Let's Talk Shop(ping)

I'm streamlining affiliates and growing partnerships + stay tuned for November news!

Hello, Gorgeous!

It’s no secret that I’ve been a bit lackadaisical about managing my affiliate* relationships. For me, the joy of Hello Gorgeous! is about sharing brands and products I love with all of you. On a practical level, that’s not a great marketing move (and considering that my day job is as a marketing and communications strategist, that’s doubly dumb!). But as the audience of Hello Gorgeous! continues to grow (at last count, I have a whopping 150k individual readers/subscribers/lurkers), I realize that I need to be more intentional about how I run things.

So here’s what’s changing: I’m consolidating my affiliate links through ShopMy. If you click a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It’s a simple way to support Hello Gorgeous! while shopping for products I love and recommend. I also know that some of you prefer to avoid Amazon when possible, so this gives me more flexibility to link to other retailers and directly to brands. It also leaves room for more partnerships.

Speaking of partnerships, I’m excited to share that November brings a collaboration with a brand I’m thrilled to work with.

Right now I’m still ironing out the details. I’m also trying to negotiate with my new partner for a decent discount for all of you. These kinds of opportunities mean I can keep Hello Gorgeous! going strong while staying true to what you love about it: honest recommendations, products you’re curious about or never heard of, and no BS. If I love it I share it. If I have second thoughts, I share those as well.

The products I recommend aren’t changing. The transparency isn’t changing. I’m just finally getting smarter about the business side of things.

Incidentally, another way you can support my writing is with a paid subscription. I keep prices low, but every subscription makes a huge difference to this independent writer. And let’s face it, you’ve seen my byline or quotes around**.

In any event, it’s unlikely that you’ll notice anything but a more streamlined experience, especially for my upcoming holiday gift guides.

Do you have any thoughts at all on affiliates or in general?

Rachel, Your beauty concierge 💋

*For the uninitiated: an affiliate relationship is a way for online creators to earn a small commission from sales generated by their content—at no extra cost to you.

**Partial byline or brag list. ABC News (referred to as a “Celebrity style maven”), The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN (Former TV host and series creator), CNBC, Forbes, Fortune, Good Morning America, the Today show, USA Today (opinion columnist), The Washington Post (“hotshot beauty consultant”), Cosmopolitan, Food & Wine, Glamour, InStyle, Parade (columnist for nine years), Readers Digest (columnist for four years), and so many more…