#MorganRose #MorganLaBar #Blogging #Fashion #Culture #KatieHopsicker #SpotlightNews
By KATIE HOPSICKER
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BETHLEHEM –– Morgan LaBar, 19, of Glenmont, is using social media to generate followers and fame for her fashion blog, Morgan Rose.
After posting consistently for nearly two years, the fashion and beauty focused Morgan Rose blog has not only acquired more than 10,000 followers on Instagram but has also collaborated recently with Almay, a major cosmetics brand
It seems that new blogs are continuing to pop up on a regular basis, showcasing advice and opinions on everything from books and beauty to food and fun. This increasing interest in blogging has made it hard to differentiate between fame seekers and educated bloggers.
So, how did LaBar do it?
Without any previous blogging knowledge, LaBar opted to start with “a unique point of view. That’s what everyone needs.” Now, she has people reaching out daily, asking for advice on how to succeed with their own blogs.
However, she warns hopeful bloggers that maintaining a blog takes a lot of work. Behind each blog write-up, she must research, plan her outfit or beauty look, find a shooting location and take pictures for the post. Along with the blog write-up, LaBar also posts content across Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook, creating separate graphics for each platform.
As written on her blog, “my number one blogging tip is consistency… The cold hard truth of not being present in this day and age is that you’ll just be left behind.” She posts daily to Instagram and uses the Instagram Story feature to connect more candidly with her followers through videos and polls.
LaBar admits that while “it’s not easy being consistent,” her biggest growth resulted from posting everyday. Posting more enabled increased activity from followers, and eventually attracted loyal followers to to her blog. She said, “the more people feel like they know you, they feel like they are your friend, and if you give advice, they trust it.”
Her growing success is further aided by brand collaborations. LaBar has recently worked with Almay (cosmetics), Daniel Wellington (watches and accessories), Maggy London (women’s clothing), Eastland Shoe (shoes) and more on advertisements featuring makeup, clothing and accessories. Collaborating not only helps the blogger reach more people but also provides the company with some inexpensive publicity. Usually, the company will send LaBar a product in exchange for a post featuring the product.
In many cases, LaBar reaches out to to a company expressing interest in setting up a collaboration; however, sometimes companies will contact her first. Additionally, she uses influencer agencies, such as Fohr. Unknown to many, these agencies act as a middle man between the influencer and the brand. The blogger can make an account on the agency’s website and brands will reach out to the agency with their advertisement requirements.
Along with creating an agency account, LaBar recommends creating a business profile on Instagram. This allows you to check analytics to find trends and monitor growth. After all, “the numbers don’t lie,” she said.
To new bloggers and influencers, LaBar stresses genuinity. “You will have a lot of brands reach out — it’s exciting… but I say no to 90 percent of them. I don’t recommend anything to people unless I truly believe in the product.” She suggests collaborating with smaller companies to start and to “never feel that you have to do something because everyone else is.”
LaBar’s determination in self-starting her blog has certainly paid off. This fall, she will continue her work on the blog as she studies Fashion Marketing and Advertising at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.
In addition to pursuing her own studies, she is also inspiring the next generation of bloggers and fashion lovers attending her alma mater: Bethlehem Central High School.
Melanie Painter, BCHS’s art supervisor, spoke about the high school’s Fashion & Apparel elective, which is being reinstated for the 2018-19 school year. The class, which only runs if enough students show interest, usually focuses on teaching students the creative aspects of fashion and incorporates projects such as designing and sewing their own clothes.
Beginning this academic year, however, the elective will change to include aspects of business and social media in relation to fashion. With inspiration from alumni including LaBar and James Charles, the YouTube sensation and CoverGirl’s first CoverBoy, Painter stated that the class will take notes from trends and expose students to the fashion industry.
“We teach [students] techniques on the sewing machines… but in the United States’ [workforce], we don’t sew the clothes. We build the creative economy.” Painter also said the students will have help in developing their own blogs and using social media to find trends and make predictions about the fashion industry. “The class will teach real world applications after working with art mediums… we want to focus on the kids and what they want.”
As for LaBar, she is “not at all surprised that Bethlehem is making an effort to make their fashion classes more well rounded for the students.” The combination of fashion with social media, business, marketing and more is not a traditional career choice, but LaBar is “thrilled” that now students can have new opportunities.
Using social media to turn her passion into a success that inspires others… “It has been so unexpected and surreal,” said LaBar. And as for her blog, “I’m not stopping any time soon!”
To check out Morgan LaBar’s blog, visit www.morganrose-blog.com.