The Growth of a Full Time Fashion/Lifestyle Blogger

Blogs and social channels have the ability to connect readers and the content creator/website owner in a way that normal company marketing cannot. Blogging creates relationships between the marketer and buyer that is friend-like and trusting. Therefore, bloggers have the ability to create an income off of it based on affiliate links, ads, sponsored posts, campaigns and ambassadorships. This study investigates what methods are used to grow blogger platforms, along with which methods are used in order to monetize their creative content. Upon IRB approval, online surveys will be administered to full time fashion and lifestyle bloggers to study further in depth the steps bloggers take in order to run a full time career off of their websites and social media channels. Through the surveys taken by full time bloggers, I hope to discover the process in which bloggers break out of the “hobby” stage- finding what makes their blog stand out and grow faster than others, whether it be through pinterest, SEO, social channels or connections. Preliminary research and findings suggest brand partnerships, blogger relationships, SEO optimization and the utilization of social media, bloggers have the ability to go full time.