You need to be attractive || This is the controversial one as there are opinions on both sides of the coin, some believe that you need to be attractive to be a top blogger, to be a famous blogger/vlogger or to get the media limelight - and - then there are others who believe that beauty doesn't come into it at all. I lie somewhere in the middle. I don't believe that you - as a person need to be physically perfect. What I do believe is that your images need to be attractive, clear images, colours on point, uncluttered backgrounds and clear shots of either yourself, your layout or your intended items. It's this that needs to be attractive so yes, you do need to work on your attractiveness and presentation in order to succeed; do you need to work on your own looks - hell no! the more individual that you look and the more of that 'you' personality that you show on your blog will be what makes you stand out.
You'll get rich || This depends on your definition of 'rich.' If it's earning a livable wage and enjoying what you do then yes, you can get rich. If your plan is to get rich quick or to become a millionaire - then you'll be hard pressed unless you can get an agent or some major media miles. Like anything, the more work you put in and the harder you work to get on top - delivering fresh, new content the more you'll earn. Utilising other outside networks and sources to coincide with your blog though is the easiest way to generate income as a blogger.
You'll get freebies || You will be offered items to review but they're certainly not free. While you'll not hand over physical money you will hand over a lot of your time - photographing, drafting, writing, editing, publishing and then promoting your features about 'said' item. Do you appreciate your time? Would you work for free? No? then these items aren't freebies and really shouldn't be considered as such - I view them as tokens of payments. Offering a great, reliable and professional service will enable you to build a brand relationship - sometimes bloggers do offer reviews and write-ups for free just to build that relationship a little bit quicker or to cover breaking news as it happens.
You'll attend lots of swanky events || Chances are if you fly on the PR's radars then you will be invited to a blogger event, brand or product launch or a brand meet - maybe even coffee and a chat but don't be expecting red carpets and glamour 24/7. Most bloggers don't even manage to attend events simply due to being overworked or extremely busy and if you live outside of a city centre chances are you're going to find it hard to get to the events in the first place. I normally politely decline but request any press releases to be forwarded to me after the events taken place that way you never truly miss out on the scoop.
Blogging is easy || Starting a blog is easy, maintaining and growing a blog isn't. While most brands can easily set up a website, setting up a blog takes lots more upkeep, more effort, love, and care. When you're not writing features, you're planning features, resourcing for features, photographing, editing photographs, contacting brands, Pr's and attending brand meets and events while working on other collaborations - oh and don't forget about your offline life either. While it's a lot of work you will eventually find yourself into a workable routine. Blogging really is fantastic - I promise.
Bloggers are industry wannabees || Many start off that way and see blogging as a stepping stone to bigger and better things. Brands have started to realise that bloggers are worth their weight in gold because they can work to timescales, have influence in the bucket load and are hard working.
Only short posts are successful || Post size goes through a variety of trends - at one point it was all about the essay sized posts, then there were the diary format posts and then the short, to the point-review posts. These days I think most sized posts are suitable as long as the content is interesting. Why not try mixing up the lengths of your posts, this way you'll cater to those who are on the run, those who want to be visibly drawn in with images and others who want a good gritty-opinionated long pst to get their teeth into.
You need to have money to become a blogger || Nope, nope and nope. Most people have a computer, Ipad or a laptop. Damn, you can even do it via mobile these days although it definitely makes it harder. Add in a camera, which you can get from your mobile, the webcam on your computer or even use an old digital camera which you attach via cable. Blogger or Wordpress are free, social networking is free, you can alter your images and create beautiful blog headers and buttons via Canva (which I use) and you're really good to go. As you grow you can upgrade your tools and equipment - if you don't have a computer, laptop or Ipad why not start a blogging duo or group with some friends who do have access?
You need to be under 25 to be successful || This, again, falls into the looks part, some people believe that you need to be young and cute [and under 25 years old] to be a success because most trends are set and followed by a younger age group. That's simply not true - as long as your content is interesting, your blog is attractive [your blog and not your face] and you offer regular updates that are enough to be a success as long as you work at it.
Blogging is a fad || 97% of businesses who have a blog or who work with blogs receive more inbound sales and traffic. That doesn't really sound like a fad to me, blogging is huge right now and everyone reads a blog of some sort. With lives being so jam-packed with 'things to do' it's easy to nip online to pick up where they last left off - to go through their email notifications of latest posts (I do this) or to check out their favourite blogs via social network. Blogging teaches us new things, it helps us feel a part of a like-minded group and for some, it's a good source of connection with others especially if you don't socialise much offline.
What's stopping you from blogging? are there any other myths that you've heard that initially put you off, or any that actually drove you to blogging just to prove them wrong?
I have considered giving up my blog on more than one occasion, but something keeps me hanging in there. It is my baby, and it has given me focus during some dark times in recent years. It doesn't bring a livable income, but it does give me a little pocket money here and there.
ReplyDelete