How many times did you attempt to start a blog but chickened out time and time again? Maybe you were patient and consistent for the first few weeks or even months, but because you couldn’t see an increase in traffic, you simply quit more so because you were unaware that it takes about 90 days for your post to be searchable on Google ( if it’s well-written and SEO-friendly).
Key Takeaways:
- Bloggers and influencers are both key players in digital marketing, with overlapping roles but distinct characteristics and approaches to content creation and audience engagement.
- The article explores the similarities, differences, and overlaps between bloggers and influencers, considering factors such as content format, platform usage, audience engagement, monetization strategies, and brand collaborations.
- While bloggers typically focus on long-form content through blogs or websites, influencers create diverse content formats, including social media posts, videos, and live streams, catering to different audience preferences and consumption habits.
- Both bloggers and influencers have the potential to monetize their platforms through sponsored content, affiliate marketing, product collaborations, and brand partnerships, leveraging their influence, expertise, and audience trust to generate income.
- Understanding the distinctions between bloggers and influencers, as well as their complementary strengths and capabilities, allows brands to develop holistic marketing strategies that leverage the unique advantages of each channel to reach and engage target audiences effectively.
But blogger influencers, vloggers, & influencers weren’t catapulted to stardom overnight (even if it seems that way). They may be enjoying the glitz and glamor today, but know that they went through many hurdles, learning curves, and heartaches throughout the process. If you’re not afraid to do the same, you may be one of the lucky ones.
Before Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and other social media platforms exploded on the internet, basically everyone was calling themselves a “blogger.” These days, however, more and more are becoming influencers. But there are major differences between them. Not all influencers are bloggers, and certainly not all bloggers can call themselves influencers. There are instances when there will be an overlap, but it generally depends on the kind of personality you have and the kind of content you wish to create.
The Here and Now
Let’s set an example. Say a newly-opened resort hotel hired the services of a blogger as well as a vlogger. The blogger will work more like a writer or journalist who will document the entire trip and write about their experiences in-depth. This could mean interviewing the chef and tasting their food, so they could write the type of content that could capture the audience’s imagination. However, they don’t need to create the content right then and there. They could simply take notes and compose their blog post when they get home.
A vlogger influencer, on the other hand, needs to get everything done and ready by the time their trip is over. While a blogger can go home and decide when and where to write their piece, a vlogger influencer must shoot the photos, reels, and videos right then and there. So bloggers can work like traditional media, while vloggers don’t have the liberty to do that.
Bloggers Have Their Own Blog/Website
Bloggers have their own blogs and websites. At the same time, influencers and vloggers can post on other platforms. Needless to say, it’s amazing if you’re an influencer who has a blog at the same time. This gives you an added source of credibility or a fallback position. So having both is great but not that easy.
Writing a blog can be hard. This is not to discourage people from starting their blogs but to let them know what to expect in case they decide to pursue it. If you do not love writing, we may have a problem there. Not only do you need to have a passion for writing, but you must also have an eye for detail, be a great storyteller, are good with SEO, and are comfortable with the proofreading and editing process.
On the flip side, not all bloggers can be influencers or have the knack for Instagram since it’s an entirely different space altogether. You also need to be great at storytelling and photography but in a different way. Capturing the perfect image or learning to shoot at the right angle takes time. You also need to come up with catchy captions, which can appear as microblogs, which will be easier if you’re already a good writer. Speaking of storytelling, why not seek the aid of a storytelling suite that scales your brand’s content, whether it’s a small, medium, or large business? Learn more from our Mish Guru review.
Can Drive People Into Action
Do you have the power to drive people to act? When reading a blog, you may find it entertaining, informative, or both. But you’re not really doing hardcore selling or promotion. Unlike influencers or vloggers who work with brands and create content for their audiences who look to them for good recommendations of products and services. Here you will see plenty of sponsored-style content.
Influencers belong to a trusted community that comes to them. This is precisely why brands are eager to work with them because they already have an audience who are happy to hear what they have to say—people who will make purchases based on their recommendations.
