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Guest Post By Trisha Haas
Its been a long time that I have felt compelled to write a blog post on blogging. After all, there are amazing websites already dedicated to this profession that could explain it over and over again in 100 ways and bring new light to each one. I have long forgotten the art of reiteration and focus on more interesting subjects for myself, like really good recipes and crafts with kids. Don’t judge- it works for me.
But lately articles have been popping up around the blogosphere that are jealous at best and accusatory at worst.
And the most ironic point of all is that most of these bloggers are women attacking women. Now while that doesn’t overly surprise me, after all women are creatures of angst and misunderstanding, the green eyed monster is rearing itself precisely at the same time that this profession, the blogging profession, is doing well. Really well. PR are providing fantastic work, bloggers are rightfully earning the title of influencers, bloggers of all niches are profiting and growing into full time businesses worthy of shows, books, huge audiences, ebooks and content is being viewed by millions.
Except…there is always a catch. There is always someone waiting in the wings ready to build up the wall, the same one we have been trying to tear down for years, and for no reason. As a long time community leader, I wanted to come through with a few thoughts; thoughts from the other side, thoughts from the side that works with PR, that believes in monetization and that speaks from a family, and business, POV.
Take a deep breath- here I go.
Myth #1: You cannot be passionate about your work AND make money.
Wait, what?
First of all you cant make money on something you are not passionate about. I mean..you can..anything is possible, but it will fizzle and die because something you don’t love will suck your soul out of you. I am here to say it- OF COURSE bloggers can be passionate about what they create and make an income at the same time! It’s not only possible, it’s probable and right now is the most amazing time to do it! Being online is a fantastic opportunity, one of endless enormous potential and to say that you cannot have both in your hand is just ignorant.
Back in 2008 when the revolution of brands and bloggers happened and we were all finally starting to marry, so much as asking for a freebie coupon was beginning to feel successful. The whole “blogging for a cookie” joke was the lay of the land. That is actually how it started. But Blogs crawled their way up proving the value of online media and Brands have done likewise- making bloggers and new media relevant to their clients with inventive and interesting campaigns.
PR is not easy. Blogging, again, not easy. You have to be passionate and excited to work on this all day. Trust me.
Myth #2: You must be a “mom” blogger to be online.
I didn’t start out a mom blogger. I started out a business woman with an online boutique that wanted to blog to show products. Then I loved blogging so much I closed my boutique and opened a full time blog- this one. My blog has gone through a ton of evolution, from blogging about blogging, to blogging about bloggers, to rants, raves, reviews, recipes (lots of Rs there) and is currently a lifestyle mix of DIY and parenting. You know why? BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT I LOVE. Do what you love. Love tech? Blog tech. Love books? Blog books. Or don’t. I don’t blog books cause I love them and am afraid to make it work. My point is you can BE online in any capacity you choose. There is no right or wrong way to exist.
Some of my best friends are travel writers, recipe bloggers, christian bloggers and everything in between. And psst…some of them on MomDot are not even Moms! Gasp.
Myth #3: You must ignore your family to be online.
Honestly you can ignore your family just by having a smart phone in your pocket, it has nothing to do with blogging. Do bloggers often have odd hours? Absolutely. I find myself working in the evenings and on Sat mornings more than I would like to some months. There was a period in there a few years ago where I was hustling so hard to make a living online that I forgot myself ( if I am being totally honest). I think its true for a lot of business owners that work contract to contract. But never once did I ignore my family. I have a job where I get to document some of the beautiful things we do together, take gorgeous shots of my kids, take days off whenever I feel the need and hopefully inspire others around me on occasion.
My house? From blogging.
My new car? Blogging
My childrens hobbies? Lets just say horseback riding is not a cheap sport.
I spend every day PROVIDING for them.
I blog FOR my family, not despite them.
Myth #4 Blogging is not a profession.
The only explanation I can see in this one is that the bloggers that are stating this have never experienced it as a profession. Should it be? That is totally up to you. Blogging can 100% be a hobby only. However, I choose blogging as MY profession. I make my living from blogging. There are 1000s of bloggers that are right along side of me. I am not an anomaly.
This is OUR profession.
Myth #5 Bloggers make very little income.
Some bloggers work for part time income, some for full time, some do it for boosts to book deals or product sales, some do it for affiliate payments, some are purely ad networks and some a combination of all of that. Even more, some bloggers create PR firms, blogger to brand consultant agencies, conferences, white papers and more. Bloggers that make income do it with hard work, passion, and discovering how to grow their personal small business.
Does this look like *little* income?
56 checks this year and that isn’t even all I have earned, its just what I have been paid.
And the best part is the busy part of the year is still to come.
This is not a brag. It is a fact.
Myth #6 Bloggers never help one another.
This is one of the biggest myths out there.
Sure, there will always be someone that guards “secrets” but I am here to tell you something...lean in really close...there are no secrets. Whew! Glad I got that out. Just as there are no sure fire ways to make this work, or bring in traffic or create a huge community, there really isn’t much to hide. Ask me- I am an open book. I also run a community and over the past few years that has collectively brought in nearly 1 million helpful and searchable posts on a blog forum. In addition to that, we support each other with advice, growth, contacts, introductions and tech assistance every day of the week, around the clock.
Do you need a blog community? Let me know. I will be your new friend.
Myth #7: Bloggers should have a Union
This myth kills me.
