Like the worst date ever, I left my own blog without much of an explanation and went missing. In fact, I didn’t know I wouldn’t be back for almost four months either. I just knew I needed to step back, and instead I disappeared altogether. Sorta like the dude from Tinder who I met a few months before I started dating Aless, who was lovely and sweet, but just never returned my calls or messages.
Running a blog is hectic.
It’s even more hectic when you insist only publishing good content, with great photos, and then having to publicise it, network with other bloggers, feel the pressure of how it’s supposed to make money, and then not have any of that seem easy.
As some of you may know, I run a small business creating content and assisting with digital marketing for travel brands. It’s awesome and fun, but it’s also really hard. To find upwards of ten hours a week to spend on updating my blog too was just an impossible ask at the start of the year.
I began the year beyond broke after a trip to the UK in December, then I had to deal with having very few regular clients at the start of the year (I know I’m not the only person who fought this battle). So, I did what I had to, and concentrated on paying work.
In addition to dedicating all my waking hours to dig myself out of debt, I realised that I had also gotten to a point where I was simply putting too much pressure on myself with this blog. It began to feel like I absolutely had to make money from it, like if I didn’t turn this into a career, then I would be a failure.
Taking some time off has made me realise a few things:
- This blog was started as a place that I could share the stories that I’m not actually able to sell, when did it become ‘the sell’?
- If I want to keep my blog for love, then there’s no reason I shouldn’t.
- I started to miss it about three weeks ago, but I still held back to be absolutely sure I wanted to write on here again
- Apparently, when you don’t blog for four months, PR companies still want to send you silly blogger drops even though you’re not likely to offer anything in return!
As an aside, dealing with bloggers in South Africa can be a bit like navigating a shark tank: There are hundreds of terrible ones and very few great ones by comparison. Everybody is pushing for payment from brands, and by doing so, are creating a push-pull that’s difficult to deal with when you just want to do cool things and tell people about them.
We’re being told to demand money from brands, insist that payment is the only way we’ll do this creative vibe we’re supposed to be in love with doing anyway, and it’s exhausting.
So while I’m back here to write about what I love and where I’ve been, I’ve also decided that the step back I took gave me a lot of clarity. If I want to do something for love, I can, there’s no law saying I must ask for money in exchange. I very often also feel like getting paid for a passion can kill it entirely in some cases.
I am lucky to work with some amazing bloggers on a daily basis, and I’ll let you in on a secret, the best ones understand the value of a relationship rather than chasing quick money. They don’t send feisty emails about being paid for their influence, or whine about how brands want to use them for their content. They find clever ways to get paid, they don’t expect to be paid for merely showing up and smiling at an event.
There are still some questions I need to answer for myself too. Like, can I be honest in a review if I get paid for it? My tentative answer is no, and that’s the reason I will never ask for a monetary exchange for doing one. Working on destination campaigns though often takes up a few days of my time, and in this case I do feel justified getting paid because I’m taking time out of my life and away from paying work, so there’s that.
So here I am, being a bad example to the professional blogging world, and I’m perfectly okay with that. I’ve got tons of stuff to talk about in the coming weeks, but I’ll also get there when I get there, the pressure’s off after all.
Comments (15)
“I am lucky to work with some amazing bloggers on a daily basis, and I’ll let you in on a secret, the best ones understand the value of a relationship rather than chasing quick money.”
I cannot agree more, Kate. The bullies need to back off, we don’t all need payment in order to “make it”. Good read & welcome back!
Thanks Sheens! Took me a while to come back’ round, but a break was needed to get some better perspective!
Fantastic read and welcome back :)
Thanks Verushka!
Hi Kate. I just came across your post on the Spice Goddess FB page (Thanks Verushka!) Wow! Such a valuable read. I have worked as a journalist for many years and only recently started my own travel and lifestyle blog. I needed a space where I could share all the things that are important to me and move my heart, but that won’t necessarily sell because it’s not “superficial” or “flavour-of-the-month” enough. And, I am also astounded at the rubbish some people get away with online. So, stumbling on your blog and your passion for good writing and integrity was just what I needed today. I will try not to lose myself in the blogging frenzy. OK, this turned into a mini essay, but your post really spoke to me. You are certainly NOT a bad example to the blogging world. We need more honesty and quality. Best, Birgit.
Thanks for stopping by in that case Birgit. Good luck with the blogging and don’t forget why you started it like I did!
Great to have you back my friend. Do what you love, and don’t be apologetic for it. Mwah!
Big kisses x
Hi Kate, nice to connect with you in the ‘professional’ space and I too have been going through a few identity crises around my blog. Finding time to create content is a struggle, but I just do whatever I can and try and not beat myself up too much. After all it is meant to be a joyful space for us to create and share.
So true. And I hate that I forgot that, but I do feel now that I’ve let go of the concern of money that I’m thinking about posts and images again in a much more creative (and healthy) way.
Katie so good that words are flowing – the Winery at REEA is now reaching completion and might offer good material for a post.
I’m there Kev!
Thank you for being a beacon of light in the, sometimes, dark world of writing for love, rather than because you are being paid to. It’s hard when you’d love to get paid to do what you love but, I agree, there are other ways to manage the relationship rather than sending large invoices.
It was the only way out I could see!
Welcome back Kate…and thanks for the refreshing honesty!