I am participating in the Got Blog! Bloggers Challenge, by Sasy Scarbourough and Gorgeous Aurelia (Juicybomb). You can find more information on this at Got Blog! Bloggers Challenge.

Participating in a challenge for (aspiring) Second Life bloggers sounds like a fun and exciting idea! Although the challenge and its questions are primarily aimed at fashion and decor bloggers, which isn’t my usual niche, I see it as a great opportunity to breathe new life into my somewhat neglected blog.
Who knows—this might even be the push I need to break out of my blogging hiatus!

One reason I haven’t been blogging as much is that my social media posts, which share the same themes as my old blog content, tend to get more attention and views. As a result, I’ve focused more on platforms like X and YouTube, where I’ve been creating short videos. Just last month, I even ventured into TikTok!
I started my blog to share my Second Life adventures and explorations with the Second Life community, so yes in that respect views and attention are important.

My blog focuses on exploring Second Life, including regions, art installations, and sometimes my home and decorating efforts. I don’t typically blog about fashion, but as a Blogger and Social Media Manager for Dutchie, I do occasionally feature Dutchie designs. Those posts are always labeled as ‘advertorials’ to clarify that they’re promoting products for a brand I work for.
I only blog about regions, art or items I’m genuinely enthusiastic about—never out of obligation. I am an ‘independent’ blogger.

Anyway! Time to answer the questions for this challenge!
(I’ve not answered all of them, some were too focused on fashion/decor or blogging for brands – which I am not into)

When did you start your Second Life Blog and Why did you start Blogging in Second Life?

In 2009. I loved taking pictures of places I visited and wanted to share those with the rest of Second Life residents.

Do you feel the Blogging community in Second Life has changed since you started Blogging, and if so, in what ways?

Absolutely, it has — especially in the fashion and decor scene. There’s been a noticeable shift from genuine reviews to posts that are mainly just images with a list of credits, Sometimes without even a proper title, just something like “LOTD #2456” or a vague quote. These aren’t really blog posts; they’re more like captions you’d see on Flickr or social media. While this approach is fine if your audience is just searching for what’s available at events or in main store releases, honestly, you can find the same information on sites like Seraphim or SugarSL.

Do you think that Bloggers have a positive impact on Second Life culture and community, and if so, do you have any stories about that?

Absolutely! Blogs serve as diaries filled with valuable information, offering fellow residents—and potential newcomers—a glimpse into what Second Life is all about. They showcase what’s possible, where you can go, and how you can express yourself in this virtual world.

Are you approachable as a Blogger by content creators that may have interest in you as a Blogger for their Brand/Store?

Not really, as I don’t blog about items or fashion. However, if you have an amazing region that’s worth exploring, I’m always excited to check it out. And if I’m enthusiastic about it, I might just blog about it!

What kind of Blogs appeal to you as a reader, and what would you like to see more of in the Second Life Blogging world?

Blogs that offer real reviews, whether written or in video format. If I just want to see a list of credits, I can easily check Flickr, Facebook, or even Primfeed these days. I’d love to see more in-depth content that goes beyond just images and credits

Do you Blog content that you yourself would wear/use always, or do you blog content that is expected of you to blog due to commitments to stores/events?

Since I don’t blog for stores or brands, I only blog about what I genuinely like—whether it’s regions where I love to spend time, art that amazes me, the Fantasy Faire that I adore being part of for photography, or simply showcasing my attempts at decorating my home.

Do you use Social Media, and/or other platforms outside of your Blog/Website to promote the content you have shared?

I do! You can find me on:

X
Flickr
YouTube
TikTok

I also have a Facebook, Instagram and Tumblr account, but I am not active on those anymore.

Do you pay for any aspect of your blogging other than the clothing or items in your images, such as Website Hosting, Photoshop etc?

While you  can absolutely blog for free, I  pay for :

• Domain name
• Webhosting
• Flickr Pro, for hosting images
• Adobe Creative Cloud for photo- and video editing
• Fraps for filming in Second Life)
• X premium (but this is as a try-out for my real-life job, I was curious if it would make a difference. Spoiler: it does not…)

Do you think that Stores/Content Creators should have a Website/Blog for their Brand?

Yes, they absolutely should. A blog or website is a valuable resource where you can keep important information accessible for your current and potential customers, such as tutorials, FAQs, and essential links.

Do you have any advice that you can give other Bloggers who may be new to the experience, or even advice/wisdom that you want to share with the Blogging community as a whole, new or old?

Don’t blog just because you think it’s a way to get free stuff. Blog because you genuinely enjoy sharing the things you’ve discovered or purchased. Let your creativity and passion shine through—it makes all the difference.

If you’re interested in blogging for a brand, make sure you genuinely like their products. Show them you’re familiar with their items by purchasing and blogging about them first. As a Blogger Manager for Dutchie,
I can tell you there’s nothing more disheartening than receiving requests from bloggers who clearly haven’t done their homework—like when they compliment our “latest outfits and gorgeous gowns.” Yes, this happens more often than you’d think.

What do you enjoy and are most passionate about when it comes to Blogging?

I love spending time exploring amazing regions and capturing them in photos or on video. When exploring for my blog or socials  I prefer to use the shared environment and keep editing to a minimum to ensure that readers see the same scene that inspired me.

Thanks Sasy and Gorgeous for this cool challenge!