Mind your tagline.
I read a blog post that got me all fired up (shocking I know) a few days ago. I’m not linking to it because this post isn’t directed at the writer. I’ve seen rumblings on this issue for months and finally got annoyed enough to write about it.
My tagline states: eye candy. inspiration. kids. life. happiness.
It says nothing about keeping it 100 24/7, debauchery, sex, cursing, ratchet behavior, drama, etc. therefore I do not typically blog about anything that falls into those categories.
The purpose of my blog is to share my experiences as an MBA wife in the Ivy League, my photographic knowledge to (hopefully) inspire other women to capture their special moments, and other assorted topics I enjoy writing about like social media, cooking, and reading. Nothing earth shattering but I have a good time.
My blog is profitable. In the two and a half years since I began blogging my web presence has increased and I’ve had the good fortune to work with a handful of select brands I believe in and stand behind. Cash or no cash these are companies I patronize and whose missions I support. Any and all dealings with brands are always properly disclosed and transparent.
Why is my writing perceived as less authentic because I’m fortunate enough to be compensated for it?
Feel free to thumb through my archives. I began blogging on a whim, because Twitter told me to (fancy huh?). I was a full-time work outside the mom with a demanding career. I shared my experiences as a crunchy mom and happy wife living in Vermont with two little ones. That’s it. No branding. No business. Just writing. The same voice.
We left Vermont and our jobs and began new lives in Ithaca. My passion for photography and helping other amateur photographers grew and I decided to restructure my blog and content. There was nothing calculated about it. My life changed and my blog changed. It’s done well and I’ve had some wonderful opportunities presented to me. I also do some freelance writing and photography work. My voice has remained the same throughout the two and a half years I’ve written publicly.
I’m not a brand friendly, faux version of my in real life self. The few bloggers I’ve met in person (ask Joanna or Beth) can attest to that. I don’t change my content, voice, or online mannerisms to attract work, sponsors, or readers and I’m also not judging anyone who does. How people choose to feed their families is their business. Some women are lucky enough to draw a full-time income from their blogs. Good for them! I think that’s great.
*I * do not change anything about myself to attract brands or page views. I don’t need to. Business is just fine. I also don’t rely on my blog income to survive or support my family so there’s no stress or need to hustle for work. The brands I work with like the real Veronica. Why switch things up?
I’m authentic, sometimes to a fault. If I were worried about my blogger image and brand I wouldn’t ask tough questions and write posts like these. I am a human being not a brand. This isn’t a space I contrived to make money and create an empire (not that there’s anything wrong with that). This is my personal blog.
Period.
I’m not a reality show and I’m not here for anyone’s amusement (unless I’m trying to amuse you in which case please laugh along with me). If people feel that I’m somehow less authentic than they are because I choose to conduct myself in a (mostly) professional manner online then so be it. I owe you nothing. I don’t need to show photos of myself looking a mess or my house in disarray to prove something. I don’t reveal these things offline why would I online? THAT would NOT be authentic. THAT wouldn’t be me.
This is my life and it’s beautiful. I hope my blog reflects that. I have my struggles and lows but in the grand scheme of things they’re pretty minor and I am blessed. I’m not going to drum up issues or painful memories from my past to convince you I’m “real”.
Please.
I know some bloggers have compromised their integrity by selling out or switching things up in a shady way. Guess what? There are bad apples in all walks of life. Does that make it okay for people to generalize and question everyone’s integrity? I don’t like indirectly being called a liar and I really don’t like my integrity questioned.
This is my space, my life, and it’s always real.
If you aren’t getting the opportunities you feel you deserve it may have little to do with your “authenticity”. There are other things to consider such as SEO, marketing yourself, seeking out partnerships, and more. Unpaid/unsponsored/not for hire writers aren’t any more (or less) talented or real than those of us who do profit because they aren’t getting a paycheck.
See more on Know Your Meme
How would it feel if I suggested that perhaps unpaid writers aren’t legitimate because no one has deemed their writing worth a penny? Wouldn’t make much sense would it? It’s also not very nice and a very unfair characterization.
Here’s the deal. This is the me. Offline and online. Like it? Feel free to stick around. Don’t? Please keep it moving, feel free to grab a scone on the way out but keep it moving.
I’ve personally never done anything on this blog that would suggest I’m engaging in any deceitful or unethical behavior. I loathe the notion that I’m not authentic because I’m compensated.
If a writer is going to question the authenticity and integrity of compensated writers without cause then I’m going to assume that the accuser is a hater.
Yep. A hater. Work on you. Mind your tagline and I’ll mind mine.
@growingupgeeky
I read the post you are referring to, and it bothered me as well. One of the points I took issue with was something like “I don’t know you, why would I trust/care about your product recommendation?”
If no one I know personally has experience with a product I am 100 times more likely to go to a blog I read regularly for their opinion (for which the blogger received the product for free and maybe a little cash) than watch a commercial for said product for which a company paid actors thousands to say whatever they wanted.
