I’ve learned a lot from starting a blog two years ago.
I wish someone had told me these things from the beginning. Starting a blog is the easy part but maintaining it over time can be challenging. I won’t be going in depth with the technical side on how to make your own website and growing on social media (you can find that here!) but I will be talking about the things I wish I knew before I began. These are 10 things I learned from starting a blog two years ago.
#1: Be Vulnerable
The only way to grow is to engage and make connections with other people. It’s so much easier to just be yourself instead of pretending to be somebody you’re not. People will love you for who you are and you can create genuine friendships. Some of my favorite people came into my life because of it and I couldn’t be more grateful.
#2: Social Media is a GOOD Thing
One of my biggest pet peeves is to have people hate on social media. I know there’s a lot of bad things found online but with every bad thing, there’s something to celebrate! Without social media, I would have a job, I can’t connect with my friends all over the world and I wouldn’t be able to see my nieces grow up when I lived 2500 miles away. Social media changed the world for the better and it’s a huge force for good to share wonderful stories and memories around the globe.
#3: Hard Work Pays Off!
Back when I was working a 9-5 everyday, I would come home and from 5-9 or 10 pm at night. The hustle is REAL my friends and it got us to where we are now. If you want it, work for it and it’ll come with time. We worked our tails off and sold nearly everything we own to chase our dreams.
#4: Know When to Say No
There’s a lot of hard work but don’t stretch yourself too thin and know when to say no. I take less than ¼ of the collaborations I’m offered because I know how much work I can handle at a time. I fill my space here with connections and collaborations help me continue my dream, but I don’t want to sacrifice the quality of my content with a large quantity. Also, I need a couple days here and there for myself and for my favorite thing: date night!
#5: Don’t Watch What Everyone Else is Doing
This is a catch 22. I love seeing what my fellow influencers are up to and supporting my favorite boss babes BUT if you feel yourself begin to copy other people PLEASE STOP. Keep your head down and work towards your goals. One summer, all of my friends bought houses and I couldn’t have felt more left out. Taz and I talked about our expenses and there was no way we were even close to that kind of investment after a year of marriage. I was heartbroken! However, if we bought a house, we wouldn’t be near family now, I wouldn’t be blogging full time and now we can buy a house we want when the time is right not just one we could afford. Life works in mysterious ways and none of our paths are the same. Accept your journey or figure out a way to make your dreams a reality.
#6: Be Creative
This is my favorite part of blogging! Creativity speaks to my soul like nothing else has. I love the thought behind it, the planning, ideas and execution. Some ideas work and some don’t but that comes with trial and error. There’s inspiration everywhere just keep your eyes peeled!
#7: Always Be Learning
Google quickly became my best friend! There’s not a day that goes by without learning something new about social media. I took a social media class in school and it became outdated as soon as Instagram Stories came out. Social Media is constantly changing so make sure to stay on top of it as much as possible.
#8: Everyone Goes Through a Rut
I think I had a dozen ruts I fell into. I got hungry, tired, sick, depressed, anxious, etc. and then fell out of the habit of posting and creating content. No one is perfect so there’s no reason to pretend to be. Pick up where you left off and continue killing it!
#9: Choose Your Time Wisely
I’ve been bad lately, but making a schedule or a list helps me so much! Sometimes I write lists just because I like to cross things off and seem like I accomplished something during the day. If I stay on task and get everything done that I need to, it makes more time for things I love to do like going on a date or spending an afternoon at the beach. Rewards are the best things for me and help me get one step closer to achieving my goals.
#10: Do What You Love
If you don’t like what you’re doing, don’t do it. Figure out what you love to do and go after it. One of Taz’s friends started a blog all about data analytics. If someone will read about data analytics, people will read ANYTHING so find your passion and pursue it.
Those are the 10 things I learned from starting a blog two years ago. There’s space on the Internet for everyone so if you start a blog or already have one, let me know what it’s about so I can cheer you on from the sidelines. Most people don’t realize how much WORK goes into it, but I couldn’t be happier with what I’m doing.
XOXO Kayla
