9 things bloggers say that make me want to scream…

Excuse the slight rage in the title. It might be ‘unprofessional’ to say, but I am finding the blogging community a bit of a slog at the moment (actually that was far more professional than what I wanted to say!). I go through stages of loving and being really involved with the blogging community to taking a step back because everyone is annoying the hell out of me. The last few weeks, pretty much since the whole ASA AD saga; I’ve been firmly in the latter camp. So here’s things we should really all stop saying because…

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1. “Just Blog For You Nobody Else!”

I am not sure where this phrase has come from but it seems to be the go-to lately. Imagine if in any other profession we just said, do the work that makes YOU happy-nobody else!

The more I think about it, the more I struggle to imagine anyone is purely blogging just for themselves. After all, blogging is essentially an activity in which one puts themselves out there online and invites comment. It’s ok to want people to read your blog and enjoy it.

Now, of course, blogging is highly rewarding (And I must admit, I’m only blogging this post as I started thinking about it at 3am yesterday morning and for some reason wanted to get it out of my brain as soon as I woke up) and you should write what you want to write about.

But there’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting people to read your words, monitor your traffic and blog topics that you know others are interested in too! Purely blogging for yourself is absolutely fine-but, realistically, when you blog as a job, you do need to consider other people and the reader. It doesn’t make you less authentic.

2.”Does anyone know brands looking to work with bloggers?”

All brands are looking to work with bloggers! It’s 2019! I’m seeing bloody Disney World work with bloggers-and it’s not like they need the promotion. The key is whether you are the right fit for them and whether you can offer them a return on investment. Alternatively see: ‘anyone know where a brand that works with bloggers on hotel reviews in X/ clothing/food reviews in XX’ as if it’s facebook marketplace; rather than you know-selecting brands that align with you and your blog. We need to start thinking about what we can offer brands rather than just what we can get for ‘free.’. Be specifc; be choosy!

3. “A brand I’ve worked with is looking for more bloggers. Please leave your details below…”

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…along with following me and RTing me; until I decide actually I can’t be bothered to collect mass emails on the behalf of a PR. Can 2019 be the year these tweets end please? I mentioned in my ‘The rise of the bullshit bloggers post‘ how many people replies to these super vague tweets-despite the fact the blogger doesn’t mention what the product actually is!

4. ” I don’t blog for the money myself (insert sarcastic comment about those who do)”

This is an absolutely bizarre turn of phrase which many bloggers use to sometimes, in my opinion, look down on bloggers who do blog as a job.

There are many groups of bloggers and I’m not talking about these who honestly prefer not to do PR/paid projects or just blog for the sheer love of it. But instead, those who seem to enjoy looking down on those who do earn a living from their blog.

And it happens often. I came across a person in a facebook group the other day declaring in a sneery tone that they would never accept free meals to review and couldn’t be bought. Whilst those who do earn from their blog will play it down: ‘it’s just a hobby really; I blog for myself (there we go again) and its just a bit of extra pocked money.’

Side note but does anyone else finding them using ‘just’ constantly when emailing to sound casual? ‘Hi, just thought I’d chase up to see when my invoice, which is 78 days late, will be paid. If you could just let me know that would be great-just wanted to check; no rush! But anyway, I just find it odd that making money is something we have to apologise for or deny.

Imagine if you were an artist and you turned up to your exhibition and kept proclaiming ‘oh, I’m not selling these; I just paint for fun myself’ whilst shooing customers away.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with however you blog. But the minute you do accept payment for something, you ARE a business so stop pretending otherwise! (and if it’s not for you fine, but please don’t make a fuss of those who do!). It doesn’t make them a sell-out; it’s perfectly possible to run an amazing blog and make a living from it (look at me; I run 2! *awaits people to tell me how amazing my blogs are*)

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5. “I am just going to give up blogging because nobody is reading my blog.”

Don’t get me wrong: we’ve all had this wobble. I’m talking about people who start a blog, press publish and then go off in a strop because nobody’s liked their Primark haul. I see this in facebook groups a lot and I’ll often ask: why SHOULD anyone read your blog? I don’t mean that in an awful way, but something we should all think about! Nobody owes you a read/comment; you need to create genuinely valuable content. (P.S, if you are interested in growing traffic read my blog post on how I increased by 10,000 monthly views and my blog growth ebook)

6. “Why does nobody give small bloggers a change when we can create amazing content.”

I mention this one as I think PRs often get a hard time from bloggers. No one is more frustrated than me when I’m turned down for something I’m perfect for because I don’t have enough followers or there’s someone else that like better. However, we have to accept that they are doing a JOB. And as much as we all wished it was true, blogging is not JUST about creating amazing content.

