Not sure, if you are following me on Instagram and seen the latest post of me throwing my toys out of the pram and expressing my frustration? No? Then catch up here in this post.
In May, my blog will be 2 years old ( well, Don’t Cramp My Style domain to be specific). Since I started this blog, I really threw myself into it. I literally loved every minute of blogging. You can read my post the story behind don’t cramp my style to see how I came up with a blog name. After 1,5 year of blogging, I came to a point where I am like in between two roads and caught myself of being quite fed up with some things. Perhaps, blogging a full time wasn’t a wise decision.
The biggest question of bloggers is ‘how to become a successful blogger‘ and the only answer is ”be yourself” and excuse me for a moment here but:
How can you be yourself, while you trying to beat algorithms, calculating how many followers you have or researching how you can get more? You no longer ”just do you” as now you are searching how to get these people follow you, how to increase your DA and how people can find you. You are losing that part of innocent ‘just do me’ blogging. You no longer a blogger virgin.
Anyone who wants to work with brands will be calculating and generating new following, they won’t admit that but that’s the truth. Blogging became just a business like any others, and anyone I know who started ”just for the passion’ is now trying to find how to monetize it. If you just started and think you ‘Ah I just do it for joy’..then just wait, because how long you will be buying products yourself, spending hours photographing, styling- spending money on new camera, lighting etc. Before you know, you will be researching how to make money blogging and how to gain new followers.
Blogging it’s like an online office where you have to fight with your coworkers (other bloggers in this instance) for the approval of your boss. You can sit quietly in your desk and ‘do what you do and be just grateful you were “employed” or you can join other people from office fighting for better jobs, staying longer and get more of it. As simple as that.
Don’t get me wrong. I love blogging, however the rate race for numbers, calculating engagement rates & trying to beat algorithms just really cause me a big headache. I caught myself, seating and calculating to send my stats to brands rather actually focus on creativity! It’s not just me if you ask, it’s any blogger who works with brands, and if they tell you they don’t, they lie. Unless they just started, and are quite clueless. (or they have separate full-time job, just get few items to review time to time and don’t worry about paying bills blogging).
On a positive note, blogging communities are amazing. I love the fact that I met so amazing and inspiring bloggers along my journey to whom I chat every day and who become closer friends than my old ones!
I love the fact, that I have learned photography, styling and developed my blogging style. I love each brand collaborations I did and being able to review all the products, or join the press events or work on all the campaigns I did. Yes, I still love what I do and I will be continuing blogging.
As everyone else, I started my blog for love and passion for an interior design. When I started, I would go and comment on other bloggers blogs and most likely 80% would return. Now, I have commented on over 50 blogs last week, goes how many came back? None! Nada! Zero!
You know why? Because these days, we live in a generated comments forums, algorithm beating world, where people seem to engage only with people who wish to engaged in a certain pod or comment thread. The world of finding each other through a normal research is nearly gone. The trust to other bloggers clear intentions is gone. Most people would love to go and comment, and of course get a comment back. Is it that not nice? When someone visits you, leave you a nice complement or join your discussion? of course, it is, and we all want that.
However, most people see someone who got over 10k and they get a red light, as they don’t believe in their genuine intentions these days. They will kindly thank on their own blogs or Instagram and won’t even attempt to go and check because again, they just a way to scared it will be simply waste of their time or they are being tricked into f/uf. That’s where the trust been broken.
Another thing is a ‘’celebrity me’’ where bloggers get a comment or follow but won’t comment or follow back. When I see a blogger with 10K, 20K OR 100K who only follow 300 brands… come one? You are not a freaking Beyonce!
The most answer I will get is ‘’I want to just follow people who inspire me’’ yeah I get that, but seriously following the whole Kim Kardashian family is all that inspire you? This is why most bloggers lose the trust in the genuine intention of other bloggers. They also scared the other bloggers/Instagrammer won’t find them ‘’inspiring enough’ or just unfollow them after few days. This is why I follow most people who engage with me, talk with me regardless what they posting on their feed. I want to see a feed from their everyday life because if I want to get inspired, I go outdoor, I grab a book or do a research. Just because someone follows 200 people while having more doesn’t make them looking cooler than others.
*Follow/Unfollow method (f/uf) people literally write guides teaching this method! I know gross! Basically, you follow a certain amount of people and then unfollow them after a while. There is a whole level of guides and explanations how to do it, can you imagine? This is another reason, why people lose trust in others. You can recognise these as they most likely large accounts who only follow 300/400 people. It’s not nice being ‘tricked’ to be following someone but sadly we still kind of believe and follow back, just to be unfollowed in few days. You can follow and unfollow people if they: inactive, not engaging or you no longer interested in their feeds. I have clear up my feeds for few months like that, but never unfollow followers and people who interact, as what’s the point? So, yes unfollowing people and following new one can be done in a human way.
