Elena Sokolova, a 29-year-old mother from Barnaul, has successfully transformed her blog into a profitable full-time job. Starting from casual videos and a largely inactive subscriber base, she now boasts 30,000 loyal followers, emphasizing the importance of sincerity and hard work in the world of blogging.

Sokolova’s journey began in 2013, but she only started consciously managing her blog in 2022-2023. Prior to blogging, she worked as a model and participated in beauty contests. A turning point came when she decided to eliminate fake accounts and focus on authentic content. This decision was driven by the need to improve her blog’s engagement statistics, which are crucial for attracting advertisers. Despite the initial setback in statistics after the purge, she persevered, understanding that consistent effort, rather than the expectation of immediate virality, is key.

The blogger highlights the importance of being genuine and sharing personal experiences. This included openly discussing her role as a guardian to her younger brother, Vanya, and her experiences with a difficult pregnancy. This sincerity resonated with her audience, leading to significant growth. One particularly impactful instance involved a follower who credited Sokolova’s videos with helping her overcome suicidal thoughts.

Sokolova stresses that blogging is not just a hobby but a serious profession. She manages content planning, advertiser negotiations, and even taxes, akin to a traditional office job. Her son serves as her primary motivation, driving her to seize every opportunity to earn and provide for his future. She often works late at night to balance her roles as a mother, guardian, and blogger.

While Sokolova receives numerous advertising offers, she carefully selects partnerships that align with her values and audience. She has also faced the challenges of online criticism, learning to disregard the negativity. While her family has mixed feelings about her blogging, she remains steadfast in her pursuit of expanding her reach, potentially to television. Her main goal is to prove that blogging can be a legitimate and sustainable career. Focused on self-realization, she is currently not interested in new relationships. Sokolova emphasizes that her success is not due to luck, but to consistent hard work.