Blogging is usually considered an activity for those who are looking for an easy income. Perhaps, from the point of view of content consumers, the work of a blogger really doesn’t look difficult. You supply your subscribers with entertainment or informational content, make short videos on YouTube, make photo reports, or simply write about what you are interested in. The audience gradually expands, and advertisers pay you a lot of money.
In reality, it isn’t like that at all. With the overabundance of information – both visual and textual – it is incredibly difficult to become a truly successful blogger. Only people with unique experience, competence, and deep knowledge in a certain area can expect to be recognized by the audience. At the same time, success is preceded by long and constant labor, which does not bring income.
Vladislav Soloviev, a well-known political scientist, publicist, journalist, and author of his own channel on the popular information platform Zen, told us how to become a professional blogger.
Blogging as a Profession – The Story of Vladislav Soloviev
Political scientist Vladislav Soloviev regularly publishes articles in the leading mass media outlets and popular online resources, as well as running his own blog on Zen. Before becoming a famous political scientist, Soloviev used to work in other fields.
After receiving a degree in economics at the Moscow Institute of Technology and Management in 1996, Vladislav Soloviev worked in the economic departments of various companies for about 15 years. In the 1990s, business in the country was only beginning to develop – new enterprises were being built from scratch, some prospered, others went bankrupt, and there was overall chaos in society. In such conditions, Soloviev gained invaluable experience, which in the future helped him become an expert in economic and financial matters.
In the 2000s, the market in the country became more civilized. Soloviev got a stable job in a company that was engaged in economic consulting and gradually acquired international status. Vladislav Soloviev’s highest career achievement was being promoted to the position of CFO of one of the firm’s foreign branches in 2010. However, unexpectedly for the management, Soloviev refused the position and resigned from the company, deciding to pursue political science.
When asked why he turned down such a promising job, Vladislav said in an interview that working in business structures no longer brought him moral satisfaction. He was much more interested in journalism and expressing his views on political and social issues on the pages of periodical publications and online.
Alongside writing articles for leading media outlets and online resources, Vladislav Soloviev started blogging in LiveJournal. At the time, it was the most popular public platform. Gradually, the fame of an independent blogger under the nickname Honest Political Scientist overshadowed Soloviev’s fame as a journalist. However, this activity did not bring him any royalties.
Soloviev is still blogging on the Zen channel, but not for money. In his own words, he considers his mission to be one of education.
My goal is to explain to people the hidden reasons for various processes and phenomena taking place in society. Internet users still believe the official press, but in most cases, the information provided by these resources does not reflect the real picture of the world but rather forms a vision favorable to certain organizations.
According to Soloviev, today blogs are becoming a real force in the information war that is constantly waged on the Internet. In such conditions, well-known politicians and businessmen who have media weight can broadcast certain trends to the masses that can change public sentiment.
A typical example of such a blogger is Ilon Musk. His posts on the social network X (formerly Twitter) often cause heated discussions among his followers and have a real impact on the informational field. A similar impact, only on a smaller scale, is made by the posts in Telegram of another businessman with a billion-dollar fortune – Oleg Deripaska. His statements about the dominance of China and the decline of the Western model of economy and geopolitics became the basis for many articles in leading online publications.
Recommendations for Aspiring Bloggers from Vladislav Soloviev
Vladislav Soloviev advises beginners in the blogosphere to keep a close eye on global trends and not become hostage to one format. It is necessary to constantly look for new ways to reach the audience. Modern Internet users are sophisticated and have a huge choice in terms of sources and authors. Only talented marketers or people who really have something to say to their audience can succeed in such conditions.
At the same time, the visual format is certainly more effective. Videos on YouTube, Telegram, and other platforms can gather a huge number of views in a short period of time. But you need truly unique and interesting material or a presentation that others have not yet thought of.
Soloviev himself, although he does not work in such formats, supports an experimental and innovative approach. There are free niches everywhere, including Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. The main thing is to keep searching for your own particular field and to constantly learn and develop.
Vladislav Soloviev does not dwell on what has been achieved either. He has recently launched a new format blog, EN+, where aspiring journalists and bloggers who write in English can publish their materials for free.
Blogging is not taught in universities and colleges. No courses for beginners advertised on the Internet will help. In this field, practice is much more important than theory.
