A decade ago, becoming a blogger was still a foreign item in Indonesia. People have not seen anything special about this profession. So that many bloggers make it as a toy, not yet a profession. It was only when Indonesia was technologically savvy, bloggers became a calculated profession.
Today we are no longer surprised to see people who do not have jobs at first glance, but have a large income. It could even exceed the average income of Civil Servants (PNS). Not only abroad, in Indonesia there have been many names listed as successful bloggers.
Today 27 October 2016, Indonesia celebrates National Blogger Daythe ninth time since it was set in 2007 ago. I myself have the past three years undergoing the profession as a full time blogger or full time blogger. During that time I also felt a lot of interesting things.
Here are 20 things that I feel after making bloggers my main livelihood:
1. Bloggers Never Leave
For full-time bloggers, holidays have become a daily life, so they no longer know what holiday is and how to go on vacation. I felt that way too. Because for me every day is a pleasant holiday, as well as a fun work.
For bloggers with traveler segments, then the holiday has become a job. They can go anywhere while writing and working for themselves. Even so, the fun of managing a blog is like opium. When starting it will be difficult to leave.
2. Bloggers Don't Spend Time Writing
Who says being a blogger should write at all times. I hope so too. Especially when sitting in a corner of the cafe with a glass of coffee and a plate of fried food. Plus the rain is always spoiled. It's fun to write. But in fact not the case.
I spend more time meeting people, pitching, editing, analyzing, promoting, brainstorming or doing other good things for blogs. All that I do with joy and I only spend about 10 percent to write.
3. There is a lot of pressure
Being a full time blogger has a lot of pressure. Everything relies on a person. If your blog is good, then an encouraging achievement. But if it's bad, no one else can be blamed. Everything is directed to who owns the blog.
For me this is a big pressure, because 100 percent of everything must be done alone. Starting from matters of content, IT issues and even monetization issues. It's not easy, that's what makes this work full of pressure. Especially if the source of income is only on the blog.
4. Familiar Reply to Email
Become a full time blogger so you have to familiarize yourself with the affairs of the emails. Almost every day I spend time on email. Just replying to incoming questions or even waiting for offers. Everything I do with enthusiasm.
Sometimes I also have to reply to incoming emails with a quick response with the words that I have prepared. This is to make things easier. Not a few also I made an offer to the company. So email is a weapon and routine that is common to me.
5. Reading Other Blogs So Routine
I am sometimes amazed when I meet other bloggers and admit that I rarely read other people's blogs. Because for me, reading other people's blogs is a source of inspiration and research tools to find out what other people need. So I can make it on a personal blog.
I read all kinds of blogs with various topics, ranging from blogs about SEO, design, fashion, parental guidance, cooking, home renovation, personal development and even blogs about blogging that I visited. But I am more interested in traveling and technology blogs.
6. The Best Job in the World
This might look trite, but when you meet with successful bloggers that thought will emerge. As long as I become a full time blogger, I enjoy life happily. Every time I wake up in the morning, I am always grateful for doing something that I like.
But that does not mean this work without challenges. Even being a blogger is a challenge for the sake of the challenges of the mastermind. What else if you have to face a complicated client and convoluted negotiations. Being a blogger requires hard work and long hours. But also fun.
7. Have a New Job Explaining Daily Life
Being a blogger especially in Indonesia is still not proud of some people. So some people are curious, how a blogger earns income. This task will be done almost every day, especially to the family.
You have to make sure they don't think you don't keep tuyul. I sometimes have to share daily activities with the reader so that I can inform what I do every day. Indeed on BLOGOOBLOK it is not often, but on a personal blog sometimes I tell it all.
8. Work Alone
Being a full time blogger does have many acquaintances. Sometimes sharing ideas with other blogger friends, brainstorming and creating innovations together. But in the end everything must be done alone, especially to the blogs that we manage.
Not infrequently I myself feel bored with routines in front of the laptop alone. If that's the case, I choose to leave the house, hang out at the cafe and occasionally tell the community. Indeed, becoming a blogger sometimes raises a sense of wanting to work together with other people. But all that can be arranged.
9. Being Flexible and High Learning Interest
Being a blogger sometimes forces us to be flexible. Flexible in terms of thinking. Starting from ideas, plans and time. Because blogging is rapidly changing so many things must also be quickly changed in life. That's what I mean by flexible.
Since I chose to become a full time blogger, it also forced me to quickly learn on everything. My interest in learning is high, because I need to compete with many people. That means, if there are people who have explored blogging in the last three months, I should be able to catch up.
I am always ready for anything that changes, trends and starts to adapt easily to be able to compete and provide the content that others want.
