How To Start a Fashion Blog in 10 Easy Steps (And Make Money) - Authority Hacker (2024)

Starting a fashion blog is an exciting idea — you can position yourself as a fashion trendsetter and make some money while you’re at it.

And you’re in the perfect place to learn the ropes. Here at Authority Hacker, we’ve built many successful blogs and earned substantial revenue in the process.

The lessons we’ve learned have also enabled us to help over 15,000 students find blogging success – including many in the fashion niche.

To help you follow in their footsteps, we’ve put together this step-by-step guide on how to start a fashion blog.

Why Start a Fashion Blog

There are several compelling reasons to start a fashion blog.

For one, you can turn your passion into profit. Fashion bloggers can earn money with online stores, sponsored posts, display ads, and promoting styling services. In fact, our affiliate marketing statisticsshow that the average fashion blog earns $2,049 per month.

You can also use your platform to become a trendsetter. A fashion blog is perfect for sharing this season’s fashion trends or even starting your own.

Finally, as your following grows, so will your authority and influence in the fashion industry. You may eventually score invites to private events or interviews with style influencers.

Examples of Successful Fashion Blogs

Before you start a fashion blog, it helps to check out a few successful fashion blogs.

Here are three great fashion blogs you can use for inspiration:

OnPointFresh

Tailored specifically toward men, OnPointFresh gathers the latest in men’s fashion and style in one convenient place. It provides “fresh” advice on grooming, aesthetics, and outfit selection.

Visit the site

Budget Fashionista

Budget Fashionista proves that being fashionable doesn’t have to break the bank. It’s home to advice on dressing and styling yourself on a budget.

Visit the site

Fashion Jackson

Fashion Jackson is a hub for fashion, beauty, home, and lifestyle content, offering daily inspiration and insights into new trends.

Visit the site

How to Start a Fashion Blog in 10 Steps

Ready to start a fashion blog? Use our step-by-step guide to get going.

1 Narrow Down Your Fashion Niche

Creating a generalist fashion blog that covers all things fashion is tempting. And though you can technically do this, choosing a specific area of focus — or sub-niche— is best.

The reason? Most people have a specific interest in fashion.

If someone wants a few ideas on what to wear to an interview, they’d trust a blog that only writes about dressing to impress over a general fashion blog that also covers casual wear and DIY clothing.

Creating a general fashion blog also pits you against the biggest names in the industry. So, to give you the best odds of success, your first task is niching down.

Here are a few examples of fashion sub-niches for inspiration:

• Sustainable fashion: Style advice for the eco-friendly fashionista.
• DIY fashion: Tips for designing, altering, and upcycling clothes for a unique personal style.
• Budget fashion: Creating outfits on a budget and thrifting advice.
• Luxury fashion: Review the latest high-end designer brands for the upscale fashion lover.
• Men’s fashion: Focus on clothing, grooming, and style tips for men.

If you still need help selecting a niche, watch this video:

When choosing a sub-niche, your passion and expertise are important to consider, as these will enable you to stay motivated and create great content.

However, these aren’t the only things you need to consider. Finding a sub-niche with user interestis just as important. You’ll have a hard time making money if no one is interested in the topic of your topic!

To qualify your sub-niche, you need to see if successful blogs are writing about the topic. Use this process to validate your niche ideas:

Create a list of existing blogs in the sub-niche. Use a blog aggregator tool like Detailedto identify the most popular fashion blogs. You can also use the “Organic Competitors” tool on Ahrefsto find similar websites.

Check their traffic level. Sign up for a free trial on SE Ranking. Plug each blog’s domain into the “Competitive Research” module to see their traffic.

Compare sub-niches with Google Trends. If you’re stuck between two or more sub-niches, use Google Trendsto compare interest side-by-side.

Take a few days to research niches and choose one that interests you, drives traffic, and has user demand. But don’t get too caught up in analysis! It’s better to choose a solid niche and move on to the next step than to waste weeks trying to pick the perfect topic.

2 Choose a Blogging Platform

Once you have your niche, you need a blogging platform.

A blogging platform is a service that lets you create, manage, publish, and share content online.

