Most brands appreciate creative inputs from bloggers: Mahima Agarwal

A non-believer of a polished social media persona, Mahima Agarwal prefers to be exactly the same person online as she is offline.

Mahima Agarwal feels one must become a blogger only if they love doing what they are doing. Running after the numbers without any substance will get you nowhere, she says, explaining how there is no satisfaction in it.

Looking back, where did it all begin? 

It all started as my final graduation project for my Journalism and Mass Comm degree. And then I couldn’t stop blogging even after the course got over. Within a couple of months, I started hearing from a couple of brands for collabs and restaurants for reviews and I started enjoying it even more.

What's in the name? 

Sequins and Sangria denotes my undying love for fashion and food. 

What is your USP in this cluttered space? How does your content give you an edge?

I think my biggest strength has always been keeping things real. I don’t have a polished social media persona, people who know me in real life can vouch for the fact that I’m exactly the same on my social media as well. And that takes my relatability score even higher.

Please take us through your content creation process. How do you stay relevant and relatable?

I always think from the point of view of a reader. "What do I want as a reader?" "What kind of pictures help me when I look for online reviews or what kind of tone do I myself enjoy reading?" I like to keep things fun and conversational instead of preachy. I mean, just talk to your followers like you’d talk to a friend.

How do you make moolah with your efforts?

It’s been over 4 years since I have been blogging consistently, and have had 3 social media related full-time jobs in the lifestyle content space. This helped me reach a lot of content creators, brand professionals and digital marketers. Fortunately, everyone I have networked with has found my work worth putting their money in and I have been getting a decent number of paid collabs every month.

How do you maintain editorial objectivity with the influx of brand briefs?

I feel like most brands appreciate creative inputs from bloggers. I don’t follow brand briefs blindly and try to make them understand what would work for my audience and then try to meet them halfway. I have never come across a brand who has been too rigid or forced me to follow the brief to the T because chances are, I’d simply turn down the project.

Also Read: Over time, brand briefs become easier to work on: Sucheta Thakur

One instance/experience that made it all worthwhile

So many! Every single DM that I get from my followers asking for advice, appreciating my work or even simply complimenting an outfit. But I have to admit when I randomly bump into someone in public places and they go “hey, are you Mahima/Whimsytales?” followed by a sweet compliment, it’s the best feeling ever. Being recognized for something that you’ve created and maintained on your own for so long.

Weirdest brand brief/request ever

I don’t remember specifically, but I’ve gotten really weird TikTok video assignments that I’ve simply moved to trash.

If not blogging, you would be?

A stylist. I am working towards it. I feel I can balance both!

A day in your life...

Wake up, check Instagram for at least 20 minutes, plan my posts and stories for the day on my way to work, complete my 8-hour shift as a social media professional for the amazing travel company that I work for, meet a friend to try out a new place after work or simply chill at familiar one, come home and catch up with my family and a couple of close friends over WhatsApp, browse through my favourite websites or watch something quick on Netflix, sleep! Weekends are usually a lot more relaxed where I plan shoots, café reviews and blog.

Message/tips for upcoming bloggers

Don’t do it for the perks, do it because you love it. Otherwise, you’ll have big numbers and zero substance and there is no satisfaction in it.

1Your Favorite Influencer

I love Urmi Daga of whatwearwhen, love how she keeps a balance of showcasing her style as well as snippets from her personal life. And her closet is a mix of high fashion, luxury, affordable and street brands so again, it’s a nice balance. Most importantly, her style is fun, I love people who can have fun with their clothes.

The Future you foresee for your Personal Brand

I want to move into a direction where I can shop for people and help regular people find their style and be comfortable with it. Basically a stylist-cum-personal shopper for people like you and I. I am open to curating their work wardrobe or like their vacation closet, etc. Apart from that, I want to curate great food and travel experiences for my followers, in and around Delhi at the best price point.