Million Dollar Question today is ....

The writing prompt today from BlogHer's NaBloPoMo November 2014 is:

Do you consider yourself a professional blogger?

So, do I consider myself a professional blogger? Yes, yes I do. While I may not be earning as much as other bloggers who can snag a thousand dollars for a sponsored post, I do have the utmost respect for my blogging. I used to just get on and write when I felt like it, but now I have started to tailor what I write about and what I am passionate about. There are a few ways to know if you fall into the professional blogging category. Here are my responses to them.

Respect:

I treat my blog with the respect it deserves. In addition, I treat my readers with respect. I LOVE when readers comment on my blog and I LOVE when readers share my posts. I see which ones draw the attention and use that to see how I can use my influence to help others. I will, however, do a post WITHOUT asking for compensation. Y'all can throw stones at me if you want. However, I feel that sometimes just simply showing your support and love WITHOUT having anything in return is nice.

Approached by Brands:

This is NEW to me. Recently I have started receiving things in the mail without me having to go to the brand. It is an AWESOME feeling. Kinda like you know you're an adult when you get your first washer & dryer (and are excited about it). Well, I finally felt like a professional when brands started to come to me. It is one of the best feelings in the world.

Concerned about Content:

You have become a professional when you are concerned about what you put out there into cyber world. You don't always retweet things or share them on Facebook. You suddenly are concerned about conflicting companies. I have hit that point. I have fallen in love with a few companies and unless I am doing a comparison review, you won't find their competition on my blog. I do not feel the need to jump on every item in order to get my name out there.

Compensation:

I touched on this earlier. I WILL do posts without requiring compensation, but that isn't a majority of my posts. I have affiliate links throughout my posts and I receive gifts in exchange for content. The gifts are sometimes a product with pretty high price tags on them, and sometimes they are straight up cash. I don't feel the need to tell my readers how I have been compensated, just that I HAVE been compensated. You need to realize that while I am being compensated for some posts, my opinions are mine. I do NOT believe in doing paid reviews in exchange for high ratings.

Felt Okay to Say No:

Yup, I have had companies contact me and want me to try their products. I have now officially started declining. They are products I would never use or I just don't believe in. I am not a believer in quick fixes. I have problems with companies that want me to back something that will give you changes in a week's time (unless it is a skin clearing product or something like that).

Interaction is Key:

I am not only immersed in my blog, but also my social media interaction. I get involved with blogging communities and groups that will help bring my blog more viewers. I also let them critique my blog and website to make sure that I am on the track that I desire. This is very important to me.

Just note that becoming a professional blogger takes time. Not only that, there are times when you feel like you are literally tied to your computer. It is VITAL that you create a schedule, just like you would for any other job. One of the best posts I have read about becoming a professional blogger was written in March of last year when I was first looking at really diving into blogging.