It IS about numbers to a certain extent. It HAS to be. The most beautifully styled picture or most articulately-written post is completely useless if nobody reads it; nobody engages and nobody buys the project.

That’s not to mean it should be all about the numbers-I still believe a niche blogger with 1000 readers IS just as valuable to a generic one with 10,000 readers (Who might not be interested in that niche). However, we’ve got to get better and understanding that PRs have budgets and want to see a return on their investment and getting into that mindset. I have some great interviews with PRs on my blog if you fancy a read: such as my interview with Alex from CCDPR and Fran from Prezzybox.

7. “Stop judging bloggers for accepting low pay!”

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I could write a whole blog post on this I think. Unlike other industries, jobs are often posted in open forums-so we can express our concerns about low pay and see which bloggers are leaving their details to accept them. This has led to a conversation played out on a constant loop along the lines of: ‘That’s an awful rate of pay, please think twice before you accept it bloggers’ followed by ‘Don’t judge bloggers- they have bills to pay/mouths to feed. £5 is the difference between…’ (actually i can’t be bothered to finish that sentence now I’ve started it but you get the idea).

It is a tricky one as I know I am in a lucky position to turn down work if it’s poorly paid and not worry about my bills. I just got an email saying ‘How much you charge’ as I was writing this and just hit delete (that was literally all it says) whilst I know other blogger might need the money and email back. However, at the same time if we all thought this way we’d literally never achieve change.

It’s the same in any industry: we should absolutely be championing for a higher rate of pay. Imagine if when public servants went on strike for (rightly) more pay like our junior doctors did or employees banded together to stamp out naff zero-hours contracts; someone sauntered along and said ‘actually, I’ll take the lower pay because of X,Y,Z.’

It undermines the whole system! And it’s okay to say this is not acceptable without judging the individual’s personal circumstances. And if you are accepting low pay, then yes it DOES undermine the industry in my book BUT you accept that your other needs take priority- and I understand that. For example, I try to explore plant-based days and post vegan recipes; but can’t be vegan full-time as it makes my Crohn’s worse. I’m honest about that-and know I could do better but its the position I’m in! (Not the best metaphor but hope you know what I mean!) Judge me if you want!

Finally, it is often the bloggers who accept low rates who moan they are never offered higher ones and the reason for this is simple: people talk! And if you accept low rates from one company you often struggle to get higher rates from another.

8. “blah blah blah #journorequest #bloggerswanted

For the love of god please stop abusing these hashtags. I can’t cope any more! I use #journorequest all the time in my journalist capacity and it used to be such a time-saver; but now my tweets are drowning in people just sharing their latest post and/or requesting items. I am for putting yourself out there but this is not the purpose of either of these hashtags! I’ve resorted to muting repeat offenders so I can actually see the requests I need to.

9. “Blogging is one of the hardest jobs in the world.”

and then a list of all the different things blogging involves (photography/writing/SEO etc). I know this one will attract mixed feedback and that’s fine but I fear that responding to criticism of bloggers with just how difficult it is doesn’t help anybody. Blogging is long hours. It involves lots of different tasks. It can be hard to put yourself online. We have to meet lots of different deadlines; know the numbers and take lots of rejections. But it is NOT one of the hardest jobs in the world.

There are so many people out there working much harder in lower-paid jobs-and I’m sorry but it’s true. I used to be a teacher and before that a civil servant.

I might work similar hours but god I’m lucky. Now I get to work on the sofa; pouring my heart out on posts like these whilst my two dogs sleep next to me. It is NOT as hard as trying to get 30 students to read A Christmas Carol without sniggering at Charles Dick-ens whilst simultaneously wonder if that kid in the corner is actually Snapchatting the whole thing. Or trying to fight against a million budget cuts to get a job done. It has its challenges, it requires far more work than many realise but I’m sorry it is NOT one of the hardest jobs in the world. And I don’t think it undermines blogging to say that.

…and a note on Instagram cliches…

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I must admit, I made a resolution to focus more on my Instagram this year. I often get more engagement on there than blog posts and of course, we all know its pretty vital to have a decent Instagram account these days. But god there’s a lot of nonsense on there. Look, I know there are different styles for different people and I don’t want to call people out; but is there anyone just smiling on there and standing straight? People are hovering on one leg, covering one eye and pulling the oddest of expressions. It might pregnancy hormones talking but I have come to a personal decision that I can’t follow people who stick their tongue out in 2019-I’m sorry I just can’t. *ends hormonal rant*

Normal, happy services will resume shortly I promise-but had to get this post off my chest! Feel free to tell me I’m being bitchy below!