Blogging Standards: Have you set some for your blog? for yourself as a blogger? Often us bloggers are asked what our goals are, what we hope to accomplish or what niche we fall into, but rarely do we talk about the things we’re willing and UNwilling to do. And now that so many brands have caught on to the power of the blog, the opportunities to “sell out” are endless.
Don’t get me wrong, making money doing something that I love is awesome! Taking sponsored posts or offering ads on your blog doesn’t make anyone a sell out, but compromising your personal or blogging standards might…
There are things you will absolutely NEVER see me write about on my blog. It doesn’t matter how much money is offered… if a product or service goes against my blogging standards, it’s not going to happen. AND because I’ve already decided where I draw the line, sponsored post offers in those areas aren’t even tempting.
If you don’t know what you and your blog stand for, the offer of a post, free product or sponsorship can be very tempting. There are still many companies out there that think they can bend the disclosure “rules” and get away with it… and even more that want to pay you for a back link to their site. And believe me, the money is tempting. But sticking to your guns and holding true to your standards will benefit you greatly in the long run!
Set yours standards, write them down and refuse to compromise! I challenge you to take 5 or 10 minutes right now and write down what your standards are. What you are the things you are UNwilling to compromise on? Why are those things important to you? Place them in a spot that is easy to find… you never know when you’re going to need to need that reminder!
What are some of your blogging standards? What are you unwilling to compromise on?
my blogging standards would have to be to only write what I enjoy and anything and everything I want to share with others. I'm not going to pretend to like a product just to get paid 😉
Definitely good standards to have!!
I have had people contact me about the weirdest things. I blog mostly about fashion, and sometimes about food or running…..but toilet paper…umm no!
Hahahah!! Totally! It was a few weird things like toilet paper posts that actually got me thinking about the whole standards thing 🙂
Yes blogging is always individual choice, we have to do it for fun not for anything.
I've had people email me and ask me how they can start blogging and making money… I always reply that blogging shouldn't be about the money, but about something you're truly passionate about!
Thanks for this post–it definitely raised some great questions!
You are more than welcome 🙂
This is an excellent post Jennifer…The topic is right on clue with personal choice and integrity. I like your full post and also your comment about, "I always reply that blogging shouldn't be about the money, but about something you're truly passionate about!" I have heard it said countless time, "do what you love to do and the money will follow."
Ahh! pinned this to my blog knowledge board & Stumbled it! So many good tips!
This is the perfect post, seriously. I wish I had read this when I started out in blogging!
This is great and it's exactly why I have no sponsored posts for a couple of weeks. Going back to re-group and think about strategy. Especially since there are so many things we do for so little money.
I've been trying to get back to my "roots" lately. I haven't necessarily posted about things I'm not okay with, but I realized that I started my site to share stories of our family and that I need to do more of that.
Ohhh this is a great topic! It's so important to set what your standards are now so that you have a compass/plan to work with when faced with a blogging situation that may or may not challenger your standards.
I definitely took a couple sponsored posts back when I was first starting that I wouldn't take now. Now, if the product isn't something I wouldn't consider buying or a store I won't shop at the emails get rejected.
Early on in blogging I kind of sucked at standards, but now that I have a better following and my blog has become not only a blog but a business to me, I am very careful with what I accept and will write about in regards to sponsored content. I don't want to do anything that is outside my "norm" because I don't want my readers to ever think I'm promoting something I don't actually like myself. Standards are so important!
great tips!!!
I've spent the last year and a half really working to set my standards somewhere that makes me comfortable and leaves me in a place to be respected by brands and my peers. I've learned to say "no" and I say it a lot!
Love this post – Blogging is my job so I will accept posts that I can put a creative spin on in my own way. Sometimes it's toilet paper posts, lol. But – ya gotta do what ya gotta do. And I love writing sponsored posts!
These are all very great tips!!!!
Yea! So happy to hear this and you are so right how important it is. It is amazing how many companies will try and get you to bend the rules. For me it comes down to my integrity, how much am I willing to sell it for? The answer- nothing.
this is great advice. sometimes its so tempting but in the end we need to stick to our guns. thanks for the reminder!
Great tips! I need to remind myself of these daily!
Great post and advice! So good to evaluate the blog every now and then.
It's definitely important to set your standards for what you will and won't do!
Great tips! It's easy to lose sight of your goals, especially if a lot of money is offered!