The Bronx Entrepreneurs Series: Perspectives on Creative Industry.
The blogosphere is bursting at the seams. At the rate that blogs are started and abandoned, it’s hard to pin down the number; but some sources say hundreds of millions of blogs exist. That’s a massive jump from the eight million Technorati reported in 2010. The blog index turned advertising tech company said that seven years ago bloggers were writing roughly 12,000 blog posts daily. In 2017, bloggers around the world are writing millions of posts every day. Worldometer’s daily counter uses Technorati’s formula to calculate the number of blog posts produced worldwide.
Today’s blog buffet features everything from food to parenting tips to LEGO Bricks. It’s no surprise that successful bloggers have an angle and a marketing strategy. Business savvy bloggers pursuing an ever-increasing reach are implementing campaigns that crisscross their social media platforms and collaborating with other influencers is no longer an afterthought.
According to Hubspot, a top social media marketing analytics firm, blog content creation was the number two priority for businesses in 2016; followed by their goals of expanding their search engine optimization (SEO) and building an organic presence to engage consumers. In 2015, Hubspot reported that blogs had been rated the 5th most trusted source for accurate online information. Today, companies and individual bloggers alike are aiming to drive sales by creating relevant content that connects with readers on issues and products they care about. Like Christina Akomea, a style enthusiast who’s building a following through a shared passion for affordable fashion.
Corporate professional and fashion blogger Christina Akomea of Just Missed the Runway (JMTR) is forging her path in the industry. But she isn’t a newcomer to entrepreneurial endeavors. She went from selling fruit snacks during Cardinal Spellman high school track meets to partnering with companies like Chinese-based clothing retailer, Romwe, and “afri-glam” brand Fingercomber. Drawing inspiration for her signature tailored silhouettes from NYC architecture, the Northeast Bronx native is cultivating a resource for women who seek classy corporate looks.
This month marks the three-year anniversary of JMTR’s launch.
With more than 8k social media followers and 2k unique visitors each month, the lifestyle brand is tapping into a unique space by blending fashion and modesty. On JMTR “more is more.” But more is not boring. JMTR has been featured on popular fashion sites like Fashion Bomb Daily and Style Blazer. In 2017 the blog will also feature health and fitness content.
Here’s Christina’s take on being a fashion blogger:
What’s the idea behind your blog name?
I have to give credit to my friend Janelle…I was trying to figure out who I was and the audience I was trying to reach… I’m like alright, I’m this 5’3 girl, I’m not big but according to society’s standards I’m not really a model. But I can dress like a model on the runway. But I really can’t make it on the runway. So I was like I just missed the runway I guess. [Janelle] said that’s it: Just Missed the Runway!
How did you learn about getting into fashion blogging?
For the first two years I really just enjoyed shooting and posting pictures…. It may be vain, but I really just enjoyed doing it. I had a career, but that’s what I looked forward to doing on the weekend…Maybe I came across a website or an article talking about how to monetize your blog …There’s a plethora of research on how to monetize your blog.
On partnering with Fingercomber:
I was at conference and I saw a girl with natural hair… I complimented her and she’s like “Oh, it’s a wig.” And she gave me the website. I bought the wig and I bought it for my mother. I was wearing it all the time… The amount of times people stopped me and asked about [the wig] and I gave them the website, I thought I’m making [the company] a lot of money… I sent them an email and I asked if there were any opportunities for us to collaborate. I think at the time I was just looking for free wigs…They sent me an [affiliate] agreement. It had the numbers on there. Because I’m a business person ... I negotiated for more and they gave it to me. And the good thing about that is I’m not just selling something. I actually believe in the company and I wear the [wig] all the time…People know that even before I had the agreement…I purchased the wig with my own money.
How has your educational background shaped your vision as business woman?
In undergrad I studied risk management and insurance…I felt I had a really narrow background because my education is so focused on this career path and every job I worked after graduation was in the insurance industry…I always knew I wanted other opportunities…I thought it was a great idea to get an MBA.…My MBA is what allowed me to really broaden my opportunities with blogging…I had to do a bunch of consulting work and a whole bunch of cool projects.
How do you balance a 9-5 and blogging?
I think passion helps because if you’re not passionate about it it will be difficult. Not only do I have a 9-5, I also work at Banana Republic part-time. I really work 70 hours a week…I work part-time at Banana Republic only because I need the fashion experience. I’ve never worked in retail. And I have aspirations to start my own clothing line…I’m learning so much about clothes that I’ve never known. But juggling is really hard. If you look at my car I have 8 billion things in the back because after this I have to shoot. I don’t shoot everyday like most bloggers… Sometimes I’ll do six to eight looks within two hours. In the winter time it’s freezing outside! It’s really a serious commitment, but because I’m passionate about it I can overlook weather and time.