Blogging Q+A: Part 2
Blogging is becoming more common every year. It’s a wonderful thing to see it grow, but with that also comes a lot of questions and misconceptions. Even though I’ve been blogging for more than three years, it’s still something I love to read about and see all the different approaches. Last month, I shared a Q+A post answering some common questions about the blogging world. Now it’s time for part 2!
1.) What has been your most challenging moment in blogging so far?
Oh my, where do I start?? One thing that first comes to mind when thinking of blogging challenges is self promotion. I touched on this in my last Q+A post. Self promotion has something I’ve always been really weird about. I’m not someone who likes to be the center of attention, so constantly having to put myself out there to get my blog noticed has really pushed me out of my comfort zone.
Other than the mental challenges of breaking through my shy shell, growing my blog and earning income from it have also been points of difficulty. Creating income and charging for the work that I produce has kind of been along the same lines of self promotion and being too shy and not as aggressive as maybe I should be. But growth challenges are the same as they would be in trying to grow any business.
2.) What do you think is the most frustrating aspect of blogging?
All the technical stuff is definitely the most frustrating part about blogging. Writing and taking the pictures is easy peasy. But once it comes time to do any editing to the actual website, my head starts to spin. Thankfully, my husband works in the IT field and handles all of that for me.
3.) What difference has blogging made in your life?
Blogging has made all the difference in my life. I mean, it is my life now. Before I started blogging, I had never taken an “official” selfie before so that took some getting used to. I didn’t have any social media other than my personal Facebook, so I had to learn a whole new world in that sense.
I’d also say that blogging has given me more confidence in myself. Not only did I have to get comfortable with editing the selfies I learned how to take, I’ve also become more comfortable in who I am. Sharing so many of my opinions helps my little introvert self be a little more outspoken with my thoughts.
One of my very first selfies! And first ever kissy face. LOL.
4.) How much time do you spend blogging?
Too much time! Taking and editing the photos takes about 3-4 hours a week, writing each blog is usually somewhere around 1-2 hours, social media presence is literally all day every day, and there’s so much more behind the scenes work that adds many more hours. When you work from home, there is no such thing as "quitting time" because you basically live in your office space and there's always something that needs to be done.
5.) Is blogging your profession or just a hobby?
Blogging is both my profession and my hobby. It’s the most demanding job I’ve ever had, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything because I love it so much. I get to take something that comes so easily for me (writing) and use that to share what I’m passionate about (beauty, fashion, food, etc.) with the world. How amazing is that??
6.) Many people think blogging is an easy way to make money online. What is your advice for those interested in making money from a blog?
Be prepared to work hard and wait long. Blogging is absolutely not an easy way to make money online. Especially with the blogging industry being as saturated as it is, you have to work extremely hard and build up your reputation before you can really make any money from it. I didn’t get my first payment for any work that I did until after I was in the industry for over 1 ½ years.
If you’re going to get into blogging, you have to do it because you love it and not because you want to make money. That’s one of the biggest misconceptions about blogging and is what leads to the majority of bloggers quitting within the first 6 months.
7.) Who takes the majority of your photos?
I take the majority of my photos when it comes to flatlays and swatches, but my husband steps in when shooting a tutorial or if I need larger pictures of myself. We’ve gotten into a routine with the tutorials, but other pictures are still a challenge because neither of us are photographers and I have zero imagination on posing or styling photos.
3 year throwback!
8.) What would you say is the biggest challenge in beauty blogging?
Keeping up with all the new releases! Cosmetic companies have noticed the growth in the beauty community and are trying to take advantage of that attention as much as they can. That’s completely understandable. It’s nice as a consumer to have so many options, but it’s overwhelming as an influencer because there’s only so many things you can try. There’s just not enough time to test everything, especially for someone like me who doesn’t produce reviews after only a week or two of product use.
9.) What would you say is the greatest satisfaction of being a beauty blogger?
Connecting with people from all around the world who have the same passion about beauty and makeup as I do. I’m not trying to be a makeup artist or create a bunch of crazy special effects types of looks, but I do like to hoard collect makeup and compare formulas to find the best products available. Connecting with others from all different countries based on this common hobby is such a cool thing!
10.) Where do you find your motivation to keep blogging?
Motivation can come from anywhere. I’m so happy and love what I do that, most of the time, all it takes is a new product find or learning a new technique that I want to share. If there’s any time where I’m not feeling motivated for whatever reason, I just don’t let myself write. I write exactly how I talk and it would definitely come across in the post.
For example, if I’m sick I’ll just wait it out. If I’m sad or feeling down about my journey or anything else, I find ways to pick myself back up. Whether that be listening to music, cuddling my dogs, or just allowing time to mope around for a little bit. Taking time for yourself to keep your spirits up should be a top priority no matter what the job.
I am so blessed to be part of this blogging business and have the ability to spend this time growing my brand. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing when I got into this. There was so much to learn and I’m still learning new things every day. Blogging is more work than anyone would imagine it to be, but it’s so rewarding!
I hope you enjoyed this post! If you have any other questions for me, please feel free to leave them in the comments section. There could always be a part 3 in the future ;)
XO ♥ Christina ♥
Don’t forget to follow me on all of my social media!
