Using Blogspot

Blog Spot

Type of social media

My blogspot blog is one of the main online presences that I will have and is what I have been using my social media portfolios to promote. On my blog I have posted the different items that I am studying at the moment and how I feel about them along with research into shops, different trends found within WGSN and other elements that identify me as a brand and helps me create an identity/image of what kind of designer I am, therefore it is one of the key networks that I need to get it correct to be able to showcase me in a professional and positive light making it a success.

Why I am using it?

I am using blogspot opposed to any other blogging outposts due to the way that when I was asked to make one this is the first outlet I really know about, so therefore if the first one that I though off then it much also apply to others as well therefore being the perfect chose to use to create my blog. This mixed with the simple blogspot address makes it easy to remember as it is simple and clear about what it really is, a fashion blog.  To me the blog is really important to state what I am currently doing as a student that is developing into an individual designer as within these entries I can take the viewer on a journey with me, so that it almost acts as a professional work dairy so that people can get to understand me and my identity as its moving forward into a developed designer. The thing that I like is the way that you are able to write more onto it unlike other social medias so that you can add more of your thoughts and opinions into it while also invite people to comment on it so that they are able to have their say as well all in all opening up discussion about your processes and more. The way that I am also able to link my photos with the text allows me to really showcase what I am saying as well making my development clear to the viewer so that they can really get inside my head and understand me as a developing designer. Within this blog what I like that I have not necessarily been able to see in the other ones is the way that within the blog the “front cover” is the blog and the articles that I post but on the right hand bar where you can chose what article you want to read there is a brief summary of what kind of designer I am along with a photo of me so that people can see who I am and therefore recognise me as well as my designs and development, it then allows you to click on my personal portfolio where it takes you to another page (the one that is also printed in large (one with my floral heading) where you are able to see my  collections that I have created underneath my name, at the moment I have only uploaded a small selection of my prints and work under only 3 of the different projects I have done but if I develop this more it could be so successful. It allows the viewer to firstly see my thoughts (on my blog documents) then see my work as well (on my profile back page) then if they like the items I have done they can chose to follow me to view more of my work within that heading with the use of colours sectioning it out and setting the mode for that certain area of design work I have done through colour theory. This is one of the features that I feel allows me to take my blog to the next level and to make it more personal to me as a designer and not just another fashion blog. Overall the way this all works together is really good as it allows people to see my style and influence as well as development in a very easily usage but professional way that you can’t do with the use of social media due to its limitations making my blog my main online presence I want to present to the public.

Action plan/how I will use it

For my blog I have several different element that I can put into an action plan to be able to keep on developing my online profile here are some bellow:

·         Keep on posting both my work and thing that inspire me – to keep my blog the most current I want to use it as more of a diary about my own development and also place in some of the different things that inspire me as these items help people recognise what makes me and influence within my work so that they are able to understand me. What I really want as well is people to add their own comments on my page about either my work (likes, dislikes and improvements needed) or my dairy like blog so that it opens up communication and gets people to talk about it, by keeping going with different blogs and pages to them I am doing everything on my end to be the most up to date and current so it allows them to see that I am moving forward within this industry and not just stuck amongst the others.

·         Add more designs and collections in my profile area – another thing that I can think of to add to my blog is to work on my background portfolio linked on this page so that people are able to see the different work I have produced, allowing them to see visually what I have done and my refined style within different subjects (not just floral designs) they are able to see the same style but in a variety of contexts which is good as it shows I am a rounded designer, but due to the way that I am more focused on my natural prints as identify with floral designs in my brand identity I need to make it clear that I value my prints in this area more and therefore my plan is to place them at the top (in front) of my other work with the use of the bold colour pink to draw attention and boarder the designs in that area and by doing this hopeful it will make clear about what style I am targeting within my whole body of work. But i feel that it is important to showcase not only florals as this doesn’t appeal to everyone where if I post different styles people may find something they like in my style and therefore like me/support me due to my “handprint” individual style and not only based on the subject matter.

·         Advertise on my other social media outlets – due to the way that people do not have a lot of time to seek out and read blogs the use of social media is key as they are able to look at this on the go and them make a mental note if they like what I am showing on this quick look networks to look at my blog when they do have some down time and therefore building up views on my blog and hopefully followers.

How can I improve my use or profile on the platform?

There are a few things that I need to change to make my blog better within the future here are some bellow:

·         Make sure that all pictures are the right size – in some of the posts I have noticed that the sizing of the image is wrong so needs to be manipulated to fit into the blog better then it would be perfect. It would also be good to be able to remove the generic background of the water coloured pinks and replace that will one of my own prints like the one that I have used consistently within all of my social media profiles so that when you look at it you are able to see that it is a personal representation of me without even having to click on my full profile sending the viewer a clear message about my brands identity and me as a designer before they sit down and really read about my thought processes in my blog entries meaning that they can gain a first impression on if they will have an infinity with me before they get to involved therefore helping me build up a base of followers that are my client group.

·         Don’t right as much – one of my weaknesses is that I do like to explain myself so can and do sometimes write to much to explain myself to others as I want to present my thoughts in the clearest way and to me that it to show them through photos while telling them that I did that for that reason and so on.. Leading to long explanations that I need to avoid as people get put off by big bodies of text and it takes long to read and therefore skip over it which defeated the purpose of using it. Therefore I need to cut down and only add the relevant things within the blog to not put people off reading what I have to say and following me.

·         Look at the font of the writing as it could be clearer – one of the things that I wanted to feature in my blog is this feminine floraly text that would also help represent my identity as a designer but looking at it on the blog I can see how it could be an issue for people when reading a lot as it is not the clearest, therefore within the future I feel that I need to look at an alternative font that would still suggest the same symbolism as the one that I am using at the moment but is a little better to read.

Conclusion

In conclusion I feel that my blog is the most important one to really focus on for all the reasons stated above but I really need to be active within my social media platforms (and also by leaving comment on others blogs and inviting them to look and comment on mine) to promote it otherwise I fear that it may go unnoticed and therefore will not be successful at all in the promotion of my own work. Therefore I still have a lot of work to do to make myself as successful as a blogger and as a fashion textile designer itself, as these (online presence, blogs, and social media ect...) are the real starting blocks to get a support system for yourself and get your foot in the door for this hard industry as it showcases your personality and knowledge/skills in this subject area.