Many beginners use free blogging platforms like Medium or Blogger. Unfortunately, these come with a few cons:

• There are strict rules about what you can post.
• It isn’t easy to monetize content on these platforms.
• Limited design & functionality customization options mean less control over branding.

I recommend building a website to give your blog the best odds of success. Here are some pros of starting your own site:

• You have total control of how your blog looks and feels.
• Your content is yours. Nobody can shut your blog down or delete your posts.
• There’s nearly unlimited earning potential. It’s easier to monetize your blogwith display ads, affiliate products, and other methods.
• You can drive organic traffic to your blog with search engine optimization (SEO) and social media marketing.
• You can build an email list. By varying where your traffic comes from, you can protect your traffic from search engine algorithm changes and have direct access to readers.

We recommend using WordPress.org(not WordPress.com) for site-building. Creating a WordPress blog is free and easy. You can also access thousands of plugins and themes to customize your site.

Trusted by over 800 million sites, it’s also the most popular platform in the world.

3 Choose Your Domain Name

Next, you’ll select a domain name.

A domain name is a unique web address that lets people find your blog. It has two components: your blog’s name and a domain extension — such as .com.

Your domain name is the cornerstone of your brand. It’ll also be the first thing users see on search engines. Choosing a domain name that’s relevant and catchy will make readers more likely to remember your site and share it with others.

Here are a few tricks for choosing a great domain name:

• Aim for short & memorable. Limit your name to 6–14 characters. Avoid numbers, hyphens, and double letters.
• Ensure it’s niche-related. Try to make your blog’s focus obvious, such as UrbanGlam or ThriftStyleTips.
• Choose a .com domain..com domains bring a sense of trust, familiarity, and credibility. If your desired name isn’t available as a .com, consider these popular .com alternatives.
• Check social media availability. Ensure it’s also available on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest, and other platforms where you might want to share fashion content.
• Avoid trademarks. Brand and designer names are often trademarked. Usethistrademark search toolto verify that your chosen domain is available.
• Leave room for expansion. You can branch out into other sub-niches as your site grows. So, choose a domain name that allows for future brand expansion.

If you’re having trouble creating a memorable name, you can always use an AI domain generator like Brandsnap.

After choosing your domain name, you need to buy it. We recommend doing this through Namecheap, which will cost~$10/year.

4 Buy Web Hosting

Once you have a domain name, you’ll need to secure a web host.

A web hosting service provides the infrastructure needed to store and manage your WordPress site and make it accessible to users.

Many bloggers recommend Bluehost because it’s cheap. However, we consider SiteGrounda better alternative for beginners. It provides far more value for a slightly higher price.

Here’s how to secure web hosting with SiteGround:

Step 1: Visit SiteGround’s WordPress hosting page.

Step 2: Choose the cheapest plan option — the StartUp plan. This plan has all the essentials that a new blog needs.

Important: SiteGround plans offer a steep discount for new users (~80% off). Once your subscription ends, they’ll bill you at their slightly higher standard rate.

Step 3: Click “I already have a Domain” and enter your domain name. (You can select “Register a New Domain” ifyou plan to buy a domain name through SiteGround, though Namecheap is cheaper.)

Step 4: Enter your location and account information.

Step 5: Enter payment info and select a plan duration. The 12-month subscription is usually the cheapest.

Step 6: You can skip the extra services because this is a new site.

Step 7: Point your domain toward SiteGround’s servers. You can learn how to do that in this tutorial.

With your site hosted on a SiteGround server, you can begin customizing its appearance.

5 Choose a Theme for Your Fashion Blog

Next, you’ll choose a theme. This is how you’ll lay the visual foundation for your fashion blog.

A theme is a site template that determines how a site looks and functions. With a WordPress theme, you can easily customize your blog’s design, layout, and functionality.

However, not all themes will fit a fashion blog. The “perfect theme” will match your brand and appeal to your target audience.

For example, a minimalist theme would fit a thrifting fashion blog. If it’s a celebrity fashion blog, you might choose one with a magazine-style layout and large imagery.

I recommend choosing a freemium theme— a free theme with a premium upgrade option.

Free themes are great for budget-conscious beginners. However, their basic features will soon become limitations as your blog grows. With a freemium theme, you can begin with the free theme and then upgrade later to gain access to all the features you need.

