Today, I want to pull away from my usual topics and talk meta.
I started this blog in 2010, during the early-ish heydays of personal style blogging. Monetization was only just beginning to gain momentum, and sponsored posts were still a relative rarity. Almost from the beginning, I realized that blogging would not be a path to fame or fortune for me. As a former teenage wallflower, popularity was a tempting prospect, but it quickly became apparent that I did not have the temperament to pursue it in any meaningful way. Chalk it up to my internal push-and-pull of wanting to please people but also keep them at arm’s length and “do my own thing”. I am also not a natural salesperson; goodbye, sweet sponsorship money! I always feel responsible when people act on my recommendations – which is unreasonable but it is what it is – and I knew that adding financial incentives into the mix would only exacerbate that sense of responsibility. I don’t want to feel guilty if you buy a skirt and you end up hating it! So making the choice not to monetize – either through sponsorships or affiliate linking – was relatively easy. It is also worth mentioning that I was fortunate to have a day job that provided financial security, so I did not face other pressures or inducements to monetize in that fashion.
In the intervening years, the landscape of social media has changed tremendously. Blogging started to decline, and influencers were born. Side hustle culture became mainstream. While it seems like there is fatigue with traditional influencer monetization – i.e. sponsored ads and the like – monetization isn’t going anywhere.
I have never regretted not taking advantage of the sponsorship and blog monetization opportunities I’ve been offered over the years (or not trying to pursue others). My feelings about being a salesperson haven’t changed. I gave up chasing social media popularity entirely by making my main Instagram account private. To be perfectly honest, I thought I was “outside of it all” – immune to the lure of monetization, so to speak.
Turns out, maybe I wasn’t.
Because while I didn’t monetize this space or my fashion blogging social media presence, I did monetize other parts of my life. I sell my art, even though I cannot price it in a manner that is truly reflective of the effort and skill that goes into it. I’ve talked about this before, but a big reason for that was the need to “legitimize” my art. I also, for a time, monetized my thrifting hobby by offering personal shopping packages. Why? Probably because I internalized that ubiquitous message that turning hobbies into side hustles is The Very Best Idea Ever. I was recently listening to an episode of the podcast Money Feels, in which the co-hosts (Bridget Casey and Alyssa Davies) made a very thought-provoking point: the push towards side hustles is a symptom of the financial insecurity which our capitalist system instills in people. That insecurity is very real for many people — caught up in the gig economy, low wage work, crippling student or medical debt, and so on — but it can also be a state of mind. The constant preoccupation with accumulation lest one fall behind or run out. In a way, this fear isn’t entirely unfounded either; most of us are a series of unfortunate incidents away from financial crisis in a society where social safety nets are shrinking by the day. [You know how it’s said that some people act like they are “temporarily impoverished millionaires”? It might be better if we all acted (and voted!) like “temporarily well-off paupers”. But now I am really digressing.]
In my case, while I am not suffering actual financial instability, I am still, clearly, prey to the scarcity mindset. Nowadays, I am trying to be more alert to that and its impacts on my decision-making — not only in relation to monetization of hobbies, but in general. As for my personal thrift shopping services? I stopped those a few years ago; the work stopped being fun and started being a source of stress almost as soon as I monetized it. I am also re-evaluating my feelings around being a “legitimate” artist and the role of monetization in my experience as an artist, but that remains a work in progress.
There is one thing which has brought this all back onto my front burner recently. Everywhere I turn these days, it seems like people are offering Patreons, subscriptions, Substack newsletters. They are not selling material things, or at least, that isn’t the primary draw (some may still use affiliate links in their paid content). They are selling content or, depending on how you look at it, creative product — not different from a song, or a piece of art. I am not going to lie, there is an appeal in this for me. Why? I guess at least part of the appeal goes back to that idea of legitimacy; if someone is willing to pay for it, your content must be worthy. However, put another way: if someone is reading your content, it must be worth something, no?
