Sasy Scarborough, a long time member of the SL Blogging Community recently released a post on her blog >Here< about partaking in a little challenge, and although I might be a little late to the party due to rl the time has come for me to join in!
The idea is to answer some carefully crafted questions, and then invite your friends to do the same, so I’ll be shouting out a few on facebook specifically who I feel might be interested.
Due to my busy rl over the past couple of weeks, i might have missed a few of these posts so if you got tagged and have already done the challenge, please feel free to link your post in a comment here, or on facebook or flickr or anywhere!
I genuinely love this idea, and it’s a great way to unite our community and shout each other out.
Don’t forget to check out the Bloggers tab on this blog too, so that you can find some other fabulous people to follow, and maybe check their feeds for this challenge while you’re there!
- When did you start your Second Life Blog?
I created my first post on this blog in October of 2015. Two previous versions of this blog have been lost to the aether.
Before 2014 I had tried and failed two separate times to start blogging, but it just didn’t stick.
I recently heard a quote along the lines of “Success is born of a string of failures”, and that resounds with me, as even if I’m not the **Best** blogger or photographer, this blog has been a success because it has stuck around for so long!
- Why did you start Blogging in Second Life?
No lies from me, I just thought I was super cute. I was constantly getting asked where items I was wearing were from and I felt adorable and wanted to share. I also had a partner at the time that was encouraging me to, and it was under his guidance that I created the blog. I didn’t actually start the blog until we weren’t partnered anymore though!
- Do you feel the Blogging community in Second Life has changed since you started Blogging, and if so, in what ways?
I don’t think I involve myself too heavily into the community as a whole. It’s always been a little scary and intimidating to me, and I’m sure it is the same way to others, too. I’d rather sit on my little platform and do what I do without outside influence.
I have however managed to pick up a few amazing friends thanks to blogging & photography!
- Do you think that Bloggers have a positive impact on Second Life culture and community, and if so, do you have any stories about that?
I think that photographers and bloggers are probably secondlife’s best form of advertisement. No stories I’d like to share here, though!
- Are you approachable as a Blogger by content creators that may have interest in you as a Blogger for their Brand/Store?
– if you have review policies etc. feel free to include them.
I’d say I’m approachable, but I’m not currently looking to expand unless it’s a brand I have extreme adoration for. I am in the middle of a life transition and have been culling my sponsors list to only those that bring me the most happiness, and want to continue growing with.
- Do you have any tips or tricks that help you with the Blogging process that you would like to share?
A lot of people ask “How do you become a blogger?” and the only thing I can think of is JUST DO IT. You don’t need to be the best photographer, or know exactly what you’re doing, but if you don’t start you won’t know what you’re capable of… and that goes for everything!
- Have you yourself ever benefited from another Blogger’s post, such as learning a new skill for Blogging, or Second Life functions that you may not have known about?
– if yes, please share their Name and Blog url.
OHMYGOODNESS, there’s literally so many. Back in the day on a former blog I would have tons of links to the bloggers who’s resources I used, but not so much these days.
Names I can think of are Daeberethwen Arbenlow, Swain Craven (FB), Anya Ohmai and Cassie Middles
- Do you Blog content that you yourself would wear/use always, or do you blog content that is expected of you to blog due to commitments to stores/events?
For a long time it was a mixture, and I have reservations admitting that there have been times where I have simply blogged an item because it was expected or requested of me and to fill a quota despite me having no interest in ever seeing that product in my inventory again.
In more recent times (probably the past year), I have made more of an effort to only approach brands or take on brands that I could see myself supporting outside of my blogging commitments and even more recently I have culled the list further, and will now ONLY support creators that I have an affinity for because of their product quality and those that I feel I can do justice to.
- Do you feel that imposed time limits, and a set amount of content featured changes the way you blog content, and does it feel less authentically you?
The time limits that we often get subjected to are a double edged sword. From a creator point I understand the reasoning behind it, too.
If I didn’t have a time limit, I might accidentally forget a brand for too long… especially depending on the amount of sponsorships I have at the time, so in that respect I am grateful. However, when the time restriction comes with no new product and i’m forced to re-use an item, that can sometimes (depending on the item) feel incredibly restrictive and make me feel like i’m recycling for the sake of it.
- Do you use Social Media, and/or other platforms outside of your Blog/Website to promote the content you have shared?
– please list your links so that others can perhaps follow you in other locations.
Yes! I do have most social media but i’m most active on facebook, flickr and primfeed.
You can find all my links on my Linktree
- Do you pay for any aspect of your blogging other than the clothing or items in your images, such as Website Hosting, Photoshop etc?
– please list the things that you spend money on so that you can function as a Blogger.
I pay for flickr pro (considering ending this in March when renewal is due, I think we all know why at this point), Photoshop, my blog URL hosting, and I paid for premium with Primfeed because i believe in supporting SL creators who are supporting us.
I have also bought content like brushes, text and images for photoshop.
- Do you think that Stores/Content Creators should have a Website/Blog for their Brand?
– please expand on your answer if you have reasons why.
I don’t think a website or a blog is necessary for most PHYSICAL content creators, unless they’re also bloggers. In that case it would be remiss to not mention their items!
I think SL has cultivated a platform with enough outside social media that an extra website is unnecessary unless the content is service related, like landscaping or photography.
- Do you have any suggestions for Content Creators/Stores to consider, when it comes to their Bloggers, and Bloggers that they may want to have Blog for them?
Sometimes reliable is gonna work out long term over best photography – and please, check blogs for their content, too. Photographs are often only 50% of the work.
- Do you have any advice that you can give other Bloggers that may be new to the experience, or even advice/wisdom that you want to share with the Blogging community as a whole, new or old?
Although blogging is a hobby and not a job there’s a lot of underlying costs that aren’t laid out initially, such as those listed in the questions above and ‘extras’ for your photos inside of SL. It’s not something you can pick up without investing in, so again come at it without the rose coloured glasses.
BE PATIENT when it comes to applying for brands. Very few bloggers start at the top and get lucky unless their photography, branding and social media skills are second to none.
If you’re not enjoying what you’re doing, do it differently or stop!
- Do you have suggestions for which Blogging Platform to use, and why you chose it over others?
– WordPress, Blogspot, Wix, Tumblr, etc.
Use what you’re comfortable with, and make it work. I personally adore my wordpress blog now, but I have also used blogspot in the past and enjoyed that, too. I couldn’t get to grips with a tumblr or wix though. I think social media is incredibly personal, but prefer facebook over instagram for example.
- What do you enjoy and are most passionate about when it comes to Blogging?
For many years I used blogging as a way to express myself through photography. Then I used blogging as a way to journal (the lost to the aether phase unfortunately!), and now it’s like a love-letter to myself, and a reminder of my growth, in all facets of my life.
Buy all the things!
Make it a beautiful day, Spoonies. You’re worth it.
All of the things :
Head : LeLUTKA Ubon Head 4.0
Body : eBODY – REBORN & Waifu Boobs.
Hair : RAMA.SALON – yes, and Hair
Tattoo : +Nuuna+ Elina V3 Boobieline
Outfit : Gaia – lizzy exposed bikini & Gaia – lizzy waist skirt @ Kinky
Walkman : imbue. 80s cassette player
Gloves : .miss chelsea. Fara Gloves
Dumbells : Palette – Katie Dumbell
Kneepads : FACS ~ Reborn Dancer Kneepads
Skates : [Aleutia] Mia Roller Skates
Kaleidoscope. 