What Bloggers Do and How to Support Them
Happy Monday, friends! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend! After receiving numerous questions and requests, today I’m excited to begin a new mini series- All About Blogging. Since publishing my post last fall on Why I Started a Blog, I’ve had so many people reach out and ask me questions regarding blogging including how to start a blog, how to grow readership, how to make money and work with brands, and more!
And while my blog is mainly focused on beauty, fashion, and lifestyle topics, after doing this for over two years, I feel like I have a lot of great advice that I can share when it comes to blogging, and I truly enjoy helping others.
So today to get the ball rolling, I wanted to answer some of the most common questions that I’ve received about blogging and talk a little bit more about just what it is that bloggers do. More importantly, I’m sharing how you as a reader can show your support for your favorite bloggers!
What Bloggers Do and How to Support Them
*This post may contain affiliate links. Thank you for supporting Kindly Unspoken Blog!
Real talk: when people ask me what I do, 9 times out of 10 they give me this complete and utter look of confusion when I say “I’m a beauty/lifestyle blogger”.
And just like I talked about in a post over here, I used to shy away from even telling people about my blog because it’s not exactly the most well-known, understood profession out there, and a conversation typically ensues a plethora of questions such as:
“What’s a blogger?”
“What does a blogger actually do?”
“Don’t you just get sent a bunch of free stuff?
And my favorite of them all… “Is that even a REAL job?”
While some of the questions I receive regarding blogging can be a bit on the ridiculous side, for the most part I think people just genuinely don’t understand blogging and what a blogger does.
So for today’s post I want to help fill in the blanks for those who are completely new to the blogging world and explain in further detail just what it is that bloggers do and how you as a reader can help support them.
What’s a Blogger?
Rightfully so, the number one question I get asked on a regular basis is “What’s a blogger?” While the answer to this question is unfortunately not a simple one-liner, a blogger is someone who regularly publishes content online with the purpose of inspiring, educating, or entertaining a specific audience.
One common misconception is that a blog is simply an online journal or diary. And while there are a few hobbyist bloggers out there that blog solely with a purpose of sharing their day-to-day life, most bloggers today blog with a purpose of sharing their passions with others by creating great content that inspires, educates, or entertains.
And in case you didn’t know, bloggers are pretty much jack-of-all-trades.
Bloggers are most notably known for their writing skills, but blogging goes well beyond just slapping up words in a post on a website. Bloggers are business-savvy writers, researchers, photographers, marketers, social media managers, website managers, graphic designers, content curators, influencers, and so much more.
What Does a Blogger Actually Do?
A lot of people like to ask me what my typical day looks like and I’ll just go ahead and let you in on a secret- blogging is not for the faint of heart. It’s a lot of hard work, blood, sweat, and tears, and like most entrepreneurs out there bloggers put in well over 40 hours a week.
From researching and developing topics to discuss on my blog, trying out and testing products, to actually writing posts and taking/editing photos and videos, it’s a lot of work. Not to mention once a blog post goes live it’s time to promote it via numerous social media platforms, respond to comments and e-mails, and answer any questions that I receive. And just when you think you have a second to breathe and relax, it’s time to develop the next post and do it all over again.
Oh, and that doesn’t even include brand partnerships and the work that goes into sponsored content when working with brands and companies. (More details on this to come in a later post)
I think somewhere along the way people got confused in thinking that bloggers just sit around taking pretty pictures all day because that’s how it’s too often portrayed on social media, but that’s just not true. If you were to see a sneak peek into my daily routine, you’d quickly realize it’s not as glamorous as it seems and I’m sitting behind a computer desk 95% of the time (usually rocking sweatpants, a t-shirt, and a messy bun I might add).
Don’t You Just Get Sent a Bunch of Free Stuff?
This question gets me every time, because while yes I do get sent free stuff from brands and companies interested in me promoting their product, it most certainly isn’t a “no strings attached” situation and bloggers actually have to work really hard to even get to the level where companies do send you items.
I’m very blessed to currently be on several PR mailing lists and trust me when I say I never take it for granted, but at the end of the day, bloggers still work really hard for that “free stuff”.
And if we’re getting down to specifics here, it technically isn’t “free”. Brands report these gifts as write-offs on their taxes, and by law bloggers should be reporting this on their year-end taxes as well.
P.S. Bloggers- please stop working for free. You’re worth WAY more than a free t-shirt.
How to Support Them
For bloggers, the number one goal is to build a strong community of people who love and trust what we do, which is why you as readers are so important!