I keep coming back to this question. Is my content worth something? If I am writing because I enjoy it, does that negate the significance of being paid for it? Does reaching a (presumably) wider audience compensate for the lack of other recompense? Where content is personal in nature — opinion writing, if you will — does monetization mean selling access? How do I feel about that? Over the years, my writing has enabled me to connect with and develop friendships with people whom I would not otherwise have met; how does one bring money into something like that? At the same time, the majority of people who consume my content do so anonymously and without any reciprocity which, at times, I have to admit, does sting a little.
This is where I have to tell you that I don’t have a neat conclusion to this post. All I know is that I keep seeing new subscription notices — not the first and not the last tool of its kind, for monetization is a many-headed Hydra in our world — and wondering where I fit into this paradigm. Maybe this is just another facet (head?) of the monetization culture that I need to come to grips with. If anything, I’ve realized that there isn’t a “one answer fits all” solution to the questions posed by monetization culture. And this isn’t a long-winded way of telling you that I’m putting the blog behind a paywall, by the way. But if there is a takeaway, it’s that monetization as an extension of capitalist ideology is pervasive and tends to sneak into all corners of life where you might least expect it, and calls for constant (re)examination.
I would love to hear your thoughts, whether as content creator, content consumer, both, or just as a person living through these late stage capitalism end times. Have you grappled with the question “to monetize or not to monetize”? Have you jumped all in, or opted all out, or found some kind of balance (and if so, definitely share the secret sauce!)?
I hear you, Adina. I love fashion and for a little while it seemed like I was poised to become a fashion reseller on Poshmark as a side hustle – both selling thrifted pieces and pieces from my own closet that weren’t working anymore.
It takes a lot of work to resell though – sourcing, inspecting, taking pictures and measurements, posting, answering questions, boxing and labelling, and getting to the post office.
Then I broke my leg this summer and I just turned on the vacation sign. There just wasn’t enough room in my day to heal and sell. Too much of my downtime was spent on a second job. I was starting to resent the time when the money wasn’t exactly rolling in despite all the effort.
I admit , like you, I have a well-paying job so money isn’t tight for me. So now my older clothes get donated back to charities in exchange for coupons and my designer pieces get given to friends for their enjoyment and I feel like I get a lot more out of those transactions than I ever did from selling online for small $.
This is such a good perspective! I feel the same about reselling (which I have also dabbled in briefly). I am really, really trying to get over the idea that everything needs to be optimized/monetized, including my old clothes. Sometimes, the joy of being to give someone a beautiful thing they love and enjoy … priceless.
Also, I hope that your leg is healing well. Sending good vibes!
I only read your blog these days as I’m off Instagram. Yours is some of the best free “content” I’ve come across. So if you put the blog behind a paywall that would be fair
Thank you for the kind words, Deana! I don’t have any plans to do it, at least not until I understand my motivations better and can feel confident that it’s the right decision for me. And that would include having the time to put into making consistently high quality content. The nice thing about this blog in its current state is that I can half-ass it if I need to 😉
Yes, this comment is what I also came to write. I think you’re unique in offering pretty great inspiration and commentary for those who’ve given up Instagram, et al. My style resembles approximately zero of your avatars/photographs, but I love reading your thought processes on both the outfit posts and the long form/musing posts.
You say it stings a little that it’s a one-sided exchange, and to be honest, it feels a bit funny to be on the other side of this exchange. I agree with the above commenter – a paywall or a “buy me a coffee” or some sort of compensation would feel more fair.
I appreciate this comment – it’s good to see things from the other side too. I’m a content consumer too, of course, so I know what it’s like to just, like, want to read something interesting without any commitment to reciprocate. Some days, I just don’t have the bandwidth for that, or something relevant to write in response. So I get that. Which is why I go back and forth so much over how I relate to my audience and what I want from this relationship (?), etc etc.
That column/blog/whatever hit a nerve with me…
I have a hobby of working with clay. I have never made any money at it – the costs far exceed the financial rewards. That does not matter!
In the past, I have played with the idea of “getting serious” about it, but I really don’t want to. In my work life (I’m retired now) I had to consider publicity, reputation, consistency, etc. That is not what I need in a hobby! I don’t want to worry about pricing, advertising, maintaining an on-line presence, sucking up to anyone…
I make the best, most interesting pots I can. I use any method that works for me in the moment. I almost never make duplicates… not sure that I am capable of making a “matching set and keeping my sanity”!
