THOUGHTS ON PAID CONTENT & BECOMING A FULL TIME BLOGGER

So firstly, when I started things were A LOT different. Money wasn't mentioned or talked about, most of us didn't even know you could make money from blogging or vlogging. It didn't really matter about how often you uploaded, how great your thumbnails were, how awesome your pictures looked, how amazing your editing skills were.. In fact, nothing really mattered apart from 'are you enjoying it'.

For me, starting Youtube & my blog (which came much later) was simply about being creative and having my own voice. I was bored and just needed something to do. It was that simple. I enjoy being in front of a camera, and I have done since I was a toddler, so being on the internet is sort of normal to me.

Things have changed though - thats pretty easy to see & I think its time I shared my thoughts on the whole b/vlogging phenomena.

I became a full-time blogger in April 2014. I registered as self employed and cut

 down my hours at my 'normal job', then eventually left altogether. It wasn't scary for me at all, because it just felt right and I was completely ready. I started Youtube back in 2011 so it did take me a long while to get there, but I'm here now and yes, its the best thing I've ever done. Im my own boss (sort of) I like to think I don't have anyone to answer to but I do. Networks, my management, as well as brands and PR's but I love my job & I am forever thankful. Everyday I am living out some sort of dream and although at times it can be pretty overwhelming, it is also pretty f***ing awesome.

For those of you that don't know I'm not from the best town or the best background. I grew up on a council estate and things were sometimes quite tough for me and my family so to live the life I am currently living - its mad. I could've gone down a completely different path, lets just say that. 

At 24 years old I have moved into my own two bedroom flat, I drive a mini convertible, I'm independent, I work with amazing well known brands, I get to go on beautiful holidays & I get amazing opportunities, and I know to some people thats normal, but for me and my family, even a lot of my friends back home - what I have achieved is incredible. Im very proud.

My first ever Youtube payment was £80. I remember being so over the moon and excited thinking 'what can I buy'. Me being typical me, I bought clothes and makeup and shoes - it was the best. As time went on, the money went up and up and up and nobody (not even me) could believe how things were going. It was exciting but it was also tough. I didn't know what to with it, how to save, how to pay tax.. I had to teach myself everything. (I am rubbish at maths so you can imagine right? lol) Thats the thing with this b/vlogging stuff. Nobody really helps you or tells you everything so most of the stuff that comes with it, you sort of have to learn yourself..

So now its 2015 and the game has changed. Everything is business and professional now. You can earn £1000s from one sponsored video & be flown to places like Thailand and Dubai for a blogger photoshoot - its insane isn't it? But thats just how it is. I actually struggled A LOT with the change over from 'hobby' to 'job'. I couldn't swear in my videos anymore - stuff like that. It was hard and it felt like the change happened overnight? B/vloggers are sometimes looked at as celebs now which is crazy but I can see why. We are sort of everywhere. The internet is a small place when you think about it isn't it?

That moves me on to 'sponsored content' that everyone has opinions on and people seem to always talk about - its even in the press now. I get the hype and the controversy because even though blogging isn't new to us bloggers, it is to everyone else. Im not really fussed what people have to say about how much we earn or get paid for content because I see it like 'I came from F all to this, I work my ass off and I am grateful for everything that I have and do & if you don't like it, I don't really care'  LOL. So many of us b/vloggers are making a living whilst making our dreams come true - do you know how awesome that is? We might get paid £1000 for a post or £10,000 for a video (random figures lol) but thats because our audience is so big. People listen and give a damn about what we have to say - mainly because we don't BS. Endorsing a product is a big thing so I guess the money has to be big too.

Sponsored content is how full time b/vloggers live. If I didn't work with brands on paid posts/videos I wouldn't be able to pay my bills or eat. Thats just me being real! Other people can earn bonuses and get incentives at work, whether you work in a shop or an office - so why can't we? 

Becoming a fulltime blogger meant signing with a management team, getting an accountant, upping my content game & becoming a stressy bitch lol. But it also meant, moving out, being able to be my own boss & loving my life. I am so happy and so excited for my future - it literally blows my mind to think about where I am & where I used to be.

How did you like this post? Would you like more posts like this? I have a few ideas but I won't do them if this was boring to read lol. I hope it made as much sense as possible, it is my thoughts after all and they can be a bit all over the place haha.