Book bloggers getting paid is a taboo topic in the community. Whenever someone mentions getting, or trying to get any kind of money for book blogging, which is, gasp, a hobby, they’re frowned upon or screamed at. Opinions go left and right when it comes to book bloggers and compensation, really. Some people are for it, others are madly against it. Where I stand, you ask? It’s all in the title, really.
I know that this blog post won’t sit well with everyone and that’s okay. Please kindly note that I’m writing from my own heart and with my own opinion. Please note as well that, whether you’re for, or against book bloggers making money, I’m not pointing a finger at anyone. TO EACH THEIR OWN, AS LONG AS YOU DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY. So, kindly, to anyone reading this or just thinking that I’m over my head and dreaming and I should just shut it and take this as a hobby and THAT IS IS, kindly go fuck yourself.
Book blogging is a hobby, but it’s also a lot of work.
As a newbie, you can’t really imagine just how MUCH book blogging takes. Even now, I feel like there are so many misconceptions when it comes to our work.
Book blogging seems easy. It’s just words, right? It’s just a couple of paragraphs, images here and there, people screaming about books.
The reality of it all is much, much different. Even when it’s just something you do in your spare time, book blogging is HARD. It’s complicated and most of it all, it takes TIME.
I don’t write a blog post in half an hour. More like 3….if I’m lucky. The average is much, much higher. To be completely transparent: writing my latest underrated ya books recommendations post took me, from the idea to the blog post you find published… about 10 hours, give or take. Let’s not mention the days I’m taking writing THIS very post.
The thing is: the work doesn’t stop there. It’s not JUST words. It’s mastering your blog’s platform to make your blog post look nice. It’s thinking and brainstorming. It’s scheduling and publishing. It’s promoting your work on social media. It’s so much more than you can imagine, really.
Why do you do this, if it takes so much time?
Because I like it. I poured my heart and soul in it and I want it to look as nice as my brain feels as it writes all of my jumbled thoughts on books and topics that matter to me. I try to promote my work too because I want people to see it, this heart and soul laid out on the virtual page.
☂️ Related blog post: Shining a light on book bloggers’ work
Book blogging takes a lot of skills, too.
As the days, months, years went on, I slowly realized this. Even more since I took the step to self-host my blog. I have learned a lot from it all, as well, both personally, on what I am capable to do, where my heart, love, passion lies, and professionnally.
Skills I’ve been able to use and show off in real life, too. In job interviews, where I sat across someone with my blog’s page open on their laptop, where they scrutinized me as they scrolled down, reading the Book Blogger Awards Winners‘ post I spent a gazillion hours on. (That was… awkward. Yes. VERY awkward).
I’m book blogging because it makes me happy. I started this as a hobby, too, yes and now, almost 7 years later, it still makes me happy to write blog posts like that.
Yet, in 7 years, I’ve gone through ups and downs and realized that book bloggers are constantly treated like shit and cruelly lack recognition for everything they do. YES, the things they do as a HOBBY, I see you coming here. Does this still mean that it wouldn’t be nice to get more recognition?
Why is it that we always praise other platforms and never, ever praise book bloggers just as much? Why is it that we’re CONSTANTLY talking about book influencers and recognizing their work, but book bloggers aren’t, somehow, part of this category? WHY aren’t book bloggers TREATED like influencers?
☂️ Related blog post : is book bloggers’ work really valued?
What’s a book influencer, really?
An influencer in any field is someone that has a power, the power to affect someone’s decisions to buy things. Because of their following, their authority, their relationship with their audience and more.
Aren’t book bloggers influencers after all?
I have bought books because of book bloggers. In fact, I have bought every single book I’ve read because of book bloggers for the past 7 years. This habit of mine has grown outside of my blogging bubble, when I recommend books to others, too. I have added books to my TBR because of book bloggers, I have cried and laughed and screamed about books because of book bloggers, too.
So, yes. Book bloggers ARE INFLUENCERS.
Book bloggers are MAKING the industry money. They’re helping authors, they’re incredible publicity tools to publishers, too. Yet, the industry isn’t seeing them as actual influencers. They’re not investing in them.
Publishers’ would rather invest on bookstagram and booktube
Why is it that bookstagrammers are getting opportunities and book blogs aren’t? What is it about booktube that works and won’t on book blogs? WHY are book blogs the ones constantly cast aside?
I know what you’re thinking. I understand it. I understand the way the world works now, faster than ever. I understand that people are on bookstagram and booktube because they’re THE places to be. Hell, even Book Tik Tok is happening lately and apparently, these are THE places to be.
Is it because there’s more of an audience here? Is it because publishers feel like there are more promotion opportunities there than on book blogs? Because seeing 1k likes on an instagram post is better for them?
I won’t pretend I know why or how this works on the publishing side, because I really don’t. All I know is that book bloggers are given some free opportunities in exchange for ARCs. Blog tours, cover reveals, giveaways. Bookstagrammers and booktubers are getting PAID to host giveaways on their accounts and that’s just one example.
Seeing this, I understand that everyone eventually quit book blogging. I understand people expanding their platforms to bookstagram and booktube, only to slowly prioritize these social media over their blogs, because it seem to WORK better. It seem to give them more opportunities, it feels like their work has more value, it feels like they might EARN something from it.
And they do.
While book creators are getting compensated for their work, book bloggers ARE NOT ever getting these opportunities. AT ALL.
You’ll ask me then: okay, Marie, but if this frustrates you so much, why don’t you convert then and get opportunities where they seem to be at? Because I love book blogging and I BELIEVE in it. I have mild feelings about bookstagram and the day I start booktubing won’t happen because my face? my French accent? nope and nope.
Book bloggers are a huge missed opportunity, really.
Book blogging creates, for me, a lasting impression compared to an instagram post or a booktube video or hell, even a little TikTok video.
I’m not criticizing these in ANY way and the work people on these platforms do, AT ALL. I know it’s work, too and it’s GREAT for them if they get these opportunities, too.
I work in social media. I understand the appeal of these platforms and their importance now, really. I get the appeal of a blog even more and of the constant, long-lasting publicity it can create, as well.
In a society where everything is instant, some bloggers are managing to be both instant AND LASTING with a book blog. They write blog posts that can be read months, years afterwards and STILL bring on sales. They share lengthy, in-depth articles and recommendations that create a long-lasting impact, too, articles that live longer than instagram posts. They do amazing things.
I feel like the industry is missing out on so much depth by not turning to book bloggers MORE. There’s so much more you can say in a blog post and it will live on for YEARS. I may be old school, but I’ll read a blog post over a long instagram caption any day. Instagram is where I scroll down and forget. I’ll remember a blog post more than a tweet or a video any time.
It’s a very personal opinion, obviously, but I believe there’s SO much unused potential in book bloggers and their incredible work.
With that in mind, I believe book bloggers deserve to get paid.
I spent what… A LONG TIME writing this blog post. Did I love it? YES. Do I regret the time spent that I could have spent differently, reading a book, doing other things? Not at all.
Do I wonder if I could live a little bit of a dream and earn from this long time spent? YES. There’s NOTHING wrong with that.
People are ALLOWED to think like that and I wish book bloggers wouldn’t attack others for this. This does NOT HAPPEN in other industries. HELL, this does NOT HAPPEN on bookstagram, a bookish community where it’s OKAY for people to want to earn from their work. WHY shouldn’t it be accepted here, on book blogs, where the community has been one of the most understanding and kind I’ve ever met? Is it because it’s about MONEY? Just let people do what they want and STOP having these fighting conversations about money or no money.
