Celebrating 17 years of running a blog!
Joyful 17 KERFday!
As we speak is my weblog’s seventeenth birthday! I used to be just lately on a zoom name and advised the individual my web site was “16 or 17 years previous, I misplaced depend.” Afterwards I regarded it up – 17 years it’s!
A few of you might 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 once I wrote weblog posts between lessons, the Nice Harvest days, the BERF days.
In case you haven’t been round lengthy, take a look at:
In that tenth anniversary put up, I had written 6844 posts. As of at present, that quantity is 7935 posts plus 382,493 feedback and 265,000 pictures shared. GEEZ!
In honor of 17 years, listed here are some ideas / enjoyable info / reflections about running a blog into the teenage years.
17 Years Of Running a blog
Selection Is Key
For me, writing about a wide range of matters is such a key part of preserving issues attention-grabbing. Lengthy-time readers know that I am going by means of phases primarily based on what is going on in my life. I went by means of two large child phases, loads of House Neat House phases, some entrepreneur phases. What I like most about my weblog is that I’m not restricted to 1 area of interest matter. The specialists would inform me that’s hurting my visitors and they aren’t mistaken. So it’s an excellent factor most 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 perfect reader expertise.
Construct A Life-style, Not A Firm
Once I began my weblog in 2007, I used to be solely searching for a inventive outlet. I had no concept it was doable to earn money on the web, and I scoffed on the concept of doing so when my dad introduced up placing advertisements 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 number 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 staff working for her and a elaborate workplace. For a cut 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 test 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 essential to me is to have the ability to put my inventive power and time into one thing that would assist or encourage others whereas additionally incomes cash to help my household alongside the best way. I’m eternally grateful for the flexibleness this job provides to let me greet the boys after 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 Litter 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 difficult issues. Weblog associates and I usually reminisce in regards to the days after 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 perfect app/web site EVER INVENTED!
Flexibility Is At all times Prime Precedence
Lengthy gone are the times once I would come dwelling from an occasion and keep up an additional hour to put in writing a put up about it. Since I worth flexibility greater than anything, I’m working a minimum of 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 day without work to journey or if my youngsters are sick. (I wrote this put up in 2018 once I was fascinated with going again into extra real-time posting.)
Leaning On Weblog Associates
Conversations with different bloggers are at all times so inspiring. I respect 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 bunch known as “KABU: Kick Ass Blogger Union” (haha) and we supported each other quite than compete. The very best colleagues are open books. All of us do issues a bit of bit otherwise, however all of us be taught 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 need to 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 power their fashion 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 mistaken. It’s important to be genuinely you.
Thanks
Thanks for following together with our household’s story. Thanks for exhibiting as much as learn posts, click on hyperlinks, go away feedback, and write private emails and DMs. The instances when you might have reached out have meant a lot to me. Thanks KERF household <3
