excited for our growth, but it’s slow.

And it’s slow because starting out with nothing to build something big is hard in any business. I’m sure we all know this, but did you know it’s true with blogging, even fashion blogging (if one makes it a business through income)?

I’m just one of the little guys and I’m fighting people who already have means. Who get breaks or use money to help or who knows. But the thing I’m really thinking about here is that the already rich who have Birkins, Manolos and Louis Vuittons - and who show it off - do they get more attention from the blogosphere readers???

That would create an unfortunate circle, don’t you think?

I’m building a handbag collection, but I sell old to fund newer & better. Still, I haven’t really announced most of my new purchases. I feel awkward doing it. It might help, who knows, and I do plan on doing it a little more. Hey, it’s just a few handbags here and there (well, to me).

I guess, aside from some handbags, I will stick to my vow of not going all designer in your face, if you vow to be readers of the little gals. The ones just like you.

Thank you.

So what do you think about this theory? What makes those other blogs popular? If you didn’t know, my bag blog is not doing very well because of Google’s aging delay hitting the domain hard, it doesn’t have “trusted links.” Again, that’s a circle. Links are from visits are from Google, right? And blogging about handbags just might be my favorite, I want my baby Pursed Lips to succeed!

And what is your experience, if you’re a blogger or just a reader? Do you put ads on your site, etc. and what do you enjoy reading? Ready to vow?

*And if you wondered why I’ve been cranky today, my mother was just in another car accident. She’s fine but our car is not so great. She’s the best driver with bad luck. She’s out of work from previous injuries. Her old job had a lot of standing and now she must do seated work, so she has to go back to school. After a course this Spring, she’ll be getting a job. Wish us luck, if you’d like, and know that your visits are help of their own!

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11 Responses to “Do the Rich Blogistas Get Richer, Necessarily?”

The Bargain Queen Says:
December 22nd, 2006 at 12:34 am

Having money behind you makes any endeavour a little easier, but it definitely doesn’t guarantee success — you still have to have the talent and work hard too.

I think part of the reason the blogs of high-fashion customers get so much attention is that those expensive designer brands are the main source of revenue for the magazines that are writing about blogs and so there’s overlap there.

Plus I’d imagine it’s easier to make money if you’re plugging expensive products… can you imagine the affiliate commission if you sell a few LV bags through your blog each month?

btw, keep in mind that people who have money now didn’t necessarily start that way. I only have my small collection of Longchamp bags thanks to 10 years hard work in the I.T. industry. If I was well enough to still be doing it, I’d be earning enough that an occasional Gucci would be realistic too. But I definitely didn’t start out wealthy, my mother was on welfare for most of my childhood! So you might not have a lot of money yet, but you’ve still got your youth, which is far more valuable

The other advantage some of us oldies have is that skills we’ve learnt in our pre-blogging careers turn out to be useful for blogging too. Mr BQ worked as a copy-writer for years and swears that Manolo’s a pro — every word of copy he turns out is fabulous. That’s one helluva leg-up over people like me who only wrote boring specification documents before they started blogging!

PS: making four-figures a month from your blogs is a great achievement. Stop comparing yourself to other people and give yourself a big pat on the back!

Designer Ella Says:
December 22nd, 2006 at 4:45 pm

Thanks Bargain Queen, and thanks for your comment. Actually, I often (and 99% always for Pursed Lips) write about expensive products. There must be some magic thing about showing you own them? I don’t know. But I also don’t think people get commission off of Louis Vuitton. I’m an affiliate of eLUXURY and they don’t offer links for Vuitton products. The company’s whole exclusivity policy I’m sure would mean that eLUXURY can’t give commissions, unfortunately. I also never sell the big stuff off of my own blogs, but do very well with smaller things. It makes sense that people buy more of the affordable things and it’s rarer to sell luxury from a blog - when I do make that special sale, I’m sure I’ll see a fantastic result (although, and I’m getting technical here, LinkShare (the company with eLUXURY)’s commissions are of a lower percentage, I find).

Interesting thought about magazines.

I have some practice at copy writing, but I don’t try to write gold, nor could I all the time, and I don’t have that degree or much actual work experience. I don’t try to sell blatantly; I try to write how it suits me. I also need to write so that I get some content up. I’m so perfectionist but it makes me a slower blogger which isn’t good. Recently I’ve tried to make it easier for me, because I think I just did more than enough. (But visitors won’t notice much, tiny things like no longer linking every image AND text is the biggest thing, it’s mostly script updates.)

I don’t mean to complain too much about myself, I mean that’s not attractive; I just wrote a story with background info. (And I was still crabby, with little sleep.) Sure, I want to complain that Pursed Lips is in the sandbox, if you know what that is (mentioned above). But it’s happened to other bloggers (Purseuing which is high on Google now) and I’ll get out of it. I’m due soon. (And I’m waiting for Santa to make a Christmas miracle.)

It’s just a really curious thing to me if this is a working “tactic.” I really am curious to see how it effects people, through hopefully them telling me through comments, lol. Like, do you like seeing Chloé purchases? (Hey, I just made one through eBay! - again 50% off and used, not a boutique.) LOL.

I never thought of Manolo’s writing as copy or trying to sell … it’s just funny and entertaining to me. Like he has the best captions for photos, somehow. I’m not funny, myself. I don’t try to compare with Manolo, his blog is something very different! Isn’t it?

Thanks again, Miss BQ. I swear I won’t be crabby about this stuff once Pursed Lips ranks on Google! I’m happy with nearly everything else!

