Stacey is a 30-something mom of two, married to her high school sweetheart. She blogs at Chasing Cloud 9 about life as it happens, and usually she’s running just to keep up with that life!
I started keeping a blog way back in August 2001.
My son was a baby then, only about 6 months old at the time. In less than a week, he will be 13 years old. That’s a long time.
The blog world has changed dramatically since I started my first blog all those years ago. Now there are niche blogs, review blogs, giveaway blogs, techy blogs, mommy blogs…you name it, there’s probably a blog for it somewhere! There’s tons of articles out there telling you how to use SEO to your advantage, how to monetize your blog, how to optimize your blog for various forms of social media. It’s really quite dizzying.
I still don’t have the hang of using Facebook for my blog. I forget that I have a Google+ page most of the time. I love Twitter, but I often forget to promote my blog with it. I love Instagram too, but I prefer to keep that non blog related. And Pinterest? I just can’t. Is it because I’m old school? Or is it because I wonder if all of that is just getting further and further away from my original intent?
I originally used my blog as more of an online journal, as I learned how to be a mother. I don’t remember the term “Mommy Blogger” being used much then, really, but I suppose that’s what I was/am. It didn’t matter to me if anyone else read it; it was more for me, to have an outlet for my thoughts. Eventually, I had built up a list of my favorite blogs to visit…many of those blogs aren’t even around anymore! Along with that, I had managed to form a handful of friendships with the writers of some of the writers of those favorite blogs of mine.
Even now, I still tend to use this blog as an online journal. I’m simply a tiny bit less personal with it than I used to be. Of course, I didn’t name my children Monkey and Diva. Those are my favorite nicknames for them, however. No, my husband’s name isn’t really JB, but those are his initials. I don’t share every minute detail of our lives these days. I don’t complain about family members (much). I don’t hit up my blog every time I get mad about something that happened at work. How utterly boring would all of that be? I learned my lesson about oversharing years ago!
To be perfectly honest, there are very few people in real life who know I have a blog, even after all these years. It’s interesting to think that I worry about people who actually know me reading my written words, my true thoughts…yet, I’m okay with people I’ve never met before reading about my life. Perhaps that’s just the introvert in me rearing her shy head again!
Sometimes, I’m still amazed that anyone finds me interesting enough to read my blog. Every comment still makes me smile; every time someone says, “Me too!” when I share something I thought I was alone in feeling, I feel validated. When I need support, or I need to vent, there’s always someone there to give me insightful words and comfort.
I may not be doing it “right”, but it’s enough for me.
I started my blog for the same reasons, 3 years ago. I definitely don’t do things the “right” way but I do them my way and that’s enough for me.
You have to do what’s right for you first. BUT, if you want your blog to be a BRAND and a BUSINESS, then it’s important to try and evolve. 5 more years from now, I hope I’ll still be blogging, but there will be a myriad of new social networks to conquer. It’s difficult!
I’ve really never looked at it as a business…not to say that I won’t someday, but for the time being I’m happy just writing 🙂
I didn’t start blogging until 2008. Luckily niche, revenue, reviews etc were already a common thing so I was ready to adapt from day 1. That hasn’t made it easy though! It seems like the blogging world is constantly changing and competition gets tough sometimes. I just keep writing and moving along. The day I stop loving it is the day I stop writing. I hope that doesn’t happen for a long time.
I took almost a 2 year break at one point because everything had changed so much. But I missed the writing, and I’m glad I came back to it!
I’m really with you on this! I’m bad at social media, I’m bad at self promotion, and mostly I write for me. I love it when people read what I have to say, but I would keep writing even if I never got another comment or visitor. Also, most of my real life friends don’t know I blog either. It feels so… personal to share it with people who know me. Weird, right? At least I’m in good company 🙂
Right? I’ve thought about sharing it with family and friends, but something always stops me…it’s just too personal! We can be introverted weirdos together 🙂
I wish I could figure out the social media part. I love doing the writing part.
The writing is the best part! I suppose one day I’ll get the hang of the social media promotion, but until then I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing.
When I started my blog, four and a half years ago, I did it as a way to keep track of my thoughts. Somehow it took on a life of its own and I love what it ended up turning into!
I can’t believe how long I’ve been blogging either.. of course sometimes more active than others. I’ve never been over personal, and when I read “how to” blogs and they say pick a theme for your blog.. i laugh. I write what I feel like at the time. Social media is fun, but I don’t have a FB page..I spend too much time on FB now with out worrying about a blog there too.
keep it up I am going to check out your blog now.
That’s how I am…theme? Niche? I’m a Life Blogger 😉
I just celebrated 8 years of blogging last month. I’ve gone through two hosts, three name changes and dozens of templates and themes over the years. Now I’m happy where I’m at. Almost my entire Facebook friend list knows about my blog, but that’s only been for about the last several months. I made the decision that if I wanted to grow my blog, I couldn’t keep anything a secret. I’ve made some changes and do what I want to do on my blog. So far, it’s working for me.
Congratulations on 8 years! I’ve considered sharing my blog with my friends and family…I just haven’t been able to make myself do it yet.
It’s amazing how your perspective changes over blogging for so long! When I started blogging I called it an “online journal” and thought it was useless task for me – hah! I had NO idea you could monetize or really set yourself up as a business….little did I know! I think it’s great to keep your site exactly as you designed it if it meets your goals!
