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Every year there is speculation that blogging is coming to an end, but each year blogging bounces back bigger than ever and even in the midst of a global pandemic the number of family-focussed bloggers continues to rise. In fact, if you’re new to blogging, now is the perfect time to start a blog. We’re living in unprecedented times, we’re living through history and should record this time as best as we can. For some, their memories are captured in photography, a written diary, crafts or journalling, but for others, an online blog is the chosen medium. I know, as a family blogger, I wish I’d recorded more of the everyday aspects of living during #Covid19 times. I’m looking forward to blogging daily again once we wrap up home school at the end of this week as I have so much I want to write.
Blog Popularity Has Increased
During the lockdown, blog readership has increased too as furloughed workers have had more free reading and screentime. There are other reasons why blog readership has increased during this time, the first one being that it’s interesting to read about the different situations that apply to everyone during these challenging times. In our own case, we have been shielding our son, Danny, due to his serious heart condition. I like to read other shielding blogs partly for reassurance that we are not on our own. I also like to read blogs written by NHS staff and people in completely different situations to me, so I can have some understanding of what life is like for them at this time. On a practical level, blog posts have taught us how to make face masks, shared their Netflix suggestions, written book reviews and offered meal plan suggestions and ingredient substitutions while foods such as flour were impossible to come by. Blogs have been both interesting and useful during these times.
Making Money From Home
I always say that you shouldn’t just have a blog to make money. I think the most interesting and successful blogs are the ones written by people who would continue to blog even if it didn’t provide them with an income. However, of course, once your blog does start to make a profit and becomes a full-time career, it is great. I am so grateful that I have still been able to make money whilst working from home during this period of shielding. I’ve made less than usual as I had to put the kids and schooling first, but I’ve made what I needed to each week. I love reading articles about inspirational influencer Moms and Mums who manage to bring up a family successfully and make an enviable profit working from home.
Bloggers Can Help Build Businesses Back Up
As lockdown eases, I’ve noticed another paid and unpaid role for bloggers and influencers. Those going back out into the everyday world are telling us about it. For those of us emerging from the shielding, this is vital. I haven’t set foot in a shop since March. I feel great anxiety when I think about potentially rejoining everyday life in August. It helps to read about others going through these experiences. Tourist attractions are reopening. My “free days out” and “days out” posts have always been popular. Now my readers will want to find out what’s new at these attractions? What are the new #Covid19 protocols? What do they need to know before they visit? Travel blogs and, indeed, all blogs are now needed more than ever.
Can Businesses Afford (Not) To Pay Influencers During #Covid19
I recently read a thread on Twitter, where a business tweeted that they were offended and angry as, during these hard times, an influencer had offered to review and promote their restaurant for free. I can understand both sides of the coin here. I’ve already been asked to review many restaurants that have been recently reopened. I have politely declined as each restaurant has either not been local to me or has not served vegan options. But, I understand how these unwanted offers make bloggers tempted to approach local companies to offer them this service for free too. If restaurants were to take out an advert or pay for a post they would actually pay more than the cost of the meal and service provided, so when influencers offer this it is well-intentioned rather than an example of being greedy.
On the other side, influencers do prefer monetary payments, as that’s what our mortgage and utility providers accept (!) so we are also taking a “cut” in income for this work too. Yes, influencers get to enjoy the food, but it is not “free food” by any means. They will take professional photographs, write an article and share on socials- a complete package that has far greater value than the food. So if an influencer ever offers or accepts a post in exchange for your service, rather than a fee, please respect that. Some businesses will have reopened and regained their custom with no need to advertise. This is why all businesses are encouraged to make the most of their own social channels. Others will need more help in spreading the word that they are reopened and to show customers how they are making it safe to visit. In this case, they should consider partnering with an influencer.
So, if you’re still on the fence about starting a family blog- go for it! It’s such a lovely record to look back on overtime and a great way to make money from home too.
What blog posts have you been reading during this period? Do you like escapism or practical advice?