I understand. Brands need to generate money, we are the generators but where have the true spirit of blogging gone? Witch such a race toward stats, number and growing we all get to forget the main reason behind it.
I don’t understand how we all want to be followed, but we don’t follow back these days? Instagram became a game, who will follow and who will unfollow. Everyone wants zillion followers, but they not gonna follow anyone other than brands? It’s kind of stupid.
I know, people who only started or have full-time jobs and do blogging only as a part of their world, they will most likely say, ‘why you care, just do what you do’. well, easier said than done when you don’t have to pay bills with it.
Once you start getting approached by brands, once you get great collabs and being approach by more brands you are fully entering the world. You will come across opportunities for brand collabs but there will be ‘wait a second’ moment as, your DA may not be as great, or your social following and there is where the race starts. You will, of course, want to become a brand ambassador or get that fancy press trip, and the only way is to have a great DA or large social following. The ugly truth.
If someone tells me, that he/she spend 5h clearing his backlinks because he just loves blogging, sorry, I don’t believe it! You do that because, you want to have higher DA, therefore, to get that brand collab, not because you want waste 5h of your life removing some unwanted links.
Fair enough, if a brand decides not to work with you because your style is not what they after, but nothing more depressing than being refused because you don’t have that number isn’t?
If you are a designer, and people ask you to show their portfolio, they don’t ask how many people clap at this! They will look for style and a detail, and how much work you put into it.
Unfortunately, since you wish to proceed your career in blogging, most of your time you will spend not writing a post but working on your strategies via social media or SEO. Some can be fun, some can become a nightmare.
Social media can be a really exciting part. Sharing your posts on Twitter or Instagram and receiving nice comments or creating Instagram pictures can be really fun and something I really love but then again, to get this social exposure you are entering and joining the race. People will say they don’t, because they too scared to admit it.
When you see bloggers, who only started and suddenly reaching 10K, then 20K you automatically get the red light, and question bubbles above your head. Is that genuine? Did she/he bought followers? How on earth they just grow so fast while you spend hours commenting, engaging and not getting such a grow?! It’s very easy here to get lost. I have chatted to so many bloggers, and most admit to be watching someone else. Maybe it’s a bit of jealousy, maybe a bit of admiration – however, same point- the hunger to get the answer. Most likely the answer is disappointing, as you either see the person engagement to be low and you know, she just did f/uf or bought her following. Come on, how many times did you check someone’s account with app for fake followers? 😉
I am at this point where I no longer give a damn! Perhaps, I will miss many ‘’so great opportunities’ and won’t get onto this amazing press trips or won’t get the fab reviews or press events, but I want to be just me. I want to blog and enjoy what I do. I really stop give a damn about algorithms engagement rates or numbers. Maybe I won’t get to some fancy Paris trip but at least I will be happier. I really, want to stop caring and just ”do me”. Therefore, I am ditching full-time blogging and looking to get full-time work in design. As long as only part of my life, this can be enjoyable. If is your bread and butter, it’s not that fun. I seriously started hating the whole number counting. People are people not numbers, and I want to be just me, careless me.
all i want is write posts, drink fancy tea and wear cool socks!
So, for all those whose life goal is to become a full-time blogger, be careful what you wish for…
Thank you for being so honest. I’ve been wanting to start a blog for a few months. The whole process is being delayed because I’ve been trying to read all these eBooks and how-to articles. Now, I don’t want to blog for a living, yet it seems that you still have to follow the same tactics to succeed and “be seen”. And it’s not just Instagram. You are expected to keep up with Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook at the very least!
As another reader pointed out below, I rather focus on a small engaged audience. But of course, I have another job to provide that needed stability. I wish you all the best with that design job!
Love this post! Really honest and great insight into the “real” world of blogging. Good luck with your new design career! 😍
Same! I’ve been blogging for 10 months and if I had a dollar for every post I’ve read that starts with “how to make money blogging…” I’d be rich! I think the days of passive income feom a blog are behind us…well unless you want to work 14 hour days tracking algorithms and scratching your head trying to get more followers, while hoping and praying one of your posts goes viral.
It was a rude awakening in the beginning now it’s just become clear that it’s hard to make money blogging unless you have a rockin product to sell or you just got lucky.
Thanks for your honesty. I will soon need to get a full-time job as well. Just a hard cold reality.
This is actually a very nice post 🙂 Well done!
