What is a Blogger?
Having the Internet at our disposal is an amazing thing. Never before have average people been able to reach a global audience with such ease. There are literally millions of blogs online, and bloggers have the ability to connect with thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people each and every day!
Blogging has quickly become one of the most popular ways of communicating and spreading information and news. Blogs can be used for personal use, business, news, and networking.
What does a Blogger do?
Originally blogs were known as "weblogs". They were used so people could write about their day-to-day activities. Their everyday tasks became content for their mini sites, where they would record their opinions, stories, photos, and videos. Some of these mini sites gained a following, and the hobby of blogging was born.
Being a blogger is similar to being a freelance artist - whether you’re a writer, photographer, or a curator of information, a blog can give a specific audience a close-up look into a particular subject (or subjects).
That “artistry” can be anything from writings, recipes, photos, videos, e-books, links to other information, or pretty much anything you can think of. That is the amazing thing about it. There isn’t a whole lot of categorization, and this gives bloggers an incredible amount of creative exploration.
There are a variety of things that bloggers can do to maintain their blog and their audience:
- create fresh, original content a few times a week
- use images that truly compliment their content
- research other blogs with similar content and great reference material
- establish social media presence - Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest etc.
- keep up with all changes on each of the social media platforms
- update their credits page with all their media and major mentions
- share their content on social media, encouraging conversation
- manage comments, spam, and read and reply to each one
- guest blog once or twice a month by creating fresh content for another blog
- keep the back-end running smoothly (the platform, plugins, design, code)
- optimize top pages, top blog posts, services, and product pages
- research opportunities such as advertisers and promotional inquiries
- build relationships online and offline with their community
- support their community by following other blogs
- do phone or video interviews
- endorse products and honestly share opinions with audience
- establish consulting services with their blogging knowledge
- set up their newsletter, and are smart with their email marketing strategies
- prepare for each consultation with clients by doing prep work and post follow-up
- educate themselves constantly with free webinars and online courses
- do the bookkeeping if their blog is their business
- set up a sole proprietorship and find an accountant for the taxes
- attend conferences
- set up a podcast and expand their audience
- track their stats using Google Analytics
- collaborate on projects with other bloggers such as an eBook or other creations
- create their own products (Kindle book, an e-course, or a video series)
In a marketplace with more and more blogs, it all boils down to bringing something unique and valuable to the table. The most successful bloggers are:
- not afraid to think outside of the box
- know how to effectively market their blog
- are artistic or otherwise graphically inclined for website design
- know how to use social media to promote their blog
- have writing and editing skills
- are clever, creative, motivated, innovative, strategic, and forward-thinking
What is the workplace of a Blogger like?
The appeal of blogging is that anyone can do it, and from anywhere. Blogging can be done from home, from a coffee shop, or from a beach. Anyone who is interested in sharing their words with the world can do so with a few clicks of a mouse and a keyboard.
Whether people have a message that they want to convey, a professional service they're looking to sell, or a simple desire to have their words published for others to read, blogs can accomplish these goals simply and easily.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Bloggers happy?
Bloggers rank among the happiest careers. Overall they rank in the 88th percentile of careers for satisfaction scores. Please note that this number is derived from the data we have collected from our Sokanu members only.
This particularly high happiness quotient is no doubt rooted in the fact that bloggers are so intimately connected to their work. They write and speak about topics for which they have a passion, even an obsession.
How long does it take to become a Blogger?
Becoming a blogger involves two quite separate processes. The first process is rather technical; it is about setting up a blog. The second process is more creative; it is about designing a blog and producing and distributing content.
The time that it takes to become a blogger probably varies as much as the topics in the blogosphere do. The road to a successful blog depends largely on creativity and motivation, both of which fluctuate immensely from individual to individual.
What are Bloggers like?
Based on our pool of users, bloggers tend to be predominately artistic people. This is not a surprising revelation – because the essence of artistry is creativity, and creativity is at the heart of blogging.
Should I become a Blogger?
According to Mark W. Schaefer and Stanford A. Smith, co-authors of Born to Blog, there are five traits or roles that are necessary for blogging. Schaefer and Smith maintain that everyone has at least one of these traits, and some of the most popular bloggers probably have three or four of them. The idea is to recognize that trait or role that you play, build upon it, and then use it to create a successful blog.
Here are those traits / roles:
Dreamer
Successful bloggers are visionaries who think about and see a different world, one they want to share with readers and/or listeners.
Storyteller
The best blogs tell stories and the best stories are told in authentic, clear, uncluttered, and compelling language.
Teacher
By its nature, unique, authentic, and valuable blog content can enlighten and teach.
Persuader
Sought-after bloggers are passionate about the topics they present. They have strong opinions and generally seek to persuade their audiences.
Curator
Dedicated bloggers are collectors, guardians, curators of stories. They train their brain to notice potential topics and think about how to blog about them. They write down every idea that pops into their head. They let their brain know that every good idea is going to be used in some way.
The authors also address the big question that aspiring bloggers invariably ask:
Do I need to be a good writer?
Schaefer and Smith state that a blogger does not need to be a good writer in the classic sense of a Pulitzer Prize winner or literary great. Bloggers, they say, must be natural conversationalists – writers and speakers able to get their points across not with jargon or in boardroom speak; but in dialogue that builds rapport, much like what takes place when we sit down to have a drink with a friend.
In other words, blogging is not just about text. It is less objective and structured than article or presentation writing. It is more personal, more intimate, because the blog writer is looking to start a relationship founded on their opinions and perspectives.
When asked how prospective bloggers should decide if they have what it takes to be a blogger, Schaefer and Smith had this to say (paraphrased):
Ask yourself these three questions:
Do I have a borderline obsession with a topic?
To avoid getting burned out, you need to be obsessed with the subject that you want to blog about.
Are there others like me out there?
You must have an audience, so there must be like-minded thinkers out there.
Do I have a marathon or a sprint mindset?
Recognize that it could take years to be an overnight success.
Get in the zone. Kick off your content. Turn content creation into a habit. Refine what you do over time. And know when to stop refining. Learn that considered done is often better than perfect – because the most important thing is to get your stories out there.
In Stanford Smith’s words, ‘There are millions of bloggers out here. But your voice is unique. You owe it to yourself to try.’
Bloggers are also known as:
Youtuber
Video Blogger
Web Blogger
Online Blogger