I have now been blogging for well over 12 months and since I missed my one year anniversary post back in July, I thought I would post something now instead, not only looking back over my first year blogging, but also share some simple things I have learnt over this time.
Blogging and writing in general teaches all of us a lot of different things. We each have our own reasons for why we write. For me, I find the writing process really cathartic and it relaxes me – I imagine in a similar way to how watching TV or taking a bubble bath relaxes some people.
You see, I have never really sought satisfaction in just doing nothing. My mind always has to be busy, even in school when I was little, the teachers would tell my parents that once I finished the assigned work I would become disruptive until I was given another task. This is single-handedly why blogging works so well for me as there is always something you can be getting on with. It is there when I need it to be, but I am not reliant on it for my income so I think it is a lot less stressy.
I started blogging, the first time, when I was in university, and I really hated it. This leads me nicely on to my first lesson;
WRITE ABOUT WHAT YOU LOVE
It sounds really cheesy and cliche to say, but it helps. A lot. If you are interested and passionate about what you are writing it will be more enjoyable. Not only that, but it also shows in your writing. My first blog I referred to above, was about fashion (as my degree was fashion journalism) and I hated it. I loved looking and reading about the clothes and the shows but creating this content myself was just not up my street. In fact, it was so not up my street, it may as well have been on the complete other side of town.
STOP COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHERS
Okay, I know, it is much harder to do this than it appears. But you cannot compare your chapter one to someone else’s chapter 23. It will drive you crazy and lead to a hailstorm of self loathing and pity which will not end well. You. Are. Good. Enough.
THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER
You don’t need any of these things. Fair enough, it can be a bit different if you are looking to make millions from your blog within the first month (spoiler, this won’t happen, regardless of what you do) but generally speaking you do not need all of the things ‘people’ say you need. People can be the worst. You do not need to spend this amount of money on that, or that length of time on the other. You just need to write. And it doesn’t even need to be consistent. Write when you want to, not when you feel like you should. For me, if I feel like I ought to be doing something, it stops being fun.
CONTENT IS KEY
Writing should always be fun for you. You decided to start your blog presumably because you had a passion. Once it starts to feel more of a burden than a joy, it is heading down the wrong path. Take your time to create content you love; posts you could sit and read again and again. Ask yourself, ‘am I interested in this’ because if you are not, why should anyone else be? Some posts will of course be better than others, but you have to at least like everything you put out there, otherwise you become a content mill.
DON’T WORRY ABOUT FOLLOWERS
Again, it is one of those things easier said than done, but 100% true. Whether you are super consistent or post a couple of times a year, do not worry about your followers. They are just numbers at the end of the day and do not deserve your stress. Sure, we all love loads of likes on our latest post, on any social, but it shouldn’t get you down. Organic growth every time over buying followers, likes and fake interactions.
ALL GREAT JOURNEYS START…
Everyone starts somewhere. Your favourite writer. Your favourite actor. Your favourite athlete. Every single person starts somewhere. You have to take the first step if you want to climb the mountain. It really is true what they say. I hummed and harred about starting a blog for literally about two months, before actually starting my little corner of the web. I am so glad I did it – if nothing else, it is a platform to share my ideas with like minded creatives. That is why my blog tagline is “just thinking out loud here…”
BE CONTENT, WITH YOUR CONTENT
It is okay to always want to improve and to always want to be learning – that is fantastic. But for me, it is important you are content with the writing you do. If you are constantly looking at who and what is better than you and comparing yourself, you will never get there. Let me explain. If you are at point 1 and always looking at points 10-15 and comparing yourself, once you actually get to point five, you will not be able to recognise it because you will be too focused on ten to fifteen. It is always good to look to the future, but you can’t let it become a toxic obsession. You must be grateful for what you have now, to appreciate what you will have tomorrow.
SOCIAL MEDIA IS YOUR FRIEND
There are some lovely people out there – many more lovely than awful. The blogging community is one of the nicest out there. Comparatively speaking, it is so much more pleasant and supportive than the majority of online fandoms (at least the ones I have known). People are generally always so happy for you when you achieve something, no matter how big or small. It is such a lovely environment it is really easy to be happy for everyone you come across. You are not competitors; you are all in this together. Remember, a candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.