Everything I make is made because I felt like making it when I was in the process – each one captures a time in my history.
I agree that this constant emphasis on monetization is the bane of our times. Hero worship of people who are merely rich has got to stop. We need to ensure that everyone has enough and we each need to be satisfied with enough.
Your last sentence really resonates with me. Both halves of that equation are important. As I get older, I am continually reevaluating my priorities and what is “enough” to me. It has changed so much even since I was in my 30s.
I also feel what you are saying about your art. I also hate the idea of making “assembly line” pieces. I just can’t do it! But, like I said, I still have a complicated relationship with the selling side of things. If you are happy making art without having or wanting to selling it, that sounds pretty ideal to me.
I’ve got three blogs, with varying degrees of readership. I can’t imagine any form of monetizing that doesn’t lead to reduced viewership, and for me personally, that trade-off is an anathema. I recognize the feeling you describe of wanting to feel like my work matters, but the attention of readers is what I enjoy/crave.
Like you, I find the concept of a side hustle to be a really depressing commentary on our collective economic precariousness and how poorly the social safety net functions at this point. (And “temporarily embarrassed millionaires” is so appropriate! It’s Steinbeck, describing why socialism never caught on in the US.)
It is such a good description (no idea it was Steinbeck) and it boggles my mind how accurate it remains. It’s also disheartening. I’m like, take my money and give me more social safety nets!
I hear you Re audiences. I will say that my experience with making my IG private has been an interesting one. It made me reevaluate what I value in an audience. I used to think it was numbers — the bigger the audience, the better. Now I think who follows me matters more. This is probably more important in a non-monetized context where audience engagement *is* my compensation. Getting thoughtful and interesting comments is more meaningful than the number of likes on a post. In a monetized context … I guess that flips on its head again. But (on the third hand, who’s counting??) it might also be another way to self-select a very engaged audience Presumably engaged if they are paying for access. Lots to mull over …
I used to enjoy reading a good ‘personal’ blog, yours and CupofJo are the only go to ones for me now. Thankfully everything you write is interesting and thoughtful and well written. My opinion only, I think that the remaining ‘personal’ blogs left are likely full-time career influencers who are smart (or are required by sponsors) to have a reach beyond Instagram. I’d also add that for full-time influencers describing what they do ‘monetizing’ their hobby is an understatement, for lack of a better word. For many successful influencers, their jobs are really no different than full time salespeople, they happen to be self-employed. I think an above average influencer (not talking about those crazy successful ones) can make six figures very easily. For example, there are two I follow and for one, the family obtained their mortgage based on her job. Her husband works for her! The other’s husband also works for her and they can afford three kids. I almost couldn’t believe it when I realized these facts. At any rate, I consider their work helpful to me when making purchases. There are stylists and Nordstrom etc… who do what they do.
Influencing is definitely big business, and I certainly don’t begrudge those folks the income — as you said, they provide a service, like a personal stylist or an advertising agency would. I think monetization is a whole different thing in that realm (and different than what it was when blogging was new).
I thoroughly enjoy your content, but I have a tendency to move away from blogs that go behind a paywall or require a click-through to see the full post. I am more than willing to see advertising within the content of a post, but I feel like paywalls or clicking into the full post removes the authenticity of the content I’m consuming. Authenticity was what originally sparked my interest in blogs. I have no issue with someone becoming insanely wealthy with the content they create, but when it requires additional steps or a monetary commitment, I’m out. In my opinion, it’s disgusting the blogging community has shifted to a select few of influencers that throw fast fashion in our faces while truly creatives like you don’t receive the deserved attention. You have sparked my interest in thrifting even though the local stores are lacking. I’m always on the hunt.
Thank you for sharing – I think your thoughts are shared by many. I do think a subscription has a potential to maintain more authenticity because the writer’s compensation doesn’t depend on selling things but rather on creating content that keeps people willing to subscribe. But there are other downsides, of course. Pressure to write (sometimes filler material to keep a schedule, as another commenter said) for the creator. And people have a lot of other demands on their wallet.
