With international bloggers gracing magazine covers and starring in their very own reality TV shows, blogging is anything but dead. And here in SA, it’s just getting started. So if you’re keen to jump on the blogging bandwagon, here’s what you need to know.
Have something to say
You know what doesn’t sell? Daily outfit updates. Even Kim Kardashian had to have a huge following before anyone cared what she decided to wear on a morning. So as fun as it can be to upload pics of your look for the heck of it, don’t expect this to turn into anything more than your virtual – and largely unread – diary. The more unique your passion, the bigger your audience, says Natalie Roos, the Cape Town-based creator of personal blog Tailsofamermaid.co.za. “I want to hear people’s stories. I want to hear their thoughts on feminism and the new restaurant down the street.
As long as people are harnessing what makes them truly unique, there will always be room for them,” she says. “Decide what you’re passionate about and pursue it with a plan,” adds Yetunde Dada, co-creator of supersuccessful party blog Drop-yourdrink. com. “It will automatically simplify your life in terms of the blog posts that you need to generate. It will also allow you to think out of the box in those categories because you’re not trying to blog about everything.” Before starting out, ask yourself, “If this belonged to someone else, would I find it interesting?” If not, it’s time to go back to the drawing board
Become tech savvy
Even though we all might feel like we have social networking down, blogging requires a little bit more than clever use of filters and a stack of emojies. First of all, you’ll need to choose a platform. According to Misha Coetzee, creator of lifestyle site Brandslut. co.za, WordPress is best. “Choose a WordPress theme that’s designed for SEO [search engine optimisation], and take time to tag and write keywords that’ll help people find your content,” Misha advises. Linking your blog to your various social media accounts will help grow your audience, says Emma-Jane Harbour, the brains behind lifestyle blog Emmajanenation.co.za. “Think a lot about your blog name – you don’t want to regret it when you’re a super blogger! Once you’ve decided, check to see if the domain is available. It is? Register it quick! Do the same on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.” If you’re taking your own photos you need to know what you’re doing, as Yetunde reveals, “When Drop Your Drink’s focus plan was created in 2011, I realised I had to become a better photographer. The highlight of this experience has been my trips to America to shoot music festivals.”
Grow a thick(er) skin
Make no mistake, you’re putting yourself out there. And while you might feel a lot of love, you’ll also have to deal with the haters and trolls. “I’ve realised that I have to deal with the fact that some people will roll their eyes at me and my life. I’m pretty good at ignoring them,” says Natalie. It’s important to realise that people are a lot braver behind their computers – keep it all in perspective. Thithi Nteta, creator of fashion and lifestyle site Teeteeiswithme. com, warns against becoming one of those trolls yourself: “Be careful about what you say on social media. I have seen many bloggers – new and established – tweet negative things, and I always look at those tweets and think it’s really unprofessional. Don’t be mean or bitchy. It’s just boring.”
Be dedicated
If you’d like to see your blog grow from a cute side-project into a full-time career where companies pay to promote themselves on your platform, you’re going to have to make it your life. “When everyone else clocks off you have to put in a few more hours. I definitely think that’s what has helped me grow my blog and following pretty fast,” reveals Anna-Belle, creator of Shesaidsa.com. “Blogging is fun, but if you want to set yourself apart, you need to put in the work.” Once you can prove to potential investors and advertisers that your blog attracts thousands of readers each day, readers who are their perfect target market, that’s when the big bucks start rolling in. But it’s a long road – one that starts with at least three posts a day. “It’s difficult making it work for you financially,” says Natalie. “I’ve been at it for four years now, and it’s starting to pay a few of my bills. But if I was purely blogging for money, it wouldn’t be working for me.” And Misha adds, “I hope that brands and agencies in South Africa start to realise and value the clout of bloggers and their audiences and start to remunerate them accordingly. This is the way things are moving in the US, Europe and Australia, and I hope we catch up soon. Free stuff doesn’t pay the bills.
Have a little fun!
Once you’ve got your idea and concepts for posts down, don’t forget to enjoy the process. “If it weren’t for Brandslut I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to run on the rooftop of the Carlton Centre, stay at the incredible Grootbos Reserve, partner with brands like iStore and GAP and meet more wonderful people than I can count,” says Misha. Fun fact: big brands are looking to bloggers to give their products exposure. So even if you’re not in a position yet to be demanding cash, lots of brands will happily let you trial-run their products in return for exposure. For Angie Durrant-Batis, creator of lifestyle blog Luckypony.co.za and mommy blog Tinypony.co.za, blogging is about staying true to you. “The moment you try too hard or worry too much about what people think, it becomes a task more than something you should be enjoying. That’s the cool thing about having a blog. People come of their own accord, and if they like what you’re putting out there, then it means that you get to keep doing what you love.”