Before I started my blog, I spent a lot of time researching all about the world of blogging. The positives, negatives, expectations and even the unexpected. And after planning for many days on end, I decided that I wanted to give it a try. And so, my blogging journey began!
Today, I’m glad that I have a platform to share my content with the world. But before I got to this point, so much work happened behind the scenes that helped me get to where I am now. I took everything one day at a time and never lost sight of what I wanted to achieve.
It’s been a little over a year since I’ve started my blogging journey. And so far, I’ve experienced some ups and downs along the way. However, I’ve learned some important lessons and I thought I’d share some of them, especially with those who are thinking about starting a blog.
With that said, here are 4 important lessons I learned from my first year of blogging!
1.) It’s a lot of work
At first, I thought blogging was just writing about something and then posting it. And yes, that’s a major part to it, but there’s a lot more that goes into blogging than that. I didn’t realize that so much went into blogging until I became a blogger myself.
There’s construction and maintenance of the blog, promoting content on different sites, having an active social media presence, marketing the blog, planning content, and so much more. It’s a one-person show and you have to stay on top of everything, and if you’re using your blog as a business then there will be many things you have to focus on.
But don’t let that scare you. It’s all definitely doable if you’re serious and passionate about your work.
2.) The progress is slow
Just because you post something doesn’t mean people will automatically come running to your blog. You can spend a lot of time working on something you’re really proud of only to receive no feedback in return.
There’re some reasons why this happens. Maybe you’re not posting your content on the correct site, or your target audience missed it while scrolling through hundreds of other posts on the endless abyss of social media.
Ultimately, you care the most about your work. And when it comes to drawing people into your blog, the process is very slow. You need to be patient, but work really hard in order to get your name out there.
3.) New skills can develop
Since I started, I’ve learned some new skills that can help me on my blogging and business endeavors. And the best part is that these skills were self-taught!
Before blogging, I wasn’t really big on designing. It’s not that I disliked it, it’s just something I never paid much attention to. But as I continued to design my blog, posts, pins, and more, I found myself enjoying designing and I see it as another avenue to explore my artsy side.
I’m not a professional by any means, but I am doing a lot better now than when I first started. I’m proud at how far I’ve come, and I’m looking forward to more creations I’ll make!
4.) Things will change over time
Blogging for business is a process. And along the way, things will change over time. Nothing is set in stone yet when you’re in the beginning phase, so it’s okay if you need to change things around.
Today, I’ve changed things a couple of times. From how I approach and produce my content, to the tools I utilize for my work. If something isn’t working out or you want to try something different, then change. Do what’s best for you.
These are the 4 main important lessons I’ve learned from my first year of blogging. And, I know there’s still much more to learn. But with everything I’ve learned so far, I will apply them and continue working to pursue my dreams and achieve my goals.
And I’m looking forward to it.