I try to remember to use social media to promote my blog. Sometimes I forget. And when I do remember, I don’t want to jam my blog down anyone’s throat so I try to keep it minimal.
I started blogging in 2001 as well! It’s amazing how much blogs have expanded.
It really is amazing to think about how much blogging has changed since then!
You have been at it for a long time! And I don’t think there is a right or wrong way, it’s your blog, do what makes you happy. 🙂
Also wanted to say not many people in my real life know about my blog either. My husband, my kids, my SIL, and my oldest son’s wife. That’s it. And I like it that way. 🙂
It does make me happy to have a space that’s my own to write my thoughts and feelings. My husband knows about it, and reads it occasionally, but that’s all.
You have been blogging for a long time! It’s important to blog for YOU, so just do you and don’t worry about what you think you should do (i.e. Facebook, social media).
i started blogging accidentally and hadn’t a clue how it would turn out. and now it’s a business and i have a brand and its MINE and i never thought i could be a successful business owner. you just never know what will happen i guess!
I think a lot of us “mommy bloggers” started our blogs for the same reason. I first began blogging 8 years ago and my mommy blog turned in to a how to blog, blog. I ended up selling it and had to reevaluate my strategy. Isn’t it amazing the community among bloggers, though? Ultimately, I think it’s because we all started for the same reason and are working towards similar goals.
I’ve been blogging since 2009 but the blogging world has changed so much even since i started blogging! I love have my blog as an online journal. I look back at old posts all the time and I love seeing how much my kids have grown and changed.
Yes! I love looking back at old posts and seeing how little my kids were, and reading about the funny things they did at different ages.
I love this post. I only started blogging two years ago when my second little boy was born. I’m definitely sticking with mostly old school blogging so they can read it when they get older; however, I also post some reviews, giveaways, etc. I’m trying to find a balance. I enjoyed the honesty of this post. You have a great voice!
Thank you Susanna! I suppose that’s where I am, blogging for myself but just trying to find my place in all of this!
Wow, you’ve been blogging for such a long time! Awesome. Though I’ve been involved in the web industry for many years, I just started focusing on blogging last year because of the need to share my passion and to teach others 😉 I started all these as a hobby and never knew I could do business online. It just feels good earn from what you LOVE doing!
There are so many different reasons to blog and I don’t think there’s any right or wrong reason. The Internet is big enough for all of us so don’t sweat the labels! 🙂
Best comment ever 🙂 Here’s to not sweating the labels!
I never know if im doing doing this right. I just try to do what makes me happy
And that’s the best thing you can do, what’s right for you!
You gotta be you!! And that’s awesome! As long as you love it that’s all that matters 🙂
It’s always great to remember why we blog! Sometimes it can get tiring but it’s so worth it.
I love this! I really enjoy reading blogs of all kind, but especially with mom writers, because there’s always something I read and then think, “Ohhhh – so I’m NOT the only one who has to deal with that.” Haha – glad to have found your blog!
Other mom bloggers often make me feel so much better about the crazy stuff that happens in my life…I’m not alone! 🙂
I originally started blogging because I wanted to share things that I love with other people. Originally I was a lifestyle blogger but I realized my lifestyle wasn’t interesting enough to blog about lol. Now I blog about beauty and beauty products and while I love it, it has become a LOT of work. But it’s work that I don’t mind because I love sharing my knowledge with others 🙂
I blog because it’s my full time business and i love it!
I started blogging as a way to motivate my sales team and then when I switched companies, I made it a personal blog. I’ve only started thinking money the last two years. Do what makes you happy.
Eliz
This is such a great post. I love seeing where everyone got started. Mine happened out of accident!
I’m new to blogging. I have no idea how to use Twitter for my blog or instagram or any of them really. I started blogging to give me an outlet and make sure I do things with my toddler while struggling with the journey we’re on now that there are 2 of them!
I love all you shared here Stacey!! I started my blog with different intentions that slowly changed over to a new meaning and mission. I love the blog world so much and the friendships that are sometimes even more real than in real life friendships!
I love your blog- you’re doing something very very right. 🙂
I feel the same way about sharing my blog with my IRL family and friends. By now, most know that I write online on a blog . . . but that’s the extent of it. It’s always weird to have a conversation with someone in person about something I wrote online!
I also started as a place to write and share with my family. It’s insane how it’s grown. Sometimes I wish I could just go back to the early days!
Blogging for 8 years is a HUGE accomplishment! I am like you in regards to most of the people I know in “real life” don’t even know I have a blog. I really don’t know why I exactly started, but I am glad that I did.
Love Stacey’s blog! I had not idea you have been doing it for so long. I have been blogging almost 5 years now and even in that time the blogging world really has shifted so much, especially in regards to the social media/sharing aspect of it. I get tired of that part of it and totally forget I have a google+ page half of the time 🙂
Wow, wonderful weblog structure! How lengthhy have you ever bewn blogging for?
you made running a blog lokok easy. The full glance off your website iss fantastic, let alone the content!
You have been blogging for quite some time like me. I have been building websites since ’96 but actually started my first blog in 2004 when I was pregnant with my second daughter. Blogging has definitely came a LONG way!