Happy Blogiversary to me! You guys, Problems and Projects is officially one year old! Now, to be fair, I was too scared to actually publish my new blog and initial posts until late September of last year, but still. A year ago today, I bought hosting, named my site, cried after ten hours of web design, and wrote my first introductory post. I’ve learned so much during my first year blogging!
Whether you just published your very first post, you’ve been blogging a while, or you’re still wondering whether starting a blog might work for you, I hope you find some value in my first year blogging experiences!
Just for fun, if you read to the end of this post, I’ll treat you to some stats about my first year blogging and some goals for year 2. Prepare to be thoroughly underwhelmed!
If you have a moment, help me grow in my next year of blogging, use this link or the form embedded at the end of this post to let me know what you like and what you’d like to see more of! If I get enough feedback, (like 5+ responses, just enough to make it worthwhile) I’ll turn the data into an info graphic you can check out in an upcoming post.
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Be flexible and embrace change.
I’ve never heard anyone say they love blogging’s consistent and predictable nature! If you can’t adapt, you can still blog, but you probably won’t stumble into a full time income!
Platforms constantly adjust their algorithms. Readers leave. As a human, (I assume) you also change and grow.
When I started this blog, I chose to focus on budget friendly, DIY home remodeling. We lived in a fixer upper turned money pit that came with an endless stream of … well … problems and projects. 7 months into blogging, we sold that house, and I started rebranding.
While I still hope to share budget friendly home improvement projects, right now, I’ve changed my priorities.
Namely, I’m focused on paying off nearly $40,000 in credit card debt we took on with The Pit, and figuring out how to financially and emotionally overcome an additional $100,000-ish in losses via sunk costs.
Plus, sometimes I just want to focus on things I enjoy!
Today, Problems and Projects provides content on overcoming and conquering other challenges in the home and budget.
I still write the odd DIY post, but I also talk about finances, money, budget friendly preparedness and sustainability, organization, decluttering, and the occasional blogger post. It’s my goal to help you manage your money, home, or life more easily.
Make connections with other people.
Blogging is NOT an island. I don’t care if you’re literally writing from a deserted island.
Social anxiety made me believe I’d thrive in isolation. Well, 24 weeks into a global pandemic, I’m changing my tune.
You easily isolate yourself as a blogger focusing on creating and sharing digital content. Don’t forget to connect with others.
Blogs need readers to thrive. You don’t need a ton of followers to succeed, but someone’s got to read your content!
As a fairly new blogger, other bloggers comprise most of my follower base. Here in the US, there’s this deeply ingrained cultural belief that someone else’s success robs you of the opportunity to succeed. This is not true in blogging (or life, but that’s another topic for another day).
Don’t avoid other bloggers. Learn from each other, support each other, and connect with each other. There’s plenty of love to go around.
Actually figuring out how to connect with other bloggers can be enormously challenging. Guest blogging is a great way to start. If you’ve wanted to try guest blogging, but you don’t know how, check out this ultimate guide to finance guest posting. You’ll find tons of ideas for other finance bloggers you can reach out to, both free and for charge.
Burnout happens, and blogging isn't always fun.
Especially in the early month’s of blogging, bloggers fall victim to frustration and burnout.
I still work 50-70 hours a week. I’ve got a toddler, a spouse, and family obligations. Life still happens. Occasionally, I even like partaking in social events and hobbies. In between all of that, I blog, format, create, troubleshoot, brainstorm, research, and advertise.
You know how much money I’ve been paid in my first year blogging? Not a penny. To be fair, I made some sales that pay out in about 3 days. Just shy of my blogiversary! Insert aggravated sound effect here.
Point is, I’ve put in a lot of free labor to build this blog. Hundreds, maybe thousands of hours, and you will, too. Do I one day hope to earn a full time income blogging? Hells yeah, I do. In the mean time, I do a lot of unpaid work that often goes unappreciated.
Blogging has a pretty high turnover rate, and many newbies give up in their first few months. I’ve thought about quitting, but I keep coming back.
You won't be everyone's cup of tea, and that's okay.
Bloggers constantly lose followers. While totally normal, it never feels good to watch your hard work dwindle away.
