My blogging journey has really not been anything that I ever anticipated. Although I didn’t really re-start my blog with any intention of it going anywhere like it has. My blog has become such a positive outlet for me, and like everyone else it has been a great distraction during this pandemic. Blogging has saved me in so many different ways, its given me a passion and an outlet. It’s also allowed me to help so many other people in the blogging community and helped me realise my passions in life. And I never thought blogging would ever provide me with that.
I really love the community that blogging brings. I have made so many lovely friends and connections with people who I wouldn’t have ever met in real life. Again – another thing I never anticipated happening when I started blogging. If you’re reading this and you’re unsure whether to start your own blog, this is your sign. It really has changed my life and allowed me to express myself in a way that I never have been able. It’s a really great and positive outlet.
I realised recently that It’s been a while since I have shared my blogging journey with my lovely readers. And as my following has grown since I did my last blogging journey post, I thought I’d share an updated version incase you aren’t familiar with my blogging story. I’d really love to hear your story too, so please share yours in the comments once you have finished reading this post!
THE BEGINNING
I originally started blogging in 2015. Back then I was very much into beauty and all things makeup. The idea to start my blog came from a realisation about the makeup industry, and how they were lacking in colour shade ranges and overall were not that inclusive for darker skin shades. This prompted me to start a blog called diadem of beauty. I posted tips and tricks about hair and makeup and even took part in beauty swaps with other bloggers. It really was a fun time in my life.
I didn’t take blogging too seriously though. For some reason I had this mentality (don’t ask me why) that people would find me and read my stuff and I didn’t need to seek out them. I spent a whole year posting inconsistently and not interacting with other bloggers at all, and it showed. For the year of 2015 I had over 4k views, and looking back at that time I realise it was alot considering I was putting in minimal effort. I didn’t see blogging more than just a bit of fun then.
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TAKING A BREAK
After about a year of posting beauty content I stopped blogging. I posted maybe once every 6 months for a little while but then stopped altogether. I thought about blogging often and tried to come back but could never find the passion or motivation. I’m not sure the reason why I stopped posting, perhaps I just lost the love of blogging or maybe it was because my blog wasn’t growing as fast as I wanted. I always worried that nobody would read my content and that it was never good enough – I still do today!
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THE COMEBACK
Finally in July 2020 I took the plunge and came back to blogging, with zero expectations. I immediately changed my website name as I logged in to WordPress and randomly decided on Olivia Lucie Blake – my full name. Although I didn’t realise it at the time, making that change was one of the best things that could have happened to my website. It allowed me, and opened me back up to post about anything. No longer beauty, but instead focused around me, my life and my thoughts.
Pretty quickly after re-starting I got into a blogging routine and created a schedule for myself. I started posting 5-7 days a week (I know! Its alot!). I posted about lifestyle based topics such as mental health, interior and about relationships. I made my fair share of blogging mistakes those first few months that I returned. But we live and we learn. My following grew within a month or so from 160 followers to 1 thousand. I was blown away that people wanted to read my blog and hear what I had to say.
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PRESENT DAY
Now we get to present day in my blogging journey. I sit at 3.5k followers and got 80k views from July 2020 to December 2020, which is insane. I post alot less than 5-7 days a week but I feel like I really have a good idea at what I’m doing now. Blogging has allowed me to use my knowledge to help others. Me and my friend Shelly both put our heads together and created the 30 day blogging strategy plan which has been such a hit with other bloggers. I have so blessed to be able to work with some really well known brands and have the occasional free stuff sent to me – which is amazing and really a dream come true.
The type of content I post has stayed alot of the same with a few tweaks here and there. I now love to share blogging tips and advice to other bloggers. As I know I would have benefitted from reading it when I first started blogging. Blogging has enabled me to dive deep into my passions that I didn’t even know were there. Its given me such a purpose and a love for everything content creation. Its truly been a life saver.
What things have you achieved or done so far on your blogging journey?
I’d really love to hear a snippet of your blogging story, and I hope you enjoyed mine. I can’t wait to add to this in the months to come and see what cool things I’ll be doing next!
Olivia x
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This is such a great journey Olivia! So excited for more to come from your blog x
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Thanks girl!
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So very inspiring! I’m a newbie !
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Me too Zainab!
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❤ As a Lazy Writer I Find that Posting Snippets is More to My Liking than The Onerous UnderTaking of writing a book; it’s also a Lot Less Stressful and I Get to Share in The Absence of Publishers who ARE PreOccupied with Money to The Extent of Compromising Artistic Integrity and Creative Licence in the Name of Commercialisation to earn Mammon 🤑
…💛💚💙…
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I would agree there!
