Things Bloggers Would Like You to Know

Before the blog tidy, the most popular post here was a response to a Mumsnet thread about bloggers. It was a bit Mrs Shouty. The Mumsnet connection means it's unlikely to ever shift from the top spot. Each time I saw it on my sidebar, I winced.  I wasn't proud of it.  So it's gone.  Lurking in drafts as a reminder of my own up-myself-ness. 

It's been used as the basis of something (hopefully) more useful.  My reality as a blogger and a few of misconceptions I've noticed along the way.  

• It's easy peasy, lemon squeezey.  No it isn't.  Blogging gets fitted in around everything else. Creating good content regularly and sharing it so people find it takes work.  Actual work.  Even if they find it, not everyone will like it.  My thing may not be your thing. That's okay.  It's a big Internet. 

• Readers appear as if by magic.  If that was true, every blogger would be successful, with a huge readership.  Blogging is all about the long haul. Building a readership and creating relationships with other bloggers takes time and effort.  It is hard work, but not "hard work" like the kitchen and cleaning jobs in the old people's home I had at university.

• Brands offer you all the freebies.  Brands are all business and want to work with bloggers that reach the right (large) audience.  If you don't offer that, they're not interested.  Which is fair enough.  That freebie isn't really free though.  Brands want a post, links, a social media share etc in exchange.  There are a few related ones as well, like bloggers are marketing shrills writing any old nonsense for freebies / money. Charming!

• Blogging is really glamourous.  Sitting on the sofa typing, watching Endeavour ...  Yeah, right.

• Everything is seen as potential content.  Anything could be turned into a blog post or photographed.  (But just because you could, doesn't mean you should so boundaries get drawn).

• We care about the numbers. If you write it, you hope people will come and enjoy reading it. It's brilliant when they do.  But numbers aren't the be all and end all.  The blogosphere is massive and household names are the tip of the iceberg.  Most of us are just blogging on.  The opportunity to make new friends, be creative, learn new skills etc are also important.

• All support is appreciated.  Every tweet, favourite, #FF, share and comment is like getting a present.  Getting to know my fellow bloggers, realising that I actually have readers who aren't my husband and friends.  If I could high-five or buy you a coffee, I would.  Thank you so much.

Any popular myths about blogging I've missed?  Let me know in the comments.