Where are you as a blogger?

Have you discovered what sort of blogger you are? 

Many of us start out writing just because we want to record the lives our children/families. That is how I started blogging. When I first found out about reviewing products I was shocked. I had no idea that I could make a difference in the products that are on the market today. I first wondered why a company would want a small mom blogger like myself to help them promote their product. I don’t think that way anymore. Why don’t I think that way? Because I now see how powerful Moms are. Not only can we be helpful by giving our honest opinions of products that we try (why not go straight to the person that is going to use the products the most and ask their opinion on the products?) but also because Moms can be very influential when it comes to selling a product. Think about it, when you aren’t sure about something or need advice, who do you ask? Your Mom? I do. Moms often share their opinions with one another. 

When I first started reviewing products I was still posting about my family on a daily basis and was doing product reviews every now and then when they came along. I was always really excited when a company said that they would like a review from us. After a while I started to get more and more offers and before I knew it I was no longer contacting companies because I was getting so many daily emails from companies wanting posts and reviews on my blog. (Boy was I proud of myself!) 

After a while I started to look at my blog and was question myself…what sort of blogger am I? What sort of blogger do I want to be? 

To answer these questions I must first say that when I started I had no idea how big my blog was going to be or what was going to come of it, but I was having fun. I am still having fun, however I have to say that reviews, giveaways and other paid posts can be a lot of work. Not only do you have to test the product, but you need to take the time to take photos, upload them, write up your honest post, and market that post as well as your blog. When you are just blogging for fun it doesn’t matter how many followers you have or what sort of page rank or klout score you have, but when you are wanting to do reviews and giveaways this all matters. 

That being said, I love doing reviews and giveaways and like a little bit of a challenge. 

I now consider myself a blogger that blogs about my family, parenting issues and advice, as well as reviews and giveaways. (I like to inform my readers of products currently on the market, and I also like to give my readers something fun to try themselves! Who doesn’t love free products!?) 

This is exactly what sort of blogger I want to be. 

What is the hardest part of being a review/giveaway blogger?

I would say the hardest part for me is that I have to keep track of everything that I review. That’s right, I’m sure some of you probably had no idea, but when you review products on your blog you need to claim them on your taxes like cash earned. It is sometimes hard to keep track, but it really is important. The one good thing is that you can write some things off that you use for your business. If you mail out a lot of packages or have to purchase anything extra for your business you can often write it off. (Check with your accountant to be sure of what you can and can not write off.) Some people have to purchase a new computer, internet, business voip, writing utensils and many other products, so look into this to help when it comes close to tax time.

So, what sort of blogger are you? 

Are you where you were hoping to be? 

Do you have any tips for new bloggers just starting out?