Where next for a middle-aged male fashion blogger?

Monday, 11 February 2013

The last month or so has seen significant changes at Grey Fox Blog. This blog, begun as a fun-thing-to-do 14 months ago by a middle-aged man confused by style and fashion, has started to become a serious and time-consuming proposition. I really enjoy what I'm doing here and the new and strange world that it is opening up for me (remember, I have no fashion background) and the new friends I am making, make me keen to continue to develop the blog into an increasingly exciting future. If I can make the fashion world take the older male market seriously, I will have achieved part of my aim.

Grey Fox by Ian McDiarmid

Whereas, a few weeks ago, I was seeking out menswear suppliers which interested me, I'm now being approached by companies and PR firms and I realise that I'm going to have to take great care if I am to:

Keep to the original theme of this blog; searching for style and fashions suitable for middle-aged and older men (i.e. over 40 years if age).
Keep the content fresh, interesting and independent of those who would use it as a billboard for their products.
Not get overburdened with outstanding work.
Prevent the financial and time costs of maintaining the blog getting in the way of 1,2 and 3.

In the light of these issues, I wanted to share my thoughts with you, the readers, so that you understand any future changes. My vision of the future of this blog is as follows.

I will, in due course, start to accept advertisements on the blog and, with this in mind, will develop relationships with potential advertisers. I do need to cover the costs of blogging.
This decision will not undermine the independence of the editorial content - that will be made clear to advertisers.
I will be taking even more care to ensure that the core theme of the blog is not diluted.
I will be unable to accept (or cover) every development or product that may be of interest to the older man of style. There is simply not enough time. I write about the products and brands that I like, or which inspire.

If you have any thoughts or ideas, please comment below or feel free to e-mail me (link above).

5 comments

Jake11 February 2013 at 08:11
Best of luck. It's a tricky balance to strike - I spent years turning down all sorts of totally inappropriate offers from brands and PR companies, terrified that I would lose what few readers I have if I seemed anything other than totally independent.

In the last couple of months, I've decided to finally step things up a bit. It's not so much that I think I can make any money off the blog, but well-chosen and properly-declared relationships with brands can be a good source of content, which is good news for both you and your readers.
Grey Fox11 February 2013 at 09:18
Thanks Jake, that's very helpful and reflects exactly what I'm thinking. It's a balance, but I want readers and all others interested in the blog to understand the position. Some blogs are purely commercial; this one isn't, but I'd still like to cover some costs through mutual arrangements with those that want them. I'm not expecting to become reliant on them!

GF.
Anonymous11 February 2013 at 09:20
I would just like to wish you well , its good that your blog is so sucessfulI & i can't see anything wrong with adverts . What we don't want is for you to be bogged down & stop blogging . Good luck ....Wendy
Grey Fox12 February 2013 at 01:20
Thank you Wendy, that's much appreciated. I agree that it's important to keep going.

GF.
L'age moyen12 February 2013 at 08:35
Sounds like your moving forward with the best perspective. I know I lose interest in blogs the moment I suspect they've sold their souls to commercial interests. smart advertisers follow the point of view of the author and will be rewarded with respect and interest by loyal readers. wonderful of you to be so upfront about it.