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Olivia, Enjoyed reading your journey , You can read about mine here –
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Thanks alot! I’ll check it out!
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So good to see how far you’ve come Olivia! I really love your blog and enjoy reading your posts.
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thank you so much!
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Did you buy backlinks for your blog?
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I’ve never heard of that before! So no I didn’t haha
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I bought your 5 dollars ebook de to promote my blog. I have one month doing what you recommended. My blog had 60 followers and now 120. I think it is okay.
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Wow! that is awesome!! 🙂 Thanks so much for buying!
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Welcome. Thank you too for selling me this amazing guide.
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I’m really glad you decided to come back, else we probably would’ve never become friends. You’re such a positive and encouraging person and it comes across in your blogs 🙂 Thanks for always sharing your pearls of wisdom!
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I’m really glad I did too! Not sure what I would do without you everyday!
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Omg 🥺🥺🥺 don’t make me cry!!
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You guys🙌🏽🧡🧡🧡Can I be your third best friend👏🏾😉
I love your journey Olivia✨It’s a bit like taking a chance without realising what’s in store for you on the other side.
I don’t know what I would have done without blogging —it’s my sanctuary💓 x
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Your journey is really inspiring.. :))
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Thank you!
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This is so inspiring. What an incredible journey. I started my blog because it was an assignment in a course I was taking in college in 2017. I posted only skincare and makeup content and then stopped working on it about 2 years. In March 2020 my boyfriend inspired me to keep blogging and here I am! Now I post lifestyle and wellness content and I’m really enjoying it. Thanks again for sharing your journey 🙂
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Your journey sounds so similar to mine! How crazy is that. Its amazing how many bloggers came back to blogging in 2020 and 2021! I think its awesome that we have used this weird time in our lives to find our purpose! Thanks for sharing yours!
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Sounds like your blog is wonderful! I can’t wait to read more about it 🙂
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Thank you! I will check yours out as well 🙂
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I’ve just started my first blog, after a few years writing intermittently on Quora. I mostly post about arts and crafts topics, but I’m also trying my hand at writing fiction. At the moment I’m wondering “How do I get anyone to read my stuff?” It’s quite funny actually, because I’ve been a published author for 25 years, but I’m realising that, when it comes to publishing online, I’m a complete and utter noob 😀
I just kinda figured “Write it and they will come.” Well, it ain’t working too well so far. Boy, do I have a lot to learn …
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Haha isnt it funny how we have to learn new skills in the same field we were already in!
I had this mentality as you probably read in this post. It doesn’t work that way I have found with blogging. You have to go out there and do some self promotion! Im going to check out your blog right now!
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Thanks, Olivia 🙂
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Thank you for sharing! I’m still in the beginning, inconsistent stage after a very long break. Every time I publish a post I feel so accomplished, which keeps me coming back.
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Inspiring as ever Olivia.
I think I’ll need to go back and review some of my initial posts/information as I’ve developed a better understanding of my journey. I am really still at the start of my journey but enjoying it so far.
Taking a step back, I would actually put the commencement of my blogging journey with the creation of my YouTube channel – I was creating videos to support my lessons (basically recording my lectures). I forgot to make a couple of videos private and was shocked to get comments and questions from around the world from students saying how helpful my videos were; how easily they were able to understand concepts they had struggled with previously.
My YouTube Channel reminded me how much I enjoy sharing information and knowledge with people and it seems a wider audience than my own students was receptive to what I had to share – that led me to my blog. I am excited to be starting this journey.
Thank you again for your 30 Day Blogging Strategy. I’m taking it more slowly than 30 days, but it has given me lots to consider and given me a focus that I was lacking. I can’t wait to see where my journey takes me next but I do know that I am also going to be applying what I’m learning here to my videos too. I think they can complement each other.
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Loved to hear about your blogging journey. I have only been blogging for a year- and not very consistently either. But your guide has really helped me try and stay more focused x
Maybe In another year I’ll be able to tell you my journey and how much I have grown thanks to your help ❣️
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This was so inspiring! The fact you started this 6 years ago and came back after 5 with it blowing up is insane! I’m brand new to blogging myself, but it’s something I have been wanting to do for the past year. I finally decided this was going to be the week for me, no more excuses! And it’s been the best decision I’ve made in a while. My only question is how did you manage to get so much traffic on your account with just a month?
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What an amazing journey you’ve had🌼
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My blogging journey has just begun. I’m still at the stage where I need to get my logo done and really make my brand. At the moment I’m mainly enjoying reading other blogs and finding my feet around WordPress.
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Lovely journey dear
.
Welcome beck to Blogging platform.
And keep rocking.
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