When I started blogging in 2016, I won’t lie, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I thought I was just starting a little online diary where I could rant about the frustrations of parenting. However, it didn’t take me long to realise that blogging was a worldwide thing and that there were hundreds and thousands of bloggers out there. And not just bloggers, blogging goes hand in hand with influencers. I think we can all agree that the growth of blogging and influencers was unprecedented a few years ago. It has now become a viable option for earning a living. If done right.

Disclaimer: This is a partnered post.

What is the difference between bloggers and influencers?

Bloggers typically have their own website (blog) where they write posts about any given topic that takes their fancy, usually within a specific niche. However, we have seen a growth in the blogging world where blogs attached to corporate and business sites have become tools for businesses to use to reach their customers in a different, less formal way. Blogs are also used as a tool for building up a businesses online presence. The more you blog, the more content you create, which increases the opportunity to be found on the world wide web of ideas!

tiktok influencers

Influencers, don’t necessarily have a blog where they write content down. Influencers can exist solely on social media accounts. People with large social media followings are typically classed as influencers with the idea being that they can influence the opinions of their followers. These influencers make money by promoting products, ideas or lifestyles. They are paid to promote products, selling ad space, and basically advertise in the way traditional magazines and TV ads would have done. A true influencer is someone who has an engaged audience who trusts and believes in that personality.

The Skills of Blogging

As I said, when I started blogging I had no idea what it was all about. To be a successful blogger you need to learn a variety of different skills, not least of which include:

  • Social Media
  • Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
  • Photography
  • How to write (with good grammar, spelling, punctuation and readability)
  • Videography
  • Graphic Design.

Obviously not all of these are everyone’s strong suit, but you either learn, or you outsource.

Social Media

Social media is a big part of blogging and influencing. When you write a blog post, you need to share it with the world using social media. The larger your social media following, the bigger your reach (how many people you can tell) about your blog post and ideas.

The year is 2020 and we’ve all seen how platforms such as TikTok grew exponentially this year. In turn, there have been huge personalities who saw their lives transform with success on TikTok.

Online Influencers

It’s not just TikTok though. An online influencer doesn’t just have to be a mommy blogger pushing her favourite brand of nappies on you, although there is still a huge market for that. Influencers these days can be hugely influential across a huge range of diverse sectors of society. Consider how these 5 online influencers are inspiring people across the world. People such as Greta Thunberg on the climate change sphere of influencers, as well as the likes of Marcus Rashford and the Free School Meals campaign. These are two different but equally inspiring influencers who are using social media and their online influence for the good of others, not themselves.

growth of blogging

The Growth of Parenting and Travel Blogging

As my children have grown my perspective has shifted, and as my blog has grown so has my approach to blogging and influencing. I now use my blog to share information with my audience that matters to me in my phase of parenting. I focus more on mental health matters, education and supporting my children in an ever-changing world, rather than how difficult I find it to get my children to put their shoes on (although that still exists – let’s not kid ourselves).

I also use my blog to review our travel experiences, places we go to and how they suited us as a family. Travel blogging has taken a massive hit in 2020, but I do believe there is still a place for it as the world learns to adjust to a new normal way of living post-Covid-19.

The Personal Benefits of Blogging

In the process of blogging, I’ve also managed to create a regular income stream which contributes not only financially to my family, but it’s also a very important tool for me to maintain my sanity. Yes, you can make money from blogging! The growth of my blog and the skills I have now have meant that I feel more assured in my role as a Stay-At-Home-Mom, and I’m able to contribute to my family financially, all of which contribute to a much happier state of mind for myself. It’s amazing how my blog has taught me to know my worth, not just as a blogger, but as a parent and partner to my husband too.

And if all else fails, I can always try to be TikTok famous I guess.

This is a partnered post, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.