For me, there’s NO CONVERSATION. There’s you, there’s me, there are other bloggers and everyone should blog the way it makes them happy.
If trying to earn something from this time-consuming hobby is something they want to do, JUST LET THEM.
If they want to earn something more to feel more validated, that’s their own right, too. I stumbled upon someone saying JUST STOP BLOGGING IF YOU FEEL UNDERVALUED and don’t even DARE ask for payment for something you started as a hobby a little while ago and I NO. Just let people do whatever THEY WANT.
That’s all there is to it.
Book bloggers getting paid has been taboo for so long, the industry isn’t used to them wanting something in exchange. They will invest in bookstagram, booktube, even Book Tok but not on book blogs and I know I as a lonely soul won’t be able to change their minds.
I hope that, as a whole, someday, book bloggers will be able, for the ones who want to, receive the same opportunities. Because with all the invaluable work they do, they deserve to get them, too.
How can book bloggers make money?
I won’t pretend to be an expert on the topic, but from what I’ve seen and thought of, there are different options book bloggers can explore to earn money.
- Affiliate links,
- Sponsored blog posts,
- Cover reveals,
- Interviews,
- Blog tour hosting,
- Book reviews,
- Advertising…
A side note about getting paid for book reviews as a book blogger
There’s this common misconception that getting paid for, GASP, book reviews, is totally unethical. What about every book review you ever read everywhere else where people are getting PAID FOR THEM??? Getting paid for book reviews isn’t getting a BIAISED book review because you got MONEY from it. It is, just like ANY other way of earning money, getting paid for your TIME.
The idea that ARCs themselves are payment is, let’s be honest, COMPLETELY STUPID. There. I said it.
Making money from book blogging isn’t something that is, unfortunately, very common, nor is it a getting-rich kind of business, but I believe that, if some bloggers want to try, they should DO IT.
This was also my aim with creating this new platform and it is the road I’m going down on.
I’m not hoping to become a full-time book blogger because I don’t even dare dream that high. Is it a dream, though? YES and I am not scared to admit it, at all.
From now on, you’ll find affiliate links on my blog as I slowly, but surely implement them in my resources page, relevant posts and on my blog’s footer. Affiliate links for books, for the services I use, affiliate links for what I genuinely enjoy and recommend, because no matter what, money or not, I’m always going to be recommending and pairing with things I truly believe in. Money or not.
I created my media kit along with this new, self-hosted platform and am hoping someday to collaborate with publishers and authors on promotions, interviews and more, as a proper, compensated book influencer.
I don’t believe I’ll make one dime out of this, but it’s something I have to try. Something I want to try. I know I’m not the only one trying lately and seeing this makes me happy.
If you believe in book bloggers’ work and want to support them, just do it. Whether they’re going down the money-road or not.
They deserve it.
☂️ Read on: How you can support book bloggers and their work & How to support international book bloggers
📌 Pin Why I believe book bloggers should get paid on Pinterest!
Do you believe book bloggers should get paid? Have you ever tried going down that road? Why, or why not? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
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Really interesting discussion. Enjoyed and agree with all your thoughts!
It’s always surprising to me how no one seems to care that bloggers in other niches are paid, but the thought of book bloggers being paid is somehow wrong?!
Oh thank you so much, Kristin! I agree with you that it seems a bit strange. It’s like, whenever a blogger wants to get paid, it’s a big deal, but it isn’t when it’s someone in another niche, or a book influencer on another platform. This always makes me feel…weird, aha.
So true! No one blinks an eye when a booktubers gets paid.
Yes exactly. When a book blogger wants more, they scream scandal. It’s a bit… frustrating ahah.
I also think it’s completely fair if some book bloggers want to be paid.
I do think the problem really comes down to the numbers and the size or our audience vs. platforms like Booktube and Bookstagram, as you note.
There is a divide where a lot of bloggers think, “I’m putting so much effort into this! I deserve to be paid!” And really it reminds me of when I used to teach. Students would come to me and say, “I put so much effort into writing this essay! I deserve an A!” But grades don’t work like that. You can get some credit for effort, but ultimately I’m grading the final result: if the paper is well-written, it can get an A even if the writer churned it out in 30 minutes. If it’s not well-written, it’s not getting an A, even if the student worked on it for 30 hours and revised it multiple times.
In the same way, I think publishers look at the reach of the average book blogger, and it’s not important to them how much effort we put into our blogs (or even how good and well-written and designed the blogs are). They want to spend limited marketing budgets on promotions that will be seen by a lot of people, and unfortunately a lot of book bloggers just don’t have the numbers.
I did my book blogger stats survey in 2016 and 2018, and I’m currently running the 2020 survey, and the results have been pretty consistent (though it is a limited sample size). The vast majority of bloggers say they have fewer than 100 views per day on their blog. Most (65%) say they have fewer than 50 views. And I think it just comes down to that. It someone has 30 views per day on their entire blog, maybe a new post they publish that day gets 15 views. And publishers are not going to pay a couple hundred dollars to write a post that 15 people will see the day it’s published.
Personally, I’m beginning to think that it’s incredibly important for me to support other book bloggers so that book blogging as an entire platform can grow and reach new audiences. I know not everyone is interested in growing their stats; a lot of people are just doing this for casual fun. But if I can boost other bloggers by commenting on their content and sharing it, I want to. I also think it’s important for me to share ways I’ve increased my audience over the years. Sometimes people can be secretive about stats, but I try not to be. If any advice I share on what has worked for me can help other book bloggers grow their audience, I think that’s going to be important in the long-run for getting publishers to notice bloggers as a whole more.
I agree and, like I said in my post, I understand that the size of the audience in other platforms can be bigger and therefore, how publishers turn to them more for paid opportunities. It’s completely understandable that they want to put their budgets there, too, I get that. Book bloggers have less reach and therefore might seem like a wasted money and time kind of investment, but I think there’s so much potential there and I am certain that there are opportunities to be taken, there, eventually, someday 🙂
200% agree about supporting other bloggers. It’s SO IMPORTANT and definitely something I am aiming to do as much as I can from the beginning. It helps us increase our audience and get noticed more and, just, it’s wonderful to boost each other, too.
I agree that there’s a bit of a icky situation with stats. I’ve been thinking about doing some stats-transparency kind of thing myself, and know that I appreciate SO much all the work you put into your survey every single year, the results are always so interesting to see. So thank you for that <3
And thank you so much for your comment! <3
You’ve written an amazing blogpost, Marie! I appreciate you so much. I really enjoy reading your posts , your book recommendations are the best. I totally agree with what you are saying. I think bookbloggers deserve the same opportunities as other ‘influencers’ (getting paid / sponsor deals etc.) I also think it’s unfair to bookbloggers that they do so much work and don’t get any recogniction. I hope things will change in the future.
Take care <3
Oh thank you so, so, so much, this means the world 🥺😭 I hope that we can continue this fight and ultimately get a lot more recognition, really. <3
Hi, Marie! This post is incredible, as per usual. Your voice is always so strong in everything you post, and I sincerely admire that.
I honestly couldn’t agree with you more on your post of just letting people do what they want. Having an opinion in regards to if book bloggers should be paid or not is exactly that: it’s an opinion. It doesn’t harm anyone and, if you don’t want it to, it doesn’t affect you. I definitely am with you and don’t understand why the topic of being paid for book blogging is so unbelievably taboo.
