In the past few months it's been a topic on everyone's lips as to whether or not bloggers are relatable anymore. Amongst the trips to the Maldives, the endless Gucci bags, and that 'affordable' moisturiser that's only £99, it's not hard to see why a lot of people think influencers are out of touch with the real world. The rise of bloggers and influencers came at a time when mass media just wasn't cutting it anymore. In a world full of Photoshopped images and over commercialised magazines, it was refreshing to see 'normal' everyday men and women talking about their lives, their recommendations and their struggles. News started to travel through word of mouth again and became no different to your friend telling you about her new favourite lipstick, or your neighbour recommending their favourite holiday destination. We trusted bloggers and influencers because it was real.
As the blogging world grew, and brands began to take notice of our voices, a lot of people have now been able to make a career out of blogging. And with that, a lot of their audiences now argue that they aren't 'relatable' anymore. Personally, I find the use of this term odd. It seems very counterproductive to follow your fave blogger, promote them, and support their journey to success, up until they succeed. Once the stats grow, the big brands show interest, and ultimately there's more money in the bloggers pockets, it seems everyone gets frustrated and labels them as 'unrelatable' now.
PJ Set from Dreamgirl at UK Lingerie.
I think it's important to remember what one person finds relatable, another will not. Just because a bloggers content does not necessarily resonate with you anymore, it does not make them completely unrelatable. There is pretty much a niche for everything and anything. That being said, it's completely fine to not connect with a certain blogger anymore and hit the unfollow button. Realistically, everyone grows and goes through changes in their life, and what you once may have enjoyed, you may not today.
THE BLOGGING SPECTRUM
I like to place my favourite bloggers into categories, or on a kind of spectrum. At one end, the bloggers who are #relatable, the ones you sit and think 'Oh my god we could be besties', the ones who speak their mind, document their struggles and aren't afraid to rave about that £8 Primark jumper. At the other side we have the aspirational bloggers. These are the bloggers who can jet off on luxury holidays, land the big collaborations and are growing their business successfully. And of course there are many in the middle of the spectrum.
To me, both are just as important as each other. Both 'types' of bloggers inspire me in different ways, both bloggers have encouraged me to keep going and work harder when times were tough, and ultimately I enjoy both of their content. I find both just as relatable in their own ways. The 'relatable' bloggers are like my gal pals who I find myself turning to when I'm in need of a pick me up, or some life advice. However, I can also relate to the aspirational bloggers as we all want to be successful right? When I see my fave bloggers on a L'Oreal billboard or in a glossy magazine, it's heartwarming because they were once in my position, and it reminds me that anything is possible if you work hard enough!
Ultimately, you need to consume the content that works for you, and if you don't connect or enjoy someone's content anymore, unfollow them. But no one should be made to feel guilty, or labelled as 'unrelatable' because they've grown personally and professionally.
Do you think al bloggers should be relatable?
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P I N T H I S!
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*This post contains PR samples. All words and opinions are my own.