Happy birthday to me and my blog!
October is an eventful month around here. Besides the autumn and Halloween hoopla, it is also the month in which my blog turns 11 and I turn 65.
Happy 11th blogiversary to So what? Now what? !
It’s hard to believe that I have been blogging for 11 years, but I have. The proof is in the stats:
- 663 posts
- 63,215 views*
- 658 unique visitors*
- 5,965 comments (not including my own)
- Most commented on post: Changing course mid-blog post
- Most visited post: What is the best milk for your latte?*
- First blog post: You have arrived at your destination
*Since the new Google Analytics went into effect in 2024.
11 lessons learned
With experience comes wisdom. I use the term “wisdom” lightly…but still, I have decided to share with you 11 lessons I’ve learned along the way…one for each year I have blogged.
- Even though I started this post with the stats, the numbers are much less important than the genuine connections I’ve made through blogging.
- Blogging friends are real friends…even if you’ve never met in person.
- It’s not enough to enjoy writing to have a successful blog. There are a number of technical issues…including speed, security, and SEO (search engine optimization)…to consider.
- Stay up on changing website regulations and standards, as well as updates to any software or apps you are using. If you host your own blog, you cannot just create it and forget it.
- Take advantage of the help that is available to you, especially when it comes to the aforementioned technical and legal aspects of blogging. I recommend BlogAid.
- Not all blogging advice is created equal. Research and learn…yes…but be willing to let go of any “best practices” that don’t work for you.
- Perfection is the enemy of good. If you wait to get every little detail just right, you will never push “publish.”
- Keep it simple…or less is more. The more basic your blog, the easier it is to maintain and the easier it is for your visitors to navigate. A blog can be attractive and engaging without a lot of unnecessary bells and whistles.
- Blogging should be enjoyable…for you and your audience. If you find the stress outweighs the joy, rethink your mode of operation. Don’t be too rigid or too hard on yourself.
- Your enthusiasm for blogging…just like anything else…will ebb and flow. Be prepared to reevaluate your blogging periodically…just avoid making rash decisions. I can’t count the number of times I’ve considered calling it quits, hit pause, and then come back refreshed.
- Celebrate the wins and learn from the challenges. It’s the journey, not the destination, that truly matters.
Happy 65th birthday to me!
Even more surprising than realizing my blog has been in existence for 11 years is realizing that I have been wandering this earth for 65 years. How is that even possible? This month I started on Medicare and Social Security. Isn’t that for old people?
Lessons learned
Don’t worry, I am not going to share a lesson for every year of my life, but if you would like my humble life advice, here are three past blog posts that fit nicely in that category:
Free advice for those just starting out…or Life lessons I wish I had learned sooner
A letter to my 40-year-old self
Three things I learned from my aging parents
Your turn
- Do my blogging friends have any additional blogging advice?
- What is one life lesson you wish you had known earlier?
- What else is on your mind? Anything at all; I just love to hear from you.
Happy (almost) birthday!! can’t believe your blog turns 11! and congrats on the big birthday milestone for you as well! You definitely practice what you preach as one of the healthiest 65 year olds I know! You’re an inspiration! Love you!