Melissa recently posted… Vacation is over: commence freakout
Yes that to me didnt make much sense but people’s purchasing behaviors vary so I can deal with that. I’m like you and rely heavily on information from friends and my peer groups online and off. Thanks for stopping by.
Veronica recently posted… Mind your tagline.
@rosesdaughter
*standing up and clapping*
WELL SAID! I’ve seen this theme around lately and it bothers me. Everyone’s reality is not the same. If you can make money talking about that reality, GREAT. If you can’t and want to… Stop bitching and do something about it. If you want to talk about rainbows and sunshine, I’ll read it and retweet it. If you want to talk ratchetness, I’ll read that too. Because the blogosphere is big enough for all of that. Keep doing what you’re doing girl!
Roses Daughter recently posted… The Newbie Chronicles: Photography Tip of the Month
Thank you. That’s all I’m saying – I can totally get where the frustrations stem from – some people are trifling for the money – but not everyone and its unfair to generalize.
Veronica recently posted… Mind your tagline.
@mommyboots
What a wonderful reminder to stay true to ourselves and our voices and not to compromise who we are. Some of the most consistent blogging advice I’ve gotten is to just be yourself: the rest will come. This is also a good reminder to quit freaking worrying about what other bloggers are doing so much and focus on OURSELVES, as I think we are all wont to do from time to time. And screw the haters. I got your back, yo. I’ve watched your blog grow and flourish, and you are the same V I’ve always known and loved.
Mommy Boots recently posted… The GED Test – An Update.
Thank you so much and I appreciate it BUT don’t fall into the trap of be awesome and it will happen. Most likely it won’t. It takes work and you can do it if you want to but never feel like you have to AND if you ever need anything im happy to help. Im no Dooce but im happy where I’m at.
Veronica recently posted… Mind your tagline.
@textdrivebys
Yeah I call foul on those that think we’re unauthentic. What bothers me and should bother those “haters” (I hate that word) are when some well-known bloggers that know better but don’t disclose on purpose. There’s no way you can forget to do it. Such a loose excuse and it’s so sneaky to me.
I don’t like to dream about getting paid, I like getting paid and if a company I like wants to pay me, so be it.
Xenia recently posted… I’m Going To The Niche Mommy Conference! Thanks #HuggiesLatino
lol I hate that word too but I used it for two reasons: because the Maino video is funny & because I *knew* it would bother people the same way it bothers me when people categorize me as some calculating greedy blogger putting on a happy face for money. I think I made my point. And Im with you . YOU know some of those kinds of people so I can imagine YOU especially would be annoyed to be lumped in with them.
Veronica recently posted… Mind your tagline.
@Bitchujusmad
I have to be honest. This reeks of “you’re just mad cuz I’m better than you and need to try harder”. I am not 100% certain that people who fall in line with what was originally written are all in a position that I am, so I can’t speak for them. What I can say is that I agree with a lot of points made in the original post and I am not jealous of you. I am not hating on you. I don’t want to have what you have. Well. I want to have a more open, brighter lay out on my blog, but I bought a new theme and am going to hopefully commission a designer when my life slows down a bit and I have more free time. But otherwise, I can honestly say, I think you’re an awesome person, writer and you deserve any good things that come your way. I have no malice when I say that. However, I disagree with you. Disagreeing with you doesn’t mean I hate you. Nor does it mean I gotta pull out the Maino. It just means that I think in order to be sponsored monetarily by a brand, you have to represent yourself in a way that you don’t necessarily always represent yourself personally.
In your personal case, you say you are a private person, and always have carried yourself in two ways…one way with friends and family behind closed doors, and another publicly, that’s fine. And that’s ok that you feel like that is how you should conduct yourself. However, a lot of people put on a personality for the public that IS COMPLETELY NOT THEM for profit. I don’t think its just a small number of people. In my opinion, and from what I’ve seen first hand, many bloggers are regular women. They can be catty, they can be petty, they can be dismissive, and arrogant and mean. But on their blogs, they are Sweet Jane Jones holding cookies for Nestle. Or some other company. To me, that’s inauthentic, because if you’re a downright asshole off of the internet, I certainly don’t want to eat your cookies. I don’t even trust that they are really cookies. How do I know they didn’t pay you to hold up cardboard cutouts?
