Celebrating 17 years of running a blog!
Pleased 17 KERFday!
Right this moment is my weblog’s seventeenth birthday! I used to be not too long ago on a zoom name and informed the particular person my web site was “16 or 17 years outdated, I misplaced rely.” Afterwards I seemed it up – 17 years it’s!
A few of you may have been following me since these very, very early days. You most likely keep in mind bowls of oatmeal with a peanut butter spoon floating on prime earlier than I went to my PR job, the RD days after I wrote weblog posts between courses, the Nice Harvest days, the BERF days.
If you happen to haven’t been round lengthy, try:
In that tenth anniversary submit, I had written 6844 posts. As of at the moment, that quantity is 7935 posts plus 382,493 feedback and 265,000 pictures shared. GEEZ!
In honor of 17 years, listed below are some ideas / enjoyable details / reflections about running a blog into the teenage years.
17 Years Of Running a blog
Selection Is Key
For me, writing about quite a lot of matters is such a key element of holding issues attention-grabbing. Lengthy-time readers know that I’m going by way of phases primarily based on what is occurring in my life. I went by way of two massive child phases, loads of Residence Neat Residence phases, some entrepreneur phases. What I like most about my weblog is that I’m not restricted to at least one area of interest subject. The consultants would inform me that’s hurting my site visitors and they don’t seem to be improper. So it’s an excellent factor most site visitors just isn’t my finish sport. However writing in regards to the matters on my thoughts means I’m writing creatively and never forcing it or becoming bored, which I do assume creates the most effective reader expertise.
Construct A Way of life, Not A Firm
Once I began my weblog in 2007, I used to be solely searching for a artistic outlet. I had no thought it was doable to make cash on the web, and I scoffed on the thought of doing so when my dad introduced up placing adverts on my web site. (He inspired me to look into it, and I’m glad I finally did!) After all, as time went on, producing revenue to cowl my internet hosting prices and perhaps some groceries grew to become a bit extra interesting.
A couple of years in the past, I listened to a podcast interview for one more blogger who began across the identical time as me. Within the current time, she had dozens of full-time workers working for her and a flowery workplace. For a break up second, I had a twinge of jealousy over how a lot cash her web site should be making to help these issues, however then I had a quick actuality examine that going to an workplace on a regular basis was precisely the life-style I didn’t need. What has at all times been most necessary to me is to have the ability to put my artistic vitality and time into one thing that would assist or encourage others whereas additionally incomes cash to help my household alongside the way in which. I’m eternally grateful for the flexibleness this job presents to let me greet the boys once they get off the bus every day or make a journey when the invitation arises.
Studying to Pivot
All through the years, I’ve pivoted and branched out in methods I couldn’t have predicted coming. When my advert community contract with Foodbuzz ended. When model sponsorships moved from blogs to Instagram. Once I joined Beautycounter. Once I created Digital Muddle and Bloom. When Beautycounter closed. And plenty of extra methods. Having variety of revenue, platform, and income channel means when one thing is down, one thing else is commonly up. Who is aware of what’s subsequent!
Running a blog Has Gotten A lot Extra Difficult, However Additionally A lot Simpler
A contradictory sentence? Including the above branches has definitely sophisticated issues. Weblog buddies and I usually reminisce in regards to the days once we “simply needed to weblog” thrice a day. There wasn’t all of the social media amplification and so forth. However in some ways, issues have gotten a lot simpler. I used to take all of my pictures on a Canon Mark II that I haven’t touched in years now that iPhone cameras are so nice. Apps like Asana and YNAB have made monitoring duties and accounting so organized. Canva is the most effective app/web site EVER INVENTED!
Flexibility Is At all times Prime Precedence
Lengthy gone are the times after I would come dwelling from an occasion and keep up an additional hour to write down a submit about it. Since I worth flexibility greater than the rest, I’m working not less than a month forward on seasonal / evergreen content material. After which I write extra time delicate posts the week of or the week after the occasion. I even have the world’s greatest digital assistant, Hillary, who helps me behind the scenes in so some ways, so I’m able to take break day to journey or if my children are sick. (I wrote this submit in 2018 after I was serious about going again into extra real-time posting.)
Leaning On Weblog Buddies
Conversations with different bloggers are at all times so inspiring. I recognize Anne, Brittany, and Teri for his or her willingness to share concepts and sources all through the years. Within the earlier days, I used to be a part of a gaggle known as “KABU: Kick Ass Blogger Union” (haha) and we supported each other fairly than compete. The most effective colleagues are open books. All of us do issues a bit of bit in a different way, however all of us study from each other.
Keep True To You
^^ This tremendous corny phrase actually does sum up every thing about operating a weblog for nearly twenty years. On the finish of the day, you must do you. Not everybody goes to love you – and that’s okay! You’ll be able to’t fear about what different persons are doing or pressure their model onto you. You’ll be able to’t fear about what the trolls are going to say as a result of something you do is improper. It’s a must to be genuinely you.
Thanks
Thanks for following together with our household’s story. Thanks for displaying as much as learn posts, click on hyperlinks, go away feedback, and write private emails and DMs. The occasions when you may have reached out have meant a lot to me. Thanks KERF household <3