I have been reading your blog for a number of years – maybe 8 or so – and while I’m not a thrifter and my style is not at all similar to yours, I enjoy reading your explanations for the ways you build an outfit or what you look for at the thrifts. You’re an excellent writer, and your thought processes inspire me to think about my own wardrobe choices.
As more blogs have chased the money and filled their content with ads, I have quit following them because you can’t always trust that their opinions are real once money is involved. The two influencers I still follow that do it for a full time job are often so heavy handed with the sales pressure that it’s a real turn off and I often think of unsubscribing. They also publish several times a week, seemingly because they have to fulfill contracts or pay the bills. Your blog has always seemed more casual than that, like you publish when you have something to say or feel like sharing about your hobbies. When I see a new post pop up, it’s like a little gift to open, read, and consider without pressure. It’s a way to escape from daily pressures for a few minutes and maybe glean some inspiration. If you were to use a pay wall or similar structure, wouldn’t that change the nature of your blog? Now you would have to publish regularly so people would “get their money’s worth,” right? Seems like a vicious cycle to me. I don’t have an answer for this conundrum. Maybe all I can say is that you are appreciated, your followers enjoy you and your work, and you should handle this in a way that brings you joy instead of stress. 🙂
I do think that having a subscription type arrangement would create pressure to write content on a regular schedule. When I wrote 5 posts a week, inevitably some were a bit of filler. My goal, if I ever were to do something like that, would be to stick to a less frantic schedule but focus on quality – like, longer form articles with some research and/or real depth behind them. Kind like a podcast? But I am not sure I have that in me, haha!
Well, this is a very long post, and I’m probably not going to do it justice…
But first I want to thank you for being out there blogging, there are so few personal blogs remaining these days (either that, or they are pretty much impossible to find, because of Google algorithm(s). But that’s definitely another issue.
I should also preface this by saying I mostly don’t have a problem with capitalism. I don’t think it’s the best system out there, but I do believe it’s the least worst. So that’s bound to colour my answer. Also, I’m primarily talking as a content consumer here.
This said… I tend to look at the kind of paid subscriptions you mention as an extension of subscribing to a magazine, except that now you subscribe to an individual writer. Now, I don’t actually subscribe to any, partly because I don’t have the money, partly because there’s enough free stuff out there that’s still worth reading. (Actually, I do have a subscription to a couple of newspapers, and I used to have several magazine subscriptions, and would still have them if I could afford it.)
You liken it to a song or a piece of art; for me, it’s more akin to “journalism”, in a very wide sense of the word. There’s craft there, and research, probably even more than I am aware of. Why would I not pay for that, if I can, and feel it’s worth it? Especially as so much content is being poured out into the world, and there seems to be a huge expectation nowadays that all that stuff (blog posts, newspaper articles, songs, books, media in general) really should be free, and when it’s not a lot of people turn to means of getting it free anyway (ie illegal downloads).
So, yes, it is selling access, but it’s also selling all the hidden work that went into writing a piece. This will be more significant in some topic areas, and less so in others, of course.
Do you subscribe to any paying newletters, Patreons or podcasts? How do you feel about that?
“Over the years, my writing has enabled me to connect with and develop friendships with people whom I would not otherwise have met; how does one bring money into something like that?” Should money come into that?
“If I am writing because I enjoy it, does that negate the significance of being paid for it?” Now…why would you think that? Having said that, I suspect being paid for a piece of writing/blogging probably has more to do with a whole set of thing that have not much to do with the piece itself, especially in blogland and/or the more sensationalistic end of the media in general.
“if someone is willing to pay for it, your content must be worthy. ” It’s the other way round, for me. “Worthy” (whatever that means, and there are many facets to “worthiness”) comes first, and then as a consumer, I can decide whether I’d be willing to pay for it, if that’s the only option. So I guess it a yes answer to your next question (“However, put another way: if someone is reading your content, it must be worth something, no? “) Also, the worth in “worth something” is not necessarily a monetary thing, and it doesn’t necessarily translate into a monetary value.
One last thing – if you’re ambivalent about the role of monetization with regards to your art, have you considered giving whatever money you make from sales to charity (if that’s not what you do already). Would that change your feelings? Why? Why not?