Does anyone even know what a Union is when they talk like that? Unions are to protect you as an employee…. from a business. Bloggers ARE the business. We are the BOSS, we do not work for anyone. In my house I am the owner, writer, editor (I suck at that part), marketing manager, secretary, accountant (I have a real one of those too, but I do the day to day). I take care of every conference call, edit every picture. I pay all the bills from the designer, to the tech, VA, to the advertising. I am a one woman Cirque de Soleil and I have been doing it full time with children in my home for years.
The beauty of blogging is that we can be WHO we are.
We can be outgoing or anonymous, we can go to every conference or none at all, we can learn or teach, we can share or not, we are every single moment of our own website and its beautiful.
Myth #8: We should all do what someone else tells us to do.
No. You could use my designer, my host, and my ideas, but we will never be the same person. You have to go out and do YOU, be YOU, write about things YOU love.
Do you adore testing products? Do it.
Do you adore running giveaways? Do it.
Do you love producing recipes? The world is yours.
Crafting? Get out that glue gun.
Do not worry about what I, what someone else, what someone you heard about is doing- put your energy and time and effort into YOUR success and your definition of it. I am so sick of bloggers feeling badly for loving what others hate.
Myth #9: You must monetize.
You do not have to monetize. You can be a sometime blogger, a part time blogger, or an anytime blogger. You can blog about your cat today and your kids tomorrow. You do NOT have to make your blog into a marketing machine or small business. I love to read but I am not an editor or a proof reader. If blogging calls to you but you don’t have time for 9 social accounts and clearing 100 pieces of email an hour, stop stressing. Blogging is absolutely a ton of work.
Similarly, not bringing in income is NOT a sign of failure.
Myth #10: Brand content is not personal content.
Of course it’s real content. Will there be bloggers that just publish cut and dry pieces of material? Yes. In fact, sometimes that is exactly what the company wants. How many times have you googled something to find a page with little info and facts but you found it? Every day a new company full of new people are beating down your doors to get your attention.
But most bloggers, no- an entire industry of bloggers, put a lot of heart and soul into their efforts for companies. They take pictures (over and over and over again), they come up with creative ideas, they publish a part of themselves and their family’s while advertising a brand and they adore it. This is why blogging is so sought after. We put a real experience into a consumer purchase. You watch TV right? Brands. You read magazines? Brands. Newspaper? Online news source? Ads, Brands, Brands, Ads. We are a society full of economic exchange. It is OK. It is Good. And it is amazing if you embrace it.
Make no mistake, bloggers that call this a profession work their butts off to create something helpful and interesting while also providing a purchasing choice.
Now that I have shown you the myths, let me try a fact.
Fact: We are in this together so stop tearing each other down.
A long time ago, like super long time ago, I used to be one of those piss and moan bloggers. The world was changing online and I wasn’t sure my place. I was also young. Was it right that bloggers took payment? Were reviews ok? Everyone seemed so big and far far above me that all it took was a bit of ego, a bit of jealousy and a bit of ignorance for me to spout off what I didn’t know about. Now I take the time to learn about those around me. I do my best to teach, to share, to help and to continue to personally grow so my goals continue to be shaped and met. There is no industry judged as harshly as this one and by our own peers.
But blogging grew up and I grew up right along side it.
Now it’s your turn.
~Trisha
About the Guest Author
Trisha Haas is a professional blogger and business owner. You can find her at MomDot, Momdot Media, or join the MomDot forums here
And my long-time ever-present girly crush on you continues. Well thought out, well stated and spot on.
Well said!
Great post Trisha! Very well said.
Great post! Good for you!
AMEN! What a great post Trisha! You hit all the nails right on their heads.
Thank you for such a thorough and honest look at what life is really like for bloggers. I cannot understand why everyone has to criticize and tear bloggers down. I especially loved your point:
“But most bloggers, no- an entire industry of bloggers, put a lot of heart and soul into their efforts for companies. They take pictures (over and over and over again), they come up with creative ideas, they publish a part of themselves and their family’s while advertising a brand and they adore it. This is why blogging is so sought after. We put a real experience into a consumer purchase. ”
On a sponsored piece where I am creating images, original recipes, creative content, etc. I often spend DAYS working on it. I put my heart and hard work in and then for someone to just dismiss it because it was commissioned makes me furious.
So THANK YOU for this post. If only everyone else would also stop criticizing and start appreciating each other for the differences that make bloggers – and people – unique.
Hi Trisha; found this through Jessica Gottlieb’s f/b. I really liked this piece. Granted, I haven’t had much success in blogging (on and off with various levels of frequency for more than 5 years), but it’s nice to see reaffirmation that a successful blogger comes in all different shapes and sizes, so to speak.
I get respectable feedback from a few of my Facebook friends, but don’t have any better of a reach than that. (What was that you were saying about offering to be a part of someone’s community? :-P) Funnily enough, my sister in law has, on more than one occasion, told me I remind her of Steve Harvey. If only I could have a hundredth of his audience!
There are at least 3 people I can think of from the city I live in that make their living primarily from blogging, so it’s a little defeating to see. I suppose a better person would be inspired? ;-) I know it can be done, I just haven’t unlocked the secret to my success in the field yet.
This is a very good tip particularly to those fresh to the blogosphere.
Short but very precise information… Thank you for sharing this
one. A must read article!