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Installing Google Analytics on WordPress (self-hosted) and Blogger sites

Posted on March 30th, 2011 by Helen Lee under Beauty Blogging, Fashion Blogging

With the new look iBlogFashion&Beauty Australian Fashion & Beauty Blogger Directory, you’ll notice a few new features – not only can bloggers submit their own blogs, but every sites stats have to be verified. For now we are accepting a variety of stats, but soon we will be asking bloggers to submit Google Analytics stats exclusively to make sure we’re all using the industry standard.

Before we get a barrage of emails and comments about whether or not Google Analytics is the best statistics tracker around, well it’s Google. If anyone can get the act of tracking visitors correctly, it is them. They’re great at weeding out extra duplicate visitors and they give you so much in-depth analysis of how visitors are getting to your website and where they’re leaving from – if you’re that way inclined.

And best of all, it’s free. None of this “free until you get a more than XXXX amount of traffic”.

For those of you who are not technically inclined, we found two great tutorials online to help you on your way:

Note: For those of you currently hosted on WordPress.com, you can’t install Google Analytics as WordPress.com doesn’t allow for Javascript added to their hosted sites. But from all reports we’ve read, WordPress.com do run a Google Analytics (urchin) stat tracker on their hosted sites.

If you already have Google Analytics installed on your webiste, here’s a handy article on how to IMPROVE your website with Google Analytics.

Brands Talk: LuisaViaRoma on fashion bloggers and Firenze4Ever

Posted on March 30th, 2011 by Helen Lee under Brands Talk, Fashion Blogging

Brands Talk is the first in a series of interviews with big international fashion and beauty brands who have run inspirational and creative marketing campaigns with bloggers.

Earlier this year I was very lucky to be invited to Florence by LuisaViaRoma to take part in Firenze4Ever, a blogger event run by the popular online store. First opened in Florence (or Firenze to the locals) in the 1930s as a hat shop, it soon expanded into clothing and eventually in 1999 it launched its popular online shop, taking the store and it’s brands to new fashion obsessed customers around the world. Now 12 years on, LuisaViaRoma can be ‘shopped’ in four languages: English, Italian, Dutch and Chinese.

Firenze4Ever Edition 2 was a whirlwind 3 days of drinks, food and fashion, as well as a great opportunity to meet with other fashion bloggers from all over the world. Check out our experience here. We speak to Camilla Gennari, Marketing Manager for LuisaViaRoma about how the idea of Firenze4Ever came about and why they work with bloggers.

iBF&B: Could you tell us a little more about what Firenze4Ever is about?

Camilla: FIRENZE4EVER offers visibility to brands and bloggers and is a unique platform for interaction between the parts at its best. Fashion bloggers from all over the world are flown into Florence for three exhilarating days of fashion fun and events. They are offered to direct their own shots with models, makeup artists, hair stylists, photographers and a personal assistant at their service and also, having the exclusive privilege of using pieces from the latest runway shows – before they are available to the public. In addition, they are introduced to heavy insider profiles in the industry.

iBF&B: How did you come up with idea of Firenze4Ever? It’s such a clever way to work with bloggers!

Camilla: FIRENZE4EVER started off as a celebration of LUISAVIAROMA’s 10 years of activity online where the company CEO, Andrea Pansonesi, wanted to pursue the philosophy of moving the virtual and the reality closer and closer to each other.

The fact is, bloggers write in all different languages and from all geographic corners but they all share the universal language of fashion in one place – online, and through this, they have developed the most effective way of marketing. For this revolutionary reason, we couldn’t come up with better guests for this celebration than the fashion bloggers.

iBF&B: How many bloggers have experienced the Firenze4Ever experience with LuisaViaRoma?

Camilla: All together with the past two editions the number reaches 53.

iBF&B: What has the feedback been like from bloggers and consumers?

Camilla: The feedback has been tremendous and all positive. LUISAVIAROMA has taken online fashion to a whole new level.

iBF&B: How long does it take to organise the weekend long event?

Camilla: It has varied between the editions, but three months would be a minimum.

iBF&B: Has the rise of the fashion blogging affected your sales?