The Bargain Queen Says:
December 23rd, 2006 at 2:46 am

Hey, I’m still sandboxed too…

I do like seeing pretty things people buy but I also love hearing the thought process that went into buying it. Was it love at first sight or a more gradual seduction? Did you need one before you saw The One? Does it go with everything you own, or is it so fab you’ll replace your whole wardrobe to go with it?

So please, show the Chloe, but tell as well!

PS: I wouldn’t compare myself with Manolo either… but the more I learn about writing well, the more I realise the effort that goes into a few perfect words. I’m not him so I’ll never do what he does as well as he does, but I do aspire to doing my own thing that well one day soon!

Designer Ella Says:
December 27th, 2006 at 3:03 pm

Aww you are.

Sure I will. I think it will be at Designer-Ella.com though. Well, the pre … maybe once it arrives, I’ll post on Pursed Lips. I have one photo now that the seller took and I’ll take more when I receive! Maybe today! I’m vastly busy thought. I’m preparing for my annual holiday trip. (So it might arrive while I’m gone, boo hoo!)

I also need to tell some Coach shopping stories, argh, I’m so behind.

Yeah, I have an English/Writing background, but this is blogging, I tell myself, so I write with some creativity, spell check, and proof read a few times and it’s live. I can’t see this as a term paper or a magazine article, or else I’d never publish posts. I am firmly in my flow, so I just do what I do. It’s not that I do it worse, I guess, I’m just faster at it, and I don’t stress.

I just threw up two short posts at Pursed Lips in a half an hour, very fast for me, but they were short. I’m doing top 5 countdown things for new years. This week is party bags.

But now I want to write the story on shopping on Boxing Day, but I need more concentration and talent for that, and I’m too stressed at the moment because of my trip. Ee!

Thanks again!

Shopaholic D Says:
December 28th, 2006 at 8:44 pm

Before I forget, I wanted to wish you and your mom Good luck!

Ok, back to your original post…on this subject I am completely torn. I’m like you, grew up in a middle class family with enough to be content, but I wasn’t getting a new car on my 16th bday or anything. I remember when I bought a pair of Nine West’s for my prom, how it was a big deal that they were very nice shoes. Now, I think very nice shoes are Manolos (which I, unfortunately, don’t own yet). So here comes the problem, after fashion blogging, I’ve learned a lot more about designer clothes and accessories and of course, now want them. I see blogs where people get designer purses or shoes like it’s not a big deal, so I think…oh, it’s not that big a deal to get one of those now and again, but then I talk to one of my co-workers, and they tell me that they just bought a purse for $100 - the most they’ve ever spent in their whole life…and they’re almost 10 years older than me! I felt almost sheepish telling her that I was considering using a chunk of my bonus this year for a Chanel…I guess the blogs make me feel bad that I don’t have a Chanel, and my friends and family almost make me feel bad for wanting one.

I’m still trying to stick w/ my theory of buy trendy cheap, buy classic expensive…prolly why I’m wanting the Chanel so badly…heehee.

D

Shopaholic D Says:
December 28th, 2006 at 8:45 pm

PS - The Bargain Queen - I’m in IT too!

Designer Ella Says:
December 29th, 2006 at 8:18 am

I’m surprised we all even know what the sandbox is. Doesn’t this stink?

Ooooooh Chanel. If I got bonuses big enough, I’d go for it. You should get it, I think, because it is timeless and will last. Which style do you like?

Shopaholic D Says:
December 29th, 2006 at 11:50 am

If I get one, I’m thinking this purse is going to have to last a life time so I should get the most classic style, which I’m thinking is the quilted bag with the chain handles…but I dunno…such a big purchase…it’s scary to think about getting the “perfect one” hehe

what do you think? I may put a poll on Shopaholics Anonymous to get a group vote…lol

D

Rebecca Says:
January 5th, 2007 at 6:45 pm

Hi! Sorry to get in on the conversation late here, but it’s just too fascinating to pass up.

My two-cent’s worth — I have no idea. I suppose the trick is writing about what people with money want to read about, and they are probably comfortable reading about all the designer purchases.

But it seems like there would be a whole other category of people who are interested in style from a more balanced standpoint, like those of us who have to save for the big purchase (actually I’m still too tight even for that, but I did finally buy a real handbag - but not designer).

Anyway, for myself I don’t care so much about the money, having grown content with little, but I would sure like to get a few more sweat-pant wearing SAHMs to read my blog. My goal is to make the world more beautiful.

Designer Ella Says:
January 8th, 2007 at 11:32 am

Thank you, Rebecca.

Designer Ella Says:
January 8th, 2007 at 11:34 am

My long long comment was just deleted. Somehow, I knew it would happen. I’m still away on my holiday trip, and actually it’s lasting longer than originally intended, but boy will I have photos for you later!

First of all, my Paddington story was posted here: http://www.designer-ella.com/blog/shopping/bought-paddington/. There will definitely be more added.

2nd, I just blew away my “no designer shoes” thing by impulse buying Manolo Blahniks! They’re so orgasmically fabulous. 50% off! Story later, much later as photos will come after they ship to me.

I have oodles of story later!

And D- I know that bag, is it small and a flap bag? I wanted a “vintage” (early 90s) one on eBay last summer, but then I didn’t want to spend even a used eBay price on them. E-mail me and I’ll help you if you want to go that route.

I now prefer their tweed bags, but now I need a large bag, so I think I like the Cambone Tote.

And oh I may put a little poll on here about a Marc Jacobs bag!

Must go! Tah!