Hey guys! I hope the week has been treating you well. I’m not sure how I came to the place of writing this post, but I think it’s been my interactions with some people in my circle over the past few weeks. So, I’m taking it upon myself to address some common myths about blogging! We might make it look all fun and glamorous, but there’s a lot that goes into making sure you all have an awesome experience with our brands.

Full disclaimer, I didn’t conduct a survey or anything of that nature. My thoughts below are my mere opinion having done this for several years. Some of this comes from conversations that I’ve had with bloggers, local and national.

 

Five Myths About Blogging

You get all of this free stuff!

I think this is the biggest one. Yes, sometimes I do. It’s very nice of brands to collaborate with me in that way, whether it’s a sponsored post, giveaway, or complimentary outfit for an event I’m hosting. After all, I blog mostly about fashion and lifestyle, and you know how much trends change. But over 85% of the things I own, are things that I have purchased. Even when sponsored, I always choose the items that I wear from a retailer, so it’s truly authentic to me, and still provides you with some inspiration. Also, I don’t just get the item or experience and run. Sometimes there are pre determined terms between me and the brand.

Blogging is so easy

WRONG. It’s actually really hard! HA HA HA! I am truly laughing because every step is so calculated. Sometimes putting the look together is easy, but the writing that corresponds with it takes time. It also takes time to write and schedule out social media posts – and to monitor them once they go live. Additionally, managing a calendar and brand partnerships or blogger collaborations is important because this is not the only thing I have going on. I still have a life at the end of the day.

You make so much money from posts

No. I wish! This is a huge myth about blogging. At this time, I can’t live off of this blog. I make actual cash off of probably every 10th post, and I am grateful for that! I make a few bucks from commission links that I set up as “Shop the Post” in every outfit post (thanks to those who have supported). A good amount of my partnerships have been on a trade basis. The way to know is by looking for the disclaimer in my post. Not many have it. So everything you see on the site unless otherwise noted is purchased by me. It’s money from my pocket that I’ve earned in my consulting business. Another side note on that: A lot of brands still don’t understand how to work with bloggers, which means that a lot of us spend time declaring our worth during negotiations. Sometimes it’s a long process and sometimes the brand won’t budge. This is one side of The Blog Bloc that I plan to build up very soon: educating businesses small and large the right way to do it.

One last note about this, because it’s a loaded statement, while it is nice to make money from something I enjoy, I take the utmost discretion when I decide who I am going to work with. If I wouldn’t normally seek a product or service, I won’t work with the company. There would be no way I could share it with you.

You must be starving yourself and not enjoying life’s pleasures because you gotta look on point all the time!

Honey, have you seen my Instagram and stories? I do what I want, eat what I want, when I want. FOR REAL! Life is too short to be eating brown rice and veggies every single day (if you get the reference – I will buy you a coffee). I was just talking to my boyfriend about this earlier in the week. I don’t want to be the size I was in college or early twenties. I was skinny, and it was cool, and I definitely wore ALL OF THE THINGS that you wear when you are a twig, but I like my thighs and breasts, and those only showed up once I gained some weight. 🙂

Being completely candid, I noticed that I needed to bring it down a bit and I have, and dropped a handful of pounds. I have been fickle about a fitness routine because of my schedule, my health this summer, and honestly, my interest level, but I gotta get it together in the fall. I want to be alive to enjoy my grandchildren, OK!

It’s not work!

It may not be the work that society has deemed “acceptable” for decades, but it’s definitely work. Not only do I play the talent on this website, I write all of the content. I select all of the photos after I have a photo shoot with a photographer, and set up a mutually agreeable time. I schedule out the social media and follow up with those that comment and engage with me via DM. I am actively pitching brands, and fielding those that approach me. I spend time doing research on what trends are popular. I style and host events, meaning, I don’t just dress myself, but I often pull at least 15 different head to toe looks per event. I speak on local news. I also handle all of the invoicing, follow up and payment of vendors that I work with, and set money aside for taxes. If I’m paying taxes, that means I’m working!

In addition to my own hustle, I use my notoriety from The Lipstick Giraffe to pitch on behalf of almost 5-months-old The Blog Bloc and its members so they can have really great opportunities. It’s a harder sell than I anticipated, but I attribute that to the earlier comment about brands and bloggers. I refuse to get discouraged by that and have stopped taking consulting projects so I can focus on that. SCARY, but necessary!

Have questions?

Hit the contact form and I’ll answer them in an upcoming post.

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 GET THE LOOK

Blouse: Free People

Jeans: STS Blue

Shoes: XOXO

Clutch: Tory Burch via Crossroads Trading Co. 

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Photos by Christina Best Photography