Like you said, on other social platforms within the book community, it’s almost the norm to be paid for the work that you create – especially on booktube. And that payment doesn’t even come from just publishers; I’ve seen quite a few booktubers in particular team up with movie companies to promote a new adaptation, no doubt being paid by said movie company rather than a publisher. Yes, it is a different medium of storytelling and recommending books. And sure, it’s a different type of work, but the results seem to be the same.
I would certainly agree that book bloggers do a lot of work that goes unnoticed or unappreciated by publishing companies. I mean, I would go as far to admit that a lot of the books I hear about are from bloggers and not from publishers. Most recently, I’m thinking about Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas (because I’ve just finished that read) – I heard about that book because of the authors I follow and because of other book bloggers. I don’t think I ever once heard about that book from a publisher or their specific marketing campaign. Book bloggers have an incredibly wide reach and, like you said, their post can live for much longer than an Instagram caption.
I also couldn’t agree with you more in the upset that you feel when people mention that you shouldn’t be paid because blogging started out as a hobby. Like, okay? Yes. It started as a hobby, but don’t most people end up loving their hobby so much that they turn it into a job? Isn’t that kind of the definition of entrepreneurship – turning a hobby into something profitable? I certainly don’t see the shame in that.
Again, before I continue ranting for too long, I really loved this post. You articulated yourself so well and really proved your point. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, I loved reading them! ❤️
Hope you’ve been well!
Oh Lauren thank you so, so much for your sweet words, this is so kind of you to say 🥺
I’m so glad you agree! I can’t understand why it is so taboo and why some people think it’s such a scandalous thing to want. Just like in any other niche, if some book bloggers want to earn a little bit from this, they should be able to without anyone judging them for it.
I so agree with you on that! I also think that book bloggers can have a wide reach, wider than the book blogging community, too and they do an incredible job at hyping up books. I wish this were recognized a little more.
Thank you so, so, so much for taking the time to share your thoughts, I’m so glad we agree on that <3
I agree with everything you’ve stated in this post, Marie! Book blogging might be a fun hobby that definitely stems from pure love for reading or books but it’s definitely not easy. A lot of time and effort goes into it and for those who’re looking to earn something, even if little, through this platform they’ve put so much love and passion into, no one should be judging them or degrading their value. Thank you so much for writing this post! <3
Oh Fanna thank you so much 🥺 I so agree with you on that. It always makes me angry whenever people are fighting about this, because… well, if some people are happy to try and earn a little something, they should just do whatever they want. No one should judge them for that.
Thank you!! 🥺😭
You’ve written a great blogpost, Marie! I really appreciate you. Your blog is one of my favourites and I always love the book recommendations you give. I totally agree with you. It’s so unfair that bookbloggers don’t get the same opportunities and recogniction. They put so much work in their blogposts. I hope bookbloggers will get the recogniction they deserve soon!!
Take care <3
YES love every part of this!!
Oh thank you Annie, happy you enjoyed this! 🥺
Great post! I’m ok not getting paid, but I do agree with most of the points you made. I wouldn’t complain about getting paid, but it’s not something I’ve thought of. I’m happy getting books.
Thank you so much! I’m glad you are happy this way. I think everyone should do as they please, seeking paid opportunities or not and no one should judge them for that 🙂
I understand your point of view but the value of your service is only one of the factors at play here. The other is the economics of the publishing industry. Most authors don’t earn very much from their books. Like you, we don’t get paid for writing and many of us can only dream of doing what we love full-time. We only get paid for what we sell, and author royalties are only a fraction of the book price. Of course some authors do earn huge amounts but they are the exceptions.
Many small presses are in the same boat. And the big publishers don’t need book bloggers. They can afford to pay for advertising campaigns.
I’m not sure what the answer is, but affiliate links sound like a good start. Best of luck.
Of course, I understand that. I’m not talking about this from an author’s point of view, but from a blogger’s point of view and it seems like, unlike other niches, we can’t seem to get paid opportunities. I know it can be a complicated topic, given publishers’ limited budget, book bloggers’ limited audiences and everything, but I hope that someday, we might get some little opportunities, too.
Affiliate links can be good to start, yes! 🙂
Thank you for your comment!
*gets up from couch for a standing ovation, slowly clapping * Thank you thank you for stating all of my frustrations in this accurate and detailed post. This is so so great, thank you!
Oh thank you so, so, so much for your sweet comment 🥺😭
This is such an amazing post Marie!! 🥰 I agree with what you were saying about book blogging having such a lasting effect: on instagram, I can sort of just scroll through things, and posts don’t stick with me as much, but there are blog posts that I still go back and read from months ago, or that I still think about.
When I started out blogging, I thought it was a hobby that I would do in my spare time. More than a year later, I have no spare time, ever, because I’m spending practically all of it blogging. Blogging takes up so much time, and I never would have imagined how much time I would invest in blogging. 😅
Also, digital ARCs are exciting, it makes me happy whenever I see a review request in my inbox, but it’s really not much, considering the amount of time we spend reading the book and writing the review. I think that physical ARCs are more rewarding, but still. On every review, I spend hours reading the book, then at least an hour, probably much more, writing the review itself and formating the post.
Right now, I’m not trying to earn money from book blogging, because I’m a kid, and I honestly have no idea how any of that would work, but in a few years, when I’m hopefully still going to be book blogging? I’d definitely look into doing affiliate links, or whatever.
But book blogs really are overlooked. There is so much potential here in the book blogging community that is really overlooked by authors and publishers. I think that all different platforms in the book community are important, but can all be used in different ways. Instagram is so much more fast paced, and you can consume more content that you’ll probably forget about.
Overall, I think that wanting to earn money from blogging shouldn’t be looked down upon so much, because it’s totally reasonable, considering the amount of time we spend. This comment ended up really long, but I have so much to say on this topic 😂
Oh thank you so much, so happy you enjoyed it 🥺
I completely agree with you that digital ARCs are exciting, honestly they never fail at making me happy! That being said, receiving them and expecting them to be payment is a bit far fetched, because they’re a LOT of time and work, too. Even if they make us happy. Some people are good keeping things that way and that’s great for them! If others aren’t and would like more than this simple ARC, they shouldn’t be frowned upon 🙂
I’ll try to document my journey as I try affiliate links and everything and hopefully you’ll be able to get something out of it, if you’re still blogging in a few years! 🙂
I so agree with you that these platforms all bring on something different to the table and that’s great! I just wish book bloggers weren’t the ones always cast aside.
Thank you so, so much for your comment and for sharing your thoughts on the topic!! 🥺
great discussion piece
Thank you so much! 🙂
I agree with your points. I’m stay-at-home mom and don’t have job anymore and blogging takes lot of time for me and also I have to spend money from my savings to monetize the blog. After giving blogging so much time a thought always cross the mind what if I can earn something or make blogging a full time thing like a job, wouldn’t it be amazing. I get tons of eARC and I agree I don’t have to pay for them and kindle books costs more these days and if I’m lucky I get paperback and I’m happy with it but yes doubts or question stays ‘what if I get money’. If there is a way to earn, I would like to go that way as well.
