Why Bloggers Deserve To Celebrate More Than Ever!

Let’s face it: bloggers are often considered lightweights in the literary world: “children of a lesser God.” We often garner the same response as “domestic engineers” when people in social gatherings ask us what we do. 

In fact, there’s a certain smugness and subtle disregard that occurs whenever I discuss my blog work and associated awards even among writing peers. 
It’s not much different than when our kid comes home with the “opus” created in his art class at school. We smile and pat him on the head for not coloring outside the lines, and then send him off to play. Still not convinced?

The prevailing mindset that blogging is not seen as “serious writing” is echoed by Hubspot blogger, Lindsay Kolowich Cox. In a recent post she shares: 

"Sometimes, when I tell people that I blog for a living, they roll their eyes. "That's so easy," they say. "You get a paycheck for sitting on the internet all day and writing. A monkey could do your job!"That's when I roll my eyes. See, people are quick to deem blogging as a no-brainer job. But when they actually sit down to write their first couple of posts, it hits them: This is way harder than I thought." 

Word to the wise: Blogging may not require a college degree or formal training to break into and it’s definitely not rocket science. 
Still, it’s a genre of writing that merits respect; no different than screenwriting, journalism, poetry or technical writing.

Consider the following stats and studies:

• ** In the U.S. alone the number of bloggers is expected to reach 31.7 million in 2020.
• ** Over 77% of the internet users read blogs regularly (i.e., at least once per month).
• ** Bloggers are considered the third most trustworthy source of information, behind friends and family, according to an independent survey of UK consumers commissioned by affiliate network, affilinet.
• ** 61% of U.S. online consumers have made a purchase based on recommendations from a blog. (Source: BlogHer)

Gone are the days when blogs were primarily used as a forum to vent about bad bosses or showcase poorly written work that could not make the cut elsewhere. This “art form” has resulted in major book deals by traditional publishers, syndicated columns, and a lucrative income source for those who do it well. 

For example, Yuwanda Black, a blogger over at Inkwell Editorial, was approached in 2016 by Adams Media to pen a book titled “The Ultimate Freelancer’s Guide.” 
She shares in an interview at Pen & Prosper, that she never even pitched or queried them. 
Adams Media discovered her randomly through her blog and information products, (and the rest as they say is history.) 

IN CONCLUSION...

Though many are called, few are chosen.  Blogging is extremely competitive and requires a strategic approach to stand out and stay relevant. Not everyone can pull it off or do it well. It’s the reason that so many sites actually end up folding within the first few years. It’s much harder than it appears, Charlie Brown.  :-) 

Blogging requires discipline, commitment, creativity, time management, effective communication skills, technical skills, courage, the ability to engage and consistency. 
And blogging during a pandemic? 
It demands laser-like focus and a real sense of purpose.
Now, that’s a tall order!

So, if you’re a blogger reading this blog, hold your head up high. 
Your work may not lead to a cure for Cancer or the Corona Virus, or result in world domination.
You may not even have “the moves like Jagger.”

But your work inspires, informs, empowers, entertains and educates the masses. 
And that’s not too shabby either! 

Cheers to you!



Thoughts?
Agree or disagree?


Image credits: Pixabay.com