But…not only that. I recognize people are multifaceted. Not everyone is listening to 2 Chainz and gangbanging, or slanging dope. Some of us are listening to 2 Chainz while cutting out pieces of construction paper for a craft project tomorrow. However, Betty Blogger who blogs about her craft projects nightly, and changes her soundtrack to Green Day because she’s afraid of her target audience not understanding is a fraud. Now, this is obviously NOT you, but it IS a lot of “popular” bloggers. I know. I read a lot. I have read the blind catty blog mom gossip sites, where they read these women down and post receipts for every tidbit of info they are spilling. A lot of people’s favorite paid bloggers live MESSY…but look like June Cleaver on their home page and in their tag line. If they don’t, they don’t bring home that check. And to me, that’s inauthentic and I won’t apologize for it. There is a HUGE difference between guarding things you deem personal, and completely altering the type of person you are to the public so you can make money. If that doesn’t sound right to you, that’s ok. If you’re incensed that I feel like that, that’s totally ultra fine too, because I feel like I like you beyond the things we don’t necessarily agree on, but to suggest that because people feel like that…they should work harder, or are jealous because no one is giving them money to front? That’s wrong to me. I can’t necessarily say I am ok with being pegged as jealous or hating on success that came at the hand of faking it to make it.
Cara Mia recently posted… No Sleep Til’ Union: #NaturalHair
(We talked about it privately but this was sitting on my screen from hours ago xo)
Thank you for the thoughtful comment. I envy your succinctness. I seriously do. Let me have a hand but I havent slept in a while so forgive me.
1) If it reeks of “I’m better than you” that wasn’t my intention. God knows I don’t think that, my blog is preeeeeeettttyyyy small so nope and even if it were huge my writing skill or marketability or whatever make me better than no one.
2) I know that about you. Truly. Youre not that kind of person to anyone. You are always supportive and helpful. I went down the hater road to illustrate the flip side of the offensiveness of being told im phony because I make money. It’s ludicrous right?
3) I dont say I carry myself two ways – I said: I choose to conduct myself in a (mostly) professional manner online then so be it. – that’s not being two people. Its behaving accordingly depending on the situation at hand.
4) I’m private about certain things. Like you. And everyone else. Yes again we each asess our own personal comfort levels when sharing with others – why should any of us be judged for it? Who gets to determine that what you choose not to share is due to privacy concerns but what another chooses not to share is phoniness? How is that fair?
5) AND YOU ARE SOOOOOO RIGHT about bloggers like that. I know. Ive been on the receiving end of some pretty crappy stuff. I know what you are saying is true which is why I got REALLY annoyed to be lumped in with people like that – same way people don’t like to be called haters when they arent – which is why I chose that word. Specifically.
6) Ive read through your comment and agree and think we are coming from the same place but this was def not specifically targeted at one blogger or one comment or one person on twitter or I wouldve let it go. I felt the need to speak up for myself and others who do things properly and consider ourselves to be decent writers just doing our best here.
7) I know youre not a hater and neither is BGIM – again choice of words to express my derision at being considered fake.
8) Thanks again. I appreciate you and your insight. ALWAYS.
Veronica recently posted… Sunset at the beach.
@SewSoDef
Sorry if this posts twice!
I’ve read the blog post you refer to, and I guess . . . I didn’t take what was said, the way you took it. I agree with both what you have said, and what the other blogger said, and I honestly don’t see *you* in what the other blogger was talking about. I can’t know for sure but my assumption is that that blogger wasn’t directing anything at you personally, or even bloggers like you.
I also don’t see where the other blogger stated or even implied that if a blogger doesn’t show the messy part of their life, they’re not being authentic.
I agree with everything you’ve said here . . . just am not sure why it is a response to that other blog post. I think it’s a great response to someone who says “If you do product reviews or work with brands or make money off your blog you’re not being authentic” but I just didn’t see that being said in the other post. What I saw in the other post was a reminder that we need to be authentic, even *when* we are doing the work of paid reviews, working with brands, etc – because without authenticity, readers won’t trust those reviews.
Of course, I am not the author of the other blog post and haven’t discussed this with that person so I have no idea what their thoughts truly are. Knowing both of you and knowing that this person knows you, I just don’t feel like that was directed at you.
<3 and
Ashley recently posted… Turning From My Faith: My Future
Well the thing is this – I mean what I say and what I said is this was *not* directed at her. It was inspired by her post, some tweets I saw about it, and the months of similar chatter leading up to it. It’s been a long time coming. She’s a writer I love to read and respect so no – this was not a response or direct hit – and thats why that is the first thing I said – but its also why it might seem confusing.
I definitely dont think she directed it at me so (im so sleepy lol) once again – it was just a collection of BS tweets, snide remarks, generalizations, and whatnot that I’ve seen repeatedly over the past few months. I wanted it on the record that I do what I do and I do it the right way. Unless someone explicitly knows of a time I didnt I would prefer not to be categorized as a phony or liar or shady the same way people who solely have differing opinions dont like to childishly be referred to as haters.
Miss you xo
Veronica recently posted… Sunset at the beach.
@SewSoDef
I did see that you said it wasn’t about her. I guess because you both used the worth “authentic” in a major way, and from what I saw in some of the comments here, it still seemed directed at that blog entry. It’s all good though, I can still see how this is a response to the larger statement “out there” that bloggers who make money aren’t authentic.
I’m really excited to hear about how your morning went. You know what I mean!
Ashley recently posted… Turning From My Faith: My Future