Celebrating 17 years of running a blog!
Completely satisfied 17 KERFday!
Immediately is my weblog’s seventeenth birthday! I used to be just lately on a zoom name and instructed the individual my web site was “16 or 17 years outdated, I misplaced depend.” Afterwards I seemed it up – 17 years it’s!
A few of you have got been following me since these very, very early days. You most likely 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 once I wrote weblog posts between lessons, the Nice Harvest days, the BERF days.
In the event you haven’t been round lengthy, try:
In that tenth anniversary publish, I had written 6844 posts. As of in the present day, 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 info / 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 subjects is such a key element of retaining issues attention-grabbing. Lengthy-time readers know that I’m going by phases based mostly on what is occurring in my life. I went by 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 at least one area of interest matter. The consultants would inform me that’s hurting my site visitors and they aren’t unsuitable. So it’s a superb factor most site visitors is just not my finish recreation. However writing in regards to the subjects 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 Life-style, Not A Firm
Once I began my weblog in 2007, I used to be solely on the lookout for a artistic outlet. I had no thought it was potential to earn money 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 ultimately 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 couple of years in the past, I listened to a podcast interview for an additional blogger who began across the similar time as me. Within the current time, she had dozens of full-time staff 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 have to be making to assist 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 essential to me is to have the ability to put my artistic vitality and time into one thing that might assist or encourage others whereas additionally incomes cash to assist my household alongside the best way. I’m eternally grateful for the pliability this job affords 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 Muddle 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 Sophisticated, However Additionally A lot Simpler
A contradictory sentence? Including the above branches has definitely difficult issues. Weblog buddies 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 once I would come dwelling from an occasion and keep up an additional hour to jot down a publish 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 finest 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 children are sick. (I wrote this publish in 2018 once I was serious about going again into extra real-time posting.)
Leaning On Weblog Pals
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 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 moderately than compete. The most effective colleagues are open books. All of us do issues slightly 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 all the pieces about working 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 possibly can’t fear about what different persons are doing or power their model onto you. You possibly can’t fear about what the trolls are going to say as a result of something you do is unsuitable. You must be genuinely you.
Thanks
Thanks for following together with our household’s story. Thanks for exhibiting as much as learn posts, click on hyperlinks, depart feedback, and write private emails and DMs. The occasions when you have got reached out have meant a lot to me. Thanks KERF household <3
