I can’t believe more than a year has gone by since I’ve launched Soul Cookies.
In my first year, I aimed to remind people that reality lives beyond social media. I tried my hardest to be authentic, honest and insightful; all while facing my own self-imposed pressures to seem legitimate and interesting. It definitely hasn’t been easy, but it’s given me more joy than I could have ever anticipated.
It’s one of those rare hobbies for me that quiets the outside world. Despite having a lot of challenges with my adult ADHD, I could sit down to work on my blog for hours on end without realizing how much time has passed.
Throughout these ~14 months, I have learned so much about the blogging community, my peers and myself. I’ve heard from readers and I’ve jumped with glee when my messages resonated. I have interviewed strong, successful women that I may not have connected with if it weren’t for my blog. I’ve met other local bloggers and been overwhelmed with their kindness. When you see other bloggers absolutely killing it, you just assume they won’t be approachable; I found the total opposite to be true.
Though I have SO much more to go, so much more to write about and have so much more to learn, I wanted to share eight takeaways from my first year of blogging.
Take a look! Bloggers: did you feel this way too?
1. Building a Blog = Not So Easy!
This was something I was truly taken aback by. As an avid blog reader, I would quickly thumb through sites, not even accounting for the hours that went into building them.
Photo by said blogger bestie, Audrey.
While I got the hang of website building over time, I would have been completely lost without my dear friend and fellow blogger, Audrey. She walked me through everything from buying a domain to building a WordPress site to setting up Google Analytics. If you want to start a blog, go find a friend like her!
2. Web-hosting Ain’t Free
Similar to number one, I didn’t realize that building a site would have so many associated costs. While the $200-350 investment in a DIY website was well worth it for me, it did catch me a bit by surprise. I did appreciate that it incentivized me to take things seriously, though.
3. There’s No One Right Way to Start–Except with Patience!
The more bloggers I speak with, the more I realize that there is no one key path to success. In fact, the only common denominator is that all of them have poured their heart into this over the course of one or two or three or five years. I recently heard the quote, “the only overnight success is leftover pizza,” and I freaking love it.
4. A Content Calendar is Key
In Soul Cookie’s second year, I’m really going to strive to add content more regularly. Something I struggled with was carving out the time to write blog posts, but when I once created a content calendar on a delayed flight, it made life SO much easier.
For a lot of bloggers, this is a “well, duh,” takeaway, but when you’re first starting out, you don’t think to take yourself that seriously.
In these upcoming few months, I decided that I’m going to block off at least day a month to write and schedule three blog posts.
5. Ask Others For Help
Don’t be shy to ask for advice, content ideas, constructive criticism and more. Sometimes this may mean paying for other people’s services (photography, design, web help, etc.) but it’s just as important to invest other’s passions like you would want them to do for you.
Liz is my inspiration and side hustle coach. Check her out!
I also have learned that female blogging is a team sport! For me, there’s nothing more exciting to me than when a group of women get together and root each other on. Take part in that community and don’t be shy! Praise others when they do something great. Ask questions. Participate in the conversation. It will help you AND your following grow.
6. Blogging for Keeps. Period.
I absolutely love the resources that Jess and Blair put together. I highly recommend subscribing to their email list and reading every word of their thoughtful advice. There is SO much helpful knowledge packed into that blog!
7. Free Stuff Will Not Be Handed to You
I kind of think it’s a myth that the second you start your blog, brands will just hand over makeup and jewelry.
I’ve worked with a few brands in my first year, but not as many as I’d like, truthfully. This is because I had the notion that tens of them would be coming to me, a newcomer, to promote their product in a beautiful way. Just like anything else, relationships with brands require nurturing, time, effort and patience. If I want to expand my blogging portfolio, I’m going to need to hustle harder this year to show I’m capable and willing.
I also think I realized that I don’t want to promote just ANYONE on my blog. I want to share things I genuinely believe in, and sometimes that means saying no to things you don’t. This year, I hope to build even more relationships with bloggers and brands I care about.
- How Do You Stand Out? Stop Caring About Standing Out
I constantly have this notion in life that I need to be completely different than everyone else. At 25-years-old, I still have to remind myself that most people want to have their own identity, too– not just me!
When I started Soul Cookies, I thought it needed to be a complete departure from all other blogs in order to stand out. There are SO many blogs out there; I thought I would have to be insanely unique to make it stick. Well, for me, I’ve realized that successful bloggers typically do two things: remain true to themselves, and keep going. It’s that simple. No need to reinvent the wheel. Just showcase your passions and (hopefully) people will enjoy watching them shine.
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