Loved this post! I guess we let the pressure get to us as bloggers sometimes and just stop having fun. Being a newbie blogger, I was starting to research on the numbers game but luckily I read your post first which has reminded me not to fall into that trap and just focus on the content. As they say, it’s always quality over quantity! So thanks for that. 🙂
Great post Anna and I totally get where you’re coming from. I hate the numbers game too and I refuse to take part. I don’t let my follower count worry me at all. All my growth has been organic and I wouldn’t want it any other way. I just do what I enjoy and hope others enjoy it too.
I took a very different approach with my blog though. For the first 6 years I refused all sponsored posts, reviews and brand collaborations. God knows how much money I turned down. But I wanted my blog to be editorially independent. I wanted to maintain my integrity. It’s only in the past year I’ve started to monetize it and I feel now I have enough experience behind me not to fall into the numbers trap. If a brand collaboration works for me I’ll do it, if it doesn’t no amount of money will persuade me.
It’s easy to do this when your mortgage doesn’t depend on your blog as you said. That’s why I’ve always preferred to have a second income. I’d think I’d lose the love for my blog too if I had the stress of it keeping me financially afloat. Good luck with your job hunt. I hope working in design will help you rekindle your love for blogging. Keep on being you. You rock!!! X
Always really enjoy your posts and your photos are just gorgeous! Glad you’re doing it for you now – I totally agree. Even after just five months of blogging, I feel like it’s a chore, which isn’t why I started this! Need to get back to the fun side of things <3
♡♡ I’ve just had a Facebook rant about the same thing! (Far less eloquent than this!!)
Clap, clap, clap !!
That was a fantastic blog post and it must have taken courage to write this !
I totally feel what you’re saying, I started my blog to compliment my design career, more as a living portfolio and some fun behind the scenes for people who who potentially want to hire me, but doing some research on “how to blog” basically I ended up on countless websites about SEO and perfect feeds and all that crap and I had no idea there was all this crazy hustle underneath. I can see how you’d get swept up in all of this if this is your income source, it must’ve been so overwhelming and mentally draining. I think you’re making a brave decision to cut back and going for a design job. I’m sure you’ll find something great and you’ll feel your shoulders getting lighter. It’s weird to say because I don’t know you (power of the internet!!) but I’m proud of you and very happy for you. Go enjoy it !! 🙂
I can totally relate to all of this. Trying to beat the algorithms is the part I really don’t enjoy.
This was a fascinating read, Anna. There is so much that people don’t realise
This was such an interesting post 🙂 The “I am at this point where I no longer give a damn! Perhaps, I will miss many ‘’so great opportunities’ and won’t get onto this amazing press trips or won’t get the fab reviews or press events, but I want to be just me.” part really resonates with me. And I think the follow/unfollow accounts are disgusting as well!
I love your hair and blog. This was an interesting and you have a good respective on the blogsphere
I love how honest this post is and as a fellow blogger I could completely relate to what you’re saying. Blogging at times can be frustrating but I do love it as well x
This was such an interesting read. I hate it when bigger bloggers won’t follow anyone back like they’re the queen.
This is such a shame Anna, I’ve really enjoyed reading your blog. I completely understand where you’re coming from though, I’ve only been blogging for a few months and I’m already starting to realise this. I’m just hoping there is a way to ‘succeed’ with a smaller engaged readership who subscribe to my mailing list, rather than an enormous social media following. After all, what happens if that social media platform ends? Thanks for being honest and I hope that you find a fantastic job that you really love in design.
This really spoke to me as I have tried my hardest to grow my Instagram to boost my blog. Without a fancy camera, or other people to take fashion shots (my husband loathes doing it) I felt like I was going against the current in a losing battle. To many people the number 1300 on IG is measly but I hit it and days later dropped to 1295 again. It seems strange since I hadn’t posted anything that day. I love how you’re bucking the system and doing your own thing. You connect with your followers and are genuine – I love that. Maybe it’s not a free trip to Paris but you have a lot of admirers from around the world that love your honesty and style. Keep shining!
Totally agree it can be a headache at times to keep up with and numbers and such but I just enjoy and I am glad that I started my blog
As you know we chatted about this on Instagram, and I have to say reading your full post brought a tear to my eye. The reason why is because you can see the pure frustration that having to think about all these no’s has caused you so much stress. I do believe a full creative wave is in order where hopefully more people will not stand for their creativity being compromised by statistics and numbers.
Like you said I am a blogger virgin, I love Interior design and having had such a rough time physically blogging has helped me to push myself and has given me so much joy. I am not in it for the money it’s for my creativity, I am very lucky that my mortgage doesn’t depend on it.