Thank you so much! I’m happy you enjoyed the post and agree 🙂 I believe there are ways to earn a little something, but it’s just so uncommon in the community… it’s tough to get started. I believe we can pave the way, hopefully! <3
This!! I hadn’t really thought about it before you mentioned it but actually, though I do enjoy bookstagram and like a lot of my fellow bookstagrammer’s posts, the books they post about don’t stick with me AT ALL. I’ll think “ooo that’s a pretty cover,” like it, and move on. Whereas when I read a review on a book blog, I’m much more likely to add it to my TBR and remember the cover later when I’m browsing the library. Personally, I used to do light critiquing jobs for free for authors (where I would take a quick gander through their novel and give them a tiny bit of feedback and basically modify my ‘public’ review to be more critique-y for them) which, looking back on it, is something that I absolutely should have been paid for. In my new space (yay, I’m finally moved to http://www.blueeyebooks.com!!!) I’m committing to making that a paid service. I know it’s a difficult topic to broach because the publishing industry in general is struggling to adapt to the newly non-print focused world and self-publishing is even worse but I don’t think that’s any excuse. I love your point about how paid book reviews aren’t necessarily biased book reviews. It’s definitely a tricky line to walk. I forget where I heard this but a group of artists (? maybe?) banded together and created a group chat where they would share their rates with each other in attempt to make the market more standardized to hopefully eliminate the pressure for people to do work for free because it was good ‘exposure’. I feel like that’s something the book blogging community could really benefit from. Anyway, enough of me rambling! I hope we can all do something concrete to address this!
Laura @BlueEyeBooks
Oh thank you, god I’m so glad someone feels the same way 😂 I felt a bit awkward writing this, but while bookstagram can be wonderful and beautiful, it just… doesn’t stick with me the way a blog post does. It’s probably just a me thing, though, but I’m glad I’m not alone 😂
Ah that’s so wonderful! Congratulations on the move and yay for offering paid services, I hope it will go well for you <3 It is a tricky topic to broach, especially given how... well, taboo it seems to be in the book community. I hope it won't stay that way though and that we can all be more transparent about this :)
Thank you so, so much, Laura! <3
This is such a great discussion post, Marie!
Personally, I don’t really mind not getting paid for blogging. I feel like that would put me under more pressure to do specific types of posts, and also make it seem like my blog wasn’t entirely my own space anymore, since publishers would influence what goes on there. I know that probably sounds like it doesn’t make a lot of sense 😅🙈 But I’ve always liked that my blog was entirely my space, and I’ve never really been interested in getting paid or turning it into something full-time…
That being said – I absolutely, 100% agree with you that book bloggers should get the same opportunities as influencers on other platforms! Even if I can appreciate a pretty bookstagram post, it’s the in-depth reviews and wrap-ups that are way more likely to convince me to buy a book – so I think blogging is very important in spreading the word! And maybe, if publishers reached out more, more people would also stumble across our community…
So even though I don’t really care about making money myself – I do care about bloggers often being overlooked and think they should have the opportunity to do paid sponsorship if they want to!! So yes, I agree with pretty much everything you said 😊 (Including the fact that BookTube is a very scary place that my face is staying well clear of 😁)
Oh thank you so much!
I completely understand your point of view, it actually makes a lot of sense! I feel like, by trying to earn something from it, many people feel like they won’t be able to do whatever they want. I personally think it depends on the kind of earnings you’re making and how you proceed, too. But anyway, yay for not getting any pressure and just enjoying it, that’s the most important feeling to keep while blogging <3
I'm so happy you agree with me on that. I feel like I am much more convinced to act and buy something on a book blog than on instagram. Maybe it's just a personal thing, though. AND YES! I believe that if publishers boosted us a little more, we'd gain that attraction that bookstagram has, for instance.
Thank you so, so, so much for taking the time to share your thoughts on the topic! <3
Yesss Marie you say it! There is so much hard work being put into book blogging that it definitely deserves to be paid if people want to be compensated for it!
Thank you so much, Jeann, glad you agree with this! 🥺
Amazing post! I totally agree with you! I’m always completely baffled by how differently book bloggers are treated in comparison to other book influencers (because I totally agree bloggers are influencers too – I buy books I’ve seen on other blogs all the time!), because as you say, the content on a blog is usually more in depths, and is evergreen. Blog posts will come up in Google results for years to come, unlike an Instagram post.
And I’m always confused by how some people are so scandalised that a book blogger might want to make money off their platform. People make money off their hobby blogs in other niches, so what’s so different about book blogging? It’s the same with reviews: no one says it’s biased when a beauty blogger reviews a lipstick, so why is it different when it’s a book?
Thank you so, so much Laura!
I’m glad you agree with me on that one. What frustrates me the most is how we’re never ever mentioned when talking about book influencers, while… well, as far as I’m concerned, we do a whole lot of influencing 😂
AND YES. I don’t understand why so many people are scandalised by this. It happens in so many different niches, why should it be so different? I don’t get why it’s such a sensitive topic here when it shouldn’t be. Everyone’s entitled to do as they like <3
I believe book bloggers are influencers!!! I simply wish that publishers would AT LEAST promote my book review post on their social media! That would be very appreciated and wouldn’t cost them anything!
I agree with you on that, sometimes a simple recognition of our work by sharing it on social media would be great! 🙂
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Loved, loved, loved this post! I agree with all of your points! I don’t understand what the big deal is for bloggers to get paid for book reviews and the hard work that goes into blogging. Anyone and everyone should have the option if they choose to.
I love reading your discussion posts ❤️
Ahh thank you so much, so happy you enjoyed this <3 thank you! <3
I agree with this so so much. Half the time I just give this less priority because I DON’T get paid, but I get paid for my job. Sometimes I’m regretting that I never went on booktube or earlier on bookstagram because I would’ve had so much more opportunities while I get… nothing on a book blog. And that’s probably why I’m putting less effort because I’m not valued despite being told that I’m valued. Am I really valued though??? Or am I just being taken advantage of, which quite a few people in real life and in my family have mentioned – why am I still blogging if I’m not being valued and getting paid for my valuable that I will NEVER get back? Sometimes I’ve definitely thought of throwing in the towel though – it’s been 8 years. It’s been exhausting seeing book bloggers getting shat on constantly and other platforms getting the recognition (which I totally get and understand!). But I also agree that for more in depth value, book blogging IS the place because most people scroll through Instagram and like things and call it done for the day. Also ultimately, if tiktok, Instagram, YouTube, etc. all go down one day, book blogging will still be around (at least self hosted will be unless the host or the web goes down) while the content on other platforms can get taken away at anytime.
But anyways, yes to all this. I just have a lot of thoughts about this topic.
I so get that. I’ve been feeling so. much. frustration with blogging sometimes, because I don’t feel as valued and taken as seriously as book influencers on other platforms. It’s so easy to give it all up and I understand why so many bloggers do, or turn to other platforms where they’re valued more and feel like they can get more from it, too.
I SO agree with you on that book blogging will always be around compared to the other mediums. Sure, it depends on the host and the web, but ultimately, book blogs are ours. On social media, nothing is really ours anymore and we depend on obscure algorithms, too, which, well, sucks. I also just love how much more in depth you can get with book blogging. I love that it’s content that lasts, it’s content that stays with me, too, compared to a video or a bookstagram post I’ll scroll by and will forget soon.
I’m ALL for all of your thoughts on the topic, Sophia! Thank you so much for sharing some of them with me <3 and I get how exhausting it is, it's been 7 years for me and it's tiring. I still love what I do and that's why I don't give up ahah <3
Thanks for posting this! Honestly, the backlash against bloggers getting paid for reviews has always smacked of gatekeeping to me… no one bats an eye at reviewers at journals/magazines/newspapers etc getting paid for their work, because their opinions and critique are implicitly more “worthy”, having been selected by these institutions. idk I’m struggling to articulate all of what I want to say, but it does make me happy to think of book bloggers as destabilising gatekeeping, lol 😊
Also I am clearly not representative of the average audience member but I engage way more with book blogs than booktube/bookstagram/booktok etc. There’s just something here you can’t get anywhere else 💜
Thank you so much for reading and taking the time to share your thoughts, it means so much! <3 I'm always a little tired when people get mad at book bloggers for wanting to get paid. I mean... no one does that in other niches.
