Today’s blogosphere grows with amazing speed: the number of subscribers to popular blogs goes through the roof, amounting to thousands of people. Profiles of these bloggers look like nice postcards, while their everyday life is luxurious and untroubled. It's no wonder that young people no longer dream of becoming astronauts or brave fireman, but are eager to be famous bloggers. Moreover, qualification and skills required to be recruited as an astronaut are far greater than those of a blogger. On top of that is a solid income that one can earn just after several months of activity according to frontmost blogging professionals.
Indeed, it’s hard to resist the temptation to gain popularity: every day, thousands of people start their day by reviewing pages of favorite “experts” to see what clothes are fashionable today, what places they need to visit, what to cook, and where to spend their next holidays. The army of subscribers believes without question in all these recommendations of their idols, even if they are ambiguous. However, what really lies at the heart of blogging: love for the craft and subscribers, or simply money?
First, let’s find out who are bloggers/vloggers
Blogger is a person who keeps a living personal diary on the internet. He shares his own thoughts and observations there. It resembles a paper private journal, where the author tells about his experience, contemplations, and plans. Frequently, such e-journals have a single theme (fashion, traveling, medicine), but some of them are talking just about everything.
What about vloggers? By the way, it is not a typo. The difference between bloggers and vloggers is that bloggers mainly write posts, whereas vloggers make videos to create a video blog. The most popular gathering place of vloggers is Youtube. The subject of videos is limitless.
All bloggers and vloggers can be roughly divided into three categories:
• businessmen. They regard their electronic diary solely as a source of income and try to attract as much attention as possible.
• thinkers. People who share their real experience, knowledge, and impressions.
• celebrities. Popularity is key here. The main purpose of this category of bloggers is to grow the number of fans.
It is fair to say that not only “businessmen” will be glad to profit from their blog. For example, “thinkers” frequently accompany their opuses by recommendations of brands to receive bonuses from companies. Celebrities supplement their diaries with contextual adverts and chant praise of cosmetics and clothes.
Should we implicitly trust bloggers?
The first question here is whether the blogger is really knowledgeable and qualified in the topic. Could one become an expert in a new field in 2-3 months? Could the yesterday’s plumber John be a fashion guru and the student Mary a go-to in psychology? The answer is obvious.
All these significance and successfulness are absolutely faux. It is just John and Mary are handy, and sometimes not so handy, at copying and interpreting thoughts of other authors. They accompany good words by bright photos to enforce their point of view. Indeed, to have ideal skin and body in photos, one does not have to possess it in real life, but all it takes is to be skilled in using graphic editors and choosing the right postures before the camera.
So, do all bloggers cheat (or just get benefit from good imagination)? The answer is no. Although, for fairness' sake, we should say that honest (meaning genuine) bloggers are in minority. The Internet has a large number of talented physicians, cosmetologists, or stylists who are just not as good at creating viral posts. That’s why they have not so many subscribers, which does not undermine high competence in their field.
How to avoid fabricated reviews
Regardless how popular is the blogger or how powerful is the politician, whom you are following, do not hurry to accept at face value the information given. You can take notice of it, but relying on personal experience and judgments. Do not allow the brilliant marketing tinsel to send you along the wrong path.
Try to find more details about the recommended products or services, including other reviews or testimonials. Dig deeper before taking your own choice.
“Do I really need it?”
This is the main question any customer should ask himself before making a purchasing decision. Behind the blogger’s back are numerous professionals: marketers, designers, and psychologists. These experts know exactly how to