What Does A Blogger Actually Do?

Write, photograph, edit, post, repeat. Welcome to the life of a blogger.


A lot of people underestimate what a blogger ACTUALLY does. We don't just write things and post them. There's so much work that goes into one single blog post and we barely get paid for it (well, some do), we do it because we love what we do and we love being part of this amazing blogging community. 



Like I said, people don't realise the full enormity of what goes into writing and creating content. It doesn't just happen overnight, the words just don't fall onto the blank draft on Blogger/WordPress. Photo's just don't show up on your camera/phone. Photo's don't just edit themselves ready at your disposal. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest don't just promote your posts whenever you publish something new. Emails don't just reply to brands for you. Disqus doesn't just reply to comments that have been kindly written by other blogger's. All this work is down to US. 


Blogging has been a part of my life for almost four years now. Before starting, I never fully comprehended of how much work needed to be put in. It's something I have had to learn over time. I'm still learning today even after four years. I wish people could understand that blogging is a genuine thing and that it can be a real success. 


Here is my current routine as a blogger:



CHECK  AND  REPLY  TO  BLOGGING  EMAILS
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This is the first thing I will always do when I sit down for a blogging hour. I hate not replying to emails straight away. If a brand has sent me an email, it's only right and courteous that I reply on the same day. I like to take my time with this so I can carefully read the email and make sure my response is correct and it gives the brand the correct information they need.  



COMMENT  ON  OTHER  BLOGS
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I love doing this. I love catching up on my favourite blogger's newest content. Not just the blogger's I follow, I love discovering new blogger's and reading their content. I always make the point of making a comment on posts after reading them. It shows that not only have you clicked on their website, it's the fact that you've taken the time to read their post. A comment on my posts makes my day, it certainly makes another blogger's day commenting on their posts.



REPLY  TO  COMMENTS  ON  MY  BLOG
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Time to reverse the role. After commenting on other blog posts, I look to my blog posts to catch up on the comments that other blogger's have taken time to make on mine. I have always made the time to reply to comments made on my blog. It's common courtesy in a way, I like to say thank you to them for taking the time to read and comment on my blog. 



PLAN  CONTENT  FOR  THE  WEEK  /  MONTH
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This is where my inner Monica Gellar comes into play. I'm trying to be a lot more organised with blogging now. Before lockdown, I used to plan one or even two posts a week. Now that I have so much time on my hands, I'm planning a whole MONTH'S content. Who even am I?!  Something I have never done until now. I look at when the best time a post should be published, especially one that is sort of trending in the news. 


WRITE  BLOG  POSTS 
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Seems quite an obvious thing to do really. But yes, I try and write something everyday if possible, especially ideas that pop into my head there and then. However, sometimes that's not always the case. If my brain turns to mush in terms of creativity, I don't try and write anything. I'd rather write when I have ideas rather than force content out. Forced content can be my worst content, no way would I publish it on my blog! 


GET  THE  CAMERA  OUT
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I still have a love/hate relationship with shooting photo's for my blog and Instagram. When I get a little creative inspo, there's no stopping with me with my Canon camera. I'm shooting and flatlaying and angling away! I never have a photo session with my camera if I don't feel in the mood to do so. I would definitely say that since I bought this camera, I have had more inspiration than ever before, probably because I'm always so eager to use my camera and try new things. A photo session can take about 1 or even 2 hours for me, depending on how much inspo I have or how much content I need to get photograph.



PROMOTE  POSTS  ON  SOCIAL  MEDIA
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This task can be a little time consuming but it's well worth it. Getting my posts out there means other blogger's can get to see the content I have poured blood, sweat and tears over to get it posted online. Well, not literally, but you know what I mean. I promote my blog posts on Twitter and Instagram on a daily basis. It's important for me to repost not just today's post, but past ones also. Just because I wrote them a long time ago, doesn't mean that they should be forgotten about!



There are other little jobs I do with blogging, but these are the main tasks I do on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. Blogging has been like having a second job, but I wouldn't change a thing! 



Lucy

50 comments
  1. I love this post! I definitely didn't realise the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes when I started! x

    - Charlotte / charlottesspace.com

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    1. No neither did I Charlotte! The work that goes into this is immense! x

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  2. Great post because it is so true! I do not live from my blog but when I work on it ...it s not a 5 minutes process its hours from writing, picture taking, editing, promoting and so on. x

    http://www.mariesconnections.com/2020/07/new-affordable-skincare-haul.html

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    1. It's never a five minute process is it Marie?! x

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  3. Love this! There's so much that we do.

    Zoey | www.zoeyolivia.com

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    1. Thank you Zoey, you're right, we have to do so much to keep our blog in check!

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  4. Loved this post!! It's so true, blogging may look easy but there's so much hard work that goes into it. You have to be so many things at once; writer, social media manager, photographer, marketer and the list goes on! x

    Zoe / www.thatherstorian.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you Zoe! I think people who are non bloggers don't realise the work that we have to put in to make our blogs look great and readable! I have learnt so many skills since I started blogging! x

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  5. I don't think most people know the amount of hours we put into one post and the fact that it's something one does only when they enjoy it as you don't always see results instantly. Lovely post! xx

    https://rachylewis.com/

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    1. No they don't lovely and I wish that they would realise how much work goes into just one single blog post sometimes! xx

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  6. Many people don't realise how much work actually goes into running a blog.

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    1. No they don't lovely, I wish that they would!

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  7. As a blogger, this was great to hear! Blogging actually takes up so much time but literally NO ONE knows that! Loved reading what your blogger life is like!