I'm so glad you engage with book blogs and love them, it means so much. Thank you for being so supportive <3
I was paid for writing reviews for a while by one website, but there was a lot of pressure that when with it. They decided to drop me as a reviewer, probably because of where I’m located and it was getting harder and harder to get me approvals for ARCs (and no one would send print copies to me). I’m retired now, so if I can get some petty cash through sales of books via affiliate links, that’s enough for me.
Oh I’m sorry you felt a lot of pressure with it. I’m glad you found what fits you best, now 🙂
I definitely agree, as someone who started looking at books again during this pandemic, I definitely think it’s fair for book bloggers to ask that they get fairly compensated for their time and energy that goes into writing and curating a blog (because they do take a lot of time and energy). While I love bookstagram and booktube, I trust blogs more when it comes to reading selection or why someone should or shouldn’t pick up a book.
Book-bloggers, personally, also seem to be more careful when writing content and trigger warnings. Which I appreciate.
Basically while a tonne of the reads that I want to reach for come from booktube, I trust book-bloggers more to verify whether I should reach for that book or not. That extra layer of effort, including everything else that book-bloggers do, is why I feel they should be getting paid for the work that they do.
Oh thank you so much for sharing your thoughts! It warms my heart to know you trust book blogs and their wonderful recommendations 🥺 and yes, I believe including content warnings is so important and many bloggers do, this makes me so happy to see. It’s always so helpful to me personally,too.
Thank you so much!
I 100% agree with you! I don’t think I’ll ever consider earning from blogging but if someone wants to do it, they should be able to! It’s so unfair because book bloggers put so much effort into every post, and they should get so much more recognition! Obviously, all the other platform is working hard but they are so much more popular, so I think people can “get big” so much faster than on book blogs.
And it’s kind of ironic, to see that book blogs are the least popular platforms because we love to read, so why not read book blogs too? I totally agree that it’s more lasting than an Instagram post, or a TikTok video or a tweet. That’s why I love it, plus it makes the reader slow down a bit, which is so precious in this fast world in my opinion.
P. S.: I don’t know if it’s just for me, but your like button is not working for a while! I tried on several devices. I thought I’d tell you, in case more people experience it!
I agree. It’s so easy to get “big” fast on other platforms, something that is completely understandable! That being said, book bloggers are doing such an incredible work, I wish they weren’t cast aside all the time like this.
Oh my god yes. 😂 you’re so right, for a reading community, why aren’t we turning to book blogs more and READ? I understand how easy it is to consume fast content, especially nowadays, but still. I tend to prefer slowing down, too, and I feel like I gain so much more by reading book blogs 🙂
Thank you so, so much for taking the time to share your thoughts! <3
(OH thank you for letting me know, I'll look into it! Thank you so much!!)
Sorry, I don’t think I made my point clearly. I’m not sure how many authors and publishers can afford to pay you. Indie authors have to pay for their own promotion and small presses have small budgets.
Oh yes! You’re right and I understand that can be an issue, too, especially for small presses and publishers. For the biggest publishers though, the ones with a great amount of budget for marketing, turning to book bloggers for paid opportunities should be something they should consider 🙂
I started crying after reading this because I’m self-hosting now and the cost is going to start adding up past 2021 to the point where I may not be able to justify them anymore? 😭 I love blogging so much but this taboo around payment is really shrinking the book blogging community day by day. Not to mention how it’s the most accessible platform for marginalised people because we don’t need expensive props or a conventionally pretty face to be taken seriously. This community is so amazing and I want all of the people who work so hard on their blogs to get the compensation they deserve. Hopefully soon although seeing how attention spans are shrinking to the point where publishers are investing in TikTok isn’t a good sign. 😐
Oh Nandini 😭 I didn’t mean to make you this sad, I’m so sorry 😭
I so agree with you that this whole taboo thing isn’t making it easy. Book blogging is the most accessible platform and yet it’s always the platform everyone is, excuse my language but, completely shitting on. It makes me so mad and sad. I want and wish we could get proper compensation for the ones wanting to, just like other influencers do.
I’m always here to support you and your wonderful work and always here if you want to chat about it all <3
Oh no, don’t worry about that! It’s just the state of things? And you put everything so eloquently? I just felt all of the frustrations so deeply! (If anything that’s a compliment about your writing 😊) You are the sweetest, Marie! 💕
Oh thank you, you’re so sweet 🥺😭 I get that, the situation is so so damn frustrating. I hope it can evolve a little bit. <3
I 100% agree with everything you said. I’ve seen top bloggers leave book blogging for feeling under appreciated for all the time and effort the spend on reviews and boosting books. I personally think it takes a lot more creativity to be a book blogger (blog graphics, organizing posts, having excellent written communication skills, etc). I mean, yeah booktubers can edit videos and bookstagrammers can edit photos and get creative but RUNNING your own blog, hosting it, being the media coordinator, writer, AND editor. You’re truly your own BOSS.
I agree with you that there’s so much to do when you’re a book blogger and in so many different ways! Between graphics and branding and content creating and promotion, we’re doing an incredible work and I wish it were a bit more recognized.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts! <3
Okay what you said about bloggers being undervalued as bookish influencers is SO TRUE. I work as a bookseller as my day job, which is something that publishers DO value, and the difference is stark. It’s 500x easier to get ARCs and promotional materials as a bookseller than as a blogger. If we were to email a publisher asking for a certain book on the off chance that we might read it and recommend it to a few customers, most of the time they’d be willing and happy to do send it—but if I emailed as a blogger asking for an ARC that I would 100% definitely review and promote as much as possible, there’s a good chance I’d get ignored. Honestly, I put so much more work into promoting books to a larger audience as a blogger than as a bookseller, and guess which one I actually get paid for? I know that they’re two very different jobs, but it’s so clear that bloggers are not the priority at all for publishers, and it’s frustrating.
This post is absolutely amazing, Marie—thank you for all your work in putting it together! Destigmatizing asking for compensation for your work is so important in creative circles and I appreciate that you’re putting the effort into doing that <3
Oh thank you Margaret for sharing your experience as a bookseller, too, that’s so interesting to see. I just feel like, more often than not, publishers fail to notice the incredible potential book bloggers can have and the incredible work we do, overall, to promote books. They’d rather invest in social media than on book blogs, but I feel like book bloggers are just as good, if even better, at promoting and hyping up their books!
Thank you so, so, so much for your sweet words, I’m so happy you enjoyed this post, thank you <3
SAY IT LOUDER FOR THE PUBLISHERS IN THE BACK
(but also no more review copies, im drowning in my tbr help)
Aren’t we all drowning 😂😂
Absolutely AMAZING post, Marie!! 💕 I feel like a lot of people sadly underestimate how much time and love blogging takes, which is how the scorn for paid book reviews etc develops 😔 Reading and reviewing an Arc is so much work that deserves to be compensated.
For me personally, book bloggers are such a big reason why I pick up a book or get excited for a release that wasn’t on my radar, so it makes me mad how the industry doesn’t see this as an investment 🙁 I get the appeal of Bookstagram and Booktube, but they are simply not the platforms for everyone and I’ve also seen the good argument that they involve a lot of privilege from appearance to financial investments. Tbh I also hate the advice to switch from blogging to something else because it doesn’t solve the problem! Bloggers shouldn’t have to give up on their passions, instead the industry should give us more credit and value!