So in case you’re wondering how to support your favorite blogger, here’s 5 very simple yet highly appreciated ways to show your support and appreciation!
Follow Them
One of the easiest ways to support your favorite blogger is simply by following them! In today’s busy world it can be ridiculously hard to keep up with someone on your own accord, but if you absolutely love their content then why not subscribe to their newsletter and get their content sent right to your e-mail!
Another option if you follow along with a lot of bloggers, is using Bloglovin’ to keep up with all your favorites and it’s super easy to subscribe! (You can follow me on Bloglovin’ right here.)
On top of subscribing to a blogger’s newsletter, another great way to keep up with their latest content is by following them on their social media accounts. I post a lot of content to my Facebook and Instagram and I love being able to connect with so many of you all on those platforms!
Follow Along With Me: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest | Bloglovin | Youtube
Share/Like Their Posts
Bloggers love it when you read their content and visit their blog regularly. Even better is when you share their content on social media or share it with a friend. If you love their helpful tutorial then why not save it on Pinterest?
If you know one of your friends or your Mom would absolutely love the post you just read, then share it with them on Facebook! It’s all a happy circle friends, and more shares = more traffic = more content created by the bloggers you love.
If you ever see something you love on my blog, I have share buttons above, below, and beside each post to make it super easy for you to save or share something on your favorite platform.
For any bloggers interested, I use the Social Warfare Pro Plugin, and absolutely love it! Since installing it, my shares have absolutely skyrocketed, and I definitely recommend checking it out if you’re frustrated with your current sharing plugin. 🙂
Leave a Comment
This one is my favorite way of showing support and that’s by leaving your favorite blogger a comment on their post. If something they wrote really resonated with you and you absolutely love it, then why not tell them?
Us bloggers are a lot of things but psychic is not one of them and we really appreciate it when our readers tell us that they enjoyed a post or when they tell us what in particular they like about our blog. Not only is it nice to hear back from our readers but it also truly helps us in creating future content that you’ll love.
Send Them E-mail/ DM’s
Another great way to show your support is by sending a blogger a quick e-mail or direct message. Bloggers are happy to receive polite comments, questions, and happy-grams and I know I personally always enjoy reading reader’s e-mails or messages.
As I mentioned above, blogging is HARD and there’s days where we need a little positive affirmation on what we’re doing. It’s nice to know that the things we’re doing and the content we are creating matters and is important, so take the time out and let them know you care and appreciate all their hard work. Trust me, it does NOT go unnoticed. (#kindnessmatters)
Buy Items They Promote
Okay last but certainly not least is showing your support by purchasing the items that bloggers promote. Ever noticed a post with a disclaimer “This post contains affiliate links”?
What that means is that the blogger is an affiliate of that product, meaning if you purchase an item through one of the affiliate links on their blog, the blogger will make a small commission off of it at no extra cost to you. This also goes for products that bloggers create and sell (like t-shirts, handmade items, workshops, e-books, and more).
Think of it like this- if you had a friend who opened up a new restaurant in your area- you wouldn’t think twice about eating at their restaurant to show your support, right? The same holds true for showing your support to your favorite blogger through their affiliate links.
Bloggers work really hard and spend a great deal of time researching great products, awesome sales, and sharing their best recommendations, so why not take the time and shop through their links as a small thank-you for their hard work?
I’m not saying buy something you don’t even want or purchase something you have no interest in. What I am saying is buy those pots and pans they’re promoting that you were going to buy next weekend anyways. Buy that makeup brush you’ve been dying to try out.
And next time you’re shopping on Amazon (which is like every week for this Amazon Prime gal) go to your favorite blog first and shop through their page.
For those who have asked me, you can shop my page by tapping the Shop tab listed on my top menu where you can Shop My Amazon Store, Shop My Instagram Posts, or Shop My Beauty Favorites. I’m so grateful for anyone who has ever shopped through a link I’ve shared on my blog and I truly appreciate your support.
So there you have it! I hope today’s post on What Bloggers Do and How to Support Them was helpful to those of you who weren’t really sure what bloggers do and that you enjoyed learning about ways to support your favorite bloggers.
As a blogger, I truly love what I do and it’s always the best feeling when my readers leave me comments, share my posts, or simply tell me that they’re a fan of my blog. Over the coming months, I’ll be sharing more helpful topics on blogging, so stay tuned for that if you’re interested on starting a blog or improving your blogging skills.
Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions on blogging, and I’ll be sure to include it in my series!
