Around here, today is a pretty big deal! Yes, today is my 7-year blogiversary! On which every year it seems to surprise me that it has been this long. Knowing me I am always trying to one-up myself so it seemed like a good time to dedicate this day every year to share some blogging knowledge, some mistakes and a cheers to all my accomplishments. Why? Because why not! That is what I call the cherry on top of a great year!
Why Start A Blog?
In case you are new here and do not know a little bit of my back story, I started this blog as a hobby when I first had my son but had no idea it would grow alongside him. This blog has been there throughout my life now and it only keeps growing. I wanted to share my love of organizing my home, share how to organize a wedding as well as give you the scoop on my love of natural products.
However, there are many reasons why you might be thinking about starting a blog of your own such as you want to:
- Showcase your hobby or passion with how-tos and DIY guides
- Share your expert advice
- Provide relatable content about your life
- Create a journal or travel diary
- To make an income or start a business
How to Start A Blog?
I tend to get the question of how did I start a blog? Well, I went to the University of Google and researched everything from how to start a blog to what platform is better? Each step was well researched which lead me to self-teach myself everything I needed to know because back in 2013 I wasn’t in a position to throw funds away on my hobby.
Of course, now there are fantastic guides, blog sites and courses that teach you everything you need to know. Trial and error have been my best friend throughout all of this, and I wouldn’t have changed a single thing about it.
Here is a break down of how to start a blog:
- Start with a niche
- Get specific with your niche – who, what and where
- Blog Name
- Find a Platform
- The WWW. Domain
- Website Design
- What to Write
- Dedicated Days & Scheduling Blog Posts
Blogging Advice – Things I Learned on the Way
Email Provider – It is always good to start with an email provider that gets the job done. Throughout my years I have used MailChimp and Convertkit but recently switched to Flodesk because of the way you can visually design your emails. I wish I found out about this company and switched to them earlier. Oh, and to put your sign up forms everywhere like inside your post, at the bottom and at the start of your blog homepage. You can even do pop up versions and full-body pages.
Lead Magnets – Start early and put a freebie or guide to start collecting emails. You can use Canva to design a simple checklist or guide that your readers will like. Your aim is to offer free advice or help that will ease your readers into action. It is like providing a welcome gift to each guest that visits your site for the first time.
Avoid Blogging Mistakes
Not Loosening Up! – You have to get out of your own head and free yourself from getting stuck about things you can do online or on social media. I get that is is easy to believe that everything needs to be perfect when it comes to your blog and business. Believe me, I can find myself riding that train as well but once you start, the more comfortable you will get.
Paying for False Promises – Have you ever gotten a course, book or hired someone that promised you a solution to your problem and well you just didn’t get the result that you were hoping for? Yeah, that can happen to anyone and has happened to me more than once. My advice is to ask questions, see proof of results not just in their life but others before handing over your credit card. It will make your life easier in the long run.
Overnight Superstar Mindset – Being a blogger and running a business is not easy. It takes a lot of time and effort. You will not get a million followers overnight and you will make any mistakes before you make many results. There is up and downs, but it only makes you stronger. Treat your site as if you have a million followers and remember that quality is always better than quantity.
Set Goals
Each year you should have a goal for your blog. For me, I used my blogiversary as a good time to reflect and set new goals. It can be as simple as you want more email subscribers or followers on Instagram. It could also be that you would like to make a certain percentage of money for your site. Whatever you decide on, make sure that you put the effort towards your goal!
The goal for me this year is all about growing and merging my blog with my business site. It has always been a dream of mine to start a business so doing so will be huge for me!
My Best Blogging Day
It would have to be on Aug 11th, 2020 when I launched my new business site called ShaniceBannis.com which is strictly dedicated to my professional organizing services. It was such an excellent launch! Plus having my two sites intertwine was such an excellent feeling and I am excited to see them both grow.
My Most Popular Blog Post:
Final Thoughts
Happy 7 year blogiversary City of Creative Dreams! I hope we can continue to grow, learn and share more knowledge than ever! Thank you, everyone, new and everyone who been with me for a long time (or from the very beginning). There is nothing but love in my heart to all of you.
Cheers to another year filled with more knowledge on how to plan your wedding and how to organize your home. Until our next blogiversary celebration, let us continue to have fun creative dreamers!
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