Blog Spotlight: The Side Talk
June 09, 2015 Blogs
Joumana Soufi of Kuwaiti fashion blog The SideTalk spoke to MediaSource about what it takes to run a successful blog, selecting which events to attend, and where publicists are going wrong with bloggers.
What inspired you to start blogging?
The whole thing started with my deep interest in reading other fashion blogs, and blogs in general. When I decided to start, I didn't even know what my topic of interest was going to be. With time and more experience, I figured myself out, and thought ‘I want to be a fashion blogger’, and here I am.
What makes a successful blog?
Success comes after heaps of effort, and many posts that no one might even read. It's your space, but is open for everybody, and requires consistency, research, tests, and trials, topped with your genuine opinion. It might sound easy, but sticking around and building your way up requires dedication and commitment.
Do you receive a lot of invitations to events - which are you most likely to accept?
Yes! Companies, small businesses, home businesses, you name it. It's out of control. Sometimes I'll be invited to four or five events on the same evening. Choosing which ones to attend and cover used to be a lot harder. Now, I'm pickier. The first thing I do when I receive an invite, if I am not already familiar with the sender, is look them up online and get acquainted with the services or products they offer. If I like it, it makes it into my calendar. I try to stay away from going somewhere where I don't necessarily fancy what they're offering, and then mislead my readers, or write a bad review (which I avoid with a passion). As a blogger, I believe it's not about being in every event in town, but picking and choosing what your readers would be interested in knowing about. The method of inviting plays a big role in my decision to go to an event or not as well. If the invitation is meaningless or too dry, I don’t even bother looking them up.
How do you work with marketers and PRs?
In my opinion, lots of marketers and PRs still need to learn a thing or two about how social media works. Based on my experience, I can count on one hand the ones that are really good at dealing with bloggers; professional, and keen on building a long-term relationship, rather than sending a quick 'please post this' email every time they have a client to represent.
I receive an average of 20-25 emails everyday from agencies/companies/individuals with either invitations or news they want to share on my channels. Of course, there are certain marketers/PRs who I prefer dealing with. If I find someone to be aggressive or unprofessional, I forward their emails to my junk folder. I'm all about the way of communication.
What kind of materials do you prefer to receive from publicists?
It depends on the client they represent. I definitely prefer to try the product or service when being asked to review it. Also, good pictures are key! I have to like the pictures of whatever it is I'm writing about.
What is the best way for PRs to build a relationship with you?
I like PRs who make an effort to know you personally at an event. When they truly care about what they are doing, it shows. Representing their clients the best way possible, working as a reference to solve any issues with a given product or service. Being reachable, patient, helpful and professional are all essential qualities to building a long-term relationship.
On the contrary, some PRs approach is very ‘blah’. They expect you to be there whenever they require your support, and then disappear, until they reach out again. In between, they don’t bother with you. They are not willing to respond to an email or any other matter coming from your side. A simple example, sometimes a PR will send me an email of a topic I find interesting, but I don't like their images. I email back asking them to send different photos to post, and they don't even respond. Some others keep harassing you with phone calls and Whatsapp messages from the second they email you or send you something, to make sure you received it.
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