Photo via Simply Stylist
The World Wide Web has grown into a massive networking tool for people all over the world. Young teenagers from a small, rural town can follow, learn from, and make contact with successful CEOs in Los Angeles by simply typing in key words to a search engine. Instead of waiting for weeks by the mailbox for an inquiry to reach its destination and be returned to its sender, responses are near instantaneous, which has opened the door for creative individuals to invent a new form of influence that is purely digital.
Digital influence comes in many forms—it can stem from following a celebrity’s social media account, searching Yelp for the best restaurants in your area, or scanning through an inspiring fashion blog to get style ideas. Advanced technology has made it possible for individuals to build careers and achieve success online. Madison Guest, a celebrity fashion stylist, and Dan Carlberg, co-founder of Bloglovin, can attest to the impact the digital world has had on their success.
In fact, Madison claims that social media is what skyrocketed her career to where it is today. “I was never a stylist before social media, and I can’t imagine my career without it,” she says. “I use Instagram and Twitter to post my work, reach out to designers and brands, interact with fans of my clients, and even showcase my own personal style. One of the first things people look at when they’re checking you out is your Instagram, sometimes before they even look at your website and portfolio. They want to know what your aesthetic and voice is, or if you’re a complete train wreck! It’s allowed me to network in ways I never imagined.”
Bloglovin was created in 2007 to simplify the blogging network by allowing users to access countless blogs through one platform. Although there are hundreds (probably thousands) of note-worthy blogs on the Internet, no one wants to individually search for them one by one, which is why Bloglovin’s functionality has reached so many users. But with massive numbers of blogs scattered across the web, how does an up-and-coming digital influencer stand out from the rest? In accordance with Madison, Dan claims it’s all about the content. “Your blog (and your Bloglovin, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Snapchat) is a reflection of your taste,” he says. “We, for example, always look at potential creative hires’ Instagram accounts; a good eye and good taste mean a lot. Having your name out there is also a huge help.”
It’s no secret that getting your name out there isn’t an easy task, but the benefits that come from being a digital influencer seem to outweigh the time and effort needed to put into it. “The most rewarding aspect would have to be allowing me to interact with people all over the world,” says Madison. “I was at the Alice + Olivia presentation at Fashion Week, and these three girls from Japan recognized me from Instagram and asked to take a selfie with me! For a girl from a small town in Oklahoma, it is absolutely wild to think there are people from Japan that even know who I am, let alone like me enough to want a selfie with me!”
So, if you’re looking to get your foot in the door of the digital world, take some advice from someone who has been in your shoes. “Stick with it,” Dan says. “If it's what you want to do it's going to take a lot of work. People sometimes say, ‘I can't believe Bloglovin just happened overnight,’ to which I reply, ‘It's been 8 years—and we're just getting started.’”
Simply Stylist has partnered with IFB for their upcoming New York conference where there will be plenty of digital moments with brand partners such as DOVE Dry Spray, ShopStyle, Laneige and media partner People Style Watch. For more information visit Simply Stylist and use code IFB for 10% off your ticket. Come, get inspired and catapult your own digital career while you learn from experts such as Dan, Madison and many more.
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