Not everyone online will like you, and sadly, not everyone’s nice about it. Bloggers who learn to grow a thicker skin persevere. Ignore all the trolls, block all the jagweeds, and acknowledge that everyone won’t love you.
In fact, trying too hard to please everyone can end up alienating the people who would otherwise create a loyal following for your blog.
Then, remember that your email subscription service gives you a limited number of free spots. Your lost subscribers aren’t usually jerks. They’re just not interested anymore. Don’t beg to pay for subscribers who don’t want your content.
Treat losing followers like an amicable breakup rather than a brutal rejection, and focus on those followers who WANT your content!
You'll get emotional.
My first year blogging has been filled with emotions! Here are just a few.
Fear
Putting yourself in print for the world feels terrifying. I spent a whole month creating content before I actually published my blog and still wasn’t ready. It feels scary to start, to write about hot button issues, or to bare your soul in public. What if you fail, or if nobody reads it, or if everybody reads it?
Exhaustion
A typical post takes me a solid 20 hours from start to publish. That’s 2.5 days of a typical full time job! For one post! Then I have to advertise it, or nobody will read the thing. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Frustration
Ever delete an entire post right before you finish it? Or lose all your blog’s content through a tech error? Sometimes you write a post that fills you with pride, and nobody reads it. Also, I do not have a tech degree. Oh, and where are all my readers? Why can’t I make any money? My follower count dropped AGAIN?
Pride
You’ll beam with pride when you get your first page view, follower, or comment. You want to shout from the rooftops when you earn your first cent, and you might only earn cents! Hopefully, you look back on your first year blogging and feel pride in your progress.
Anxiety
I need to write three time sensitive posts this week. Two guest posts due in 10 days. Never ending advertising, pinning, and connecting with my audience. 4 blog posts need updating. Wait, I need to plan Blogtober content. Plus, I should really plan my holiday content. Also, I’ve been drafting this other post since last November. Oh yeah, I still have a full time job I can’t keep up with. And my kid is teething… It’s cool. I’m a blogger!
Contentment
Blogging is super stressful, but it’s YOUR super stressful project. Nobody can force you to create certain content, design it a specific way, push a timeline you don’t like, or decide how you do this job. You want to write every day? Do it! You need a month long hiatus? Go for it. I took two this year!
Learn from experienced bloggers.
Bloggers never stop learning. You always face a mountain of new information. Learn from the people who already figured it out!
That might mean seeking out all the readily-available free knowledge on the internet. However, you should also prepare to spend some money, and learn from the best.
You still need to find the free stuff, but prepare to sift through tons of confusing information. Paid products might also confuse you, but you’re more likely to get a valuable product that’s easy to navigate.
Check out my Blogging Resources page to find some of my favorite products and resources. I can’t claim to have figured any of this out on my own! Instead, I seek out knowledge from people who know more than I do every day.
You probably won't get rich in your first year.
I’ve made 10 cents in ad revenue in my first year blogging. Affiliate programs booted me for not hitting their sales threshold, taking my affiliate sales with them. I’ve yet to land a sponsored post.
Precisely zero dollars hit my bank account this year through blogging. While not impossible, earning an income in your first year blogging isn’t easy! Expect a longer timeline if you can only make a small time commitment.
To be fair, I made 3 affiliate sales this summer nearing $100 in payouts that should hit my account in September and October. Did I forget to mention that when you DO start making sales, you’ll face a 2 month turnaround on payout?
Blogging is a lot more work than it seems.
It’s cliche but true. Blogging isn’t easy. You don’t even spend most of your time creating content.
Instead, you’ll need to build and manage your site, market your brand, advertise content, build your email list and social media following, figure out the technology aspect, seek out blogging opportunities, market, network, take pictures, create images, etc.
In your first year blogging, you’re probably also doing everything yourself. How do you justify hiring a VA when you don’t make any income? Rest assured, you’ll quickly learn why all the biggest bloggers hire VA’s to help them!
You also need to make sure you’re doing everything ethically and legally, even if you never make a dime! Check out this post for more information about blogging legally!
Oh, and when you start blogging, you never stop thinking about blogging! Speaking of always thinking about blogging…
Pin me for later!
