The Everygirl Spills The Beans!

Ever wonder how Danielle and Alaina (two Chicago bloggers) from The Everygirl (TEG) started a website and made it to Forbes Top 100 Websites For Women in just a year? How did they do it? What does it take? How did two normal girls get such high profile/successful women agree to do features before even launching? Well I have some insider tips and tricks straight from the horses’ mouths. And some “Everygirl” fun facts too.

But let me back up for a moment. How did I get all this super juicy insider info? Last Tuesday night I had the opportunity to attend “How to Build a Brand with The Everygirl” at The Apple Store on Michigan Avenue. They had the most incredible advice for anyone wanting to start a blog or business. It was one of the most down to earth, inspirational and real seminars I have ever attended.

And lucky for you I took crazy notes and spilled the beans below. So lets get to it shall we?

• What “The Everygirl” Name Could Have Been Instead…
• Ethnology
• Twenty2 (the age you are right out of college)
• The Southport Stop (Alainna’s el stop to her house in Chicago)
• Nourii (no point to this name)
• The Compendium (Danielle really had her heart set on this one)
• Adoree (no meaning)
• Adler Grey (two names they liked)

tip: when choosing a logo for your company, brand, etc. the name needs to look good in both solid black and white backgrounds.

• Bloggers who blog full time have another source of income (even the really, really good ones!). Whether it be from their husband, family money or a side job. This goes for Danielle and Alaina too who have side jobs and make money from blogging.
• They send all questions for features via email. They found they receive more thorough answers when people have to write their answers out versus talking and recording conversations.
• Their success and launch didn’t just happen over night. They had blogged for three years prior (huge networking) and it took six to eight months to launch.

“Stop talking and begin doing” – Walt Disney “It’s what separates those that make it” -TEG

• Sometimes they fly by the seat of their pants (Alaina was going home that very night to finish up the next day’s feature!)
• They do not mention or link their personal blogs on The Everygirl’s website.
• Some things they do are a learning process.

“Just because you don’t know something doesn’t mean you cannot do it”

• The Everygirl started working with a lot of brands through Twitter
• The website layout and feel was inspired from The Coveteur
• How far in advance do they plan? They currently have their features lined up until January.
• They ask for favors – they asked high following bloggers they knew to post about The Every Girl pre-launch, they asked photographers they had collaborated with through blogging for help with their shots, asked for use of event space owned by a friend, etc.

• They didn’t know anyone or have any huge connections (self made). “My mom is an insurance broker” – Danielle  “I didn’t know people” –Alaina
• Then how did they get people to agree to do features?
•    Start with people you know
•    Be persistent but not obnoxious
•    Most people are flattered to do it and will say yes
•    Be patient – people might not be able to do features now but will in the future

tip: say that you partnered with “said” brand. That entices other brands to work with you and slowly the brands get bigger and bigger.


There is so much more these two awesome ladies had to share. So if you missed it or wish you would have been there, you are in luck! Apple video recorded the whole thing and will be posted on iTunes here (not posted as of Sunday night). So be sure to check it out.

Alaina and Danielle if you happen to read this, you guys knocked it out of the park. THANK YOU for being relate-able, authentic and willing to share the secrets to your success!

And be sure to visit Cedar and Rush tomorrow. I have a great line up of fun events happening this week in Chicago!

xoxo

Nicole