Celebrating 17 years of running a blog!

Pleased 17 KERFday!

As we speak is my weblog’s seventeenth birthday! I used to be not too long ago on a zoom name and instructed the individual my website was “16 or 17 years outdated, I misplaced rely.” Afterwards I seemed it up – 17 years it’s!

A few of you will 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 high 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. 

When you haven’t been round lengthy, try:

In that tenth anniversary put up, I had written 6844 posts. As of immediately, that quantity is 7935 posts plus 382,493 feedback and 265,000 images shared. GEEZ!

In honor of 17 years, listed below 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 subjects is such a key element of conserving issues fascinating. Lengthy-time readers know that I’m going by way of phases primarily based on what is going on in my life. I went by way of two large child phases, loads of Residence Neat Residence phases, some entrepreneur phases. What I really like most about my weblog is that I’m not restricted to 1 area of interest matter. The consultants would inform me that’s hurting my site visitors and they aren’t improper. So it’s factor most site visitors is just not my finish sport. However writing concerning the subjects on my thoughts means I’m writing creatively and never forcing it or losing interest, which I do suppose creates one of the best reader expertise. 

Construct A Way of life, Not A Firm

Once I began my weblog in 2007, I used to be solely on the lookout for a inventive outlet. I had no concept it was potential to make cash on the web, and I scoffed on the concept of doing so when my dad introduced up placing adverts on my website. (He inspired me to look into it, and I’m glad I ultimately did!) After all, as time went on, producing earnings to cowl my internet hosting prices and perhaps some groceries turned a bit extra interesting.

Just a few years in the past, I listened to a podcast interview for one more 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 cut up second, I had a twinge of jealousy over how a lot cash her website have to be making to help these issues, however then I had a quick actuality examine that going to an workplace on a regular basis was precisely the approach to life I didn’t need. What has at all times been most vital to me is to have the ability to put my inventive power and time into one thing that might assist or encourage others whereas additionally incomes cash to help my household alongside the way in which. I’m eternally grateful for the pliability this job gives 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 Muddle and Bloom. When Beautycounter closed. And plenty of extra methods. Having variety of earnings, 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 actually sophisticated issues. Weblog associates and I typically reminisce concerning the days once we “simply needed to weblog” 3 times 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 one of the best app/web site EVER INVENTED! 

Flexibility Is At all times High Precedence  

Lengthy gone are the times after I would come house from an occasion and keep up an additional hour to write down a put up about it. Since I worth flexibility greater than the rest, 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 time without work to journey or if my youngsters are sick. (I wrote this put up in 2018 after I was occupied with going again into extra real-time posting.) 

Leaning On Weblog Buddies

Conversations with different bloggers are at all times so inspiring. I admire 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 known as “KABU: Kick Ass Blogger Union” (haha) and we supported each other fairly than compete. The most effective colleagues are open books. All of us do issues just a little bit in another way, however all of us be taught from each other. 

Keep True To You

^^ This tremendous corny phrase actually does sum up the whole lot about working a weblog for nearly 20 years. On the finish of the day, it’s important to 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 improper. It’s a must to be genuinely you. 

Thanks

Thanks for following together with our household’s story. Thanks for displaying as much as learn posts, click on hyperlinks, go away feedback, and write private emails and DMs. The occasions when you will have reached out have meant a lot to me. Thanks KERF household <3