Named by Teen Vogue the: "Product Queen of YouTube", 'Fashion Rocks My Socks' is a 21 year old fashion and beauty blogger named Rhiannon Ashlee who has been active online September 2010, primarily on YouTube. Taking her initial inspiration from television, holidays such as Valentine's Day and Christmas, walking down the streets of London, and even from YouTubers such as 'Charlieissocoollike', 'Clothesencounters', 'Grav3yardgirl' and 'Vagabondyouth' - she knew that expressing her thoughts online, reaching a wide variety of people was an ambition.
Reaching an audience of 106,039 subscribers (not including those who watch her videos and aren't subscribed) Rhiannon has moved into the social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Blogger, Keek, Tumblr, and has even set herself up with a second YouTube channel. Unarguably, Rhiannon uses social networking to her advantage, reaching out to thousands of people who share her interest in fashion and beauty.
Quick FAQ with Rhiannon Ashlee (Fashion Rocks My Socks)
How do you edit your blog posts?
I use a mixture of Polyvore, Picasa, PicMonkey
and Blogger
What software do you use to edit videos?
Final Cut Pro or iMovie
(FAQ found here)
Although active on all of the aforementioned social media, Rhiannon focuses on updating her Youtube channel and her professional blog as often as possible, bringing her audience updates on her projects and invites sent to her by fashion companies, 'Monthly Favourites', 'Monthly Empties', wish lists, product reviews, weeks in photographs, styling posts, collections, 'Outfit snippets', 'Hauls' and now she is able to involve her audience in her content, with posts such as 'Send in Your Style' and competitions (set up either by herself or by companies such as Chicnova through her blog).
Currently playing host to: 106778 YouTube subscribers, 10715 twitter followers, 1127 blog members, 7690 Facebook page members on her channels, Rhiannon has reached out to thousands of people and has become as successful as fashion and beauty bloggers can possibly get. She has used social networking to create content not only for herself, but for fashion and beauty companies all over the world, who in turn, pay her for her work.
To conclude, Rhiannon and her 'Fashion Rocks My Socks' channels speak out to an audience (mainly aimed around the female teen-young adult audience) in a professional, light-hearted and fun way. Using her love for fashion and beauty as a stepping stone, she has created herself an entire career using purely social networking. This is further evidence to suggest that the use of social networking to anybody who has the ambition to achieve in the field of fashion and beauty is a positive and successful way to excel in creating an audience and showcasing your ability and passion.
Zoe Thatcher (or "Zoella280390") is a 22 year old British fashion and beauty guru blogger who specialises in reviewing products and chatting about her life experiences. Alike her fellow fashion and beauty bloggers, Zoe has a passion and enjoyment for her work, which shines through her perfectly edited and quality videos.
FAQ with Zoe Thatcher (Zoella280390)
What Camera do you use to take your photos?
What program do you use to edit your photos?
I
use Photoshop CS5 & iPhoto on a Mac
How did you create your old banner?
I
used Photoshop to cut and stick different images together
What camera do you use to film your videos?
What made you start a blog?
Back
in 2007, I started watching YouTube videos and learning all kinds of new things
from various makeup gurus, I remember in 2008/2009 I started watching
Lollipop26 (Laura) and ACurrentCustom (Lorraine), and they both had blogs
alongside their videos. Being very shy and not at all confident, I decided that
the best way to get involved in the makeup community and write about something
i loved, was to start a blog myself. So in February 2009, I created "Zoella".
Why did you call your blog Zoella?
I
called my blog Zoella, as it was a nickname I was given at the time. I don't
remember who by, but now it has stuck with me whether I like it or not haha.
How do you get people to read and follow your blog?
When
I first started my blog, I think in the first 2 weeks, I gained about 3
followers, they certainly didn't just appear overnight. I would read and
comment on other blogs (personal comments not my blog link) & eventually more people would hop on
over and join. I also joined twitter, and started following other bloggers and
becoming part of the beauty community. Chatting to others who enjoyed the same
things as me, and making friends. If you are putting in the effort, people will
find you. It's taken me over 3 years to get to the point I am at today. I know
it may be frustrating to those of you who have written a few posts and feel as
though nobody is listening, but nobody was listening to me at one point either.
