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5 Questions with Noel Duan — 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Tags: blogging, fashion, fashion bloggers, noel duan, teen bloggers

6 Reasons to Start a Blog (Seriously)

You’ve heard it again and again: You should start a blog. You think about doing it, but something keeps holding you back. Maybe you just can’t stand the thought of your mom commenting. Or HTML makes your head hurt. And if your future employers come across it, well, God forbid…

Starting a blog is the simplest, most cost-effective way to stand out from a crowd. But still, plenty of aspiring journalists and writers aren’t doing it, whether it’s because they don’t see the advantages or because they’re afraid of putting too much of themselves online. Contrary to popular belief, blogging doesn’t necessarily have to be just an “online diary” — it can be an extension of your resume that serves to showcase your skills.

As everything moves from print to online, blogging also shows that you understand the web space and are a participant in new media, which is something more and more editors are looking for. (Nowadays, just knowing the AP stylebook isn’t going to cut it anymore — especially if you don’t even know how to <b>bold</b> something!)

Here are six reasons you should start a blog today. (Really. Like, today.)

1. Develop your voice. Writing in a blog provides you with an outlet for expression. It helps you hone your written communication skills, find a writing style that is comfortable for you, and get a feel for the topics that are of greatest interest to you.

2. Brand yourself. Blogging is a great marketing and communications tool. It allows you to establish your name and represent yourself online in a way that you want to be represented. If recruiters or employers Google search you, the information that comes up about you should be the information you put out there, not what your 7th grade kickball partner wrote about you in his LiveJournal. Though I’m sure that was very positive too.

3. Demonstrate your passion. Think of blogging as a test run for real publishing. If you regularly update your blog with solid content, you’re showing future employers that you’re genuinely interested in and well-versed in a certain topic. Blogging will help you figure out what kind of content your readers like and what kind of images work well with your text. And if you — gasp — have commenters, it shows people actually care about what you have to say.

4. Learn accountability. When you originally start a blog, you will have to write almost daily to grow your audience and keep readers coming back. Blogging shows employers you have the motivation and the self-discipline to write about a topic frequently and engagingly.

5. Become an expert. Writing around a certain topic, whether it’s street fashion or green technology or gadgets — will help you learn more about the field you’re covering. In order to stay on top of industry trends, you’ll constantly be reading other blogs and news sources, which will keep you sharp and informed, as an editor or reporter should be.

6. Build your network. By blogging, you put yourself out there for an unknown audience. Through sharing your experiences and expertise, you will be able to connect to like-minded people who blog about similar topics. You are able to give something to the community, which will reward you in turn. Most of all, your blog’s legitimacy will help you gain access to professionals at the forefront of their fields.

So go forth, young Padwans. Start a blog on Wordpress or Blogger today!

Tags: blogging, branding, network, new media, online media, passion, voice