One Year of Blogging Q&A – Answering your Questions

If you’ve followed me for a while you’ll know that I occasionally do blogging Q&A’s on my site. I really love interacting with all of you and answering your questions, whether they are blogging related or not. This month is my one year blogging anniversary, which is so crazy to think about. The last year has gone by so fast. And when I reflect on my blog and where I started, I am so proud of everything I have accomplished in the last year.

I am the type of blogger who wants to share my knowledge with others. Which is why I have made and sold different blogging guides to help others. When I first started blogging I needed all the help I could get, and was so grateful for any help other bloggers offered me. For todays post, I am answering your questions! I asked the lovely people of twitter to ask me questions for this blogging Q&A and here they are..

WHAT WAS THE MOTIVE FOR STARTING YOUR BLOG? DO YOU THINK THAT YOUR REASONS AND EXPECTATIONS ARE STILL THE SAME FOR THE FUTURE?

My blogging journey began I July 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic and lockdown in the UK. I had thought about restarting blogging again for a while before this. But really felt like I needed and wanted a project to focus on. Probably to distract myself from the reality of the pandemic and all the stress that brings. When my blog started back up, I had no expectations at all. I didn’t come into it thinking I would make money or gain lots of followers. I just knew I needed to do something with my time.

Because I came into blogging with no expectations, I now of course have some expectations. I think I’d actually rather consider them goals. I really want to work with brands more. And I am doing that slowly but surely, but I want to really get stuck in. So hopefully a year from now, I will have achieved that!

You Might Also Like: My Blogging Journey – Olivia Lucie Blake

HAVE YOU FOUND YOUR NICHE AND CONTENT CHANGED OVER THE YEAR?

Oh yes for sure. I think I’d be a bit worried if my content and writing hadn’t changed after a whole year. Just like anything else in life nothing very rarely stays the same. And I don’t think I’d want it to. I feel like I am always changing and evolving as a person, especially as I get older.

My niche has pretty much stayed the same. Lifestyle blogging really all depends on the type of person you are and the lifestyle you lead. So in that sense, It’s the same. But the type of content I produce now is way different to what I used to post. Alot of my first posts are now private actually, because I felt like they didn’t fit my new style anymore.

You Might Also Like: Should You Stay Within Your Niche As a Blogger?

IS THERE A NICHE THAT YOU WORK IN THAT YOU PREFER OVER OTHERS?

When I first started blogging in 2015 I originally started in the beauty/makeup niche. I really enjoyed it at the time, but I slowly realised how hard it is being a lifestyle blogger in that niche. Personally, I feel like its harder because you cut out a huge chunk of your audience – those who don’t like hair and beauty. That doesn’t mean that you cant be successful, but for me I knew I needed to move niches to grow my blog.

So, I would say I really prefer working in the Lifestyle niche. It’s so broad that almost anything can fit in it.

You Might Also Like: How To Stand Out As A Lifestyle Blogger

HOW HAS YOUR CONTENT SCHEDULE CHANGED OVER THE LAST YEAR? DO YOU POST MORE/LESS?

My content schedule has changed soooo many times in the last year. When I first came back to blogging last year, I posted every single day for months and months. I only ever gave myself Sundays off. And because of that, I think it helped my blog to grow in the early stages so much. I always tell my readers that to be successful at blogging you have to be consistent in posting, and post regularly.

At present time, I post alot less. Maybe twice/three times a week. I started to realise that I wasn’t enjoying posting everyday anymore, and thats when I knew it was time for a change. Of course I have a schedule, but If I want to change my days or post more or less then I do that. I took a week off last week because I felt like it. And its important to note, I didn’t feel bad about it either. Breaks are good!

You Might Also Like: 5 Ways to Perfect Your Blogging Schedule

WHATS YOUR MESSAGE TO THOSE WHO FEEL BAD FOR NOT POSTING CONSISTENTLY?

First of all, don’t ever feel bad for taking time off or real life getting in the way of blogging. Blogging will be there when you come back. Sometimes real like stuff needs to take priority. Blogging should be fun, so why make yourself feel bad? Alot of the time, I think this happens because we set unrealistic expectations of ourselves. We are our own bosses at this. We set our own schedules. Therefore, we are in charge of whether we post or not.

I will always encourage bloggers to post as and when they can. I think the main thing here is that you set a schedule for yourself. It doesn’t matter if you post once a month, as long as you post once a month. It’s such good discipline.

You Might Also Like: How To Grow Your Blog Following Organically

WHAT WAS THE FIRST LESSON YOU LEARNT AT BLOGGING?

Making friends is really important. I didn’t realise how important blogging friends would be, until I realised I cannot live without my blogging support system. When I first came back to blogging I had this mentality that other bloggers would find me and come to me. I had no idea I would need to seek them too. I don’t know why I thought this, I guess it just never crossed my mind.

Find your tribe, and support them as much as you can. Behind every successful blogger is a bunch of other bloggers who love and support them.

You Might Also Like: Blogging Mistakes I’ve Made So You Don’t Have To

HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN CONSISTENCY? AND HOW DO YOU HAVE PATIENCE WHEN YOU HAVE LOW FOLLOWERS AND READERS?

I think some of the other points touched on this, but creating a schedule to hold yourself accountable is really important. If you’re a person who has to-do lists, then add on what you will be doing for your blog that day. Holding yourself accountable is really what pushes you to get things done.

I see so many bloggers worrying about stats and follower counts, and I used to too. I guess I got to a point where I had to tell myself that I’m not doing this to become an online sensation. It’s important that I reminded myself that, I do this because I enjoy it. The views and followers will come naturally. If you go into anything having really high expectations then you are setting yourself up for upset. Create realistic goals and stick with them.

You Might Also Like: What To Do When Your Blog Stats Get Low

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME TO YOUR FIRST MONTH OF BLOGGING, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL YOUR PAST SELF?

I would tell myself to research and learn about SEO as much as I can. I remember seeing the word SEO around all of the time, and wondering what it was. When I first looked into it, I shrugged it off and had the attitude of ‘This doesn’t affect me.’ Oh how wrong was I!!

SEO is so important and I wished I had optimised my website sooner. If you are a new blogger, don’t make the same mistakes I did. Learn about everything SEO and apply it to your writing and website. It will save you alot of time down the line when you have to go back and amend all of your old posts.

You Might Also Like: My Top 5 SEO Tips

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO NEW BLOGGERS?

Learn, get inspired and enjoy your time as a blogger. As you grow and find yourself a following, other things can get in the way of your happiness and joy in blogging. It’s easy to become overwhelmed as a new blogger, so make sure you are prepared. Find yourself some blogging friends who are also on the same journey as you. Ask to guest post on other bloggers sites. Not only does it help with exposure for you, but it also helps to build those connections too.

Take it easy and take it slow. There is now rush. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Remember to stay true to yourself. Don’t try to be like everybody else. Be you.

You Might Also Like: 4 Things Bloggers Need To Stop Worrying About

What blogging Q&A questions do you have? What blogging advice would you give to yourself a year ago?

Olivia x 
• Instagram • Twitter • Pinterest