5 Differences Between Blogging in Brooklyn versus Melbourne

One of the best things about blogging is meeting different bloggers from around the world. One introduction can easily create a snowball effect, which can lead to many new interviews and connections.

If are you are new to Global Garbs, you may not realize that the majority of creatives and influencers we typically feature are women. 

Well, today we're changing it up a bit. 

Meet Gideon Heine from About-Blank. When we discovered that About Blank was actually an amazingly inspiring collective of stories and interviews, we knew we had to feature him. 

About Blank started in the summer of 2014, as a way to showcase local artists, musicians, and designers. 

Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Gideon or Giddy spent almost two years living in Brooklyn, New York to shake things up a bit. 

Realizing that you can't help but be influenced by your surroundings, Gideon's vision was always to take the blog to the next level. He certainly has managed to do so with his curated content, from what's happening globally, to what's going on in Melbourne. 

Read on to get Gideon's take on the differences between blogging in Brooklyn vs Melbourne, and how you can adapt to different markets in order to grow your blog.

DIFFERENCE #1: FASHION WORLD ON STEROIDS

Melbourne has an incredible batch of upcoming designers with PAI, Aje and Dion Lee to name a few. But it’s no New York.

Melbourne designer Aje

Working at a high-end fashion magazine at the time (Vs Magazine), my commute on the L train sums up New York fashion.

People love forking out their paychecks to buy the latest collection of some designer they heard about from a friend at a DIY warehouse party on the weekend.

That sentence just wouldn’t make sense in Melbourne.

You only have to look at NYFW to truly understand where the world's eyes are.

Outside each show will be photographers from Vogue, Dazed, New York Times and pretty much every other major editorial out there.

That does not exist in Melbourne. Sure there is street style, but not an array of highly respected editorials.

Not to mention the celebrities and socialites that attend these shows and the after parties.

God how good are after parties in NY?! Networking 101 right there. 

DIFFERENCE #2: WIFI IS EVERYWHERE!

A bloggers best friend is WIFI and how can you not love blogging in New York when you can set up camp in any café with coffee in hand and your mac in the other.  There is nothing more I miss than working from AP Café (Bushwick) or Devocion (Williamsburg) on About-Blank.

Furthermore the opportunities to just ask the person next to you, “what are you working on?” is always greeted with a smile. 

To blog in Melbourne is to pay for a studio space, an office or from home. You just don’t meet the creatives in the street as often, it takes more networking abilities and effort.

Having the opportunity to work from anywhere in the city is something you must take advantage of.

Change your surroundings for the day and you never know who you may end up bumping into. Could even be Gigi Hadid, which happened to me one day when I found myself working at the Soho House. 

DIFFERENCE #3: NETWORKING

The typical greeting in New York is “Hey, what is your name and what do you do?” And everyone will answer it with some sort of fascinating story of what they’re working on and how they got there.

Melbourne requires that friend for the introduction, that extra leg of effort to delve into your niche market.

There is no niche in New York, everything there is just way too big to be niche. 

This is one of the most important keys to being able to live in New York. Constantly meeting new people and more importantly remembering their names! It’s a true talent and don’t take it for granted.

Never be too shy to hold back from hitting that person up for a favor, even just after you met them.

The number of times someone was asking me to collaborate with them before even knowing their name was astonishing! 

DIFFERENCE #4: HUNGER FOR SUCCESS

New York natives don’t just want to get by, they want to be at the top of their game.

You need to learn to hustle and hustle hard. I can’t tell you how many days I spent running around the city either photographing models, lugging around designer clothing for shoots and interviewing artists from the depth of Brooklyn to the galleries around Dia:Beacon. You just do it and smile. 

Melbourne life is easy. You get in your car, drive to your coffee date or shoot location and everyone is laid back and easy to get along with. Sure the competition is fierce here, but no one is trying to be the next Marc Jacobs or Annie Leibovitz.

DIFFERENCE #5: BLOGGING CULTURE

Being able to collaborate and grow your blog is the fundamental way to growing your audience.

With the exponential amount of bloggers in New York, the ability to meet and collaborate with your newfound friend is awesome. Do not be afraid to send that introductory email or ask your friend to get you into an event because there is no shame in NY.

One of the first bloggers I met was WhoisApneet, who invited me to a Cutty Sark event. Just from that initial email, I attended monthly events of unlimited alcohol, bowling at Brooklyn bowl and access to headlining acts and other bloggers to collaborate with.

Melbourne is less social. The big events, gigs, and shows are not nearly as often or even worthwhile. Just last week I went to a Vice party in Melbourne and even that had maybe like 20 people there as opposed to the one in New York which had 250.