Welp, not sure if any of that was of value…. and please forgive the questions if they feel too personal, I’m not expecting an anwer, that’s not what they are for. Oh, and I do hope this wasn’t too long!
It’s funny you mentioned donating proceeds … I was thinking about that in the context of a subscription for a blog/newsletter. I think it would make it feel … less opportunistic somehow? Again, I am NOT judging people who offer paid subscriptions especially when they put a lot of work into it and are basically freelance journalists, writers, etc. But I feel like I am an amateur so …
I have subscribed to magazines and zines in the past, and I listen to a few podcasts that have Patreons but still offer free content as well. I do like that model, actually. There is bonus content but the Patreon also feels like, well, a general “I support you” thing which resonates for me. Again, not sure it’s something I would want to do or find feasible to do, but it’s the version of monetization that I find most appealing (as creator and consumer).
Your content is something I truly anticipate and enjoy. Would be happy and willing to support that financially. A few of the topics or themes that are particularly engaging? LOVE style avatars and your artistic endeavors.
Thank you so much! I appreciate the feedback and kind words.
I have a lot of thoughts on this topic. I could easily write an extremely long essay on it. (Oh, by the way: long time listener, first time caller.) But what I keep coming back to is something I keep reading on Tumblr (and then forgetting about and then seeing again):
“There’s an Arab proverb that goes by,
‘Do good and throw it in the sea’
Meaning, do good for people and forget about it, don’t expect anything from them.”
Between that and watching Mary Poppins with my five-year-old last week, I’m feeling pretty good about not sacrificing my life to the gods of capitalism. (Today. I’m a stay-at-home-parent, so hoo boy do I know that pressure.) (And not that working for pay would be “sacrificing my life,” just that what I do is…enough.) (That essay would be so long. And meandering. And personal. Maybe I’ll write it eventually.)
I love your blog. I don’t think charging money for something is an arbiter of quality, though we certainly use it as such. It’s too bad that none of my grandparents are alive anymore–there are so many questions I want to ask them about whether these were pressures they felt when they were my age because I want to know if this is a new thing or a human thing. Probably, like so many things, it’s a little bit of both.
Anyway, I guess I just took the “anonymously and without any reciprocity” too much to heart.
I’m sorry, it really wasn’t meant to be an accusation … it’s just how the thing lands with me sometimes (probably when I’m already feeling down for other reasons) and not even most of the time. Like I said in another response, I’ve been on the other side of that too so I understand why people might not want or feel able to reciprocate. I guess it comes down to: how much truly free content is out there, and how do we make the people who create it feel valued and appreciated?
And that applies in a way to other situations that involve “free labour” like being a stay at home mom. What does it take to feel valued and appreciated? I guess that would depend on the situation, but might require an examination of value outside the capitalist model.
I love the blog entry. I personally also blog (and currently sell on poshmark and sell my art), and this entry was really relatable on many levels.
You touched on scarcity mindset. I personally feel this constant drive to monetize the things that I love, but I also realize that burnout is likely if I do so, and I want to continue enjoying the hobbies I do for fun – Not feel burnt out by them.
Also – especially with my blog – I don’t want my blog being watered down with paid sponsorships. I want to stay genuine and don’t want my recommendations (or lack thereof) watered down or falsified.
My own personal drive to monetize some of my hobbies essentially boils down to wanting to be self-reliant (not needing to worry about surviving if I were to lose my full time job). It’s a fear that I think many people have, unfortunately. I wish we didn’t feel the need to monetize everything.
Anyway, sorry if this post seems disjointed, or not entirely clear. I’m typing it on my phone and on a time crunch. I just wanted to reply and say that I relate and liked the blog post. ☺️
Not disjointed at all – I totally understand where you are coming from. I knew I wasn’t alone in this boat, struggling with my feelings about monetization, but it’s nice to get that feedback too.
I have been a regular reader for years and I follow you on Instagram for both style inspiration and art. I rarely have the bandwidth to comment on your posts. I do appreciate the carefully written and thought provoking content and am especially glad your blog lacks giant annoying banner ads and pop ups. I often find myself stewing about what you’ve shared (re: avatars, thrifting, poshmark) or use one of your outfits as inspiration in my closet. I can certainly try harder to post a comment here and there to let you know your work is appreciated.
