Trending Tuesday: Blogging or Freebie Foraging?

Consider this either a Trending Tuesday that's already passed, or a Trending Tuesday to come!

When I started blogging almost two years ago, there was one thing in my mind: Oh my gosh! She is getting so much free stuff! I want that!! Then I started blogging and was right and left getting free items and in return I had to review them. Very quickly did I realize something that I think many don't realize: Blogging is not just a hobby, it's a job!

I would do reviews of clothing items and have pictures of the clothing still on a hanger or something. My paragraphs were only four sentences and no real descriptions and then I would look at other blogs that had been around for years. They had fantastic HD pictures of their kids or themselves wearing the clothes. They fully described in detail the item of clothing, the material, how it made them feel to wear it, and more. I started stepping up my blogging game and taking pictures of my daughter posing in front of great scenery. From there, I started realizing you can't just do product reviews. You need articles, blurbs, recipes, things that bring your viewers in and make them like YOU not just what they think they can win!

But the question you have to ask yourself as a blogger is: Are you in it to be a blogger? Or are you in this just for freebies? As I said, I started out as a freebie forager. I wanted free stuff and I was totally okay with getting anything just to say it was free. I didn't care what it was, I was just excited! Now? I've realized this takes a lot of work and a lot of time and energy. You can't just blog for free stuff, it's not really right nor fair to those who spend every day blogging and writing. You aren't going to have things every day to review. You aren't going to get packages every day (though I did warn our new mail carrier about my blog so he knew he'd have to deliver to us quite a bit lol). You aren't going to get the secret contacts people have or get the opportunities others have you have to do your own leg work. You have to find your own connections and build your own fan base!

I've also gained a huge respect towards bloggers who have been doing this for years, and even though I've been lucky to have the success I've had in such a short time I know I am still an amateur. I'm still learning all the time and trying to understand how things work. Are you as a blogger willing to work hard? Are you going to do more than ask for free things to review? Are you going to do the leg work yourself for the free items or are you secretly asking people "Where did you get that?" "How did you get that?" "Where can I get that?"

Blogging is not just a freebie thing! I've become happier writing things just like this instead of doing reviews of items. Don't get me wrong, I'm honored when a company or individual finds my blog respectable enough to send something to review but I don't hope for that now. This is just my way of saying...if you want to be a blogger you have to put the time and energy in to do more than hold a hand out for free stuff. I personally made myself a promise: If I can't have more articles a week than reviews, then I shouldn't ask for items to review until I can keep up with that.

Keep up the good work fellow bloggers!

Elizabeth is a work at home Mother of a sweet and beautiful daughter. She is a wife of seven years and a blogger for some time now. When she isn't spending time with her "Livvybug" she is looking for new review opportunities and writing or singing along to classic rock and pop music!