Ultimately I’m a big fan of the 24-7-1 rule, begin the project within 24 hours, have the concept down packed within the 7 days and finish or have the prototype within 1 months time.

Wherever you may be living just take into account what can work the best within your surroundings. 

Be sure to follow Gideon and About Blank on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! 

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Why we started blogging in the first place

Blogging is such a funny thing when you really think about.

You're essentially writing somewhat of a personal journal to the world and for strangers to read your innermost thoughts, ideas, and perspectives. 

We started blogging about a year ago, and when we say "we", we obviously mean "I". By saying "we" it provides the opportunity to have various voices contribute over time which is the ultimate goal of Global Garbs. 

Global Garbs started as a way to research trends around the world, as my previous position as the Director of Merchandising for a fashion accessory company in New York required me to do so. 

What I realized is that compiling this research and learning about what was trending in other parts of the world was actually quite fascinating.

This is ultimately what led to me starting the blog. 

What I realized is that there weren't many blogs out there showcasing the talents, style, and point of view from creative influencers on a global level. 

Sure there are sites like Chictopia, or Lookbook, but no one seemed to be creating content from a writing and blogging perspective. These sites were huge platforms of other bloggers trying to promote their own blogs. 

We wanted to dive deeper into who these people were, what's their story, and how were they trying to "make it" in the world of fashion blogging or whatever their creative journey was. 

From there we discovered that we also loved finding new brands and connecting with other like-minded individuals no matter where they lived in the world. 

It was then that we realized that we wanted to turn this idea, research, and passion into a blog. 

And although it can be a lonely road at times, Global Garbs has begun to open doors to meeting so many new people and connecting with unique brands and companies all over the world. 

The internet's whole purpose (in our opinion) is to be able to connect with people all over the world. As long as you have an internet connection and a computer you're good to go. 

This is why we truly believe that the world is slowly becoming a big melting pot of different cultures and ethnicities. Not only are we becoming a big melting pot in general, but we are becoming a melting pot of style - which is something that prior to say fifteen years ago wasn't ever going to happen. 

Big retailers, boutiques, bloggers, and anyone pretty much trying to build a brand is going global. 

We want to appeal to all markets around the world and people are slowly realizing that country or location doesn't really matter. It's all about lifestyle and how you relate. 

So you see, the moral of the story is to start a blog.

Whether you're a brand, blogger, company, creative, or just looking to discover your passion; starting a blog will unleash these powerful thoughts and possibilities. 

That's why we started this blog anyway. 😉

by Lauren Tanaka 

10 Fashion Blogging Tips We've Learned in Our First Year of Blogging

Global Garbs has only been around for a little over a year, and within that short amount of time, we have definitely learned a lot.  Not just from doing our own research and taking on a "learn-by-doing" approach, but also from many bloggers who are absolutely killing it in the fashion blogging game. 

After taking a peek into the routines of both full-time and part-time bloggers we definitely see some similarities that bloggers go through regardless of how far they are in their blogging journey.

Whether they just starting out or are more seasoned bloggers making a full-time income, it's apparent that some of these tips are truly something they themselves have learned along the way. 

Read on to discover the Top Ten Tips for Fashion Bloggers that we've discovered in our own blogging journey thus far. 

Tip #1: 
Always batch your content.

Do you ever wonder how fashion bloggers always seem to come up with the most amazing outfits that seemingly appears that every single day they look like they just stepped off the runway?

Well, chances are they are not wearing that exact outfit on the day they posted.  

In fact, most bloggers when first starting out are actually borrowing clothes from local boutiques or designers. So the clothing isn't even their own! What they do actually do is batch their content. Meaning, they take multiple outfit photos - say two weeks worth of content and then schedule these out over time.

Makes sense right? This saves time and can even be applied to any part of your life (not just outfit photos). ;)

Tip #2
Hire a photographer or get a fellow friend/blogger or (most popular) your boyfriend to take your photos. 

There's nothing worse than a selfie in the mirror image of a newbie blogger. Even if you've set up your camera on a tripod in your bedroom is a better option (hey, that's how Chiara got her start).

But the truth of the matter is that the fashion blogging world is SO oversaturated these days that you must stand out in the crowd. And this is extremely difficult to accomplish if you have low-quality photos.

Yes many people say that you should just START and you'll grow as you learn, but that's definitely one of the main tips bloggers have shared. As their image quality grew so did their audience...

Tip #3
Don't forget about SEO on your images. 

This topic is always a little daunting for newbie bloggers. Wtf is SEO? SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization.  If you aren't using basic SEO strategies in your daily content, how are people supposed to find you on Google? This is essentially what SEO is all about. You need to remember to tag all of your photos with keywords, as well as actually naming the file image what people are searching for.