I am so glad you have decided to do something about this frustration. That your going to get s new job and go on a new venture, I can’t wait to see where you go and what you do. All I can say is being older like 44! It just means I look at things in a different way to I did 10 years ago. I see there being an opportunity in the stressful ways brands are targeting bloggers. You could use this to your advantage. You could earn money by setting up classes to show new virgins like me what are all the down falls and things to be aware of? I would pay to do a class like that! You can also create a new wave of people that do want to connect, that are genuine by setting up your own hashtags. Just because the blogging industry is a certain way doesn’t mean you have to put up with it all, you can create a new way by being a leader and showing new bloggers like me how to do it properly.
I just want people to read my blog and be genuine and one thing I can say Anna is you are that, you have taken time out to like my posts and your one of the good ones X X
I don’t want to become a full time blogger as I blog because I enjoy it and not to make a full time income from. I would hate the instability from one month to the next x
I love how honest this post is. Good luck with the job hunting and hope you fall back in love with blogging again. I work and blog as a hobby, sometimes I think I’d like to do it full time and other times I’m grateful for my 9-5. Even as a hobby blogger the algorithm, numbers game and f/uf drives me mad at times!
I loved reading this and it does seem to have be ome a big numbers game. I hope you find a full time job in design and I hope you still get opportunities on here. You deserve them, your blog and photography are stunning. You will always be one of my favourite Instagram accounts x
Very interesting aspect of all this world, is not all just a pretty feed…just like you I am trying to get engaged by commenting and liking post I actually enjoy and like you said. Sometimes I feel it’s for nothing but once in a while it pays off to be connected and interact with travelers from around the world just like me.
*applauds* Wow! Well said!
I couldn’t agree more. I remember when blogging was about blogging, writing, photography, creativity, ideas.
But now I feel like we all have a disease where we obsess over numbers, followers & stats.
I also wrote a post about this recently, about the #BloggerRebellion, because so many of us are now saying ‘Enough is Enough’ when it comes to putting in all this work and following ‘blogger rules’ and just feeling sh** about it in return.
Great pos <3 Goodluck in your job hunt and I hope you do keep up the blogging, I love this blog, it's my go-to site for interior style ideas 🙂
x tink jayne x allabouttink.co.uk
You should enjoy blogging as far as i’m concerned. I love it although I do get annoyed when other bloggers do the follow / unfollow on twitter as I think it’s rude.
Thanks for putting this out – nice to hear honesty cutting through the gloss of blogging! X
Interesting post, I guess blogging means different things to different people and their reasons and goals are up to them. I agree that the blogging community (In my case mummy bloggers) is totally amazing and I have made some great friends. Kaz
Wow!!! Thank you for the eye opening world of blogging. I literally just launched my blog yesterday and I know the hard work involved but I am just wanting to be me. The whole algorithm thing confuses the heck out of me and I haven’t even thought that far ahead! I just wanted to get out there and say what I have to say. I’m about to embark on the #nobullblogschool and thanks to Sarah you pointed me to your blog, so glad she did, I love the honesty, bluntness and genuine blog you have created. I look forward to reading more and I look forward to hearing about your new design job, that I’m sure is just around the corner.
Loved this post! Sounds like you’ve made the right decision. And, I’m a big fan of that ‘I don’t give a damn’ attitude 😉 x
I dont think we are ever meant to understand the Instagram Algorithm or the method behind it. I just get annoyed when I miss my favourites posting and constantly have to search for them x
A great and honest post, went to lunch with a blogger last week, who told me she deletes and does not follow if they do not suit her brand and fit in her image i.e. following! Guess who I wont be meeting in a hurry, hate people like that
Great opinion piece – I feel the opposite though – I actually really love the business side of blogging – I have a head for figures and it is something I really enjoy.
I guess the following people back thing is a tricky subject. I’m not going to follow someone back just because they follow me , I’ll follow them back if I like their content, I feel that’s genuine then.
http://ohduckydarling.com
Fantastic post and so damn true! I totally agree with these huge Insta folk only following about 3-4 hundred..get over yourself. I’v been blogging for 2 years now, and having chronic pain prevents from working my butt off, I don’t have a job at all. I’ve turned down so many opportunities to attend events & launches, it’s disheartening but I can’t travel from the Southwest UK to London due to my illness.
I love blofpgging & have had some fab brand colabs, without pay but fir products, but I find some won’t work with me as I don’t have 10k plus on Insta etc. It’s annoying, some the blogs I read with large following, write half a dozen lines & 1 photo. How does that warrant a post?!
