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This is part two of a two part series featuring women bloggers who have changed the way the world views them and their readers (for more background on this article read part one). I communicated with four very different women bloggers (Chanel Ward/Hip Candy, Charlene Li/Groundswell: Winning In a World Transformed by Social Technologies, Michele Obi/My Fashion Life, and Julie Strietelmeier/The Gadgeteer) and asked them the same five questions:
- What is the focus of your blog and why did you choose this particular niche?
- If you could describe your readers in three sentences or less what would you say?
- How has blogging advanced your career?
- On average, only 12% of women bloggers are featured on top 100 lists. Why do you think that is?
- If you could give one word of advice to women bloggers today what would it be?
After talking with these women I realized that a "power blogger" has nothing to do with your ranking on a list but the quality of your posts, the awareness of your reader's needs, and the ability to look beyond fame and fortune and stay true to your subject matter. Today's featured bloggers are Michele Obi/My Fashion Life, and Julie Strietelmeier/The Gadgeteer.
Julie Strietelmeier / The Gadgeteer
Julie Strietelmeier is a self proclaimed gadget freak and she is proud of it. Considered a blogging legend to readers, the industry, and me, she started The Gadgetter on Geocities' free community pages in 1997. That's right, 1997... before blogging became mainstream. Now, with its humble beginnings as a Geocities' community, The Gadgeteer is one of the most trusted site on the web for product reviews. I love Julie's site because she does something that many technology bloggers have a hard time doing, me included, her site gives you real hands on reviews, not old news or "fluffy" highlights. With a cult following, over 140 product reviewer have contributed to her site and a massive number of readers, Julie explains to Technology Starlet readers her take on women and blogging as well as following your dreams.
What is the focus of your blog and why did you choose this particular niche?
The Gadgeteer ( http://the-gadgeteer.com ) is a consumer product review blog that has been in existence since 1997. Presently, we have over 1800 reviews and articles dealing with a wide range of products from the Apple iPhone, to LED flashlights and tiny RC helicopters. I started The Gadgeteer because I've always been a geek that enjoys playing with gadgets, gizmos and electronic toys. If it has buttons and beeps, I have to have one!
If you could describe your readers in three sentences or less what would you say?
The people that read my blog are voracious info geeks that want to know the real info on the latest gadgets on the market. They don't want to read regurgitated press releases, but want real world info that can help them make informed buying decisions.
How has blogging advanced your career?
In the 10 years that I've been writing reviews, I've been recognized by notable publications such as The Wall Street Journal and The NY Times and by behemoth companies like Microsoft. All that is fine and good, but I get more happiness from people that email me to say that my reviews really helped
them figure out how to spend their hard earned money.
On average, only 12% of women bloggers are featured on top 100 lists. Why do you think that is?
That is a very low percentage and I think it might be related to the topics that current women bloggers have chosen to explore. I really believe that the percentage will improve remarkably in the years to come as we branch out into different areas.
If you could give one word of advice to women bloggers today what would it be?
Don't give up. If you have a real passion for your topic, then keep writing about it. You know the saying "Build it and they will come"? I think we should update that saying to be "Write it and they will read". Keep building your content and the rest will follow.
Michele Obi / My Fashion Life
I am very excited to talk about this blog. I used to have one favorite fashion blog, now I have two. Even though, honestly, I am ashamed to admit it, as a fashion lover, I stumbled upon this blog only 2 months ago (sorry Michele). However to redeem myself, I must confess that I have visited it almost everyday since then, two to three times a day, and not because I was writing this article, but because I am offically obsessed with My Fashion Life. Michelle Obi is a woman of very few words, but don't let that fool you. If you have ever visited her blog, My Fashion Life, then you know how addicting the site is. My first visit resulted in me going through archives and reading short and witty fashion commentary for over 2 hours, and I am not exaggerating. The site intrigued me, it's style was fresh, it's design was alluring, and the posts... well let's just say the author is genius. The post are like the fashion industry, informative, to the point, and leaving you waiting for more from the mysterious woman behind it all. Michele Obi, a Londoner, is a power blogger and I don't think anyone in the fashion industry or the blogging community would disagree with me, especially her readers who range from me, to designers, to photographers, to advertisers, to serious fashion professionals. My Fashion Life, founded in 2003, is a cool mixture of a weblog and a e-magazine that focuses on catwalk designers, street fashion, daily news tips, and where to find accessories and vintage designer clothes online. This blog alone is constantly being tipped as an industry resource, but Michele won't mention you just cause you are a designer, in her words, her blog focuses on "talent rather than hype". That boldness and love of fashion is why My Fashion Life is mentioned in InStyle Magazine, Newstyle, the Lifestyle section of Daily Mail, and many more. Michele Obi, a blogging celeb here and in London, has created a bar that many fashion bloggers strive to reach, and frankly...only a handful probably ever will.
What is the focus of your blog and why did you choose this particular niche?
My Fashion Life is focused on fashion. I have a love for fashion and knew straightaway that I wanted to blog about all things fashion related.
If you could describe your readers in three sentences or less what would you say?
How has blogging advanced your career?
Blogging has been a valuable marketing tool and subsequently I’ve had a number of offers for freelance work etc. Aside from my career, blogging has also allowed me to connect with some great people who share similar interests.
On average, only 12% of women bloggers are featured on top 100 lists. Why do you think that is?
I honestly don’t know. Most of the blogs I read are written by women. I think it depends on the niche. For example I know that within the fashion blogging arena there are many women that are considered top bloggers.
If you could give one word of advice to women bloggers today what would it be?
Keep persevering and blog with passion.
That concludes this two part series of Women Power Bloggers: Inside the Minds of Today's Successful Female Bloggers. I hope you learned as much as I did about true passion. I came into these inerviews thinking that successful women bloggers were focusing on bloglist, links, ads and other popularity contest and I came out learning that they are passionate, focused, determined, and most importantly they genuinely care about their readers and their niches.
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