First Year Blogging Stats and What's Next
Bloggers seeking growth and income quickly learn to obsess over their stats. I’m already a sucker for a spreadsheet, and I love reading other blogger’s info (especially newer ones) so I thought I’d share some of the growth I’ve made this year.
Some bloggers make tens of thousands in their first year, experience explosive growth, and quit their full time jobs. For many of us, though, that first year blogging looks a little more like this…
Viewing Stats
Here’s a few fun facts and statistics about my first year blogging. (BTW, you can follow me on social media by using the icons in the side bar, or follow the links you’ll see in the text below.)
Total Views – 2,069
- Twitter – 255
- Pinterest – 198
- Facebook – 63
- Instagram – Big Fat Zero
- Organic Traffic – 149
- Backlinks/Other – 1,404
- DA score – 11
- Best Ranking Post – #18 Search on Google (It’s this one. Check it out!)
- 49 days to gain my first page view
- Total earnings paid out – None
- Total earnings pending – $97.50 I earned this within the first year, but the payout limit hasn’t been met, or the payout period occurs in the next couple of months.
Content Creation in My First Year Blogging
First Year Stats/Second Year Goal
- 41 Published Posts/60 Published Posts (Total of 101 posts)
That’s about 3.4 posts per month, a pleasant surprise. I took two full months off this year where I didn’t post or market at all.
My goal aims for 5 posts per month, which already feels overwhelming! Virtual teaching might kill me this year. Did I mention bloggers are gluttons for punishment?
- 1 Freebie Offered/Offer 4 New Freebies
Earlier this year, I added a decluttering printable opt-in to some posts that brought a few subscribers.
Eventually, I’d like to create opt-in freebies for all my categories. For now, I’ll be happy just to add a few helpful resources to my library (which I’ll then create) for readers!
0 Paid Products Offered/Create 1 Paid Product
I’ve put most of my energy into learning how to blog this year.
I’m pretty overwhelmed right now, but now that I’m getting more organic traffic, I really want to start expanding my brand.
Social Media and Marketing
First Year Stats/Second Year Goal
Twitter – 549 Followers/1,800 Followers
I shoot for 100 new followers per month on Twitter. 1,800 followers by next Blogiversary is really ambitious for me, so we’ll see!
I also want to tweet more regularly. Right now, I post about 3-5 tweets per day.
Pinterest – 112 Followers/300 Total Followers
Highest Daily Impressions – 29.81K
Total Impressions – 130.92K
Total Audience – 115.8K
Engagement – 2.93K
Engaged Audience – 1.88K
I’ve grown a lot with Pinterest this year, but I’m still figuring out gaining followers. This is another ambitious goal.
Instagram – 72 Followers/?
I’ve never posted anything to Instagram. I don’t understand how it works. Therefore, Instagram doesn’t get much energy. I don’t know how I managed 72 followers! Maybe I should aim to learn Instagram…
Facebook – 113 Followers/300 Followers
I don’t really spend a ton of time on Facebook, either. Sometimes, I remember to post info about new posts or ads, but I struggle!
Right now, I largely avoid Facebook. It’s too divisive. At minimum, I want to increase the consistency of my post updates. Maybe one day I’ll create a Facebook group, but that might be a third year goal.
Email – 36 Subscribers/100 Total Subscribers
Average Open Rate – 35.34
Average Click Rate – 4.53
Broadcasts Sent – 34
My open rate is actually pretty high, as blogging standards go. I’d like to increase my click rate send out broadcasts more consistently.
Convertkit launched a free service earlier this year, and it changed my life! It’s so much easier to navigate than other services I’ve tried. My heart broke when my free trial ended last year, and I’m thrilled to be back! I’ve still got a long way to go till I hit my subscriber limit, too.
Here's to a Successful First Year Blogging
My first year blogging has definitely seen slow growth, but I still feel like I’ve accomplished a ton!
Honestly, if I could only give one piece of blogging advice to aspiring bloggers, it would be “Get started, and keep pushing“.
I started out knowing absolutely nothing about blogging, but I’ve grown so much this year as a blogger. While I might not be anywhere near quitting my job to blog full time, I will keep learning and working to grow this little internet space of mine.