10. Blogging Is a Competitive Job
Undeniably, this work can be very competitive. We will easily be swept away in competition, but it is also easy to ignore it. Sometimes I even get caught up in bitter arguments. If it's like this sometimes it's hard to survive.
But I have another weapon. I do not want to say what the main person who does not educate and tends to drop will not take my heart. Because of this intention only wants to bring us down and continue to lag behind. Do what you think is good and right.
11. Always Requires Time That Is Not Short
Being a successful blogger, not as fast as you think. Similarly, when running it. Even for writing, I need a long time. Sometimes the writing is not bad, I overhaul it again and start it from the beginning. Everything to please the reader.
To click on Publish it seems easy. But for me it's not as easy as the words. I have to think about writing ideas that I will make, illustrate the photos which means I have to edit again to the point, how I should distribute the writing. So don't copy paste pliss. Because behind one writing, there was a lot of time being killed.
12 Things That Full Time Bloggers Feel
When I first left my permanent job, I thought that I would have plenty of time for myself. The reality is not the case. I was inundated with new jobs and took up a lot of time. All because I do not have binding time.
Sometimes when people leave for work, I just wake up. Or vice versa, when people leave the office, I even more cool entrenched in front of the computer. My work hours in a day can also be longer, 10 to 12 hours a day.
13. You Must Feel Cool a Little
Almost all bloggers have another side to themselves that he wants to achieve. Maybe things that have never been done. So you have to feel a little cool to be able to spend time learning SEO techniques, designing views or writing that takes a long time at the computer.
Being a blogger who doesn't enjoy his cool time will turn this activity into something heavy.
14. Must be tough
I never imagined that I had been working as a full time blogger. If it wasn't for obstinacy, maybe I would have given in and taken all the jobs that came in. But I am always convinced that this choice is something that is also financially profitable.
I sometimes feel pressured when what I hope is not achieved. For example, there are interesting offers to follow up on, but efforts to achieve them are not easy. This requires a struggle and I must be prepared to live it.
15. Blogging Can Make Frustration
Not easy. That is the point. Sometimes I have to scream for myself because what I do doesn't look like what I imagine. Or sometimes I want to write but don't have ideas to develop. While there is a lot of time I have to use.
All of this activity sometimes makes me frustrated. Moreover, many people out there expect me to work free for him. Plus, for example, there are family or close friends who want to work on the project with thanks. Sometimes it's hard to refuse, so that's where the frustration begins.
16. It's quite a shame to have a Vlog.
Nowadays there are many Vloggers that have appeared in Indonesia. This video blogging trend is indeed haunting to me. Sometimes it feels like making vlogs like them, but this is the most awkward and embarrassing thing I'm trying to do.
Maybe many other bloggers can do it, but I'm not ready mentally. But if you can and can do it, that's really cool. Suggestions, learn ways to do a good vlog in order to increase income to become a full time blogger.
17. Have an Intimate Relationship with Google Analytics
I always check Google Analytics almost every day. Sometimes I really fall in love with him, sometimes I really hate him. If my blog's traffic is high I love it, but if it's low, it's like a horror that always haunts. Because for me Analytics has become a master that must be spoiled.
That is why every day I am still often nervous when opening Google Analytics.
18. Be Prepared to Receive Fluctuating Income
If you are familiar with regular and regular income every month, then choose to become a full-time blogger, then be prepared to accept the fact that your income will not always be the same every month. Sometimes it can be big, sometimes it is very little.
That's why, when you become a blogger, don't ever put eggs in one basket. Why I love blogging, because it forces me to be creative in finding sources of income from various places and various ways. As long as you don't do anything negative.
19. Content will always be king
Being a blogger, is not a matter of having a blog or not. More than that, we will get used to making blog content as king. Maybe internet users in Indonesia are easily trapped by playing social media. Or novice bloggers who are fixated on mere blog views.
All that is no less important than content. Because in the end, that's what makes a blog can grow and bring in income. So start producing quality content and don't easily drift into bad habits.
20. You Must Love What You Do
Being a full time blogger, you have to love what you do. Because that's how all things can be done well. Don't try to leave your current job, if you haven't fully loved this profession. Because if not, then all in vain.
I also don't force people to become full time bloggers. Because what I feel right now is not necessarily felt by other people. The most effective way to go through this profession is to set aside free time outside of work time to do many things on the blog. Mainly creating content.
The 20 things above might not happen in all full time bloggers. However, that's what I felt and experienced for the past three years. I chose to leave my office to enjoy a pleasant job. For me, comfort in creating and working is everything.
Happy National Blogger Day!
