What is Blogging? Why I do it + My Promise to You!
What is Blogging?
I wanted to take the time to write this post because I feel like it’s a topic that most of you want to understand and learn more about (judging by my dm’s). While blogging can be used for a wide variety of things, I want to give you the inside scoop to how I use blogging to channel my creativity and live a meaningful life.
By definition (straight from Webster), a blog is: a website containing a writer's or group of writers' own experiences, observations, opinions, etc., and often having images and links to other websites.
Why I Do it:
Now that you’ve got a definition, I wanna put my spin on it. I use The Second Muse as a website to chronicle my experiences and share the things I’m passionate about; style, beauty, design, health, and travel…the things I know you’re interested in as well. I spend my time finding the best products in each of those categories so that you don’t have to! My approach to blogging is simple, keep it real. ALWAYS.
While I am an “influencer”, I’m also a consumer. I expect the information that I get through advertisements or reviews from bloggers to be genuine and authentic, otherwise what’s the point? This is where blogging can get a slippery, if an influencer views their work as a blogger as a way to just get likes, followers, and money, they’re doing it for the wrong reason. (Yes, making money while blogging is important, see more about that below) If someone is just promoting any and every product that doesn’t fit their brand, it’s obvious that they don’t have good intentions. When bloggers (or anyone for that matter) promote a product that they don’t genuinely love/use, it’s dishonest, and I hate that you have to deal with trying to figure out what’s fake and what’s real. Being a blogger is about sharing your authentic lifestyle so that your readers/consumers are positively influenced by your experiences and opinions. I want all of you to know that I have not, and will not, ever promote a product that I don’t personally love! I value this community and your trust way too much to ever jeopardize that!
So how do bloggers make money?
There are a gazillion different ways to make money through blogging, but I’m only going to focus on a few for time sake. As a blogger it’s important that I do make money, so that I’m able to invest my time and $$$ into creating more content for you (plus pay the bills)! I’m so thankful to be able to work with so many brands that I’ve grown up loving, take my most recent collaboration with Urban Outfitters…that was such a cool moment for me to be able to work with a company I’ve been investing in for years!
Sponsored Posts: #Ad #Sponsored
Simply put, sponsored posts are advertisements, it’s when a brand has paid me to promote their product or service. Sponsored posts or #ads seem to get a bad rep on social media. It’s like people think that if I’m getting paid to promote a product, I don’t actually use it. Which is quite the opposite for me. To be able to make a living sharing my experiences, thoughts and opinions is something I’m extremely grateful for. Please know that when I work with a company on a paid campaign, it’s a brand that I want to genuinely share with you!
The reason that companies send me “giftings” (clothing, makeup, skincare products, home goods, etc.) is so that I can try them out and if I like them, I share them with you. This is generally how a sponsored campaign starts, I’ll share the products I love, if they interest you and the brand likes my blog/social platforms, we’ll work together on a paid campaign. So, as you can see, it’s a very natural partnership. These are products and services that I would buy myself, that I think that ya’ll will love, and it helps the brand spread awareness. Win. Win. Win.
Affiliate Linking:
Creating blog posts, researching brands/products is all a part of blogging. It takes time, but it’s a lot of fun because based on the feedback I get from ya’ll I get to create content that ya’ll really want to see. So, when I link products or services and you buy through those links I get a small kickback from the company and I also know what you guys are loving and what you’re not. The affiliate link shows me how many times the link was clicked and how many times the item was purchased. Which is great for me because by tracking those analytics, I know what ya’ll want to see more of and what you don’t! For example, the Amazon duvet cover I shared with you recently - a TON of you bought it through my affiliate link. This let’s me know that’s what you’re interested in so I can provide you with more of that type of content.
Selling personal brand products:
Another way for a blogger to make money is by creating a product for their brand. Filling and “want” or a “need” for their followers. This is something I’m working towards this year ;)
My Promise to You:
I will NEVER promote a product that I don’t personally believe in or use, ever. I’m so grateful that you all trust me and value my opinion. You are spending your hard-earned money on the products that I stand behind, and I don’t take that lightly! Thank you for being a part of this community!