Blogging made Shilpi Mishra realise audiences love honest opinions

For Shilpi Mishra, blogging has been a rollercoaster ride that started out as a hobby and eventually brought along commercial prospects.

When Shilpi Mishra began her journey as a blogger, it was all about sharing her experiences with people. As her audience base grew, brands started approaching her for barter deals and eventually, monetary gains.

Looking back, where did it all begin?

It all started three years ago when I started getting noticed for my dressing style. The Boho trend was very new at that time and I used to experiment a lot with fusion wear. It went on about a year before my friends encouraged me to share styling tips and makeup looks on social media.

I am a teacher by profession and fashion blogger by passion. The journey as a fashion blogger has been a rollercoaster ride that started as a hobby. I love to dress in a way that reflects my personal style. It feels great to be able to find a balance between my work and my hobby but now, I am trying to work on taking up blogging as a full-time job. It lets me express myself and my fashion experiments in front of the world.

What is your USP in this cluttered space? How does your content give you an edge?

The honesty in my content helps me stand out in a crowd.

Please take us through your content creation process. How do you stay relevant and relatable?

Every now and then, I use polls to ask my audience what they want to see. Based on the messages I get for beauty and fashion related content, I plan content for my feed about 15 days in advance.

How do you make moolah with your efforts?

When I started out, it wasn't about money. It was about sharing my experiences with people. However, after a few months, brands started approaching me with barter deals. In the last three years, I have garnered good reach on social media, leading brands to approach me with a budget.

How do you maintain editorial objectivity with the influx of brand briefs?

I always put forth an honest opinion about my experience with the product, especially if I am praising it. This is something my audiences, as well as brands, love it.

Also Read: Don’t be just another influencer, create your own fanbase: Sindhu Bharadwaj

One instance/experience that made it all worthwhile

One such experience was when I got an email from a well-known brand showing interest to collaborate with me.

Weirdest brand brief/request ever

For a shoot involving a clutch, the brand had objections on me wearing a saree. They didn't realise the fact that ethnic wear posts usually garner much higher reach amongst local audiences.

If not blogging, you would be?

I would have probably been a professional makeup artist.

A day in your life…

My days start on a healthy note with a glass of lemon-infused lukewarm water, 20 minutes of Yoga and a hearty breakfast. On most days, I go out for shoots or to source outfits. Evenings are mostly reserved for events.

Message/tips for upcoming bloggers

Focus on your forte and work hard for good content. Remember, content is king.

Your Favorite Influencer

It would have to be Sarah Angius and Kaushal.

The Future you foresee for your Personal Brand

I am someone who believes in hard work and doing everything with all my heart. My blogs are a result of my passion. More reach and recognition in the coming years would be a reward I would very much like to get. I definitely want to see my blogs among the top lifestyle blogs in India.