I’ve loved following you & really enjoy your posts & Insta,so I will miss you not being in as much!
Good luck with a career lovely, and yes..it’s fab to keep it real!
H x
I love how honest this post is, that is exactly why I’d rather keep my blog as a hobby rather than a full time job, I’m definitely not cut for the number and social media tracking, algorithm beating kind of routine, these things just stress me out too much and I’d rather have fun with my blog than making money off of it. But best luck with going back to design, I’m sure you’ll do amazing!
Technicolor ♥ Heart
The thing with full time blogging is that you have to be suer prepared and have really established readership and blogging for longer than 1,5h I think i went into it way too fast. Once you more prrapered and know what you will be dealing with, it will be easier. No one told me this, no one rrpared me becuase no one even talk about it. This is why i wanted to write it. I want to make people realise it’s not all roses. It has a dark and dangerous side where you can lose your own identity and individuality.
Amazing post! I love your style!
thank you huni, so kind of you <3
I loved this post. It was so honest and genuine. I always look forward to your post and your IG pics. The number game this year alone has been absolutely ridiculous. Why can’t we just enjoy and appreciate another persons work without worrying about the ratio of how many people I follow or follow me. I wish you all the best with full time on Design, I know you will kill it!!! 🙌🏾 But keep on posting because I enjoy seeing your post come through my inbox! 💗💗
Laura| http://www.lauralivinglife.com
great post. the numbers game drives me a bit nuts with blogging – I sort of don’t care about it. I keep plodding along and making the best of what I have!
This is great timing for this post…..I’ve only just launched my blog but I’m very spent a lot of time researching things and this week when looking at how to grow my blog etc I starting feeling totally overwhelmed and wondered whether this was something I actually wanted to do…..I’ve decided to just be me though and try not to worry about all of these other things! And stop comparing to others! Hopefully you find something you love doing and also find your passion for blogging again without the stress 😘😘
It’s a slippery slope, I wouldn’t want to do it full time, it’s a hobby and I don’t want to give up my social life for blogging and make it all about blogging x
I envy you now for that Nina! You know how much I have given up for this blog! I just want to able enjoy it as I used to.
Yes to doing what makes you happy! That is what is important. Love the bit about those who follow so few…… I follow so many and always think about whether I should, but hey I love that many peoples accounts so why the hell not!?
Big Love,
Siobhan
justauniform.com
Anna, I love the brutal honesty of this post! Blogging has got so competitive and I don’t get half as many comments any more either. If it doesn’t make you happy I feel that you’ve made the right choice. I hope you find an awesome design position soon! Deimante x http://www.sunnydei.com
This is one of the best posts I have read in a while! Thank you so much!!!
With Insgtagram it became slightly toxic, you constantly thinking about photo whether it fits in, will get more likes , instead of just taking that Instat photo and sharing a happy moment! I really have no respect for those who do follow/unfollow method because if your content is great you wont need this it will grow, slowly but it will.
I spend long hours doing research about hair and products and I genuinely appreciate when I get a comment or a follow. yes I want to grow a bigger audience but I want to grow it genuinely, with respect to my content.
Thanks again so much for writing this! xx
http://www.hairwonderfulday.com
Hey lady,
Totally agree with this, it has become a game of numbers and the follow/ unfollow method reaaaally frustrates me- I always try and interact with bloggers each day and a lot of them seem a little suspicious it’s a bit weird? Anyway just keep doing what you’re doing, your blog is fab!
Maria
Very well written. I totally agree with you. I started blogging because I wanted to have a creative outlet and I love it, but this “game” makes me sometimes feel like I hate it which is so sad. Even if I’m trying to distance myself from the whole numbers thing, I do get constantly reminded. I don’t know why but I have a feeling the whole blogging industry is changing and it has to blow up some day. I mean there are so many “fake influencers” that bought their following and get “engagement” through comment pods. Brands are going to start noticing soon who they are spending their money on, right?
I love the honesty here. I am one of those who are in full time work and doing it for a hobby so you’re right, I’m not as interested in algorithms or statistics. I’m not going to lie I would love to do it for a living as part of some interiors strategy but I’m the main breadwinner in my house and we have a mortgage to pay. I’m sorry you’ve been so frustrated by some tricks played by others, but perhaps going into design and taking the blog as a passion again you will rediscover why you love it, without the pressure. I wish you best of luck in your job hunt and look forward to continuing to read the blog. Cheers!
Yeah, I was same when I only did it part time. You don’t realise how hard it is until you actually start doing it. I can make my living but cost too much stress, so ditchng plus I really miss design.