So, what is a lifestyle blog? What I consider a lifestyle blog is one that is about your life and personal interests. Their blog is basically curated from those daily activities and experiences. What’s so fabulous about lifestyle blogs is that you’re sharing how you live your life online. Lifestyle blogs are therefore passion-driven and community-driven, rather than business-driven. Lifestyle blogs are different than any other type of blog out there. They tend to focus on being a bit more visual and make certain that they are using high-quality images to showcase their activities and interests.
LIFESTYLE BLOG VS PERSONAL BLOG – WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
First and foremost, understand 100% and hear me loud and clear – a lifestyle blog is not a personal blog or a place to showcase a diary of your life.
When a blog crosses over into personal stories and emotions, it’s now entered into the realm of a personal blog. While there are plenty of popular personal blogs, it’s imperative to understand that they are completely different from a lifestyle blog.
Whew! Now that we’ve got that understood…
Don’t get me wrong here. These two blogs are both super successful in the blogging industry. However, if you look at the followers and the engagement from the audience, it’s plain and simple to see that they attract a totally different audience and set of followers for each one.
As stated above, lifestyle focuses on interests and activities and finds fun ways to pull you in, while a personal blog finds ways to open up themselves, their stories and their lives with you through their writing.
Think about the last time that you read a blog article that really pulled at those heartstrings. More than likely, it was from a personal blog where the blogger was opening up and sharing something “intimate” about their life while pouring out their heart and soul. Your first clue that it’s from a personal blog is that it’s “oozing” emotion. (and that’s not a bad thing at all, it’s just not what a lifestyle blogger typically does!)
How Lifestyle Blogs Make Money
The two main ways many lifestyle blogs make money are sponsored posts – working with brands – and affiliate marketing. Lifestyle blogs are digital “word-of-mouth” communities that provide exceptionally rich levels of interconnectivity and an ideal environment for powerful online brand advertising. Consumers look to top lifestyle bloggers for the latest must-haves, trends, lifestyle direction, and product recommendations.
The best branded content and sponsored posts result from creative, organic integrations between the brand and right lifestyle blogger. In conjunction with their blog journey and development, top lifestyle bloggers also amass engaging and loyal followings across multiple social media networks (YouTube, Facebook) and microblogging platforms (Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Vine). Given the right marriage between brand product and lifestyle blogger, a blogger’s influencer outreach offers the sponsoring brand exposure, promotion, and awareness to their interactive digital audience.
Your Lifestyle Blog Is Unique.
Your writing may not be heavily founded in reality, but it will reflect your story.
It would be hard to pull off a family focused blog if you don’t have children or a blog about life as a 20-something party goer if you’re in your forties and living in the country.
The mix of topics will represent your interests but it’s best to stick to those topics with broad appeal – food, travel, fashion, home decor, beauty, fitness and family.
Starting Your Lifestyle Blog
It’s easier enough to start your lifestyle blog and my start a blog guide will walk you through each step. Hit pause a minute before you make a commitment and give an honest answer to these questions:
- Are you always “that person” snapping pics wherever you go and are they amazing?
- Can you pull off the “beautiful person” image…even managing to look your best when you’ve got free range toddlers to control.
- Are you and your family okay with having their day-to-day life exposed to the world (even if it is in a controlled way)?
You can choose to limit the information you share. Chasing Foxes does and I take the same low key approach on my own lifestyle blog.
It’s okay to do this but if you’re going to do the whole family expose thing make sure you’ve checked in with everyone first. (Don’t forget those cute little kids who love posing for shots can turn into camera shy teenagers).
When you start a lifestyle blog it doesn’t have to be about the life you have right now. It can be about about your ideal life.
Writing your blog will be an inspiration for you as much as your readers. You’ll be building this “ideal life” through your blog.
Your Blogging Blend
The best way to come up with your blend is to start off by analysing the blogs you admire and enjoy.
Step 1
Pick three to five blogs and note down their main topics and type of content. Come up with some adjectives to describe each blog.
Answer these questions:
- Is there an overlap between the blogs you’ve chosen?
- Which topics can you really relate to?
- Do some descriptive adjectives appeal more than others?
Take you answers and use them to come up with two or three topics. You can always add more later as your blog fills with content.
Step 2
Decide the tone of you blog. Is it formal or friendly? Elite or recommending budget friendly products?
Write one sentence describing your new blog.
Remember the tone must be something you can maintain. It’s easier if it truly reflects you.
Step 3
Picture how you want your blog to look in five years time. Build an image in your head of your fabulous lifestyle blog. It’s your unique work, your life – not a copy of your favorite blog.
Think about the posts you’ll be writing. Are these posts you can happily write for the next three to five years? Topics you love and obsess about.
If the answer is yes, you’re ready to start.
Love Life Be Fit
Love Life Be Fit by yours truly. Yes I know it’s a little cheeky adding my own blog to this list. I’m not even sure if it’s strictly a lifestyle blog but it relates to my lifestyle and interests of fitness, healthy eating and outdoor adventure.
Conclusion – What Is A Lifestyle Blog?
Lifestyle blogs tend to be a reflection of both the writer and the followers aspirations. It’s presenting the best take on your life to inspire your readers.
These types of blogs are image rich with easy to read posts.
The style of blog can vary greatly – some are focused purely on the author’s day-to-day life, others on how-to articles and information posts.
Often followers will influence the mix of topics as authors respond to popular posts with similar content.
Authors can choose to share personal details or keep incognito.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a lifestyle blog?
A lifestyle blog is a type of website where a blogger regularly records their thoughts or experiences or talks about aspects of their daily lives. Lifestyle blogs are normally image rich with easy to read posts.What does it mean to be a lifestyle blogger?
Being a lifestyle blogger means you’re creating content inspired by your day-to-day experiences or interests.Can you be an influencer without a blog?
It’s definitely possible to be an influencer without a blog. It’s possible to gain a following and make a living through social media platforms such as Instagram or YouTube. Having a blog creates an extra income stream and it can be more effective promoting products on a blog rather than social media.
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