STOCK IMAGES SAVE YOUR LIFE
I know that this may be a little different if your blog is built on reviews or beauty or fashion, but for me, using stock images saves a lot of time, and they always look great. Fair enough, in travel and food posts I take my own original images, but in a post like this one, or a time where I am looking for an emotion or a physical object I just don’t have, these stock sites are life saving.
NO RULES
What works for one person will not work for another. It’s as simple as that.
I guess after all of that, my final lesson is not really a lesson, but rather advice. Just do it. Write. Share. Blog. You will be glad you did it. I worked really hard on only writing about what I love as I never wanted it to become a burden like it did the first time I attempted to have a blog and I am really happy that I made it past one year in doing just that.
What do you enjoy the most about writing? Let me know in the comments below.
Ellies London 
Happy blogiversary! Such good tips, especially the idea that you don’t need to compare yourself to anyone else! It’s so easy to get wrapped up in numbers and get upset when you see people with more likes, followers etc, but that really shouldn’t matter if this is something you’re truly passionate about! xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
It really is so easy and it can be a downward spiral in complete honesty and end up making you feel terrible even if you love what you are doing and are trying your best, because at the end of the day, your best is all you can do! Thank you so much for reading my post and leaving a comment ♥
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love this post, your points really bring it back to the core reasons of why we blog. I especially love what you say about writing when you want, I know I sometimes get a bit anxious if I’ve not put out a post in awhile but it should feel more like ‘hey here’s something I’m so excited to share’ than another job
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it’s so important to write what you want becuase otherwise you get carried away in what would have more views and likes and then it can become stressful and lead to worries about *what will my audience like*. Of course audience is important but if you’re writing what you like, your audience will be more organic and like what you actually like! Thank you so much for reading my post and commenting ❤️
LikeLike
Congrats on your first year of blogging! I also started blogging in university and fell in and out of love with it. Now I’ve been at it pretty steadily for the last couple of years and am really enjoying it. I really appreciate your lesson about not comparing – so hard in this day and age but so important!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is so great that we both got back into it and isn’t it so strange how certain things and mindsets can change your whole opinion/experience! It is so important for us not to compare ourselves to others, not just in blogging, but in life in general! x
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am also blogging for a year now and we just might started at around the same time. 🙂 I really love how you say that you can’t compare yourself with someone who started doing that years ago and is way ahead. I think it goes for all social media and we just might get to this point once too. Congrats on one year and wish you many more!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much and same to you – I like that we started around the same time. ♥ It is really important, not just in blogging, but in life in general to make sure that we don’t compare ourselves to others – we are all our own unique selves and it is so destructive to make comparisons.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
A very good article especially for beginner bloggers, remaining focused and working on creating great content is key to succeeding as a blogger. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for reading and your comment ♥ I’m glad you find my tips of use – it is important to focus on what we are doing and not get distracted by what others might be or where they may be in their journey 😀 x
LikeLike
Congrats on your 1st year. I have been doing it now for going on 4 years and I really enjoy it. I see it as part of my long term career development and I do incorporate most of your suggestions to keep in mind that it’s a fun, productive pass-time and a long term commitment to building up my portfolio. Keep it going and good luck!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much ♥ Wow, that is amazing, four years, well done on that. It is excellent that you have such a great mindset towards blogging – it really helps you be in the best place you can be which is always the goal! x
LikeLike
What a wonderful post! I’ve been blogging for a long time, but not very seriously and at my own pace, so in some ways, I am just a beginner. All of these tips were inspiring and helpful. And I think the overall feeling I get from reading the post is a sense of reassurance about how I am moving along in my blogging journey. Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s amazing. I still think of myself as a beginner as well, mainly because I’m still not self hosted. You’re very welcome, I am glad you found my post useful 🙂 It’s important that as a community we work together to reassure each other 🥰 It can be a hard hobby/art to have x
LikeLike
As a new blogger (3 months in) I try to take advice and encouragement wherever I can get it. Thank you for the helpful tips and inspiration,
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome 😊 I’m glad you found my post useful 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for experiences, I love reading it..