My top three recommended themes are Astra, Kadence, and GeneratePress.

All three come with free versions and are easy to use. They also have extensive template libraries that let you save time by importing pre-designed structures.

Once you’ve selected a theme, you’ll need to activate it on WordPress. Here’s the process:

Step 1: Log into your WordPress dashboard.

Step 2: In the left sidebar, select “Appearance” and then “Themes.”

Step 3: Click “Add New.”

Step 4: Search for your theme and then click “Activate.”

Now, you can play around with your theme settings. Add your own flair by tweaking its layout, colors, and fonts to match your vision.

6 Decide on Design & Branding

Next, you’ll decide on a few critical branding elements. This step involves choosing a color palette and designing a logo.

Your branding choices will set the stage for how users view your fashion blog.

Your fashion blog’s color scheme, logo, and other stylistic elements should resonate with the specific fashion sub-niche you are addressing, aligning seamlessly with your website’s overall ambiance and brand identity.

For example, a blog focused on high fashion and luxury brands might use a color palette that exudes sophistication and elegance, such as black, gold, and deep jewel tones.

The design can be enhanced with sleek, clean lines and minimalist elements, creating an upscale, chic look that mirrors the exclusivity and refinement of high fashion.

I recommend using Coolorsto generate your color scheme. Click “Start the generator!” and adjust the results as needed. You should end up with 3-5 complementary colors.

Next comes your logo.

You don’t have to be a graphic designer to make a great logo – all you need is Canva. It has thousands of logo templates to choose from that you can easily customize to your brand. Just search “fashion logo template” in the search bar.

Once you find a template, you can customize it with your chosen colors and blog name.

7 Create Essential Pages

It’s time to add the first few pages to your blog. These are the five essential pages that every blog needs.

Homepage

This is the first page visitors see when they access your site. It establishes the central focus of your blog and guides readers to your most important pages.

About Page

This is where you’ll discuss why you started a fashion blog. Explaining your experience in the industry and adding photos of your unique sense of style will build trust with readers and make you more relatable.

Contact Page

This page needs a contact form, an email address, and links to your social media channels. Later, you can add more information, like a phone number and address.

Privacy Policy + Terms and Conditions

These two pages are legal requirements. They explain how readers can use your blog and how you can use their data.

You can generate these pages for free on PrivacyPolicies.com.

Creating a new page in WordPress is a simple two-click process. After logging into WordPress, select “Pages” in the left sidebar and click “Add New.”

8 Start Creating Content

Now, it’s time to bring your blog to life and create content!

Though you can write about whatever fashion topics come to mind, it’s not the best approach for new bloggers.

For early success, I recommend a keyword-focused content strategy.

A keyword-focused strategy involves picking keywords that users are typing into search engines. By covering the topic well and being helpful, Google will rank your article higher in the SERPs, which drives traffic to your blog.

Writing about the highest-traffic keywords is tempting, but it’s not a smart move for a new blog. Higher traffic means stronger competition, and it’s extremely difficult for new sites to rank well against big names.

For a new fashion blog, the best keywords to target are those with low competition and decent search volume.

This is where Ahrefscomes in handy. Using its Keyword Explorertool, you can plug in a “seed keyword” and generate a list of keywords, monthly search volume, and keyword difficulty scores.

For instance, searching “vintage fashion” in the Keyword Explorer tool brings up the following keywords:

We can turn these keywords into titles like:

• The Complete Guide to Thrift Vintage Fashion
• 21 Vintage 70s Disco Fashion Ideas
• 9 Best Vintage Fashion Magazines

Use this keyword research strategy to create ten blog post ideas. Once you have ten titles prepared, you can start writing your first few posts.