Camilla: Yes, it has as it is has grown to become an updated, quicker and wider version of the marketing through word of mouth which has a unique importance to customers. Bloggers are independent to write about what they like or dislike and LUISAVIAROMA is a popular store among many fashion bloggers.

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We’re returning from HIATUS VERY SOON!

Posted on March 21st, 2011 by Helen Lee under iBlogBeauty, iBlogFashion

We’re tidying up iBlog Fashion & Beauty… we’ll be returning very soon with a DIGITAL version of the iBlogFashion&Beauty Australian Blogger Database in just two ticks.

With some very exciting new blog posts planned.

Find out when the new features launch by following us on Twitter:
@iblogfashionAUS and @iblogbeautyAUS

Or subscribing to our newsletters:
For Bloggers and For PR’s
(the only difference is, PR’s won’t get blogger related call outs to update your stats and etc)

What we’re thankful for

Posted on December 31st, 2010 by Helen Lee under Beauty Blogging, Fashion Blogging

THANK YOU!

It’s the end of 2010, marking the end of the first full year iBlogFashion & Beauty has been running. We have a few new features (and more regular content) to unveil in 2011, but first we wanted to talk about what we’re thankful for from 2010.

Which just so happens to be what we guest blogged about over at Beauty Directory a few weeks ago. For those of you who don’t have Beauty Directory accounts, here’s what we wrote:

What we’re thankful for

The end of the year, a time to celebrate and reflect. Reflect on all the events than transpired this year, the ups and down. Though to be honest, it’s been a very “up” year for me, mainly due to the wonderful people in the beauty industry that have opened their events and marketing plans to my fellow blogging and online writing colleagues.

This year alone I think I’ve clocked more events than in my last 3 years blogging about beauty so I have to take the time out to say a quick thank you to all the PR and Marketing people who I’ve worked with and worked with bloggers this year. I do have to highlight the efforts of Maxted Thomas, Polkadot PR and Estee Lauder for putting together some rather luxurious experiences for myself and other online writers and bloggers alike this year.

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iBlogFashion & Beauty teams up with Stellar for blogger panel

Posted on November 23rd, 2010 by Helen Lee under Beauty Blogging, Fashion Blogging, iBlogBeauty, iBlogFashion, PR & Marketers

We’re about a month late with this post, our myriad of computer issues since the event (on October 26th) is really no excuse.

We held the blogger panel event for PR and marketing executives with the aim of educating the room full of 100 – 120 people on blogging, especially in the world of fashion and beauty blogging. Renee Creer from Steller held court as our resident MC while the panel consisted of Elise Phillips of Stuff That I Bought and The Nail File, Tania Braukamper of Fashionising, Sarah Macrae of Bella Sugar Australia and myself, Helen Lee, iBlogFashion & Beauty Founder and editor of SASSYBELLA.com.

Topics we covered included:

New Influencers + Traditional Journalism

  • Peer to peer opinion/recommendation now most trusted source of information
  • Bloggers as opinion leaders & independent voices
  • What do blogs offer over traditional media?
  • What are the key differences between bloggers and beauty/fashion journalists? (trained v amateur, paid v ‘for love’)
  • The personal nature of blogging
  • Blogger communities

What are the common PR misconceptions

  • That blogs are mouthpieces for PR messages
  • That blogs are a cheap way to generate online buzz
  • That blogs are a free distribution channel. I.e. Bloggers will just copy your press release on to their sites.
  • That bloggers can be bought?
  • That bloggers are obligated to write on your product, event etc

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The other side: PR’s talk beauty bloggers

Posted on October 25th, 2010 by Helen Lee under Beauty Blogging, PR & Marketers

From Issue 1 of iBlogBeauty.

By Elise Phillips of Stuff That I Bought

So what’s really the deal with the blogger/PR relationship? Are bloggers supposed to approach PR people? Or do the PRs approach the bloggers? This is a whole new world to everyone, so we got the inside scoop from some of Sydney’s top beauty PRs. Anonymously of course.

How do you find the bloggers that you want to approach?