LikeLike
Happy blogiversary! I love reading your blog as I do think we have a fairly similar style.
This advice is absolutely spot on without all the harsh lessons some of these types of post can give you, I normally come away thinking I am failing but this has left me feeling really positive about where I am heading with my blog.
Here’s to the next year of blogging x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for your kind words ♥️ I know what you mean, some of these posts are often (unintentionally) left making you feel like you’re not doing this or that which is what I didn’t want to put across in my post. I wanted to try and make people feel like #YouCanDoThis and not like *I need to change x, y and z* 😁
LikeLike
You know I love these posts! Happy blogiversary (took me a minute to spell that!)
I agree with everything you have said. I love that you shared this so other bloggers can learn. One of the biggest things blogging and writing means to me is community.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha thank you so much for the Blogiversary wishes 😂 It’s such a lovely community and it is only natural to feel competitive but we need to remember there’s enough space for everyone to be was successful as they want to be – we don’t need to drag each other or compare ourselves 😉.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agree with so much of this, particularly on the points about enjoying it. You’ve got to write for yourself first and foremost. If you don’t enjoy what you’re writing I think it’ll show in your posts and others won’t like it either.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes and also it you are writing content you’re not that interested in, people will come to read it and think that this is what you’re about. Then you will feel more pressure to make this content becuase it gets good stats and then feel like you “need” to make more of it and it’s stressful becuase it’s not content you want to be making! Such a dangerous loop! X
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations on your first year!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much 💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome 😇
LikeLike
Happy blogiversary! 🥳 Yes yes yes I agree with all of these! I try not to put any pressure on myself with blogging as it is essentially just a hobby and write about whatever makes me happy and what I find fun.
I used to have such an issue with comparing myself to others, especially on social media which took all the fun out of it. So again, I stopped putting so much pressure on myself and posted whatever I liked when I liked. I don’t have a perfect theme or a tidy grid but I love scrolling back through my feed, it has so many great memories. 😊 Like you said, there really are no rules or one straight path to success. Just doing what makes you happy is all that matters really. 😊
LikeLike
Thank you so much! It is so important in regards to the pressure because it really takes the fun out of it! As for my Insta, I tried to post evenly in tidy lines but after about two weeks I just wanted to post something ‘off theme’ so ditched it! There are so many paths to take and there is room for everyone to be successful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Congratulations on getting past your first year. Your tips are really useful. I definitely relate to the one on organic growth.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for reading my post and commenting ♥ It is really important, especially these days in an age of buying followers and fake likes on socials, to stay as true to yourself as we can – it shows in the end, I believe! x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great tips, I agree with so much of what you’ve said. Writing what you love and being true to yourself is so important x
Sophie
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for reading my post and your comment ♥ It really is vital because when we try to be something we are not, I think it really shows in what we produce! x
LikeLike
I think…thanks to you and your determination I might just fancy a try at this blogging lark myself as I’ve always been interested in writing and now have some time to myself so …congratulations you are my inspiration…😘😘😘
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hehe, that’s amazing! It is such a nice hobby to have and serves as a great outlet for whatever you want to put out there. Deffo something I can discuss with you ♥
LikeLike
Thank you! I’m working hard on my blog at the moment and often forget why I started it or to enjoy the process! I needed this reminder!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right?! I think we have all done that at some point – just wondered exactly why we are doing this – it is the blogging equivalent to what is the purpose of life! Thank you so much for reading and commenting on my post 😀 x
LikeLike
I love your writing and looks forward to read your posts. I’m glad and proud of you 👏🏼💯
LikeLiked by 1 person
😎Well thank you very much and thanks for reading… 😋
LikeLike
These are such great tips. I totally agree that if you worry about numbers or followers or content then you forget the reason you started to write in the first place 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right?! And nothing takes the fun out of it (at least for me) quite like worrying about stats! It is also important to keep writing about what you want – it keeps you interested in it and feels a lot more organic x
LikeLike