I would, of course, appreciate thoughtful or supportive comments (like this one!) any time but not at the expense of people feeling pressured to make them. I don’t really know what the answer is but I now think the main thing (after the last few days of chats and comments on this post) is that we are thinking about it – how to show appreciation for the free content or art that people are sharing with us. The answer might look different at different times for different people.
It’s a little bit of
Love what you do and you’ll never work a day in your life.
vs
When you turn a hobby into a job, it becomes work.
Could say more, but will just leave it at that.
I just wanted to comment that I really enjoy reading your blog. I do feel uncomfortable at times that I don’t contribute and recognise the huge time and energy that you put into your posts. For me, reading a blog is a lovely restful escape and I don’t contribute in comments as I want a break from having to get my contribution ‘right’ unlike all the other interactions in my life ! If you don’t wish to monetise then I wish there was a way on a blog if leaving a simple thank you like a heart on Instagram … in fact as I type this I realise I could simply type a thank you and will do that in future !
I mostly buy secondhand and used to sell on eBay clothes that didn’t work for me or that my family were grown out of. On top of my full time job this got too much and whilst I like the circular economy (seeing my clothes getting new life) I couldn’t sustain it. So inspired by you and others, I did a clothes swap in my village, I really enjoyed doing it, we raised some money for local food bank and it was sooo appreciated by those who came, really brilliant.
I can’t write as eloquently as you do so this is a bit of a ramble but thank you for your content, unique, worthwhile and much enjoyed and valued by me and clearly others.
Awww, that’s a brilliant way to give your clothes new life and do something wonderful for your community! So kudos!
I think “thank you” is a lovely way to let me know you enjoyed a post. I totally understand that people don’t always feel like they have something interesting to say, or feel the energy to do it, and so on. But it does feel nice to be seen ❤️
It’s such an interesting discussion. I do feel strongly that people deserve to be paid for their labour, including the intellectual labour of writing. I have a lot of friends in the arts, and they all had to find the point where they were unwilling to do things just for the love it because they were making it a career. But I also think that we need to step away from the idea that we have to turn all our hobbies into money-making side hustles, because that can change how we feel about them.
I also think it’s hard to take something that’s been offered for free (like a blog) and turn it to something paid – hard in the sense that it’s hard to turn the public perception around to being willing to pay for a thing they’re used to being free. That said, it seems like we’re seeing a shift to Patreon and subscriptions. Maybe the decline in blogs as primary meant people were more willing to look at new models?
I definitely agree with your second para as a practical challenge/issue if I were to consider some sort of shift to monetization. Nobody likes having to pay for something that was free before. Which would mean having to offer something different in addition to or in place of the existing set-up. I am not sure I am willing or able to offer something extra/different, so until I figure that out, I guess it’s status quo.
I do think it’s good that the increasing prominence of the Patreon/subscription model is raising awareness for the work that goes into creating content and the need to recognize the value of that work in some fashion (even if it’s ultimately not through a Patreon).
I mostly feel bad that I have so little to add to the conversation- I very much appreciate reading your thoughts, but by the time I read a blog post (a week or two later) it’s hard to write anything in and feel like I’m contributing.
I think that’s why the instragram like button is so insidious. I can just click it and then I know you know that I saw it and I think you’re great, but I don’t have to think smart things.
Yes, I wish there was a similar function with a blog. It’s how I use the “like” button on IG too, when I don’t have anything specific to say except “i appreciate this”. Of course, IG has other problems, like not showing content to all followers (which can also lead to the content creator feeling like they are shouting into the void).
I agree! I do comment (infrequently) and appreciate every post (OF COURSE this work is worth something) but I often come to it so late that it feels silly to comment.
Anyway for myself I wouldn’t mind ads, but do use an adblocker, but am willing to whitelist sites. I might be less likely to join a patreon but I did used to buy magazines that no longer exist and this is a good prompt to think of patreons/newsletters as a replacement maybe. I