5 Great Ways Blogging And Influencer Marketing Helped Me Grow
Read this post to learn more about how influencer marketing and blogging helped me personally grow.
Welcome to the 21st century, where everyone wants to be an influencer, Instagram babe, TikTok star, or famous Youtuber. Before creating Riyah Speaks, I thought this was ridiculous. However, ever since I started working with other influencers and small brands to help promote happiness and health, I can see why everyone wants to become an influencer.
Over the last two years since starting my blog, I’ve personally grown a lot, and not only in the marketing and social media sense. Before becoming a micro-influencer and blogger, I had low self-esteem, issues with my mental health, an array of health problems, and was not doing okay.
But, I found happiness and joy in becoming a micro-influencer, and through my work, I eventually learned to love and take care of myself. So, today I will share 5 ways I’ve grown since starting my blogging and influencing journey.
How I’ve Grown Since Becoming An Influencer
Gained Confidence
Since starting my influencer journey, I’ve become more confident. I’m no longer afraid of the camera, I’m okay with taking risks and reaching out to brands (even if they don’t respond), and most importantly, I am comfortable with myself.
I didn’t gain this confidence overnight. During the first few months as a blogger and influencer, I looked up to some of the top health and wellness influencers, such as Amanda Rocchio and Adrienne Yishler, for inspiration on how I should do this.
Found Happiness
When I moved back home from upstate to the big apple, I was extremely depressed. Moving during a global pandemic didn’t make moving any easier. On top of that, I was in tons of debt and had many financial issues. I was unhappy and didn’t know how to find happiness with so much going on.
I eventually figured out how to gain confidence and find happiness after reading stories and blogs on the topic. Some of my favorites are Vanessa Berlin, SugarCoatIt, and ZenHabits. After reading these blogs, I decided to start writing again, which led me to start the Riyah Speaks blog.
I Learned To Take Better Care Of Myself
As weird as this sounds, I would not be where I am today health wise if it weren’t for blogging. Influencer marketing taught me to always take care of myself before I try to show up on the camera. People care most about authenticity and honesty, and I couldn’t talk about finding happiness and practicing self-care if that was something I wasn’t doing.
I Gained Some Useful Tech Skills
After graduating with a bachelor’s and Master’s degree, you would think that I would have many technical skills. But I didn’t. I didn’t have the skills to manage a proper blog or even become an influencer. I had to take the time to learn how to capture Instagram angles, lighting, video creation and editing, social media analytics, and much more. These skills became useful and relevant once I started working full-time again. So, I’m happy I learned these things.
I Gained New International & National Friends
One of my favorite things about blogging and influencing is the people you network with. Through my online work, I’ve met many friendly people, and I’m good friends with some of them. Although I’ve never met any of them face-to-face (yet), they are a massive part of my social self-care and help me stay connected with other parts of the world.
It’s also lovely to learn about other people’s cultures, religions, lifestyles, …etc. I don’t regret a single person or brand I’ve met, including those that haven’t worked out.
Other Lessons Learned As An Influencer
Most people think that influencing is all about the looks and the glam, the likes, and the number of shares. While that plays a massive part in your success, I believe there is more to being an influencer than just the numbers.
Being an influencer means you have a voice and a platform for educating, inspiring, and connecting different people. Also, being an influencer means you have the power to make a difference in the world, which I think is the most important thing to know about.
If you’re a blogger or influencer, what lessons have you learned? Let me know in the comments.
I LOVE that you make points that many of us miss… personal growth is worth more than any amount of money…thank you for your insightfulness
Thanks for reading Jeanine 🙂
I’ve learned that as much as it is a labour to really make a go of it, it is a labour of love. It’s opened up other things for me to try and a possible future away from my 9-5. I’ve got a long way to go, but I’m finding what I enjoy and that’s good enough for now.
Hi Hannah, Blogging is a lot harder than people give it credit for. So much goes into making sure that the blog is fully functional and it’s truly as 24/7 project. I agree that it’s truly a labor of love.
I love this post and totally connect with the idea that influencing is way more than what people think. It is about building relationships and making genuine connections.
I agree!
This was a really lovely read! I always find that blogging continually has me growing and learning new things, which is an amazing benefit to it. I absolutely love the community that I’ve met and I couldn’t agree more that it’s not just the numbers! Thank you so much for sharing x
I’m glad you agree that it’s more than the numbers. Thanks for reading!
These are great things. Thank you for sharing! We definitely understand the development of greater confidence. We have learned that it takes confidence to do this.
You’re right, it does take confidence and bravery too.
It is so great to hear about positive benefits from blogging and influencer marketing. There is usually a lot of negativity around those topics, so this was lovely to read.
My confidence and writing style has definitely improved since starting my blog. Thank you for sharing. I hope you have a great June!
Lauren x
Thanks for reading Lauren! I wanted to do something different and not be so negative, so I’m glad that you enjoyed this post. Have a great June!
It is certainly very freeing to have a say as an influencer! I feel it is an empowering role and one where you have to be responsible about what you say, because you are literally influencing people’s consumer decisions. 🙂
I agree that as an Influencer you really have the power to help people make spending decisions all while expressing yourself. It’s one of the best things about it.
Great post! I’m so glad you found happiness through blogging. Any courses you’d be willing to share that helped up your tech skills?
Crystal | http://www.amazingbaby.app
Definitely Ells Pinterest, Skillshare, and Youtube!
It helped me fine tune my knowledge and skills, whilst also developing new ones as well
That’s great to hear!
everything is a life lesson and an opportunity to grow. And it definitely includes blogging. I met so many people online through it and I am sure I grew and matured as a better person than I was before. Blogging is lie changing and if it is for you, it will only help grow (and get a little side income may be)
I love how you worded this Lyosha! Blogging is definitely a life lesson and a new opportunity to grow.
This was so sweet to read! I can relate, it has helped me grow and expand more and I’ve had a lot of really great opportunities because of it.
That’s so nice to hear Luna.
I gained so much confidence since I started blogging, and really found my voice. It was also good for my mental health, because I found something I absolutely loved in blogging, and put in a ton of hard work to make it successful. It is a labor of love, and there’s nothing easy about it. But it is so rewarding, especially when you put your heart and soul into a piece and it is just the thing someone needs to see and read, and it reaches them. There is nothing better to me.
I agree that it really is a labor of love. When I see the amount of love I get, it makes me so happy and helps me to stay motivated.
I really enjoyed reading what blogging and influncer marketing has been like for you. It’s such a rewarding journey where you’re constantly learning and stepping out of your comfort zone. Thank you for sharing your experience Riyah!
I am just getting started on my blogging journey, but grew up with self confidence issues and while those have gotten better the older I got; I have found that I feel proud of the writing I am doing and confident enough to publish it. This has been great for my self confidence and I am looking forward to seeing in what other ways I grow on this journey.
Hi Brian, thanks for sharing your journey with me. I too have found that as I got older I am becoming more confident in my writing and in myself.