One Year Of Blogging – What I Learned Along The Way

One Year. I’m letting that sink in still.

A year ago today, February 13th, 2018, I wrote my first blog post. It was a post where I shared our annual family photos that we had taken a few months prior. I’m laughing at that because nowadays we are taking photos multiple times per week. But that was all I had at the time, it summed up who I was, and I thought that would be the perfect place to start. You can read it here.

Since that day, I haven’t stopped blogging and chasing this dream of mine. It wasn’t always easy and there were a ton of posts that followed that first one that were sooo bad. Like really bad. Everyone starts somewhere and I have learned so much along the way. So, to celebrate one year of Kristy By The Sea, I thought I would share a few things with you (and any new bloggers who are reading) about how I built this blog that I am so proud of today.

Why I Started A Blog

I have touched on this topic before but it was asked multiple times over on my Instagram stories when I mentioned I was putting this recap post together. Here is my why…. Between raising two kids, being a wife, and working for a tech company, I felt like I didn’t have anything that was my own. I felt like I was losing my identity. I needed to find an outlet that boosted my self-confidence and allowed room for creativity. I’ve always been the friend to suggest attire for big events, to research travel plans for family members, and to share motherhood tips with friends who were having kids after I did. I wanted to put all this information in one place and share it with a community of women larger then my in person reach. I reached out to one of my photographer friends on a whim to ask if she would be willing to help me, she said yes, and that night this little blog of mine was born.

Things I’ve Learned In One Year Of Blogging

 

#1: It’s A Ton Of Work

One of the biggest realizations of blogging for me is the amount of work it demands. There is so much more then a pretty picture and a few words. From planning content, to photographing, and editing, and writing, then promoting, and engaging on social media. Not to mention working with brands, pitching yourself, and and invoicing for collaborations. I am definitely a Type A personality and have always been the type of person who is constantly running 100 miles per hour. My husband likes to joke that I thrive under pressure and stress (so not funny, but probably true). It’s way more then I anticipated but I am learning so much and loving every minute of it.

#2: Stay In Your Own Lane

To be honest, this was a hard one for me to learn. Constant comparison is a real thing and I think women in general can be so hard on themselves. I want my blog to always be a relatable space where we can lift each other, be realistic, and support each other. Community over competition!

I want you all to know that I am guilty of letting these negative thoughts get to me and I have my own issues that I struggle with. You are not alone. This is so embarrassing, but I remember my favorite blogger got a picture drinking a latte next to a Christmas Tree so I wanted a picture drinking a latte next to a Christmas Tree. I would try so hard to get the perfect picture and then I would critique it and compare it to their pictures and was never happy. Once I started being more spontaneous and taking “candid” photos without a specific plan, I loved them even more! And it even alleviated the majority of comparison and I started finding my own identity, which leads me into my next point…

#3: Find Your Own Voice

I feel like this is one that I am still discovering but making progress in. Just because all your favorite Instagrammers are posting fashion content daily doesn’t mean that you need to do that too to keep up. I was killing myself to shop and get new fashion up everyday, when I realized I don’t even like doing it that much. Why?! I prefer just bringing my camera along on family outings, documenting that, and using those pictures to share my thoughts on fashion, motherhood, travel, etc. This lead to higher engagement and views with my readers, and I think they could sense my authenticity and excitement about what I was sharing. No one else has your voice and there is always room for another voice to be heard. You do you, babe!

#4: Invest In Yourself

This lesson was a game changer for me. Whether you realize it or not, as a blogger you are a (small) business owner. Not only are you investing so much of your time creating a blog, but it takes a financial responsibility as well to grow it. I held out for a looong time before spending any money on anything related to my blog, I’m talking up until about 2-3 months ago, and I wish I would have done it sooner. I invested in blogging courses such as Pinning Perfect, which gave me so much useful education on strategies and I learned what I was doing wrong. I was naive to many blogging best practices and even how I viewed my blog. By implementing those strategies and fixing my mistakes, I saw an exponential increase in traffic to my site, which then landed me more brand deals and totally covered the cost of the course. I wish I would have taken the course sooner and did things the right way from the beginning! So, believe in yourself and invest in your business and you will reap the benefits!

#5: Get To Know Your Audience 

My blog would be nothing without you guys here reading it… so thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Getting to know you all and making connections has been my most favorite part of blogging. I have met so many amazing girls, both followers and other bloggers. I feel so blessed to know you and have this community! One of my favorite ways of interacting with you all is finding out what you like and want to see more of. It is helpful to me in planning out content and occasionally I am even surprised by your answers. I highly recommend all bloggers doing this and the easiest way to ask everyone is by using the question feature on Instagram stories. Your readers will be more excited for your content and it will lead to increased engagement and traffic.

I still can’t believe it has been one whole year since my very first blog post. It has taken the full twelve months of constant improvement to get to a place where I am content and happy with my blog and proud of it. I can say 100% confidently that it was one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life and my only regret is not starting sooner. This little blog is my third child and I spend every day tending to it and in turn it brings me so much joy. Thank you again for all your support and stopping by my little corner of the internet. I can’t wait to see what the next year brings!