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It wasn’t a thoughtful choice: Prajval on being a blogger

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Just like a usual teenager, Prajval was using Facebook and Instagram little did he know that one day it will become the source of living for him. Now an established Blogger and Instagram influencer, Prajval talks about his journey, fashion hacks, inspiration and much more with QNA in an interview.

How did you decide to become a fashion blogger? Was it a thoughtful choice?

Prajval: Since younger days, I was always concerned about the kind of outfits I wear and step out. Also, mainly it is the comfort that matters the most to me. I feel fashion blogging/influencing is not about wearing everything and anything and becoming a fashion disaster. Rather, being an influencer or blogger is about how well you can carry and style yourself by not necessarily spending a bomb and also be an influence on your followers.

It wasn’t a thoughtful choice, I’ve been on Instagram from 2012 and was posting on various genres. In fact, my initial audience was for fitness and loads of my physique pictures and nothing related much related to fashion! So, it’s about how the audience reacted and engaged in my posts is what made me focus on fashion influencing and work more on particular niche areas eventually.

What is more important to you – acting or blogging?

Prajval: I love to explore various genres of the profession and not keep myself confined to any particular thing. The main reason I got out of my corporate life years back is that I didn’t want my days to be monotonous. I love to wake up to do something new every day and also put my creativity and talent to use. Everything new is exciting to me!

Do you do collaboration with brands/products for promotional activities?

Prajval: Yes, I have worked with national as well as international brands in fashion, grooming and lifestyle segments both as a model and an influencer. Though, I prefer to work mostly with brands and agencies which are actually genuine and also feel this could be of help to my audience if I recommended.

Do you think Instagram (or any other social handle) verification helps to get better deals and the audience?

Prajval: I think content is what matters here the most. Any post could go viral overnight and it could be the next big thing. Verification, yes it does matter as it helps in followers not getting confused with impersonating accounts and also yes helps to an extent for more engagement and wider brand associations.

Who or what has been your greatest fashion inspiration?

Prajval: I don’t have any fashion inspiration per se. Ideas can pop up anywhere, anytime around you. I feel it’s good to be yourself rather than deriving ideas from someone else. Fashion is not just about wearing an inspired outfit but it is about how you visualise yourself in a random outfit then have the confidence as to how well you can manage to pull it off.

One fashion hack which always works for boys?

Prajval: Clothes are an investment and the way you carry them says a lot about you. I would say playing with vivid colours, mix and match according to your charisma is what you should try. Accessorising it with the right jewellery and proper grooming should make you stand out.

What do you know now that you wish you knew when you first started influencer blogging?

Prajval: I have been on the social media platform Facebook from close to 12 years, Instagram from about 8 – 9 years, so I have been noticing the changes and learning accordingly. The audience I have garnered is from all these times and understanding them in real and virtual life. So blogging/influencing is what just happened a few years back when I started getting offers to take it ahead. I was initially clueless but just had an idea as to how to go about the basics. If I had to start now, I would take it on a more professionally and seriously considering how the social media era has taken over. But, I’m also happy with the way I learned it wading myself through rough waters over these years, which has taught me a lot.

A lot of people think that influencer blogging is an easy way to make money online. Do you have some tips for those people who are interested in making money from the blog?

Prajval: That’s a very flawed concept. People think that an influencer is just “Living The Life” and they forget that at the end of the day, it is a job which requires even more efforts from you. Waking up at times 5 am on Sundays for shoots or staying up at 3 am thinking and scheduling next post in the middle of the night, shuffling between social events and personal life, also coordinating with my concerned team for my next live feed post to meet new clients deadlines is indeed a task and not easy. It’s not a 9-5 but more like a 24/7 job.

Tips, well I would say if you want to give it a shot, you should! But, don’t do it only for money. It would never help and also this is even more time consuming than what you are currently doing.

It is about interest and passion, if you feel you have the creativity, enthusiasm, time and zest for being one, then go ahead. No brand will pay you for nothing, it is all about how well you can establish yourself in time both online and offline also actively be in constant engagement with your followers. Work on a niche and original content, don’t replicate but inspirations could help at times. Remember that people follow you to see more of your insider life, so just be yourself, give them what they want to see and also put your creativity to work on your brand associations.

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