It's important to just enjoy each aspect of blogging. The ideas, the
photography, the editing, the writing and the satisfaction it brings you when
you hit the "publish" button. Good things come to those who wait, so
just remember that when you feel like smashing your head on your keyboard because
you don't have all the followers you wish you had. Blogging should be fun, and
extension of you and the things you love, and if it isn't fun, and you aren't
enjoying it or getting any satisfaction out of it, maybe it's just not your
scene. You also have to remember that not everybody reading your blog will be
following you with google friend connect or bloglovin, or hellocotton. They may
be subscribed via email, or simply just have your website bookmarked. The vast
majority of my readers are not followers at all (just something to keep in
mind). Have fun, make the effort and get involved and I'm sure you'll get
followers/readers in no time.
I need help creating a blog name, can you think of
anything?
I
would love to have the time and the imagination to help you come up with a blog
name, but unfortunately I have neither. Nobody knows you better than yourself,
so pick something unique that's personal to you. Things you love? Things that
inspire you? A quote maybe? The possibilities are endless (as long as someone else
hasn't already snapped it up).
What do you use to read blogs?
I use Bloglovin' to read blogs. I think it's amazing! You can
categorise blogs into different groups and mark certain posts as read or unread
so you never miss a post from your favourite bloggers. I also use this on my Iphone as an app for reading blogs on the
go.
I'm thinking of starting a YouTube
channel but i'm worried about what people will think of me or if I will get
teased. Do you have any advice?
If
you desperately want to make videos, and it's something you think you might
enjoy, stuff what anyone else thinks. Do they have the guts to make a video and
upload it for the world to see? no? well then what do they know! Do
things FOR YOU and not
for anyone else. Don't let anyone else's immaturity spoil your fun. Most
people don't understand YouTube and if that's the case let them wallow in their
own ignorance. You also don't have to publish it to your personal social
networking sites if you really don't want anyone finding out. Don't link it
anywhere and don't tell anyone (unless of course you trust them) and it will be
almost impossible for people to just "stumble upon you". YouTube is
like an ocean full of millions of fish (except the fish are videos). If you
make a couple of videos and decide you don't like it or want to do it anymore,
then that's fine too. You gave it a go!
(p.s.
If you are under the age of 16 and you're asking me this question, make sure
it's okay with your parents that you start making videos on YouTube, just in
case they absolutely despise the idea, don't want you getting into trouble)
I'm stuck for what to film my first YouTube video
on! Do you have any ideas for me?
When
I did my first YouTube video, I wasn't really expecting many people to see it,
and I just filmed a random day out shopping with a friend. For my first proper
sit down video, I think I did "60 things in my bedroom" which didn't
require any talking (just editing and a bit of music). I think it's best to do
something that you will feel comfortable with. I was very shy when I first
started on YouTube and even now I wouldn't say i'm 100% comfortable talking to
a camera knowing you will all see it, but it gets easier. Maybe a what's in my
bag video? (simple show and tell) or a "Get to know me" tag video? So
that new viewers will know all about you!
Do you add people you on your personal Facebook?
As
much as I love you all, I do want to keep at least one thing in the big world
wide web just to myself and my real life-ness (non Zoella haha). I do however
have a Facebook Page, which I'd LOVE for you to
"like" instead. You can also message me on there too.
(FAQ found here)
Zoe utilises all elements of social networking to present herself and her devotion to fashion and beauty to a large audience all around the world. Creating YouTube videos, blog posts and updating her other websites, Zoe regularly creates content for audiences of
36466 blog subscribers
106778 YouTube subscribers, 10715 twitter followers, 1127 blog members, 7690 Facebook page members on her channels
These bloggers have excelled in applying themselves to being fashion and beauty 'gurus' and have demonstrated versatility in online media.
But how does this relate to magazines and their association with online social media?
Publication has changed dramatically in the past decade, with a surge in popularity of new social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter - it seems almost everyone has some kind of account. Although this certainly seems to have negative impact on the sales of magazines, using social networking sites to your company's advantage is an ideal way to speak out to a vast audience easily - particularly if a magazine's target audience are teens or young adults. With advertisements and sites of their own, magazine companies are able to display their products and information in a relatable and contemporary manner. This not only opens their company up to a wider audience, but influences them to not only read and become involved with what they can find online, but to also to buy the printed product for even more articles and information regarding their company.
Referencing (All found in BIBLIOGRAPHY in Independent Study 3000 word report):
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