Being an online business content creator type person is really weird. My hourly rate can be anywhere from zero to $1000 on any given day and my currency is eyeballs. It’s like showing up to work everyday and if you’re particularly entertaining you get paid and if you’re not, you don’t. There’s also no way of knowing what will be well received, you just have to try a bunch of stuff and see what works. Like trying to get a high distinction on an assignment that has no criteria. Fun.
A lot of people are a bit weird about influencers and bloggers earning money. I’ve personally never understood this. When I see a blogger pimping a sponsored post, trying to sell tickets to an event or advertising a course they’ve written, I support the shit out of them. 99% of what most people do online is totally free and if they offer an awesome quality product to support this amazing free content, I can’t whip out my credit card fast enough.
That’s a very ‘industry’ thing to do though. We all support each other so it comes back around.
Sometimes I chat to mates of mine who aren’t in the industry and they don’t realize their comments, shares and likes mean so much. Often they’re horrified because if they had known, they would have tried harder to support their online mates.
If you have a podcast you listen to all the time, a blog you read every day over coffee or an Instagrammer who transports you all over the world when you’re lying in bed in the morning, here are a few ways you can support them to keep them doing what they’re doing.
1.Click, click, click
Every time you see something from your favourite online person – click it! Like it! Go right through to the website and make your time counts towards their traffic. Sign up to email deliveries so you never miss something from them. Even if you think their latest blog post isn’t their best work, give them a click and a like anyway.
2. Comment and engage
Even if you don’t have much to say, just a little hello or a contribution to the conversation goes a long way. Social media algorithms reward engagement so by starting a conversation you’re helping your content creator reach more people. This came up recently when I did a reader survey on Smaggle and so many people commented that they missed Sweet Teen Club, my podcast with Stacey from Veggie Mama that’s on a break at the moment. I had no idea people liked it because no told me! I could obviously see people listening to it but numbers on a screen mean nothing. It’s only when the podcast disappeared that people started to talk about it. You don’t need to send a carrier pigeon with a love letter every day but comments go a really long way so do that often.
3.Share
If you love something, share it. If it resonated with you or reminded you of a friend, tag them in the post. I understand some people like to be as invisible as possible online but if you’ve enjoyed the content of a particular blogger for years, do them a solid and hit share.
4.Recommend
If you love a particular online person, tell the world. Recommend their posts, buy their books for friends, and click through links to their podcast episodes. You can go one step further and contact magazines or TV stations that you think should cover their work or even nominate them for awards. Being an active supporter is the best. There’s nothing awesome about quietly admiring someone but never telling people about them. What’s the point in that? I’m a hardcore recommender – I want everyone to love the things I love so I don’t really get it when people find a cool thing and just like, never tell anyone about it.
5. Buy their shit
Even if it’s not something you particularly need. I’ve bought countless digital menu plans from health bloggers, not because I wanted or needed them but because I’d been using their amazing recipes for free for years and I wanted to give them some love back. It obviously depends on your income as to how often you can do this but most people can afford to swing $20 at a blogger they love who just released an ebook.
6. Review their shit
Especially for podcasts, books and apps. 5 star reviews are GOLD in the online world and if you can get in there with your review on launch day, your online person will love you forever. Never think your positive feedback won’t add anything. It’s way more valuable than you know.
7. Attend their events
So many people complain that ‘no one ever comes to Insert City Name Here’. The solution to this problem is to make the time to support events when they happen in your city. Yes it’s an effort, yes it’s a bit more money than you would have spent this month but if you have the means, go. I’ve pretty much never regretted going to an event ever.
In the spirit of awesome people, here are some people I love who do great things and this is me supporting them.
Kate from Secret Bloggers Business
Kate has a subscription service that helps bloggers grow their online influence and turn their blogs into a business. She’s a damn genius.
Total hair goddess. If you feel like your hair is being super boring grab one of her ebooks – 30 Braids in 30 days beginning point to be that lady who always has the best hair.
Nikki has a shop where you can buy capsule wardrobe pieces every few seasons and she has a styling course to help people who are a bit lost with what to wear every day.
Chantelle (photographer and blogger extraordinaire!) has an amazing photo editing app that I use pretty much every day.
Sonia has an amazing business called Scribe and Social where she does killer social media content and copywriting.
My mate Kayte has an awesome book that everyone should read. I actually laughed out loud reading this.
Beth runs in the kitchen workshops. She just had her first one but stay tuned for more to come in the future.
Alexx runs courses on how to cut chemicals and toxins out of your life. I’ve learned SO MUCH from her.
As well as being my beautiful Straight & Curly partner in crime, Kelly writes excellent books.
Stacey often speaks at events so keep your eyes peeled for her next gig.
Bianca has gorgeous books full of recipes using real, proper ingredients.
Mikaela runs a whole bunch of courses for creatives including photography.
Steph has an awesome book called Button Popping Breakfasts for delicious brekkie recipes.
Carla and Emma have recipes books and a healthy eating course and community.
JJ has an awesome pottery line you can buy here.
Lorraine has a trip to Peru planned where you can go along and experience one of her amazing trips.
Beauty YouTubers Sharon The Makeup Artist and Karima have their own jewellery line.
Ruth makes gorgeous ceramics.
UberKate Does gorgeous personlized jewellery.
They run gorgeous craft workshops in Sydney.
A gorgeous stationary shop.
Gillian and Carolyn have an awesome blog with a shop full cool stuff.
Also if you blog or have an online business – link to it in the comments! It’s dang hard getting the word out about your stuff so take this as an invitation.
Who is you most favourite blogger or online person? Give them a shout out to let them know you love them!
P.S Also you should totally sign up for my newsletter. It’s full of cool stuff.
P.P.S Don’t forget Crochet Coach has a free trial offer period at the moment so make sure you sign up!