First of all, it is quite an overstatement to say that Pakistan has a “blogging industry”. Actually, blogging was and is, still, not considered as a niche which could be considered as a serious domain. Thanks to the lack of digital understanding that is widely prevalent in Pakistan. Even countless digital agencies here do not understand terms which are associated with “Digital” and “Blogging”. Being in the field of blogging since 2008, I have seen multiple changes in the blogging world of Pakistan. One of the most common question that is asked every year is “who is actual and authentic blogger?” Well, there are other questions as well which I’ll try to include in this blog. So, let the fun begin…
Who Is A Blogger?
In Pakistan, every Tom, Dick, and Harry claim to be a blogger and that’s how people (from Digital / PR agencies) introduce them – it’s a shame that neither the agency personnel are qualified enough to differentiate between a blogger and social media activist, nor are these self-proclaimed bloggers have the slightest self-actualization trait. Blogger are those who write their views, opinions and ideas about anything that they come across. A blogger can just be a blogger and not a specialist – the most wide spread misconception about a blogger in Pakistan. A blogger can advocate a brand as well as point out his take on it too. A blogger and a micro-blogger aren’t the same.
How Can You Earn From A Blog?
Very simple, there are a few steps which can help you earn from your blog, mentioned below:
a) Create interesting and unique content which is engaging in terms of getting likes, shares and make people start a conversation around it.
b) Market your content over social media platforms, the more the merrier.
c) Don’t sell yourself short. CHARGE for your skills. There’s no free lunch at the Wall-Street / (in Karachi, it should be I.I. Chundrigarh or Shahrah-e-Faisal)
d) Write for multiple platforms to get fame, to be noticed and then you may charge your due price.
e) Engage with international platforms and bloggers. They always help, tried and tested; unlike Pakistanis they give better and accurate ideas to prosper.
f) Go for some websites like UpWork, and similar, they will help you in understanding the dynamics of paid blogging and content creation. Although there are many which pay peanuts, but to have a good exposure in international market is a positive thing.
g) Go for the AdSense and banner ads on your blog – which gets easier with the frequent and steady website traffic.
h) Engage yourself in local campaigns but don’t settle for peanuts as many bloggers (who are just Press Release publishers in reality) are contaminating the market by publishing content in cheap rates and agencies don’t get the flavor of high quality content so they measure all with same yardstick.
Who Are Actual Black Sheep In Pakistani Bloggers’ Community?
People who start their blog for getting the following are real black-sheep of Pakistan’s Bloggers’ Community:
A) Those who want free invitations, passes and freebies or goodie bags
B) Those who are interested in piling up USBs, T-shirts, Mugs, or other sorts of merchandises from the brand or events
C) People who are constantly looking for free lunches, dinners and high teas – you know what their caliber is
D) Blog-runners who want to get selfies with celebrities and flaunt them in their circle – you know those name-droppers? Exactly
E) Those who don’t have original content on their websites or blogs. There are websites which publish plagiarized content without shame. They think they are smart!
Bloggers And Social Media Influencers Aren’t The Same
You cannot compare apples with oranges right? That’s exactly how it is with bloggers and social media influencers. There are few who are influential over social media but every other social media “Instagrammer, Twitteratie or Facebooker” isn’t a blogger. So, next time when you introduce those photographers or picture-sharers with someone, don’t call them “Bloggers”.
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Exactly what I have been wanting to say. Yes there is a huge and clear difference between a blogger and social media influencer. People actually need to understand in Pakistan, what blogging is. How much effort and hard work it actually takes. It’s sad to see many black sheeps in the community are ruining the overall concept of blogging. I sincerely hope agencies realize the difference between blogger and just social media enthusiasts.
What an amazing article it is. You highlighted each and every aspect of black sheep in bloggers community. Just WOW 🙂
Thank you so much Junaid, for appreciating it. I hope this post reaches out to the relevant bloggers and agencies who are damaging the blogging industry of Pakistan. Plus, it’ll be great if this post will be shared to other serious and genuinely hard working bloggers.
This is spot on! I agree with what you’ve written and regarding how authentic bloggers are earning a bad name because of a few black sheep. As agencies we need to realise the difference between a Twitterati/Instagrammer and a proper blogger. Creating goodwill through proper content creation is what matters as far as becoming a good blogger is concerned rather than copy pasting content.