Celebrating 17 years of running a blog!
Comfortable 17 KERFday!
Immediately is my weblog’s seventeenth birthday! I used to be lately on a zoom name and advised the particular person my web site was “16 or 17 years previous, I misplaced rely.” Afterwards I appeared it up – 17 years it’s!
A few of you’ve gotten 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 lessons, the Nice Harvest days, the BERF days.
When you haven’t been round lengthy, take a look at:
In that tenth anniversary publish, I had written 6844 posts. As of as we speak, that quantity is 7935 posts plus 382,493 feedback and 265,000 images 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 quite a lot of matters is such a key element of maintaining issues attention-grabbing. Lengthy-time readers know that I’m going by means of phases based mostly on what is going on in my life. I went by means of two massive child phases, loads of House Neat House phases, some entrepreneur phases. What I really 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 aren’t incorrect. So it’s 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 suppose creates the most effective reader expertise.
Construct A Way of life, Not A Firm
After I began my weblog in 2007, I used to be solely in search of a inventive outlet. I had no concept it was potential to generate profits on the web, and I scoffed on the concept 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!) In fact, as time went on, producing revenue to cowl my internet hosting prices and possibly some groceries turned 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 workers working for her and a elaborate 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 verify that going to an workplace on a regular basis was precisely the approach to life I didn’t need. What has all the time 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 way in which. I’m eternally grateful for the flexibleness this job provides 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. After I joined Beautycounter. After I created Digital Litter and Bloom. When Beautycounter closed. And lots 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 Sophisticated, However Additionally A lot Simpler
A contradictory sentence? Including the above branches has actually difficult issues. Weblog pals and I typically 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 images 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 High Precedence
Lengthy gone are the times after I would come dwelling from an occasion and keep up an additional hour to put in writing a publish about it. Since I worth flexibility greater than the rest, I’m working no 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 finest 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 publish in 2018 after I was occupied with going again into extra real-time posting.)
Leaning On Weblog Buddies
Conversations with different bloggers are all the time 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 referred to as “KABU: Kick Ass Blogger Union” (haha) and we supported each other reasonably than compete. The perfect colleagues are open books. All of us do issues just a little 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 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 incorrect. 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 occasions when you’ve gotten reached out have meant a lot to me. Thanks KERF household <3