There are couple things everybody should know about blogging. I myself have been surprised by so many things after joining this industry properly 2 years ago. Especially now, at times of uncertainty, having an online business can be a saving grace!
The world is shaking under the financial strain that the Corona virus unexpectedly laid on our capitalist systems. Companies have been declared bankrupt left, right and center, while freelancers and influencers have seen a cascade of cancelled jobs. Uncertainty is the word on everybody’s lips.
And at the same time I’ve seen so many people step up to the mark, rolling out their online businesses. Not to profit from a catastrophe (although there are those too…) but to offer help, support and inspiration.
And THIS is what everybody should know about blogging: it’s the most inspiring and supportive industry in existence, it’s an industry of experts who are just like you. Not a faceless billionaire behind a fast fashion brand, but the girl from your gym, and the guy who struggled at school.
7 Surprising Things You Didn’t Know About Blogging
Blogging is thought of as this platform of text and fashion photos. But in fact it’s so, SO much more. I wrote this article in particular with my family and friends in mind, but also all of you who think that being a blogger is something anyone could do.
I know there’s a lot of you, but I also know that if you walked in my shoes for one day, you’d probably give up before lunch.
Blogging Is What You Make It
Blogging as a job started properly in the early 2010 as an online platform where you could write about your daily life, talk about your style, and show off what you bought on your latest shopping spree. Quite quickly brand deals started emerging along the text and photos. And today blogging can mean a plethora of things:
A blogger doesn’t just write text and take photos anymore. They also shoot videos, create complex campaigns, manage projects, shoot and edit content, plan ahead, create resources, promote, represent at events, sell their expertise, and so, so, so much more.
‘Blogger’ is a title that encompasses so many professional titles: Graphic Designer, Project Manager, Sales Person, Marketing Manager, PR Manager, Model, Director, Accountant, etc.
You Can’t Do It Alone
Blogging is a lot of work! Not on the physical side, perhaps. But there are so many moving parts about it and so many ropes one needs to hold on to in order to keep things rolling that trying to do it all by yourself can easily get overwhelming.
It’s totally okay, and more than recommended to ask for help. We can’t all be experts in coding, writing and running our finances. That’s why finding a community is worth more than gold. I joined one such community a year ago, and oh my, what an impact it has had on things!
Grow & Glow is community for creators of all sorts, and it provides you with EVERYTHING you need if you want to start earning with your online platform.
GG brings transparency and integrity to an industry that has so far been a bit of a jungle. On top of valuable resources, GG brings together creatives from all industries. The friendships I’ve made participating in their events are beyond precious to me.
In case you’ve bee thinking about starting a blog or a creative online venture, you should definitely join Grow & Glow! I can vouch for them, being a Founding Member and having attended all of their events around the UK myself. I wouldn’t be here today without them.
Listen to my blogging story here, on the Grow & Glow podcast!
Blogging Changes Constantly
I remember when Outlandish Blog was launched in 2018 how everybody was saying that blogging was dying. I wrote a heartfelt article then pointing out how and why I disagreed, because blogs keep coming back. And I guess it’s safe to say I was right to do so. We’re still here!
Blogging is a creative industry, and just like advertising, it has to recreate itself constantly. A fashion blog has to be on trend constantly, but not just about current fashions. They also need to be aware of changes in consumer behavior. For example, when Primark hauls start giving people stomach cramps it’s time to make a U-turn in terms of one’s views on consuming.
Travel bloggers need to pay attention to the same consumer behaviours and keep their content relevant. For example, with Corona there’s no point in posting tips on where to travel in 2020. With borders closed and flights downed for who knows how long, nobody’s looking for travel tips.
Bloggers need to stay alert and react to sudden changes quickly. Someone who hates change, or has difficulties in adapting to new situations, could find themselves struggling.
You ARE An Expert
A human being is never ready! We’re always learning, constantly evolving. But when we’re so interested in and inspired by something, we tend to be pretty knowledgeable about that particular subject.
And if you know about something, it’s your privilege and your responsibility to share that knowledge. Just make sure to link appropriate facts to your statements, we do not have the right to stir up fake news and hurtful rumours.
I’ll give myself as an example here: I didn’t study fashion, but I know more than my fare share about the destruction that the fast fashion industry is causing to our planet. And I also know how we could solve this problem and move away from mindless consumption.
I love discussing fashion in terms of consumer trends, and I’m constantly in contact with interesting sustainable fashion brands. Not just to gain some personal benefit from them, but to learn and to discuss. Because if I can make one person change their ways towards a more sustainable consumption model, then all the work was worth it.
Blogging Is Valuable
What very few seem to know about blogging is what an enormous industry it is and how much money moves in it. As I mentioned before, the thing to know about blogging is how fast the industry changes.
When just couple years ago nobody knew how and what bloggers earned, now the income streams are becoming more transparent. A good example of this are the tightening regulations around paid content. By this I mean a blog post, or even just an Instagram photo, for which a brand has paid or gifted you products.
If you’re creating a piece of content for promotional purposes your audience should be made aware of this. Even if you sometimes feel like it looks like bragging when all you see on a blogger’s Instagram is #AD, at the end of the day, this is a brilliant upgrade for the industry. There’s too much dishonesty and false advertising around. Even illegal advertising.
Read more: I’ve been influenced! Thoughts on Influencer Marketing and the Industry
Your Life Is Public
And that can make you vulnerable. This is something everyone should know about blogging, especially if you’re only starting out. Be sure to think about how much of your life you want to share with thousands, maybe millions of strangers.
Most of the people online are lovely, decent people. So, even if you do encounter a troll (as I’m sure we all have), you can just ignore, block, or drown them in love. I tend to use the latter option, because I do enjoy seeing a troll lose their shit when they get trolled back instead.
I know a lot of fashion bloggers who opted to be photographed without their faces showing in the beginning. Little by little they gathered the confidence to show their faces, and noticed that it was completely okay.
The great thing to know about blogging is that you can do exactly what you feel comfortable with!
Nobody Can Do What You Do As Well As You Do
You built your platform, whether it’s a website, a portfolio, an Instagram account, or an online business. You built it, and nobody could’ve done it the way you did. Your vision is unique.
The collaborations and customers that you attract, you attract because of the person that you are. Blogging is largely about your personality, and that’s what people want to invest in.
Personal branding has become a bit of a swear word lately, many feel like it’s an unnecessary evil that could as well be ignored. But in fact, even if you don’t consciously build and hone it, you do have a personal brand. It’s you. You’ve just got to learn to trust that it’s enough.
Conclusion
Bloggers are often slagged off by people who don’t know about blogging. And that is precisely why those people are not entitled to an opinion. You cannot have an opinion about something that you know nothing about.
In the world of social media and instant messages we’ve become accustomed to the false sense that free speech equals opinions. But opinions are often based on feelings, not on facts. And thus, most opinions are not valid, they’re just waste of time. And when we understand this, we are better able to filter out the nay-sayers and useless critics.
Would you agree? Do you blog as a hobby or are you aiming to actually profit from it? Or are you already profiting from your blog? I’d absolutely love to hear your stories and views on this, so please comment below! ♥
Follow me on Instagram and use #styleoutlandish to showcase your style! I’m always on the lookout for outfit inspiration.
