{"id":6310,"date":"2024-02-27T14:02:12","date_gmt":"2024-02-27T13:02:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.justshareforyou.store\/?p=6310"},"modified":"2024-02-27T14:02:12","modified_gmt":"2024-02-27T13:02:12","slug":"benefits-of-blogging-bloggers-the-free-sht-and-entitlement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.justshareforyou.store\/index.php\/2024\/02\/27\/benefits-of-blogging-bloggers-the-free-sht-and-entitlement\/","title":{"rendered":"Benefits of Blogging: Bloggers, The Free Sh*t, And Entitlement"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n As the influencer space becomes bigger, people are starting to really form opinions on the way we work, the things we receive, and our sense of entitlement as influencers.
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\n Let\u2019s start with the truth: It\u2019s pretty damn cool to be a blogger\/influencer. There are a LOT of benefits of blogging.\n <\/p>\n

\n But I feel like I\u2019ve been recently seeing A LOT of negativity in regards to bloggers, the free shit we get, and how all bloggers feel entitled to everything. I wanted to share my thoughts on a few things because to me, a lot of what\u2019s being said couldn\u2019t be further from the truth. I should probably preface this by saying everyone is VERY much entitled to their own opinions.\n <\/p>\n

\n This post is written off my own experiences and what I\u2019ve been told from my other blogger\/influencer friends. Okay, let\u2019s proceed.\n <\/p>\n

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\n \u201cOh you blog? You must get a ton of free shit.\u201d
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\n Yeah I do. I\u2019m lucky enough that brands want to send me products to test out and share with my readers. When I first started blogging, I took advantage of every single free item that was sent my way. I thought it made me look important that these companies would send me their products. I was honored that companies noticed me.\n <\/p>\n

\n Five years later, my outlook has changed. I turn down a lot of free products because it\u2019s just too much stuff. And it doesn\u2019t pay for my photography fees, my SEO strategist, and all of the other expenses that go into running this blog. Oh and 8 times out of 10, the product doesn\u2019t fit into my lifestyle or brand. I am passionate about a lot of other aspects of blogging now (lifestyle, career, blogging posts). On the other hand, sometimes there\u2019s a product I REALLY want to share with my readers and followers (like
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\n Patchology
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\n ). If that\u2019s the case, I have reached out to companies to see if they\u2019d want to work with me in exchange for a product and then talk about a further, paid collaboration. I\u2019m lucky enough to have had a lot of really positive experiences with brands, and in return, I\u2019ve created a lot of really amazing business relationships!\n <\/p>\n

\n But then there\u2019s always the follow up comment\u2026\n <\/p>\n

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\n \u201cIt must be so easy for you to just blog about the stuff you get.\u201d
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\n UH NO. It\u2019s not.\n <\/p>\n

\n When I agree for a brand to send me products, that means one of two things: I\u2019ve signed a contract to try out the product and then write about it, or it was completely gifted to me. If it was gifted to me, I make sure I let brands know that I\u2019ll only share the product if I REALLY love it. If I don\u2019t, I always ask them if they\u2019d like me to send it back (if that\u2019s possible).\n <\/p>\n

\n When it comes to a collaboration, I take those VERY seriously. I don\u2019t just accept product for the sake of accepting product anymore. That\u2019s not my brand. So when I accept products for a collaboration, that means I\u2019m about to have a lot of work to do: Hire a photographer, keep track of expenses for project, find time to shoot content, actually write the content, schedule promotion for the project, and any necessary follow up in regards to the project. It is a lot of work, and you can read more about what actually goes into being a blogger
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\n Last week, I went to Drybar and explained that I was there for a collaboration to tell my readers about a promotion. The stylist (who was freakin\u2019 amazing), said to me, \u201cyou must get so much free stuff! I wanted to start a blog too!\u201d In my head, I rolled my eyes, BUT then she said this: BUT I REALIZED IT WAS A LOT OF WORK. It made me happy that she did notice just how much went into blogging, how it wasn\u2019t for her, and it\u2019s not just all about the free things!\n <\/p>\n

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\n I get why people see it as entitlement.
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\n I really do.
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\n I mean some guy put an influencer on blast because she reached out for a stay at a hotel
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\n . That\u2019s kind of where I got the idea for this post. I made the mistake of reading some of the comments putting bloggers on blast \u2014 entitled, worthless, no talent. Those were some of the words I read. They made me so mad. SO SO SO MAD. I see where people are coming from because, yes, to the average person, it looks like all we do is ask for free things. But do you know how much work we are signing up for when we pitch ourselves to brands?! ESPECIALLY HOTELS.\n <\/p>\n

\n I\u2019ve only had amazing experiences with my travel partners. But man, it is a ton of work. I want to make sure I\u2019m putting the hotel on a damn pedestal (if I had a great stay). So while I may have pitched myself to a hotel or tourism board, it\u2019s for a good reason. Not only do I want to travel the world, but I also want to make sure I
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\n others to do the same. When I\u2019m looking to go on a trip, want to know the first thing I do? Look for travel guides from bloggers. I trust bloggers. I reach out to them and ask additional questions. It just makes sense to look at someone who is close in age (with a similar budget to mine) for trip recommendations. Don\u2019t you think?\n <\/p>\n

\n So yeah, bloggers get a lot of amazing perks. I could write an entire post about the benefits of blogging. I\u2019ve been to amazing places, gotten amazing collaborations, and attended some really fun events because of this blog. But would I say I\u2019m entitled to things? HELL NO. I know my place. But I also know what I have to
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\n to a brand. I know that I can help influence people to purchase an item. It makes me feel good when a reader\/follower tells me they bought something because I was wearing it, or that they tried out a service because I posted about it. That\u2019s the whole point of this \u201cinfluencer\u201d thing. It\u2019s not so that I can get all of these perks (they are nice, and I am beyond grateful, duh). It\u2019s so I can use my voice to promote things I love, have conversations with people, give them advice, and really anything else they need.\n <\/p>\n

\n And maybe not every blogger is like me. Maybe there are some people that feel entitled. But for the most part, I think we\u2019re all good people, just hustling. It\u2019s such a different industry, one that doesn\u2019t have set \u201crules and regulations\u201d. We\u2019re all just kind of making it up as we go along. So please, cut bloggers a break. I have made so many friends from blogging and they\u2019re all BADASS BABES. They work hard. They love what they do. And they\u2019re just trying to live out their passions. If you don\u2019t like someone\u2019s content or some of the business practices they use, just hit the unfollow button. Go follow someone you believe, someone you relate to, and someone who you feel like you know in real life. I\u2019ve done this and it not only made me feel better, but it\u2019s also help me put the
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\n bloggers in the spotlight\u2026because they deserve it.\n <\/p>\n

\n To end this rant, I want to emphasize that I am
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\n truly grateful for what this blog has given me.
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\n I\u2019ve learned how to remain true to myself and focus on projects that I really believe in. It\u2019s always a \u201cpinch me\u201d moment when a brand reaches out to work with ME. Yes, little ol\u2019 me. The girl with a small blog and a small Instagram following (in retrospect). I\u2019ll never stop being myself on this corner of the Internet. Sometimes I can\u2019t believe people read my blog posts, comment on my Instagram, or interact with me on Twitter, but that\u2019s something I\u2019ll forever be grateful for!\n <\/p>\n\n

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\n SHOP THE POST
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