Are Bloggers now un-relatable?
– – – – –
Can we still relate to our favourite bloggers?
– – – – –
Undeniably, the blogging industry has changed rather drastically over the last two years.
Certainly, in the five years that I’ve been running this website, blogs have gone from raw, unedited accounts of someones life, with fancy fonts and overexposed images, to fully fledged editorial sites in their own right.
Personally, it’s been an exciting development to watch and I’ve been eagerly viewing from the sidelines, keeping my blog ticking over while studying, until I finished university and could really start devoting all my time into making high quality content.
However, I know that many bloggers feel that the way that the industry is changing isn’t necessarily in a positive manner.
Recently, I was interviewed for a marketing magazine – who wanted to explore the developing relationship between bloggers and brands.
They asked me: “Are bloggers celebrities in their own right now?“
And if I’m honest, I didn’t really have an answer at first.
When I thought deeply about how full-time bloggers make a living, I suppose the majority of it is on the basis that they inspire others – ultimately resulting in driving sales or increasing brand awareness.
Bloggers have had to become brands in their own right, marketing themselves while still maintaining integrity with their readers.
It’s a pretty difficult task, I’ll admit.
But I wouldn’t say that any blogger would necessarily refer to themselves as a ‘celebrity’.
For the term itself has fairly negative connotations.
It almost insinuates that they earn money from exploiting others and doing nothing in return and so I responded to the initial question with a less succinct version of the above.
When I came away from the interview, I decided to read a few thought-provoking articles on the topic and really, it opened a whole new can of worms – as I explored the possibility of whether bloggers, in their quest to inspire others, have become unattainable.
Whether the lives we could once relate to, have become alien to us.
I’ve seen a couple of really interesting blog posts on this topic, largely from fellow bloggers – and I’m not quite sure where I stand on the matter.
There’s always going to be a paradox of making money and retaining complete independence, because those who dedicate all their time to their blogs, have to be making a living from it too.
However, it’s the free holidays, designer clothes and glitzy event invitations that people seem to have an issue with.
Does all this new found glitz and glamour mean that people can no longer relate?
Do we really just want to read about normality rather than events we’ll probably never get to experience?
I’m not sure.
“In a world where jobs are difficult to come by, they’ve created one instead.”
Personally, I still think blogs maintain that unedited, raw feel even on more editorial style, aspirational blogs such as In The Frow and Lydia Millen.
There’s clearly a lot of thought that goes into the content, but there’s still an essence of normality, like they’re chatting to you as a friend and letting you in on their latest discoveries.
We can still relate to them far more than we can a celebrity.
Or even a magazine journalist.
There’s no mediators, no editors and no-one dictating what can and can’t be shown.
Aside from the blogger.
Yes, they might choose to show an edited version of their life (don’t we all), but the posts still contain personality and we can really immerse ourselves into someone else’s life.
And that, I suppose is why we turned to blogging in the first place.
It’s that friend that you don’t have to commit to seeing every weekend.
They’re there for you whenever you need them – with a bundle of things to tell you, for you to read and to recommend to you.
Sure, there may be stunning trips on the red carpet, jetting off around the world to shoot gorgeous photos and designer handbag collections, but there’s also the overriding factor that these girls (and guys) have created this new life entirely on their own.
They’ve worked bloody hard to get where they are and although they aim to inspire, they’re also inspiring in their work ethic, for their business head and their drive.
In a world where jobs are difficult to come by, they’ve created one instead.
And so rather than begrudging this gorgeous life they have, it only makes me aspire to work harder.
We don’t begrudge our friends when they start to see success and achieve the things they’ve only dreamed of – and it’s the same with these girls who have carved these new exciting lives for themselves.
Where the younger generation are often criticised for being lazy and expecting to have everything handed to them, the emergence of the blogosphere has contradicted this entirely, proving that we can create a new flourishing industry, unfazed by the hundreds of hurdles standing in the way.
Sure, we can all feel a bit miffed when we’re bogged down with a pile of revision at our feet and a rather sad looking ready meal, when they’re sunning it up in the Maldives with a Pina Colada and a Michelin star chef prepared meal but hey – what’s life without a bit of inspiration?
As humans, I think we need that in order to push ourselves.
Not to compare our lives with others, but to appreciate what is out there.
After all, the majority of us tune into social media to inspire ourselves.
Whether it’s looking at photographs of beautiful holiday destinations, seeing our friends new outfit on Facebook or following brands on Instagram.
It may also inspire a bit of FOMO, which isn’t always ideal – but I think it’s a great tool for reminding yourself of where you’re at, what your friends are doing and what you can do in the future to reach your goals.
Admittedly, not everyone aspires to materialistic things – which is absolutely fair enough, but in a world with so much negativity, I don’t envy or begrudge others who have the lifestyles I desire, but I appreciate them.
Carrying a more positive outlook can often enhance your own life.
Bloggers represent this new era of young people who aren’t phased by the problems that we’re unfortunately having to face today.
They’re rising above them, talking about the things they love and inspiring others in the process.
Nothing is unattainable – and behind every glamorous trip abroad, every designer handbag and each red carpet appearance, lays hundreds of hours of hard work, dedication and the drive to succeed.
These aren’t girls who’ve had it handed to them on a plate, but those who are proving that anything can be achieved if you want it enough.
That those who ever told you otherwise, had got it wrong.
In a society with so many can’ts, that they’re proof you can turn them into ‘cans’ – even although it all sounds mega cheesy (sorry, having a DMC here).
I suppose not everyone will agree, but there’s a blog out there for everyone and I think the development of where this exciting new industry is going is so engaging to watch.
Who knows what will happen next.
Sorry this has been a bit of a mismatch rant, I kind of just poured my thoughts onto a pageand hoped for the best, but hopefully this provokes a bit of discussion, as I’d love to hear what you think about the matter.
Have bloggers become too unattainable?
Or is inspiration only a good thing?