365 Days & Still Blogging

Blogging, Balloons & Yeah!

No blog birthday would be complete without a few numbers, so here goes: 2 blogs, 365 days, 76 posts and 1,956 comments — it’s time to celebrate! Personally, I’ll stick with the number 2 if I have to blow out any candles.

On June 20th, 2008 I started blogging. Loving Pulse was the name I chose for my blog before eagerly writing that first post “The Eye of the Storm.” I hit the Publish Button and waited.

After searching for information on how to blog I left a comment on Blogging Without A Blog. It was not long before my first comment appeared much to my delight — thank you Barbara Swafford!

I’ve learned a lot this past year, especially since making the move to a self-hosted blog and launching Shades of Crimson last December.

5 Things I’ve Learned About Blogging

First and foremost I learned that blogging doesn’t just happen. And writing doesn’t always just happen either, thanks to the fluctuating muse. In any event, these are the things I’ve focused on since that day in June of 2008.

1. Confidence As a new blogger, I was easily threatened by the success, knowledge and community that other bloggers had developed. I was impressed by subscriber counts and the number of comments. I learned to NOT compare myself to other bloggers or try to change myself. I was on my own journey. If anything, I could learn a lot from them.

2. Time Management During the first year of blogging I gained almost 20 pounds! I spent hours writing, reading and commenting. Blogging became a diversion and then an addiction. I learned that I had to balance time spent blogging with other areas of life. I’m still learning this one!

3. Planning That first post I published? It was the only one that existed. I had no other drafts prepared. I didn’t put a lot of thought into the types of topics I would write about or why, or what message was behind the words. In hindsight, I wish I had put more thought into this.

4. Creativity Some people believe they are not creative. I disagree. There is writing and there is expression. We express ourselves uniquely and that IS our niche — our voice — that is creativity in progress, no matter what the content. There is none other like ourselves, no other experience like ours.

5. Respect It has become important to respect words. Which words are used and if ever. I may not always agree with something a blogger has written, but it is important to respect not only my viewpoint, but theirs as well. We won’t always agree with one another, but it can be to someone’s benefit to share another point of view. It is respectful to ourselves to share our truth when we feel inspired to do so.

Blogging Advice for Newbies

Now that I know what I know, this is what I would do differently if I were planning to start a blog.

1. I would write drafts and have at least a dozen prepared before I launched my blog.

2. At least a month before I published my first post I would start visiting other blogs to begin making connections and become familiar with how the process works.

3. I would start a Twitter account to coincide with the launch of my blog.

4. I would spend time reading the following blogs:

Problogger.net — Blog tips to help you make money blogging
Blogging Without A Blog — Your blogging classroom on the Web
Confident Writing — For writing tips from a writing coach
Copyblogger — Copywriting tips for online marketing success
Virtual Impax — Social media strategy, web tools and online marketing magic
(Anti) Social Development — Tutorials and tips on WordPress, social media, RSS
WPBlogHost — Where people come to start and host a blog

What Is Important to Me as a Blogger?

Expression. Inspiration. Writing. Words. Simple, light, pure naked truth. Discovery of the simple.

I write because I enjoy knowing when people have been inspired, have gained a new perspective or been entertained. When I see LMAO in my comment section it makes my day. LMAO is a favourite acronym used by Cath Lawson, a blogger who will tell it like it is.

What I’ve seen a lot of this past year? Bloggers like to help other bloggers! Thanks to all of you who participated in the creation of The Quote Effect, and for displaying it on your blogs too.

I am thankful for your continued support — on my blog AND behind the scenes. Here’s to Year Two and another colourful year with Shades of Crimson. Bloggers rock!

Photo credit: Pink Sherbet

Tagged as: Blogging