Katy wrote a post last week about labels and decided to use that as the topic for this week's questions, too.
1. As a someone who writes/blogs about fashion, have you placed yourself into some sort of blogging category?
Absolutely. There are some blogs that write about high fashion, some about thrifting, some about DIY projects...I write about my daily outfits that are most definitely NOT high fashion. Honestly, I don't even know the names of most of the popular designers. I just don't keep up with fashion news, really. I like what I like, I'm inspired by other style bloggers, and I don't feel a need to surround myself with designer ideals. So, that being said, I feel that I've placed myself in the outfit-of-the-day, professional working mom style blogger category.
2. What keeps you from or encourages you to label yourself as a certain kind of blogger?
I guess the feeling that I need to make sure I blog in a certain niche. That's the advice you'll hear from most pro-bloggers, that you have to define your niche so that you can find your readers.
3. When picking blogs to read and follow are you drawn to ones that indicate a certain group or way of thinking/being?
I'm drawn to the ones who blog similarly to the way I do, with daily outfit photos, but I really love the witty and encouraging blogs. I've stopped following blogs when the writer constantly berates themselves and doesn't seem to really enjoy writing or have any happiness in what they're writing about.
4. Do you think there are benefits in labeling yourself or others?
I think there's a benefit to labeling blogs, because it helps people to find the subjects that interest them the most. Even labeling a blog as fashion and beauty is too broad. It does help to have more clear, concise labels for writing style and subject matter.
5. Agree or Disagree - We're all just people; we don't need all the labels.
Now with people, I really don't think we need labels. There are too many possible labels, too many emotions, too many moods, too many variables to label a person as any one thing, or even several things. People are people, and that's the only label they need.
What do YOU think? Would you label yourself and if so, how?
Excellent answers & a really interesting read. And I guess your right about the niche thing, never really thought about it too much. Hope to put my answers up later ... I'm currently being lazy as it's too cold to do anything else. Have a good weekend.
ReplyDeleteKelly @
Elegantly Academic
totally agree that labelling blogs can be useful but it is often impossible to find one label that fits. Great post :)
ReplyDeleteVery mature answers, Melissa, and I agree...I was taught that the niche is your target audience and that is how I looked at it. People would laugh if they came to me for high fashion looks in their 20s!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat post! It was nice to read this. And thanks for stopping by and giving me some encouragement for my weight loss progress!
ReplyDeleteI struggle with my blog to make it something worthwhile that people would want to read. I try to do OOTDs but that gets tedious to me, and my life isn't super interesting enough to blog everyday. :(
But, I have fun blogging and I hope people like reading it!
xo Mysterious M
www.magslifetoday.blogspot.com
Great post! I am also drawn to bloggers who are similar to me (a mom, OOTD photos, positive people, thrifty finds, etc). My favorite blogs are everyday real people just like me.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I have a label for my blog either, but I keep it fairly simple, daily outfits (def NOT high fashion, haha) and some misc. rants. I may post an odd recipe now and again. I guess I'm still trying to find my "niche!"
ReplyDeleteI love reading your posts - I am not sure I could label your blog, but I feel like you've settled in with you audience nicely. It is definitely fashion-y and style-y, but in a reachable realistic way!
I agree with Lisa, love your blog, couldn't label it but don't want to. :)
ReplyDeleteI would say my blog is an OOTD Blog too. As for people I don't label them. Of course in high school there were labels for people, You peps, Jock and nerds.
ReplyDeletehttp://amyfashionblog52.blogspot.com/
I am definitely going to check out her blog! I would say my blog is like potpourri, you get a bit of everything! What I wear, what is in style right now, and how you can do more with what you have!
ReplyDeleteGreat answers! Labeling blogs is beneficial, but labeling people can hurt.
ReplyDeleteNo Guilt Fashion
I guess I've had a problem labeling myself. I don't really fit into "work", "mom", "goth", or even "high fashion". I am what I am.
ReplyDeleteAs I responded to another bloggers post (I think on Modly Chic), there is a great quote by Ludwig Wittgenstein, "The Limits of my Langauge are the Limits of my Mind; All I know is what I have Words for." Labels are positive in that they give us parameters to discuss ideas that would otherwise be impossible to convey. It can hurt to boil something down to a label, but we need to recognize that while labels may define a person, it does not define their whole being.
I was labeled a "milf" earlier this week. Im not sure if I should be proud of that, but it made me feel kinda good. Ill take any compliments I can get! lol
ReplyDeleteInteresting answers. I'm not sure I have a niche, maybe I should find more of one, but I do have fun blogging.
ReplyDeleteI also agree-no labels for people.
Great answers! You definitely have a niche and you definitely do it extremely well. :)
ReplyDeleteoh my goodness! you are the cutest mom ever! I am following both of your blogs :) xoxox follow me back?
ReplyDeletelove, polly :D
Interesting post! I guess I would label myself as a fitness blog. I like fashion and follow a lot of fashion blogs but don't blog about fashion. I think your blog is honest, realistic and interesting.
ReplyDeletexo,
Sarah
Get Up & Go
I really like what you had to say for good ol' #3 there. It's so easy to find people who are going about things diligently but maybe not for the right reasons.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a thought-provoking post, Melissa. I think you have done a great job identifying a niche that is authentic, and creating a blogging "voice" that is relatable and interesting
ReplyDeleteI've often felt conflicted about how I would label myself as a blogger. I certainly focus on thrifted discounted items, but I also like to throw in designer items that I occasionally splurge on (especially because I want to make sure I get enough use out of them, if I've forked over the moolah). My blog title doesn't incorporate that second aspect, but I really want to figure out a way to make sure it doesn't seem like I'm trying to pass off a $100 purse or pair of shoes as cheap...
Thanks again for this post -- hope you have a great week!
it's hard to avoid labels. i mean, i'm always the mom or the wife, etc. people automatically label you when they meet you, sometimes just to remember who you are and sometimes it's a little bit of judgment. i dunno, i don't think it's a huge deal in real life, though it's nice if they get to know you first before labeling. but i do like what you said about blogging and the necessity of labeling there!
ReplyDeletespinning-threads.blogspot.com