As a blogger, your potential influence and reach can be great. People can connect with you as a result of shared interests and views, while also looking up to you in the same way fans look up to celebrities. That can put a lot of responsibility on your shoulders, as well as the possibility of negative attention – thanks internet!

But being in a position to influence and engage can be a great thing. Not only do you get to share important messages, but you could even do some good.

Bloggers are getting a lot of flack at the moment, with fast fashion, not declaring paid-for content and contentious views being among the reasons for this negativity. Could becoming a more responsible blogger be the answer to protecting your reputation online?

Be real

Your online life and real life can be two very different things. It’s no secret that most of us project our best selves online, showcasing our happy moments and perfectly posed photographs that create the idea of perfection and value. But we all know that real life isn’t always perfect. There are the bad hair days, the days you feel unhappy with your body and the days where you simply don’t feel yourself.

Nobody’s saying you have to have a ‘warts and all’ account. But being real with your following about what it takes to get the perfect photograph or write a great blog post can resonate with people more than you know. By showing that you’re just like everyone else, you can help combat some of the negative thinking that comes from over-exposure to seemingly perfect lives. Get real with your followers now and then to help yourself become more relatable and show that you have those bad days too.

Blog about the important things

As a blogger, you’ve got a fantastic opportunity to use your talented voice to talk about the important things. While you might not want to go all-out critical on what is normally a more reserved, upbeat blog, you can find a way to voice your opinion on the things that matter.

Take fast fashion, for example. Fast-fashion has links to slavery, as well as being bad for the environment. Many fashion bloggers are showing a change in their attitudes and approaches to clothing purchases to help do their bit to help the planet. Could your voice be used in a similar way?

Try testing the water by sharing something that you do to help the environment or other important topics. You could be surprised at the quality of the debate sparked, and you never know where it might lead next. 

Be an advocate for healthy living

Healthy living is somewhat of a ‘trending topic’ for bloggers and influencers. While many people choose this area because it has great marketing potential and meets their interest, some top influencers have been able to recommend positive changes through their platforms. From sharing ideas for eating a healthier diet to fitness tips and tricks, there are different ways you can share your knowledge and ideas to inspire positive change. It’s worth exploring different health and fitness blog post ideas to help you find topics that could fit your blog.

Healthy living doesn’t just mean physical health, and there are also ways you can help others to improve their mental health too. There are some fantastic wellbeing bloggers out there who are sharing personal experiences of overcoming something – could your own story help to inspire a change in others?

Be honest

It’s no secret that bloggers and influencers make money from their recommendations and by teaming up with brands and businesses. But while many of your followers will know this is how you generate an income, many might not.

Being honest about what your posting can help you show better integrity as a blogger. If you’ve been paid to write a post by a brand, or you’re sharing photos that feature some gifted items, then be sure to let your followers know exactly where they came from. This helps show your followers that you’re open an honest with them, and can help earn trust and respect.

In the UK, new guidance is in place for social influencers on their platforms. Posts that are sponsored, paid for or feature gifted items have to clearly state that that’s the case, or there are some potentially serious consequences for those breaking the rules. Who knows when such rules could start appearing internationally?

When it comes to your online activities, honesty really is the best policy to help show the reality of what you do to your followers. You should always be truthful in your opinions, regardless of whether you were paid or not, otherwise, how can you expect people to trust what you say?

Be accessible

How much attention do you pay to accessibility? Many bloggers and influencers are turning their attention to making more conscious efforts to connect with everybody. From making pages easier to read to using alt-text in a more meaningful way, there are different things you can do to make your blog more accessible to blind readers.

Remember that your video content should also be made accessible. Hiring subtitle companies to add captions to your videos will make them easier to enjoy by people who are deaf or have issues with their hearing. It also allows people to watch your content without sound, which is something many people prefer when watching videos while commuting or at work.

Taking these steps to make your blog more accessible will not only mean that anyone can read and enjoy your blog, but it could also mean that your SEO improves. Start thinking about the other ways you can make your content more accessible to help you engage with an ever wider audience.  

Be a good role model for younger followers

Young people have grown up in a world where all they know is the internet. This can mean that they’re easily influenced by the actions of the people they follow online. If your blog is related to a topic that young people are interested in, such as fashion and beauty, then you should think about becoming a better role model for those younger followers.

Young followers can feel as though there’s an expectation for them to look a certain way or buy certain items to feel accepted. You can help to change their attitudes by being upfront about the hard work you put into your blog to be able to enjoy partnerships and collaborations. Be practical with the information you share and try to promote the message of accepting yourself and being comfortable with who you are – these are the kinds of messages you need in this age.

Take better care of yourself

To become a responsible blogger, you not only need to think more about others, but about yourself too. Many bloggers experience mental health issues as a result of the pressure faced with creating content and needing to be one step ahead, as well as the potentially damaging effects of trolls.

Taking care of your mental health can ensure that you carry out your online activities in a healthy way, and stop you being consumed by them. From being able to take a break to having other interests and hobbies, you can adopt a more responsible attitude towards yourself.

Becoming a more responsible blogger can have a significant impact on your life, and that of your followers. From ditching fast fashion to being more open in your posts, there are changes every blogger can make for the better.