For example, if you're wearing a little black dress, you should name the image "how to wear a little black dress", or "ways to style a black dress", as opposed to Image6-18-16 which is a super common mistake. 

See how the Top 20 Fashion Blogs in the world came about here.

Tip #4
Focus more time on marketing your content than creating it. 

This tip seems a bit counterintuitive because back in the early days of blogging the best way to quickly grow your following was through posting every single day. The rules and trends of the blogging world have drastically changed over the years.  

Now it's more appropriate to have quality vs quantity. It's important to understand that if no one is reading your content what's the point of you creating five blog posts a week? You should probably be creating 2-3 posts a week and focus your attention on actually promoting the post rather than creating more and more content that no one sees. 

Tip #5
Utilize Social Media

Not being on social media is as if you're treating your blog like a secret diary. How are you supposed to grow your audience if the only way people can find you is on your actual blog.

Unless you're an SEO expert (which I highly doubt), it's essential that you're on social media. Social media is the cheapest and easiest way to get the word out about your blog and share your amazing outfits. Instagram by far has the most engagement in terms of fashion blogging because it's a highly visual platform. 

The main thing to remember is to not get into social media overwhelm. It's easy to get caught up in being active on every single platform. Our advice? Pick a platform, learn what it has to offer and see which one you think will work best for you. It's better to stand out and have high engagement on one platform rather than low engagement on multiple platforms. 

Tip #6
Make sure you are growing your e-mail list. 

This is often one of the most overlooked pieces of advice and a mistake that many bloggers make. It doesn't matter if you're a seasoned blogger or just starting out, growing your list should be one of your top priorities. 

Many fashion bloggers, in particular, think that as long as they are posting on social media and being consistent they'll grow their traffic and following. The issue is that your social media platform is still just that...a social media platform. You don't own it and if something were to change - let's say an algorithm for example - you essentially would be screwed. 

Your e-mail list is the best way to communicate with your audience and reach out to your most engaged readers. Remember, if they joined your list, they are probably a fan, so speak to them first! 

Tip #7
Niche down as much as possible. 

This piece of advice gets brought up over and over again, it's like a broken record for the world of fashion blogging advice. 

What exactly is niche-ing down? You essentially want to distinguish yourself as an expert in whatever category or market you are targeting. 

For example, if you're a plus size fashion blogger, perhaps your focus is on creating outfits that help build confidence or if you're into minimalist fashion, perhaps you focus on creating capsule collections. 

The worst thing you can do in fashion blogging is being too broad and selecting a differentiating factor that makes your blog stand out among the millions of other bloggers around the world. 

Tip #8
Treat your blog like a business. 

Unless you are one of the rare people that only wants to blog as a hobby, you need to start treating your blog more like a business.

Whether you are trying to work with brands, create relationships that turn into sponsorships or just receive some free swag, you have to take your blog seriously in order to gain any traction.

Treating your blog like a business involves maintaining consistency and keeping on top of a blogging schedule. Create an editorial calendar to stay on track, and really take the time to schedule everything that you need to do in order to stay as organized as possible.

Make a list of your top ten to-dos, and a weekly action plan to spread these tasks out over the week. Make a list of all of your goals and the steps you are taking each week to get closer to each goal. 

Even if you're not monetizing yet, it's great to set small goals and the intention for your week in order to stay focused and on target with your ultimate goals. 

See how the Top 20 Fashion Blogs in the world came about here.

Tip #9
Create some evergreen content

Obviously in the world of fashion blogging, trends are always fluctuating. The great thing about this is that there is ALWAYS something new to write about. Each season there is bound to be some new 'It-girl" trend, or something that every single blogger seems to be wearing.

But the truth of the matter is that in order to not get too burnt out, you should also create evergreen content that you can continue to share and doesn't have an expiration date. 

For example, our post on How to Spring Clean your Closet. This can be applied to anyone that's looking to get organized and doesn't necessarily need to be something that you read in the spring. This is also why we have started doing posts such as fashion blogging tips - because who doesn't love to learn more about fashion blogging? ;)  

Tip #10
Stay confident and forget about Imposter Syndrome. 

This is the final tip and probably the most important. The thing about fashion blogging and is that you're truly putting yourself out there more than regular bloggers. You're visually out there in the world of blogging, taking photos, and really going for what you love to do. It's inspiring. 

Regardless of whether your blog is a personal fashion blog or more curated content like Global Garbs, it's difficult at times to stay confident in what you are doing and if it's making a difference. You can easily get caught up in Imposter Syndrome, which is basically the idea that you can easily get deterred or feeling inadequate that you aren't an 'expert' in the field. Which is so true specifically within fashion. 