(I also feel you about Booktube. I like watching the videos but … the idea of filming myself with my weird voice and German accent?? That’s fear 😅 I have mad respect for any Booktubers whose first language is not English and who still put themselves out there!!)
Once again, a great discussion post 💕
Caro thank you so much 🥺 I’m so happy you enjoyed this post!
I agree with you. I understand the appeal of the other platforms, yes, but they involve a lot of privilege, while book blogging is much more accessible to everyone. And that doesn’t mean the quality of our content is lowered, because it’s not! If anything, book bloggers make me want to read books way more than other platforms.
SAME. I know I couldn’t do booktube ever, but I deeply admire booktubers whose first language isn’t English, either!
Thank you so much!! <3
Great post with lots of good points here! I also love to do a little book blogging on the side so I know how much work it is.
One problem with making book blogging “pay-to-play” is that now you have a bias issue, which you have mentioned. Once money becomes involved, posts must be marked as “sponsored” and bloggers have to acknowledge they’ve been paid for their posts. I know lots of Instagrammers who get paid who DO NOT do this, and it calls a lot into question about a book’s popularity. I don’t want to deny anyone a wage for their work, but I do want some transparency.
Personally, as an author, I can’t afford any of this. I am over $10k in debt from publishing. As more things becomes pay-to-play, fewer smaller authors will be discovered, which I find sad for the book reader community. But I suppose it was inevitable.The big publishers will definitely win out here.
Thank you so much! I understand the whole bias issue, yet I’m always surprised people in our community get frowned upon when we suggest the idea of getting paid, while… it just doesn’t happen in other niches. It makes me a bit sad.
I completely agree with you about transparency! Not only is it better to state it, it’s just… well, the law?
I understand how hard it can be for small authors and completely get that. While I think it’d be amazing to earn a bit from our work as book bloggers, I also think it’s important to keep in mind that not everyone can afford it 🙂
MARIE!!! first of all, i have to give you a happy birthday, because i’ve been such a mess this october that i ended up not being able to blog at all, hence missing your birthday post. i hope you’ve had a good day, even though everyone’s plans were changed this year because of the circumstances. (i’m also pretty sure you’ve changed your blog layout just slightly and i am living for this font not gonna lie)
this post is AMAZING, much like all the rest of your work. i absolutely agree that book bloggers are influencers, and i have been more influenced to buy/read a book than by any other creator in any other platform, and it’s a shame that book tubers and bookstagramers are typically the only ones to get the recognition. and, in my opinion, book blogging is one of the most accessible and democratic platforms out there, so it really sucks that you need to have cute backdrops, high quality camera, etc, etc, in order to be successful in those other platforms, and therefore, be compensated for your work.
and like you said: if some bloggers don’t feel like they need to get paid, that’s fine, and it shouldn’t invalidate the ones who feel like they want to earn something from their work. basically: YES THANKS FOR WRITING THIS💛💛💛💛
Oh thank you so, so much Lais, you’re so sweet! 🥺😭 and yes, my blog design has changed and I went self-hosted. I’m happy you like it, thank you 🥺
I 200% agree with you. Book blogging is the most accessible platform to take part in the bookish community and it makes me sad that we’re not considered as sucessful and as worthy as other platforms. I’m just, ugh. Really sad about this.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts! <3 <3 <3
YES!! Yes, Marie! I don’t know what else to say or add to this because you said everything I could have said. I 100% agree with you!
Oh thank you so, so much Kat. So happy you enjoyed this <3 <3
Everytime someone says why we deserve to be paid, this is the post i’ll send them. You have summed it up quite well
Oh thank you so much! <3
You’re Welcome
I totally agree you with you on your points! This is a great discussion!
Also, there is this website called OnlineBookClub.org that, though it looks sketchy and out-dated, is a legitimate way to get paid to review books. The books will not be the latest and hottest Goodreads recommendations, but there are some good ones and some bad. Depending on the reviewer score that you can earn by writing good reviews and following the given guidelines you can up your score so that you can get some exclusive content to read and review. You can get paid from 5-60 dollars. I’ve been doing it for a couple months. I’m still finding my feet, but there are some reviewers who have been doing it for years and get around 60 dollars nearly every time! The only thing I dislike is that the payment can take a bit and they ONLY pay with PayPal, which gets annoying. Still, it is worth a look!
Oh thank you so much and thank you for the tip! 🙂
Say it louder for the others Marie!!! Adore everything about this post, I genuinely think book bloggers should get paid, yes it’s a hobby but so many other people turn hobbies into paid opportunities/side hustles. I think for a lot of publishers they may see social media as an easier way to reach the masses vs book blogs. That being said, I stand by the fact I’m more likely to remember a blog post than an instagram post/caption. Even videos, don’t always stick in my mind :/
A lot of us chose blogging because it gives us the anonymity if we so choose, that booktube/booktok and bookstagram often doesn’t give. So when people suggest spending more time on social media, it’s like…sure but the quick turn around rate there makes it almost futile? A blogs content is still going to outlast social media, it may be tricky to find but once found, it’s relatively easy to start discovering more blogs in my opinion.
I have mixed opinions on social media platforms to be honest, I think they’re super useful but it often fosters this materialistic mindset. I feel like so many of us book bloggers have reached the point of being exhausted, constantly being told arcs should be payment enough. As someone who doesn’t even go down the arc route, I don’t review books on my blog anymore, it’s not like I’m getting paid in books. I do think Ko-Fi’s and patreons are useful, I’ve been toying with setting up my own patreon recently just because it’d be nice to have levels and it’s reoccuring payments vs Ko-Fi works nicely for those who just want to leave a tip. Although I’m terrible at promoting my Ko-Fi because I feel like I don’t deserve the money…which is definitely a mindset I’ll need to unpack soon. Patreon I’ve just been confused what I can offer but I think I have more of an idea now, on what I could offer so maybe I’ll work on setting that up soon.
Anyway thank you for writing this post Marie, thank you for all your tireless work and I appreciate you endlessly *hugs* 💜
Oh thank you so, so much Clo, I’m so happy you enjoyed this post, thank you <3 I agree with you and understand why publishers work the way they do with social media a lot. After all, it's how the world works, now, as well. That being said, it always makes me a bit sad because social content doesn't last as long as content on a blog does... I feel like it's such a missed opportunity, not to invest in book blogs, too.
200% agree with you about the materialistic mindset, definitely! I feel like social media fuels that a whole lot and... it's just not as accessible as a good old book blog, either.
I get that. I am absolutely terrible at promoting my ko-fi because it makes me feel weird doing so, but... I'm trying to make progress, especially as so many posts take a thousand hours and I feel like they can be useful and, while I enjoy doing it, it's still work, too.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts, Clo, always here to support you in any way that I can <3
Wow, what a great post! I have to say that I agree with you. Blog tours, in particular, are something publishers just expect book bloggers to jump on for free, but they deserve to be paid. I would personally never get involved in that (I don’t even seek ARCs) because I *don’t* spend that much time on my blog. I am in awe of people who do, but that’s just not why I’m here. I’m here to make friends, and you all are all the payment I personally need. 🙂
Oh thank you so much for sharing your thoughts! I agree with you about that, blog tours are a lot of work! I’m glad you are happy that way, andn thank you for supporting book bloggers and their work always <3
I love this post so much, Marie, and I really appreciate that you wrote it! I agree with everything you said and I 10000% believe that any blogger who wants to, should be able to get paid for their hard work. I find it laughable that some believe that paying bloggers for reviews would mean that bloggers would be too biased to write an honest review. (Especially because this is usually the same crowd who says that ARCs are “payment” enough for blogging – by that logic, bloggers should already be biased because they are getting “paid” with ARCs..)
