Last updated on September 21st, 2022 at 09:32 am
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This blog post is going to be talking about my blogging journey, my step into this world.
I love reading a blogger’s journey about how they got started.
It could be the ones I follow but I noticed that instead of having a blog post dedicated to this subject, bloggers tend to sprinkle a little information here and there. They make the information hard to find.
I wanted to create a post where I talk about the start of my blogging path. In case there is ever anyone who wants to read it down the line.
How I Got Interested in Blogging
It all started when I was doing an internship. At a time when I barely started my career path.
My co-worker had a client in the hotel industry that was looking for bloggers to write a sponsored post.
I was in charge of finding all the active potential lifestyle and travel bloggers within the area (they had to have posted on their blog within the past month). We wanted to contact them through social media to see if they were interested in a collaboration.
(I had some issues with this task but it’s not relevant to this post so I’m going to skip the boring details.)
When I completed my task, I was still browsing many blogs looking through their content.
People blogged for a living? They make money through their website at my age?
The concept sounded so cool.
Hesitations with Starting a Blog
I could not get the blogging idea out of my mind.
If others can do it, maybe…maybe I can do it too?
I’ve always loved to write.
There would be days when I was itching to write in my journal.
I know It’s not exactly the same.
One is for your eyes only while the other is in the public domain but both of those activities involved writing, which I very much enjoy.
Writing for people on the Internet to see wasn’t something I was crazy about. I wasn’t exactly confident in my writing nor did I do very well in English class (sorry mom!).
When I first started, I also didn’t know anything about blogging. Can I jump into an industry just like that? Without any knowledge or experience?
What about setting up a website and deciding on a blog name? The name has got to be perfect. It’s going to represent me and my blog forever.
The list went on.
I was overwhelmed with these kinds of thoughts and put a lot of pressure on myself during that time.
I didn’t think I was ready for ANY of that so I was hesitant for the longest time.
My Blogging Journey – The First Time
I eventually took action and bought a domain.
This is where the magic was going to happen. I’m going to become a blogger!
The start of something is always something exciting, especially something you’ve never done before.
As a new blogger, what I didn’t expect was to grow tired of my blog name. At first, I brushed it off because I didn’t think it was that important.
(I was wrong. It’s pretty important.)
I’ve just started blogging, let’s focus on that.
Time went by and I hated it more and more. The thought of my first blog’s name made me cringe. It made me completely turn away from my blog.
I was barely spending any time working on any content.
Although there are many aspects of blogging, having content is one of the main things.
I wasn’t even writing. How can I do any of the other stuff? I can’t promote my website if there’s no content.
My blog was going nowhere.
There was no plan either so like many new bloggers, I lost motivation.
Made all sorts of excuses as to why I couldn’t work on my blog such as:
- I don’t have time for this
- I hate my blog name
- I don’t have pictures for this post
- I’m out of ideas
- Maintaining a blog takes too much time
- Who wants to read the things I have to say?
- There’s too much competition out there
M first blog didn’t last. Although I bought the domain for one year, I abandoned my blog merely a few months in.
Now looking back at everything, no wonder things didn’t work out.
Not Letting My Dream Go
After my first failed attempt, I thought that would be it.
Blogging is great in theory but I tried and it didn’t work out. Oh well.
Months later, I still couldn’t let it go.
I found myself daydreaming about what it would be like to be a blogger. What if I didn’t quit? Where would I be with my blog now?
I failed my first attempt. Do I even dare to try again?
Dipping my toes in the blogging world scared me the first time around. Doing it again the second time terrified me.
I also had a full-time job by then. You know what it’s like.
We get so tired by the end of the day and are depleted of energy. We just want to eat some good food and curl up on a sofa or bed. Watch some TV shows. Maybe even do your nightly self-care routine if you’re not too tired.
The thought of starting a second blog was appealing but was it feasible?
A Few Months Later
In early 2020, the whole world was dealing with a pandemic for the first time. We were all staying at home instead of going about our normal routine.
All of a sudden, I had all this extra time on my hands.
I spent some time reflecting on what I wanted to do in life.
Eventually, I convinced myself that I should give blogging another shot.
If this wasn’t something I truly wanted, the interest would have died down. But it was more than a year ago since I ended my first blog and I’m still thinking about it.
If I wanted to make this blogging thing work this time, I have to put more effort into it. And be consistent.
No more excuses about how I don’t have enough time. All I have now is time.
My Blogging Journey – The Second Time
That’s how Watercolour Marks was born.
This time, I told myself it would be different. I would give it my all (I may or may not have looked like a crazy person trying to hype myself up. There was a lot of positive self-talk during that time).
Even if this blog doesn’t work out the way I want it to, I can at least tell myself I tried my hardest. I don’t want to regret this when I’m older.
I regretted how I handled my first blog. But if it wasn’t for that experience, I don’t know if it would have led me here.
So here I am!
I’m still not near where I want my blog to be but it’s been such a big improvement compared to the last one.
I at least passed my first year of blogging.
What a journey. I’ve taken courses on SEO (search engine optimization), became a better writer, learned more about Pinterest and other social media platforms, created freebies, etc.
I’m pretty proud of myself. There were moments when I wanted to give up when I was hit with some unexpected difficulties. But I stuck it out.
It’s hard work to turn my dream into reality but I’m excited for what’s about to come.
Now to You – Your Blogging Journey
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Xoxo,
Nicole