Celebrating 17 years of running a blog!
Pleased 17 KERFday!
At this time is my weblog’s seventeenth birthday! I used to be lately on a zoom name and instructed the particular person my web site was “16 or 17 years outdated, I misplaced depend.”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 in all probability bear 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.
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 right this moment, 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 information / 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 element of retaining issues attention-grabbing. Lengthy-time readers know that I am going via phases primarily based on what is going on in my life. I went via two huge 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 visitors and they aren’t fallacious. So it’s a superb factor most visitors just isn’t my finish sport. However writing concerning the matters on my thoughts means I’m writing creatively and never forcing it or losing interest, which I do suppose 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 potential to become profitable on the web, and I scoffed on the thought 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 couple of years in the past I listened to a podcast interview for an additional 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 cut up second I had a twinge of jealousy over how a lot cash her web site have to be making to help these issues, however then I had a quick actuality verify that going to an workplace on a regular basis was precisely the life-style I didn’t need. What has all the time been most necessary to me is to have the ability to put my artistic power and time into one thing that might assist or encourage others whereas additionally incomes cash to help my household alongside the best way. I’m eternally grateful for the pliability 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 Litter and Bloom. When Beautycounter closed. And plenty of extra methods. Having range of revenue, platform, and income channel means when one thing is down, one thing else is usually 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 actually difficult issues. Weblog buddies and I typically reminisce concerning 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 All the time Prime Precedence
Lengthy gone are the times after I would come residence from an occasion and keep up an additional hour to write down a put up put up 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 time without work to journey or if my children are sick. (I wrote this put up in 2018 after I was fascinated about going again into extra real-time posting.)
Leaning On Weblog Associates
Conversations with different bloggers are all the time so inspiring. I admire Anne,Brittany, and Teri for his or her willingness to share concepts and assets 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 relatively than compete. One of the best colleagues are open books. All of us do issues a little bit bit otherwise, however all of us be taught from each other.
Keep True To You
^^ This tremendous corny phrase actually does sum up all the pieces 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 individuals are doing or power 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 fallacious. It’s a must 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 occasions when you might have reached out have meant a lot to me. Thanks KERF household <3
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