PR3: I tend to find my bloggers mostly through recommendation and word of mouth.

PR1: We track the blogs that other beauty bloggers follow.

PR5: Twitter and other social media are a great way to find blogs too.

And how do you approach bloggers?

PR4: Before we approach anyone we start with lots of research so we have a good understanding of the blogger’s interests, style, who they are and what they’re about. We’ll often follow bloggers on Twitter to listen and learn as well. Once we feel comfortable with that we’ll email and introduce ourselves and the client we’re representing.

PR1: Mostly via the email link on their site if it’s a new blog I’ve found. I think email is a really great way to first introduce yourself. A call can be confronting, especially for a new blogger.

PR2: I find email is the best way to stay in contact too, as I don’t know what their day job may be and I don’t want to bother them if they don’t have time to chat. I like to be on a first name basis with bloggers and usually will send them a personalised press release as I know they are not your average run of the mill journalists.

PR3: Email, definitely. I would send an email to the blogger, introduce my brands and see if any of them would be a good fit for their blog.

Ed’s note: make sure your contact info is really clear on your blog!

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Event alert! Stellar and iBlogFashion & Beauty invites you to…

Posted on October 6th, 2010 by Helen Lee under iBlogBeauty, iBlogFashion

It’s a been a long time between posts – our lives took a turn for the… well busy. We know we owe you a new post or 10, as well as the latest Australian fashion blogger and Australian beauty blogger directories.

All will be unveiled at the Steller and iBlogFashion & Beauty event on October 26th, 2010.

What is the premise of the event? To bring together PRs & Marketers together with some top Australian Fashion & Beauty bloggers for a ‘meet up’. Together with Stellar, we want you (the PR & Marketing professional) to get to know the fashion and beauty blogging community, understand what makes them tick, and learn how best to collaborate with bloggers and get answers to the questions you’ve always wanted to ask!

We’ve gathered a blogging panel that includes:

Unfortunately for non-Sydney dwellers, this event is held in Sydney – this time – at the Establishment, Room 2 at 252 George Street, Sydney.

How do you get tickets? Buy purchasing them online at http://prbloggermeetup.eventbrite.com

Book now!! Tickets are $25 per person and are on a a first come first serve basis so don’t wait because numbers are limited!

Don’t forget, we’ll also be unveiling the first iBlogBeauty, the Australian Beauty Blogger database on the night as well as an updated version of iBlogFashion, the Australian Fashion Blogger database.

iBlogBeauty – Calling for submissions

Posted on July 4th, 2010 by Helen Lee under iBlogBeauty

There comes a time in a little websites life when it has to expand and grow.

We’re very happy to announce we’re expanding iBlogFashion to include Australian beauty bloggers under the banner of iBlogBeauty.

And of course, help us spread the word!

Article Watch: Style.com looks at great moments in fashion blogging history

Posted on June 4th, 2010 by Helen Lee under Article watch, Fashion Blogging

Some media outlets choose to ignore the blogger revolution, but not Style.com. The pioneer of up-to-the-minute coverage of international fashion shows, they have paid homage to the international fashion blogging sensations in a pictorial piece entitled: WE WILL NOT BE DELETED, great moments in fashion blogging history

It gives interesting insight into some of the hottest stories in fashion blogging, pre September 2009.

Check it out here.

Article Watch: Fashion Bloggers, Digital Dictators or Fashion Queens?

Posted on May 1st, 2010 by Helen Lee under Article watch

There was an interestingly biased commentary piece published in Australia’s premier newspaper The Australian last week where Vogue.com.au’s Online Editor Damien Woolnough called fashion bloggers “Nikon-toting bottom feeders on the fashion food chain”.

Needless to say I was less than impressed and was glad when Fairfax journalist Georgina Robinson wrote a piece for Sydney Morning Herald about French fashion blogger Garance Dore and pointed out some of the discrepancies in Woolnough’s attack.

Obviously not all former print media members are open to fashion bloggers, even if they now ply their trade by running a fashion website whose main source of traffic is through their user-generated content on their popular fashion forums.

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