Born and raised in the Phillipines, Jae from SCATTERBRAIN recently made the trip across the Atlantic and now calls the US home. Today she is sharing her thoughts on being an international blogger. Take it away Jae...
When I assessed SCATTERBRAIN's blog stats for my advertising page a month ago, I realized that most of this blog's visitors are from the US and the UK. This didn't exactly surprise me since majority of the blogs I follow and read are US- and UK-based.
I am Filipino, and I used to blog from the Philippines until I moved to the US a little over a month ago. I'd like to think that my location is irrelevant to these results, but then I also realized how being an international blogger drives people to my blog. I've decided to share with you today my thoughts on being just that.
DiversityI think being a Filipino itself is already an advantage. I'd like to believe that being exposed to the Eastern culture all my life is what makes me different from and interesting to other people. This allows me to share varying points of view from a pool of ideas and experiences. Diversity calls for a celebration of each other's differences because it makes one stand out from the rest of the crowd.
This actually falls under both pros and cons of being an international blogger, but I consider it more of a blessing than a curse. Filipinos are fortunate to have English as their second language. I could write blog posts in Tagalog, too; however, I avoid posting in our native language simply because I want my readers to be able to relate to me. I believe that posting in languages other than English can be a drawback from driving traffic to your blog when people are unable to understand what you're saying.
Have you ever been to a party where you don't know a single person? For that reason alone, you feel utterly out-of-place? This is probably the major pitfall of being an international blogger.
Being different could also mean missing out on a lot of things. It could be a major blog conference that will be held in another city or worse, abroad. You lose the ability to actually meet other people and expand your network.
Another significant downside is losing potential clients and/or collaborations in the process. I can't begin to tell you how many marketers I've turned down in the last six months. I wish it were simply because their brand or product didn't adhere to the blog, but because I was based outside the US.
I could come up with a long list of pros and cons of being an international blogger, but in the end, it all boils down to doing what really matters. Don't be disheartened! Improve your craft, and work on developing your voice. Being an international blogger should not hinder you from being yourself. When you love what you do, you'll eventually find your special place in the blogging industry.
What are your thoughts on international bloggers like myself? Do you follow a lot of them? Or are you fixated on reading only those from where you live?
What are your thoughts on international bloggers like myself? Do you follow a lot of them? Or are you fixated on reading only those from where you live?
Thank you for the opportunity to take over your blog today, Mar! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is true especially the missing out on different blogger events.
ReplyDeleteI only blog in English but I can blog in my own language Spanish and Dutch so that's definitely a plus!
& definitely diversity which comes naturally !
Jade x
I've always wondered what it's like to attend a blogger conference, and now that I'm in the US, my chances of going to one has become greater!
DeleteRight, JaseyJade? I've always seen knowing languages other English an advantage, most especially when travelling! Thank you for reading and sharing this on Twitter! :)
This was so interesting, Jae! I'd be curious to see how you feel blogging has changed for you in the next 6 months, being in CA - or if it changes at all. So interesting!
ReplyDeleteAww, thank you, Em! I'm slowly easing back into blogging after a month-long pseudo-hiatus, plus the apartment move that happened last week, but we'll see it anything changes within the next six months! ;)
Deletelove this...very interesting read.
ReplyDeletei am filipino too but based in dubai. and well opportunities here are rather different. because it is a huge market and is the center of almost everything, there is actually great stuff out there for local based bloggers. i guess the opportunities out here are more for the very simple reason that there is just a few note worthy bloggers and so it is easier to penetrate the industry and work with huge international brands. my stats are way up within the US and europe as well and a mid fraction from the middle east - to think i am based the sandpit you would figure i get most of my stats from there. not exactly. and being filipino has not helped me gain a following from back home either coz i never get traffic from there. so little if i do. heehhe :)
kisses from dubai ♥
www.mahryska.com
Hi, Mariyah! So that's your name? Sorry, I get confused sometimes! Anyway, it's strange, isn't it? Being Filipinos, we expect to gain more following from the Philippines, but apparently, that's not the case. I have gained a couple of followers from back home, but US and UK readers remain in my top 10 visitors. Thank you for reading!
DeleteI totally agree with you, perhaps interestingly, about the feeling like you don't belong. As soon as you leave once, you never really belong in either place - where you came from or where you landed - anymore. Though you feel like you do, sometimes the way people talk to you just keeps indicating that you are now that person who left, or that person who came. But it can be wonderful, too. You're the person who had the courage to seek a new understanding for yourself rather than the simple way of identifying yourself by where you live.
ReplyDeleteHi, Sarah Elizabeth, I love how you put it that way, and I agree with you, too! I thought what you just was beautiful. Thank you for reading!
Delete