At age 18, Noel Duan is just another recently graduated high school senior — oh, and she’s the blogger behind MissCouturable.com, one of the most popular teen lifestyle and fashion blogs on the web.
1. Give us a brief history of MissCouturable.com.
I started the blog August 2007 because I was getting bored the summer before my junior year of high school. I had just gone to New York City for journalism camp and I was interning for a local fashion designer back at home, so I was bursting with the desire to write and learn more about fashion. In the beginning, I was definitely very unpolished in my ideas and writing and very uncertain of what direction the blog was going to take — the truth is, there are tons of fashion blogs out there and it’s very hard to stand out without adding a personal touch.
So I stopped blogging shortly after I began the blog because I didn’t know what direction it was going to take. I started writing extensive and frequent Facebook notes (since I figured my friends would at least read them if they were tagged, ha) — and I ended up getting a lot of positive feedback not just from friends, but from acquaintances!
I realized then that Miss Couturable could still be about fashion — but it could also be a lot more personal. My lovely readers wanted to know how I was doing in New York City (I was living alone for two months), how my internship at Seventeen was going, and what I was thinking and wearing.
I mean, I could say that Miss Couturable is about fashion and Miss Couturable is about me — but I like to think that Miss Couturable is a blog for the dreamers out there who aren’t afraid to pursue their dreams and look dapper while they’re at it.
2. How did you promote your blog and build your blog audience?
I almost gave up on blogging when I began Miss Couturable because I wasn’t getting any feedback. That was a BIG mistake. Unless you’re Kanye West, you’re going to have to put some effort into promoting your blog. I joined a lot of blog networks and directories, from the general ones such as Bloggernity to the fashion-focused ones such as Independent Fashion Bloggers and Coutorture. However, most of my success in building my audience came from commenting on the blogs I really enjoy reading and emailing my favorite bloggers to ask if they’d be willing to give my wee blog a chance and link back to me on their blogroll. I was also a finalist for ‘best teen weblog’ in the 2008 Bloggies. I also made sure my blog was listed in search directories such as Yahoo!. Increasing your online presence in general can promote your blog — just make sure you have a link to it on your Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn profile.
Technicalities aside though, I think building a blog audience involves a personal connection with the readers. While the bulk of my readers are teenage girls, I have a lot of preteens, women in their 20s, and even moms who read my blog! I’ve actually gotten a few messages from guys who read my blog too, some who are interested in fashion but many who aren’t. It’s so important to reply back to emails, to answer questions, to let your readers know that you care (and trust me, I have some pretty awesome readers). That’s how your build an audience — not through blatant spam linking, but through being as interested in your readers as they are in you.
3. Tell us about the ways blogging has changed your life.
I have the hardest time explaining to some of my peers why I love blogging so much! I can’t pretend it’s journalism (for the most part), but I just adore writing and socializing and fashion — so it works out, no? Contrary to popular belief, I didn’t even list my blog on my resume when I got my fashion internship at Seventeen. However, I now list my blog on my resume, just in case the potential employer would like to learn more about me. I have gotten to know some prominent bloggers (meeting some too!) from around the world and even a few editors. I don’t really think of these encounters as “networking” though; getting to know people around the world is just a perk of the blogosphere.
Blogging has also taught me to toughen up a lot. Putting yourself out there on the internet (especially with a publicized blog) means negative criticism and lots of anonymous insults is inevitable. I’ve received two-page long emails full of insults and disgust at me too.
While I never bawled my eyes out, I used to be hurt by these words and sometimes they’d cause me to reply back — which is pointless. It’s more important to remember that the people who insult you and make assumptions about you don’t know you personally as your friends and family do. You just can’t change the minds of people who already have their heads wrapped around a certain idea of you. I’ve become much more confident due to blogging because I’ve realized just how important and wonderfully irreplaceable my life outside of the blogosphere is.
However, I keep up Miss Couturable because of my readers. I’ve received emails from them telling me how I’ve inspired them to pursue their dreams — I’ve even received emails from them telling me about their problems and insecurities. It’s devastatingly beautiful to know that wherever we are in the world, whoever we are in the world — we just want to be heard.
4. What other blogs do you read?
Oh gosh, I read so many blogs — way more than what’s listed on my blogroll. I want to list these blogs by category, but I can’t because fashion blogs can be more than fashion blogs and personal blogs can be more than everyday mundanity! Can we just take a look at my blogroll instead? I read blogs that inspire me, that make me laugh, and that make me think. And sometimes make me green with envy, heh.
5. What are your goals for MissCouturable.com?
I’m just hoping to have a lot of fun with Miss Couturable this year. Let’s just say, the blog isn’t disappearing anytime soon! Being a second semester senior (’09!) I’ve had more time to blog and take it in the direction I want it to go.
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noel duan,
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