Maybe this will come off as mean or judgmental, but I think sometimes when book bloggers are shouting that book bloggers shouldn’t be paid, it comes from jealousy. Which is ridiculous – the thing is, similarly to booktube or bookstagram, it would be the bigger bloggers who would be able to get paid. But also similarly to those other platforms, smaller bloggers could work on growing their blog if they wanted to get to a level where they may be paid by publishers, they wouldn’t be forever bared from this. I’ll never understand the idea that just because I’m not at a level where anyone would pay me, I should actively campaign against book bloggers getting paid. I really hope you’ll be able to earn money from your blog, Marie, as you are a fantastic blogger & you deserve to be paid, 1000%.
Oh Veronika thank you so much, I’m so happy you enjoyed it 🥺
Completely agree with you on reviewers being biaised, in the end it just doesn’t make any sense and it just… it makes me mad, ahah.
I’m glad you said this, I understand you SO much and sometimes feel that way, too. It is ridiculous, though, because if big bloggers might be able to get opportunities, smaller bloggers will, too, if they work at it. Big bloggers have worked to grow the same way booktubers and bookstagrammers did.
Oh thank you, you’re so, so sweet 🥺 It’s really just a dream for now and I don’t even know if I’d even be considered, but someday, yeah. I’d really love to be able to do that. 🥺😭
I could not agree with you more! It is so disheartening to see that publishers seem to value us less than ever. Yet, other blogs are THE biggest influencers when it comes to me buying books. I’d say of the last 10 books I bought, 9 had to have been from bloggers’ recommendations, because I read reviews that made me confident about spending my money on the thing. And I KNOW I am not the only one!
And look, Instagram, BookTube, whatever we call Book TikTok, they’re fine too! Different people are looking for different things, and that is fine! But for me, I have genuinely never bought a book because I saw a picture of it. Like okay it’s pretty but I am not that shallow (or rich, more like it) hah.
We absolutely put in the work, and the thing is, don’t other people strive to make a living out of doing the things they love? Like isn’t that THE ultimate goal? So why is it such a taboo for book bloggers?! Frankly, I’d be thrilled if I could at least make back the cost of the damn thing, you know? But alas. I have had affiliate links and Google ads for YEARS and I have made less than the $10 threshold on Amazon, and probably about $100 from the ads since I STARTED 7 years ago, so. I would absolutely try some other options if I could think of some viable ones, but at the moment, it is too hard keeping myself afloat in general.
LOVE this post so much Marie! You said this so eloquently and made such phenomenal points!
Disheartening is the perfect word to sum this up, I just.. I’m sad about it, a lot. I completely agree with you that instagram, youtube, tik tok and everything are different platforms and people will consume content differently. It doesn’t mean that people don’t consume book blogs’ content and that it doesn’t bring them something, either.
YES YES YES. I don’t understand why it’s such a taboo for book bloggers when it isn’t, at all, in other niches. From what I’ve seen, affiliate links and any kind of money-making strategy hasn’t worked out a lot so far for bloggers. I’ve been trying it out and don’t plan on making anything, really, but… well. It’d be nice, like you said, just to be able to cover the cost of hosting or something.
Thank you SO much for sharing your thoughts on the topic, Shannon, I’m so happy you enjoyed it! 🥺😭
MARIE THIS POST! Apologies in advance if I totally word vomit here, but I am just YELLING in the middle of my work office, and it’s A LOT OKAY. There is so much here, but if I forget to shout about Nick Miller, I’m going to be so mad, because how relatable is that idiot?? I just started rewatching New Girl because we all deserve more of it in our lives, and I forgot how damn good it was? Winnie the Bish is literally my fave, but Nick has had me on the floor laughing pretty much every episode.
ANYWAY. I just want to give you a giant hug of YES YES YES over this post. I have a bookstagram, and it honestly infuriates me that that’s considered influential, but book blogging is not? You said it perfectly.
“Instagram is where I scroll down and forget.” Same, though. I truly cannot remember a single time where an Instagram post has caught my attention enough to make me read the caption, or to stick out in my mind so I remember to read a book or just even add it to my TBR. ALL of the books I add to my TBR these days are from book blogs because they’re the only place I actually read about books. I’m on Insta for the pretty pictures so I can stare at books all day long. And this is totally terrible, considering I also participate in bookstagram, but half the time, I’m not even paying attention to what the book is! It’s just like “ooh pretty book” and scroll. Book blogs are the BACKBONE OF BOOK INFLUENCERS! Bookstagram & booktube & (holy mother I didn’t even know it existed until this second) booktok (???) literally would not exist without us. Shouting about books? Y’all, that is exclusively a book blogger invention. That is our entire purpose, and it just infuriates me that all of this work, ALL OF THESE WORDS!!!, are considered unworthy of payment when a picture or a video is just standard fare for making money. And yes, of course, taking beautiful pictures and creating captivating videos is hard work, and I don’t knock any of the other social medias at all, but the fact that people come down so hard on book bloggers for literally just wanting to exist in the same monetary space? That’s such bullshit, and it makes me so angry.
Book blogs will forever and ever be where I get my recs, where I make my friends, where I hang out the most. I know that some people have really elaborate setups for their pictures/videos, and that they put so much effort into them, and I applaud them. Personally, I’m literally at a snap and go status with my bookstagram because I’m too damn busy crafting posts on the my blog to pay any attention to curating ANOTHER feed. And it just sucks because, even as small as my bookstagram is, it’ll get more views than a single blog post, and the effort doesn’t match up with the reward, particularly when there are people screaming at book bloggers for just wanting to be monetarily recognized.
Anyway, that was a lot, this just grinds my gears, and I’m always glad to see someone else cares about this little platform as much as I do. Judging by the very long time it took me to scroll down to comment, there are definitely tons of people ready to shout back about this and pledge their undying love for book blogging!
Oh my god but yes, you make me want to re-watch all of New Girl right now, Nick Miller is like, my favorite, he is just too relatable, I adore him!
I’m so glad you feel the same way! I’m on bookstagram -well… very low-key ahah, I’m not really active on there. I tend to scroll and like beautiful pictures and rarely read entire captions and… I barely remember instagram posts once I leave the app, let alone to add one of the books I’ve seen to my TBR.
Like you, it makes me SO mad to see that pictures and videos are considered more influential than a blog post, are considered worth more, too, while… a blog post doesn’t even have ANY kind of worth for publishers. This astonishes me every single day and makes me so sad. There’s just so much potential here and, why.Also, why is it wrong when book bloggers want to be recognized, too, and want to make money the way bookstagrammers can, too? It just doesn’t make ANY kind of sense. Why are people SO mad about this and why is it SO taboo when, in any other niche, it’s not at all? I’m just, ugh. Angry ahah.
