Looking back, I started this blog because I resigned from my online job. I stopped ghostwriting and started writing for my own website. Even though I know that I will not earn anything on this blog, I had fun posting. There are no deadlines to meet, no keywords to follow and I can freely write the things that really interest me.
Michi Photostory started last February 16, 2011, I remember those days when I only have three readers, ME, MYSELF, and I. But now, I am proud to say that I have more than 7,000,000 page views on this blog. To my silent readers, regular readers, or to those who just stumbled on my blog. Thank you for the visit and support. I'm happy to receive emails and comments that this simple blog helped you.
7 Things I’ve Learned in 7 Years of Blogging
1. It is easy to start a blog but it’s hard to maintain it.
There are tons of websites where you can start making your own blog for FREE. It is easy to create one but it is not easy to maintain a blog. It takes time and effort to create a post, edit pictures and share it. When I was starting, I’ve been following other mommy bloggers but after few years they just suddenly stopped blogging. I don’t know why. So it is really an achievement for me to reach my seven years and I have no plan of stopping yet because I still enjoy writing and sharing stories.
For me, Blogging is not yet Dead.
Read: How to Create a Website
2. Start with the right goal and intention
If you are starting a blog just to earn money or just to get freebies, there is a possibility that you will lose interest in blogging. To be honest, it is not easy to earn money in blogging because there are millions of bloggers out there. Competition is high so you have to establish your blog first.
Though I’m blogging for seven years, I’m still not an established/celebrity blogger but I'm still blogging because like what I’ve said before, I started this blog to keep me sane. It is my creative outlet so bonus na lang if I have blog opportunities.
"Blogging is not all about earning but learning"
3. Blog can give headaches and heartaches
A blog can bring headaches and heartaches too because you cannot please all people. Yes, there are haters and bashers too. Some people won’t agree with you but you just keep going!
"There will be haters, there will be doubters, there will be non-believers, and then there will be you, proving them wrong"
There are some people who will not pay for the work you've done even after numerous follow-ups. Some won't give the tokens that they promised. Well, I just charged it to experience and pray that it won't happen again.
Read: The effect of Having a Blog
4. Don’t spend a lot
If you are just starting a blog, take advantage of the free platform like Blogger and Wordpress. Don’t spend a lot until you are starting to make money. Well, this is just my opinion, because there are some bloggers that I know, they spent money on blog makeover, domain, blog hosting then after few months, they became inactive. Sayang di ba but if you have the budget why not. It is really nice to have a good website.
But if you feel that you really want to get serious with blogging then learn to invest. Invest in time and invest in money. It took me 10 months before I decided to buy my own domain and until now I’m using a free platform because I don’t want to pay for hosting services yet. It took me 6 years before I spent money on my blogger themes and social media templates. But slowly, I’m learning to invest in this blog for more improvement and it increases my blog opportunities.
Check Blogger Templates here
Check Wordpress Themes here
5. Say NO to opportunities
When I started this blog, I have no idea that there are different blog opportunities. There are blog event invites, product reviews, service reviews, and even sponsored post opportunities. Yes, there are a lot of opportunities for you to grow and earn. It is up to you whether you accept it or not.
But for seven years, I have learned to say NO to opportunities because it doesn’t align with my blog goals and values. I don’t accept a sponsored post that is not related to my niche. Products that I’m not really using. And I rarely attend blogging events because I want more time with my family. I know that attending events will help me in gaining new friends, meeting new people, and establishing my network but I always remind myself “the reason why I started my blog”.
“There are seasons in our life that we need to say no to good things in order to say yes to great things”. As of now, family time is my priority than blogging events. Maybe when my son is already old, I will have time to attend blog events.
6. Know your worth
If you are blogging for some quite time now, you will receive a lot of emails, asking you to post their press release, giving you free content but there are advertisement links on that article or giving you cheap products in exchange for a blog post.
I’m not saying it is wrong to post a press release, to accept a guest post, and to do a product review. But KNOW YOUR WORTH and DO NOT WORK for FREE. Blogging is not free, it is an expensive hobby. You need a laptop, internet, camera, and electricity. You are spending money on your domain or hosting service. In addition, it takes time and effort to post something on your blog so hindi pwedeng laging LIBRE. No more people-pleasing.
"I gotta stop treating people like I owe them something" - Tupac
7. Have Fun
Don’t compare your blog to other blogs because you will be depressed. Don’t mind the blog statistics because you will be distressed. Forget about the numbers because it doesn’t define your blog. It is better to have few followers but loyal because these people really read and follow your posts. Just keep on writing and posting. Someday, readers will discover your blog and blog opportunities will come. For now, keep your passion alive and have fun.
"Comparison is a thief of joy" - Theodore Roosevelt
Care to share your own blogging tips, experiences, or lessons.
7 years and 7M pageviews! Whew! Congratulations! Ako di nga maka half a mil. lol. Happy blogversary, sis! Happy to have known you through blogging and to have seen you once. :) These 7 points are all spot on.
ReplyDeleteThanks! Nice meeting you too. At least may nakilala din ko na ibang blogger ng personal. hehehe! Don't worry, aabot din yan ng million. :)
DeleteWow! Congrats sis! I love your blogging tips and lessons. I agree sa saying "no", lahat ng events and invites pinupuntahan ko noon at napagod ako hehe, kaya it is important to know our blogging goals so we also have our own rules on products and events that we will accept :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Blog Anniversary! Keep Writing sis! :)
Yes, it is easy to write something kasi na alam mo yung product and may interest ka talaga. Hindi ka rin maburn-out if you learn to say no to some events na hindi mo linya.
DeleteHappy anniversary to your blog! haha I have been blogging for more than 10 years now for the same reason as how you started. I just really wanted an outlet for my creativity. =) I keep on going back to that. One tip I will add is to NOT DELETE a blog at least without a back up especially when depressed or when in a really bad season in life. hahahha I couldn't retrieve all the memorie from my 1st-5th year of blogging (yun sana yung 15 years) hahaha I feel so old tuloy. Your tips are all true, as we learn to value this space, we learn how to limit and align everything to us and how we want our blog to look like. The blog is US. It represents who we are. Sabi ko nga minsan I and the blog are one in a sense that it displays who I am. In other social media platforms, I may post limited, different things, but the blog is where all the details are. =)
ReplyDeleteWow, more than 10 yrs na. Congrats! I feel you, I also deleted some posts without back-up. huhuhu! Now, I copy and paste my post before deleting it. :) True, this blog represents who we are.
DeleteHappy blogoversary! My blog also celebrated its 7th year a few months ago. I had a lot of learnings too and they're similar to yours. :) I guess the one lesson I find most valuable though is that blogging really takes a lot of work and that you really need to have passion for it if you want your blog to last long.
ReplyDeleteThanks! True, You need passion and purpose to continue blogging.
DeleteCongratulations on your 7 years of blogging. Hands up to bloggers like you. I truly admire your passion for blogging. I am also blogging for 7 years but I wasn't able to maintain a single blog and I am one of those people who spent a lot of money creating a blog. Charge to experience na lang din hehe...
ReplyDeleteThanks! You are still blogging until now so hindi sayang yung nagastos mo. :) Some bloggers talagang nagstop na, maybe they found a new passion.
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