Photographed by Ruby Yeh.Perhaps back in 2008, it would have been hard to imagine that a personal blog dedicated to things you like, and stores you shop, could be an actual job. But, it's not even slightly uncommon today for bloggers to create full-fledged careers based on their popularity with fans, readers, and — most importantly — customers. Basically, bloggers are the new million-dollar babies.
Reported on WWD today — and following several other deep dives we've seen into the business of blogging — some of the most prominent voices on the web are pulling up to $40K for appearances at store openings, launch events, and so forth. Sure, that's peanuts compared to the $100,000 Rihanna commands to sit front row at Fashion Week, but as brands have found out, it's these everyday, "just like me" personalities that are truly driving sales (for which they also get paid beaucoup bucks). Major sales. And, with a heavy influence on companies' cash flow, bloggers continue to rake it in.
Even if the income of these dot-com stars doesn't surprise you, their names might. While long-time favorites like Bryan Boy (who spoke publicly about his $100,000 salary in 2010) and Tina Craig of Snob Essentials are among some of the big earners, according to RewardStyle, an agency that measures blogs' conversion rates to commerce, the top earners actually include Happily Grey, Elements of Style, and Pink Peonies — a site which WWD says is "virtually unknown in the fashion world," and is estimated to make at least $960,000 this year just from affiliate programs. The secret? A highly engaged audience, not necessarily a massive one or one composed of the fashion elite, that's willing to actually purchase the things you tout. In an industry that's usually all about who you know, the weightier currency might just be who trusts you. (WWD)