Let me start by saying I am not bashing anybody for their content creation methods, neither am I so obtuse I expect the world of blogging to stay the same for all time, but I am writing this merely as an observation, from somebody who has been blogging for over ten years now, and who remembers the old school style, where the name bloggers was used for people who you know, actually wrote blogs.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I am fully aware that I myself struggle at times to keep up with writing on here, it can be hard when juggling three kids and a full time job, but writing has always been my first passion, and I love having a website to write my thoughts on, and a platform that is mine to use as I wish, to share the brands I love, and to be able to work with fantastic companies on gift guides and reviews. I was asked just yesterday whether I would ever give up blogging and I couldn’t see myself doing it anytime soon, as I really do enjoy it.
However, over the past few years there has been a definite shift from people writing actual blog posts and running websites to simply having a social media presence and using this to be, essentially, a ‘blogger’. The word influencer is now used hand in hand with bloggers, it is a word I have had to get used to for my ‘day job’ in digital marketing, mainly down to many of these bloggers no longer having physical blogs, but I don’t like to refer to myself as an influencer. Content Creator is another phrase, which ironically was my actual job title in the company I just moved on from. It’s amazing what people can do with a Hughesnet internet connection, a laptop, and an idea.
Running my local blogging network, the Bournemouth Bloggers, I struggle with the terminology as I am often asked how many bloggers there are, and I never know whether to divide the two, or to just group everybody together. It only really becomes an issue when companies want blog posts written, rather than just a social media post, a reel or stories, which does still happen.
The shift towards video content has also had a big impact. I now feel I have to focus on filming as well as photographing the events I attend, which takes further time away from writing. I really enjoy creating reels, or at least I do when it doesn’t take over my life, but I feel sometimes I would rather spend the time writing, which I am good at doing and I enjoy more.
I am aware this post isn’t really going anywhere. It’s sometimes just nice to put the metaphorical pen to paper and get your thoughts out. I hope that blogging doesn’t completely die, as I really do enjoy it, plus having your own website means that if a social media platform, even a big one like Instagram, were to crash and burn, I would still have my content, I would still have the platform I work from, which I am pleased about. I don’t know if I will ever move back over to being a full time ‘influencer’ or content creator, as I was for a time. It is something I have toyed with, but for me I enjoy having other aspects of my life to focus on as well as blogging, even if I do work in digital marketing so never fully escape social media!