It used to be that only people who were stylists or fashion editors were viewed as people who were experts in the fashion industry, but as the fashion industry and media evolves and changes, bloggers are quickly gaining so much more respect than they did a mere ten years ago. 

As tough as it is sometimes to push forward and believe in yourself, you have to ask yourself why you're doing what you're doing and if you truly love it, then continue to pursue your dreams.  It's not going to be easy but as cheesy as it may sound if you believe in yourself and that you can set out achieve anything, you absolutely will. 

See how the Top 20 Fashion Blogs in the world came about here.

Small Town Fashion Blogger Spotlight

Fashion Blogging can be a tough past time or business even living in a big city with all the inspiration and shopping available.  But can you imagine living in a small town? Today we've interviewed Moni Tru, fashion and beauty blogger from Leigh Acres, Florida. Coming from Miami, Moni had a bit of culture shock from living in a big city surrounded by all things fashion to now a tiny town that she calls "living in the middle of a the forest".

It takes a true fashion lover, a lot of passion and hard work, but now thanks to online shopping and getting creative, new bloggers like Moni are popping up left and right.  Perhaps it's finding that connection to the fashion world that bloggers like Moni find inspiring. Also, there is something to be said about blogging from a small town, as there are many stylish small towners that are most likely seeking advice from either online shopping or small town boutiques and local stores. 

Name:  Moni Tru

Hometown City/State/Country:
Miami, FL USA

Current City/State/Country:
Lehigh Acres, FL US

Age: 24

Blog Name: Haute Fuego

Years Blogging: About 5 months
Instagram @TheMoniTru
Twitter: @TheMoniTru
SnapChat: TheMoniTru
https://www.facebook.com/TheMoniTru
https://www.pinterest.com/TheMoniTru/

What is like growing up in a small city? 
I actually grew up in a very big and busy city, so moving to a tiny little town in what feels like the middle of the forest has taken extensive getting used to.

How did you get started in blogging?
All my life I have had an affinity for style and beauty. Anyone who has known me knows that's always been my "thing". Always "team overdressed" and over-enthusiastic when it came to shopping. I began video blogging about a year ago on YouTube as a means of entertainment. I'm also a stay at home mom, so on top of being home all day "adulting", on my spare time I'm still cooped up at home considering there is nothing even remotely entertaining to do in this quiet town. After seeing how much I enjoy YouTube I decided I wanted to take it a step further and create my official blog where I could also write and share posts in between videos and create another avenue where I could reach out to and connect with more people.

Would you say in your opinion that it is more difficult to find like-minded individuals in small towns? 
I definitely do. At least in this small town for sure. In Miami fashion and beauty are such a big part of the culture and lifestyle. This town is so different and so opposite that when I show up well dressed and made up anywhere I stick out like a sore thumb. It is so rare to find someone that's as into style and beauty as I am. That just doesn't seem to be a big thing over here. That's why whenever I come across another well dressed and put together girl around here my initial thought is always "ok where did you come from and can we be friends?!" LOL 

What about shopping? Do you find it difficult to find brick and mortar stores to shop at? 
Where do you do the majority of your shopping? 
Definitely. There are ZERO clothing stores in this town. Literally zero. Unless you want to count Walmart. You have to drive at least 30 minutes into the city, Fort Myers, just to get to a Target. There is one lack luster mall about 40 minutes away, with the best mall being a good 50 minutes away in a completely different city and county. But they have Forever 21 and H&M, so I make the trip when I need a fix or I'm in need of something new on short notice. For the most part I simply save the shopping for when I'm in Miami visiting my family. 

Advice for newbie bloggers and especially small town bloggers? 
For new bloggers my greatest piece of advice would be don't doubt yourself and your abilities. Do not allow yourself to become self conscious, because there is no way others can believe in you if you don't already believe in yourself. Share what you love with pride and it will inevitably resonate with others.
For small town bloggers, don't let the smallness of your town fool you into believing your blog cannot reach many people. Thanks to the internet we have an endless world of possibilities that connects us with millions upon millions of people and stores around the globe right at our fingertips. Push through, there is a whole world outside of every small town for your magic to reach.   

City that is on your travel bucket list? 
I haven't done much traveling as of yet, so the next city on my travel bucket list is for sure Los Angeles.

Favorite city for shopping? 
I would have to say it's a super tie between New York and Miami. New York for all things designer fashion, clearly. But Miami because of the immense variety of both high end designer and mid range fashion. You can find countless places to shop literally everywhere in Miami. I love Miami fashion. Miami has a style all it's own that you can't really find anywhere else.