Tucking in a top makes a great difference in an outfit.
Top: H&M; Jeans: LEVI’S; Shoes: CALL IT SPRING
I’ve been using this top already before. Hindi nila pinapansin. When I came to work one time with the same shirt but tucked in, I got compliments. Ang lousy niya siguro pagtucked out ano? Hehe.
I’m writing this post to share my thoughts about blogging. I get a lot of questions like:
How did I start blogging?
How can you start blogging?
Paano kikita sa blogging?
What can you write about?
Paano ko nagagawa magblog ng madami?
Tips about blogging
Eto na. I shall share, give tips, make kwento in the usual sabog na Mommy Fleur way. Hihihihi.
Number 1: If you want to start a blog, ask yourself muna, “Why you want to do that? What do you want to get from it?“. If your reasons are (1) because you want to earn a lot money or (2) receive a lot of freebies or (3) sumikat ng bongga, esep esep muna ulit guys. Not unless you’re a famous celebrity, hindi instant yan. First and foremost, you have to love what you are doing and then followers will follow then the advertisers will come then moolah and fame will flow. Yuh. Ganyan ang chronological order ng pag-arrive of those factors and it will surely entail a lot of time.
Number 2: Maintaining a blog is not easy. I used to blog 3 times a day. Kwento-wise, I can do that. Ang daldal ko eh. I blogged like crazy. However, I realized my plate was always full! I was working for 8-10 hours, attending to Anika’s needs, minding the house, meeting up with friends and families and blogging in between. Blogging ate some of my quality time with Anika. Halos magkapalit na kasi kami ng mukha ng laptop ko eh. I didn’t want the day to come na pagsisihan ko na nag-kulang ako ng time with my daughter. Kids grow up very fast, you know. That was when I slowed down little by little. Naging busy din ako sobra. As Anika grew up, the more dumami the things I had to attend to and do for her. It was only my love for blogging that made me maintain this blog. Love for blogging will be the only thing that will make you maintain your blog with all the demands life will give you.
Number 3: Why do we need to charge for a blog post? Like I said, blogging is not easy. Remember the saying, do not do what you’re good at for free? Where you are now, pinaghirapan mo yan. When you write a blog post about something, mileage na agad yan to the product. It will equal a certain amount of profit for them. Why would they expect you to advertise them for free eh kikita sila sa gagawin mo? Gets?
Besides, have you tried taking nice photos of products for the blog? Matrabaho ha. Nakaka-jabar pa. Have you tried writing about something tapos wala ka talaga sa mood? Ang hirap humugot ng words ha? That sometimes happens to bloggers. But still, especially if it’s an advertorial, you are required to come up with something written with honesty and with substance. Tawag diyan ay talent. And most of the time, you seriously have to pay for good talent.
Of course, exceptions to this follow. For example, when I extra-ordinarily believe in a product especially when a fellow mom is selling it, I post it in my blog for free. Hindi din naman lahat ay pera pera lang.
You know I never imagined earning from blogging. Gusto ko lang talaga magkwento. I think that is the reason why (thank you God) I am able to earn through blogging. Hindi kasi yun ang naging target ko from the start. How much do I earn? I know you want to ask that. I earn enough to satisfy my luho (hello clothes and bags!) plus extra savings but not that enough for me to quit my day job and concentrate on blogging full time.
Number 4: When you’re there already in the level where PR firms and companies approach you for blog post proposals, pili pili din naman pagmay time with the products that you endorse. Build your credibility. The readers are intelligent. They know if you really like the product or if napipilitan ka lang kasi bayad ka. If it’s a review, be honest in writing about it. If you can see my blog, I put ADVERTORIAL at the top of the page of the blog post. I want to be as transparent as I can dito.
Number 5: Do not ask products in exchange for a blog post out of nowhere. Nakakahiya. Kusang lalapit ang mga yan sayo if they see you are worthy.
Number 6: There will always be haters, blog trolls and judgmental freaks. I’ve had my fair share of them. Akala mo maka-pagjudge eh sila na ang nagpalaki sayo. Ang plastic ko if I’ll say that I don’t get affected anymore. Meron pa ding kirot but natatabunan na ng pity for them. Pity and flattery. I feel flattered that I affect someone so much, enough to make that person create a dummy email address and do a lengthy comment in my blog post. Matrabaho din yun in fairness ha? Kaya binibigyan ko din ng airtime kahit papaano. Nag-effort kasi. Just don’t mind them.
Number 7: If you will decide to start blogging, it is best to find your niche. One perfect example of this is Vivian’s The Soshal Network blog. Pumatok ng bonggang bongga di ba? They found kasi their niche.
Number 8: If you are currently blogging right now, just go with the flow. Continue writing about what interests you. Do not get stressed with your blog hits. Most of the quality PR firms and companies now know about this sense already. Quality followers count. Pwedeng hindi naman thousands and thousands ang daily blog hits mo but your blog readers are yung mga bumibili talaga, advertisers will go to you. They will know this eh.
Number 9: You seriously need the following if you have a blog: Techie professionals like The Techie Mom and Marge, who have save my blog for extinction a couple of times already, a good blog designer like Pat of Fancy Girl Design Studio, picture editor to have nicer photos like Picmonkey, a good camera and your own laptop or computer.
Number 10: Have fun. If at one point in your blogging life you get stressed because of the competition and all things that you have to do for your blog, I suggest you step back and re-analyze why you are blogging in the first place. For me, blogging should be fun. If it’s not fun, then why are you doing it? With the thousands of blogs out there, competition talaga will be tough. Eh kahit sino na lang talaga ay pwede na magblog eh. Find something where you’re really good at and concentrate there. Magaling ka sa photography? Get that as your niche. You cook well? Write about your recipes.
So there. I hope I was able to answer most of your questions =) Keep them coming though kung meron pa! =) Good luck blogging!