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  8. I never realised how much there is to do before I started my blog and it does take up a lot of time but I keep going with it because I really enjoy it! X

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    1. Yeah the work we put in is worth it isn't it?! x

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  9. Thanks for sharing :) Non bloggers don't realise how much effort goes into blogging, for me as a food blogger it's testing the recipe, making changes and trying again till is perfect to share, which is a lot of effort and ingredients. I now have found the enjoyment out of it :)

    Nic | Nic's Adventures & Bakes

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    1. No they don't Nic, hopefully after reading this post they'll realise how much effort and work we put in on a daily basis! I'm to hear that you have found the enjoyment in blogging lovely

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  10. People never realise how much effort can go into it. The time it takes to plan alone before you've even done anything can take forever (especially with recipes in my case) and then there's the whole running a business side of things and keeping track of your accounts if you're lucky enough to be making some money too. And then there's all of the blog admin in terms of site maintenance and checking broken links etc. But, y'know, it's really easy and takes no time at all 🙃 x


    Sophie
    www.glowsteady.co.uk

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    1. There's so much planning to do when a blog post needs to be written, like you said, the business side of things takes a huge chunk of time also! The admin stuff is never fun! x

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  11. Great post Lucy and for anyone on the outside looking in a real insight into what goes on in the life of a blogger! I write alongside a full time job and two kids and have no intentions to monetize it or do anything like that. I do however still want it to grow and to have people read and interact, it's just finding the time! You put out some great content though and you should be proud of all you do 😊

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    1. Thank you! You pretty much have your hands full by the sounds of it so I applaud you for being able to find the time to blog, and it seems like you're enjoying it too!

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  12. I honestly feel like there isn't enough hours in the day to do everything I want to do with my blog! Actually creating the content has turned into the least time consuming part because of all of the promotion, admin, learning ways to improve my site, technical aspects and social media parts of it. I used to reply to my comments religiously but it's genuinely hard to find the time, now! I always read them though and they make me smile :)
    Alice Xx
    www.blacktulipbeauty.co.uk

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    1. You're right, there isn't enough hours in the day sometimes! Comments always make me smile too, I'm always so grateful to anyone who makes the time to comment on my blog! xx

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  13. My friends and family never fully understood what I did online for my blog, it used to frustrate and entertainme at the same time!

    Danielle
    https://www.thereluctantblogger.co.uk/

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    1. Haha I don't think my family and friends realise the hard work I put in too Danielle! Like you said, it's frustrating but equally entertaining at the same time!

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  14. Fab post Lucy! So much goes into running your own blog and I wish it was more appreciated by non-bloggers! It's hard work and for most of us it isn't even our main job (but we all put full-time effort into it as if it was our main job!) x

    https://www.femaleoriginal.com

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    1. Thank you Faye! That is so true, I think I put more effort into my blog than I do my own job sometimes! x

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  15. There are so many thing to do as a blogger! We have so many things to juggle!

    Love, Amie ❤
    The Curvaceous Vegan

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  16. Love this post I think people really under estimate just how much bloggers do.

    Lucy
    www.thenortherngirl.co.uk

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  17. Great post Lucy! I think when you first start blogging, you don't realise all the work that goes in, do you? I always reply to comments (unless spammy) but I am not always timely with it, so deffo something to work on. I can't believe you have a month's worth planned! I am so unorganised, I am in awe!

    Thanks for sharing!

    Aimsy xoxo
    Aimsy’s Antics

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    1. No you don't, I never fully realised the work I would need to put in to make my blog work and tick over! Honestly Aimsy, it's shocked me that I have that much content on standby, I never have done before! Lockdown has done this! xx

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  18. Hey Lucy. Great post. I certainly never appreciated just how much was involved when I started - and I'm still getting to grips with it now! That said, it's something that I enjoy doing (it's a hobby for me, not a replacement source of income) so ... I keep doing it! Like you, I think its very important to reply to comments left on your blog - if people have spent their time reading your work and providing feedback then the least you can do is acknowledge that!

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    1. Thank you Richie! I completely agree, it doesn't hurt, but obviously I understand that some have very busy lives and don't have the time to reply, but I know they appreciate the comment I've made on their post! x

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  19. So true...we do all that plus lots more. Blogging takes a lot of time and determination.

    www.fashionradi.com

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  20. I love blogging but sometimes I think people forget that it's not just taking a picture and putting it on Insta, if you have a website blog, it's all the maintenance, photo editing, copy writing and also keeping up to date with other bloggers content and it is time consuming, although I do love it ;) xx

    www.iridescentplaces.com

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    1. Exactly! I think that's all people think that we do when it comes to blogging! xx

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  21. I don’t even think I fully appreciate how much work goes in to blogging.

    I have been at it for almost 9 hours today, I’ve loved it and have done loads but most of that was promoting and commenting on others posts.

    Brilliant post Lucy, it’s a good reminder that there is so much involved, it’s easy to forget x

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    1. That's a long time Claire, well done you! Yeah even I forget what goes into blogging sometimes! x

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  22. Really enjoyed reading this post because I can definitely relate. There's so much work that goes into blogging that non bloggers just don't understand. I wouldn't trade it for the world though!

    Nicola | Nic's Healthy Life

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    1. Neither would I Nicola! I love blogging so much!

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  23. Absolutely loved this post Lucy!

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  24. I remember when I started I only thought it would be the writing but it's soooo much more work than that!
    Sarah x

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    1. I felt the same way when I started blogging also Sarah! x

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  25. This is something I needed to red when I started blogging! There is so much that goes into it that I didn't know about!

    Amber - The Unpredicted Page

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    1. I felt the same when I started blogging too Amber!

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