But this is where things get tricky because a YouTuber could be an influencer if you’re doing it based on your influence. For definition’s sake, however, we will look at it from a general standpoint. Yes, you can be influential, but it does not necessarily mean you’re also influential on social media.
What You Bring to The Table Matters
Different brands need different skill sets that people bring to the table, regardless if they are blogger influencers, vloggers, or both. Some brands require exemplary brand content for their affiliate program, so they need someone to work with who’s really good at it. Someone to drive their affiliates and get more click-throughs. So this is one of those times when working with a vlogger influencer wouldn’t even make any sense.
Another thing to note is that blogs have a longer shelf life, especially if smart SEO optimization is involved and you are getting good traffic from Google. That’s why there’s such a thing as “evergreen” content: they could live forever. Speaking of content, lighten your load by utilizing a cloud-based solution to help you manage customer relationships, social media activities, and online reputation. Learn more from our Mention review.
Unlike Instagram, for instance, it will eventually go down the feed and lose traction after a few weeks, granting it was lucky to last that long. So since they have different shelf lives, brands who work with bloggers have different goals compared to when they are working with vloggers or Instagram influencers. Different target audience means different goals. So it’s important to know which route you want to take- blogger influencers, vloggers, or both.
Doing Both Is Possible, But Not Necessary
So, what is the primary purpose of a blogger? You can be a blogger and a vlogger at the same time, but you don’t have to be. As a blogger, you can focus on developing your blog’s content strategy without worrying about the influencer side. It’s okay to do one thing at a time as long as you’re doing it wholeheartedly because anything mediocre is totally unacceptable.
One of the biggest mistakes bloggers can make is competing in a space they don’t like participating in in the first place. But they’re compelled to do so because they feel the need to be something else apart from what they are. The same goes for influencers contemplating starting a blog at the back of their minds while creating their latest post on Instagram or YouTube. It’s okay to have alternative sites and platforms or wear many hats at the same time, so long as the quality of your work is not compromised.
Blogger VS Influencer: Never Compare
What is the difference between a blogger and a vlogger? If you’re a blogger, don’t compare yourself to a vlogger or influencer and vice versa. When you start comparing, that’s when jealousy and uncertainties creep in. Then you start to question your ability. Remember that brands approach bloggers and vloggers for different reasons depending on their goals.
It’s easy to know if you’re dealing with an influencer right off the bat since you can just head over to the Instagram profile and see those jaw-dropping photos and visuals. And sometimes, they can appear to have a larger audience because that is instantly visible.
Conversely, a blog is not that instantaneous unless you go to its analytics page to know how many people have read that article or how many visited its site on that day or week. While influencers can constantly boast about their number of followers, likes, and comments. So yes, it’s easier for brands to see their metrics.
But not all brands are like this. Plenty of them are not afraid to allot time, money, and energy to test and see where their most significant return on investment might be. Is it blogger influencers or vloggers? Sometimes it’s a little bit of both. Again, you’re the lucky one when you’ve been around long enough to learn and balance both, so when brands ask you if you’re a blogger, vlogger, or influencer, you can say all of the above without batting an eyelash.
Humanize Your Content
Another reason why vlogger influencers get a lot of traction is because of their “humanized effect”. So perhaps bloggers can do the same thing, add more photos, and embed more videos in their content. Write in a way that people can relate to you. This is how influencers build their communities. Whenever they show up on cam and start talking, people feel like they know you and can reach out to you. Thus, they stay engaged and involved. This is more challenging to accomplish with written text.
Similarly, vlogger influencers can learn from bloggers their understanding of the importance of storytelling and how to add value. This is why people care to read them, no matter how long their articles may be, since these posts are valuable, in-depth, and searchable, depending on the keywords.
Starting the Journey: How Do You Become a Blogger and Influencer?