As always, feel free to follow along with me on my social channels below and for weekly encouragement, post notifications, and beauty and fashion deals, be sure and sign up for my newsletter! 🙂
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Thanks so much for stopping by! – Cara
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I am so sharing this with my non-blogging friends who are forever asking me all sorts of questions,in fact I should write a post about it too thanks
~B
So glad you enjoyed this! And thanks for sharing 🙂
Hi! I just wanted to reach out and say I love this post! And I just wrote a similar one and I linked to you in it! https://livebythesunshine.com/how-to-support-your-favorite-blogger/
Aw thank-you Lauren and thanks so much for linking back to my post. We definitely all have to support one another! 😉
These are some great suggestions! I feel like the only supportive people behind me are my fellow bloggers not my family or friends.
Thanks. I think we’re all kinda in that same boat. It’s not that family members or friends don’t want to be supportive, but they honestly just don’t have a clue about what blogging is (thus me creating this post lol) But… I will say surrounding yourself with people who do support you is a must. 🙂
So many great tips and advice. Blogging is a lot of work an d it’s kind of hilarious to try to explain it to people who are unfamiliar with blogs.
Thanks Whitney. So true. I try not to laugh at some of the questions I receive but some of them crack me up. 🙂
I loved this post! I’ve only recently started my blog, but, already i have realised the level of work that needs to go into it in order for everything to run. Also, i have only just discovered your blog, but, i’m already in love!! xoxo
Thanks so much Aimee! So glad you enjoyed today’s post and glad to have you here. Blogging is definitely something you have to put in the work in order to see a return, but it’s so worth it to be your own boss. Come back soon! 😉
I love this article!
Blogging can be quite difficult, especially when you’re trying to grow your audience. I am so grateful when someone shares one of my articles!
Thank-you! Couldn’t agree more- it always helps solidify your work when others share it. 🙂
GIRL! This post gives me all the feels. I hear ya with what you’re saying when people ask if blogging is a real job … it’s so annoying, but you’re also right that they just don’t understand. I hope that others take your tips to heart on how to support their favorite bloggers. Loved this post!
Thanks Karly! So glad you enjoyed and related to it. Blogging is such a hard field to be in, simply because of the lack of understanding/respect some people have for it but at the end of the day we all know how hard we work and that’s what matters. 🙂
It always entertains me to hear what people who dont blog or follow blogs thing of bloggers. They have no clue sometimes!!!
I love that you created a blog post about this! I shared it to Facebook so my friends, and family can read about what I do blogging.
xx,
Amanda || http://www.fortheloveofglitter.com
Thanks Amanda, I appreciate you sharing it! 🙂
I’ve been a hobbyist blogger for over 10 yeaea. I just never understood how to make it a bigger thing. I guess I’m just not made for thst. Haha. But always love encouraging all my entrepreneur bloggy friends6 who do.
I think that’s wonderful and there’s nothing wrong with that. We all blog for different reasons, but regardless of whether or not it’s for a career or hobby, people should still show their support and never demean it as not being hard work. Because it totally is. 🙂
I love this post! I especially love your description of what bloggers actually do- you do an excellent job of summing it up and still keeping it positive! This is one I definitely need to share with my readers, too!
Emily
http://darlingdearestblog.com
Thanks Emily! I’m hoping this is helpful to the ones who are unfamiliar with blogging and all the work that goes into it. 🙂
It’s so true. Many people don’t understand or know how much work goes into blogging. And yes! As bloggers we absolutely need to support each other and build a community. Thanks for sharing!
Thank-you! Without the support of others, we couldn’t do much. 🙂
PREACH GIRL. I had this experience this past weekend where a group of older folks could not wrap their heads around my career – but I’m doing just fine, so that’s A-OK by me. 😉 Keep on keepin’ on!
Absolutely. There’s always gonna be people who just don’t get it, but at the end of the day if you know it’s a real job and it’s hard work, then you don’t have to justify it to anyone. Happy Tuesday, Erica. 🙂
You’ve shared so many great points here, Cara! I think comments are our favorite form of showing support, both on the blog and especially on Daisy’s YouTube channel (she loves connecting that way). They’re so fun to read and it helps us get to know readers better. I guess we’re lucky, because we’ve never gotten the “real job” comment before.
That’s great. Usually when people ask silly questions, I just brush it off as lack of understanding. I’m hoping as time goes on more and more people will understand that blogging is a real job and it’s hard work. And I love Daisy’s Youtube Channel! She does such a great job with makeup. 🙂
LOVE this post and I couldn’t agree with you more on all of it!