Here are a few tips for writing high-quality, SEO-friendly fashion blog posts:

• Know your readers. Write about what interests your target audience. Stay on top of their style preferences and demographics.
• Use TikTok & Instagram for inspiration. New fashion trends emerge daily on these platforms. You may discover your next blog post idea by following the top fashion and style influencers.
• Highlight seasonal trends and collections. Keep your audience updated with the latest seasonal trends and collections. This could include coverage of fashion weeks, seasonal must-haves, and trend forecasts.
• Create lookbooks and style guides.Regularly publish lookbooks or style guides for different occasions, body types, or seasons. This can provide readers with practical styling tips and inspiration.
• Incorporate video content. Utilize video content to showcase fashion items more dynamically. This could be in the form of fashion hauls, styling tips, or behind-the-scenes glimpses of fashion events.
• Develop a unique voice. Creating your own voice and writing style will set your fashion blog apart from other fashion bloggers. So, try to inject your personality into your content.
• Add personal stories. Make your content more engaging and relatable by telling stories related to the post.
• Use original photos. Fashion blogging is highly visual. Share original images for extra context.
• Consider copyright laws whenchoosing photos. Ensure you have the rights to post photos of brands, celebrities, and events.
• Use vivid detail. Remember, fashion is an image-heavy topic, so be descriptive in your writing. For example, you can explain the texture of an item or how it feels to wear it.
• Consider search intent. Your posts will perform better in Google if you stay on-topic and consider what information someone typing in your target keyword is seeking.

Feeling overwhelmed? If you walk away with anything from this section, let it be this: Be as helpful as possible. More engaging, informative content will rank better and provide more value to readers.

9 Promote Your Fashion Blog

It takes a while for Google to rank your posts and send you traffic. In the meantime, you should jumpstart your blog by promoting it.

Here are a few strategies to bring more attention to your new fashion blog:

• Collaborate with local boutiques. Build local support by partnering with nearby fashion startups and stores. You write sponsored content about their newest collection; they share your posts with their followers.
• Participate in trend challenges. Post videos or images showing your unique take on the latest trends. Or, start your own challenge and invite other fashion bloggers to join in.
• Create social media channels. Share your favorite outfit ideas via Instagram posts and TikTok videos. Be sure to use relevant hashtags to increase your visibility.
• Attend fashion events. Runway shows and fashion exhibitions are great for networking. You can also provide your readers with real-time updates at events.

Whichever promotion strategy you choose, remember this: be genuine. Avoid spamming hashtags or comment sections to bring attention to your blog.

10 Monetize Your Fashion Blog

This is where all the hard work from steps 1–9 pays off! It’s time to turn your passion for fashion into a source of income.

Here are some of the best ways fashion bloggers can monetize their sites:

Affiliate Marketing

Recommend products from brands you like and trust. You earn a small commission when readers follow your link and buy something.

Why It’s Great: It allows you to monetize your fashion recommendations. When you suggest a dress, accessory, or beauty product, and a reader purchases it through your link, you earn a commission.

Get Started: Learn more about getting started with affiliate marketingand check outour list of the best fashion affiliate programs.

Display Ads

Join an ad network and show advertisem*nts on your fashion blog.

Why It’s Great: You earn money when users interact with your ads, and your readers don’t have to spend any money.

Get Started: Ezoicis a good starting point for fashion blogs due to its lack of minimum traffic requirements. As your blog grows, consider higher-paying networks like Mediavine, which cater to lifestyle and fashion blogs and offer better rates.

Selling Your Own Products

Open an online store and sell fashion products you’ve created. These can be physical, like clothing, or digital, like fashion guides or online design courses.

Why It’s Great: You can showcase your creativity and prove your expertise to readers. Product sales also typically generate more revenue.

Get Started: Platforms like Shopify, Gumroad, and Etsylet you open storefronts and sell products directly to readers.

Sponsored Content

Get paid by companies to promote their products in a blog post or other content.

Why It’s Great: Brands will pay you upfront to create a sponsored post. There’s no worrying about whether a post will succeed and earn you money.

Get Started: Create a “Work With Us” page that tells brands you’re open to sponsorships. Add basic information like your readers’ demographics and monthly blog traffic. Pinch of Yum’s Sponsored Content page is a great template to get inspiration from.

Summing Up

While we’ve covered the basics of starting a fashion blog in this guide, there’s much more to master.

There are also a lot of inaccurate sources of information out there from “blogging gurus” who don’t stay on top of industry changes and haven’t built successful blogs.

To help you build your blog correctly, we’ve designed a free training based on our 10+ years of creating profitable websites.

In this training, you’ll learn 7 key strategies that can boost your blog’s growth by 83%.

If you’re serious about building a successful fashion blog, this is the next step.

Join the free training now.