THANK YOU so much Mary for taking the time to share your thoughts and for all of your support. I’m so glad you feel the same way <3 Let's shout together always! 🥺😭
Marie this was such a thoughtful, amazing discussion post. I could truly feel your passion through the screen and loved all the points you made. Thank you for the taking the time to write this and share your (much valued!) opinion with the blogging community! <3
Oh thank you so, so much, this just made my entire week 🥺😭🥺😭 thank you so, so much 🥺😭
<3 <3 <3
You’re such a warrior for the book blogging community, Marie! I know that so many of us appreciate you for writing posts like this <3 Your point about the almost eternal aspect of book blogging is so so accurate and well-written. I couldn't agree more–long instagram captions are forgotten within minutes, but a blog post is long lasting and can be found any time.
I can't even begin to tell you how many times I have gone ~back~ to a book bloggers post because I either a) really enjoyed it and was entertained by it, b) it was a fantastic book list that I want to reference when buying a new book or adding books to my TBR, c) I found the review(s) for a book(s) to be so great that I want to get that person's idea on that same book since I just picked it up, d) a million other great reasons, and e) all of the above :')
This post is so needed, and I hope it garners the attention it deserves. Appreciate you, Marie!! <3 xx
Oh Macey love, thank you so much, this means the world 🥺😭
It warms my heart so much to know you’re coming back to blog posts you enjoyed, too, I do that SO often as well. Bloggers are so wonderful and their recommendations are always close to my heart. They deserve it all.
Thank you so much! 🥺
I agree with this! Book bloggers deserve more recognition 🥰
Thank you so much!! 🥺😭
Great post, Marie! I agree with everything you said. <3 It takes so much work and effort when blogging and sometimes I think it’s just overlooked. Honestly, I think blogging is so much more work and time consuming than it is to take pictures for a bookstagram account. Not to say I don’t like bookstagram, because I do! I love bookstagram too. I just feel like bloggers put a lot into their work and their posts and it feels like most get over looked, which is totally not fair.
Thank you so, so much, Ashley <3 I understand what you mean. I know all platforms take a lot of work, but I often feel like the work book bloggers do isn't taken as seriously as the work of other influencers. It makes me sad.
Ahhh Marie this post is so lovely and well-written!!!!
(my reply will not be that coherent lol)
No matter how many times people say this, it still needs to be said, yes! As it is we have such little avenues for earning! The one time I earned a little was when I did book reviews but even then I was contacted through my bookstagram.
Haha I totally get what you mean about showing your blog during interviews! I’ve recently started doing that and it makes me severely anxious. i especially keep checking what sort of posts are recently up and what other people will think of that. But either way, I usually go for it because I spend so much time and effort and creativity on the blog, I want other people to see that as well 🙂
OH Charvi thank you so much 🥺😭 I feel like we have so few opportunities and it makes me sad because book bloggers really deserve them.
Ahhh that’s so good! I’m happy you’re taking that step, it can really be beneficial as it shows off how hard working and passionate you are and I just think it’s a wonderful thing <3
i agree with everything you said marie!! people are always all about “monetizing your hobbies” and stuff, but the moment we even hint at the idea of wanting to get paid for promoting books people riot and start throwing fits? like idk what makes them decide who should and shouldn’t get paid? pay people who are doing the work. it’s as simple as that.
Oh thank you, Sophie, I’m so glad you agree with this <3 <3
Yeees, get that money!! 👏👏 And I’m so proud of you especially because of that last part of the post, you’re amazing, you create awesome content, you deserve all the recognition and compensation and not be scared to ask for it 🥰🥰 (on a side note, you’re a beautiful person on the inside and therefore a beautiful person on the outside, and your accent makes you unique, so I would totally love to watch you on booktube!! but i do understand what you meant and i’m amazed at how dedicated you are to book blog!!) we recently had some minor drama on portuguese bookstagram because someone decided to ask for payment, and the amount of people who thought that absurd and “we do this because we like it, we don’t want to exploit authors, especially small authors” really surprised me! i thought not many people would care, since it was on bookstagram! so if they act like that on IG, book bloggers get it worse, which is awful!! i don’t want to compare platforms, but most times preparing a post for IG takes maybe one hour …. that’s how long it takes me to prepare the topics for a blog post!!! )): I’ll never get paid for any promo in any of my platforms, that’s a dream a bit too high for me XD But i totally believe book bloggers should be paid!!! Loved reading your post as always, and ABSOLUTELY LOVED your blogging voice on this one <3
Oh Marta thank you so, so much for your sweet comment, this means so much 🥺🥺😭😭 to be completely honest, I don’t see myself doing booktube anytime soon, but I appreciate your support so much, thank you 😭
I’m so happy you agree with what I said and yes, I believe that, if bloggers want to, they should be able to ask for compensation and get it, too.
Thank you!! 😭
Ah Marie I am always forever amazed at all the work you put into discussion posts and this was no exception. Firstly THANK YOU for writing this and taking your time. I agree with literally everything you’ve said here. And this topic is something I’ve been trying to be more aware of lately. Especially as someone who has stretched across all the platforms. Love you to the moon and back xoxo
AH Rubt ah love thank you 🥺😭 thank you so, so much for your sweet words, this means so much that you enjoyed this. Thank you 🥺😭
What a great post! I’m in two minds about being paid – whilst I need an accessible job, and blogging is accessible for me, I would feel pressured to read what I don’t enjoy in order to get paid – but if others want to do it that way, they should be able to! I have affiliate links for Australian stores. It is such a hard area to navigate, I think!
Oh thank you so much! I understand that, it can feel a bit stressful, too, I guess. It’s a tough area to navigate for sure, but hopefully we can make it work if we want to! 🙂
I think a few reasons as to why publishers look to booktube and bookstagram for paid promotions first are the platforms’ functionality and the visibility of creators’ statics. One YouTube and Instagram, people can easily stumble upon an account accidentally through the search engines and hashtags. Since most blogs aren’t collectively on one platform, people have to go out of their way to find bloggers. Since paying for promotions is an investment, publishers and PR companies likely feel more comfortable working with people they know have a large platform on an accessible site or app. That being said, I 100% agree that book bloggers should have the opportunities BookTubers and bookstagramers get, especially since being on independent platforms can provide more freedom regarding advertising. I personally take ARCs and free finished copies of books as payment because my blog doesn’t provide a steady income and, since I don’t work, I don’t want to pay taxes for a job I’ve only done three times. But everyone should be given the option of payment if that’s what they want.
Yes of course, that’s a good argument and I agree with you on that. Maybe statistics are a bit more visible and these accounts are getting a little more visibility and therefore, interaction and love overall. That being said, yes! I agree that blogges should get opportunities, too! Especially, like you’re saying, something different. I mean, with a platform like a blog, there are SO many different possibilities to be explored!
Thank you so, so much for sharing your thoughts! 🙂
I definitely agree that it would be nice if book bloggers were paid, but it’s probably just not ever going to happen. The best you can do is put up ads and use affiliate links. Of course, you could also try your hand at BookTube where people make money from views and such, but you’d have to be awfully popular to make any money there.
Yeah I know how complicated it is. It always makes me sad, but well. That’s the life of a book blogger, I guess.
It is so refreshing to read the comments here. I have just written an article about why Book Bloggers should consider seeking payment and how else we could monetise our blogs, only to receive an awful lot of backlash. One particular group of bloggers strongly believing that book blogging is a hobby only and that anyone who feels differently should change their niche.
I am glad to see this is not an opinion held by everyone.
Oh thank you so much!! I’m so happy you enjoyed this post and I’m so sorry you received a lot of backlash about your own post. I believe that everyone should be allowed to blog the way they want to and, if some would like to seek payment, no matter their niche, it should always be alright! 🙂
Thank you so much! <3