What made you proudest in your first year blogging? If you’re a brand new blogger, what’s been the biggest challenge in your first year? Just thinking about getting started? What’s holding you back? I’d love to hear about your blogging experiences!
Don’t forget to subscribe to our mailing list below, and stay up to date on our second year.
I’d also love it if you could help me grow in my next year of blogging! Please take a moment to complete my reader survey below, and let me know what you enjoy about Problems and Projects and what you’d like to see happen differently in year 2!
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Sweet blog! I found it while surfing around on Yahoo News.
Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed in Yahoo News?
I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there!
Thanks
Just good SEO practices would be my best suggestion
I felt soooo identified with this post. One of the details that hit the most was “Be flexible and embrace change”. I have been a blogger for many, many years, and have embraced some changes. But I’m still at a point where I do need to come out of my comfort zone and be more out there in order to monetize. I greatly appreciate you sharing your experience and all these tips.
Stepping out of that comfort zone can be really hard. Especially when it’s happening out there for the whole world to see! It’s hard for me, too. I’m naturally very averse to change.
This is sums things up really well. We all have different motivations and blogging is definitely a learning experience. But, it’s fun.
Absolutely! I agree.
Congrats on your blogiversary! My first one isn’t until the end of March. I definitely agree that there’s always something new to learn! I’m working hard on SEO right now, and am going to turn my attention to pinterest next. Thank you for the inspiration!
Those are both great things to focus on! Good luck!
I loved getting a look at your first year blogging and some of the things you learned. I have been blogging more then a year now, but I know I experienced some failure and mistakes too. It is how we move forward that changes things. 🙂
Absolutely. Every failure is a learning opportunity!
This post really does put my mind at ease. I have been experiencing a lot of issues in my first year of blogging. Glad to know its normal. I definitely agree blogging seems easy on the outside but it really isnt.
Thanks for sharing!
MagicandBliss | https://magicandbliss.com/
I’m glad my story could bring some peace of mind. It’s a tough job, but it does get a little more manageable over time!
So much of this is true! I think people need to really think carefully about why they want a blog and how much time/effort they are willing to put in. Because you do have to be flexible and be willing to go the extra mile to make it work. It doesn’t happen over night so you’ve got to be willing to keep pushing forward and learn new skills. There’s so much moire to writing a blog than literally writing it!!!
Most definitely! These are some really good points.
Blogging for me is like a rabbit hole. The more I do it, the more I realise the things that can be done. Never ending process of learning and re-learning. I don’t have a job right now, so I’m trying to devote my full time on it but it’s so overwhelming.
There’s always more! And then it all changes on you. Blogging is fun like that!
I’m dreading judgement day from my affiliate program. I can re-apply, but all those links I’ll have to redo…
Yeah, that part took me like 3 full days of non stop changes. And I’ll probably have to do it again. I might just give up on it at that point, and try something else!
Thank you for writing about the emotional and mental health aspect. It was really helpful to read it.
I’m so glad it was helpful. Hoping can be very challenging and takes a toll sometimes.
I really loved this post! As a new blogger myself it’s always very interesting to hear about other bloggers experiences. Really enjoyed this post and I’m looking forward to more!!
I’m glad you enjoyed it! I love new blogger posts, too!
Oh my goodness, my self worth needed that. I’m just seven months in, and am so disappointed to have barely 35 email subscribers. Thank you for perspective.
It’s so easy to become demoralized by people who are doing incredible things with their blog in a short time. Blogging is hard work, especially if it’s not the only things you can focus on. 35 sounds great to me! Keep on pushing. It truly does get a little easier once you hot a year ( but still tons of work!)
I appreciate your honesty…blogging is hard work, but great work. Thank you for the link to the blogging resources…that was super helpful!
I’m so glad I could offer up something helpful for you!
When I first started blogging I was ridiculously overwhelmed. I wanted to sign up for every resource I seen that was free and even a few LOD ones just to get ahead of the game. Little did know I was going to be returning to work right after launching my blog, and getting a new son. I had purchased some materials that are still sitting in a binder I created. I printed everything off and glanced over it a few times. Every time I tried to go deeper I got severely distracted. My last really post was in July of this year. I am working towards creating a plan for my blog content alongside my event planning and life coaching businesses. I appreciate your authenticity in this post and the motivation to keep moving forward!