So now you’re intrigued and want to start your journey as an influencer blogger. But how does one do that exactly? Well, first things first. You can’t be a blogger unless you know how to write well. What is blogger influencer marketing? It’s knowing the right formula for writing personal or corporate blogs, whether B2B or B2C. So here are five tips for doing just that.
Compelling Title
Begin by writing a compelling title. You can’t write a blog post unless you have a great title. Eighty percent of people will read your headline, but only 20% will go ahead and click through to read the rest of your post. Regardless of whether you came up with an outstanding piece, if your headline is trashy, no one will bother reading the rest of it. It needs to be catchy, not complicated. If you’re starting, stick with the basics, like How To posts. Try a couple of variations with it. Begin by asking people like your friends what they like, then pick the best one and go with it.
The Hook
You need to be able to hook your audience with a bold statement. For instance, “Do you want to know the secret for getting 50,000 visitors on your blog post?”. Once you hook them in, they can easily read the rest of what you’re about to say. Also, talk about what to expect in your post, like a brief overview of what they will learn. Encourage them to read and leave a comment as well.
Easy Skimming Ahead
People want to be able to skim through your post. Once you finish the introduction, it’s time to work on your body. Don’t forget to put your subheadings for easy skimming. If they can’t skim it, they probably won’t read it. Keep your paragraphs six lines to a maximum. Don’t forget to link out to other people as well, not just your site. When you’re open about citing your sources, you become more credible, and people will look at you as a professional, an expert. Someone who clearly knows what they’re talking about.
Memorable Conclusion
Come up with a memorable conclusion, and end it with a question. This is how people leave comments; when they do, it creates engagement. And as we know, engagement generates sales. This is how they become a lead and buy the products and services you’re promoting. So you must end it with a question. Do this and you’re on your way to becoming a blogger influencer.
Use Backlinks to Your Advantage
Everyone loves getting backlinks since it drives more traffic, especially if you’re doing it positively. So when you link up with people, email them as well. Tell them you’re a fan of their work, so much so that you linked them to your recent blog post. It’s that simple. Many people who get linked out to, even big influencers, would share articles on Twitter, which drives traffic to the blog owner. So if you wish to increase traffic to your blog, improve your writing content and generate traffic.
FAQ:
What are the similarities between bloggers and influencers in digital marketing?
Bloggers and influencers share similarities in their roles as content creators and opinion leaders in digital marketing, leveraging their platforms and audience engagement to share information, entertain, and influence consumer behavior and preferences.
What are the key differences between bloggers and influencers in terms of content format and platform usage?
Bloggers typically focus on long-form content through blogs or websites, while influencers create diverse content formats, including social media posts, videos, and live streams, catering to different audience preferences and consumption habits across various platforms.
How do bloggers and influencers engage with their audience, and what are their respective strengths in audience interaction?
Bloggers engage with their audience through in-depth articles, tutorials, and reviews, fostering community engagement and discussion, while influencers utilize social media platforms for real-time interaction, storytelling, and visual content creation, driving engagement and connection with followers.
What are the main monetization strategies employed by bloggers and influencers to generate income?
Both bloggers and influencers can monetize their platforms through sponsored content, affiliate marketing, product collaborations, and brand partnerships, leveraging their influence, expertise, and audience trust to generate income and support their content creation efforts.
How can brands leverage the strengths of both bloggers and influencers in their marketing strategies?
Brands can develop holistic marketing strategies that leverage the unique strengths and capabilities of both bloggers and influencers, combining long-form content and in-depth expertise with real-time engagement and visual storytelling to reach and engage target audiences effectively across multiple channels.
The Truth Behind Blogger Influencers
Starting a blog can be exciting because this is your chance to express yourself and fulfill your dreams of one day becoming a great blogger influencer. However, you must be willing to do the leg work. Much effort is required, and countless mistakes, disappointments, and challenges will be involved. But if you stick to it and put a lot of intention into your actions, you will succeed, and your efforts will eventually pay off. For more information about influencer marketing, check out our post, “What Does An Influencer Marketing Agency Do? An In-Depth Look.”
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