DIY: Wear your brands, make money

In a recent article in Time Magazine, titled "The Human Billboard," writer Roya Wolverson wrote about a relatively new phenomenon -- microcelebrities.  The claim-to-fame of the microcelebrity described below, Jordan Reid, is a fashion/food/home decor blog known as Ramshackle Glam.  Quoting the opening paragraph of Roya's article (you must be a Time subscriber to read the whole article) --

Jordan Reid seems to be having a morning much like any other young mother's in suburban New York. "I'm really sorry, but I'm covered in spilled milk," she says as she steps out of her blue Subaru Outback after having tended to her 18-month-old son. Yet her catalog-ready appearance--Reid is wearing a leather bomber jacket, polka-dot ankle-rolled jeans and pink patent-leather flats under that spilled milk--is a tip that she isn't quite like her fellow moms. On any given day, after dressing and feeding her son, Reid spends an intensely regimented half hour cleansing her face with Moisturizing Facial Wash by Simple, washing her hair with Dove Color Care shampoo and riffling through a wardrobe chock-full of TJ Maxx clothing to compose a boho-chic outfit. She grabs one of her four Timex watches and one of three pairs of Ann Taylor sunglasses and scrambles down the stairs in her sunny three-bedroom home to eat breakfast on her new Noritake china collection (an eclectic mix of the Rochelle Gold, Hertford and Yoshino patterns).

If you're wondering whether this type of blogging is worth the effort, take a look at this second quote from the same article:

For enterprising bloggers, the lure is simple: income that can range from $100,000 a year to hundreds of thousands more. For marketers, the calculus is more complicated. Yes, they can target audiences, and the price is relatively low compared with already cheap online advertisements. And bloggers can offer a more authentic connection to brands for consumers who are weary of varnished sales pitches from Madison Avenue. But companies are also putting their brands in the hands of untested spokespeople and, in some cases, running into controversy about the blogger-sponsor relationship. Leery consumers prefer that bloggers' opinions be independent. Just last month, the Federal Trade Commission introduced tighter regulations for social-media advertising. Though there are clear successes, it's far too early to tell if the approach drives more sales than traditional marketing.

Other bloggers named in the article are Kelley Framel of the Glamourai,

Jane Aldridge of Sea of Shoes,

and Brit Morin of Brit + Co.

Eric Savitz writes more about Social Media Clout: The Rise of Micro Celebrity Endorsements at Forbes.

So how do you get started?  First, blog well and often about topics that the majority of internet users are interested in.  For ideas take a look at Pinterest, particularly the popular page.  Googling "blog about brands" will yield a good number of resources available.  A number of the sites look like freelancing portals.  One site I checked out -- Bloggers Required -- looks legit.

A word of caution for those who want to sign up for brand blogging at a site offering services -- the internet is full of entrepreneurs that will return little substance for your money.  When you find a site that seems to be what you're looking for, check it out before you sign up.  The service should be free for the blogger/freelancer.  Take time to read the terms of service; you are, after all, contracting with this company.  And keep in mind that many people want to make money freelancing -- be prepared to compete for assignments. 

-- Marge