I think a plan can be really helpful! Break everything down into manageable chunks, and take it in small steps.
Thank you for your honesty! I’m looking to get into blogging & many business make it seem that you can earn money in no time. I love your post! It is funny & relatable. As I read it, I felt like we were having a conversation together.
Blogging is definitely a lot more work than it seems, but it’s very rewarding when it starts to pay off! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Great Post. I agree that there is do much to learn within the blogging world as it is constantly evolving and it is overwhelming managing everything yourself! I’m in the first year of my blogging journey as well and completely resonate with your points as some sound similar to those that I mentioned in my one year round up as it’s so easy to lose sight of what you initially enjoyed when starting in the blogging field!
There are some things about beginner blogging that resonate with a lot of us. It’s nice to know we all have that in common.
I love this post-funny, but real! Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Totally agree with you, especially the emotional part!! And yes blogging is a lot of work and a lot of people don’t realize that! There is always so much to learn too!! But it is the best journey!!
Yes, its definitely an amazing journey!
Happy first Blogiversary…and thank you for not giving up. I can relate to so many points but look forward to your year 2 update when you exceed your goals! Thank you for the helpful links as well. Keep going!
Thanks for the support! I’m hoping my next year, my growth will be even greater!
Great post, you got everything right on the head as a new blogger myself but I to will not give in. Things take time and if you love what you do enough and willing to put in the work and make adjustments as needed then you’ll start to see the results. Thanks for sharing I look forward to doing my 1 year review next spring and see how far I have come as well.
You are absolutely right! It’s work, but if you love it, it’s worth it. Good luck with the remainder of you’re first year! I hope you accomplish your goals.
These are super helpful tips! I have had my current blog for about a year and I understand the pain but it’s well worth it!
Caiti | Champagne & Postcards
Yes! Is you can make it through that first few months especially, things get a little better.
So relatable, “cried after ten hours of web design” yup me too, those beginning days were tough, followed by a lot more tough days that made learning wordpress seem easy haha. I’m just over a year in and it’s still challenging but I love it.
Yes, I remember being so frustrated that I thought I might wit before I even started! It’s still hard for sure, but things improve as you learn.
I love this post! I have also just completed my first year of blogging, and also changed focus about 6 months in. I find it interesting that Instagram is the social media you don’t “get”. It’s the only one I do get. It’s Pinterest I don’t “get”. Here’s to hoping by this time next year we both have them figured out!
It’s always funny to me how we are all so different! I’m hoping to figure it all out this year! Good luck to you.
Love this post! I always see the “How I made $ 10,000 in my second month of blogging” stories, and they’re not realistic. Blogging is a matter of hard work, and dedication, putting your soul into it, not giving up and keeping faith our reward will come anytime soon. And I think an honest story like this is what beginner’s need to know. Thank you for sharing, xx
I get so demoralized by those flash success stories! I know I’m not the only one and definitely wanted to share the other side of beginner blogging for others who felt like me!
Good post! I’ve been blogging for awhile but I only recently landed my first sponsored post. It really takes commitment to stay in blogging. 🙂
It’s definitely not a get rich quick scheme. Congrats on your sponsered post!
I love your post. I’m a few months into blogging and it is SO MUCH WORK! I enjoyed your writing and can really relate to you. I’m going to head over and follow you on Social. 🙂 Nice to meet you.
Carrie
Blogging is definitely a ton of work! Welcome aboard. I’m glad to have you!
This is a great post; it’s also really heartening to hear there are other bloggers out there who are slogging away without a heap of traction. I’ve simplified my goals going into September so I’m not hung up over daily view numbers which hopefully will help the feeling of frustration when I have a bad day! Good luck on your goals for the next year and woo for a little bit of money coming in 🙂
I really hoped if be further along than I am be this point, but we can only do that we can do! I think struggling in the beginning is probably the norm. Good luck on your September goals and beyond!
I’m always learning about blogging, it’s always changing and evolving. Great post!
There is so much to learn! I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface. Thank you!