Once upon a time, I was on a train. I was on my way home after three days of wandering. Eh! No, I was returning from three days of work.
The journey to the station was still about four hours long. When things get like this, I usually kill my boredom by surfing the internet. Well, either Instagram or Twitter, or Facebook.
Coincidentally, while browsing my Facebook timeline, I was a little intrigued. I saw an old topic resurface. Essentially, the topic was about the world of blogging.
Jeng jeng jeng… old drama~
And, for some reason, I suddenly wanted to write something related to that topic on bloggerpi.com. Of course, I don’t want to discuss the issues being debated. I don’t feel like causing drama~
It’s true that there was a lot of drama in the blogging world some time ago. Maybe it still is now, but I don’t feel like dealing with it. I’d rather just keep creating.
Before you get even more confused about what a Local Blogger, Imported Blogger, and International Blogger are, which I’ll be writing about here, I want to explain a bit about the definitions of each of the blogger terms I just created.
Don’t worry, these terms aren’t standard, so don’t take them too seriously; just think of them as entertainment when you’re bored! This is my random blog, so I write about whatever I like.
First,
Local Bloggers: They’re usually known as Regional Bloggers or whatever, basically, those who reside outside of Jakarta. I myself was once a Local Blogger, when I lived in Bali, and now, while I’m temporarily residing in Blitar.
Blogger Import : Some people also know them as interlocal bloggers, but since it’s too long, I’ll just call them import bloggers. It’s my preference, it’s easier! Essentially, these bloggers are usually based in Jakarta, and if there’s an event in the area to participate in, they’re sometimes imported. So I just call them import bloggers. I used to be an import blogger myself when I was still working in Jakarta.
International Blogger: You could say they’re actually imported bloggers, but they’re imported from abroad. In Indonesia, imported bloggers typically receive a larger allowance than international bloggers, let alone local bloggers.
The last I knew, their standard allowance was USD 100 per person, not including additional fees. As for me, I’ve earned at most 2.5 million rupiah per day. That’s a lot, right? Yes, because I was imported to Japan. So, I’ve also been an international blogger.
Now, since I’ve experienced all three, I want to share a few of the pros and cons of being in those three bloggers’ shoes!
My Experience of Being a Local Blogger!
When it comes to making money or finding work, the local blogger position is the most unenviable. Almost all projects, important relationships, and work are in Jakarta. If you’re a beginner blogger who wants to be serious about living in the regions, the challenges are indeed huge. You have to be creative! That doesn’t mean you can’t develop, but you just have to be willing to work hard! I experienced this myself when I was in Bali.
After two years in Bali, blogging diligently, writing two or three posts almost every week, my blog felt the same. There were no projects, let alone endorsements. The first time I got a project, I was offered a book, and it became a book. The Travelers Note: Bali The Island Of Beauty But never mind, I really enjoy blogging. I don’t think about whether I’ll make money from blogging. Thinking too seriously about it is definitely stressful!
It’s very different from when I was in Jakarta. I’d been there less than a year, and my blogging career seemed to be taking off. This time, I never turn down an invitation to an event. Not because of the goody bags, but because every time I’m invited, I get to meet other cool bloggers and learn a lot from them. The goody bags, winning competitions, or getting paid for attending events are all bonuses. Gaining new connections, new experiences, and perhaps new knowledge is the most important thing. Because that can be useful in the long run!
Jakarta may be cruel, but most of the relationships and opportunities for growth are there. It’s the same in the professional world: if you want your career to skyrocket, move to Jakarta. But you have to put up with the traffic and chaos!
Interlocal Blogger Experience Aka Import Blogger
For some reason, I finally had to move to Jakarta. That meant I had to give up my position as a Local Blogger, a Regional Blogger from Bali. It was time to move up to Import Blogger. (Even though we’re all the same class, we’re all human! But for some reason, some people consider us superior, you know why!)
Both local and imported bloggers are essentially the same. The difference is that imported bloggers, who are located in the capital, have more opportunities to develop. Again, there’s more work in Jakarta.
Indeed, compared to when I was in Bali, Jakarta has given me many opportunities to grow. From being able to attend more events, making many new connections that support my blogging career, to being able to share blogging knowledge with other, more experienced bloggers. Well, that is the perks of living in Jakarta! But, I still hate it the traffic jam!
Anyway, this is delicious. Except since becoming an Interlocal Blogger, I’m starting to know how much drama there is in the world of blogging. Maybe it’s like the world of artists, with more drama, the more famous you can be.
But frankly, I’d rather be known for my work than known for my drama. Just if someone wants to make a drama set so they can be famous, let’s go! #eh! Who knows, after making a drama, catperku.com blog traffic could skyrocket 1000 times~
Well, that’s all my experience as a long-distance blogger! Even though I have a lot of work to do, it’s more peaceful for me to live in the area while occasionally playing in the rice fields behind the house 😀
Next, Experience as an International Blogger
Of the three, this is the best! Being invited abroad, having everything paid for, and if you’re lucky, getting paid and pocket money. Who wouldn’t want that? I do! I’ve been in this position too. Not often, but I’ve had some good fortune in the past few years.
I’ve been invited several times by tourism boards from neighboring countries, even far away. Namely the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and hopefully more. If you count, I think I’m invited to other countries more often than to my own. I’m not complaining about rarely being invited, I’m just sharing a fact. If I’m not invited, I can travel with my own money, don’t act like a poor person!
If you ask me how I became an international blogger, I don’t know. All I’ve done so far is travel abroad occasionally, write, and then suddenly an email comes in. “We are inviting you to…” or “Sir, are you free on such and such dates? We’d like to invite you to…” Mars?
I’ve never had a goal this year to write this so I can be invited here or there. I’ll just occasionally tag a cool photo from that country to their official Instagram account (#tips). As for traveling here or there, I always have a goal. I’m just waiting for the luck to come. If not, maybe I’ll save up, hunt for promo tickets, and work hard to get the money and fly to my dream destination. #Don’tLikePoorPeople
Wes-wes Well, that’s all I want to discuss in this post. It’s pretty random, isn’t it? It’s because I was bored on the Malioboro Express train, and my destination was still 3 hours away. So, I just wrote something random about it. Hope you enjoy it, and thank you for the transfer! #lahh
Oh yeah, right now I’m a regional blogger. I’m currently based in Blitar. Luckily, I’ve already experienced being an interlocal and international blogger. So, being in the region isn’t a big deal. Occasionally, I can still fly abroad or accept work from Jakarta.
But sometimes, when someone offers me a project in Jakarta, as soon as I tell them I’m based in the region, they disappear without a trace. Never mind news, information like… “Sorry, sir, we don’t have the budget to pay for your transportation and accommodation to/in Jakarta.” I would have appreciated a response like that.
Yes Understandably, because he was invited, he should have been responsible for everything. That doesn’t mean “Eh, I’ll come here, but you’ll pay for everything yourself. Then later you’ll be there posting IG, IG stories, sharing on FB, tweeting, make a travel vlog, write a blog…. Stahp!”
But, being a regional blogger is fate. Just accept it, and the important thing is to keep creating! What’s meant by good fortune doesn’t go anywhere!