Thank-you! Bloggers deserve others’ support- they work SO hard! 🙂
I love this so much! I talk to so many people that are always like “Oh, I should start a blog so I can get sent all of the things you get sent”… They don’t realize how much work it takes to get to the point of even getting stuff sent for nothing!
Thank-you! And absolutely. People think it’s so much easier than it really is because I think sometimes as bloggers we do portray such an effortless look on social media- but there’s SO much behind the scenes.
Ugh this is so true it hurts! I get the ‘is that a real job?’ question ALL. THE. TIME!
YES! So frustrating sometimes, but I try to remind myself that it’s lack of understanding most of the time.
This is wonderful! I’m going to use much of this the next time that I’m asked what I do. Beautiful post!
Beth || http://www.TheStyleBouquet.com
Thank you Beth! It’s so much more than what most people think we do. 🙂
It’s so funny that those who don’t blog have absolutely what we do! Many people I’ve told tend to view it as my hobby and not my job. If I say I write articles for a website, they seem to understand it better. Duh! A blog and a website are the same thing lol!
Oh absolutely! So many are just completely clueless lol. I try not to let negative comments affect me too much and just share with the ones who do support me. 🙂
This is a great post! People really don’t understand what we do. It’s WORK, and a lot of it. I love love love this post.
Thank-you! There’s so many people that think I’m just on social media all day or taking photos, but that’s only a small part of it. Hoping more and more people gain an appreciation for bloggers as time goes on! 🙂
This is so spot on Cara! People don’t get how much time it takes and I have Learned sooooo much from blogging! This is so thorough and shows how much work is put in on the daily with your job. Excellent post girlfriend!
Thank-you so much! It’s not as glamorous or as easy as most people think, and I hope that more people start to appreciate bloggers for the hardworking, amazing individuals they are! 🙂
AH I JUST LOVE this post! This is the perfect way to let peeps know exactly what we do and how much HARD work goes into blogging. I wish it was as glamorous as they think…. but I’m totally rockin sweats and a messy bun as I’ve been working my tail off today. We seriously are jacks of all trades. There’s so much to do, so little time!
Thank-you! I honestly think that’s the hardest thing about blogging to begin with, is we’re wearing 10 or more hats for one job. My close family members are supportive of me and that means the world, as there are still so many out there that don’t view it as a “real job”. Happy Tuesday, friend! 🙂
This is fabulous Cara! So many people in my ‘real life” just don’t get it and will not even talk to me about it. The blogging community is just so cool, full of supportive and compassionate people like you!! Thanks for spelling this out pretty lady!
Thanks Andrea. I’ve had so many people say things like “That’s not a real job” or “Posting on Instagram isn’t a job” but they don’t understand the amount of time and hard work that goes into creating the content that us as bloggers put out there for everyone. It’s so much more than most people can even fathom and I hope one day people become more understanding and supportive of the blogging community. But for now, I’m just glad to have awesome fellow bloggers to support one another- like yourself! 🙂 Happy Tuesday, friend!
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS!!! My family and in-laws when they come to visit say can’t you get off your computer/phone, you are always on social media, you are always typing, you are…. So I snapped one day and yelled “I’m WORKING!” and my mother in law laughed and said “no sweet heart you should know the difference between a hobby and real work.” Since then I have been so standoffish about admitting what I do, very selective about who I tell. I was in the dental field for 12 years and let me tell you I put in more blood sweat tears and hours into my site than I ever did in any dental office I worked in and that includes surgery!! So THANK YOU for this amazing post!!
Thanks so much Leah. Sorry to hear about your experience, though I can 100% relate. There’s so many people who just don’t understand blogging and they think it’s just taking pretty photos and being on social media all day, when that couldn’t be further from the truth. I’m hoping that with time and more education that people will start understanding blogging truly is a career just like anything else out there. And I totally work harder on my blog than I ever did working an office job. With regular jobs I feel like there’s typically downtime but with blogging it’s pretty much 24/7 lol. Have a great Tuesday, and thanks for stopping by! 🙂
YES!!! This post is so great and so important for others to understand <3
Thanks Ellen! So many people just don’t understand the premise of blogging and what bloggers do and it’s SO much more than just writing a post or posting photos. 🙂
All the praise hands for this post! I have one very similar and we pretty much said the same things. Blogging is a ton of work!
Thank you! I really enjoyed your post too. Blogging is so much harder than people realize and I just don’t understand the negative attitudes towards them sometimes. I’ve always said never judge something or someone until you walk a mile in their shoes. 😉 Happy Tuesday, girl!